Search for cancer markers from endometrial tissues using differentially labeled tags iTRAQ and cICAT with multidimensional liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry.

A total of nine potential markers for endometrial cancer (EmCa) have been discovered and identified from endometrial tissue homogenates using a combination of differentially labeled tags, iTRAQ and cICAT, with multidimensional liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry. The tissues were snap frozen in liquid nitrogen within 15-20 min after devitalization. Samples for proteomic analysis were treated with protease inhibitors before processing. Marker proteins that were overexpressed in EmCa are chaperonin 10, pyruvate kinase M1 or M2 isozyme, calgizzarin, heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein D0, macrophage migratory inhibitory factor, and polymeric immunoglobulin receptor precursor; those that were underexpressed are alpha-1-antitrypsin precursor, creatine kinase B, and transgelin. The chaperonin 10 result confirms our earlier observation of overexpression in EmCa tissues using surface-enhanced laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry, verified by Western analysis and immunohistochemistry [Yang, E. C. C. et al. J. Proteome Res. 2004, 3, 636-643]. Pyruvate kinase was observed to be overexpressed using both iTRAQ and cICAT labeling. All nine markers have been found to be associated with various forms of cancer. A panel of these plus other markers may confer sufficient selectivity for diagnosing and screening of EmCa. The use of cICAT led to identification of a higher proportion of lower-abundance signaling proteins; conversely, iTRAQ resulted in a higher percentage of the more abundant ribosomal proteins and transcription factors.

A strategy for high-resolution protein identification in surface-enhanced laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry: calgranulin A and chaperonin 10 as protein markers for endometrial carcinoma.

Surface-enhanced laser desorption/ionization-mass spectrometry (SELDI-MS) has conventionally been practiced on linear time of flight (TOF) which has low mass accuracy and resolution. Here we demonstrate in an examination of both malignant and nonmalignant endometrial tissue homogenates that high mass accuracy and resolution in the MS stage are crucial. Using a commercially available quadrupole/TOF (QqTOF), we were able to resolve two potential cancer markers, subsequently identified off-line as chaperonin 10 and calgranulin A, that differ by 8 Da in mass. Two off-line protein identification protocols were developed: the first was based on size-exclusion chromatography (SEC), sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), protein extraction, trypsin digestion, and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-tandem MS (MALDI-MS/MS); the second on SEC and shotgun nano-liquid chromatography (nanoLC)-MS/MS. Analyses on a cohort of 44 endometrial homogenates showed 22 out of 23 nonmalignant samples had nondetectable to very low abundance of chaperonin 10 and calgranulin A; 17 of the 21 malignant samples had detectable to abundant levels of both proteins. Immunohistochemical staining of a tissue microarray of 32 samples showed that approximately half of malignant endometrial tissues exhibited positive staining for calgranulin A in the malignant epithelium, while 9 out of 10 benign tissues exhibited negative epithelial staining. In addition, macrophages/granulocytes in malignant as well as nonmalignant tissues showed positive staining. No immunostaining occurred in stroma or myometrium. Calgranulin A, in combination with chaperonin 10 and other proteins, may eventually constitute a panel of markers to permit diagnosis and screening of endometrial cancer.

Proteomic analysis of the proliferative and secretory phases of the human endometrium: protein identification and differential protein expression.

Proteomic analyses of the proliferative and secretory phases of the human endometrium were carried out to identify proteins and discover differentially expressed proteins using isotope-coded affinity tags, three stages of chromatographic separation and online tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS). From an initial list of 346 proteins identified by ProICAT, manual inspection of MS/MS spectra and confirmatory searches pared the list down to 119 positively identified proteins. Only five of the proteins showed consistent differential expression. The utility of some of these proteins as indicators of true differential expression in the endometrium is open to discussion. The two proteins with unquestionable differential expressions in the secretory endometrium are: glutamate NMDA receptor subunit zeta 1 precursor and FRAT1. Some of the proteins that show no differential expression have previously been examined in gene-expression studies with similar conclusions.

Protein expression profiling of endometrial malignancies reveals a new tumor marker: chaperonin 10.

Endometrial carcinoma is a common malignancy in women, being exceeded in incidence only by that of breast, lung, and colorectal cancers. At present, no serum tumor markers are available for the monitoring of endometrial carcinoma patients, and patients with recurrent disease are detected only following the development of symptoms or abnormalities in imaging assessments. Similarly, no screening tools are available for endometrial carcinoma. Protein profiling by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) has proven to be a sensitive and fast method of analysis for small proteins or peptides to yield specific biomarkers. In this study, a variety of normal and malignant endometrial tissue samples were fractionated and analyzed by SELDI-TOF MS (SELDI is a version of MALDI utilizing protein "chips"). A number of proteins displayed differential expression in malignant endometrial tissues. One of the prominent proteins fractionated by weak cation exchange chromatography and displaying enhanced expression in these malignant tissues was identified as chaperonin 10. The increased expression of chaperonin 10 in malignant endometrial tissues was further confirmed by parallel Western blot and immunohistochemistry analyses.

Fast liquid chromatography-electrochemistry-mass spectrometry of ferrocenecarboxylic acid esters.

Rapid liquid chromatographic separations of ferrocenecarboxylic esters of various alcohols and phenols have been achieved on reversed-phase columns of 20 mm length. After separation, the ferrocene derivatives are oxidized electrochemically under formation of the charged ferrocinium species, which are easily detected by mass spectrometry using an atmospheric pressure chemical ionization source operated in the heated nebulizer mode. While a series of nine phenol derivatives was separated within less than 1.5 min, six alcohol derivatives eluted within 1 min. Limits of detection using a single quadrupole mass analyzer ranged from 60 to 190 nmol/l. Additional work was directed on the use of a graphite in-line filter instead of a silica-based reversed-phase column to achieve the separation.

On-line electrochemistry--MS and related techniques.

This review summarizes publications on the on-line coupling of electrochemistry with mass spectrometry. After a brief historic introduction it is divided into three parts, organized in order of increasing complexity of the experimental arrangement. The first section deals with the use of the electrospray ion source as an electrochemical reactor for oxidation or reduction reactions. It is followed by the second part which covers the hyphenation of different kinds of electrochemical flow cell with a variety of ionization interfaces. The last section focuses on the on-line coupling of chromatographic techniques with electrochemical flow cells and mass spectrometry.