Evaluation of the antibacterial activity of cystatin against selected strains of Escherichia coli.

The aim of this study was to analyze the antibacterial activity of hen egg white cystatin against selected Escherichia coli strains. We used a monomeric solution of hen egg white cystatin in bovine serum albumin (BSA) with added phosphate buffered saline (PBS), and three test strains: Escherichia coli ATCC 23811, Escherichia coli ATCC 8739 and Escherichia coli ATCC 25922. The effect of cystatin against the tested strains was determined on the basis of minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) and survival curves of the microorganisms in a cystatin-containing environment during incubation at various temperatures. Our study confirmed the activity of cystatin against the analyzed Escherichia coli strains. taining environment, as compared to control samples incubated in a ovocystatin-deficient medium. Depending on the incubation temperature (20 degrees C or 37 degrees C) the reduction persisted up to 12 hours after incubation.

Ovocystatin Induced Changes in Expression of Alzheimer's Disease Relevant Proteins in APP/PS1 Transgenic Mice.

Background: Ovocystatin is marked by structural and biological similarities to human cystatin C, which plays an important role in the course of neurodegenerative diseases. Recently, it has been shown that ovocystatin might prevent aging-related cognitive impairment in rats and reduce memory decline in an APP/PS1 mice model. Thus, this study aimed to assess the effect of ovocystatin on histopathological changes in APP/PS1 mice. Materials and methods: Ovocystatin was administered intraperitoneally for four weeks (40 µg/mouse) to 35-weeks-old transgenic (AD, n = 14) and wild type (NCAR, n = 15) mice (stock B6C3-Tg(APPswe, PSEN1dE9)85Dbo/Mmjax). A histopathological evaluation comprised antibodies directed against ß-amyloid (1:400, SIG-39320-1000, Covance) and Tau (1:4000, AHB0042, Invitrogen). Three regions of the hippocampus­ the dentate gyrus (DG) and the cornu ammonis (CA1 and CA3)­were analyzed by immunohistochemistry in each animal. All differences are expressed as percentage relative to the control group. Results: The main results showed that the percentage of immunoreactive area of ß-amyloid, tau protein deposits in APP/PS1+ovCYS was decreased in DG, CA1, and CA3 regions compared with the APP/PS1 control, respectively (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Ovocystatin caused significant changes in the expression pattern of all investigated proteins in hippocampal tissues both in APP/PS1 and NCAR mice.

[Renal catabolism of albumin - current views and controversies]. / Nerkowy katabolizm albuminy ­ aktualne poglady i kontrowersje.

Albumin is the main protein of blood plasma, lymph, cerebrospinal fluid and interstitial fluid. The protein assists in many important body functions, including maintenance of proper colloidal osmotic pressure, transport of important metabolites and antioxidant action. Synthesis of albumin takes place mainly in the liver, and its catabolism occurs mostly in vascular endothelium of muscle, skin and liver as well as in the kidney tubular epithelium. Renal catabolism of albumin consists of glomerular filtration and tubular reabsorption. The tubular processes include endocytosis via the multiligand scavenger receptor tandem megalin and cubilin-amnionless complex. Possible ways of further catabolism of this protein are lysosomal proteolysis to amino acids and short peptides, recycling of degradation products into the bloodstream and tubular lumen or transcytosis of whole molecules. The article discusses the molecular aspects of these processes and presents the controversies arising in the light of the last decade of research.

Kidney Dysfunction and Its Progression in Patients Hospitalized Duo to COVID-19: Contribution to the Clinical Course and Outcomes.

The disease caused by coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) can affect almost all organs of the human body, including kidneys. We conducted a one-center study to comprehensively analyze the effects of kidney involvement on the course and outcomes in patients hospitalized with COVID-19, depending on the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) at admission. Out of the 1958 patients, 1342 (68.54%) had eGFR ≥ 60 mL/min/1.73 m2 (group A) and 616 (31.46%) had eGFR < 60 mL/min/1.73 m2 (group B). Group B was additionally divided into subgroups B1, B2, and B3 based on eGFR. We found that mortality rates during hospitalization, as well as after 90 and 180 days, were much higher in group B than group A. The highest mortality was observed in the B2 subgroup with eGFR of 15-29. The mortality of B patients was associated with comorbidities, respiratory dysfunction, immunological impairment, and more frequent development of AKI. AKI had a negative impact on patients' survival, regardless of the initial renal function. At discharge, 7.4% of patients had serum creatinine levels 30% higher, or more, as compared to admission. The disease course and outcomes in COVID-19 patients are associated with baseline eGFR; however, AKI during hospitalization is a more significant predictor of poor prognosis regardless of the initial renal function.

Beneficial effect of ovocystatin on the cognitive decline in APP/PS1 transgenic mice.

PURPOSE: Cystatin C plays an important role in the course of neurodegenerative diseases and has a beneficial effect through inhibiting cysteine proteases and amyloid-ß aggregation. It also induces proliferation and autophagy. Cystatin isolated from chicken egg white, called ovocystatin, has been widely used in the medical and pharmaceutical research due to its structural and biological similarities to human cystatin C. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of administering ovocystatin on the development of dementia-specific cognitive deficits in APP/PS1 transgenic mice. MATERIALS/METHODS: The study was conducted on transgenic B6C3-Tg(APPswe,PSEN1dE9)85Dbo/Mmjax mice. Ovocystatin was administered to four-month-old transgenic (AD) and wild type (NCAR) mice in drinking water for 24 weeks (at a dose of 40 and 4 µg/ mouse). The locomotor activity and cognitive functions were determined using an actimeter and the Morris water maze test, respectively. RESULTS: The results of the study indicate that ovocystatin has a beneficial effect on the cognitive functions in APP/PS1 transgenic mice. The strongest effects of ovocystatin were found in the group of AD mice, where ovocystatin was administered in drinking water at a dose of 40 µg/mouse (p < 0.05). Mice from the AD group swam statistically significantly further in the target zone during the trial in the Morris water maze compared to the AD (vehiculum) group (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The obtained results encourage further research into the protective effect, which may be used as an adjuvant in the treatment of deteriorating cognitive functions.

Ovocystatin affects actin cytoskeleton organization and induces proapoptotic activity.

Ovocystatin is a chicken egg white protein, generally known for its inhibitory activity against cysteine proteases. However, biological activity of ovocystatin does not seem to be well recognized in respect to other possible cellular effects. Our attention has been focused on ovocystatin cytotoxic effects in relation to its influence on actin cytoskeleton organization and apoptosis induction. In vitro studies with human melanoma A375, human cervix HeLa cancer cells and normal human fibroblasts - NHDF were done. Cytotoxic activity of ovocystatin was seen in respect to apoptosis induction - manifested by cell shape changes, phosphatydylserine translocation and actin cytoskeleton reorganization. Normal human fibroblasts have shown lower sensitivity to ovocystatin as compared with human melanoma A375 and human cervix HeLa cancer cells. In conclusion, ovocystatin affects actin cytoskeleton organization and displays proapoptotic activity towards applied cell lines. This implicates its application as a potential anticancer drug. However, its adverse effects on normal cells should be taken into consideration.