Proteins of rat serum: III. Gender-related differences in protein concentration under baseline conditions and upon experimental inflammation as evaluated by two-dimensional electrophoresis

Gender proteomics I. Which proteins in non-sexual organs

Differences related to gender have long been neglected but recent investigations show that they are widespread and may be recognized with all types of omics approaches, both in tissues and in biological fluids. Our review compiles evidence collected with proteomics techniques in our species, mainly focusing on baseline parameters in non-sexual organs in healthy men and women. Data from human specimens had to be replaced with information from other mammals every time invasive procedures of sample procurement were involved.

SIGNIFICANCE

As our knowledge, and the methods to build it, get refined, gender differences need to receive more and more attention, as they influence the outcome of all aspects in lifestyle, including diet, exercise and environmental factors. In turn this background modulates a differential susceptibility to some disease, or a different pathogenetic mechanism, depending on gender, and a different response to pharmacological therapy. Preparing this review we meant to raise awareness about the gender issue. We anticipate that more and more often, in the future, separate evaluations will be carried out on male and female subjects as an alternative - and an upgrade - to the current approach of reference and test groups being 'matched for age and sex'.

Gender specific differences in the liver proteome of rats exposed to short term and low-concentration hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD)

The influence of short term (7-day) exposure of male rats to the brominated flame retardant hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD) was studied by investigation of the liver proteome, both in euthyroid and hypothyroid rats and by comparing results with general data on animal physiology and thyroid hormone, leptin, insulin and gonadotropin concentrations determined in parallel. Proteome analysis of liver tissue by two-dimensional fluorescence difference gel electrophoresis (2D-DIGE) revealed that only small protein pattern changes were induced by exposure in males, on just a few proteins with different functions and not involved in pathways in common. This is in contrast to previous findings in similarly exposed eu- and hypothyroid female rats, where general metabolic pathways had been shown to be affected. The largest gender-dependent effects concerned basal concentrations of liver proteins already in control and hypothyroid animals, involving mainly the pathways which were also differently affected by HBCD exposure. Among them were differences in lipid metabolism, which - upon exposure to HBCD - may also be the reason for the considerably higher ratio of γ-HBCD accumulated in white adipose tissue of exposed female rats compared to males. The results further elucidate the already suggested different sensitivity of genders towards HBCD exposure on the protein level, and confirm the need for undertaking toxicological animal experiments in both genders.

Detection of urinary biomarkers in reservoir hosts of leptospirosis by capillary electrophoresis-mass spectrometry

PURPOSE

Pathogenic leptospires colonize the renal tubules of reservoir hosts of infection and are excreted via urine into the environment. Asymptomatic reservoir hosts include a wide range of domestic and wild animal species and include cattle, dogs, and rats that can persistently excrete large numbers of pathogenic leptospires over many months. A similar presentation has been observed in humans categorized as "long-term asymptomatic individuals" as they excreted leptospires in the absence of any clinical symptoms or positive serology.

EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN

In the current study, the urine of experimentally infected rats, which showed no clinical signs or positive serology, was analyzed by CE-MS to identify urinary biomarkers of chronic infection.

RESULTS

A discriminating peptide pattern of 43 polypeptides provided a sensitivity of 93%, a specificity of 83%, and an accuracy of 90% for the identification of urine from chronically infected rats (p < 0.05, AUC > 90%). The majority of discriminating peptides were decreased in abundance in urine of chronically infected rats, including a peptide derived from neprilysin, a membrane metalloendopeptidase, the expression of which has previously been shown to be diminished in infected urine.

CONCLUSION AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE

Results highlight the diagnostic capabilities of urinary biomarkers to identify reservoir hosts of leptospirosis using CE coupled to MS.

