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Biomolecules
Special Issues
Advances in Metabolomics in Health and Disease
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Advances in Metabolomics in Health and Disease

A special issue of Biomolecules (ISSN 2218-273X). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Medicine".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 May 2026 | Viewed by 6020

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Carmen Socaciu

E-Mail Website1 Website2
Guest Editor
Department of Food Science, Faculty of Food Science and Technology, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, 400372 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Interests: food chemistry; infrared spectroscopy; food biochemistry; food science; plant physiology; antioxidants; polyphenols; anthocyanins; high-pressure liquid chromatography
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Metabolomics represents an emerging area of research, as a comprehensive technology that focuses on small molecules involved in different metabolic pathways of living organisms, from microorganisms, to plants, animals and humans. It reflects an organism’s phenotype through a global comprehensive analysis of metabolite profiles (untargeted metabolic state of a biological system, e.g., tissue, blood, urine, saliva, cell cultures) or quantification of specific metabolites, as part of the metabolome (targeted approach). It addresses the interconnections with genomics, proteomics and epigenetics, including microbiome and environmental factors. It may include experimental in vitro or in vivo studies in plant or animal models, as well as preclinical and clinical research in human diseases. Metabolomics takes advantage of high-throughput techniques (mass spectrometry or nuclear magnetic resonance coupled or not with high-performance liquid or gas chromatography) for the screening of numerous molecules. The large-scale data generated are complemented by machine learning bioinformatics, in order to recognize patterns and build models that are utilized for the classification, regression, or clustering the complex metabolomic data. These may unravel the specific physiological and pathological mechanisms related to the systems biology approach and personalized medicine.  It offers possibilities to find biomarkers of diagnosis, which are critical for precision health approaches and improved diagnostics, with an impact on clinical decisions.

This Special Issue “Advances in Metabolomics in Health and Disease” encourages the submission of original metabolomics-based studies, narrative or systematic reviews. This Special Issue may offer the opportunity for authors to demonstrate the impact of metabolomics on the diagnosis and prognosis of different diseases using either human samples or animal models, but also to integrate metabolomics into routine healthcare to enable preventive and personalized approaches.

Prof. Dr. Carmen Socaciu
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Biomolecules is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • metabolomics
  • disease biomarkers
  • metabolic phenotyping
  • metabolic pathways
  • mass spectrometry
  • NMR spectroscopy
  • metabolic databases
  • bioinformatics

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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23 pages, 5459 KB  
Article
Metabolomics of Multiple System Atrophy Patient-Derived Striatal Medium Spiny Neurons
by Nadine J. Smandzich, Heike Bähre, Thomas Gschwendtberger, Stephan Greten, Lan Ye, Martin Klietz, Alessio Di Fonzo, Lisa M. Henkel and Florian Wegner
Biomolecules 2026, 16(2), 190; https://doi.org/10.3390/biom16020190 - 26 Jan 2026
Viewed by 197
Abstract
In multiple system atrophy (MSA), the fatal movement disorder, cell populations of the striatum and other subcortical brain regions degenerate, leading to a rapidly progressive, atypical Parkinsonian syndrome. The pathophysiology of neurons and glial cells shows misfolding, aggregation, and increased release of the [...] Read more.
In multiple system atrophy (MSA), the fatal movement disorder, cell populations of the striatum and other subcortical brain regions degenerate, leading to a rapidly progressive, atypical Parkinsonian syndrome. The pathophysiology of neurons and glial cells shows misfolding, aggregation, and increased release of the protein α-synuclein. In addition, neuronal hypoexcitability, a reduction in the activity of the mitochondrial respiratory chain, and a dysregulation of the enzymes involved in the biosynthesis of coenzyme Q10 were observed in human stem-cell models. In this study, untargeted and targeted metabolome analyses were performed with MSA patient-derived GABAergic striatal medium spiny neurons focusing on the citrate cycle and mitochondrial respiratory chain. The results indicate a significant decrease in succinate and ATP as well as an imbalanced NAD+/NADH ratio of MSA cell lines compared to matched healthy controls, suggesting alterations in mitochondrial processes which may facilitate neurodegeneration. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Metabolomics in Health and Disease)
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Review

