Changes of expressive proteome of renal tissues in chronic intermittent hypoxic rats

AIM: To obtain the two-dimensional gel electrophoresis maps of renal tissue proteins for identifying the differentially expressed proteins in the chronic intermittent hypoxic rats. METHODS: The rat model of chronic intermittent hypoxia was established. The rats lived in the normoxia environment were used for control. The proteins in the renal tissues underwent two-dimensiona1 gel electrophoresis with immobiline pH gradient isoelectric focusing as the first and vertical SDS-PAGE as the second dimension. Analysis of 2-DE maps was performed to determine the differential expression of proteins between the two groups by the software of ImageMaster 2D Platinum V5.0, in which 4 protein spots expressed differentially were picked up for further identification by MALDI-TOF-MS. RESULTS: Matched and compared with those in control group, 112 protein spots were determined in chronic intermittent hypoxia group. By MALDI-TOF-MS, 4 protein spots with the highest differentially expressive levels were identified as ATP synthase delta subunit mitochondrial precursor, hexokinase, catechol O-methyltransferase and apurinic/apyrimidinic endonudease/redox factor-1. The functions of these identified proteins are involved in cellular energy metabolism, apoptosis, signal transduction, anti-cell injury and hormone metabolism. CONCLUSION: There are obvious differences in expressive proteomes in renal tissue between normoxic and chronic intermittent hypoxic rats. Proteomics can serve as a new approach in the study of obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome for discovering new therapeutic targets.