Russian journal of immunology : RJI : official journal of Russian Society of Immunology最新文献

It was shown that beta-endorphin and the synthetic decapeptide SLTCLVKGFY that corresponds to the amino acid sequence 364-373 of the human IgG heavy chain (referred to as immunorphin) is able to stimulate growth of the human T-lymphoblastoid cell line Jurkat. The antagonist of opioid receptors naloxone did not inhibit the stimulating effect of the peptides. Studies on [(3)H]-immunorphin binding to Jurkat cell receptors have demonstrated that it binds with high affinity to naloxone-insensitive receptors (K(d) = 1.3 nM; n = 5.2 x 10(5)). Unlabeled beta-endorphin and the 6-10 fragment of immunorphin completely inhibited the labeled ligand specific binding to naloxone-insensitive receptors on T lymphocytes (K(i) = 1.4 x 10(-7) and 3.7 x 10(-5) M, respectively). Thus, beta-endorphin and immunorphin share the naloxone-insensitive receptors on human T-lymphoblastoid cell line Jurkat.

An updated version of the autoimmunity theory and the recent achievements in the investigation of the pathogenesis of autoimmune disorders have created new opportunities for the development and clinical application of a new generation of methods of treatment of the immune system dysfunctions. The present review is focused on questions related to modern and future developments in the treatment of autoimmune myocarditis. We discuss well-known drugs like corticosteroids and azathioprine, and some new and up-to-date methods of treatment of the autoimmune inflammation. Some of these methods are at the experimental stage of development and hopefully will be used to treat patients in the near future.

We studied the action of cytotrophoblast cells (CTC) on the expression of T lymphocyte membrane markers in the cultures of newborn cord blood mononuclear cells (CBMC) and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of a pregnant woman. The CTC were separated from the placental chorion at ten weeks of gestation time. In this abstract we show that the CTC and the CTC culture supernatant (SN) increase the number of HLA DR(+)CD7(+) T cells activated by anti-CD3 mAbs, both in PBMC and CBMC cultures. CTC increased the number of transferrine receptor CD71(+) lymphocytes without anti-CD3 activation in CBMC cultures. The increase in the blood mononuclear cell proliferation did not come with an increase of HLA DR and CD71 expression induced by CTC or SN. Moreover, SN caused the suppression of activated T lymphocyte proliferation. We found no signs of any influence of CTC and SN on the expression of CD25 in CD4(+) and CD8(+) subpopulations of T lymphocytes, either activated or non-activated by anti-CD3. The data regarding the CTC- and SN-induced HLA DR expression in vitro suggest that the previously determined high level of HLA DR(+) T cells in the placenta and decidua in pregnant women might have been the result the activity of the trophoblast cells and their soluble products on the lymphocytes of that area.

Programmed cell death (PCD) is a fundamental process regulating immune homeostasis. During acute viral infections PCD of lymphocytes by apoptosis is necessary for removing the excess of activated antigen-reactive T cells and down-regulation of the immune response. On the other hand, apoptosis is the key mechanism of elimination of viral-infected cells. At the present time there is virtually no data on mechanisms of immune regulation during human hantavirus infections. In this study we examined the dynamic of PBL Fas and FasL expression, the first-step dead caspase-8, -2, -9 and effector caspase-3, -7 and -10 activity in freshly isolated PBL lysates, and anti-CD3-induced PBL mitogenic response and apoptosis in patients with Puumala virus (PUUV) associated hemorrhagic fever with the renal syndrome (HFRS). Data reported summarize the initial demonstration of increased Fas/FasL and activation of the initializing (caspase-2, -8 and -9) and the effector caspase-3, -7 and -10 in PBML during acute and convalescent phases of the hantavirus infection. The suppressed anti-CD3 mitogenic response and increased anti-CD3-induced apoptosis were also observed. Although more study needs to be done to determine the role of hantavirus and hantavirus induced pathways in PBML apoptosis, our data suggests that the immune system reacts to hantavirus infection, as to many other virus infections, by activation of apoptosis. These reactions of the immune system could be directed to preserve immune homeostasis, developing the most effective immune protection, and to eliminate cells infected with virus.

