Background & objective: Maspin, a serepin inhibitor, plays a key role in tumor growth and metastasis. The aim of this study was to identify the differential expression of Maspin in malignant transformation process of bronchial epithelial cells by proteomics.
Methods: Functional proteomics analysis of Maspin on bronchial epithelial immortalized cells and malignant transformation cells was carried out using immobilized pH gradient (IPG) two-dimensional electrophoresis, peptide mass fingerprinting (PMF), and post source decay (PSD) of bio-mass spectrometry.
Results: Nearly 1500 expressed proteins profile on bronchial epithelial immortalized cells and malignant transformation cells were obtained in the range of MW 14.4-94 kDa, PI 3-10. Image analysis showed that Maspin was down-regulated in malignant transformation cells compared with that in immortalized cells. Northern blot analysis showed that the mRNA abundance of Maspin in malignant transformation cells was much lower than that in immortalized cells.
Conclusion: Alteration expression of Maspin at transcription and translation levels might be involved in carcinogenesis of lung.