Characterization of chikungunya virus induced host response in a mouse model of viral myositis

While a number of studies have documented the persistent presence of chikungunya virus (CHIKV) in muscle tissue with primary fibroblast as the preferable cell target, little is known regarding the alterations that take place in muscle tissue in response to CHIKV infection. Hence, in the present study a permissive mouse model of CHIKV infection was established and characterized in order to understand the pathophysiology of the disease. The two dimensional electrophoresis of muscle proteome performed for differential analysis indicated a drastic reprogramming of the proteins from various classes like stress, inflammation, cytoskeletal, energy and lipid metabolism. The roles of the affected proteins were explained in relation to virus induced myopathy which was further supported by the histopathological and behavioural experiments proving the lack of hind limb coordination and other loco-motor abnormalities in the infected mice. Also, the level of various pro-inflammatory mediators like IL-6, MCP-1, Rantes and TNF-α was significantly elevated in muscles of infected mice. Altogether this comprehensive study of characterizing CHIKV induced mouse myopathy provides many potential targets for further evaluation and biomarker study.

Regulation of urea synthesis during the acute-phase response in rats

The acute-phase response is a catabolic event involving increased waste of amino-nitrogen (N) via hepatic urea synthesis, despite an increased need for amino-N incorporation into acute-phase proteins. This study aimed to clarify the regulation of N elimination via urea during different phases of the tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α)-induced acute-phase response in rats. We used four methods to study the regulation of urea synthesis: We examined urea cycle enzyme mRNA levels in liver tissue, the hepatocyte urea cycle enzyme proteins, the in vivo capacity of urea-N synthesis (CUNS), and known humoral regulators of CUNS at 1, 3, 24, and 72 h after TNF-α injection (25 μg/kg iv rrTNF-α) in rats. Serum acute-phase proteins and their liver mRNA levels were also measured. The urea cycle enzyme mRNA levels acutely decreased and then gradually normalized, whereas the urea cycle enzyme proteins remained essentially unchanged over time. The CUNS rose after 3 h and then normalized. The acute-phase response was fully activated at 24 h with markedly increased serum levels of the acute-phase proteins. TNF-α acutely upregulated the CUNS. Later, despite the fully established 24-h acute-phase response and the decreased activity of the urea cycle enzyme genes, there was no change in the urea cycle enzyme proteins or the CUNS. Thus in no phase after the initiation of the acute-phase response was in vivo urea synthesis orchestrated in combination with acute-phase protein synthesis so as to limit N waste.

Biological and methodical challenges of blood-based proteomics in the field of neurological research

Biomarker discovery is an application of major importance in today's proteomic research. There is an urgent need for suitable biomarkers to improve diagnostic tools and treatment in various neurological diseases, such as neurodegenerative disorders. Recent years have witnessed an enormous interest in proteomics, which is currently seen as an invaluable tool to shed more light on complex interacting signalling pathways and molecular networks involved in several neuropathological conditions. However, while first results of proteomic research studies have sparked much public attention, the momentum of further proteomic biomarker research in neurological disorders may suffer by its very complex methodology which is sensitive to various sources of artefacts. A major source of variability is proteome perturbation caused by sample handling/preservation (preanalytical phase) and processing/measurement (analytical phase). The aim of the present review is to summarize the current literature focusing on the crucial role played by preanalytical and analytical factors that affect the quality of samples and the reliability of the data produced in blood-based proteomic biomarker research in neurology, which may apply to Alzheimer's disease (AD) as well as other neurological disorders. Procedures for sample preparation and protocols for the analysis of serum and plasma samples will be delineated. Finally, the potential usefulness of bioinformatics--allowing for the assembly, store, and processing of data--as well as its contribution to the execution of proteomic studies will be critically discussed.

