Finding a Needle in a Haystack: Proteomics in Heart Failure

Circulating protein biomarkers provide information regarding pathways in heart failure (HF) and can add important value to clinicians. Advancements in proteomics allow researchers to measure a multitude of proteins simultaneously with excellent sensitivity and selectivity to detect low abundance proteins. This helps identify previously unrecognized pathways in HF and discover biomarkers and potential targets for HF therapies. Although several proteomic methods exist, including mass spectrometry, protein microarray, aptamer, and proximity extension assay-based techniques, each have their unique advantages. This paper provides an overview of the various proteomic methods, with examples of how each has contributed to understanding the pathways in HF.