RÉSUMÉ
OBJECTIVE To have a systematic pathomechanism view of three chest impediment-syndromes of Qi Deficiency and Blood Stasis syndrome(QDBS),Qi Stagnation and Blood Stasis syn-drome (QSBS), Cold Obstruction and Qi Stagnation syndrome(COQS) and further investigate the changed metabolome and related pathways for screening potential biomarkers in rat plasma. METHODS According to clinical pathogeny, three kinds of syndrome models were established to simulate the disease of chest impediment. Plasma metabonomics based on UPLC-Q-TOF/MS was applied in this research to detected small molecule metabolites for identifyingthe special potential biomarkers of three chest impediment syndromes, respectively. RESULTS Significant metabolic differences were observed between thecontrol group and three syndrome groups. Furthermore, three syndrome groups were distinguished clearly by pattern recognition method.The particular metabolites contributing most to the classification of three chest impediment syndromes were identified. In the QSBS group, the potential biomarkers could include 2-keto-glutaramic acid, L-methionine, L-homocysteic acid, octadecanamide, stearoylglycine,behenic acid,linoleylcarnitine,lysoPC(14:1(9Z)),indoxyl sulfate and cholic acid.In the COQS group, they could be aminoadipic acid, palmitic amide, oleamide, lysoPC(P-16:0), lysoPC(P-18:0), lysoPC(20:2(11Z,14Z)), 9-HETE and tauroursodeoxycholic acid. Moreover, 4-pyridoxic acid, L-palmi-toylcarnitine, lysoPC(20:0), lysoPC (22:5 (4Z,7Z,10Z,13Z,16Z)), 3- hydroxyhexadecanoic acid and arachidonic acid could be the potential biomarkers for the QDBS group. CONCLUSION Three chest impediment syndromes have their own potential biomarkers.Each special metabolite has its owndifferent metabolic pathway.Both metabolismof cysteine and methionine,and metabolism of alanine,aspartate and glutamate are the main pathways in regulation of metabolic disorders in QSBS syndrome. Lysine biosynthesis and degradation,fatty acid metabolism,and glycerophospholipid metabolism are the main pathways in regulation of metabolic disorders in COQS syndrome.Arachidonic acid metabolism, fatty acid metabolism,fatty acid elongation in mitochondria,and vitamin B6 metabolism are the main pathways in regulation of metabolic disorders in QDBS syndrome.These endogenous substances were indicated as the special potential biomarkers for three chest impediment syndromes and worth studying in depth.