• Environmental Mutagens and Carcinogens
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.35-40
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• 2006

Background: Inorganic arsenic is a human carcinogen that can target the liver, but its carcinogenic mechanisms are still unknown. Inorganic arsenic induces a spectrum of tumors including hepatocellular carcinoma in mice. Methods: Pregnant C3H mice were supplied with drinking water containing 50 ppm sodium arsenite during their pregnancy. The protein expression profile in the liver of 0.5-day-old. male offsprings exposed transplacentally to sodium arsenite was analyzed using protein 2D gel electrophoresis followed by mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF). Results: Expression of proteins such as hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA synthase mitochondrial precursor (HMG-CoA synthase), ${\beta}$-actin (cytoplasmic 1) and apolipoprotein A-IV precursor (Apo-AIV) were induced in mouse liver by sodium arsenite, while uricase (urate oxidase), guanine nucleotidebinding protein beta subunit 2-like 1 (RACK1) and fructose-bisphosphate aldolase B (Aldolase 2) were down-regulated. Summary: Expression of proteins that have been implicated in carcinogenesis, such as HMG-CoA, ${\beta}$-actin, and RACK1, was regulated in the liver of mice transplacentally exposed to inorganic arsenic.