Metabolomics – an overview. From basic principles to potential biomarkers (part 2)

The metabolome, which represents the complete set of molecules (metabolites) of a biological sample (cell, tissue, organ, organism), is the final downstream product of the metabolic cell process that involves the genome and exogenous sources. The metabolome is characterized by a large number of small molecules with a huge diversity of chemical structures and abundances. Exploring the metabolome requires complementary analytical platforms to reach its extensive coverage. The metabolome is continually evolving, reflecting the continuous flux of metabolic and signaling pathways. Metabolomic research aims to study the biochemical processes by detecting and quantifying metabolites to obtain a metabolic picture able to give a functional readout of the physiological state. Recent advances in mass spectrometry (one of the mostly used technologies for metabolomics studies) have given the opportunity to determine the spatial distribution of metabolites in tissues. In a two-part article, we describe the usual metabolomics technologies, workflows and strategies leading to the implementation of new clinical biomarkers. In this second part, we first develop the steps of a metabolomic analysis from sample collection to biomarker validation. Then with two examples, autism spectrum disorders and Alzheimer's disease, we illustrate the contributions of metabolomics to clinical practice. Finally, we discuss the complementarity of in vivo (positron emission tomography) and in vitro (metabolomics) molecular explorations for biomarker research.