Comparison of nanoLC-MALDI-MS/MS with nanoLC-TIMS-MS/MS in the proteomic analysis of extracellular vesicles of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid

The study aims to evaluate and compare two advanced proteomic techniques, nanoLC-MALDI-MS/MS and nanoLC-TIMS-MS/MS, in characterizing extracellular vesicles (EVs) from the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) of patients with asthma and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). Pulmonary diseases, driven by pollutants and infections, often necessitate detailed analysis of BALF to identify diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets. EVs, which include exosomes, microvesicles, and apoptotic bodies, are isolated using filtration and ultracentrifugation, and their morphology, concentration, and size distribution are assessed through transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA). The proteomic profiles of these EVs are then analyzed using the aforementioned techniques, highlighting their unique and common proteins. The study found that nanoLC-TIMS-MS/MS identified significantly more proteins compared to nanoLC-MALDI-MS/MS. Functional analysis via Gene Ontology revealed pathways related to inflammation and cell signaling, underscoring the role of EVs in disease pathophysiology. The findings suggest that EVs in BALF can serve as valuable biomarkers and therapeutic targets in respiratory diseases, providing a foundation for future research and clinical applications.