Acute phase proteins in healthy and sick cats

Serum acute phase protein concentrations are used as diagnostic, therapeutic and prognostic markers in human and, less frequently, in animal medicine. The aim of this study was to determine how the health status and signalment of the cat are associated with concentrations of acute phase proteins. Generally, medians of the positive acute phase proteins appeared to be higher in sick cats compared to healthy cats. In multivariable regression models, log-transformed serum amyloid A concentration was higher in older cats, in sick and in female cats, while log-transformed α1-acid glycoprotein and haptoglobin concentrations were higher in older cats and were associated with interactions of health status (sick/healthy) and gender (male/female). The data from healthy cats in this study contribute to the limited knowledge of normal reference ranges for this species. This study highlights the potential of acute phase proteins as diagnostic markers in sick cats, but also emphasises that the signalment of the cat needs to be taken into consideration.

Viral myocarditis induced by Coxsackievirus B3 in A.BY/SnJ mice: analysis of changes in the myocardial proteome

Enteroviral myocarditis displays highly diverse clinical phenotypes ranging from mild dyspnoea or chest pain to cardiogenic shock and death. Despite detailed studies of the virus life cycle in vitro and in vivo, the molecular interplay between host and virus in disease progression is largely unresolved. Murine models of Coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3)-induced myocarditis well mimic the human disease patterns and can thus be explored to study mechanisms leading from acute to chronic myocarditis. Here, we present a 2-D gel-based proteomic survey of the changes in the murine cardiac proteome that occurs following infection with CVB3. In total, 136 distinct proteins were affected. Proteins, which are involved in immunity and defense and protein metabolism/modification displayed pronounced changes in intensity not only during acute but also at later stages of CVB3 myocarditis. Proteins involved in maintenance of cell structure and associated proteins were particularly influenced in the acute phase of myocarditis, whereas reduction of levels of metabolic enzymes was observed in chronic myocarditis. Studies about changes in protein intensities were complemented by an analysis of protein phosphorylation that revealed infection-associated changes in the phosphorylation of myosin binding protein C, atrial and ventricular isoforms of myosin regulatory light chain 2, desmin, and Rab GDP dissociation inhibitor beta-2.

Pivotal role of JNK-dependent FOXO1 activation in downregulation of kallistatin expression by oxidative stress

Oxidative stress has been shown to suppress endothelial nitric oxide synthase expression through activation of the transcription factor forkhead box O 1 (FOXO1) in cultured endothelial cells. We previously reported that circulating kallistatin levels are markedly reduced in rats with chronic oxidative organ damage. In this study, we investigated the potential role of oxidative stress in suppression of kallistatin expression via FOXO1 activation. In Dahl salt-sensitive (DSS) rats, we found that high salt intake induced a time-dependent correlation of increased thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS, an indicator of lipid peroxidation) with reduced serum kallistatin levels. Moreover, salt loading provoked an elevation of in situ aortic superoxide formation in association with reduced kallistatin levels. Expression of kallistatin was identified in cultured endothelial cells by immunocytochemistry and flow cytometry; however, H(2)O(2) dose-dependently lowered kallistatin mRNA and protein levels as determined by real-time PCR and Western blot, respectively. Downregulation of kallistatin synthesis by oxidative stress was restored by knockdown of FOXO1 expression with small-interfering RNA. H(2)O(2) rapidly induced FOXO1 nuclear translocation, but the effect was blocked by c-Jun NH(2)-terminal kinase (JNK) inhibitor. Inhibition of JNK by pharmacological inhibitor or small-interfering RNA reversed H(2)O(2)'s effect on kallistatin expression in endothelial cells. This study demonstrates that an inverse relationship exists between oxidative stress and kallistatin levels in the circulation and blood vessels and that kallistatin expression is negatively regulated by oxidative stress via JNK-dependent FOXO1 activation in cultured endothelial cells.

