Journal of Proteomics & Bioinformatics
Open Access

Abstract

Using Proteomics to Understand Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms: Where Are We?

Tania Gamberi, Alessandra Modesti, Francesca Magherini, Tania Fiaschi, Elisa Valocchia, Merry L Lindsey and Pietro Amedeo Modesti

Proteomics have been widely used to investigate potential biomarkers in a variety of diseases. Aortic aneurysm is an increasingly common vascular disorder with frequently fatal implications. However, there is no established diagnosis other than the one based on aneurysmal size. Despite widespread investigation, biomarkers for abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) development, progression and rupture are still lacking. A proteomic approach could reveal novel biomarkers. MEDLINE/PubMed and EMBASE were searched with the medical subject heading abdominal aortic aneurysm and keywords: size, rupture and expansion rate and proteomics. Studies investigating the association among AAA expansion, rupture or size with tissue, secretome and circulating biomarkers using proteomics were selected. Sixteen papers were identified. To summarize the data pointed out by these papers, we classified into functional categories, based on Gene Ontology, the proteins identified in tissue, secretome and in plasma/serum. This analysis highlighted that most of these proteins belong to categories related to cell adhesion, cytoskeleton, proteolysis, lipid metabolic process, blood coagulation, and acute phase response. We noted that some of these proteins correlated to AAA in all biological specimens. These proteins could be candidate biomarkers even if larger clinical studies are needed to evaluate their value as ‘biomarkers’, and to advance them to clinical use.