1.Mass Spectrometry-based Antibody Sequencing Technologies
Sheng-Mei LIU ; Peng XUE ; Xiao-Jian WANG
Progress in Biochemistry and Biophysics 2026;53(4):840-854
Antibodies play a critical role in adaptive immune responses and serve as key components in disease diagnosis and treatment. These molecules exhibit dynamic post-translational modifications (PTMs), such as glycosylation and phosphorylation, which regulate their effector functions. To date, nearly all of our knowledge about antibody repertoires has come from B cell receptor (BCR) sequencing (BCR-seq), which facilitates the profiling of clonal composition and the tracing of maturation trajectories within B-cell repertoires. However, circulating antibodies found in bodily fluids—such as serum, saliva, milk, mucosal secretions, and cerebrospinal fluid—exhibit diversities and specificities beyond what BCR-seq alone can predict. Therefore, identifying and quantifying antibody clonotypes at the protein level could enhance diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment strategies in personalized medicine. The critical gap between genotype and phenotype necessitates complementary methodologies that enable the direct characterization of antibody proteins in their native functional states. Mass spectrometry (MS)-based antibody repertoire sequencing (Ab-seq) is currently the only feasible approach for this task and primarily includes database-dependent methods—such as bottom-up, middle-down, and top-down approaches—as well as database-independent de novo sequencing technology. These strategies enable multi-level, high-precision characterization ranging from peptides and domains to intact antibody molecules. Unlike the shotgun strategy commonly used in routine proteomics, obtaining full sequences of all antibodies presents unique challenges. It requires specialized methodological adaptations to address issues related to dynamic range, sequence variation, and sample complexity. This review introduces the technical principles, methodological workflows, and recent applications of various mass spectrometry-based antibody repertoire sequencing (Ab-seq) strategies, with a focus on approaches designed to improve sequence coverage and identification accuracy. These include multi-enzyme digestion, hybrid fragmentation methods, and artificial intelligence-assisted de novo sequencing. By systematically comparing database-dependent techniques—such as bottom-up, middle-down, and top-down approaches—with database-independent de novo sequencing, this review outlines their respective advantages and limitations in terms of sample throughput, sequence coverage, post-translational modification characterization, and data analysis complexity. In addition, this review discusses emerging technological trends, including the integration of ion mobility separation, native mass spectrometry, and artificial intelligence-driven data interpretation, which are expected to enhance the depth and accuracy of antibody characterization. Although current methods continue to face challenges related to sample complexity, dynamic range, and unambiguous sequence variant assignment, we emphasize the importance of integrating BCR-seq and Ab-seq data to construct gene-protein association maps. These maps help validate sequence accuracy and facilitate epitope discovery. This dual-platform strategy helps bridge the gap between genotype and phenotype, thereby enhancing both the resolution and scope of antibody repertoire studies. Such an integrative approach also offers a valuable tool for therapeutic antibody development, structure-function analysis, and precise evaluation of vaccine efficacy.
2.18F-flortaucipir tau PET combined with APOE ε4 genotype for diagnosing mild cognitive impairment
Shaozhen YAN ; Zhigeng CHEN ; Sheng BI ; Yujie HE ; Hanxiao XUE ; Xiaoyin XU ; Zhigang QI ; Yong LIU ; Jie LU
Chinese Journal of Medical Imaging Technology 2025;41(2):191-195
Objective To explore the value of 18F-flortaucipir tau PET combined with APOE ε4 genotype status for diagnosing mild cognitive impairment(MCI).Methods A total of 213 MCI patients(MCI group)and 402 healthy controls(HC group)were selected from Alzheimer's disease neuroimaging initiative(ADNI)database.The neuropsychological information,APOE ε4 gene carrier status,tau PET and high-resolution structural MRI data were recorded.The random forest algorithm was used to screen the most informative brain regions of tau PET for diagnosing MCI,and the efficacy of tau PET for distinguishing MCI with or without APOE ε4 gene and HC were compared.Results Amygdala,parahippocampal gyrus,entorhinal cortex,posterior cingulate gyrus,inferior temporal gyrus,fusiform gyrus and middle temporal gyrus in turn were the important brain regions of tau PET for diagnosing MCI.The accuracy and the area under the curve(AUC)of tau PET standardized uptake value ratio(SUVR)model for identifying MCI with APOE ε4 gene and HC was 86.68%and 0.784,respectively,both higher than those for identifying MCI and HC,as well as MCI without APOE e4 gene and HC(with accuracy of 70.57%and 75.05%,and AUC of 0.711 and 0.609).Conclusion 18F-flortaucipir tau PET SUVR model established based on amygdala,parahippocampal gyrus,entorhinal cortex,posterior cingulate gyrus,inferior temporal gyrus,fusiform gyrus and middle temporal gyrus could be used to diagnosing MCI.Combining with APOE ε4 gene could further improve its efficacy.
