Mitochondrion is a vulnerable intracellular target to
reactive oxygen species (ROS). ROS have been considered to be important regulators of the pathogenesis of
pancreatitis. This study aims to determine whether ROS induces mitochondrial damage by monitoring the expression level of
mitochondrial ATP synthase as the key molecular component in mitochondria associated with cellular damage. Pancreatic acinar AR42J cells were treated with
cerulein which induces symptoms similar to that associated with human
acute pancreatitis.
Proteins were separated by two-dimensional electrophoresis using pH gradients of 5-8 and identified using matrix-assisted
laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometer (MS), quadrupole time-of-flight MS and MS/MS with nano-electrospray. Following
cerulein treatment,
mitochondrial ATP synthase beta chain was highly expressed compared to nontreated cell. The
protein was identified by its pI of 5.2 and molecular weight (56 354 Da) with 27 matched
peptides. Among the MS spectrum, precursor
ions m/z 488.28, 544.81, 631.82, 693.34, 718.38, 729.41, 801.40, 809.39, 825.94, and 994.52 were further identified using MS/MS and confirmed the isolated
protein to be
mitochondrial ATP synthase beta chain. In conclusion,
cerulein-induced oxidative injury may result in the induction of
mitochondrial ATP synthase, which may act as an adaptive pathophysiological process in the pancreas.