Mitochondrial energy metabolism in baby hamster kidney (BHK-21/C13) cells treated with karnozin extra® / Metabolismo energético mitocondrial en células de riñón de hámster bebé (BHK-21 / C13) tratadas con karnozin extra®

SUMMARY: Carnosine is known as a natural dipeptide, which inhibits the proliferation of tumor cells throughout its action on mitochondrial respiration and cell glycolysis. However, not much is known about its effects on the metabolism of healthy cells. We explored the effects of Karnozin EXTRA® capsule with different concentrations of L-carnosine, on the cell viability and the expressions of intermediate filament vimentin (VIM) and superoxide dismutase (SOD2) in normal fibroblasts BHK-21/C13. Furthermore, we investigated its action on the energy production of these cells. Cell viability was quantified by the MTT assay. The Clark oxygen electrode (Oxygraph, Hansatech Instruments, England) was used to measure the "intact cell respiration rate", state 3 of ADP-stimulated oxidation, maximum oxidation capacity and the activities of complexes I, II and IV. Results showed that Karnozin EXTRA® capsule in concentrations of 2 and 5 mM of L-carnosine did not induce toxic effects and morphological changes in treated cells. Our data revealed a dose-dependent immunofluorescent signal amplification of VIM and SOD2 in the BHK-21/C13 cell line. This supplement substantially increased the recorded mitochondrial respiration rates in the examined cell line. Due to the stimulation of mitochondrial energy production in normal fibroblasts, our results suggested that Karnozin EXTRA® is a potentially protective dietary supplement in the prevention of diseases with altered mitochondrial function.

RESUMEN: La carnosina se conoce como dipéptido natural, que inhibe la proliferación de células tumorales a través de su acción sobre la respiración mitocondrial y la glucólisis celular. Sin embargo, no se sabe mucho de sus efectos sobre el metabolismo de las células sanas. Exploramos los efectos de la cápsula Karnozin EXTRA® con diferentes concentraciones de L-carnosina, sobre la viabilidad celular y las expresiones de vimentina de filamento intermedio (VIM) y superóxido dismutasa (SOD2) en fibroblastos normales BHK-21 / C13. Además, estudiamos su acción sobre la producción de energía de estas células. La viabilidad celular se cuantificó mediante el ensayo MTT. Se utilizó el electrodo de oxígeno Clark (Oxygraph, Hansatech Instruments, Inglaterra) para medir la "tasa de respiración de células intactas", el estado 3 de oxidación estimulada por ADP, la capacidad máxima de oxidación y las actividades de los complejos I, II y IV. Los resultados mostraron que la cápsula de Karnozin EXTRA® en concentraciones de 2 y 5 mM de L- carnosina no indujo efectos tóxicos ni cambios morfológicos en las células tratadas. Nuestros datos revelaron una amplificación de señal inmunofluorescente dependiente de la dosis de VIM y SOD2 en la línea celular BHK-21 / C13. Este suplemento aumentó sustancialmente las tasas de respiración mitocondrial registradas en la línea celular examinada. Debido a la estimulación de la producción de energía mitocondrial en fibroblastos normales, nuestros resultados sugirieron que Karnozin EXTRA® es un suplemento dietético potencialmente protector en la prevención de enfermedades con función mitocondrial alterada.

Effect of carnosine administration on the immune response of rabbit to schistosoma mansoni antigens

In this study, sodium dodecylsulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis [SDS-PAGE] separation of soluble worm antigen preparation [SWAP], cercarial antigen preparation [CAP] and soluble egg antigen [SEA] of Schistosoma mansoni showed obvious qualitative and quantitative differences. The shared polypeptides of the three stages of S. mansoni were 116, 72.768 and 32.367 kDa under reducing conditions. The different anti-sera raised in rabbits against the different stages of antigens were recognized by electro-immune transfer blotting [EITB]. Each of the three groups separated eight bands. Carnosine treatment of rabbits immunized with SWAP, CAP or SEA resulted in the disappearance of two bands in SWAP group and one band in CAP group in comparison with the non-treated immunized groups. This indicated that the carnosine modulated the immune response of rabbits against S. Mansoni antigens

Corrective action of carnosine on liver enzymes in ethanol intoxication

The changes in activities of certain enzymes in the liver of ethanol ingested rats and the corrective action of carnosine treatment was studied in the present work. These enzymes included, alcohol dehydrogenase [adh] and some enzymes of energy metabolism including, hexokinase hk. Phosphofructokinase [pfk], malate dehydrogenase [mdh] and creatine phosphokinase [cpk]. Ethanol ingestion showed a marked reduction in the activities of energy metabolism enzymes, indicating the toxic effect of ethanol by inducing oxidative stress on liver tissues, administration of carnosine ameliorated the toxic action of ethanol by improving the activities of the four energy metabolism enzymes

Effect of carnosine administration on certain metabolic parameters in Bilharzial infected hamsters

This study was designed to test the ability of carnosine to cure the metabolic disturbances induced by Schistosoma mansoni parasite. Results indicated that, parasitic infection caused elevation of liver weight/body weight of S. mansoni infected hamsters, induced lipid peroxidation and reduced glycogen level. Moreover, the adenylate energy charge [AEC], ATP/ADP and ATP/AMP concentration ratios were markedly lower in infected hamsters. Administration of carnosine [10 mg/day] for 15 days either concurrent with infection, two and four weeks post exposure was effective in reducing worm burden and egg count only when given at the time of infection. It was also effective in renormalizing most of the measured parameters confirming the glycogen repletion, the antioxidant and AEC correcting actions of carnosine