3.In vivo effects of albendazole-glucan particles in the treatment of secondary Echinococcus metacestode infections in mice
Hai-shan YANG ; Sheng-xue LI ; Hai-xia ZHANG ; Hong-chang ZHAO ; Tong-chuan XING ; Xi-chen WU ; Xiang ZHANG ; Yan LIU
Chinese Journal of Zoonoses 2025;41(1):15-22
Albendazole-glucan particles(ABZ-GPS)and abendazole(ABZ)were used to treat secondary alveolar echinococ-cosis in mice.The therapeutic effects of ABZ-GPS on alveolar echinococcosis in vivo were evaluated,and the feasibility of using glucan particles as anti-hydatid drug carriers was further verified.Mice with echinococcosis were randomly divided into an ABZ group,glucan nanoparticle(GP)group,ABZ-GPS group,and control group.After four courses of administration with a final concentration of 50 mg/mL,the therapeutic effects of ABZ-GPS were evaluated on the basis of imaging,histopathological changes,ultrastructure,and immunology.After ABZ-GPS and ABZ administration,clear liver lesion tissue necrosis and large numbers of infiltrating lymphocytes were observed.Significant differences in the average cyst wet weight(t=7.83,P<0.05),were observed between the ABZ-GPS group and ABZ group.Imaging revealed that ABZ-GPs were targeted to liver tissue.Pa-thology and ultrastructure analyses demonstrated that the alveolar hydatid cells in the liver in the control group and GP group grew well,and the vesicles were large,filled with cystic fluid,and translucent or transparent;the cyst wall tension was high;no calcification was observed;the stratum corneum and germinal layer were clear;and more fertile capsules and different num-bers of protocephalospora were present in the liver.In the ABZ group,the capsular cavity collapsed,and showed partial necro-sis and lymphocyte infiltration.In the ABZ-GP group,the corneum and germinal layer of echinococcus vesicles were difficult to identify,and we observed bulbous necrosis,central calcification,fibrous tissue hyperplasia,inflammatory cell infiltration,coarser,shorter or absent microvilli of the germinal layer,nuclear shrinkage,dissolution or disappearance,clear expansion of cytoplasmic microtubules,and myelin-like or vacuole-like changes.Therefore,ABZ-GPs showed good targeting and killing ac-tivity in vivo in mice with secondary alveolar coccosis.
