Quantitative Proteomics Analysis of LCM Purified Stroma of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma and Normal Nasopharyngeal Mucosa*

Abstract

The mechanism of how stroma plays an important role in tumor carcinogenesis is now a hotspot. To delineate the features of stromal protein between nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) and normal nasopharyngeal mucosa(NNM), laser capture microdissection (LCM) was performed to purify stromal cells from the NPC and NNM, respectively. The protein expressed profiles of the stroma of NPC and NNM were compared using fluorescent two-dimensional difference gel electrophoresis (2D-DIGE) and 34 differential protein spots between tumor stroma and normal stroma were chosen to be identified by mass spectrometry (MS). A total of 20 differential proteins were identified, and three differential proteins (CapG, L-plastin and S100A9) were selectively further validated by Western blotting and immunohistochemical analysis to confirm the results of 2D-DIGE. 2D-DIGE patterns of the stroma of NPC and NNM were established for the first time, the results suggested that differentially expressed proteins in the stroma of NPC and NNM may be useful for understanding the relationship between NPC cells and their surrounding microenvironment. Further studying of these proteins will be helpful to elucidate the mechanisms of NPC carcinogenesis and provide new thoughts on therapy of NPC through stroma.