Cardiovascular Proteomics: Tools to Develop Novel Biomarkers and Potential Applications

Proteomics is the new systems biological approach to the study of proteins and protein variation on a large scale as a result of biological processes and perturbations. The field is undergoing a dramatic transformation, owing to the completion and annotation of the human genome as well as technological advances to study proteins on a large scale. The new science of proteomics can potentially yield novel biomarkers reflecting cardiovascular disease, establish earlier detection strategies, and monitor responses to therapy. Technological advances permit the unprecedented large-scale identification of peptide sequences in a biological sample with mass spectrometry, whereas gel-based techniques provide further refinement on the status of post-translational modification. The application of high throughput protein evaluation with a subset of predefined targets, identified through proteomics, microarray profiling, and pathway analysis in animal models and human tissues, is gaining momentum in research and clinical applications. Proteomic analysis has provided important insights into ischemic heart disease, heart failure, and cardiovascular pathophysiology. The combination of proteomic biomarkers with clinical phenotypes and genetic haplotype information can lead to a more precise diagnosis and therapy on an individual basis—the fundamental premise of “personalized medicine.”