4.Protection Cartilage Injury and Alleviate Knee Osteoarthritis Pain of Electroacupuncture Combined with Massage in Osteoarthritis Rat Model
Yang LIU ; Xiaona XUE ; Yanan LYU ; Sheng GUO ; Peidong WEI
World Science and Technology-Modernization of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;27(1):292-300
Objective The protective effect and molecular mechanism of electroacupuncture combined with massage on cartilage damage in knee Osteoarthritis rats were explored.Methods 50 SD rats were selected and divided into a control group,a model group,an electroacupuncture group,a massage group,and an electroacupuncture+massage group of 10 rats each using an odd even number method.The rats in the control group were not treated with modeling,and the rats in the other groups were injected with Papain into the articular cavity to build the right knee Osteoarthritis(KOA)model.The massage and electroacupuncture groups were intervened with electroacupuncture and massage for 2 weeks.The improved Le-quesne MG scale was used to evaluate the behavioral performance of rats.The pressure pain value and heat pain threshold of rats before and after intervention were calculated.After eight weeks,the rats were euthanized and abdominal aortic blood was collected.The serum levels of pain mediators(K+),5-hydroxytryptamine(5-HT),and dopamine(DA)were measured by ELISA in each group of rats.The right knee joint of rats was taken for HE staining Mankin score,TUNEL chondrocyte apoptosis analysis.Toluidine blue staining was used to observe the changes of cartilage matrix polysaccharide;Western blot was used to detect the concentration and expression of cartilage matrix factor type Ⅱ collagen(Collagen Ⅱ),C-terminal peptide(CTX Ⅱ),type Ⅱ collagen C-precursor peptide(CPⅡ),apoptosis related proteins Bax,Bcl-2,Cleared caspase-3,YAP,p-YAP in the knee joint tissues of rats in each group.Results After the establishment of the KOA model,the Lequesne MG score of rats increased significantly(P<0.05).Compared with the model group,the Lequesne MG scores of rats in the electroacupuncture group and massage group decreased significantly(P<0.05).The combination of the two can further reduce the Lequesne MG score significantly(P<0.05).Compared with the control group,the pain threshold(TWL,MWT)of the model group was downregulated significantly,and the levels of serum pain factors(K+,DA,5-HT)were upregulated significantly(P<0.05).Compared with the model group,the pain thresholds(TWL,MWT)of the electroacupuncture group and the massage group were upregulated significantly,while the levels of serum pain factors(K+,DA,5-HT)were downregulated significantly(P<0.05).The combination of the two reflected the highest pain threshold(TWL,MWT)and the lowest serum pain factor(K+,DA,5-HT)levels.The model group rats had significant joint cartilage fissures,cartilage matrix staining and staining area decreased,and Markin score and cell apoptosis ability were improved(P<0.05).Compared with the model group,the arrangement degree of the cartilage layer,staining degree of the cartilage matrix,and staining area of the electroacupuncture group and massage group were all improved,while the Markin score and cell apoptosis rate all decreased significantly(P<0.05).The combination can further reduce the Markin score and the degree of chondrocyte apoptosis(P<0.05).Compared with the control group,the expression of Collagen Ⅱ,CPⅡ,Bcl-2,and p-YAP proteins in the model group decreased significantly,while the expression of CTX Ⅱ,Bax,and Cleared caspase-3 proteins increased significantly(P<0.05).Conclusion The combination of electroacupuncture and massage intervention can significantly improve the pathological state of cartilage injury in rats with osteoarthritis,reduce knee joint pain,inhibit chondrocyte apoptosis,and play a protective role in cartilage injury.Its molecular mechanism may be related to the activation of Hippo YAP signaling pathway,which is worth further research in clinical practice.
5.In vivo effects of albendazole-glucan particles in the treatment of secondary Echinococcus metacestode infections in mice
Hai-shan YANG ; Sheng-xue LI ; Hai-xia ZHANG ; Hong-chang ZHAO ; Tong-chuan XING ; Xi-chen WU ; Xiang ZHANG ; Yan LIU
Chinese Journal of Zoonoses 2025;41(1):15-22
Albendazole-glucan particles(ABZ-GPS)and abendazole(ABZ)were used to treat secondary alveolar echinococ-cosis in mice.The therapeutic effects of ABZ-GPS on alveolar echinococcosis in vivo were evaluated,and the feasibility of using glucan particles as anti-hydatid drug carriers was further verified.Mice with echinococcosis were randomly divided into an ABZ group,glucan nanoparticle(GP)group,ABZ-GPS group,and control group.After four courses of administration with a final concentration of 50 mg/mL,the therapeutic effects of ABZ-GPS were evaluated on the basis of imaging,histopathological changes,ultrastructure,and immunology.After ABZ-GPS and ABZ administration,clear liver lesion tissue necrosis and large numbers of infiltrating lymphocytes were observed.Significant differences in the average cyst wet weight(t=7.83,P<0.05),were observed between the ABZ-GPS group and ABZ group.Imaging revealed that ABZ-GPs were targeted to liver tissue.Pa-thology and ultrastructure analyses demonstrated that the alveolar hydatid cells in the liver in the control group and GP group grew well,and the vesicles were large,filled with cystic fluid,and translucent or transparent;the cyst wall tension was high;no calcification was observed;the stratum corneum and germinal layer were clear;and more fertile capsules and different num-bers of protocephalospora were present in the liver.In the ABZ group,the capsular cavity collapsed,and showed partial necro-sis and lymphocyte infiltration.In the ABZ-GP group,the corneum and germinal layer of echinococcus vesicles were difficult to identify,and we observed bulbous necrosis,central calcification,fibrous tissue hyperplasia,inflammatory cell infiltration,coarser,shorter or absent microvilli of the germinal layer,nuclear shrinkage,dissolution or disappearance,clear expansion of cytoplasmic microtubules,and myelin-like or vacuole-like changes.Therefore,ABZ-GPs showed good targeting and killing ac-tivity in vivo in mice with secondary alveolar coccosis.
