OBJECTIVETo analyze the differential proteomics in human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) induced by chemical hypoxia-mimetic agent cobalt chloride (CoCl(2)) by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE) and mass-spectrometry.

METHODS2-DE was performed to separate proteins from treated and untreated human umbilical cord MSC with CoCl(2). 2-DE images were analyzed by ImageMaster 2D Platinum software 6.0. The differential expressed proteins was identified by MALDI-TOF-MS. The differential proteins were classified based on their functions.

RESULTS2-DE reference patterns of CoCl(2) treated human umbilical cord MSC were established. A total of twenty-six differential proteins were identified, of them eleven proteins were up-regulated and fifteen down-regulated. Their biological functions involved in carbohydrate metabolism, protein metabolism and modification, lipid metabolism, coenzyme and prosthetic group metabolism, cell cycle, immunity and defense, cell structure and motility, signal transduction, protein targeting and localization, neuronal activities, muscle contraction, etc. Peroxiredoxin1 (Prdx) was down-regulated, whereas alpha-enolase (ENO1) and vesicle amine transport protein 1 homolog (VAT1) up-regulated.

CONCLUSIONThe effects of hypoxia on human umbilical cord MSC were participated by multiple proteins and involved in multiple functional pathways.