Theoretical and technological foundations of neuropeptidomics (review)

Adaptation of the human body to the changing factors of the internal and external environment is impossible without the normal regulation of the activity of organs and systems. Neuropeptides - biologically active compounds, the synthesis of which occurs mainly in the cells of the central nervous system, play a decisive role in the mechanisms of memory, learning, sleep, regulate metabolic processes, maintain homeostasis. These compounds are used as drugs - neuroprotective agents for neurodegeneration. The analysis of domestic and foreign literature containing information on the current state and development prospects of neuropepti-domics, focused on the study of the spectrum of brain peptides in normal and pathological conditions. Neuropeptides are regulators of the functional activity of central nervous system cells in normal and pathological conditions, actively participating in the pathogenesis of developmental disorders, ischemic and traumatic brain damage, and chronic neurodegeneration. The authors consider the possibility of using modifications of various analytical methods (chromatographic, mass spectrometric and chromato-mass spectrometric) and their combinations in biomedical research and in the search for biomarkers. Peptidomics provides information on low-mass proteins and products of proteolytic degradation of proteins. Neuropeptides have selective permeability through the blood-brain barrier, therefore, a complex of peptides can serve as an indicator of pathological processes and can be used as markers of the early stages of the disease or mediators of pathological processes. Of the many sensitive and specific methods for studying neuropeptides, mass spectrometry is becoming the leading technology in peptidomics. This platform is ideal for analysis of drug metabolism, therapeutic monitoring of drugs, proteomics, metabolomics, analysis of environmental objects, food products, toxicology and clinical applications. Thus, one of the most important applied goals of neuropeptidomics is the laboratory diagnosis of new biomarkers with ultra-sensitivity, high specificity and prognostic value for creating new diagnostic algorithms and for assessing the risk of developing a disease in the context of preventive personalized medicine.

proteomics, peptidomics, neuropeptides, neurodegeneration