Proteomic characteristics of PM2.5-induced differentially expressed proteins in human renal tubular epithelial cells

Human renal epithelial (HK-2) cells were treated with PM2.5 (50 mu g/mL) from Shenzhen and Taiyuan, proteomics and bioinformatics were used to screen the differentially expressed proteins (DEPs). A total of 577 DEPs were screened after HK-2 cells exposed to Shenzhen PM2.5, of which 426 were up-regulated and 151 were downregulated. A total of 1250 DEPs were screened in HK-2 cells after exposure to Taiyuan PM2.5, of which 488 were up-regulated and 185 were down-regulated. The top 10 proteins with the highest number of nodes were screened using the interaction network map of DEPs. HK-2 cells exposed to Shenzhen PM2.5 contained CYR61, CTGF, and THBS1 proteins, while HK-2 cells exposed to Taiyuan PM2.5 contained ALB, FN1, and CYR61 proteins. Additionally, PM2.5 components were detected, PM2.5 samples from Shenzhen and Taiyuan induced obvious changes in DEPs expression, the difference in DEPs between the two cities was probably associated with the different PM2.5 components.

Automated summary

The study used proteomics and bioinformatics to screen the differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) in HK-2 cells exposed to PM2.5 from Shenzhen and Taiyuan. Significant changes in DEPs expression were observed after exposure to PM2.5 from both cities, indicating a potential correlation between DEPs differences and PM2.5 components in Shenzhen and Taiyuan.