L. Semerano, P. Romeo, M. Boissier
Jan 21, 2015
Citations
0
Influential Citations
27
Citations
Journal
Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases
Abstract
The last decade of biomedical research has been impacted by the appearance of systems biology, an analytical approach to complex biological systems that makes use of the ‘-omics’, that is, high-throughput technologies that allow the comprehensive characterisation of genes (genomics), RNA transcripts (transcriptomics) or proteins (proteomics). Since their appearance, the ‘omics’ held promise of a radical change in the research paradigms. The classical research strategy adopts a ‘bottom-up’ approach, that is, a scientific hypothesis is tested in an isolated system (a cell type, a tissue) or in an animal model, and then extrapolated to the systemic level. Conversely, systems biology uses a ‘top-down’ approach in which data are gathered at systemic level and scientific hypotheses are subsequently derived and tested in a controlled, limited setting.1 The latter approach has been defined as data-driven or hypothesis-forming. Although genomics, transcriptomics and proteomics have generated a large amount of data, translation of these data into useful information, and in turn into beneficial outcomes for the patient, is only starting.2 The newcomer in the -omics family is metabolomics. The metabolome is defined as the complete set of metabolites present in a given biological system. Complementary to transcriptomics or proteomics, the metabolome analysis describes both qualitatively and quantitatively the final products of cellular regulatory pathways. As such, the metabolome reflects the ultimate response of a biological system to genetic and/or environmental changes. Metabolites that are characterised in metabolomics studies are small molecules with size ranging from 100 to 1000 Da.3 Although the concept that metabolites in biological fluids may …