OBJECTIVETo establish 2-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE) images and seek differentially expressed serum proteins for understanding the pathogenesis of silicosis.

METHODS2-DE and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time of flight tandem mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS/MS) were used to screen differentially expressed serum proteins among silica-exposed population, suspect of silicosis (0+), phase one (I) group with silicosis and control group(non silica exposure).

RESULTSComplement C4, leucine-rich alpha-2-glycoprotein and alpha-1-antitrypsin were significantly highly expressed in suspect of silicosis (0+) group(P < 0.01), but lowly in other groups. Inversely, serotransferrin was significantly down-regulated only in suspect of silicosis (0+) group(P < 0.01). Plasma glutathione peroxidase, tetranectin, apolipoprotein A-I and transthyretin were equally expressed in the serum of control group and silica-exposed population group, but decreased in the suspect of silicosis (0+) and phase (I) group.

CONCLUSIONComplement C4, leucine-rich alpha-2-glycoprotein, alpha-1-antitrypsin, serotransferrin, plasma glutathione peroxidase, tetranectin, apolipoprotein A-I and transthyretin are differentially expressed in the silica-exposed group and phase (I) group with silicosis, and the result should be validated by other biochemical technologies.