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29 pages, 4286 KB  
Review
Mechanistic Insights into the Metabolic Pathways and Neuroprotective Potential of Pentacyclic Triterpenoids: In-Depth Analysis of Betulin, Betulinic, and Ursolic Acids
by Mihai Adrian Socaciu, Zorita Diaconeasa, Dumitrita Rugina, Carmen Socaciu, Remus Moldovan and Simona Clichici
Biomolecules 2026, 16(1), 25; https://doi.org/10.3390/biom16010025 - 24 Dec 2025
Viewed by 530
Abstract
Due to their complexity, both genotypic and phenotypic, neurodegenerative diseases are one of the main causes of death globally nowadays. Among phytochemicals of high scientific interest, based on experimental studies, pentacyclic triterpenoids (TTs), including mainly betulin, betulinic, and ursolic acid, became targets of [...] Read more.
Due to their complexity, both genotypic and phenotypic, neurodegenerative diseases are one of the main causes of death globally nowadays. Among phytochemicals of high scientific interest, based on experimental studies, pentacyclic triterpenoids (TTs), including mainly betulin, betulinic, and ursolic acid, became targets of scientific research in recent years, especially in terms of their biological activity and pharmacological potential. Due to their anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, as well as their involvement in cellular signal transductions, they have been observed to act as anticancer, chemopreventive, and neuroprotective agents. The aim of this review is to update the reader on the diversity, bioavailability, pharmacological properties, and neuroprotective effects of TTs, as biomolecules that can interfere with metabolic mechanisms related to neurodegeneration and restoring of neuronal integrity. Recent data were analyzed, with a particular focus on mechanistic insights related to their neuroprotective effects. Starting with their biosynthetic pathways, bioavailability, and involvement in specific metabolic pathways, their impact on neurological pathology and benefits as natural neuroprotection agents through specific signaling pathways are presented. Furthermore, emphasis will also be put on current challenges and future strategies that could develop TTs into effective compounds for neuroprotection and personalized medicine. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Metabolomics in Health and Disease)
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19 pages, 1217 KB  
Review
Beyond Bulk Metabolomics: Emerging Technologies for Defining Cell-Type Specific Metabolic Pathways in Health and Disease
by Yichen Gong and Samuel Weinberg
Biomolecules 2025, 15(12), 1687; https://doi.org/10.3390/biom15121687 - 2 Dec 2025
Viewed by 3071
Abstract
While metabolomics has emerged as a powerful tool for discovering disease biomarkers, the clinical utility of plasma or tissue metabolite profiles remains limited due to metabolic heterogeneity and flexibility across cell types. Traditional bulk metabolomics fails to capture the distinct metabolic programs operating [...] Read more.
While metabolomics has emerged as a powerful tool for discovering disease biomarkers, the clinical utility of plasma or tissue metabolite profiles remains limited due to metabolic heterogeneity and flexibility across cell types. Traditional bulk metabolomics fails to capture the distinct metabolic programs operating within rare cell populations that often drive disease pathogenesis. This review examines cutting-edge approaches that overcome these limitations by characterizing metabolism at single-cell and cell-type-specific resolution, with particular emphasis on rare immune cell populations as a proof of concept. We discuss how the integration of flow cytometric metabolic profiling, molecular techniques, advanced metabolomics platforms, and computational modeling enables unprecedented insight into cell-intrinsic metabolic states within physiological contexts. We critically evaluate how these technologies reveal metabolic plasticity that confounds bulk measurements while identifying cell-type-specific metabolic vulnerabilities. Finally, we address the crucial challenge of establishing causality in metabolic pathways, a prerequisite for translating metabolomic discoveries into clinically actionable interventions. By moving beyond descriptive metabolomics toward a mechanistic understanding of cell-type-specific metabolism, these approaches promise to deliver the precision required for effective metabolic targeting in disease. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Metabolomics in Health and Disease)
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21 pages, 1190 KB  
Review
Glycerol Kinase 2 as a Metabolic Sentinel for Human Sperm Motility and Male Fertility
by João S. Oliveira, Rúben J. Moreira, Ana D. Martins, Marco G. Alves and Pedro F. Oliveira
Biomolecules 2025, 15(9), 1249; https://doi.org/10.3390/biom15091249 - 29 Aug 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1784
Abstract
Male infertility affects 8–12% of couples worldwide and is solely responsible in up to 30% of cases. Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ARTs) provide potential solutions, particularly in conditions where spermatozoa display structural abnormalities or impaired motility, such as asthenozoospermia. Sperm metabolism demonstrates remarkable flexibility, [...] Read more.
Male infertility affects 8–12% of couples worldwide and is solely responsible in up to 30% of cases. Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ARTs) provide potential solutions, particularly in conditions where spermatozoa display structural abnormalities or impaired motility, such as asthenozoospermia. Sperm metabolism demonstrates remarkable flexibility, shifting between glycolysis and oxidative phosphorylation to produce ATP required for motility. Glycerol kinase 2 (GK2) phosphorylates glycerol in the sperm midpiece, generating glycerol-3-phosphate, a key intermediate in glycolysis, lipid metabolism, and oxidative phosphorylation. The localization of GK2 suggests not only a regulatory role in sperm metabolism but also a possible association with VDAC proteins, contributing to ADP-ATP exchange between the cytosol and mitochondria. Elucidating the role of GK2 in spermatozoa is of particular relevance, as this enzyme not only contributes to key metabolic pathways but may also interact with VDAC proteins, influencing mitochondrial function and energy exchange. Such interactions could play a pivotal role in regulating sperm motility. A deeper understanding of these mechanisms could position GK2 as a valuable biomarker: in scenarios where GK2–VDAC interactions are confirmed, it may guide optimized sperm selection methods in ARTs, whereas the absence or impairment of such interactions could serve as a diagnostic indicator in asthenozoospermic men. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Metabolomics in Health and Disease)
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