Identification of proteomic changes during human liver development by 2D-DIGE and mass spectrometry.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to identify human liver proteins that are associated with different stages of liver development.


METHODS
We collected liver samples from 14 fetuses between 14 and 41 weeks of development, one child and four adults. Proteins which exhibited consistent and significant variations during development by two-dimensional differential in gel electrophoresis (2D-DIGE) were subjected to peptide mass fingerprint analysis by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry. Real-time PCR analysis confirmed, at the transcriptional level, the data obtained by the proteomic approach.


RESULTS
Among a total of 80 protein spots showing differential expression, we identified 42 different proteins or polypeptide chains, of which 26 were upregulated and 16 downregulated in developing in comparison to adult liver. These proteins could be classified in specific groups according to their function. By comparing their temporal expression profiles, we identified protein groups that were associated with different developmental stages of human fetal liver and suggest that the changes in protein expression observed during the 20- to 36-week time window play a pivotal role in liver development.


CONCLUSIONS
The identification of these proteins may represent good markers of human liver and stem cells differentiation.
Brizard
Jean Paul
JP
Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, UMR 5096 (CNRS-IRD-Université Perpignan), Montpellier, France.
Ramos
Jeanne
J
Robert
Agnés
A
Lafitte
Daniel
D
Bigi
Nicole
N
Sarda
Pierre
P
Laoudj-Chenivesse
Dalila
D
Navarro
Francis
F
Blanc
Pierre
P
Assenat
Eric
E
Maurel
Patrick
P
Pascussi
Jean-Marc
JM
Vilarem
Marie-José
MJ
D000328:Adult; D015220:Calcium Channels / Q000032:analysis / Q000502:physiology; D056404:Chaperonin Containing TCP-1; D018833:Chaperonins / Q000032:analysis / Q000502:physiology; D015180:Electrophoresis, Gel, Two-Dimensional / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D008099:Liver / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000196:embryology* / Q000378:metabolism; D011506:Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000502:physiology; D040901:Proteomics; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D019032:Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization / Q000379:methods*; D050916:TRPV Cation Channels / Q000032:analysis / Q000502:physiology
D015220:Calcium Channels; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; C113197:NIPSNAP1 protein, human; D011506:Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D050916:TRPV Cation Channels; C422827:TRPV6 protein, human; D056404:Chaperonin Containing TCP-1; D018833:Chaperonins