Quantitative proteomic analysis revealed N'-nitrosonornicotine-induced down-regulation of nonmuscle myosin II and reduced cell migration in cultured human skin fibroblast cells.

The association of tobacco smoke with decreased cell motility and wound healing is well documented; however, the cellular mechanisms and specific toxic tobacco constituents responsible for this effect are not well understood. Tobacco-specific N-nitrosamines (TSNAs) are among the most important classes of carcinogens found in tobacco products. The TSNA N'-nitrosonornicotine (NNN) is present at relatively high levels in tobacco and its smoke, as well as second- and third-hand smoke. To investigate the cellular pathways that are perturbed upon NNN exposure, we employed a quantitative proteomic approach, utilizing stable isotope labeling by amino acids in cell culture and mass spectrometry, to assess the NNN-induced alteration of protein expression in GM00637 human skin fibroblast cells. With this approach, we were able to quantify 2599 proteins, 191 of which displayed significantly changed expression following NNN exposure. One of the main findings from our proteomic analysis was the down-regulation of six different subunits of myosin, particularly nonmuscle myosin II heavy chain, isoforms A, B, and C. In addition, we found the altered expression of several extracellular matrix proteins and proteins involved in cellular adhesion. Together, our quantitative proteomic results suggested that NNN exposure may interfere with fibroblast motility. An in vitro scratch wound assay result supported that NNN exposure reduced the ability of dermal fibroblast to migrate into the scratched area. The results from the present study offer novel insights into the cellular mechanisms of NNN toxicity and identify NNN as a specific tobacco constituent that contributes to decreased fibroblast migration.