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Proteomic profiling of osteoarthritis. A computational approach to biomarker discovery.

Rydén, Martin LU orcid (2023) In Lund University, Faculty of Medicine Doctoral Dissertation Series
Abstract
Understanding the molecular mechanisms of osteoarthritis (OA) is critical for early diagnosis and effective treatment. OA is a leading cause of disability and poses an increasing burden on healthcare systems, particularly with an aging global population. Despite the potential of proteomics to elucidate the complex biology underlying OA, its application remains limited due to challenges including gaps in computational tools and insights into the early stages of the disease. This thesis addresses these limitations through approaches that combines inventive computational strategies with biological exploration. The thesis presents a comprehensive computational framework that aims to facilitate proteomics analyses. In paper I, we developed... (More)
Understanding the molecular mechanisms of osteoarthritis (OA) is critical for early diagnosis and effective treatment. OA is a leading cause of disability and poses an increasing burden on healthcare systems, particularly with an aging global population. Despite the potential of proteomics to elucidate the complex biology underlying OA, its application remains limited due to challenges including gaps in computational tools and insights into the early stages of the disease. This thesis addresses these limitations through approaches that combines inventive computational strategies with biological exploration. The thesis presents a comprehensive computational framework that aims to facilitate proteomics analyses. In paper I, we developed ProteoMill, a user-friendly, web-based platform designed to make proteomics data analysis and biological interpretation available to a broader scientific community. In paper II, we introduced, proteasy, a specialized computational tool aimed at identifying proteolytic events. Using this tool, we performed a peptidomic analysis to identify key proteolytic enzymes involved in the degradation of proteins that contribute to OA progression in human synovial fluid (SF). This study presented a broad array of differentially abundant endogenously cleaved peptides, and their potential cleaving actor. We demonstrated that the proteolytic activity of the predicted proteases extends beyond the extracellular matrix (ECM) of the surrounding tissues, and can also affect factors such as chylomicron assembly, potentially leading to hampered homeostasis. In paper III, we established a human meniscus ex vivo model, that enabled us to perform controlled studies on cytokine-mediated effects on meniscal tissues. Our analyses highlight an increase in catabolic processes in response to some of the cytokine treatments while IL1ß had a limited catabolic effect. Finally, in paper IV we utilized the SOMAscan assay, an aptamer-based proteomics platform that is capable of measuring 7,000 proteins. This allowed us to get an unprecedented look into early-stage OA. Gaussian Graphical Models (GGMs) were further utilized to elucidate complex protein interactions, revealing new insights into disrupted joint homeostasis in OA. Through this, we identified novel proteins and sub-networks implicated in the early stages of the disease. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
supervisor
opponent
  • Dr Kapoor, Mohit, University of Toronto
organization
publishing date
type
Thesis
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Computational Biology, Bioinformatics for Proteomics
in
Lund University, Faculty of Medicine Doctoral Dissertation Series
issue
2023:120
pages
76 pages
publisher
Lund University, Faculty of Medicine
defense location
Segerfalksalen, BMC A10, Sölvegatan 17 i Lund
defense date
2023-10-19 09:00:00
ISSN
1652-8220
ISBN
978-91-8021-461-2
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
57c16341-2e05-403b-8c49-9de3317a320c
date added to LUP
2023-09-25 16:01:27
date last changed
2023-10-03 07:28:59
@phdthesis{57c16341-2e05-403b-8c49-9de3317a320c,
  abstract     = {{Understanding the molecular mechanisms of osteoarthritis (OA) is critical for early diagnosis and effective treatment. OA is a leading cause of disability and poses an increasing burden on healthcare systems, particularly with an aging global population. Despite the potential of proteomics to elucidate the complex biology underlying OA, its application remains limited due to challenges including gaps in computational tools and insights into the early stages of the disease. This thesis addresses these limitations through approaches that combines inventive computational strategies with biological exploration. The thesis presents a comprehensive computational framework that aims to facilitate proteomics analyses. In paper I, we developed ProteoMill, a user-friendly, web-based platform designed to make proteomics data analysis and biological interpretation available to a broader scientific community. In paper II, we introduced, proteasy, a specialized computational tool aimed at identifying proteolytic events. Using this tool, we performed a peptidomic analysis to identify key proteolytic enzymes involved in the degradation of proteins that contribute to OA progression in human synovial fluid (SF). This study presented a broad array of differentially abundant endogenously cleaved peptides, and their potential cleaving actor. We demonstrated that the proteolytic activity of the predicted proteases extends beyond the extracellular matrix (ECM) of the surrounding tissues, and can also affect factors such as chylomicron assembly, potentially leading to hampered homeostasis. In paper III, we established a human meniscus ex vivo model, that enabled us to perform controlled studies on cytokine-mediated effects on meniscal tissues. Our analyses highlight an increase in catabolic processes in response to some of the cytokine treatments while IL1ß had a limited catabolic effect. Finally, in paper IV we utilized the SOMAscan assay, an aptamer-based proteomics platform that is capable of measuring 7,000 proteins. This allowed us to get an unprecedented look into early-stage OA. Gaussian Graphical Models (GGMs) were further utilized to elucidate complex protein interactions, revealing new insights into disrupted joint homeostasis in OA. Through this, we identified novel proteins and sub-networks implicated in the early stages of the disease.}},
  author       = {{Rydén, Martin}},
  isbn         = {{978-91-8021-461-2}},
  issn         = {{1652-8220}},
  keywords     = {{Computational Biology; Bioinformatics for Proteomics}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{2023:120}},
  publisher    = {{Lund University, Faculty of Medicine}},
  school       = {{Lund University}},
  series       = {{Lund University, Faculty of Medicine Doctoral Dissertation Series}},
  title        = {{Proteomic profiling of osteoarthritis. A computational approach to biomarker discovery.}},
  url          = {{https://lup.lub.lu.se/search/files/160092538/Avhandling_Martin_Ryden.pdf}},
  year         = {{2023}},
}