title: Proteomics in Ménière disease.
abstract: Ménière's disease (MD) is a disorder of the inner ear characterized by an insidious onset and aspecific symptoms, such as dizziness, vertigo, tinnitus, and hearing loss, that may become very debilitating. The presence of endolymphatic hydrops is a common feature in MD patients, but the pathophysiology is still largely unknown. In this study, we have used a proteomics-driven approach to identify potential biomarkers of MD. To this end, plasma was obtained from whole blood of 16 individuals previously diagnosed as suffering from MD and compared to plasma from healthy donors. A depletion of the highly abundant proteins (i.e., albumin, IgG, transferrin, etc.) was performed in order to enhance the chance of detection of the less represented ones, therefore reducing the noise-background. Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis, followed by in-gel tryptic digestion of the selected spots and LC-MS/MS analysis, allowed us to identify a set of proteins whose expression appears to be differentially modulated in patients versus controls. In particular: complement factor H and B, fibrinogen alpha and gamma chains, beta-actin and pigment epithelium derived factor are over expressed; on the other hand, the levels of beta-2 glycoprotein-1, vitamin D binding protein and apolipoprotein-1 are significantly decreased in the plasma of MD-affected individuals. Even though preliminary and not necessarily linked directly to the molecular pathogenesis of the disease, our original findings suggest that a molecular signature, represented by the plasma protein profile previously described, might represent a potentially powerful, innovative and not invasive tool for early diagnosis and clinical management of MD patients. J. Cell. Physiol. 227: 308-312, 2012. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
authors: Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Audiology and Phoniatrics Unit, Magna Graecia University, Catanzaro, Italy. chiarella@unicz.it
authors: Giuseppe
authors: G
authors: Chiarella
authors: Milena
authors: M
authors: Saccomanno
authors: Domenica
authors: D
authors: Scumaci
authors: Marco
authors: M
authors: Gaspari
authors: Maria Concetta
authors: MC
authors: Faniello
authors: Barbara
authors: B
authors: Quaresima
authors: Marina
authors: M
authors: Di Domenico
authors: Carmela
authors: C
authors: Ricciardi
authors: Claudio
authors: C
authors: Petrolo
authors: Claudia
authors: C
authors: Cassandro
authors: Francesco Saverio
authors: FS
authors: Costanzo
authors: Giovanni
authors: G
authors: Cuda
authors: Ettore
authors: E
authors: Cassandro
mesh_terms: D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis / Q000097:blood; D002853:Chromatography, Liquid; D015180:Electrophoresis, Gel, Two-Dimensional; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013058:Mass Spectrometry; D008575:Meniere Disease / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D040901:Proteomics
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers