Multi-organ transcriptome atlas of a mouse model of relative energy deficiency in sport

Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (REDs) is a condition caused by insufficient energy intake and excessive energy expenditure, leading to low energy availability. This can result in various health and performance issues, affecting over 40% of athletes, but the specific molecular mechanisms of REDs are still poorly understood. Using a new mouse model of this condition, van Rosmalen et al. characterized how REDs affects the anatomy and underlying molecular changes in 19 different organs. Using Proteograph™ technology, to identify molecular markers in the blood of REDs mice, they performed plasma proteomics identifying 3,035 unique proteins and discovered 442 candidate proteins in blood that are altered under energy deficiency. Unbiased access to the full breadth of molecular pathways revealed sex-specific proteome changes, alterations to bone/tissue integrity, metabolic proteins, and immune response proteins. These markers could potentially be used as biomarkers to test patients for RED — a far more effective diagnostic approach than the current questionnaire-based methods. Collectively, these results illustrate the unmatched capabilities of the Proteograph platform to enable deep unbiased proteome characterization in a variety of non-human models, including model organism studies with mice and other species.