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At least 631 records · Page 35Linked to original sources

Four-dimensional data independent acquisition proteomics and metabolomics reveal mechanisms of hydrogen-rich water at Zusanli (ST36) point against triple-negative breast cancer in mice.

OBJECTIVE: To develop a safe and effective green therapy for triple-negative breast cancer, this study combines hydrogen-rich water with acupuncture point injection, and finds that it can prevent tumor growth and minimize cancer metastasis. METHODS: After 21 d of hydrogen rich water injection treatment on 4T1 (mouse breast cancer cells) xenograft mice, in order to systematically identify differentially expressed proteins in tumor samples between the model group and the Zusanli (ST36) group injected with hydrogen rich water at acupoints, with a focus on functional proteins or signaling pathways related to tumor occurrence and development, researchers conducted four-dimensional data independent acquisition (4D-DIA) proteomic analysis on tumor tissues. In order to further investigate the dynamic changes of metabolites after therapeutic intervention, researchers conducted liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry untargeted metabolomics identification and analysis on mouse serum. The results of the joint proteomics-metabolomics analysis were validated using experimental methods such as immunofluorescence, Western blotting, and quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction detection. RESULTS: Injecting hydrogen-rich water into acupoints significantly inhibited tumor growth (P < 0.05). 4D-DIA proteomics and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses uncovered pathways such as T helper 1 cell (Th1) and T helper 2 cell (Th2) cell differentiation. The KEGG metabolic pathways identified in the metabolomics analysis included galactose metabolism along with fructose and mannose metabolism. Based on the combined proteomics and metabolomics analysis, the key pathways included the C-type lectin receptor signaling pathway. The major cancer-related differential proteins detected in Th1 and Th2 cell differentiation [interleukin 6 signal transducer, nuclear factor of activated T cells 4, recombinant mitogen activated protein kinase 10 (MAPK10), and MAPK11] were upregulated after the injection of hydrogen-rich water into the Zusanli (ST36) acupoint, whereas Linker for activation of T cells (Lat), signal transducer and activator of transcription 1, and protein kinase C, theta were downregulated. CONCLUSION: The injection of hydrogen-rich water into the Zusanli (ST36) acupoint effectively inhibited the hyperplasia of 4T1 BC cells and enhanced their apoptosis, potentially exerting a therapeutic effect through multiple pathways and targeting various sites.

Animals↗

BISON: bi-clustering of spatial omics data with feature selection.

MOTIVATION: The advent of next-generation sequencing-based spatially resolved transcriptomics (SRT) techniques has reshaped genomic studies by enabling high-throughput gene expression profiling while preserving spatial and morphological context. Understanding gene functions and interactions in different spatial domains is crucial, as it can enhance our comprehension of biological mechanisms, such as cancer-immune interactions and cell differentiation in various regions. It is necessary to cluster tissue regions into distinct spatial domains and identify discriminating genes (DGs) that elucidate the clustering result, referred to as spatial domain-specific DGs. Existing methods for identifying these genes typically rely on a two-stage approach, which can lead to the phenomenon known as double-dipping. RESULTS: To address the challenge, we propose a unified Bayesian latent block model that simultaneously detects a list of DGs contributing to spatial domain identification while clustering these DGs and spatial locations. The efficacy of our proposed method is validated through a series of simulation experiments, and its capability to identify DGs is demonstrated through applications to benchmark SRT datasets. AVAILABILITY AND IMPLEMENTATION: The R/C++ implementation of BISON is available at https://github.com/new-zbc/BISON.

Software↗

CryoSCAPE: Scalable immune profiling using cryopreserved whole blood for multi-omic single cell and functional assays.

BACKGROUND: The field of single cell technologies has rapidly advanced our comprehension of the human immune system, offering unprecedented insights into cellular heterogeneity and immune function. While cryopreserved peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) samples enable deep characterization of immune cells, challenges in clinical isolation and preservation limit their application in underserved communities with limited access to research facilities. We present CryoSCAPE (Cryopreservation for Scalable Cellular And Proteomic Exploration), a scalable method for immune studies of human PBMC with multi-omic single cell assays using direct cryopreservation of whole blood. RESULTS: Comparative analyses of matched human PBMC from cryopreserved whole blood and density gradient isolation demonstrate the efficacy of this methodology in capturing cell proportions and molecular features. The method was then optimized and verified for high sample throughput using fixed single cell RNA sequencing and liquid handling automation with a single batch of 60 cryopreserved whole blood samples. Additionally, cryopreserved whole blood was demonstrated to be compatible with functional assays, enabling this sample preservation method for clinical research. CONCLUSIONS: The CryoSCAPE method, optimized for scalability and cost-effectiveness, allows for high-throughput single cell RNA sequencing and functional assays while minimizing sample handling challenges. Utilization of this method in the clinic has the potential to democratize access to single-cell assays and enhance our understanding of immune function across diverse populations.

