Statistical analysis of variation in the human plasma proteome.
Quantifying the variation in the human plasma proteome is an essential prerequisite for disease-specific biomarker detection. We report here on the longitudinal and individual variation in human plasma characterized by two-dimensional difference gel electrophoresis (2-D DIGE) using plasma samples from eleven healthy subjects collected three times over a two week period. Fixed-effects modeling was used to remove dye and gel variability. Mixed-effects modeling was then used to quantitate the sources of proteomic variation. The subject-to-subject variation represented the largest variance component, while the time-within-subject variation was comparable to the experimental variation found in a previous technical variability study where one human plasma sample was processed eight times in parallel and each was then analyzed by 2-D DIGE in triplicate. Here, 21 protein spots had larger than 50% CV, suggesting that these proteins may not be appropriate as biomarkers and should be carefully scrutinized in future studies. Seventy-eight protein spots showing differential protein levels between different individuals or individual collections were identified by mass spectrometry and further characterized using hierarchical clustering. The results present a first step toward understanding the complexity of longitudinal and individual variation in the human plasma proteome, and provide a baseline for improved biomarker discovery.
Corzett
Todd H
TH
Physical and Life Sciences Directorate, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, 7000 East Avenue, Livermore, CA 94550, USA.
Fodor
Imola K
IK
Choi
Megan W
MW
Walsworth
Vicki L
VL
Turteltaub
Kenneth W
KW
McCutchen-Maloney
Sandra L
SL
Chromy
Brett A
BA
D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood*; D001798:Blood Proteins / Q000032:analysis*; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D019295:Computational Biology / Q000379:methods*; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D015180:Electrophoresis, Gel, Two-Dimensional / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D025341:Principal Component Analysis; D020543:Proteome / Q000032:analysis*; D012737:Sex Factors
D015415:Biomarkers; D001798:Blood Proteins; D020543:Proteome