An approach to the characterization of serum low-molecular weight proteins/peptides in liver injury using SELDI-TOF MS and factor analysis.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of this work was to investigate if the application of factor analysis to the SELDI-TOF MS data could contribute to the characterization of the serum low-molecular weight proteins/peptides in liver injury.


METHODS
Distinguished SELDI-TOF mass spectral peaks of the liver injury group were identified by comparing with those of the control group. Factor analysis was introduced to classify these peaks into different groups, assignable to the possible underlying factors. Based on original mass spectral plot, loading and current medical knowledge, the common characteristics of the peaks in same group were revealed and the underlying factors were tentatively defined.


RESULTS
The SELDI profiles of liver injury group exhibit 43 discriminating peaks from the control group. Factor analysis extracted 4 common factors, which were the cholestasis, coagulation, attenuation and 9292 factors. And a plausible interpretation for some undetermined peaks was proposed.


CONCLUSIONS
The application of factor analysis to SELDI-TOF MS data extracted valuable information out of complex and high-dimensional mass spectra data.
Liu
Xiaoli
X
State Key Laboratory for Infectious Diseases Diagnosis and Treatment, The First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, 79 QingChun Road, Hangzhou, 310003, PR China.
Li
Lanjuan
L
Zhang
Guoyi
G
Sheng
Guoping
G
Xu
Wei
W
D000328:Adult; D001663:Bilirubin / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood; D001798:Blood Proteins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D005260:Female; D006505:Hepatitis / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000293:injuries*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008970:Molecular Weight; D010455:Peptides / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood / Q000737:chemistry; D040901:Proteomics / Q000379:methods; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D019032:Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization / Q000379:methods*
D001798:Blood Proteins; D010455:Peptides; D001663:Bilirubin