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Background/Objectives: Patients referred for HNF1B testing present very heterogeneous phenotypes. Despite suggestive characteristics, many do not harbor mutations in HNF1B. Our objective was to evaluate the clinical characteristics of probands referred for HNF1B genetic testing through a nationwide monogenic diabetes screening program. Methods: Probands tested for HNF1B mutations in the 2005‐2018 period (N = 50) were identified in the Polish Monogenic Diabetes Registry, which prospectively recruits primarily pediatric patients and their families on a nationwide scale. Variants that had been reported pathogenic were reassessed using criteria of the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ACMG). A structured medical interview was performed with all available individuals, their parents, and/or their physicians. For each patient, HNF1B score was calculated based on available clinical information. Results: The study group numbered 36 unrelated probands (28% lost to follow‐up): 14 with pathogenic or likely‐pathogenic variants in HNF1B, one with a variant of uncertain significance, and 21 negative for HNF1B mutations. Presence of cystic kidneys (OR = 9.17, 95% CI:1.87‐44.92), pancreatic abnormalities (OR = 15, 95% CI:1.55‐145.23), elevated liver enzymes (OR = 15, 95% CI:1.55‐145.23) best discriminated HNF1B‐positive cases from the negative ones. Presence of impaired glucose tolerance coupled with kidney disease in the proband and one parent was also highly predictive for HNF1B mutations (OR = 11.11, 95% CI:1.13‐109.36). HNF1B‐score with recommended cutoff distinguished patients with and without HNF1B findings with 100% sensitivity and 47.6% specificity. Addition of four clinical variables to select patients based on HNF1B score improved specificity to 71.4% (95% CI:47.8%‐88.7%) while retaining 100% sensitivity. Conclusions: Detailed medical interview may enable more accurate patient selection for targeted genetic testing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Cysteine proteases are enzymes that regulate numerous physiological and pathological processes in the human body. Disorders of their activity can lead to a number of diseases. They play an important role in the process of carcinogenesis, participating in the invasion, transformation, angiogenesis, apoptosis and metastasis. The aim of this study was to elaborate the electrophoretic method of cysteine proteinases identification in the sera of patients suffering from chronic lymphocytic leukemia based on biotinylated iodoacetamide. Material and methods: Preliminary studies were carried out on the commercially available papain (EC 3.4.22.2) well known and widely used plant cysteine protease with a molecular weight 23,4 kDa. The study was conducted on the blood samples taken from patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and control sera from healthy donors. The sera after the preincubation with iodoacetamide were mixed with the sample buffer followed by electrophoresis on polyacrylamide gel containing sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS-PAGE). The separated proteins were electrophoretically transferred to the nitrocellulose membranes and subjected to the further analysis using streptavidin conjugated with horseradish peroxidase (HRP). The use of substrate for HRP 3,3'- diaminobenzidine tetrachloride (DAB) allows the biotinylated iodoacetamide and thereby cysteine proteinase identification. Results: The comparative analysis of the sera from the patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia and the control sera led to the identification of additional protein with a cysteine protease characteristic having a molecular weight of about 37 kDa, which did not occur or was present in a smaller amount of the control sera. Conclusions: The developed method allows the detection of cysteine proteases which are present in the control sera and the sera of patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cysteine proteases also known as thiol or sulfhydryl proteases are enzymes responsible for catalyzing the hydrolysis of peptide bonds in proteins. They take part in many physiological and pathological processes. Their abnormal activity can lead to a number of disease states including tumor growth. They are involved in the process of carcinogenesis at multiple levels - they participate in the invasion, transformation, angiogenesis, apoptosis and metastasis. The best characterised cysteine proteases are the lysosomal cathepsins, that belong to the papain family. So far 11 cysteine cathepsins have been identified: B, L, H, S, K, F, V, X, W, O and C. They take part in the activation of many proenzymes and prohormones, MHC-II-mediated antigen presentation, bone remodeling, reproduction and apoptosis. Research on the role of cysteine proteases in carcinogenesis showed elevated expression of mRNA or enzymatic activity of cathepsins in many human cancers, eg. breast, lung, brain, gastrointestinal tract, head and neck and melanoma. Cancer procoagulant also belongs to the group of cysteine proteases, however its structure and functions are still the subject of research for many scientists. Elevated levels of activity and concentrations of cancer procoagulant in the serum and tissues from patients with cancer disease compared to those observed in healthy people, provides the possibility of using this factor in the diagnosis of cancer. Many preclinical studies have shown that achieving a stop proliferation and reducing the metastatic potential of tumor cells is possible with the use of cysteine proteinases inhibitors. That gives great hope for the possibility of their application in anticancer therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]