Humans↗

Precisely designed keystone metabolites boost shrimp disease resistance by recruiting symbionts via the lipoxin A4-AP-1 pathway.

BACKGROUND: Gut metabolites and symbionts are indispensable for host health, yet the precise identification of keystone metabolites and construction of synthetic microbial communities (SynComs) to enhance disease resistance remains limited. RESULTS: Using Litopenaeus vannamei as a model, we identified pyruvic acid and DL-glutamine (1:2) as keystone metabolites by borrowing the microbial ecology principles of bio-indicators and driver taxa. Dietary supplementation with these metabolites sufficiently protected shrimp from white feces syndrome (WFS). Multi-omics analyses demonstrated that keystone metabolites exerted positive effects by enriching beneficial Ruegeria lacuscaerulensis, Bacillus subtilis and Nioella nitratireducens, strengthening the gut network stability, and&#xa0;enhancing shrimp immunity, which collectively potentiated WFS resistance. The recruited three strains were consumers and producers of the two keystone metabolites, and discriminative strains between healthy and diseased shrimp across global datasets. A SynCom constructed from the three strains (4:3:2) replicated the efficacy of keystone metabolites. Both keystone metabolites and SynCom elevated shrimp gut and hepatopancreas lipoxin A4 (LXA4) levels, which suppressed the pro-inflammatory transcription factor AP-1, as validated by in vivo inhibition assay. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings demonstrate that precisely designed keystone metabolites enhance shrimp disease resistance through the recruitment of key symbionts-LXA4-AP-1 axis. The rationally designed keystone metabolites and SynCom are compelling biocontrol solutions in improving host disease resistance. Video Abstract.

Animals↗

Asynchronous transitions from high-risk hepatoblastoma to carcinoma.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Most pediatric hepatocellular tumors are classified as hepatoblastoma (HB) or hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), yet a subset exhibits mixed histological and molecular features. These hepatoblastomas with carcinoma features (HBCs) include cases provisionally designated as hepatocellular neoplasm-not otherwise specified (HCN-NOS). Their biology remains poorly understood, with unresolved questions about their cellular composition and outcomes. It is unclear whether HBCs comprise hybrid cells with combined HB and HCC characteristics (HBC cells) or admixtures of distinct HB and HCC cells. We characterized the biology, etiology, cellular composition, and evolutionary dynamics of HBCs. METHODS: We performed multi-omics profiling - including single-nucleus RNA sequencing, single-nucleus DNA sequencing, and multi-region longitudinal bulk RNA and DNA sequencing - to characterize HBC composition, evolution, and treatment response. Two-thirds of our samples were post-chemotherapy resections. RESULTS: HBCs comprise heterogeneous mixtures of HB-like, HBC-like, and HCC-like molecular cell types. Outcomes in HBC are significantly worse than in HB, and HBC cells are more chemoresistant than HB cells, with resistance shaped by their cell identity, genetic alterations, and embryonic differentiation stage. HBC cells originate from HB cells that were arrested at early hepatic stem cell development stages because of aberrant WNT signaling activation. Inhibition of WNT signaling promoted differentiation and enhanced sensitivity to chemotherapy. Furthermore, each analyzed HBC reflected a dynamic process of multiple HB-to-HBC and HBC-to-HCC transitions, underscoring their evolutionary complexity. A limitation of our study is our inability to pinpoint the role of chemotherapy-induced genome modifications. CONCLUSIONS: Multi-omics profiling of HBCs revealed key insights into their biology and composition, demonstrating that they originate from HB precursors at early hepatic stem cell development stages and that their differentiation arrest depends on sustained aberrant WNT signaling activity. IMPACT AND IMPLICATIONS: Hepatoblastomas with carcinoma features (HBCs) represent a poorly understood subset of pediatric liver tumors with mixed characteristics of hepatoblastoma (HB) and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Using multi-omics profiling, we show that HBCs comprise heterogeneous mixtures of HB-like, intermediate HBC-like, and HCC-like cell populations that arise from HB precursors arrested at early hepatic stem cell developmental stages due to aberrant WNT signaling. This differentiation arrest contributes to chemoresistance and poorer clinical outcomes compared with HB. Importantly, pharmacologic inhibition of WNT signaling promoted differentiation and increased chemotherapy sensitivity, suggesting a potential therapeutic strategy. These findings refine the biological classification of HBCs and highlight differentiation-based treatment approaches for this aggressive tumor subtype.

