Polyprenols as possible factors that determine an instructive role of the innate immunity in the acquired immune response.

Abstract

Polyprenols are an integral part of all living cells including prokaryotic and eukaryotic ones. These compounds take part in biosynthesis of glycoproteins. We have found that phosphates of polyprenols may act as effective antiviral agents with a wide spectrum of activity. One of such antiviral agents received from Pinus sativum polyprenols was named phosprenyl. Earlier we showed that phosprenyl expressed direct antiviral effect, while having mild immunomodulatory activity. In the present study we further evaluated influence of phosprenyl on the immune system. The drug was found to inhibit an early phase of IL-1 and Con A interaction in spleen cells as well as lypoxigenase activity and expression of IL-2 receptors. At the same time, phosprenyl induced NK cell activity and early TNF-alpha production. Basing on all these data we proposed that polyprenols could be considered as a "label" which grants a possibility to the innate immune system to recognize infection at the early stages and govern the acquired immunity.