6.Protection Cartilage Injury and Alleviate Knee Osteoarthritis Pain of Electroacupuncture Combined with Massage in Osteoarthritis Rat Model
Yang LIU ; Xiaona XUE ; Yanan LYU ; Sheng GUO ; Peidong WEI
World Science and Technology-Modernization of Traditional Chinese Medicine 2025;27(1):292-300
Objective The protective effect and molecular mechanism of electroacupuncture combined with massage on cartilage damage in knee Osteoarthritis rats were explored.Methods 50 SD rats were selected and divided into a control group,a model group,an electroacupuncture group,a massage group,and an electroacupuncture+massage group of 10 rats each using an odd even number method.The rats in the control group were not treated with modeling,and the rats in the other groups were injected with Papain into the articular cavity to build the right knee Osteoarthritis(KOA)model.The massage and electroacupuncture groups were intervened with electroacupuncture and massage for 2 weeks.The improved Le-quesne MG scale was used to evaluate the behavioral performance of rats.The pressure pain value and heat pain threshold of rats before and after intervention were calculated.After eight weeks,the rats were euthanized and abdominal aortic blood was collected.The serum levels of pain mediators(K+),5-hydroxytryptamine(5-HT),and dopamine(DA)were measured by ELISA in each group of rats.The right knee joint of rats was taken for HE staining Mankin score,TUNEL chondrocyte apoptosis analysis.Toluidine blue staining was used to observe the changes of cartilage matrix polysaccharide;Western blot was used to detect the concentration and expression of cartilage matrix factor type Ⅱ collagen(Collagen Ⅱ),C-terminal peptide(CTX Ⅱ),type Ⅱ collagen C-precursor peptide(CPⅡ),apoptosis related proteins Bax,Bcl-2,Cleared caspase-3,YAP,p-YAP in the knee joint tissues of rats in each group.Results After the establishment of the KOA model,the Lequesne MG score of rats increased significantly(P<0.05).Compared with the model group,the Lequesne MG scores of rats in the electroacupuncture group and massage group decreased significantly(P<0.05).The combination of the two can further reduce the Lequesne MG score significantly(P<0.05).Compared with the control group,the pain threshold(TWL,MWT)of the model group was downregulated significantly,and the levels of serum pain factors(K+,DA,5-HT)were upregulated significantly(P<0.05).Compared with the model group,the pain thresholds(TWL,MWT)of the electroacupuncture group and the massage group were upregulated significantly,while the levels of serum pain factors(K+,DA,5-HT)were downregulated significantly(P<0.05).The combination of the two reflected the highest pain threshold(TWL,MWT)and the lowest serum pain factor(K+,DA,5-HT)levels.The model group rats had significant joint cartilage fissures,cartilage matrix staining and staining area decreased,and Markin score and cell apoptosis ability were improved(P<0.05).Compared with the model group,the arrangement degree of the cartilage layer,staining degree of the cartilage matrix,and staining area of the electroacupuncture group and massage group were all improved,while the Markin score and cell apoptosis rate all decreased significantly(P<0.05).The combination can further reduce the Markin score and the degree of chondrocyte apoptosis(P<0.05).Compared with the control group,the expression of Collagen Ⅱ,CPⅡ,Bcl-2,and p-YAP proteins in the model group decreased significantly,while the expression of CTX Ⅱ,Bax,and Cleared caspase-3 proteins increased significantly(P<0.05).Conclusion The combination of electroacupuncture and massage intervention can significantly improve the pathological state of cartilage injury in rats with osteoarthritis,reduce knee joint pain,inhibit chondrocyte apoptosis,and play a protective role in cartilage injury.Its molecular mechanism may be related to the activation of Hippo YAP signaling pathway,which is worth further research in clinical practice.
