Proteomics-based discovery of biomarkers and therapeutic targets in neurodegenerative diseases: perspective of microglia and neuroinflammation

Abstract

Proteomics is a field of study that characterises a complete profile of proteins present in a given cell, tissue or biological system. Recent advances in proteomics research made possible the identification of novel biomarkers and therapeutic targets in neurodegenerative diseases. The field of neurodegenerative diseases is particularly well suited for proteomic analysis, given the multifactorial nature of the diseases and complexity of the nervous system. As increasing evidence indicates that microglia-associated chronic neuroinflammation plays an important role in the pathophysiology of neurodegenerative diseases, microglial activation may be a potential drug target in CNS disorders. On the basis of both the neuroprotective and neurotoxic role of microglia, the proteomic analysis of microglial signalling and neuroinflammation may thus be used for the identification and validation of novel drug targets as well as for the discovery of useful biomarkers of disease diagnosis and progression in the CNS.

Keywords::

• astrocyte
• biomarker
• CNS
• drug discovery
• microglia
• neurodegenerative disease
• neuroinflammation
• proteomics
• therapeutic target

Acknowledgement

The author’s laboratory is supported by the Korea Research Foundation Grant (KRF-2004-000-E00058) and by the Neurobiology Research Programme from the Korea Ministry of Science and Technology.