[Discovery of novel protein biomarkers in early silicosis by proteomics and identification of alpha B-crystallin].
OBJECTIVE
To establish 2-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE) image for the early lung injury rats induced by silica dioxide and to identify differentially expressed protein biomarkers during the early stage of silicosis.


METHODS
The animal models of silicosis were established and morphology changes were observed by HE staining, and then the key protein biomarkers in silicosis were identified by 2-DE and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time of flight tandem mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS) and verified by Western blot.


RESULTS
The well qualified 2-DE gel images for experimental and control lung tissues were successfully established, and 40 different protein spots was observed when comparing the gel images between the experimental and control groups. Twenty of them were analyzed by MALDI-TOF-MS. A total of 13 altered proteins were identified, including alpha B-crystallin, mast cell protease 6, annexin 1, etc. The expression of alpha B-crystallin in lung was further verified by Western blot.


CONCLUSIONS
The protein expression of alpha B-crystallin was increased significantly, suggesting that it might play an important role in the progress of silicosis.
Department of Pathology, Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410013, China.
Ling
L
Chu
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410013, China.
Tiansheng
T
Wang
Department of Pathology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, China.
Yongbin
Y
Hu
Department of Pathology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, China.
Haiying
H
Jiang
Department of Pathology, Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410013, China.
Yonghong
Y
Gu
Department of Pathology, Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410013, China.
Zhansan
Z
Su
D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D015153:Blotting, Western; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D015180:Electrophoresis, Gel, Two-Dimensional; D008168:Lung / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D040901:Proteomics; D051381:Rats; D012822:Silicon Dioxide / Q000009:adverse effects; D012829:Silicosis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D019032:Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization; D038203:alpha-Crystallin B Chain / Q000378:metabolism*
D015415:Biomarkers; D038203:alpha-Crystallin B Chain; D012822:Silicon Dioxide