Proteomic analysis of human epithelial ovarian cancer xenografts in immunodeficient mice exposed to chronic psychological stress

Sci China Life Sci. 2011 Feb;54(2):112-20. doi: 10.1007/s11427-010-4126-x. Epub 2011 Feb 14.

Abstract

This work aims at comparing alterations in the proteomes of human epithelial ovarian cancer xenografts between stressed and non-stressed immunodeficient mice as well as exploring the molecular mechanisms linking chronic psychological stress to ovarian cancer oncogenesis and progression. SK-OV-3 cells were injected subcutaneously into nude mice. The stress group was subjected to a chronic physical restraint protocol for 6 h on 35 consecutive days, while the control group was unrestrained. All mice were sacrificed on day 36 after SK-OV-3 cell injection, and tumors were excised. Tumor tissues were processed for 2D gel electrophoresis, mass spectrometry (nanoUPLC-ESI-MS/MS) and Western blotting. The expression of 20 proteins was found to be significantly altered between the stress and control groups, of which 14 were up-regulated, five were down-regulated, and one protein was found only in the stress group. All proteins were identified by UPLC-ESI-MS/MS, and Western blotting results were consistent with those of proteomic methods. The present results provide new evidence relating to the molecular mechanism underlying the relationship between psychological stress and tumor progression.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Carcinoma, Ovarian Epithelial
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Electrophoresis, Gel, Two-Dimensional
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Neoplasms, Glandular and Epithelial / chemistry
  • Neoplasms, Glandular and Epithelial / pathology
  • Neoplasms, Glandular and Epithelial / physiopathology
  • Ovarian Neoplasms / chemistry
  • Ovarian Neoplasms / pathology
  • Ovarian Neoplasms / physiopathology
  • Proteome / analysis*
  • Proteomics / methods*
  • Random Allocation
  • Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization
  • Stress, Psychological / physiopathology*
  • Transplantation, Heterologous / pathology
  • Transplantation, Heterologous / physiology*

Substances

  • Proteome