Unraveling the Metabolic Changes in Acute Pancreatitis: A Metabolomics-Based Approach for Etiological Differentiation and Acute Biomarker Discovery
Greta Dancu,
Cristi Tarta,
Carmen Socaciu,
Felix Bende,
Mirela Danila,
Roxana Sirli,
Ioan Sporea,
Bogdan Miutescu,
Alina Popescu
Affiliations
Greta Dancu
Center for Advanced Research in Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine II, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Eftimie Murgu Sq. No. 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
Cristi Tarta
Department X, 2nd Surgical Clinic, Researching Future Chirurgie 2, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Eftimie Murgu Sq. No. 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
Carmen Socaciu
Department of Food Science, Faculty of Food Science and Technology, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Felix Bende
Center for Advanced Research in Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine II, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Eftimie Murgu Sq. No. 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
Mirela Danila
Center for Advanced Research in Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine II, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Eftimie Murgu Sq. No. 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
Roxana Sirli
Center for Advanced Research in Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine II, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Eftimie Murgu Sq. No. 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
Ioan Sporea
Center for Advanced Research in Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine II, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Eftimie Murgu Sq. No. 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
Bogdan Miutescu
Center for Advanced Research in Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine II, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Eftimie Murgu Sq. No. 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
Alina Popescu
Center for Advanced Research in Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine II, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Eftimie Murgu Sq. No. 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
Acute pancreatitis (AP) remains a challenging medical condition, where a deeper metabolic insight could pave the way for innovative treatments. This research harnessed serum metabolomics to discern potential diagnostic markers for AP and distinguish between its biliary (BAP) and alcohol-induced (AAP) forms. Leveraging high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry, the metabolic signatures of 34 AP patients were contrasted against 26 healthy participants, and then between different etiologies of AP. The results identified metabolites primarily from glycerophospholipids, glycerolipids, fatty acyls, sterol lipids, and pteridines and derivative classes, with the Human Metabolome Database aiding in classification. Notably, these metabolites differentiated AP from healthy states with high AUROC values above 0.8. Another set of metabolites revealed differences between BAP and AAP, but these results were not as marked as the former. This lipidomic analysis provides an introduction to the metabolic landscape of acute pancreatitis, revealing changes in multiple lipid classes and metabolites and identifying these metabolites. Future research could add and discover new diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic strategies enhancing the management of acute pancreatitis.
