Proteomic Methods for Biomarker Discovery in Urine

Serum Biomarkers of Erectile Dysfunction in Diabetes Mellitus: A Systematic Review of Current Literature

INTRODUCTION

Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a common complication in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM). However, the utility of serum biomarkers as clinical surrogates for the development and/or progression of ED is unknown.

AIM

To summarize the current literature for serum biomarkers for ED in DM and emphasize areas for future research.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Human subject data demonstrating the utility of serum markers for the development and progression of ED in patients with DM.

METHODS

We performed a systematic PubMed-Medline search in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement using Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) for articles published from January 1, 2000 through December 31, 2016 of serum biomarkers for development or progression of ED in patients with DM using erectile dysfunction [MeSH] AND (biomarkers [MeSH] or inflammation mediators [MeSH] or intercellular signaling peptides and proteins [MeSH] or cell adhesion molecules [MeSH]). A thorough review of these studies was completed.

RESULTS

Of the 327 abstracts screened, 12 full-text studies were assessed and 1 study was excluded. Eleven studies assessing serum biomarkers for ED in patients with DM were included in this review. The most studied serum biomarkers for ED in men with DM included endothelial dysfunction markers such as serum E-selectin, endothelial progenitor cells, and endothelial microparticles and specific markers of inflammation such as interleukin-10, ratio of tumor necrosis factor-α to interleukin-10, and reactive oxygen species such as nitric oxide and malondialdehyde. Reliable serum biomarkers will enable earlier diagnosis and objective monitoring of disease progression and responses to treatment in patients with ED.

CONCLUSION

Serum biomarkers for ED in men with DM are very limited. Future longitudinal studies with uniform patient characteristics are needed to evaluate the potential clinical use of serum biomarkers in men with DM for the development and progression of ED. Patel DP, Craig JR, Myers JB, et al. Serum Biomarkers of Erectile Dysfunction in Diabetes Mellitus: A Systematic Review of Current Literature. Sex Med Rev 2017:5:339-348.

MALDI-MS Imaging in the Study of Glomerulonephritis

Glomerulonephritis (GNs) are one of the most frequent causes of chronic kidney disease (CKD), a renal condition that often leads to end-stage renal failure, and a careful assessment of these diseases is essential for prognostic and therapeutic purposes. The application of MALDI-MSI directly on bioptic renal tissue represents a new stimulating perspective and facilitates the detection of specific proteomic indicators that are directly correlated with the pathological alterations that occur within the glomeruli during the development of glomerulonephritis. Here, we describe the standard workflow for the MALDI-MSI analysis of clinical fresh-frozen and FFPE renal biopsies and highlight how the obtained molecular information, when combined with histology, can be used to detect specific protein markers of GNs.

Changing the concepts of immune-mediated glomerular diseases through proteomics

Standard classification of glomerular diseases is based on histopathologic abnormalities. The recent application of proteomic technologies has resulted in paradigm changes in the understanding and classification of idiopathic membranous nephropathy and membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis. Those examples provide evidence that proteomics will lead to advances in understanding of the molecular basis of other glomerular diseases, such as lupus nephritis. Proof of principle experiments show that proteomics can be applied to patient renal biopsy specimens. This viewpoint summarizes the advances in immune-mediated glomerular diseases that have relied on proteomics, and potential future applications are discussed.