Lipid metabolites as potential diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers for acute community acquired pneumonia.
Early diagnosis of acute community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is important in patient triage and treatment decisions. To identify biomarkers that distinguish patients with CAP from non-CAP controls, we conducted an untargeted global metabolome analysis for plasma samples from 142 patients with CAP (CAP cases) and 97 without CAP (non-CAP controls). Thirteen lipid metabolites could discriminate between CAP cases and non-CAP controls with area-under-the-receiver-operating-characteristic curve of >0.8 (P ≤ 10(-9)). The levels of glycosphingolipids, sphingomyelins, lysophosphatidylcholines and L-palmitoylcarnitine were higher, while the levels of lysophosphatidylethanolamines were lower in the CAP cases than those in non-CAP controls. All 13 metabolites could distinguish CAP cases from the non-infection, extrapulmonary infection and non-CAP respiratory tract infection subgroups. The levels of trihexosylceramide (d18:1/16:0) were higher, while the levels of lysophosphatidylethanolamines were lower, in the fatal than those of non-fatal CAP cases. Our findings suggest that lipid metabolites are potential diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers for CAP.
State Key Laboratory for Emerging Infectious Diseases, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China; Carol Yu Centre for Infection, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China; Research Centre of Infection and Immunology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China; Department of Microbiology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
Kelvin K W
KK
To
Department of Microbiology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
Kim-Chung
KC
Lee
State Key Laboratory for Emerging Infectious Diseases, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China; Carol Yu Centre for Infection, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China; Research Centre of Infection and Immunology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China; Department of Microbiology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
Samson S Y
SS
Wong
Department of Microbiology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
Kong-Hung
KH
Sze
Department of Microbiology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
Yi-Hong
YH
Ke
Department of Microbiology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
Yin-Ming
YM
Lui
Department of Pathology, Hong Kong Sanatorium Hospital, Hong Kong SAR, China.
Bone S F
BS
Tang
Department of Microbiology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
Iris W S
IW
Li
State Key Laboratory for Emerging Infectious Diseases, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China; Carol Yu Centre for Infection, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China; Research Centre of Infection and Immunology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China; Department of Microbiology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
Susanna K P
SK
Lau
State Key Laboratory for Emerging Infectious Diseases, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China; Carol Yu Centre for Infection, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China; Research Centre of Infection and Immunology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China; Department of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
Ivan F N
IF
Hung
Department of Pathology, The University of Hong Kong Hong Kong SAR, China.
Chun-Yiu
CY
Law
Department of Pathology, The University of Hong Kong Hong Kong SAR, China.
Ching-Wan
CW
Lam
State Key Laboratory for Emerging Infectious Diseases, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China; Carol Yu Centre for Infection, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China; Research Centre of Infection and Immunology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China; Department of Microbiology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China. Electronic address: kyyuen@hku.hk.
Kwok-Yung
KY
Yuen
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood*; D017714:Community-Acquired Infections / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology*; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010949:Plasma / Q000737:chemistry; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology*; D011379:Prognosis; D055815:Young Adult
D015415:Biomarkers; D008055:Lipids
Biomarkers; Glycolipids; Phospholipids; Pneumonia; Sphingolipids