To characterize the proteomic profiles of joint synovial tissue in normal rats and rats with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and identify the proteins related with the occurrence of RA to explore the pathogenesis of RA.
SD rat models of RA were established using Mtb (heat-killed Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Ra). Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis proteomics technology was employed to analyze the difference in synovial tissue protein profiles between RA model rats and normal rats, and two of the differentially expressed proteins were verified with Western blotting and fluorescence quantitative PCR.
Comparison of the two-dimensional gel electrophoresis patterns from the model rats and normal rats showed 4 up-regulated and 4 down-regulated proteins by 2 folds in the RA model rats. Western blotting and fluorescent quantitative PCR of 2 of the 8 proteins yielded consistent results with those by proteomics analysis.
Arthritis synovial lesions in RA represent very complex pathological processes involving a variety of proteins, and these differentially expressed proteins may contribute to the progression of RA.