title: Metabolomics in rheumatic diseases: desperately seeking biomarkers.
abstract: Metabolomics enables the profiling of large numbers of small molecules in cells, tissues and biological fluids. These molecules, which include amino acids, carbohydrates, lipids, nucleotides and their metabolites, can be detected quantitatively. Metabolomic methods, often focused on the information-rich analytical techniques of NMR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry, have potential for early diagnosis, monitoring therapy and defining disease pathogenesis in many therapeutic areas, including rheumatic diseases. By performing global metabolite profiling, also known as untargeted metabolomics, new discoveries linking cellular pathways to biological mechanisms are being revealed and are shaping our understanding of cell biology, physiology and medicine. These pathways can potentially be targeted to diagnose and treat patients with immune-mediated diseases.
authors.affiliation: Division of Rheumatology, Allergy and Immunology, University of California San Diego School of Medicine, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, California 92093-0656, USA.
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Guma
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Texas at Austin, 1400 Barbara Jordan Boulevard, Austin, Texas 78723, USA.
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tiziani
authors.affiliation: Division of Rheumatology, Allergy and Immunology, University of California San Diego School of Medicine, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, California 92093-0656, USA.
authors.forename: Gary S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Firestein
mesh_terms: D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D013058:Mass Spectrometry; D053858:Metabolic Networks and Pathways; D055432:Metabolomics; D012216:Rheumatic Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D018501:Antirheumatic Agents; D015415:Biomarkers