Dissimilar hepatic protein expression profiles during the acute and flow phases following experimental thermal injury

The liver plays a major role in the early hypometabolic and later hypermetabolic phases after severe burn injury. Proteomic analysis was used to identify altered proteins in liver during these two phases. Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to a full-thickness dorsal burn injury covering 40% of the total body surface area. Controls consisted of sham-treated animals. Liver tissues were collected on postburn days 1 and 7. The proteomic data show greater production of positive acute phase proteins on day 1 than on day 7. Many antioxidant enzymes were coordinately downregulated on day 1, including the potent biliverdin reductase. These antioxidants were restored and in some cases upregulated on day 7. This opposite trend in the change of antioxidant proteins corroborated our finding of more pronounced oxidative stress on day 1 than on day 7 as measured via protein carbonyl content. The changes of metabolic enzymes on days 1 and 7 were consistent with hypo- and hyper-metabolic states, respectively. Furthermore, a previously unreported decrease in ornithine aminotransferase on day 7 may be a key contributor to the observed increased urinary urea excretion during the hypermetabolic phase. Overall, the many differences in protein expression observed on postburn days 1 and 7 reflect the dissimilar hepatic metabolic patterns during the acute and flow phases following burn injury.

Gender differences in endothelial function and inflammatory markers along the occurrence of pathological events in stroke-prone rats

Spontaneously hypertensive stroke-prone rats (SHRSP) feature an established model for human cerebrovascular disease. SHRSP, kept on a high-salt permissive diet (JPD), develop hypertension, renal and brain damage. In this report we compared the behavior of female and male SHRSP regarding the main aspects of their pathological condition. Brain abnormalities, detected by magnetic resonance imaging, developed spontaneously in males after 42+/-3 days, in females after 114+/-14 days from the start of JPD. Survival was >3-fold longer for females than for males. The development of brain damage was preceded, in both genders, by an inflammatory condition characterized by the accumulation in serum and urine of acute-phase proteins. The increase in thiostatin level was significantly lower and delayed in female in comparison to male SHRSP. During JPD female and male SHRSP developed massive proteinuria, its worsening being significantly slower in females. The alterations of vasculature-bound barriers in kidney and brain were connected with endothelial dysfunction and relative deficiency in nitric oxide (NO). In thoracic aortic rings, basal release of NO was significantly higher in female than in male SHRSP, both if receiving and if not receiving JPD. The gender differences in SHRSP thus appear to be connected to a more efficient control in females of inflammation and of endothelial dysfunction.

Protein stains for proteomic applications: which, when, why?

This review recollects literature data on sensitivity and dynamic range for the most commonly used colorimetric and fluorescent dyes for general protein staining, and summarizes procedures for the most common PTM-specific detection methods. It also compiles some important points to be considered in imaging and evaluation. In addition to theoretical considerations, examples are provided to illustrate differential staining of specific proteins with different detection methods. This includes a large body of original data on the comparative evaluation of several pre- and post-electrophoresis stains used in parallel on a single specimen, horse serum run in 2-DE (IPG-DALT). A number of proteins/protein spots are found to be over- or under-revealed with some of the staining procedures.

Chemotherapy of brain tumour using doxorubicin bound to surfactant-coated poly(butyl cyanoacrylate) nanoparticles: revisiting the role of surfactants

Poly(butyl cyanoacrylate) nanoparticles coated with poloxamer 188 (Pluronic) F68) and also, as shown previously, polysorbate 80 (Tween 80) considerably enhance the anti-tumour effect of doxorubicin against an intracranial glioblastoma in rats. The investigation of plasma protein adsorption on the surface of the drug-loaded nanoparticles by two-dimensional electrophoresis (2-D PAGE) revealed that both surfactants, besides other plasma components, induced a considerable adsorption of apolipoprotein A-I (ApoA-I). It is hypothesized that delivery of doxorubicin to the brain by means of nanoparticles may be augmented by the interaction of apolipoprotein A-I that is anchored on the surface of the nanoparticles with the scavenger receptor class B type I (SR-BI) located at the blood-brain barrier. This is the first study that shows a correlation between the adsorption of apolipoprotein A-I on the nanoparticle surface and the delivery of the drug across the blood-brain barrier.

