Urine proteome analysis reflects atherosclerotic disease in an ApoE-/- mouse model and allows the discovery of new candidate biomarkers in mouse and human atherosclerosis

Mol Cell Proteomics. 2012 Jul;11(7):M111.013847. doi: 10.1074/mcp.M111.013847. Epub 2012 Feb 27.

Abstract

Noninvasive diagnosis of atherosclerosis via single biomarkers has been attempted but remains elusive. However, a previous polymarker or pattern approach of urine polypeptides in humans reflected coronary artery disease with high accuracy. The aim of the current study is to use urine proteomics in ApoE(-/-) mice to discover proteins with pathophysiological roles in atherogenesis and to identify urinary polypeptide patterns reflecting early stages of atherosclerosis. Urine of ApoE(-/-) mice either on high fat diet (HFD) or chow diet was collected over 12 weeks; urine of wild type mice on HFD was used to exclude diet-related proteome changes. Capillary electrophoresis coupled to mass spectrometry (CE-MS) of samples identified 16 polypeptides specific for ApoE(-/-) mice on HFD. In a blinded test set, these polypeptides allowed identification of atherosclerosis at a sensitivity of 90% and specificity of 100%, as well as monitoring of disease progression. Sequencing of the discovered polypeptides identified fragments of α(1)-antitrypsin, epidermal growth factor (EGF), kidney androgen-regulated protein, and collagen. Using immunohistochemistry, α(1)-antitrypsin, EGF, and collagen type I were shown to be highly expressed in atherosclerotic plaques of ApoE(-/-) mice on HFD. Urinary excretion levels of collagen and α(1)-antitrypsin fragments also significantly correlated with intraplaque collagen and α(1)-antitrypsin content, mirroring plaque protein expression in the urine proteome. To provide further confirmation that the newly identified proteins are relevant in humans, the presence of collagen type I, α(1)-antitrypsin, and EGF was also confirmed in human atherosclerotic disease. Urine proteome analysis in mice exemplifies the potential of a novel multimarker approach for the noninvasive detection of atherosclerosis and monitoring of disease progression. Furthermore, this approach represents a novel discovery tool for the identification of proteins relevant in murine and human atherosclerosis and thus also defines potential novel therapeutic targets.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Apolipoproteins E / deficiency*
  • Apolipoproteins E / genetics
  • Atherosclerosis / diagnosis
  • Atherosclerosis / etiology
  • Atherosclerosis / genetics
  • Atherosclerosis / urine*
  • Biomarkers / urine
  • Collagen Type I / urine*
  • Diet, High-Fat / adverse effects
  • Disease Progression
  • Electrophoresis, Capillary
  • Epidermal Growth Factor / urine*
  • Humans
  • Mass Spectrometry
  • Mice
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Peptides / urine
  • Plaque, Atherosclerotic / diagnosis
  • Plaque, Atherosclerotic / etiology
  • Plaque, Atherosclerotic / genetics
  • Plaque, Atherosclerotic / urine*
  • Proteome / metabolism
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Sequence Analysis, Protein
  • alpha 1-Antitrypsin / urine*

Substances

  • Apolipoproteins E
  • Biomarkers
  • Collagen Type I
  • Peptides
  • Proteome
  • alpha 1-Antitrypsin
  • Epidermal Growth Factor