Pneumologie 2012; 66 - P2_007
DOI: 10.1055/s-0032-1329808

BAL protein profile in smoking and no-smoking healthy subjects

P Rottoli 1, E Bargagli 1, A Carleo 2, C Olivieri 1, L Claudia 3, D Bennett 1, L Bini 3
  • 1Respiratory Diseases Section, Dept. of Clinical Medicine and Immunological Sciences, Siena, Italy
  • 2Molecular Biology Dept, Siena, Italy
  • 3Molecular Biology Dept., Siena, Italy

Background: The proteomic approach is complementary to genomics and enables protein composition to be investigated under various clinical conditions. Its application to the study of bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) is extremely promising. In the present research we applied the proteomic approach to the analysis of BAL in order to evaluate the effect of smoking exposure to BAL protein composition.

Aim: Aim of this work was to evaluate qualitative and quantitative differences in BAL protein profiles from cigarette smoker and no-smoker healthy subjects.

Methods: 10 healthy never-smoker and 8 asymptomatic smoker subjects were included in the study. After centrifugation, dialysis and denaturation of samples, BAL samples were analyzed by two-dimensional electrophoresis and proteins differenzially expressed were identified by PMF on an Ettan Maldi-TOF pro GE Healthcare (Sweden). Computer 2D image analysis was carried out with the Image Master Platinum 7.0 computer system.

Results: Proteomic analysis revealed 20 BAL proteins and protein fragments differently expressed in the 2 subgroups. 15 proteins were up-regulated in smokers (including Complement C3 alpha chain, Seleniumbinding protein, Serpin B3, Alpha-1-antichymotrypsin, Pulmonary surfactant associated proteinA2, Ig alpha-2 chain C region, Ig gamma-1 chain C region, IgG kappa chain, fragments of serum albumin, and haptoglobin) and 3 proteins were upregulated in never-smokers more than 2 fold (such as an isoform of Alpha 1 antitrypsin and Haptoglobin). Among these proteins some were involved in immune-regulation, host defense (i.e.Pulmonary Surfactant-associated protein A2), apoptosis, inflammatory responses (i.e serpin B3, α-1-antichymotrypsin), oxidant/antioxidant balance (i.e. Afamin).

Conclusion: In healthy subjects smoking exposure modifies the expression of several BAL proteins implicated in the regulation of crucial biological activities (such as oxidant/antioxidant balance, inflammation and tissue matrix turnover) potentially involved in the pathogenesis of several smoke-induced lung diseases.