Multiomics↗

Shared genetic architecture between major depression and intrinsic brain functional connectome organization.

BACKGROUND: Major depression (MD) is increasingly understood as a disorder characterized by widespread abnormalities in intrinsic brain functional network organization. Although both MD and brain functional connectome architecture are highly heritable, the genetic architecture underlying their relationship remains poorly characterized. METHODS: We integrated genome-wide association studies of MD with 191 ICA-based resting-state functional connectome traits to investigate their shared genetic architecture. These traits captured intrinsic connectome organization across amplitude, functional connectivity, and global connectivity domains. Cross-trait genetic analyses were used to assess pleiotropic overlap between traits. Locus-level and gene-based analyses integrating multi-omics evidence were performed to characterize the biological relevance of shared genetic signals. RESULTS: We identified significant genetic overlap between MD and 148 of 191 brain functional connectome traits. Cross-trait analyses revealed widespread shared genetic signals organized into 627 genomic loci across amplitude, functional connectivity, and global connectivity measures. Among these, 193 loci showed evidence consistent with shared causal variants based on colocalization analyses. Gene-level integration mapped these loci to 1459 protein-coding genes (390 unique genes). Multi-layer prioritization identified 17 high-confidence genes supported by convergent genomic, transcriptomic, and proteomic evidence, with enrichment in neurodevelopmental and lipid-related metabolism pathways. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides a multi-scale characterization of the shared genetic architecture between MD and intrinsic brain functional connectome organization, revealing that shared genetic signals between MD and brain functional systems are distributed across multiple functional levels and converge at the molecular level.

Connectome↗

Spatiotemporal single-cell roadmap of human skin wound healing.

Wound healing is vital for human health, yet the details of cellular dynamics and coordination in human wound repair remain largely unexplored. To address this, we conducted single-cell multi-omics analyses on human skin wound tissues through inflammation, proliferation, and remodeling phases of wound repair from the same individuals, monitoring the cellular and molecular dynamics of human skin wound healing at an unprecedented spatiotemporal resolution. This singular roadmap reveals the cellular architecture of the wound margin and identifies FOSL1 as a critical driver of re-epithelialization. It shows that pro-inflammatory macrophages and fibroblasts sequentially support keratinocyte migration like a relay race across different healing stages. Comparison with single-cell data from venous and diabetic foot ulcers uncovers a link between failed keratinocyte migration and impaired inflammatory response in chronic wounds. Additionally, comparing human and mouse acute wound transcriptomes underscores the indispensable value of this roadmap in bridging basic research with clinical innovations.

Humans↗

Integrative Genomic, Transcriptomic and Epigenomic Analysis Reveals cis-regulatory Contributions to High-altitude Adaptation in Tibetan Pigs.

The Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, characterized by its extreme environmental conditions, presents significant challenges to life, making it an ideal region for studying adaptation and evolution. Tibetan pigs, known for their high genetic diversity and exceptional adaptability to high altitudes, serve as excellent models for investigating high-altitude adaptation. While previous studies have extensively identified genetic determinants associated with high-altitude adaptation, the molecular mechanisms, particularly cis-regulatory patterns, remain poorly understood. Here, we conducted a selective sweep analysis using 484 genomes from Chinese and Western pig breeds across various altitudes, revealing 38.56 Mb of genomic regions under selection in Tibetan pigs. Enrichment analysis identified the lung as the primary functional tissue involved in high-altitude adaptation, supported by tissue-specific transcriptional and regulatory patterns observed between Tibetan and Meishan pigs (low altitude). By integrating genomic, RNA-seq, ATAC-seq, and H3K27ac HiChIP data, we constructed comprehensive enhancer-promoter regulatory maps of candidate genes and pinpointed promising genetic determinants associated with high-altitude adaptation, including SNPs in EPAS1, KLF13, SPRED1, and CFD. These loci were predicted to influence chromatin accessibility and the interactions of regulatory elements, with altered binding strength of relevant transcription factors. Further in vitro experiments confirmed that these loci function as allele-specific enhancers, modulating the expression of target genes. Our findings elucidate the regulatory basis of high-altitude adaptation in Tibetan pigs and provide valuable insights for exploring hypoxia-related diseases in livestock and humans.

