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Cardiovascular

Cardiovascular Metabolomics

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) refers to a group of conditions that affect the heart and blood vessels. Of these, coronary artery disease is the most common type of CVD that arises due to the deposition of cholesterol inside the arteries, leading to the obstruction of blood circulation.1 Such obstructions in the supply of blood to the heart or brain may be life-threatening. Metabolomics and lipidomics hold promise for the identification of biomarkers of disease progression as well as for identifying potential targets for pharmacological intervention.
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Early Detection of Cardiovascular Disease and Better Treatments

Despite significant advances in the treatment of CVD, it continues to be the leading cause of death worldwide, demonstrating the need for better preventive strategies.1 According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 17.9 million people die each year from CVD, which accounts for an estimated 32% of all deaths worldwide. Therefore, developing better strategies to combat CVDs is of global importance and should be regarded as a priority. Improved and early diagnosis of CVD may effectively shift the focus of the therapy from treatment to prevention and thereby improve the overall survival. The discovery and validation of novel biomarkers of CVD can help support drug development and early disease detection.

Elucidate Cardiovascular Disease Mechanisms Through Metabolomics and Lipidomics

The Global Discovery Panel provides a high-fidelity and reproducible analysis of the current state of a biological sample to help identify biomarkers and reveal changes in key biological pathways. Our unmatched chemical library can identify different classes of metabolites and pathways. Moreover, as complex lipids play an important role in the development of CVD, accurate identification and quantification provided by the Complex Lipids Targeted Panel are essential for biomarker discovery and other biological insights. Global metabolomics and lipidomics offer the opportunity to profile thousands of biochemicals in an unbiased fashion to enable the discovery of novel disease mechanisms and biomarkers.

Discover Novel Biomarkers for Early Diagnosis and Pharmacological Intervention

Understanding the underlying biology of CVD is important in identifying biomarkers that will enable disease prevention, detection, and optimal treatment efficacy. Metabolon’s reference library contains 5,400+ metabolites from serum, tissue, and cells. Our Complex Lipids Targeted Panel, which can identify up to 1100 lipid species, is the only available platform providing both complete and quantitative lipidomic analysis. Metabolomic and lipidomic profiling represent a unique and powerful platform to provide insights into the molecular processes influencing CVDs. With more than 20 years of experience and continuous innovation, Metabolon has created the industry’s most advanced system for measuring and understanding the metabolome. Metabolon’s technology can drive critical insights into the mechanisms of CVD.

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Metabolomics Panels for Cardiovascular Disease

Amino Acids Targeted Panel

Amino acids (AA) are the foundational building blocks for peptides and proteins. These small molecules regulate metabolic pathways that are involved in cell maintenance, growth, reproduction, and immunity. Branched chain amino acids play a large role in building muscle tissue and participate in increasing protein synthesis. Amino acids also play a role in cell signaling, gene expression and protein phosphorylation. Maintaining an optimal balance of amino acids is vital to maintaining a stable equilibrium of physiological processes.
Learn more about the Amino Acids Targeted Panel
Amino Acids Targeted Panel
Beta-Hydroxybutyrate Single Analyte Assay

Beta-Hydroxybutyrate Single Analyte Assay

β-Hydroxybutyrate (BHB, 3-hydroxybutyrate) is an endogenous ketone body that accumulates during periods of fasting, calorie restriction and prolonged exercise. It is created via a multi-step process involving the break-down of fatty acids into acetyl CoA, conversion to acetoacetate and reduction to β-hydroxybutyrate in the liver. BHB is the primary ketone found in the blood and is necessary for brain function especially when glucose is unavailable. It also provides neuroprotective benefits, such as relieving oxidative stress and inhibition of apoptotic pathway in cells.

