A/J and 129P3/J mouse strains have different susceptibilities to
dental fluorosis due to their genetic backgrounds. They also differ with respect to several features of
fluoride (F) metabolism and metabolic handling of water. This study was done to determine whether differences in F metabolism could be explained by diversities in the profile of
protein expression in kidneys. Weanling, male A/J mice (susceptible to
dental fluorosis, n = 18) and 129P3/J mice (resistant, n = 18) were housed in pairs and assigned to three groups given low-F food and
drinking water containing 0, 10 or 50 ppm [F] for 7 weeks. Renal
proteome profiles were examined using 2D-PAGE and LC-MS/MS. Quantitative intensity analysis detected between A/J and 129P3/J strains 122, 126 and 134 spots differentially expressed in the groups receiving 0, 10 and 50 ppmF, respectively. From these, 25, 30 and 32, respectively, were successfully identified. Most of the
proteins were related to metabolic and cellular processes, followed by response to stimuli, development and regulation of cellular processes. In F-treated groups, PDZK-1, a
protein involved in the regulation of renal tubular reabsorption capacity was down-modulated in the kidney of 129P3/J mice. A/J and 129P3/J mice exhibited 11 and 3 exclusive
proteins, respectively, regardless of F exposure. In conclusion, proteomic analysis was able to identify
proteins potentially involved in metabolic handling of F and water that are differentially expressed or even not expressed in the strains evaluated. This can contribute to understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying
genetic susceptibility to
dental fluorosis, by indicating key-
proteins that should be better addressed in future studies.