| Abstract
Objective
Investigating signature serum metabolites and significantly differential proteins between spleen-stomach qi deficiency syndrome and non-spleen-stomach qi deficiency syndrome in stage III and IV gastric cancer based on untargeted metabolomics and quantitative proteomics.
Methods
This study collected plasma samples from a total of 16 patients with stage III and IV gastric cancer, including 8 cases with spleen-stomach qi deficiency syndrome and 8 cases without spleen-stomach qi deficiency syndrome. Non-targeted metabolomics analysis was performed using techniques such as metabolite extraction from samples, LC-MS detection, data analysis, spectral processing, database searching, and multivariate statistics. Proteomics research was conducted using techniques such as protein extraction, peptide digestion, mass spectrometry detection, data retrieval, and protein quantitative analysis. Ultimately, the study identified signature serum metabolites and significantly differential proteins between stage III and IV gastric cancer patients with and without spleen-stomach qi deficiency syndrome.
Results
In the metabolomics study, there were 61 significantly differential metabolites between the gastric cancer patients with spleen-stomach qi deficiency syndrome and those without, among which 17 metabolites were upregulated and 44 were downregulated. Positive ion enrichment analysis identified 13 metabolic pathways, including glutathione metabolism, ABC transporters, and arginine and proline metabolism. Negative ion enrichment analysis revealed 20 metabolic pathways, such as glycerolipid metabolism, phospholipase D signaling pathway, and fat digestion and absorption.
In the proteomics study, 84 proteins showed significant expression differences between the gastric cancer patients with spleen-stomach qi deficiency syndrome and those without. Among them, the expression levels of 27 proteins, including serum albumin, complement C6, and ficolin-3, were significantly increased, while the expression levels of 57 proteins, such as immunoglobulins, pro-cathepsin H, and Ig heavy chain variable region (fragment), were significantly decreased.
Conclusions
There are differences in serum metabolites and proteins between patients with stage Ⅲ and Ⅳ gastric cancer presenting with spleen-stomach qi deficiency syndrome and those without, which may be related to the material basis of different syndrome types and the pathogenesis of gastric cancer. The integration of multi-omics technologies provides a scientific and visual approach to the concept of "syndrome differentiation and treatment" in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) using modern scientific techniques. This holds significant importance for advancing the further development of traditional Chinese medicine. |