Learn more about the Beta-Hydroxybutyrate Single Analyte Assay

C4 Single Analyte Assay

7-α-hydroxy-4-cholesten-3-one (C4) is an intermediate in the biosynthesis of bile acids from cholesterol. The precursor to C4 is 7α-hydroxycholesterol which is produced from cholesterol via the hepatic enzyme, 7α-hydroxylase. 7-α-hydroxylase catalyzes the rate-limiting step in bile acid synthesis and its activity is tightly regulated via the FXR receptor. Measurement of the stable metabolite C4, a product of the next oxidative enzymatic reaction after 7-α-hydroxylase, is reflective of hepatic de-novo bile acid synthesis and FXR receptor activation. Bile acid malabsorption is associated with a variety of gastrointestinal pathologies (eg, irritable bowel syndrome, ileal disease) and is characterized by elevated serum C4 levels.
Learn more about the C4 Single Analyte Assay
C4 Single Analyte Assay
Central Carbons Targeted Panel

Central Carbons Targeted Panel

Central carbon metabolism involves the enzymatic conversion of sugars into metabolic precursors that are used to generate the entire biomass of the cell. The metabolites in this panel include key citric acid cycle compounds that connect carbohydrate, fat, and protein metabolism. In addition to supplying key metabolic precursors, central carbon metabolism is used to oxidize simple sugar molecules obtained from food to supply energy to living systems. Measurement of central carbon metabolites has great industrial relevance since it may allow the engineering of selected metabolic steps to optimize carbon flow toward precursors for industrially important metabolites.
Learn more about the Central Carbons Targeted Panel

Free Fatty Acids Targeted Panel

Fatty acids play many physiologically important roles in an organism. They are not only key metabolites of energy storage and production but also the basic building blocks of complex lipids that form cellular membranes. A variety of bioactive forms of fatty acid metabolites, known as lipid mediators, act as local hormones and are involved in many physiological systems and pathological processes. Free fatty acids (FFA, non-esterified fatty acids, NEFA) are the nonbound fraction of the total fatty acid pool. The determination of FFAs in plasma (or serum) is of clinical relevance as the association between FFAs and many diseases is well-known (eg, insulin resistance/type 2 diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disease).
Learn more about the Free Fatty Acids Targeted Panel
Free Fatty Acids Targeted Panel
Salivary Glucose Single Analyte Assay

Salivary Glucose Single Analyte Assay

Daily monitoring of glucose levels is an essential part of managing diabetes. However, blood glucose testing usually involves finger pricks, an invasive procedure that is troublesome to some patients. Therefore, increasing efforts have been made to develop a non-invasive method by self-testing salivary glucose levels, which are two orders of magnitude lower than those in blood.
Learn more about the Salivary Glucose Single Analyte Assay

Impaired Glucose Tolerance Targeted Panel

Impaired Glucose Tolerance is a prediabetic state of hyperglycemia that is associated with insulin resistance and an increased risk of cardiovascular pathology (Barr, 2007). The condition occurs when blood glucose levels remain high for an extended period after oral ingestion of glucose but not high enough to be diagnosed as type 2 diabetes.

Impaired Glucose Tolerance can be assessed with a single fasted blood draw by measuring a panel of selected metabolites comprised of two small organic acids (α-hydroxybutyric acid (AHB) and 4-methyl-2-oxopentanoic acid (4MOP)), 2 lipids (oleic acid and linoleoyl glycerophosphocholine (LGPC)), a ketone body (β-hydroxybutyric acid (BHBA)), an amino acid (serine), a vitamin (pantothenic acid (vitamin B5)), and glucose.

Learn more about the Impaired Glucose Tolerance Targeted Panel
Impaired Glucose Tolerance Targeted Panel
Insulin Resistance Targeted Panel

Insulin Resistance Targeted Panel

Insulin resistance is a critical pathophysiological state underlying several chronic conditions, including type-2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease (CVD), hypertension, and polycystic ovarian syndrome. Insulin resistance is evident when glucose builds up in the blood stream instead of being absorbed by the body’s cells. It is a result of a diminished response to the hormone insulin at the whole body, organ, or cellular level.

A panel of biomarkers comprised of a small organic acid (α-hydroxybutyric acid (AHB)), 2 lipids (oleic acid and linoleoylglycero-phosphocholine (LGPC)) and insulin identifies insulin resistance with a single fasting blood sample and may have value as an early indicator of risk for the development of prediabetes and type-2 diabetes.

