Alteration in pancreatic protein expression in dexamethasone-treated mice

Abstract

The aim of this study was to gain insight into pancreatic proteome changes induced by dexamethasone treatment. Sixweek-old male ICR mice were subcutaneously injected with or without dexamethasone (10 mg/kg body weight; n= 5-6 mice per group) for 4 weeks. Body weight, food intake, and fasting blood glucose were measured at baseline and at the end of 4 weeks. The mice were sacrificed and pancreases were removed, frozen, and stored at -75˚C until analysis. Proteins were extracted, twodimensional gel electrophoresis was performed and proteome profiles were examined with colloidal coomassie brilliant blue staining. Statistically significant protein spots (ANOVA, p<0.05) with 1.2-fold difference were excised and analyzed by LCMS/MS. Proteomic data were evaluated using Western blot analysis. High-dose dexamethasone induced hyperglycemia, reduced body weight, reduced food intake, and altered pancreatic proteins in mice. The affected proteins mainly belonged to cell redox homeostasis, metabolism, endoplasmic reticulum stress, translation, and signaling pathways.

Keywords

• mice
• dexamethasone
• pancreatic proteome
• 2d electrophoresis
• lc-ms/ms