Endotoxin-neutralizing activity of hen egg phosvitin

Area of Science:

• Biochemistry
• Immunology
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Endotoxin (lipopolysaccharide/LPS) triggers inflammatory responses and sepsis, a major cause of mortality.
• Current therapies lack efficacy in preventing LPS-induced tissue damage and organ failure.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the potential of hen phosvitin (Pv) as a therapeutic agent against LPS toxicity.
• To evaluate Pv's capacity to bind microbial components and neutralize endotoxin effects.

Main Methods:

• Antimicrobial activity assays against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus.
• Binding assays with LPS, lipoteichoic acid, and peptidoglycan.
• In vitro inhibition of LPS-induced tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) release in RAW264.7 cells.
• In vivo assessment of serum TNF-α levels and survival rates in endotoxemic mice.

Main Results:

• Hen Pv demonstrated antimicrobial activity and bound to LPS, lipoteichoic acid, peptidoglycan, and microbes.
• Pv significantly inhibited LPS-induced TNF-α release in vitro and reduced serum TNF-α levels in vivo.
• Pv administration improved survival rates in endotoxemic mice.
• Pv exhibited no cytotoxicity to macrophages or hemolytic activity towards red blood cells.

Conclusions:

• Hen phosvitin acts as an endotoxin-neutralizing agent.
• Pv demonstrates therapeutic potential for clinical treatment of LPS-induced sepsis.
• Pv is a safe therapeutic candidate with no observed cytotoxicity or hemolytic activity.