Animals↗

Epistemological issues in omics and high-dimensional biology: give the people what they want.

Gene expression microarrays have been the vanguard of new analytic approaches in high-dimensional biology. Draft sequences of several genomes coupled with new technologies allow study of the influences and responses of entire genomes rather than isolated genes. This has opened a new realm of highly dimensional biology where questions involve multiplicity at unprecedented scales: thousands of genetic polymorphisms, gene expression levels, protein measurements, genetic sequences, or any combination of these and their interactions. Such situations demand creative approaches to the processes of inference, estimation, prediction, classification, and study design. Although bench scientists intuitively grasp the need for flexibility in the inferential process, the elaboration of formal supporting statistical frameworks is just at the very start. Here, we will discuss some of the unique statistical challenges facing investigators studying high-dimensional biology, describe some approaches being developed by statistical scientists, and offer an epistemological framework for the validation of proffered statistical procedures. A key theme will be the challenge in providing methods that a statistician judges to be sound and a biologist finds informative. The shift from family-wise error rate control to false discovery rate estimation and to assessment of ranking and other forms of stability will be portrayed as illustrative of approaches to this challenge.

Computational Biology↗

Assessment and integration of publicly available SAGE, cDNA microarray, and oligonucleotide microarray expression data for global coexpression analyses.

Large amounts of gene expression data from several different technologies are becoming available to the scientific community. A common practice is to use these data to calculate global gene coexpression for validation or integration of other "omic" data. To assess the utility of publicly available datasets for this purpose we have analyzed Homo sapiens data from 1202 cDNA microarray experiments, 242 SAGE libraries, and 667 Affymetrix oligonucleotide microarray experiments. The three datasets compared demonstrate significant but low levels of global concordance (rc<0.11). Assessment against Gene Ontology (GO) revealed that all three platforms identify more coexpressed gene pairs with common biological processes than expected by chance. As the Pearson correlation for a gene pair increased it was more likely to be confirmed by GO. The Affymetrix dataset performed best individually with gene pairs of correlation 0.9-1.0 confirmed by GO in 74% of cases. However, in all cases, gene pairs confirmed by multiple platforms were more likely to be confirmed by GO. We show that combining results from different expression platforms increases reliability of coexpression. A comparison with other recently published coexpression studies found similar results in terms of performance against GO but with each method producing distinctly different gene pair lists.

Gene Expression Profiling↗

Proportionality-based association metrics in count compositional data.

Compositional data comprise vectors that describe the constituent parts of a whole. Data arising from various -omics platforms such as 16S and RNA sequencing are compositional in nature. In this kind of data, correlations between features on raw counts have no meaningful interpretation. Metrics of proportionality were formulated to address this problem. However, an inherent bias arises when these metrics are calculated empirically on count-based measures due to variability in read depths. We quantify the bias introduced by empirically calculating proportionality-based association metrics in count data. Additionally, we propose a means of estimating these metrics within a logit-normal multinomial model in pursuit of more accurate estimates. The model-based estimates are shown to outperform empirical estimates in simulated data and are applied to a mouse embryonic stem cell single-cell sequencing dataset, as well as a pediatric-onset multiple sclerosis metagenomic dataset.

Animals↗

Bioinformatics for cancer management in the post-genome era.

Human cancer is caused by multiple factors, such as genetic predisposition, chronic persistent inflammation, environmental factors, life style, and aging. Dysregulated proliferation, dysregulated adhesion, resistance to apoptosis, resistance to senescence, and resistance to anti-cancer drugs are features of cancer cells. Accumulation of multiple epigenetic changes and genetic alterations of cancer-associated genes during multi-stage carcinogenesis results in more malignant phenotypes. Post-genome science is characterized by omics data related to genome, transcriptome, proteome, metabolome, interactome, and epigenome as well as by high-throughput technology, such as whole-genome tiling oligonucleotide array, array CGH with 32,433 overlapping BAC clones, transcriptome microarray, mass spectrometry, tissue-based expression array, and cell-based transfection array. Benchtop oncology supplies Desktop oncology with large amounts of omics data produced by high-throughput technology. Desktop oncology establishes knowledge on cancer-related biomarkers, such as predisposition markers, diagnostic markers, prognostic markers, and therapeutic markers, by using bioinformatics and human intelligence of experts for data mining and text mining. Bedside oncology applies the knowledge established by Desktop oncology to determine therapeutics for cancer patients. Antibody drugs (Trastuzumab/Herceptin, Cetuximab/Erbitux, Bevacizumab/Avastin, et cetera), small molecule inhibitors for tyrosine kinases (Gefitinib/Iressa, Erlotinib/Tarceva, Imatinib/Gleevec, et cetera), conventional cytotoxic drugs, and anti-hormonal drugs are used for cancer chemotherapy. Biomarker monitoring contributes to therapeutic optional choice and drug dosage determination for cancer patients. Knowledge on biomarkers is feedforwarded from desktop to bedside in the translational research, and then biomarker monitoring is feedbacked from bedside to desktop in the reverse translational research. Desktop oncology is indispensable for cancer research in the post-genome era. Combination of genetic screening for cancer predisposition in the general population and precise selection of therapeutic options during cancer management could contribute to the realization of personalized prevention and to dramatically improve the prognosis of cancer patients in the future.

