Akiyama T, Saigusa D, Inoue T, Tokorodani C, Akiyama M, Michiue R, Mori A, Hishinuma E, Matsukawa N, Shibata T, Tsuchiya H, Kobayashi K. Exploration of urine metabolic biomarkers for new-onset, untreated pediatric epilepsy: A gas and liquid chromatography mass spectrometry-based metabolomics study.
Brain Dev 2024;
46:180-186. [PMID:
38171994 DOI:
10.1016/j.braindev.2023.12.004]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2023] [Revised: 12/02/2023] [Accepted: 12/21/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE
The discovery of objective indicators for recent epileptic seizures will help confirm the diagnosis of epilepsy and evaluate therapeutic effects. Past studies had shortcomings such as the inclusion of patients under treatment and those with various etiologies that could confound the analysis results significantly. We aimed to minimize such confounding effects and to explore the small molecule biomarkers associated with the recent occurrence of epileptic seizures using urine metabolomics.
METHODS
This is a multicenter prospective study. Subjects included pediatric patients aged 2 to 12 years old with new-onset, untreated epilepsy, who had had the last seizure within 1 month before urine collection. Controls included healthy children aged 2 to 12 years old. Those with underlying or chronic diseases, acute illnesses, or recent administration of medications or supplements were excluded. Targeted metabolome analysis of spot urine samples was conducted using gas chromatography (GC)- and liquid chromatography (LC)-tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS).
RESULTS
We enrolled 17 patients and 21 controls. Among 172 metabolites measured by GC/MS/MS and 41 metabolites measured by LC/MS/MS, only taurine was consistently reduced in the epilepsy group. This finding was subsequently confirmed by the absolute quantification of amino acids. No other metabolites were consistently altered between the two groups.
CONCLUSIONS
Urine metabolome analysis, which covers a larger number of metabolites than conventional biochemistry analyses, found no consistently altered small molecule metabolites except for reduced taurine in epilepsy patients compared to healthy controls. Further studies with larger samples, subjects with different ages, expanded target metabolites, and the investigation of plasma samples are required.
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