Page 53 - JCBP-2-3

Journal of Clinical and
Basic Psychosomatics Proteomic analysis of mind-body psychotherapy in psoriasis

2.6. Bioinformatic analysis 3. Results

Proteomics analysis was based on the sample data generated 3.1. Profiles of participants
from a high-resolution mass spectrometer. DDA data
were identified by the Andromeda search engine within The study was conducted using samples recruited in our
MaxQuant, and identified results were used for spectral department between July 2021 and May 2022. All the
31
library construction. The mProphet algorithm was used for patients (enrolled in proteomics study) showed more than
large-scale DIA data to complete analytical quality control, 75% improvement in their PASI scores after MMIP (Table 1).
The mean ages of the patients and HCs were 32.8 ± 3.5
thus obtaining numerous reliable quantitative results. The (Table 1) and 33.2 ± 3.5 (each was 32, 28, 33, 36, and 37) years
proteomics analysis was done by BGI (Shenzhen, China). old, respectively. The profiles of the enrolled patients are
MSstats software package was used to perform differential shown in Table 1. After the therapy, the higher anxiety and/
and functional analysis of the differentially expressed
proteins (DEPs). The bioinformatics analysis process is or depression scores were reduced back to normal (patients
shown in Figure 1B. The DEPs between comparison groups no. 3, 4, 5). The exosomes were extracted from plasma, and
were identified based on fold changes >1.5 and a Q value proteomics analysis was carried out to compare between
<0.05. All volcano plots, heatmaps, venn diagrams, Kyoto psoriasis and HCs, and between pre- and post-MMIP.
Encylopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway, In the ELISA validation experiment, serum samples
and protein-protein interaction (PPI) of the DEPs were from MMIP-treated psoriasis patients (n = 56) and HCs
illustrated using the Dr. Tom website provided by BGI (n = 29) were used. The mean ages of the MMIP and HC
(https://biosys.bgi.com). 32 groups were 36 ± 9 and 35 ± 5 years old, respectively. The
male prevalence was 48.2% and 37.9% in the MMIP and
2.7. Elafin detection assay HC groups, respectively. There were no differences in age
The levels of elafin were detected in serum using an enzyme- and gender between MMIP and HC groups. The median
linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit (mlbio, Shanghai and range of PASI before and after the therapy were 9.3 (2.4
Enzyme-linked Biotechnology Co., Ltd. Shanghai, China) – 32.8) and 5 (0 – 25.7), respectively, in psoriasis patients.
according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
3.2. Exosome proteomics profiles
2.8. Statistical analysis This study used Q-Exactive HF X to acquire mass spectrometry
Statistical difference in ELISA results between pre- and (MS) data for 15 plasma-derived exosome samples in DIA
post-MMIP among psoriasis patients was analyzed using mode. Consequently, 10,882 peptides and 770 exosomal
Wilcoxon matched-pair signed rank test, whereas statistical proteins were identified in our samples. Among these 770
difference between pre-MMIP and the HCs was analyzed proteins, 41 kinds of DEPs were found in the exosomes of
using Mann–Whitney U-test. The age differences between patients with psoriasis compared to HCs (Table 2), whereas
psoriasis patients and HCs were compared using Mann– 16 kinds of DEPs were identified after a comparison before
Whitney U-test. Gender differences between groups were and after MMIP in patients with psoriasis (Table 3).
analyzed with Fisher’s exact test. P < 0.05 was considered
statistically significant. These statistical analyses were 3.3. DEPs in patients with psoriasis compared with HCs
performed using GraphPad Prism 8 software (GraphPad Out of the 41 DEPs identified, 18 proteins were significantly
Software, San Diego, CA, USA). 33,34 decreased, and 23 proteins were significantly elevated

Table 1. Basic information of enrolled patients

ID Age Gender Family Disease HADS PASI before PASI after PASI
history period Anxiety score Anxiety Depression Depression therapy therapy improvement
before therapy score after score before score after (%)
therapy therapy therapy
1 35 M No 8 m 3 3 4 0 14.7 1.6 89
2 36 M Yes 1 yr 1 1 0 1 16.6 0.3 98
3 27 M No 17 yr 8 0 7 0 19.2 3 84
4 34 M No 16 yr 1 0 6 2 21.2 5 76
5 32 M No 10 yr 12 3 8 1 10.8 0 100
Abbreviations: HADS: Hospital anxiety and depression scale; m: Month; M: Male; PASI: Psoriasis area and severity index; yr: Year.

Volume 2 Issue 3 (2024) 5 doi: 10.36922/jcbp.2381