Identification of Blood Biomarkers for the Prediction of Coronary Plaque Status as Observed by Cardiac CT

Soliman Khatib , MIGAL-Galilee Research Institute & Tel-Hai College ,Israel
Jacob Vaya, MIGAL-Galilee Research Institute & Tel-Hai College ,Israel
Ali Khattib, MIGAL-Galilee Research Institute & Tel-Hai College ,Israel
Majdi Halabi , Ziv Medical Center, Israel
Inna Rosenfield. Ziv Medical Center, Israel

Atherosclerosis, a major cause of morbidity and mortality in the western world, involves stiffening of the arteries due to accumulation of lipids and oxidized lipids in the blood vessel walls which started the development of the artery plaque. As human plaque components interact directly with circulating blood elements, both may affect each other; the interaction between the blood and the plaque may generate biomarkers characterizing plaque condition and disease status. If such biomarkers could be identified, it may open ways to interrupt the disease and suggest treatment.

Serum metabolomics is an emerging discipline concerning comprehensive analyses of small molecules and provides powerful methods for biomarker discovery in biological systems. Metabolomics allow quantitative measurement of the multivariable metabolites responses of living systems to pathophysiological stimuli, in this case patients with coronary plaques.

The aim of the study was to search for blood biomarkers which can indicate coronary plaque status and stability in patients undergoing Cardiac CT angiography. Specific aims; 1- To recruit patients undergoing cardiac CT due to different medical reasons 2- To characterize coronary plaque state using the cardiac CT analysis. 3- To measure blood components levels including: A) blood biochemistry clinical measures, B) serum metabolomics using LC-MS; and 4( To correlate between blood biomarkers findings and the plaque status as analyzed by Cardiac CT angiography was generated.

Serum metabolomics was measured using the Thermo Scientific™ Q Exactive™ Hybrid Quadrupole-Orbitrap™ mass spectrometer. It combines quadrupole precursor ion selection and a high-resolution accurate-mass (HR/AM) Orbitrap mass analyzer with a Fourier transform - mass spectrometer (FT-MS) to deliver mass accuracy, sensitivity and fast polarity switching while maintaining sensitivity.