DIPPER

DIPPER provides a spatiotemporal proteomic atlas of human intervertebral discs (IVDs) to characterize molecular dynamics underlying IVD ageing and degeneration.

Key Features:

• Comprehensive Proteomic Resource: 94 genome-wide proteomic profiles from 17 individuals covering spatiotemporal variation across human IVDs.
• High-Resolution Spatial Proteomics: High-resolution spatial proteomes from intact young cadaveric lumbar IVDs used to identify protein modules that define directional trends along the lateral and anteroposterior axes and reveal region-specific regulatory profiles related to aged-disc structural deconstruction.
• Integration with Other Omics Data: Integration of static proteome data with dynamic proteomic (SILAC/degradome) and transcriptomic datasets from clinical samples to enable multi-omics comparisons.
• Machine Learning Applications: Application of machine learning methods to predict a "hydration matrisome" linking extracellular matrix components with MRI intensity measurements.

Scientific Applications:

• IVD ageing and degeneration research: Characterizing molecular changes and pathways involved in disc ageing and degeneration using genome-wide and spatial proteomic profiles.
• Imaging–molecular correlation: Correlating extracellular matrix composition with MRI intensity via predicted hydration matrisome to connect proteomic changes to imaging phenotypes.
• Regional functional mapping: Identifying region-specific protein modules and regulatory activities along lateral and anteroposterior axes to map functional heterogeneity within IVDs.
• Multi-omics comparative analyses: Comparing static proteomes with SILAC/degradome and transcriptomic datasets from clinical samples to increase biological and clinical relevance.

Methodology:

Identification of protein modules from high-resolution spatial proteomes; integration of static proteome with dynamic proteomic (SILAC/degradome) and transcriptomic datasets; application of machine learning methods to predict a hydration matrisome linking extracellular matrix components to MRI intensity measurements.