Effect of fungal polysaccharides on the modulation of plasma proteins in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

To search out novel biomarkers for monitoring diabetes prognosis, we examined the effect of hypoglycemic fungal exopolysaccharides (EPS) on the differential levels of plasma proteins in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. The orally administrated EPS exhibited an excellent hypoglycemic effect, lowering the average plasma glucose level, and increasing insulin secretion in diabetic rats. The 2-DE analysis of rat plasma demonstrated that about 500 visualized spots were differentially regulated, of which 20 spots were identified as principal diabetes-associated proteins. The distinct effect of diabetes induction on the pattern of rat plasma proteins includes the down-regulation of albumin, apolipoprotein E (Apo E), alpha1-inhibitor-3, fetuin beta, Gc-globulin, hemopexin, vitronectin, and transthyretin (TTR) monomer, and the up-regulation of Apo A-I, Apo A-IV, ceruloplasmin, alpha1-antitrypsin, serine protease inhibitor III, and transferrin. Those protein levels were interestingly restored to those of healthy rats by EPS treatment, although the order of magnitude of the changes differed widely. Two proteins of interest showed distinct differential expression with opposite trends: TTR tetramer was significantly down-regulated and immunoglobulin (Ig) kappa light chain was significantly up-regulated upon diabetes induction, both of which were also normalized to those of healthy groups after EPS treatment.

Proteomics analysis revealed changes in rat bronchoalveolar lavage fluid proteins associated with oil mist exposure

Exposure to oil mist has been associated with a variety of acute and chronic respiratory effects. Using proteomics approaches to investigate exposure-associated proteins may provide useful information to understand the mechanisms of associated respiratory effects. The aim of this study was to investigate changes in rat bronchoalveolar lavage fluid proteins associated with oil mist exposure using nano-HPLC-ESI-MS/MS. The results revealed that 29 proteins exhibited significant changes after exposure. These proteins included surfactant-associated proteins (SP-A and SP-D), inflammatory proteins (complement component 3, immunoglobulins, lysozyme, etc.), growth factors (e.g., transforming growth factor alpha (TGF-alpha)), calcium-binding proteins (calcyclin, calgranulin A, calreticulin, and calvasculin), and other proteins (e.g., cathepsin D, saposin, and intestinal trefoil factor). To further evaluate changes in protein levels, a simple quantitative strategy was developed in this study. A large decrease in protein levels of SP-A and SP-D (0.24- and 0.38-fold, respectively) following exposure was observed. In contrast, protein levels of TGF-alpha and calcium-binding proteins were significantly increased (4.46- and 1.4-1.8-fold, respectively). Due to the diverse functions of these proteins, the results might contribute to understand the mechanisms involved in lung disorders induced by oil mist exposure.

Immunodepletion of albumin for two-dimensional gel detection of new mouse acute-phase protein and other plasma proteins

Immunodepletion of albumin to improve the 2-D gel resolution of human plasma proteins has recently been described. With the importance of mouse models in many studies in which serum or plasma is often analyzed, we have adopted this approach to immunoprecipitate mouse albumin and evaluated its effectiveness for 2-D separation of mouse plasma proteins. Purified polyclonal antibodies against mouse albumin were effective depleting intact albumin as well as its numerous fragments from mouse plasma samples. Removal of albumin resulted in better resolution of mouse plasma proteins. Three proteins, alpha2-macroglobulin, coagulation factor XII, and hemopexin, that were previously either undetectable or poorly resolved, were identified from albumin-depleted 2-D gels by peptide mass fingerprinting. Albumin depletion also led to partial loss of several other proteins such as clusterin and gelsolin. This loss can be attributed to the interaction with albumin itself because the specificity of the antibody was demonstrated by Western blot. When applying this method to the 2-D separation of plasma from inflamed mouse induced by cutaneous burn injury with superimposed Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection, the upregulation of inter alpha-trypsin inhibitor heavy chain 4 (ITIH4) and hemopexin was unambiguously detected along with other mouse acute-phase proteins (APP), including haptoglobin and serum amyloid A. Based on the significant increase of ITIH4, we propose that this protein is a new member of mouse APP that are upregulated during the inflammatory response.