SCV-07 (gamma-glutamyl-tryptophan) is a new immunomodulatory compound that was developed and patented both for composition and immunomodulatory use. SCV-07 was shown to have a broad spectrum of immunostimulatory activities both in vitro and in vivo. In the present study we investigated the biological activity of SCV-07 in a murine model of experimental tuberculosis (TB) induced with M. bovis-bovinus 8 strain. Therapy with SCV-07 at doses of 0.01, 0.1, and 1 &mgr;g/kg (5 daily injections) decreased the lung damage index compared to untreated controls and to those treated with isoniazid alone. The growth of M. bovis-bovinus 8 in spleen culture was decreased. Cytokine studies showed that on the 24th day after the treatment with SCV-07 the production of IL-2 was restored to the level seen in uninfected animals. Proliferative responses for both thymic and spleen cells were nearly restored to the responses observed in uninfected animals. IFN-gamma production by both thymic and spleen cells, as well as its circulating levels in serum, was increased by the SCV-07 treatment. Concurrently, IL-4 production was decreased in the same cell types and the serum. These changes suggest that SCV-07 is stimulating a shift of T helper cells to a Th1-like immune response. SCV-07 treatment also stimulated the macrophage functions, which had been decreased by tuberculosis infection and isoniazid therapy, with an improved phagocytosis activity of peritoneal macrophage. The obtained results suggest that SCV-07 treatment increases the efficacy of anti-tuberculosis therapy as well as the strength of the immune response. Thus, SCV-07 is a prospective immunomodulator for a complex therapy of TB.

It was demonstrated that all vitiligo patients, independently of the disease stage, have a significant decrease in the total number of T cells and an elevated level of peripheral blood lymphocytes and activated natural killers (CD56). The low level of T lymphocytes is associated with the increase in the number of CD3(+)4(+)8(+) cells, which are characterized by a faster apoptosis induction. The elevated level of B lymphocytes in peripheral blood in vitiligo is due to the significant increase in the number of B cells of all the stages of differentiation, suggesting a general activation of the whole B-cell immunity. Perhaps, it is associated with the continuous stimulations of B cells by the type 2 helper lymphocytes. The Th2 lymphocyte mediators, including IL-4, do not only stimulate of B-cell immunity, but also regulate maturation of NK cells. It is typical for vitiligo that the level of mature B cells responsible for Ig synthesis (CD38(+), mIgM(+), mIgG(+)) stays elevated even in remission. Moreover, a considerable increase in the number of peripheral blood lymphocytes expressing the adhesion receptor CD54 is observed, which most likely reflects that the blood lymphocytes are highly prepared for tissue migration.

The effect of polyoxidonium on the functional activity of human peripheral blood phagocytes was studied in vitro. Polyoxidonium is an N-oxidized polyethylene-piperazine derivative, a water-soluble high-molecular synthetic immunomodulator. It was established that a one-hour incubation of leukocytes with polyoxidonium increases the ability of leukocytes to kill the ingested Staphylococcus aureus in a dose-dependent manner. This increase was observed in leukocytes obtained from healthy individuals and from patients with chronic granulomatous disease. The study of phagocyte spontaneous and stimulated chemiluminescence showed a significant decrease in the quantity of chemiluminescent impulses in the extracellular space in the presence of polyoxidonium both in luminol- and lucigenin-dependent chemiluminescence assays. Polyoxidonium proved to have an antioxidant activity at all doses tested (100, 250, and 500 &mgr;g/ml). Evaluation of the intracellular hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)) level with a fluorescent indicator dichlorofluorescein showed that incubation with polyoxidonium leads to a higher luminescence intensity of dichlorofluorescein, thus indicating an increase in the intracellular H(2)O(2) level. This increase was not as substantial as in the case of stimulation with phorbol myristate acetate. When polyoxidonium was used at a dose of 500 &mgr;g/ml, the difference with the control was significant for neutrophils and monocytes. Polyoxidonium can be used as adjuvant in combined treatment of acute and chronic infections of any etiology, and in the treatment of chronic granulomatous disease and secondary immunodeficiences along with etiotropic drugs.

The problem of the rehabilitation of often ailing children is not yet elucidated despite of a substantial amount of research done in this field. It is acknowledged that the impairment of immune reactivity is a pathogenetic foundation of often and prolonged respiratory diseases in children. In this connection, the aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of alvitili on the main immunologic parameters in children who get ill frequently. Alvitili, produced by Solvay Pharma (France), is one of the promising vitamin preparations that contain all necessary water-soluble and oil-soluble vitamins. Thirty children 3-8 years of age were selected for the study: 15 children were included in the group of often ailing children and 15 healthy children made the control group. Immunological examination was carried out using standard methods before and after administration of alvitili at a dose of 5 ml 3 times a day for 3 weeks. Alvitili normalized originally decreased levels of T lymphocytes and T helpers, enhanced expression of early activation markers on the surface of T lymphocytes and T helpers, normalized the number of HLA DR(+) T cells and the level of MIF production. The drug stimulated IgM synthesis, expression of FcgammaRIII on the surface of neutrophils and normalized the IgG level. The study showed that alvitili is an effective remedy in the rehabilitation of ill children, since it compensates a vitamin deficiency that is frequently seen in often-ailing children, and it normalizes various immunological parameters.