Mass Spectrometry-based Serum Proteome Pattern Analysis in Prophylactic Oophorectomy

Background: Mass spectrometry (MS) is an analytical chemistry technique that measures the mass-to-charge ratio (m/z). A plot of the ion signal in term of the m/z ratio is called mass spectrum. Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) is an ionization technique used in MS. The technique determines the mass of a molecule such as a peptide from within a heterogeneous mixture. Besides two well-known reproductive functions, producing of oocytes and reproductive hormones, the ovaries would play a vital role in other undiscovered aspects. Aim: To study role of ovary reflecting from serum proteomic pattern changes before and after prophylactic oophorectomy Materials and Methods: A prospective cohort study with 20 premenopausal women diagnosed benign gynecologic condition but not ovarian abnormalities and scheduled for prophylactic oophorectomy was conducted. Blood was drawn and serum was then centrifuged and kept at -80 degree Celsius before and at 6 weeks after oophorectomy. All serum specimens were prepared and then analyzed by MALDI-TOF.Results: Age, BMI and duration of follow up were 49.30 ± 1.59 years, 24.56 ± 4.07 kg/m2 and 45.70 ± 6.13 days, respectively. A comparison of mean mass spectrum intensity between before and after oophorectomy showed that five m/z 1882, 2467, 8766, 8923 and 9136 were statistically significant different (7.96 and 16.93, P < 0.001, 2.42 and 8.57, P = 0.01, 4.12 and 6.04, P = 0.005, 16.06 and 18.40, P = 0.002, 8.54 and 12.59 P = 0.016, respectively).Conclusions: MS revealed a significant change of serum proteomic pattern from women undergone prophylactic oophorectomy. The protein identification study is currently ongoing in order to identify the ovarian function