title: Comparative proteomics of spinal cords of rat fetuses with spina bifida aperta.
abstract: Neural tube defects (NTDs) are complex congenital anomalies of the central nervous system, with a prevalence of 5 per 10,000 worldwide. However, current therapeutics for NTDs are unsatisfactory. The neurological complications remain the main problem for therapy. Neurological dysfunction could result from the primary defect or injuries to the uncovered neural tissue in the uterus. However, the pathological changes in the uncovered neural tissue have not been described. Here, we present our comparative proteomics study of the spinal cord from rat fetuses with all-trans retinoic-acid-induced spina bifida aperta. Proteins from spinal cords were subjected to 2-D gel electrophoresis, then protein identification by mass spectrometry. We identified 13 proteins with differential expression between normal spinal cords and those with spina bifida aperta. These identified proteins were reported to be involved in signal transduction, cell adhesion and migration, protein folding and apoptosis. We confirmed 4 identified proteins by immunoblot analysis and assessed their mRNA levels by quantitative real-time PCR. This is the first comparative proteomics of spinal cords from rat fetuses with spina bifida aperta. We demonstrate protein alterations that reflect the pathological situation of the uncovered neural tissue, which may help improve the treatment of NTDs.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Health Ministry for Congenital Malformation, Shengjing Hospital, China Medical University, Shenyang, 110004, PR China.
authors.forename: Yang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.forename: Lili
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Fenghua
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Yi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Liping
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Shan
authors.forename: Zhengwei
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Yuan
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015180:Electrophoresis, Gel, Two-Dimensional; D005333:Fetus / Q000378:metabolism; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000737:chemistry*; D040901:Proteomics; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D019032:Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization; D016137:Spina Bifida Cystica / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism*; D014212:Tretinoin
chemical_list: D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D014212:Tretinoin