Matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization/time-of-flight mass spectrometry for clinical diagnosis

Clin Chim Acta. 2013 Jan 16:415:266-75. doi: 10.1016/j.cca.2012.10.032. Epub 2012 Oct 23.

Abstract

Background: Matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization/time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry is known as an extremely sensitive analytical tool for characterizing different types of biological compounds including proteins, peptides and lipids. Since MALDI-TOF analysis requires very simple sample pretreatment, the technique can be used for rapidly detecting biochemical compounds serving as disease biomarkers.

Results: This mini-review focuses on the applications of MALDI-TOF in the detection of potential disease biomarkers in various biological samples.

Conclusions: The potential disease biomarkers are mostly abundant proteins, peptides, or lipids including: albumin; hemoglobin; α-defensins; trimethylamine; phospholipids; and glycated α- and β-globin, which are indicators of albuminuria; fecal occult blood and ischemic stroke; dry eye disease and/or aging; trimethylaniuria; breast cancer; and diabetes, respectively.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Aging / metabolism
  • Albuminuria / diagnosis
  • Albuminuria / metabolism
  • Biomarkers / analysis
  • Breast Neoplasms / diagnosis*
  • Breast Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Dry Eye Syndromes / diagnosis*
  • Dry Eye Syndromes / metabolism
  • Feces / chemistry
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Lipids / analysis
  • Occult Blood*
  • Proteins / analysis
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization / statistics & numerical data*
  • Stroke / diagnosis
  • Stroke / metabolism
  • Tissue Extracts / chemistry*

Substances

  • Biomarkers
  • Lipids
  • Proteins
  • Tissue Extracts