Metabolomics identifies metabolite markers in plasma and extracellular vesicles within plasma in patients with asthma

Plasma and extracellular vesicles (EVs) derived from plasma are important sources of information regarding individual health. Metabolomic analysis of plasma and EVs may provide new methods for predicting disease occurrence. This study aims to analyze the metabolomic characteristics of plasma and plasma EVs in asthma patients. Plasma samples were collected from healthy individuals and asthma patients. EVs were isolated from the plasma using ultracentrifugation. The isolated EVs were characterized by nanoparticle tracking analysis and flow cytometry. Metabolomic analysis was performed using a liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry platform. This study successfully extracted EVs from plasma samples. Metabolomic analysis revealed that the composition of differential metabolites in the plasma and EVs of asthma patients was similar. KEGG pathway analysis indicated that the number of upregulated metabolic pathways enriched with differential metabolites in the plasma EVs of asthma patients was significantly greater than that in the plasma samples. Pathways associated with the onset of asthma included asthma, systemic lupus erythematosus, glycerophospholipid metabolism, and autophagy – other, primarily involving the following five metabolites: PS(18:1(9Z)/18:2(9Z,12Z)), PC(18:1(9Z)e/2:0), PS(24:1(15Z)/22:2(13Z,16Z)), PE(22:4(7Z,10Z,13Z,16Z)/22:5(4Z,7Z,10Z,13Z,16Z)), and PE(16:0/20:3(8Z,11Z,14Z)). Receiver operating characteristic analysis results suggested that these five differential metabolites may serve as potential biomarkers for asthma. We identified the metabolic characteristics of plasma and EVs in asthma patients, confirming that the metabolites in plasma EVs may serve as potential biomarkers for asthma. This finding not only enhances our understanding of the pathogenesis of asthma but also opens new avenues for targeted therapy.