The aim of this study was to characterize the serum metabolic profiles of patients with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and amnestic mild cognitive impairment (AMCI) using metabolomics based on gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Serum samples were collected from patients with AD (n  = 30) and AMCI (n  = 32), and normal healthy controls (NOR, n  = 40). Metabolite profiles were performed with GC/MS in conjunction with multivariate statistical analysis, and possible biomarker metabolites were identified. Thirty‐one kinds of endogenous metabolites could be identified simultaneously. Eleven components were chosen as biomarker metabolites between AD and NOR groups, and these metabolites were closely related to seven biological pathways: arginine and proline metabolism, phenylalanine metabolism, β‐alanine metabolism, primary bile acid synthesis, glutathione metabolism, starch and sucrose metabolism, and steroid hormone biosynthesis. Meanwhile, 10 components were chosen as biomarker metabolites between AMCI and NOR groups and seven biological pathways were closely related: arginine and proline metabolism, phenylalanine metabolism, citrate cycle, alanine, aspartate and glutamate metabolism, taurine and hypotaurine metabolism, starch and sucrose metabolism, and steroid hormone biosynthesis. Our study distinguished serum metabotypes between AD, AMCI and NOR patients successfully. The implementation of this metabolomic strategy may help to develop biochemical insight into the metabolic alterations in AD/AMCI and will be helpful for the further understanding of pathogenesis.

中文翻译：

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GC / MS对阿尔茨海默病和轻度认知障碍患者的血清代谢组学分析

这项研究的目的是使用基于气相色谱-质谱（GC / MS）的代谢组学来表征阿尔茨海默氏病（AD）和轻症轻度认知障碍（AMCI）患者的血清代谢谱。从AD（n  = 30）和AMCI（n  = 32）患者以及正常健康对照（NOR，n = 40）。使用GC / MS结合多变量统计分析进行代谢物分析，并鉴定可能的生物标志物代谢物。可以同时鉴定出31种内源性代谢物。选择了11种成分作为AD和NOR组之间的生物标志物代谢物，这些代谢物与7个生物学途径密切相关：精氨酸和脯氨酸代谢，苯丙氨酸代谢，β丙氨酸代谢，初生胆汁酸合成，谷胱甘肽代谢，淀粉和蔗糖代谢以及类固醇激素生物合成。同时，从AMCI和NOR组之间选择了10种成分作为生物标志物代谢物，并且七个生物学途径密切相关：精氨酸和脯氨酸代谢，苯丙氨酸代谢，柠檬酸盐循环，丙氨酸，天冬氨酸和谷氨酸代谢，牛磺酸和低牛磺酸代谢，淀粉和蔗糖代谢，和类固醇激素的合成。我们的研究成功地区分了AD，AMCI和NOR患者之间的血清代谢型。该代谢组学策略的实施可能有助于发展对AD / AMCI代谢改变的生化认识，并有助于进一步了解发病机理。