Newly identified proteins in human nasal lavage fluid from non-smokers and smokers using two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and peptide mass fingerprinting

• Human nasal lavage fluids (NLFs) were analyzed with two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE) and proteins were identified with peptide mass fingerprinting using matrix-assisted laser desoption/ionization time of flight mass spectrometry. In some cases, the identification was verified by analysis of post-source decay fragmentation spectra. Many of the identified proteins were new forms or fragments of previously found proteins (e.g. albumin, lactoferrin, cystatin, calgranulin, von Ebners gland protein and palate lung nasal epithelium clone), while others were proteins that have previously been indicated by 2-DE image matching or immunoblots (e.g. apolipoprotein AI, lysozyme C, and Clara cell secretory protein). Some new proteins, not shown before in 2-DE patterns of NLF were also found, e.g. mammaglobin B, 2-microglobulin and immunoglobulin J chain. Of the identified NLF proteins many appear to be involved in inflammatory and immune responses. A study was therefore conducted to investigate if the levels of these proteins were changed in smokers compared to nonsmokers. It was found that NLF from smokers contained decreased levels of Clara cell secretory protein, and increased proportions of a truncated variant of lipocortin-1, three acidic forms of α1-antitrypsin, and one phosphorylated form of cystatin S. Furthermore, NLF from smokers contained increased proportions of a new variant of palate lung nasal epithelium clone (PLUNC), a recently identified airway irritation marker. The results demonstrate that 2-DE of NLF may be used to assess alterations of proteins or post-translationally modified proteins in smokers. Clara cell secretory protein (CC 16, CC 10) and lipocortin-1 are two anti-inflammatory, phospholipase A2 inhibitory proteins, and α1-antitrypsin and cystatin S are two proteinase inhibitors. Changed levels of these proteins may therefore be of importance to the airway inflammation caused by smoking. The results also support the notion that PLUNC is involved in inflammatory responses in the upper airways.

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