The human plasma proteome: analysis of Chinese serum using shotgun strategy

We have investigated the serum proteome of Han-nationality Chinese by using shotgun strategy. A complete proteomics analysis was performed on two reference specimens from a total of 20 healthy donors, in which each sample was made from ten-pooled male or female serum, respectively. The methodology used encompassed (1) removal of six high-abundant proteins; (2) tryptic digestion of low- and high-abundant proteins of serum; (3) separation of peptide mixture by RP-HPLC followed by ESI-MS/MS identification. A total of 944 nonredundant proteins were identified under a stringent filter condition (X(corr) > or = 1.9, > or = 2.2, and > or = 3.75, < or = C(n) > or = 0.1, and R(sp) > or = 4.0) in both pooled male and female samples, in which 594 and 622 entire proteins were found, respectively. Compared with the total 3020 protein identifications confirmed by more than one laboratory or more than one specimen in HUPO Plasma Proteome Project (PPP) participating laboratories recently, 206 proteins were identified with at least two distinct peptides per protein and 185 proteins were considered as high-confidence identification. Moreover, some lower abundance serum proteins (ng/mL range) were detected, such as complement C5 and CA125, routinely used as an ovarian cancer marker in plasma and serum. The resulting nonredundant list of serum proteins would add significant information to the knowledge base of human plasma proteome and facilitate disease markers discovery.

Identification of neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) as a discriminatory marker of the hepatocyte-secreted protein response to IL-1beta: a proteomic analysis

The liver is the major source of proteins used throughout the body for various functions. Upon injury or infection, an acute phase response (APR) is initiated in the liver that is primarily mediated by inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) and interleukin-6. Among others, the APR is characterized by an altered protein synthetic profile. We used two-dimensional gel electrophoresis to study the dynamics of changes in protein synthesis in hepatocytes exposed to these inflammatory cytokines. Protein profiles were quantified using image analysis and further analyzed using multivariate statistical methods. Our results indicate that IL-1beta and IL-6 each induces secreted protein responses with distinct dynamics and dose-dependence. Parallel stimulation by IL-1beta and IL-6 results in a protein pattern indistinguishable from the IL-1beta pattern, indicating a dominant effect of IL-1beta over IL-6 at the doses tested. Multidimensional scaling (MDS) of correlation distances between protein secretion levels revealed two protein pairs that are robustly co-secreted across the various cytokine stimulation conditions, suggesting shared regulatory pathways. Finally, we also used multivariate alternating conditional expectation (MACE) to identify transformation functions that discriminated the cytokine-stimulated and untreated hepatocyte-secreted protein profiles. Our analysis indicates that the expression of neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) was sufficient to discriminate between IL-1beta and IL-6 stimulation. The combination of proteomics and multivariate analysis is expected to provide new information on the cellular regulatory networks involved in generating specific cellular responses.

Isolation and characterization of denatured serum albumin from rats with endotoxicosis

Due to its rapid breakdown in the body, denatured serum albumin has not been identified in biological samples. In this study we attempted to determine whether denatured albumin could be identified in rats with endotoxicosis. Male Wistar rats were injected with lipopolysaccharide (LPS; 5 mg/kg body weight). Plasma albumin concentration decreased to one-third the normal level at 2 days after the injection. By using the purified IgG against the specific epitope of chemically denatured albumin, two immunoreactive plasma proteins (bands D2 and D3) were identified by native PAGE followed by Western blot analysis. The plasma concentration of these two proteins increased significantly at 1 and 1.5 days after LPS injection. Peptide mass fingerprinting using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI/TOF-MS) identified these two proteins as serum albumin. In order to characterize their conformational nature, ion-exchange chromatography was used to isolate D2 and D3 albumins from rats injected with LPS. Far- and near-UV circular dichroism (CD), tryptophan and 1-anilino-8-naphthalenesulfonate (ANS) fluorescence, and proteolytic susceptibility showed conformational alterations in the D2 and D3 albumins as compared with native albumin. These data indicate the presence of denatured albumin in circulating rat plasma, and this fact may contribute to a further understanding of the molecular mechanisms of albumin breakdown in physiological and pathophysiological conditions.

