Purpose: A number of protein markers for oral squamous cell carcinoma are still not applicable in large populations. Proteomic technologies provide excellent tools for rapid screening of a large number of potential biomarkers in malignant cells. To gain insight into the molecular mechanisms of carcinogenesis and to identify potential biomarkers for oral squamous cell carcinomas (OSCCs).

Material and methods: We performed proteomic profiling between human keratinocyte cell line (HaCaT) and OSCCs-derived cell lines (KON, OSC-20, HSC-3, HSC-4, SAS, Ca9-22) using fluorescent two-dimensional difference in-gel electrophoresis (2D-DIGE). The spots of significant difference were identified by liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS).

Results: An average of 4000 protein spots were detected across all 2D-DIGE gels. In OSCCs-derived cell lines, we found 126 differentially expressed protein spots compared to the keratinocyte cell line. Among them, 49 proteins were commonly up-regulated and 77 proteins were commonly down-regulated. Each protein spot was excised and LC/MS/MS measurement and database matching. We identified 92 candidate proteins that were differentially expressed in OSCCs-derived cell lines compared with Keratinocyte cell line. These spots included the malignant tumor related proteins; DNA replication licensing factor MCM4, plectin, annexin A1, X-ray repair cross-complementing protein 5, lamin A/C, gastric-associated differentially expressed protein YAP61P, etc.

Conclusion: Our results are a first step toward identifying a protein profile of human Keratinocyte cell line and human OSCC-derived cell lines. The identified proteins in this experiment may be used in future studies of carcinogenesis or as diagnostic markers and therapeutic targets for OSCCs.

Conflict of interest : None declared.