Metabolomics: a global biochemical approach to drug response and disease.
Metabolomics is the study of metabolism at the global level. This rapidly developing new discipline has important potential implications for pharmacologic science. The concept that metabolic state is representative of the overall physiologic status of the organism lies at the heart of metabolomics. Metabolomic studies capture global biochemical events by assaying thousands of small molecules in cells, tissues, organs, or biological fluids-followed by the application of informatic techniques to define metabolomic signatures. Metabolomic studies can lead to enhanced understanding of disease mechanisms and to new diagnostic markers as well as enhanced understanding of mechanisms for drug or xenobiotic effect and increased ability to predict individual variation in drug response phenotypes (pharmacometabolomics). This review outlines the conceptual basis for metabolomics as well as analytical and informatic techniques used to study the metabolome and to define metabolomic signatures. It also highlights potential metabolomic applications to pharmacology and clinical pharmacology.
Kaddurah-Daouk
Rima
R
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA. kaddu001@mc.duke.edu
Kristal
Bruce S
BS
Weinshilboum
Richard M
RM
D000818:Animals; D035843:Biomedical Research / Q000379:methods*; D002623:Chemistry Techniques, Analytical / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008490:Medical Informatics / Q000379:methods; D008660:Metabolism; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations / Q000008:administration & dosage; D010641:Phenotype; D049490:Systems Biology
D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations