Current Proteomics - Online First

The COVID-19 pandemic, caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, has had a significant global impact since its declaration as a public health emergency in January 2020. Symptoms of COVID-19 can range from mild to severe, including fever, cough, fatigue, and shortness of breath. This study aimed to investigate the clinical symptoms and proteomic differences between non-hospitalized COVID-19 patients and healthy individuals.

Clinical data of 6231 COVID-19 patients of different age groups and sexes were collected and analyzed. Proteins were separated by SDS-PAGE and identified by MALDI-TOF. 900 serum samples were collected, with 100 samples per patient group and one healthy control group.

In the control group of healthy individuals, five proteins (HAPTO, IGKC, FUT10, CO3, SESQ2) were expressed with a score of 1+, serving as a reference for the other groups. Group 9, consisting of individuals who had recovered (IgG positive), showed negative results for all five proteins due to anti-IgG antibody production in memory cells. The significant differences in protein expression compared to the control group indicated up-regulation and down-regulation of these proteins. Positive PCR or IgG and IgM results led to notable differences in protein expression across all studied groups.

The altered protein expression in infected individuals compared to healthy controls may suggest the potential for these proteins to serve as biomarkers for disease diagnosis and prognosis.

Insulin is a key hormone in our systems. Upon binding of insulin to its receptors in fat and muscle tissues, tens of proteins in the insulin signaling pathway are involved in the process of GLUT4 vesicle recruitment to the Plasma Membrane (PM) and the absorption of serum glucose. Deficits in the aforementioned pathway lead to insulin resistance and eventually to Type II Diabetes Mellitus.

We appreciate the contribution of phytochemicals in the treatment of diabetes. Yet, in vitro and in silico studies are needed to validate the safety and efficacy of the phytochemicals, plus their action mechanisms.

Herein, we tested two phytochemicals, caffeic acid and ferulic acid in vitro and in silico. We shed light on the insulin signaling proteins as plausible therapeutic targets using in silico studies, via AutoDock and SwissADME.

Results obtained in vitro indicate that Caffeic Acid (CA) increased GLUT4 translocation at 125µM by 31% in the absence of insulin, and 24.5% in presence of insulin, when compared to the control. Ferulic Acid (FA) was less potent as an enhancer of GLUT4 translocation. Best docking results were found for the binding of the phytochemicals CA and FA to PDK1, AKT, IRS1 and PTEN proteins of the insulin signaling, with comparable results.

These findings indicate that CA and FA possess a limited anti-diabetic potency by increasing GLUT4 trafficking to the PM in skeletal muscles. These results suggest that these compounds are candidates for further investigation in pre-clinical and clinical stages of drug discovery.

Biliary Atresia (BA) causes neonatal cholestasis jaundice. The primary therapeutic treatment for BA is the Kasai portoenterostomy. Current diagnostic approaches for BA are imprecise and time-consuming, making early diagnosis crucial for successful treatment outcomes.

This study aims to analyze proteins from Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells (PBMCs) obtained from children with BA compared with healthy children

We employed a large-scale, total shotgun quantitative serum proteomics approach to analyze the protein from PBMC samples from a discovery cohort. This approach allowed for the simultaneous identification and quantification of multiple proteins, enabling the detection of disease-specific protein expression patterns. The study is proteomic-based study.

We identified 24 proteins, by Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS) analysis that exhibited high discriminatory power for five subjects with BA post-Kasai operation compared to ten healthy controls. ATP2A3, LIN28B, SLC25A3, ITGB3, COX5A, and HLA-B identified proteins of upregulation were predicted to associate with BA post-Kasai operation.

Our findings highlight the utility of proteomic techniques in BA research. The identified proteomic markers offer promise for improving BA diagnostic accuracy and timeliness, leading to enhanced treatment outcomes for affected children.

Proteomic analysis revealed a set of potential biomarkers for early and accurate diagnosis of biliary atresia. These biomarkers hold significant clinical value and have the potential to transform the management of biliary atresia by facilitating timely intervention and improving patient outcomes.