Free amino acid profile changes in coronary angiography patients: potential biomarkers for coronary artery disease

Purpose: This study aims to delineate the plasma amino acid profile in patients undergoing coronary angiography (CA) and identify potential biomarkers associated with Coronary artery disease (CAD). Materials and Methods: A targeted metabolomics approach was employed to analyze plasma levels of 41 amino acids in 25 CAD patients (pre- and post-CA) and 25 healthy controls. Plasma samples from patients pre- and post-CA, as well as from healthy controls, were analyzed using high-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) to determine free amino acid profiles. Amino acid concentrations were quantified. Results: In pre-CA patients, levels of arginine (35.124±14.476 µmol/L), asparagine (34.386±6.41 µmol/L), aspartic acid (11.266±4.788 µmol/L), glutamic acid (136.502±54.193µmol/L), and branched-chain amino acids such as leucine (168.451±85.247µmol/L) and isoleucine (66.067±14.605 µmol/L) were markedly lower than in controls. Conversely, hydroxyproline (27.16±21.173 µmol/L), hydroxylysine (0.21±0.116µmol/L), cystine (27.039±11.978 µmol/L), and ethanolamine (13.136±5.812 µmol/L) were elevated. Post-CA, further reductions were observed in asparagine (30.408±7.121µmol/L), leucine (106.362±25.446 µmol/L), isoleucine (57.637±11.83 µmol/L), threonine (81.422±16.043 µmol/L), and tryptophan (36.548±12.014 µmol/L). Conclusion: These findings highlight the potential of amino acid profiling as a diagnostic and therapeutic tool for CAD, providing insights into disease pathogenesis and opportunities for targeted interventions.