title: Proteomics study of N-acetylcysteine response in H1N1-infected cells by using mass spectrometry.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The pathology of A/Puerto Rico/8/1934 (H1N1) infection associated with the interaction of virus and its host cells is not clear. N-Acetylcysteine (NAC) is an antioxidant as well as a premier antitoxin and immune support substance. A high dose of NAC was recently reported for a therapy of H1N1 (2009) influenza pneumonia.
  
  
  METHODS
  NAC was used as a small-molecule organic probe to investigate the protein expression of human lung carcinoma cell line (A549) infected by influenza virus A/Puerto Rico/8/1934 (H1N1). Differential proteins were identified from MALDI-TOF MS and Q-TOF MS/MS analyses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The obtained results showed that NAC kept cells away from apoptosis. Virus-infected cells were arrested in G0/G1 phase. The lowest cell population of G0/G1 phase was detected when the cells were treated by 10 mM NAC for one day. Application of MS-based proteomics allowed the identification of the differential proteins. Software analysis showed that four proteins had close relationship.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results indicated that NAC as a small-molecule probe might effect the protein expression of A549 cells infected by the H1N1 virus.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Environmental and Biological Analysis, Department of Chemistry, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong SAR, China.
authors.forename: Hanzhi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Wenjun
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Xiang
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.forename: Ning
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Pui
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Honglin
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Zongwei
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Cai
mesh_terms: D000111:Acetylcysteine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D015180:Electrophoresis, Gel, Two-Dimensional; D006801:Humans; D053118:Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000378:metabolism*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D011506:Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D020543:Proteome / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects; D040901:Proteomics / Q000379:methods*; D019032:Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D011506:Proteins; D020543:Proteome; D000111:Acetylcysteine