Global plasma proteomics in adolescent depression

Aino-Kaisa Piironen(1), Alexey M. Afonin(1), Karoliina Kurkinen(2), Timo A. Lakka(3), Tommi Tolmunen(2,4), Katja M. Kanninen(1)

(1)A.I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland

(2)Institute of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland

(3)Institute of Biomedicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland

(4)Kuopio University Hospital, Department of Adolescent Psychiatry, Kuopio, Finland

 

Abstract

Depressive and anxiety disorders are the most common mental disorders often with an onset in adolescence. Regardless of the recent advancements in biological research in psychiatry, the aspect of early psychopathology remains underrepresented. Due to the high level of heterogeneity and co-morbidity observed in depressive disorders, the identification of phenotypes based on biological markers could enhance the prediction of disease trajectories. This approach would improve diagnostic accuracy and facilitate the selection of personalised treatments from the outset. We aim to identify plasma proteins and systemic physiological alterations associated with depression in adolescents.

Using plasma samples from adolescent outpatients participating in the SMART cohort (n=103) and healthy adolescents in the PANIC cohort (n=53), global proteomics data were generated by using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Linear and elastic net regression modelling were used to identify differences in plasma proteins, adjusted by age and sex, between depressed (MDD) and healthy (HC) adolescents. Additionally, functional enrichment and clustering analyses were performed to identify altered biological processes and potential sub-phenotypes, respectively. Global plasma proteomics as a holistic approach shows potential in identifying protein signatures associated with adolescent-onset depression. This study provides insights into the complex biological networks underlying the physiology of mental health.

This research has received funding from the Equal-Life project, funded by European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 874724, and personal working grants (Piironen, AK) from the Finnish Cultural Foundation and Yrjö Jahnsson Foundation.

Aino-Kaisa Piironen is a data science-oriented doctoral researcher at the University of Eastern Finland with a background in molecular medicine. Aino-Kaisa's research focuses on biological psychiatry in adolescents. She has published her first article in Nature Mental Health and has received two personal grants for her PhD research. Aino-Kaisa is passionate about the holistic view of human wellbeing combined with molecular-level understanding and data science. She aims to contribute to public health through preventive methods and improved personalised medicine. 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/aino-kaisapiironen/

https://orcid.org/0009-0002-6448-6532