Serum Proteomic Profiling Associated with Immune System Impaired by Stress Using ProteinChip Technology

Abstract

We set out to use proteomic profiling as a means of defining serum peptides that are indicative of a stress response related to an impact on the immune system. Two types of mouse models with the immune response impaired under stress (restraint stress and thermal stress) comprised the stressed groups (n = 10 in each group), while mice without stress represented the control group (n = 10). ProteinChip technology (surface-enhanced laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry) was used to investigate the serum proteomic profiles. Histopathological examination of spleens from the stressed and control groups was performed to select appropriate individuals. Compared with the spleens of normal mice, those of mice subjected to restraint and thermal stress had decreased white pulp and lymphoid nodules, and their distribution and structure changed irregularly. Pathological changes occurred in all individuals in both stressed groups. The m/z values of the protein peaks ranged from 1,500 to 50,000 daltons and were mainly in the 2,000- to 20,000-dalton range. One hundred and fifty protein peaks were detected in the three groups. Four downregulated universal stress protein peaks with m/z of 4,389, 5,341, 5,526, and 6,252 were finally selected. Unexpectedly, no upregulated universal stress protein peaks were detected. These results suggested that impairment of the immune system results from inhibition of growth-promoting factors associated with the immune system. Identified protein peaks may be biomarkers of the impaired immune system under stress.

Mass spectrometry of peptides and proteins from human blood

“…Novel mathematical treatments of MALDI data have been conceived (Montazery-Kordy et al, 2008;Alexandrov et al, 2009;Liu, 2009). There remains an on-going documentation of blood by MALDI parent ion patterns in response to a variety of physiological states such as disease, drug response, the image or proximity of romantic partners or the use of performance enhancing drugs (Tammen et al, 2002;Guerrier, Lomas, & Boschetti, 2005;Schwegler et al, 2005;de Seny et al, 2005;Orvisky et al, 2006;Ragazzi et al, 2006;Zheng et al, 2006a;Lin et al, 2006b;de Noo et al, 2006b;Au et al, 2007;Cui et al, 2007Cui et al, , 2008bHui et al, 2007;Lim et al, 2007;Taguchi et al, 2007;Tiss et al, 2007;Yildiz et al, 2007;Das et al, 2008;Datta, 2008;Jacot et al, 2008;Kojima et al, 2008;Meuleman et al, 2008Meuleman et al, , 2009Ransohoff et al, 2008;Sundsten, Ostenson, & Bergsten, 2008a;Wei et al, 2008;Zinkin et al, 2008;Han et al, 2008a,b;Liu et al, 2008a;Wang et al, 2008aWang et al, ,c, 2008dCallesen et al, 2008bCallesen et al, , 2009Sundsten et al, 2008b;Albitar et al, 2009;Caron et al, 2009;…”