Identification of human nasal mucous proteins using proteomics

Area of Science:

• Proteomics
• Biochemistry
• Immunology

Background:

• Nasal secretions contain potential biomarkers for early disease detection.
• Rhinosinusitis diagnosis can be improved by identifying specific proteins in nasal lavage fluids (NLFs).

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify and characterize proteins in nasal secretions of healthy subjects.
• To investigate changes in protein profiles before and after nasal provocation.

Main Methods:

• Nasal lavage fluids (NLFs) were collected from ten volunteers.
• Proteins were separated and analyzed using capillary liquid chromatography-electrospray-quadrupole-time of flight mass spectrometry.
• Protein identification was performed using high-throughput proteomic analysis.

Main Results:

• A total of 111 proteins were identified, including 42 novel proteins not previously described in NLFs.
• Key identified proteins include Deleted in Malignant Brain Tumors 1 (DMBT1) isoform a precursors and cytoskeletal proteins.
• Three palate lung nasal epithelial clone (PLUNC) family proteins (SPLUNC1, LPLUNC1, LPLUNC2) were identified.
• Proteins involved in innate (27%) and acquired immunity (21%) were major components.
• Cellular proteins, including cytoskeletal (33%), functional (15%), and regulatory (4%), were also identified.

Conclusions:

• Proteomic analysis of NLFs successfully identified numerous proteins, including novel biomarkers.
• The identified proteins are involved in nasal immune responses against infections and environmental irritants.
• This study provides a comprehensive protein profile of nasal secretions, valuable for understanding nasal health and disease.