Antineoplastic Agents↗

Long non-coding RNAs link DNA methylation to immune regulatory networks in bovine subclinical mastitis.

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are emerging as important regulators of inflammatory and immune signaling, yet their contribution to bovine subclinical mastitis remains poorly defined. Here, we characterized the lncRNA expression landscape associated with disease in milk somatic cells of healthy and subclinical mastitic Vrindavani cattle. We identified 11,403 high-confidence lncRNAs, of which 104 were differentially expressed in subclinical mastitis (adjusted P&#x2009;<&#x2009;0.05; |log2FC| &#x2265; 1), with the vast majority upregulated in mastitic samples. Predicted cis- and trans-associated target analyses identified 637 non-redundant genes, and KEGG analysis identified 8 significantly enriched cis-associated pathways and 152 significantly enriched trans-associated pathways (adjusted P&#x2009;<&#x2009;0.05), predominantly enriched for immune and inflammation-related pathways. These findings prioritized a subset of mastitis-associated lncRNAs for subsequent methylation and interaction-network analyses. A subset of these lncRNAs further overlapped differentially methylated regions (DMRs), suggesting a potential association between lncRNA expression changes and DNA methylation alterations. Integration of lncRNA-miRNA and miRNA-mRNA interactions identified lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA interaction networks involving DMR-associated lncRNAs. Among the prioritized candidates, MSTRG.28878.1 showed overlap with a hypomethylated promoter-associated DMR, increased expression, and multiple connections within the predicted interaction network. Together, these findings identify candidate lncRNAs, methylation-associated loci, and predicted molecular interactions associated with bovine subclinical mastitis and provide a resource for future functional investigation of candidate non-coding RNA-associated mechanisms in disease.

Animals↗

Recent advancements in exosomal content analysis: the future of liquid biopsy.

Exosomes are widely acknowledged as an essential agent that carries biomarkers for specific diseases, representing the molecular status of their parent cells and providing extremely useful diagnostic insights. They can be isolated from different body fluids and contain a range of cargo molecules, including proteins, lipids, metabolites, and nucleic acids. Recent advancements in technology have greatly accelerated exosome research. Proteomics provides protein signatures linked to many pathological conditions, enabling quick and clinically scalable diagnostic tools, whereas high-throughput RNA-sequencing can be used to perform detailed transcriptome profiling. Exosomal biomarkers are showing promising clinical results in early detection of neurological diseases, infectious and cardiovascular disorders, oncology, and other medical conditions, hence accelerating therapeutic monitoring. Despite these advances, several challenges continue to hinder clinical translation including the lack of standardized isolation protocol, variability in exosome yield and purity, biological heterogeneity, and limited large-scale clinical validation. Addressing these limitations will be critical for the successful integration of exosome-based liquid biopsy into routine clinical practice. Overall, exosomes having significant potential as diagnostic tool, represent a transformative horizon in biomedical liquid biopsy research to redefine the landscape of less-invasive diagnostics and tailored clinical applications.

Humans↗

The application of two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and downstream analyses to a mixed community of prokaryotic microorganisms.

Summary In the post-genomic era, the focus of numerous researchers has moved to studying the functional products of gene expression. In microbiology, these "omic" approaches have largely been limited to pure cultures of microorganisms. Consequently, they do not provide information on gene expression in a complex mixture of microorganisms as found in the environment. Our method enabled the successful extraction and purification of the entire proteome from a laboratory-scale activated sludge system optimized for enhanced biological phosphorus removal, its separation by two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and the mapping of this metaproteome. Highly expressed protein spots were excised and identified using quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry with de novo peptide sequencing. The proteins isolated were putatively identified as an outer membrane protein (porin), an acetyl coenzyme A acetyltransferase and a protein component of an ABC-type branched-chain amino acid transport system. These proteins possibly stem from the dominant and uncultured Rhodocyclus-type polyphosphate-accumulating organism in the activated sludge. We propose the term "metaproteomics" for the large-scale characterization of the entire protein complement of environmental microbiota at a given point in time.

