AIM:To investigate the protective mechanism of Gingko Biloba extract (EGb761) on the ability of retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells to resist light-induced damage in a comparative proteomics study.METHODS:Human RPE cells (ARPE-19) were randomly distributed to one of three groups:normal control (NC group) and light-damaged model without or with EGb761 group (M and ME groups, respectively). The light-damaged model was formed by exposing to white light (2 200±300)lx for 6h. The RPE cells in ME group were conducted with EGb 761 (100μg/mL) before light exposure. The soluble cellular proteins extracting from each groups were separated by two-dimensional electrophoresis and stained by silver staining. Different proteins in the profiles of the gels were analyzed by Image Master Software. Two-fold expressing protein spots were identified by Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization tandem time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF/TOF) mass spectrometry.RESULTS: NC, M and ME groups displayed 1 892±71, 2 145±23 and 2 216±85 protein spots, respectively. We identified 33 proteins with different expression levels between the NC and M groups, 25 proteins between the M and ME groups, and 11 proteins between the NC and ME groups. MALDI-TOF/TOF mass spectrometry successfully identified 16 proteins, including metabolic enzymes, cytoskeletal proteins, anti-oxidation proteins, and others.CONCLUSION:Differences in some important proteins, such as cathepsin B, heat shock protein, and cytochrome creductase, indicated that multiple pathways may be induced in light-damaged RPE cells and the protective effect of EGb761.