Method and device for the qualitative and/or quantitative analysis of a protein and/or peptide pattern of a liquid sample that is derived from the human or animal body

1. A method of qualitative or quantitative determination of a protein or peptide pattern of a liquid sample which has been derived from a human or animal body for monitoring a condition of the body, comprising the steps of:

(a) establishing in a database a number of reference peptide patterns related to a condition of a human or animal body, said reference peptide patterns comprising at least a first peptide pattern and a second peptide pattern, the peptide patterns being defined by a list of signals comprising mass charge quotients;

(b) separating the peptides or proteins of the liquid sample by capillary electrophoresis;

(c) ionizing the peptides or proteins directly;

(d) transferring the peptides or proteins to a mass spectrometer connected online via an interface for detection;

(e) detecting qualitative or quantitative values of the protein or peptide pattern wherein more than 100 peptides or proteins are detected;

(f) comparing the protein or peptide pattern detected with the reference peptide patterns in the database; and

(g) automatically seeking for the protein or peptide pattern detected the reference peptide pattern in the database that most closely matches the detected protein or peptide pattern, wherein deviations or correspondences are used for evaluating the condition of the human or animal body.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein serum or urine is used as the liquid sample.

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein qualitative or quantitative values are obtained for the protein or peptide pattern of the cytokines.

4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the liquid sample is first acidified, then purified to remove unwanted particles by ultracentrifugation or is divided into fractions containing proteins or peptides of certain molecular sizes, before being separated by capillary electrophoresis.

5. The method according to claim 4 , wherein the fractions are composed of proteins or peptides of the molecular weights of <3 kDa, 3-30 kDa, 30-50 kDa and >50 kDa.

6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein electrospray ionization is used for ionization of the proteins or peptides.

7. The method according to claim 1 , wherein a time-of-flight mass spectrometer (TOF) is used as the mass spectrometer.

8. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the proteins and peptides are interleukins.

9. A device for qualitative or quantitative determination of a protein or peptide pattern in a liquid sample derived from a human or animal body for monitoring a condition of the body, comprising:

(a) a capillary electrophoresis device;

(b) an ionization unit;

(c) a mass spectrometer connected online via an interface; and

(d) a computer unit having a program for controlling the device as well as for automatic analysis and storage in a database of a number of reference peptide patterns comprising at least a first peptide pattern and a second peptide pattern, the peptide patterns being defined by a list of signals comprising mass charge quotients, and for comparing a protein or peptide pattern detected with the reference peptide patterns in the database;

wherein said program automatically searches for a protein or peptide pattern that most closely matches the detected protein or peptide pattern, wherein deviations or correspondences are used for evaluating the condition of the human or animal body.

10. The device according to claim 9 , wherein the database comprises a reference database and the program automatically determines the peptide or protein pattern of defined liquid samples and stores them as normal values in the reference database.

11. The device according to claim 10 , wherein the program automatically determines the peptide or protein pattern of undefined liquid samples, stores them as sample values in the database, compares them with the normal values in the reference database and automatically displays deviations and/or correspondences with the reference peptide patterns.

12. The device according to claim 9 , wherein the liquid sample is serum or urine.

13. The device according to claim 9 , wherein the proteins and peptides are cytokines.

14. The device according to claim 13 , wherein the proteins and peptides are interleukins.

15. The device according to claim 9 , wherein the mass spectrometer is a flight-of-time mass spectrometer.

16. The device according to claim 9 , wherein the ionization unit has electrospray ionization.