Human BSG peptide

Plant parasitic nematodes (PPN) are important pests of numerous agricultural crops especially vegetables, able to cause remarkable yield losses correlated to soil nematode population densities at sowing or transplant. The concern on environmental risks, stemming from the use of chemical pesticides acting as nematicides, compels to their replacement with more sustainable pest control strategies. To verify the effect of aqueous extracts of the agro-industry waste coffee silverskin (CS) and brewers' spent grain (BSG) on the widespread root-knot nematode Meloidogyne incognita, and on the physiology of tomato plants, a pot experiment was carried out in a glasshouse at 25 +/- 2 degrees C. The possible phytotoxicity of CS and BSG extracts was assessed on garden cress seeds. Tomato plants (landrace of Apulia Region) were transplanted in an artificial nematode infested soil with an initial population density of 3.17 eggs and juveniles/mL soil. CS and BSG were applied at rates of 50 and 100 % (1L/pot). Untreated and Fenamiphos EC 240 (nematicide) (0.01 mu L a.i./mL soil) treated plants were used as controls. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) and chlorophyll content of tomato plants were estimated during the experiment. CS extract, at both doses, significantly reduced nematode population in comparison to the untreated control, although it was less effective than Fenamiphos. BSG extract did not reduce final nematode population compared to the control. Ten days after the first treatment, CS 100 %, BSG 50 % and BSG 100% elicited the highest ROS values, which considerably affected the growth of tomato plants in comparison to the untreated plants. The control of these pests is meeting with difficulties because of the current national and international regulations in force, which are limiting the use of synthetic nematicides. Therefore, CS extracts could assume economic relevance, as alternative products to be used in sustainable strategies for nematode management.

Cyclophilin A (CyPA) is secreted from vascular smooth muscle cells, inflammatory cells, activated platelets, and cardiac fibroblasts in response to oxidative stress. Excessive and continuous activation of the RhoA/Rho-kinase system promotes the secretion of CyPA, resulting in the development of multiple cardiovascular diseases. Basigin (Bsg), a transmembrane glycoprotein that activates matrix metalloproteinases, is an extracellular receptor for CyPA that promotes cell proliferation and inflammation. Thus, the CyPA/Bsg system is potentially a novel therapeutic target for cardiovascular diseases. Importantly, plasma CyPA levels are increased in patients with coronary artery disease, abdominal aortic aneurysms, pulmonary hypertension, and heart failure. Moreover, plasma CyPA levels can predict all-cause death in patients with coronary artery disease and pulmonary hypertension. Additionally, plasma soluble Bsg levels are increased and predict all-cause death in patients with heart failure, suggesting that CyPA and Bsg are novel biomarkers for cardiovascular diseases. To discover further novel molecules targeting the CyPA/Bsg system, high-throughput screening of compounds found molecules that ameliorate the development of cardiovascular diseases. In addition to CyPA and Bsg, novel therapeutic targets and their inhibitors for patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension have been recently screened and identified. Ultimately, the final goal is to develop novel biomarkers and medications that will be useful for improving the prognosis and quality of life in patients with cardiovascular diseases.