Quantitative Proteomics Analysis Yields Insights in Merkel Cell Carcinoma
Posted: Friday, March 27, 2020
Goran Mitulović, PhD, of the Medical University of Vienna, and colleagues, have reportedly undertaken the first putative comprehensive proteome analysis of six common Merkel cell carcinoma cell lines. Due to the rare and aggressive nature of the neuroendocrine carcinoma, such a study provides insights regarding the biology of this malignancy. Their findings were published in the journal Clinical Proteomics.
In this in vitro study, the researchers applied stable isotope labelling by amino acids in cell culture (SILAC) to six immortalized Merkel cell carcinoma cell lines (BroLi, MKL-1, MKL-2, PeTa, WaGa, and MCC13). After protein digestion and analysis via mass spectrometry, they compared the resultant proteome profiles with an immortalized human skin keratinocyte cell line (HaCaT).
Compared with the control cell line, 142 proteins were upregulated, and 43 proteins were downregulated in the Merkel cell carcinoma lines. Among the dysregulated proteins were mitoferrin-1, histone H2A type 1-H, protein-arginine deiminase type 6, heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoproteins A2/B1, protein SLX4IP, and clathrin light chain B. In addition, the Merkel cell carcinoma cell lines contained higher levels of histone proteins and histone protein variants.
“Overall, each Merkel cell carcinoma cell line has its own distinct proteomic profile,” the authors wrote. “This may be due to the biological heterogeneity of [Merkel cell carcinoma].”
Lastly, the authors concluded, future “analysis can be significantly improved by using [a] multidimensional separation approach for fractionation of tryptic peptides and using a more sensitive mass spectrometer.”
Disclosure: The study authors reported no conflicts of interest.