7.Serotyping and drug resistance analysis of Salmonella from waterfowl in the Guangdong Region,2013-2023
Wan-jia LI ; Yin-sheng LIN ; Min-fang LIU ; Wen-chang XUE ; Wan-jun ZHU ; Ji-dang CHEN ; Ji-pei ZHANG
Chinese Journal of Zoonoses 2025;41(3):297-303
This study was aimed at understanding the prevalence and drug resistance status of Salmonella of waterfowl ori-gin in the Guangdong region in the past decade,to guide prevention and control efforts.The drug-sensitive paper slide method was used to conduct drug susceptibility testing on 314 waterfowl-originating Salmonella strains isolated from 238 waterfowl farms in the Guangdong region from 2013 to 2023.The isolated Salmonella strains were most resistant to penicillin,amoxicil-lin,cefradine,and cefazolin in the β-lactam group;sulphadoxine dimethylpyrimidine in the sulphonamide group;and tetracy-cline in the tetracycline group.The resistance rates ranged from 73.57%to 89.49%.The highest sensitivity was observed to amikacin,gentamicin,and kanamycin in the aminoglycoside group,and norfloxacin in the quinolone group,with susceptibility rates all exceeding 50%.The 280 strains of Salmonella showed multi-drug resistance to six classes of antimicrobial drugs and high resistance(as much as 60.83%)to five drug classes.Correlation analysis revealed the highest correlations for florfenicol with gentamicin,and for amoxicillin with penicillin(r=0.650 for both),followed by gentamicin with kanamycin(r=0.620).Salmonella resistance in waterfowl in Guangdong Province was generally severe and showed a complex pattern of drug resist-ance.Detection of waterfowl pathogens should be strengthened to prevent the spread of drug-resistant bacteria and support ra-tional use of antibiotics.This work provides a reference for Salmonella prevention and control in waterfowl farms.
8.Association between Fish Consumption and Stroke Incidence Across Different Predicted Risk Populations: A Prospective Cohort Study from China.
Hong Yue HU ; Fang Chao LIU ; Ke Yong HUANG ; Chong SHEN ; Jian LIAO ; Jian Xin LI ; Chen Xi YUAN ; Ying LI ; Xue Li YANG ; Ji Chun CHEN ; Jie CAO ; Shu Feng CHEN ; Dong Sheng HU ; Jian Feng HUANG ; Xiang Feng LU ; Dong Feng GU
Biomedical and Environmental Sciences 2025;38(1):15-26
OBJECTIVE:
The relationship between fish consumption and stroke is inconsistent, and it is uncertain whether this association varies across predicted stroke risks.
METHODS:
A cohort study comprising 95,800 participants from the Prediction for Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease Risk in China project was conducted. A standardized questionnaire was used to collect data on fish consumption. Participants were stratified into low- and moderate-to-high-risk categories based on their 10-year stroke risk prediction scores. Hazard ratios ( HRs) and 95% confidence intervals ( CIs) were estimated using Cox proportional hazard models and additive interaction by relative excess risk due to interaction (RERI), attributable proportion (AP), and synergy index (SI).
RESULTS:
During 703,869 person-years of follow-up, 2,773 incident stroke events were identified. Higher fish consumption was associated with a lower risk of stroke, particularly among moderate-to-high-risk individuals ( HR = 0.53, 95% CI: 0.47-0.60) than among low-risk individuals ( HR = 0.64, 95% CI: 0.49-0.85). A significant additive interaction between fish consumption and predicted stroke risk was observed (RERI = 4.08, 95% CI: 2.80-5.36; SI = 1.64, 95% CI: 1.42-1.89; AP = 0.36, 95% CI: 0.28-0.43).
CONCLUSION
Higher fish consumption was associated with a lower risk of stroke, and this beneficial association was more pronounced in individuals with moderate-to-high stroke risk.
