Background
Muscle diseases have been associated with changes in the expression of proteins involved in energy metabolism. To this
Conclusions
We suggest that some biomarkers of energy metabolism could be translated into the clinics to contribute to the improvement of the clinical handling of patients affected by rare diseases.
Methods
Herein, we have used Reverse Phase Protein Microarrays (RPMA), a high throughput technique, to investigate quantitative changes in protein expression with the aim of identifying potential biomarkers in rare neuromuscular diseases. A cohort of 73 muscle biopsies that included samples from patients diagnosed of Duchenne (DMD), Becker (BMD), symptomatic forms of DMD and BMD in female carriers (Xp21 Carriers), Limb Girdle Muscular Dystrophy Type 2C (LGMD2C), neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis (NCL), glycogenosis type V (Mc Ardle disease), isolated mitochondrial complex I deficiency, intensive care unit myopathy and control donors were investigated. The nineteen proteins of energy metabolism studied included members of the mitochondrial oxidation of pyruvate, the tricarboxylic acid cycle, β-oxidation of fatty acids, electron transport and oxidative phosphorylation, glycogen metabolism, glycolysis and oxidative stress using highly specific antibodies.
Results
The results indicate that the phenotype of energy metabolism offers potential biomarkers that could be implemented to refine the understanding of the biological principles of rare diseases and, eventually, the management of these patients. Conclusions: We suggest that some biomarkers of energy metabolism could be translated into the clinics to contribute to the improvement of the clinical handling of patients affected by rare diseases.