Chemopreventive agents modulate the protein expression profile of 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone plus benzo[a]pyrene-induced lung tumors in A/J mice

We used isobaric tag labeling coupled with mass spectrometry to compare the relative abundance of proteins in lung tumors from A/J mice treated with a mixture of 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone and benzo[a]pyrene versus normal mouse lung tissues. Levels of 59 proteins changed—30 increased and 29 decreased—in tumor tissues versus normal tissues. Among proteins that showed increased levels in tumor tissues versus normal tissues were glycolytic enzymes, ribosomal proteins, fatty acid synthase, cathepsins D and H and carbonic anhydrase 2. On the other hand, the levels of cytochrome P450 enzymes 2B10 and 2F2, glutathione S-transferases mu-1, procollagen VI, Clara cell 10 kDA (CC10) protein, histones, receptor advanced glycation end product, and lung carbonyl reductase were lower in tumor tissues versus normal lung tissues. Upon dietary administration of a combination of N-acetyl-S-(N-2-phenethylthiocarbamoyl)-L-cysteine plus myo-inositol or indole-3-carbinol to carcinogen-treated mice, the relative abundance of 60S ribosomal protein L4 and carbonic anhydrase in tumor tissues decreased whereas that of histones, glutathione S-transferases mu, receptor advanced glycation end product, transglutaminase, and procollagen VI increased. Western assays with lung tissue homogenates not only verified the proteomics results for selected proteins but also showed differential expression of hypoxia inducible factor-1α, a transcription factor for most of the proteins that showed changes in relative abundance. This is the first report on the application of quantitative proteomics to study the relative abundance of proteins in a mouse model of lung carcinogenesis. These proteins may have utility for development of candidate lung cancer biomarkers and as targets of chemopreventive/chemotherapeutic agents.