Toward a human blood serum proteome: analysis by multidimensional separation coupled with mass spectrometry

Blood serum is a complex body fluid that contains various proteins ranging in concentration over at least 9 orders of magnitude. Using a combination of mass spectrometry technologies with improvements in sample preparation, we have performed a proteomic analysis with submilliliter quantities of serum and increased the measurable concentration range for proteins in blood serum beyond previous reports. We have detected 490 proteins in serum by on-line reversed-phase microcapillary liquid chromatography coupled with ion trap mass spectrometry. To perform this analysis, immunoglobulins were removed from serum using protein A/G, and the remaining proteins were digested with trypsin. Resulting peptides were separated by strong cation exchange chromatography into distinct fractions prior to analysis. This separation resulted in a 3-5-fold increase in the number of proteins detected in an individual serum sample. With this increase in the number of proteins identified we have detected some lower abundance serum proteins (ng/ml range) including human growth hormone, interleukin-12, and prostate-specific antigen. We also used SEQUEST to compare different protein databases with and without filtering. This comparison is plotted to allow for a quick visual assessment of different databases as a subjective measure of analytical quality. With this study, we have performed the most extensive analysis of serum proteins to date and laid the foundation for future refinements in the identification of novel protein biomarkers of disease.

Monitoring the effects of drug treatment in rat models of disease by serum protein analysis

In this review we list from literature investigations on rat serum proteins using electrophoretic techniques in connection with drug testing. From our own research work, we provide annotated two-dimensional maps of rat serum proteins under control and experimental conditions. Emphasis is on species-specific components and on the effects of acute and chronic inflammation. We discuss our project of structural proteomics on rat serum as a minimally invasive approach to pharmacological investigation, and we outline a typical experimental plan for drug testing according to the above guidelines. We then report in detail on the results of our trials of anti-inflammatory drugs on adjuvant arthritis, an animal model of disease resembling in many aspects human rheumatoid arthritis. We demonstrate a correlation between biochemical parameters and therapeutic findings and outline the advantages of the chosen methodological approach, which proved also sensitive in revealing "side effects" of the test drugs. In an appendix we describe our experimental protocol when performing two-dimensional electrophoresis of rat serum.

Proteins of rat serum, urine, and cerebrospinal fluid: VI. Further protein identifications and interstrain comparison

We have investigated the biological fluids--serum, cerebrospinal fluid, and urine--of three strains of rats; the present data extend our database (also available on-line) and may be of interest for pharmacological and toxicological investigation. Specifically, we have defined reference maps of the major protein components in cerebrospinal fluid and urine. Compartment-specific isoforms were recognized for transferrin and transthyretin. Mass spectrometric data established the cleavage site of the signal peptide and identified the N-terminal blocking group of prostaglandin D synthase from rat cerebrospinal fluid. A previously undescribed member of the family of low molecular mass rat urinary proteins was characterized as containing a sequence similar, but not identical, to the N-terminal region of rat urinary protein-2 (RUP-2), and divergent from RUP-1.

Acute-phase proteins before cerebral ischemia in stroke-prone rats: identification by proteomics

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

A high degree of proteinuria has been reported in stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRSP). We studied the effect of salt loading on the detailed protein pattern of serum and urine in 3 rat strains: Wistar-Kyoto, spontaneously hypertensive rats, and SHRSP, an inbred animal model for a complex form of cerebrovascular disorder resembling the human disease.

