A Plasma Metabolomic Signature of the Exfoliation Syndrome Involves Amino Acids, Acylcarnitines, and Polyamines

Purpose: To determine the plasma metabolomicsignature of the exfoliative syndrome(XFS), the most common cause worldwide of secondary open-angle glaucoma. Methods: We performed a targeted metabolomicstudy, using the standardized p180 Biocrates Absolute IDQ p180 kit with a QTRAP 5500 mass spectrometer, to compare the metabolomicprofiles of plasma from individuals with XFS (n = 16), and an age- and sex-matched control group with cataract (n = 18). Results: A total of 151 metabolites were detected correctly, 16 of which allowed for construction of an OPLS-DA model with a good predictive capability (Q2cum = 0.51) associated with a low risk of over-fitting (permQ2 = -0.48, CV-ANOVA P-value Conclusions: We identified a significant metabolomicsignature in the plasma of individuals with XFS. Paradoxically, this signature, characterized by lower concentrations of the neuroprotective spermineand spermidinepolyamines than in controls, partially overlaps the plasma metabolomicprofile associated with insulin resistance, despite the absence of evidence of insulin resistance in XFS.