Acetyl-CoA C-Acyltransferase↗

Perineuronal net degradation in aggressive glioblastomas with KANK1::NTRK2 fusions.

BACKGROUND: Approximately 10% of glioblastomas harbor targetable genomic fusions. NTRK2 participates in a variety of fusion events that drive tumorigenesis. Two previous reports have described KANK1::NTRK2 fusions in adult glioblastoma patients with poor survival. METHODS: We performed a retrospective analysis of glioblastoma patients treated at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center (DHMC) from 2020 to 2025 to identify cases harboring KANK1::NTRK2 fusions. Clinical presentation, treatment, histopathologic features, and outcomes were reviewed. In addition, we conducted GeoMx whole-transcriptome and high-plex proteomic digital spatial profiling of a KANK1::NTRK2-positive glioblastoma and a comparator tumor from a long-term survivor. Candidate biomarkers were orthogonally validated using immunohistochemistry and/or immunofluorescence. RESULTS: Two patients with KANK1::NTRK2 fusion glioblastoma were identified, both demonstrating rapid progression, therapeutic resistance, and survival of less than 7 months. Proteomic profiling showed increased expression and activation of canonical NTRK2 downstream signaling pathways, particularly MEK1/2 and ERK1/2. This was accompanied by upregulation of extracellular matrix remodeling enzymes, including MMP3, MMP14, and ADAM15, along with reduced expression of extracellular matrix-associated transcripts and perineuronal net components in particular compared to a non-fusion glioblastoma. CONCLUSIONS: These limited, hypothesis-generating findings suggest constitutive NTRK2 signaling may promote coordinated extracellular matrix degradation and remodeling, potentially facilitating rapid and aggressive tumor growth and invasion in a subset of glioblastomas.

NTRK gene fusion↗

Application of genomics in preclinical drug safety evaluation.

Understanding the response of biological systems to xenobiotics is fundamental to the evaluation of drug safety. Toxicologists have traditionally gathered pathological, morphological, chemical and biochemical information from in vivo studies of preclinical species in order to assess drug safety and to determine how new drugs can be safely administered to the human patient population. In recent years the emerging "-omics" technologies have been developed and integrated into preclinical studies in order to better assess drug safety by gaining information on the cellular and molecular events underlying adverse drug reactions. Genomics approaches in particular have become readily available and are being applied in several stages of drug development. The burgeoning literature on what has become known as "toxicogenomics" has for the most part highlighted successful applications of gene expression profiling in predictive toxicology, enabling decisions to be made on the developability of a compound early in the drug development process. It is also becoming apparent that toxicogenomic approaches are good starting points to develop experiments designed to gain a mechanistic insight into drug toxicities within and across species. Gene expression arrays permit the measurement of responses of essentially all the genes in the entire genome to be monitored, and knowledge of the function of the genes affected can identify the potential mechanisms to then be confirmed using conventional biochemical, toxicological and pathological approaches. As toxicologists put these technologies into practice they build up a knowledge base to better characterize toxicities at the molecular level and to make the search for much needed, novel biomarkers of toxicity more achievable.

Drug Evaluation, Preclinical↗

Label-free detection methods for protein microarrays.

With the growth of the "-omics" such as functional genomics and proteomics, one of the foremost challenges in biotechnologies has become the development of novel methods to monitor biological process and acquire the information of biomolecular interactions in a systematic manner. To fully understand the roles of newly discovered genes or proteins, it is necessary to elucidate the functions of these molecules in their interaction network. Microarray technology is becoming the method of choice for such a task. Although protein microarray can provide a high throughput analytical platform for protein profiling and protein-protein interaction, most of the current reports are limited to labeled detection using fluorescence or radioisotope techniques. These limitations deflate the potential of the method and prevent the technology from being adapted in a broader range of proteomics applications. In recent years, label-free analytical approaches have gone through intensified development and have been coupled successfully with protein microarray. In many examples of label-free study, the microarray has not only offered the high throughput detection in real time, but also provided kinetics information as well as in situ identification. This article reviews the most significant label-free detection methods for microarray technology, including surface plasmon resonance imaging, atomic force microscope, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and MS and their applications in proteomics research.

Animals↗