title: Plasma amino acids patterns and age of onset of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
abstract: The aim of this study was to verify whether abnormalities in plasma amino acid (AA) levels could be biological correlates of the age of onset in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). We undertook plasma AA profiling in a large population comprising 117 newly diagnosed ALS patients and 117 matched controls. ALS patients were stratified in early (58 patients aged < 55 years) versus late onset (59 patients aged > 74 years). We applied a rapid and reproducible method for the analysis of AA using amine reactive isotope coded tags in conjunction with liquid chromatography coupled to Multiple Reaction Monitoring-Mass Spectrometry. Results showed that values of only three AA were significantly different in ALS patients and controls. We found lower levels of leucine and higher levels of glutamate and leucine in early-onset ALS compared to their matched controls. In conclusion, different AA patterns related to the ALS age of onset were found, providing insight into possibly aberrant biochemical pathways that might unlock key pathological pathways.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Molecular Toxicology.
authors.forename: Matteo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cecchi
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Messina
authors.forename: Luisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Airoldi
authors.forename: Elisabetta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pupillo
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bandettini di Poggio
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Calvo
authors.forename: Massimiliano
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Filosto
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lunetta
authors.forename: Jessica
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mandrioli
authors.forename: Federica
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pisa
authors.forename: Roberta
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pastorelli
authors.forename: Ettore
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Beghi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017668:Age of Onset; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000596:Amino Acids / Q000097:blood*; D000690:Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis*; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D019540:Area Under Curve; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D013058:Mass Spectrometry; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D000596:Amino Acids
keywords: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis; age at onset; plasma amino acids; spectrometry