Metabolomics-driven identification of perturbations in amino acid and sphingolipid metabolism as therapeutic targets in a rat model of anorexia nervosa disease using chemometric analysis and a multivariate analysis platform.

It is important to explore novel therapeutic targets and develop an effective strategy for the treatment of anorexia nervosa. In this work, serum samples were analyzed using ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of flight mass spectrometry (UPLC/Q-TOF MS) coupled with chemometric analysis and multivariate analysis to obtain the metabolites and their corresponding pathways. In addition, knock-in and knock-down of the key enzyme was performed to verify the reliability of the obtained metabolic pathway, which is closely associated with the anorexia nervosa pathomechanism and the potential targets.