Pediatric protein signatures for disease prediction

Researchers at Vanderbilt University Medical Center and UTHealth Houston have identified blood protein signatures in children that may predict the future risk of cardiovascular, renal, and metabolic (CKMD) diseases.

Initial findings published in Nature Medicine involved the analysis of over 5,000 proteins in 273 children and adolescents, correlating these levels with clinical traits such as hypertension, insulin resistance, and renal function. The study identified 1,064 proteins associated with at least one CKMD phenotype, with results validated against data from over 28,000 adults in the UK Biobank.

Subsequent reporting in Nature Metabolism specified that researchers identified six distinct protein profiles linked to elevated disease risk. The research also noted that some of these protein changes may be reversible; for instance, adults using GLP-1 class medications showed protein shifts in a favorable direction. Lead author Heather Highland, PhD, suggested that these markers could facilitate increased monitoring and early intervention before diseases fully develop.