Learn more about the Insulin Resistance Targeted Panel

Metal Analysis Targeted Panel

Metabolon’s ICP-MS-based Metal Analysis Targeted Panel provides precise measurements of biologically important metal ions in biological samples. In addition to the well-established problems of toxicity associated with several metals, the vital role these ions play in a variety of biological pathways whether by catalyzing enzymatic reactions or stabilizing protein structures is still becoming clear. Intimately intertwined with the proteome and metabolome, metal ions represent an intrinsic piece vital to the holistic understanding of biological phenomena ranging from development through normal functioning to disease. Without an understanding of the role of these metals, a complete understanding of biological processes is not possible. The Metal Analysis Targeted Panel measures a variety of metals ions ranging from the macro level (ppm) including Na, K, and Ca to the micro level (ppb) including Mo, Cu, and Ni.
Learn more about the Metal Analysis Targeted Panel
Metal Analysis Targeted Panel

“Metabolomics is clearly linked to genotype and, more interestingly, to phenotype. It allows a unique view of the relationships among genes, gene expression, environments, lifestyles, microbiomes, treatments, and pathologies.”1

Metabolon in Action

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Biomarker Discovery in Insulin Resistance

Metabolon global metabolomics was used to develop Quantose™, an algorithm that can accurately predict insulin resistance via novel biomarkers with a single fasting blood sample.

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GWAS and Metabolomics Profiling to Predict Antihypertensive Drug Responses

This study leveraged the power of genomics and metabolomics to study a complex multigenetic disease and provide further insight into possible treatment options for hypertension.

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Canine Mitral Valve Disease

The Metabolon Global Discovery Panel identified changes in metabolic pathways and biomarkers with potential clinical utility in canine heart disease.

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Biomarkers for the Early Stages of Heart Failure

This study provides a comprehensive metabolite analysis of a rodent model of hypertension, offering insights into the changes in cardiac energy metabolism early in hypertension development. The early detection of metabolic abnormalities could serve as biomarkers for hypertension-induced left ventricular hypertrophy.

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Interested in Further Studies?

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Why Metabolon?

Once you see the full value of metabolomics, the only remaining question is who does it best? While many laboratories have metabolite profiling or analytical chemistry capabilities, comprehensive metabolomics technologies are extremely rare. Accurate, unbiased metabolite identification across the entire metabolome introduces signal-to-noise challenges that very few labs are equipped to handle. Also, translating massive quantities of data into actionable information is slow, if not impossible, for most because proper interpretation takes two things that are in short supply: experience and a comprehensive database.

Only Metabolon has all four core metabolomics capabilities

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Coverage

Ability to interrogate thousands of metabolites across diverse biochemical space, revealing new insights and opportunities

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Comparability

Ability to integrate the data from different studies into the same dataset, in different geographies, among different patients over time

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Competency

Ability to inform on proper study design, generate high‐quality data, derive biological insights, and make actionable recommendations

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Capacity

Ability to process hundreds of thousands of samples quickly and cost‐efficiently to service rapidly growing demand

Partner with Metabolon to access:

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A library of 5,400+ known metabolites, 2,000 in human plasma, all referenced in the context of biochemical pathways

  • That’s 5x the metabolites of the closest competitor
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Unparalleled depth and breadth of experience analyzing and interpreting metabolomic data to find meaningful results

  • 10,000+ projects with hundreds of clients
  • 2,000+ publications covering 500 diseases, including numerous peer-reviewed journals such as Cell, Nature and Science
  • Nearly 40 PhDs in data science, molecular biology, and biochemistry

Using our robust platform and visualization tools, our experts are uniquely able to tell you more about your molecule and develop assay panels to help you zero in on the results you need.

Related Cardiovascular Disease Metabolomics Resources

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References

1. International Foundation for Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders. Facts about IBS. Available at http://www.aboutibs.org/what-is-ibs/facts-about-ibs-2.html. Accessed 08-02-2022.

2. National Institute of Health. Digestive Diseases Statistics for the United States. Available at https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/health-statistics/digestive-diseases. Accessed 08-02-2022.

3. Sung H, Ferlay J, Siegel RL, et al. Global Cancer Statistics 2020: GLOBOCAN Estimates of Incidence and Mortality Worldwide for 36 Cancers in 185 Countries. CA Cancer J Clin. 2021;71(3):209-249. doi:10.3322/caac.21660