Metabolomic analysis of thermally injured and/or septic rats

Abstract Introduction Early diagnosis and treatment for thermal injury with septic complications continue to be a serious clinical problem. In this study, plasma biomarkers of rats in the burn and/or septic models were investigated with a metabolomic method. Methods Rat plasma samples were analyzed by ultra-performance liquid chromatography–quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC–Q-TOF-MS). Multivariate analysis, the principal components analysis (PCA), was used to validate metabolic changes. In addition, another multivariate method, the orthogonal partial least-squares analysis (OPLS), was used to profile potential biomarkers in models. Results Nine characteristic metabolites, including hypoxanthine, indoxyl sufate, glucuronic acid, gluconic acid, proline, uracil, nitrotyrosine, uric acid, and trihydroxy cholanoic acid were identified in models of thermal injury and/or sepsis. Conclusion These biomarkers were mainly involved in oxidative stress and tissue damage, and might supply evidence for distinguishing burned septic patients from non-septic ones.