Humans
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China/epidemiology*
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Male
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Female
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Stroke/etiology*
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Middle Aged
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Prospective Studies
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Incidence
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Aged
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Animals
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Fishes
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Risk Factors
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Diet
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Seafood
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Adult
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Cohort Studies
9.Serotyping and drug resistance analysis of Salmonella from waterfowl in the Guangdong Region,2013-2023
Wan-jia LI ; Yin-sheng LIN ; Min-fang LIU ; Wen-chang XUE ; Wan-jun ZHU ; Ji-dang CHEN ; Ji-pei ZHANG
Chinese Journal of Zoonoses 2025;41(3):297-303
This study was aimed at understanding the prevalence and drug resistance status of Salmonella of waterfowl ori-gin in the Guangdong region in the past decade,to guide prevention and control efforts.The drug-sensitive paper slide method was used to conduct drug susceptibility testing on 314 waterfowl-originating Salmonella strains isolated from 238 waterfowl farms in the Guangdong region from 2013 to 2023.The isolated Salmonella strains were most resistant to penicillin,amoxicil-lin,cefradine,and cefazolin in the β-lactam group;sulphadoxine dimethylpyrimidine in the sulphonamide group;and tetracy-cline in the tetracycline group.The resistance rates ranged from 73.57%to 89.49%.The highest sensitivity was observed to amikacin,gentamicin,and kanamycin in the aminoglycoside group,and norfloxacin in the quinolone group,with susceptibility rates all exceeding 50%.The 280 strains of Salmonella showed multi-drug resistance to six classes of antimicrobial drugs and high resistance(as much as 60.83%)to five drug classes.Correlation analysis revealed the highest correlations for florfenicol with gentamicin,and for amoxicillin with penicillin(r=0.650 for both),followed by gentamicin with kanamycin(r=0.620).Salmonella resistance in waterfowl in Guangdong Province was generally severe and showed a complex pattern of drug resist-ance.Detection of waterfowl pathogens should be strengthened to prevent the spread of drug-resistant bacteria and support ra-tional use of antibiotics.This work provides a reference for Salmonella prevention and control in waterfowl farms.
10.Polarity-extended Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry System for Prostate Cancer Biomarker Screening Based on Extracellular Vesicles
Lu-Lu XIAO ; Meng-Xuan CHEN ; Shan-Shan PAN ; Yi-Chen WANG ; Tao-Hong HUANG ; Qi-Sheng ZHONG ; Yong CHEN ; Teng-Fei XU ; Jia-Hui ZHAO ; Xue-Song LIU
Chinese Journal of Analytical Chemistry 2025;53(11):1848-1859,中插4-中插29
Integrated metabolomic and lipidomic profiling,utilizing liquid chromatography coupled with high-resolution mass spectrometry(LC-HRMS),has emerged as a pivotal strategy for biomarker discovery.However,the inherent polarity disparity between metabolites and lipids complicates simultaneous analysis.To address this,a dual-stationary phase polarity-extended liquid chromatography(PELC)system was developed,which surpassed conventional one-dimensional LC(1D-LC)by enabling comprehensive coverage of both polar and non-polar compounds within a single injection.This system enhanced chromatographic resolution,peak capacity,and throughput while minimizing analytical variability.Extracellular vesicles(EVs),lipid bilayer-enclosed nanoparticles ubiquitously present in biofluids,had gained prominence as reservoirs of cancer biomarkers due to their cargo stability and pathophysiological relevance.Herein,the application of PELC-HRMS for concurrent metabolome-lipidome profiling in EVs was pioneered.A total of 193 metabolites were identified using this technique coupled with MS-DIAL software and Human Metabolome Database.Subsequently,this technique was employed to explore potential biomarkers for prostate cancer(PCa).Multivariate analysis identified 17 differentially abundant metabolites in PCa,implicating dysregulated pathways including purine metabolism,starch and sucrose metabolism,galactose metabolism,cysteine and methionine metabolism,and biosynthesis of unsaturated fatty acids.Notably,creatine(AUC=0.92)and DG 42:5(AUC=0.80)demonstrated robust diagnostic efficacy,attributable to their broad polarity ranges and EV-specific enrichment.This study established PELC as a high-fidelity platform for multi-omics integration in complex biospecimens,advancing mechanistic insights into metabolic rewiring and disease pathophysiology.

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