ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To identify differentially expressed proteins between pancreatic tumor tissues and the adjacent noncancerous tissues by comparative proteomics analysis. METHODS: Six pairs pancreatic tumor tissues and the adjacent noncancerous tissues were obtained and selected for two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (2-DE) analysis. The differentially expressed proteins were identified using the PDQuest 2-D analysis software. After cutting and enzymolysis, the differentially expressed proteins were analysised by ESI-Q-TOF mass spectrometer. The MS/MS data were acquired and searched in the Swiss-Prot database using MASCOT software. Altered expression of representative proteins was validated by immunohistochemical staining. RESULTS: A total of 97 points were identified as differentially expressed by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis, of which 31 were successfully identified by ESI-Q-TOF mass spectrometer. Among the proteins identified by mass spectrometer, 23 were upregulated and the other 8 were downregulated. These proteins were involved in different functional processes and protein families: glucolysis, hyaluronidase, I, II-phase metabolic enzymes, metalloproteinase, cytoskeleton, Ca2+ metabolism and so on. Immunohistochemical staining revealed an overexpression of HYAL1 and low expression of CYP2C8 and GSTM2 in pancreatic tumor. CONCLUSION: The differentially expressed proteins between pancreatic tumor tissues and the adjacent noncancerous tissues can be identified by comparative proteomics approach. The selected proteins will provide a valuable clue and help for further research.