Metabonomics: a useful tool for the future surgeon.
BACKGROUND
In the past decade or so, a range of technologies have emerged that have shown promise in increasing our understanding of disease processes and progression. These advances are referred to as the "omics" technologies; genomics, transcriptomics, and proteomics. More recently, another "omics" approach has come to the fore: metabonomics, and this technology has the potential for significant clinical impact. Metabonomics refers to the analysis of the metabolome, that is, the metabolic profile of a system. The advantage of studying the metabolome is that the end points of biological events are elucidated.


RESULTS
Although still in its infancy, the metabonomics approach has shown immense promise in areas as diverse as toxicology studies to the discovery of biomarkers of disease. It has also been applied to studies of both renal and hepatic transplants. Metabolome analysis may be conducted on a variety of biological fluids and tissue types and may utilize a number of different technology platforms, mass spectrometry (MS) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy being the most popular. In this review, we cover the background to the evolution of metabonomics and its applications with particular emphasis on clinical applications.


CONCLUSIONS
We conclude with the suggestion that metabonomics offers a platform for further biomarker development, drug development, and in the field of medicine.
Goldsmith
Paul
P
Hepatopancreatobiliary and Transplant Unit, St. James's University Hospital, Leeds, United Kingdom. goldsmithpaul@hotmail.com
Fenton
Hayley
H
Morris-Stiff
Gareth
G
Ahmad
Niaz
N
Fisher
Julie
J
Prasad
K Rajendra
KR
D015415:Biomarkers; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D013058:Mass Spectrometry; D008495:Medical Oncology / Q000639:trends; D055432:Metabolomics / Q000639:trends*; D013043:Specialties, Surgical / Q000639:trends; D014116:Toxicology / Q000639:trends; D014180:Transplantation / Q000639:trends
D015415:Biomarkers