Will storage temperature affect the proteome profile of skin samples collected by tape-stripping?

For molecular profiling analysis including proteomics (large-scale analysis of proteins), the human samples are stored at temperatures lower than −20°C immediately after collection. However, the storage and transport of human samples at −20°C or lower temperatures remain a challenge due to the lack of required personnel and infrastructure for frozen biospecimen storage and transport, especially if the clinics are located in remote locations or outside of the main sample processing centres. Also, the cost for short-term storage and transport of specimens at freezing temperatures are relatively high.

Recently, our research team at the Department of Dermatology at Westmead Hospital/the University of Sydney has been using non-invasively collected stratum corneum samples of skin cancers for downstream proteomic analysis. Considering the unique properties of stratum corneum, we were interested to know if their storage at higher temperatures (up to room temperature) will have any effect on its proteome content/profile. We collected samples of stratum corneum from healthy volunteers, stored them at various temperatures (-80C to room temperature) for 10 days, then prepared and processed them with mass spectrometry. In doing so, we found that the short-term storage of human stratum corneum at up to room temperature does not affect the amount of protein that can be retrieved for the samples, and does not disturb its proteome profile.

The findings of our study will assist researchers when planning studies that involve non-invasively collected human stratum corneum samples.

Full details of the study will be available after its publication in a scientific journal.