Differential expression of plasma proteins and pathway enrichments in pediatric diabetic ketoacidosis

Abstract Background In children with type 1 diabetes (T1D), diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) triggers a significant inflammatory response; however, the specific effector proteins and signaling pathways involved remain largely unexplored. This pediatric case–control study utilized plasma proteomics to exp...

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Main Authors: Paolo Spagnolo, Enis Cela, Maitray A. Patel, David Tweddell, Mark Daley, Cheril Clarson, Saverio Stranges, Gediminas Cepinskas, Douglas D. Fraser
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-01-01
Series:Molecular Medicine
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s10020-024-01056-7
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author Paolo Spagnolo
Enis Cela
Maitray A. Patel
David Tweddell
Mark Daley
Cheril Clarson
Saverio Stranges
Gediminas Cepinskas
Douglas D. Fraser
author_facet Paolo Spagnolo
Enis Cela
Maitray A. Patel
David Tweddell
Mark Daley
Cheril Clarson
Saverio Stranges
Gediminas Cepinskas
Douglas D. Fraser
author_sort Paolo Spagnolo
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background In children with type 1 diabetes (T1D), diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) triggers a significant inflammatory response; however, the specific effector proteins and signaling pathways involved remain largely unexplored. This pediatric case–control study utilized plasma proteomics to explore protein alterations associated with severe DKA and to identify signaling pathways that associate with clinical variables. Methods We conducted a proteome analysis of plasma samples from 17 matched pairs of pediatric patients with T1D; one cohort with severe DKA and another with insulin-controlled diabetes. Proximity extension assays were used to quantify 3072 plasma proteins. Data analysis was performed using multivariate statistics, machine learning, and bioinformatics. Results This study identified 214 differentially expressed proteins (162 upregulated, 52 downregulated; adj P < 0.05 and a fold change > 2), reflecting cellular dysfunction and metabolic stress in severe DKA. We characterized protein expression across various organ systems and cell types, with notable alterations observed in white blood cells. Elevated inflammatory pathways suggest an enhanced inflammatory response, which may contribute to the complications of severe DKA. Additionally, upregulated pathways related to hormone signaling and nitrogen metabolism were identified, consistent with increased hormone release and associated metabolic processes, such as glycogenolysis and lipolysis. Changes in lipid and fatty acid metabolism were also observed, aligning with the lipolysis and ketosis characteristic of severe DKA. Finally, several signaling pathways were associated with clinical biochemical variables. Conclusions Our findings highlight differentially expressed plasma proteins and enriched signaling pathways that were associated with clinical features, offering insights into the pathophysiology of severe DKA.
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spelling doaj-art-4095c847039c48dc9e133118acbf3d8d2025-08-20T02:35:47ZengBMCMolecular Medicine1528-36582025-01-0131111410.1186/s10020-024-01056-7Differential expression of plasma proteins and pathway enrichments in pediatric diabetic ketoacidosisPaolo Spagnolo0Enis Cela1Maitray A. Patel2David Tweddell3Mark Daley4Cheril Clarson5Saverio Stranges6Gediminas Cepinskas7Douglas D. Fraser8Medicine, Campus Bio-Medico University of RomePhysiology and Pharmacology, Western UniversityEpidemiology and Biostatistics, Western UniversityComputer Science, Western UniversityEpidemiology and Biostatistics, Western UniversityPediatrics, Western UniversityEpidemiology and Biostatistics, Western UniversityMedical Biophysics, Western UniversityPhysiology and Pharmacology, Western UniversityAbstract Background In children with type 1 diabetes (T1D), diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) triggers a significant inflammatory response; however, the specific effector proteins and signaling pathways involved remain largely unexplored. This pediatric case–control study utilized plasma proteomics to explore protein alterations associated with severe DKA and to identify signaling pathways that associate with clinical variables. Methods We conducted a proteome analysis of plasma samples from 17 matched pairs of pediatric patients with T1D; one cohort with severe DKA and another with insulin-controlled diabetes. Proximity extension assays were used to quantify 3072 plasma proteins. Data analysis was performed using multivariate statistics, machine learning, and bioinformatics. Results This study identified 214 differentially expressed proteins (162 upregulated, 52 downregulated; adj P < 0.05 and a fold change > 2), reflecting cellular dysfunction and metabolic stress in severe DKA. We characterized protein expression across various organ systems and cell types, with notable alterations observed in white blood cells. Elevated inflammatory pathways suggest an enhanced inflammatory response, which may contribute to the complications of severe DKA. Additionally, upregulated pathways related to hormone signaling and nitrogen metabolism were identified, consistent with increased hormone release and associated metabolic processes, such as glycogenolysis and lipolysis. Changes in lipid and fatty acid metabolism were also observed, aligning with the lipolysis and ketosis characteristic of severe DKA. Finally, several signaling pathways were associated with clinical biochemical variables. Conclusions Our findings highlight differentially expressed plasma proteins and enriched signaling pathways that were associated with clinical features, offering insights into the pathophysiology of severe DKA.https://doi.org/10.1186/s10020-024-01056-7PediatricDiabetic ketoacidosisProteomicsProtein expressionPathways
spellingShingle Paolo Spagnolo
Enis Cela
Maitray A. Patel
David Tweddell
Mark Daley
Cheril Clarson
Saverio Stranges
Gediminas Cepinskas
Douglas D. Fraser
Differential expression of plasma proteins and pathway enrichments in pediatric diabetic ketoacidosis
Molecular Medicine
Pediatric
Diabetic ketoacidosis
Proteomics
Protein expression
Pathways
title Differential expression of plasma proteins and pathway enrichments in pediatric diabetic ketoacidosis
title_full Differential expression of plasma proteins and pathway enrichments in pediatric diabetic ketoacidosis
title_fullStr Differential expression of plasma proteins and pathway enrichments in pediatric diabetic ketoacidosis
title_full_unstemmed Differential expression of plasma proteins and pathway enrichments in pediatric diabetic ketoacidosis
title_short Differential expression of plasma proteins and pathway enrichments in pediatric diabetic ketoacidosis
title_sort differential expression of plasma proteins and pathway enrichments in pediatric diabetic ketoacidosis
topic Pediatric
Diabetic ketoacidosis
Proteomics
Protein expression
Pathways
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s10020-024-01056-7
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