Identification and characterization of biomarkers in atherosclerosis and diabetes

Diabetes and atherosclerosis are two chronic pathologies which prevalence is constantly growing worldwide, leading to disability and life-threatening complications. Since their consequences represent major causes of mortality and morbidity in developed countries, the identification and characterisation of new potential biomarkers may contribute to revealing the underlying mechanisms of pathology onset and progression, and to improving the diagnostic methodologies and the therapeutic approaches used for the treatment of these pathological conditions.A method recently developed was applied to urine from type 1 and type 2 diabetes patients and healthy controls for quantitation and structural characterisation of Urinary Trypsin Inhibitor (UTI), evidencing higher levels of this proteoglycan in both classes of patients with respect to controls. Furthermore, mass spectrometry (MS) analysis revealed oxidative post-translational modifications, which may affect UTI localization, function and pathophysiological activity.Lipoproteomics of purified plasma VLDL, LDL and HDL fractions from both patients undergoing carotid endarterectomy and healthy controls was performed by 2-DE coupled with MS, allowing the identification of Acute Phase-SAA as a potential biomarker of advanced atherosclerotic lesions. A role of LDL as Acute Phase-SAA carrier into the subendothelial space of arteries was also suggested.