title: Identification of novel biomarkers for Parkinson's disease by metabolomic technologies.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease (PD) involves complex interactions between environmental and genetic factors. Metabolomics can shed light on alterations in metabolic pathways in many diseases, including neurodegenerative diseases. In the present study, we attempted to elucidate the candidate metabolic pathway(s) associated with PD.
  
  
  METHODS
  Serum samples were collected from 35 individuals with idiopathic PD without dementia and 15 healthy age-matched control participants without PD. This analysis used a combination of three independent platforms: ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC/MS/MS) optimised for basic species, UPLC/MS/MS optimised for acidic species and gas chromatography/MS (GC/MS).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The metabolomic profiles of PD were clearly different from normal controls. PD profiles had significantly lower levels of tryptophan, caffeine and its metabolites, bilirubin and ergothioneine, and significantly higher levels of levodopa metabolites and biliverdin than those of normal controls. Alterations in the bilirubin/biliverdin ratio and ergothioneine can indicate oxidative stress intensity and may suggest elevated oxidative stress and/or insufficient ability for scavenging free radicals, which could contribute to PD pathogenesis. Decreased serum tryptophan level is associated with psychiatric problems in PD. A decrease in serum caffeine levels is consistent with an inverse association of caffeine consumption with development of PD based on past epidemiological studies.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Metabolomic analysis detected biomarkers associated with PD pathogenesis and disease progression. Since critical metabolic biomarkers need to be identified in PD, future studies should include assay validation and replication in independent cohorts.
authors: Department of Neurology, Juntendo University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
authors: Taku
authors: T
authors: Hatano
authors: Department of Neurology, Juntendo University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
authors: Shinji
authors: S
authors: Saiki
authors: Department of Neurology, Juntendo University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
authors: Ayami
authors: A
authors: Okuzumi
authors: Metabolon Inc., Durham, North Carolina, USA.
authors: Robert P
authors: RP
authors: Mohney
authors: Department of Neurology, Juntendo University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan Core Research for Evolutionary Science and Technology (CREST), Japan Science and Technology Agency, Tokyo, Japan.
authors: Nobutaka
authors: N
authors: Hattori
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D055432:Metabolomics; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers
keywords: MOVEMENT DISORDERS; PARKINSON'S DISEASE