Larynx proteomics after jellyfish collagen IL: Increased ECM/collagen and suppressed inflammation

Objectives/Hypothesis: Compare proteomic profiles of rabbit vocal folds (VFs) injected with micronized cross-linked jellyfish collagen "collagen Type 0" (MX-JC) against two clinical products for injection medialization laryngoplasty (IL). Study Design: Animal model. Methods: = 6/group). Group 1 received (MX-JC) and adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs), Group 2, MX-JC alone; Group 3, cross-linked hyaluronic acid; and Group 4, micronized acellular dermis. Animals were sacrificed at 4 and 12 weeks. Proteomic profiling of injected versus noninjected VFs by nano-liquid chromatography, tandem mass spectrometry, and reactome gene ontology analysis was performed. Over-representation analysis (% of total) revealed top up-regulated pathways at 4 and 12 weeks, respectively: Group 1, keratan sulfate metabolism (46%) and cellular processes (29%); Group 2, extracellular matrix (ECM)/collagen processes (33%) and beta oxidation (39%); Group 3, cellular processes (50%) and energy metabolism (100%); and Group 4, keratan sulfate metabolism (31%) and inflammation (50%). Top downregulated pathways were: Group 1, Inflammation (36%) and glucose/citric acid metabolism (42%); Group 2, cell signaling (38%) and glucose/citric acid metabolism (35%); Group 3, keratan sulfate metabolism (31%) and ECM/collagen processes (48%); and Group 4, glucose/citric acid metabolism (33%) and ECM/collagen processes (43%). Conclusions: MX-JC "collagen Type 0" upregulates pathways related to ECM/collagen formation and downregulates pathways related to inflammation suggesting that it is promising biomaterial for IL. Level of Evidence: NA.