Blood transcriptomics and metabolomics for personalized medicine.

• Authors: Shuzhao Li, Emory University; Andrei Todor, Emory University; Ruiyan Luo, Georgia State University
• Journal Title: Computational and Structural Biotechnology Journal
• Volume: Volume 14
• Publisher: Research Network of Computational and Structural Biotechnology (RNCSB) | 2016, Pages 1-7
• Type of Work: Article | Final Publisher PDF
• Publisher DOI: http://doi.org/10.1016/j.csbj.2015.10.005
• Subjects: Biology, Molecular; Health Sciences, General
• Keywords: Blood systems biology; Data integration; Metabolomics; Personalized medicine; Transcriptomics

Abstract

Molecular analysis of blood samples is pivotal to clinical diagnosis and has been intensively investigated since the rise of systems biology. Recent developments have opened new opportunities to utilize transcriptomics and metabolomics for personalized and precision medicine. Efforts from human immunology have infused into this area exquisite characterizations of subpopulations of blood cells. It is now possible to infer from blood transcriptomics, with fine accuracy, the contribution of immune activation and of cell subpopulations. In parallel, high-resolution mass spectrometry has brought revolutionary analytical capability, detecting > 10,000 metabolites, together with environmental exposure, dietary intake, microbial activity, and pharmaceutical drugs. Thus, the re-examination of blood chemicals by metabolomics is in order. Transcriptomics and metabolomics can be integrated to provide a more comprehensive understanding of the human biological states. We will review these new data and methods and discuss how they can contribute to personalized medicine.