Dysplasia expresses altered nuclear matrix protein composition in human ulcerative colitis

We compared nuclear matrix protein compositions (NMPS) in colonic tissue from three different patient groups: 1) normal controls; 2) ulcerative colitis (UC); and 3) ulcerative colitis with dysplasia (UC-dysplasia). NMPS were separated by two-dimensional electrophoresis using isoelectrofocusing and SDS-PAGE. Six specific NMPS (59,500 Kd, pI 6.6 and 6.3; 49,250 Kd, pI 7.4; 33,750 Kd, pI 7.5; 20,000 Kd, pI 7.5; and 19,000 Kd, pI 6.3) were identified in UC-dysplasia that were not found in normal controls nor in UC colonic tissue. These observations suggest that NMPS may serve as important biochemical markers of dysplasia in UC.