Different protein profile in amniotic fluid with nervous system malformations by surface-enhanced laser desorption-ionization/time-of-flight mass spectrometry (SELDI-TOF-MS) technology

Aim: To detect the distinct proteins in amniotic fluid (AF) between nervous system malformations fetuses and normal fetuses. Material and Methods: Surface‐enhanced laser desorption‐ionization/time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry was used to characterize AF peptides in AF between nervous system malformations fetuses and normal fetuses. WCX2 protein chips were used to characterize AF peptides in AF. Protein chips were examined in a PBSIIC protein reader, the protein profiling was collected by ProteinChip software version 3.1 (Ciphergen Biosystems, Fremont, CA, USA) and analyzed by Biomarker Wizard software (Ciphergen Biosystems). Nine distinct proteins were identified in AF between nervous system malformations fetuses and normal fetuses. Results: Compared with the control group, three proteins with m/z 4967.5 Da, 5258.0 Da, and 11 717.0 Da were down‐regulated, and six proteins with m/z 2540.4 Da, 3107.1 Da, 3396.8 Da, 4590.965 Da, 5589.2 Da and 6429.4 Da up‐regulated in nervous system malformations fetuses. Conclusion: The results suggest that there are distinct proteins in protein profiling of AF between nervous system malformations fetuses and normal fetuses.