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Human Microbiome Action
Published March 27, 2024 | Version v1
Publication Open

Review: Opportunities and barriers for omics-based biomarker discovery in steatotic liver diseases

Creators

  • 1. Center for Liver Research, Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Odense University Hospital (OUH)
  • 2. Department for Clinical Research, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
  • 3. ROR icon Novo Nordisk (Denmark)
  • 4. ROR icon Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry
  • 5. ROR icon Steno Diabetes Center
  • 6. Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research, Faculty of Health and Medical Science, University of Copenhagen
  • 7. Medizinische Klinik B (Gastroenterologie, Hepatologie, Endokrinologie, Klinische Infektiologie), Universitätsklinikum Münster Westfälische
  • 8. Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Basic Metabolic Research, Faculty of Health and Medical Science, University of Copenhagen,
  • 9. Structural and Computational Biology Unit, European Molecular Biology Laboratory
  • 10. Idryma Iatroviologikon Ereunon Akademias Athinon
  • 11. Fibrosis, Hepatic and Pulmonary Research, Nordic Bioscience
  • 12. KU Leuven, Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Transplantation, Rega Institute, Laboratory of Viral Metagenomics
  • 13. Department of Science and Environment Roskilde University
  • 14. Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Protein Research, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen
  • 15. Department of Proteomics and Signal Transduction, Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry
  • 16. ROR icon Max Delbrück Center
  • 17. Department of Bioinformatics, Biocenter, University of Würzburg
  • 18. Center for Liver Research, Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Odense University Hospital
  • 19. Department for Clinical Research, University of Southern Denmark

Description

The rising prevalence of liver diseases related to obesity and excessive use of alcohol is fuelling an increasing demand for accurate biomarkers aimed at community screening, diagnosis of steatohepatitis and significant fibrosis, monitoring, prognosis and prediction of treatment efficacy. Breakthroughs in omics methodologies and the power of bioinformatics have created an excellent opportunity to combine clinical needs with technological advancements. Omics technologies allow for advanced investigations into biological processes from the genes to transcription and regulation, to circulating protein, metabolite and lipid levels, as well as the microbiome including bacteria, viruses and fungi. We consequently find ourselves in a period of rapid progress in technology and bioinformatics that may allow for development of precision biomarkers for personalised medicine. However, there are important barriers to consider in omics biomarker discovery and validation, including the use of semi quantitative measurements from untargeted platforms, which may exhibit high analytical, inter- and intra-individual variance. Standardising methods and the need to validate across diverse populations, presents a challenge, partly due to disease complexity and the dynamic nature of biomarker expression in different disease

stages. Lack of validity causes lost opportunities when studies fail to provide the

knowledge needed for regulatory approvals, all of which contributes to a delayed translation of these discoveries into clinical practice. While no omics-based biomarkers have matured to clinical implementation, the extent of data generated through omics technologies holds the power of hypothesis-free discovery of a plethora of candidate biomarkers to be further validated. To explore the many opportunities of omics technologies, hepatologists need detailed knowledge of commonalities and differences between the various omics layers, and both the barriers to and advantages of these approaches.

Files

Thiele M. Review_Opportunities and barriers for omics-based biomarker discovery in steatotic liver diseases.pdf

Files (12.1 MB)