title: Metabolomics reveals metabolic biomarkers of Crohn's disease.
abstract: The causes and etiology of Crohn's disease (CD) are currently unknown although both host genetics and environmental factors play a role. Here we used non-targeted metabolic profiling to determine the contribution of metabolites produced by the gut microbiota towards disease status of the host. Ion Cyclotron Resonance Fourier Transform Mass Spectrometry (ICR-FT/MS) was used to discern the masses of thousands of metabolites in fecal samples collected from 17 identical twin pairs, including healthy individuals and those with CD. Pathways with differentiating metabolites included those involved in the metabolism and or synthesis of amino acids, fatty acids, bile acids and arachidonic acid. Several metabolites were positively or negatively correlated to the disease phenotype and to specific microbes previously characterized in the same samples. Our data reveal novel differentiating metabolites for CD that may provide diagnostic biomarkers and/or monitoring tools as well as insight into potential targets for disease therapy and prevention.
authors.affiliation: Ecology Department, Division of Earth Sciences, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California, United States of America.
authors.forename: Janet
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jansson
authors.forename: Ben
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Willing
authors.forename: Marianna
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lucio
authors.forename: Ages
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fekete
authors.forename: Johan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dicksved
authors.forename: Jonas
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Halfvarson
authors.forename: Curt
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tysk
authors.forename: Philippe
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Schmitt-Kopplin
mesh_terms: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism*; D003424:Crohn Disease / Q000378:metabolism*; D005583:Fourier Analysis; D006801:Humans; D013058:Mass Spectrometry
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor