PBMC proteome is altered in children with high body fat percentage.

148 proteins in PBMC lysates were significantly associated with body fat percentage in children and adolescents.

• Study included 71 children and adolescents aged 5-18 years with normal weight, overweight, or obesity.
• Protein abundances were determined using nano-electrospray liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry.
• Analysis controlled for participant sex, age, and leukocyte count.
• Identified proteins included protein CutA, several proteins with GTPase activity, and multiple mitochondrial proteins.

Body fat percentage was a better predictor of PBMC proteomic changes than height- and weight-based metrics alone.

• Body composition was measured using bioelectrical impedance analysis.
• The study compared body fat percentage against height- and weight-based metrics (such as BMI) for explaining proteomic results.
• The authors highlight the utility of body composition analysis for interpreting proteomic results in childhood obesity.
• This finding suggests that traditional anthropometric measures may not fully capture obesity-related molecular changes in children.

Obesity-associated proteomic dysregulations in children's PBMCs included pathways linked to inflammation and metabolic dysfunction.

• The study specifically focused on identifying pathways linked to inflammation and metabolic dysfunction.
• Identified proteins included multiple mitochondrial proteins, suggesting mitochondrial involvement in pediatric obesity.
• GTPase-active proteins were among the significantly altered proteins, implicating cellular signaling dysregulation.
• These findings are consistent with known associations between excess adipose tissue, persistent low-grade inflammation, and oxidative stress.

PBMC mass spectrometry-based proteomics can reveal obesity-associated molecular changes in children, extending previous findings from adult studies.

• Prior studies had demonstrated that mass-spectrometry based analysis of PBMCs can reveal changes associated with dietary patterns, inflammatory diseases, and obesity in adults.
• This study applied the same approach to a pediatric population (aged 5-18 years).
• The study design included children across a spectrum of body composition: normal weight, overweight, and obesity.
• Cell lysate proteins were isolated from blood samples obtained from 71 participants.