METHODS

Rats were given a permissive diet and received 1% NaCl in drinking water. The protein pattern in body fluids was assessed over time by 2-dimensional electrophoretic analysis. Brain alterations were monitored by MRI and histology.

RESULTS

Several proteins were excreted in urine after weeks of treatment and in advance of stroke: transferrin, hemopexin, albumin, alpha(2)-HS-glycoprotein, kallikrein-binding protein, alpha(1)-antitrypsin, Gc-globulin, and transthyretin. Markers of an inflammatory response, including very high levels of thiostatin, were detected in the serum of SHRSP at least 4 weeks before a stroke occurred.

CONCLUSIONS

In SHRSP subjected to salt loading, an atypical inflammatory condition and widespread alterations of vascular permeability developed before the appearance of anomalous features in the brain detected by MRI. Urinary concentrations of each of the excreted serum proteins correlated positively with time before stroke occurred.

Proteins of rat serum V: adjuvant arthritis and its modulation by nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs

The effect of adjuvant arthritis (AA) on the pattern of rat serum proteins includes the upregulation of haptoglobin, orosomucoid, alpha2-macroglobulin, serine protease inhibitor-3, thiostatin, alpha1-antitrypsin, C-reactive protein, and the downregulation of kallikrein-binding protein, alpha1-inhibitor III, apolipoprotein A-I, alpha2-HS-glycoprotein, albumin, apolipoprotein A-IV, transthyretin and transferrin. Minor changes (+/- 20%) are observed for Gc-globulin, ceruloplasmin, and alpha1-macroglobulin. AA thus grossly resembles the acute inflammatory response elicited by the injection of turpentine, although the changes in the levels of negative acute-phase proteins (APP) are smaller in acute inflammation. Indomethacine and ibuprofen inhibit the effects of arthritis on the synthesis of rat serum proteins in different ways: The former is, on average, three times as effective as the latter. Each drug interferes differently with different proteins. In animals without AA, both nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) mimic the inflammatory pattern to a certain extent, with more effect on the negative than on the positive APPs. Overall, the shifts in serum protein levels parallel changes in inflammatory parameters such as joint swelling and serum interleukin-6 (IL-6) activity. Protein quantitation after two-dimensional electrophoresis (2-DE) reveals some effects of the drugs per se which escape detection by other routine tests.

A web site for the rat serum protein study group

We describe a site http://users.unimi.it/-ratserum/homeframed.ht ml with clickable maps of serum proteins of control and inflamed rats as well as quantitative data on the expression of such serum proteins under varying physiological and experimental conditions. This information enhances the value of minimally invasive techniques, thus reducing the number of animals to be treated, and eventually sacrificed, in pharmacological/toxicological research projects.

Proteins of rat serum IV. Time-course of acute-phase protein expression and its modulation by indomethacine

Changes in the concentration of major serum proteins were monitored from day 0 to day 4 in three experimental groups: rats injected with turpentine, rats receiving the turpentine shot and daily doses of indomethacine, and rats given indomethacine alone. In inflamed animals, peak changes for acute-phase reactants, evaluated by two-dimensional electrophoresis (2-DE), were usually observed between 48 and 72 h after the phlogistic stimulus. By itself, indomethacine was found to affect the synthesis of most proteins (except one of the thiostatin variants and ceruloplasmin); the changes in serum levels, whether positive or negative, were the same as upon inflammation (except for kallikrein-binding protein), but their extent and/or timing usually differed. When inflamed animals were given indomethacine, a clear-cut difference in the concentration of some proteins was observed versus inflamed rats not given medication, at 24 h after the start of the treatments. Proteins mainly affected were alpha2-macroglobulin, alpha2-HS-glycoprotein, C-reactive protein and kallikrein-binding protein.