Screening of potential biomarkers using activity-based protein profiling in a rat model of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy

Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is a debilitating condition affecting cancer patients, often resulting from the use of neurotoxic agents, such as paclitaxel. This study aimed to establish a rat model of CIPN through systemic administration of paclitaxel and to identify potential biomarkers using activity-based protein profiling (ABPP) with a desthiobiotin iodoacetamide (DBIA) probe. Male Sprague-Dawley rats received paclitaxel injections at a dosage of 2 mg/kg on Days 0, 2, 4, and 6. Behavioral assessments revealed significant mechanical and thermal pain hypersensitivity in paclitaxel-treated rats compared to control groups. ABPP analysis identified a total of 2,445 proteins and 6,765 peptides, resulting in the identification of 7 candidate proteins as potential biomarkers for CIPN. Notably, 5 proteins were significantly upregulated, while 2 protein including Q63425 (Prx) demonstrated downregulation in response to paclitaxel. These findings suggest that alterations in candidate protein levels may compromise alterations in the spinal cord in the context of CIPN. This study underscores the utility of ABPP in elucidating the proteomic changes associated with CIPN and highlights the potential of identified biomarkers like Prx for enhancing our understanding of chemotherapy-induced neuropathic pain mechanisms.