Divination on protein grounds
The new test will tell the whole truth about health
Yulia Vorobyova, Vesti
The human body contains 30 thousand different proteins. Some of them enter the bloodstream due to targeted secretion – this is necessary to ensure many biological processes in the body. Accordingly, in various diseases, the "protein picture" changes. Also, proteins can enter the blood as a result of "leakage" – due to damage and death of certain cells.
Thus, both purposefully secreted and accidentally ingested proteins can signal certain problems and risks, or, on the contrary, that the body is bursting with health.
For doctors, the idea of such monitoring looks extremely attractive from the point of view of prevention, diagnosis and treatment of many ailments. However, it is not so easy to follow thousands of "wards" with high accuracy.
An international team of scientists tried to take the first steps in this direction and developed a test that received the telling name "liquid health check" (liquid health check).
Researchers have created a special platform that works with a sample of a patient's blood plasma. Plasma is the largest component of blood and is a clear liquid that remains after the removal of red and white blood cells, as well as platelets, scientists explain.
The main actors in the new test are molecules known as aptamers. These are DNA fragments that bind to the target protein. As a rule, certain fragments bind to certain proteins. In other words, each of them represents a key to a specific lock (a protein that needs to be identified).
Using genetic sequencing technology, scientists find aptamers and use them to determine which proteins and in what concentrations are present in a particular plasma sample.
During the work, specialists used plasma samples of 17 thousand people, in which more than five thousand proteins were detected (in total, about 85 million protein targets were caught).
Then the authors analyzed the test results using statistical methods and machine learning methods and developed predictive models based on the data obtained.
These models allow us to identify a number of dangerous conditions or the risk of their occurrence. These are, for example, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, impaired kidney function, changes in the level of fat in the liver. In addition, based on this test, doctors can conclude about the patient's bad habits (smoking, alcohol abuse), the level of his physical activity.
Scientists admit that not all models demonstrate the same high accuracy yet. For example, the models associated with determining the percentage of body fat showed the highest predictive abilities (according to these data, the risk of developing obesity and concomitant disorders can be determined). But the models predicting cardiovascular diseases clearly require improvement.
The researchers are sure that the "liquid health check" has a lot of advantages over standard tests. This is not only high accuracy, but also simplicity, speed, and low price.
At the same time, the patient can undergo such a test regularly. Comparing the results, doctors will be able to quickly identify a dangerous condition or make recommendations for improving health.
The fact is that (unlike the genome) the proteome, that is, the body's set of proteins, changes over time. These changes may indicate the occurrence of diseases, the appearance of bad habits, weight gain, decreased physical activity and, of course, certain health improvements.
The collection and evaluation of such data will make medical care more personalized, experts conclude.
However, further improvements and checks will be required before the new analysis is approved and implemented into clinical practice.
More information about this development is described in an article presented in the journal Nature Medicine (Williams et al., Plasma protein patterns as comprehensive indicators of health).
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