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

Viral infection of the vascular wall cellular elements is involved in development of several pathophysiological events, including vasculitis, transplant rejection, and atherosclerosis. Previously, we have shown that cultured human vascular endothelial cells (ECs) may be effectively infected with herpes simplex type I virus (HSV-1), and this cultural model could be a useful tool for the explanation of many aspects of viral disease. In this study, we investigated the effects of conditioned media (CM) of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) on HSV-1 reproduction and cell adhesion molecule expression in cultured ECs. PBMC-CM induced the delay of virus reproduction or inhibition of virus reproduction. Effects of CM correlated with multiplicity of infection used for EC, time of PBMC contact with infected and glutaraldehyde-fixed endothelium, and the level of IFNs and cytokine production. Passages of and CM-treated and infected cells without signs of virus reproduction were, sometimes, followed by virus reactivation. However, at a low level of infection of CM-treated ECs the virus reactivation was not observed even after 2-3 cell passages. Neutralizing antibodies against IFN-alpha, IFN-gamma, and TNF-alpha, used separately or together, significantly abrogated the delaying and/or inhibiting action of CM. Additionally, PBMC-CM significantly increased the expression of ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 on cultured ECs. The strongest cell activation was induced by CM obtained from PBMCs co-incubated with virus-infected endothelium. Obtained results suggest that primed leukocytes produce soluble factors with either anti-viral or pro-inflammatory activity, and the effect of PBMC-CM may have a bi-directional action. On the one hand, due to production of interferons and several cytokines CM sets up HSV-1 latency or virus elimination from cultured cells. On the other, the same cytokines act on infected and/or neighboring ECs and initiate the cascade of inflammatory reactions in the vascular wall.

Alpha2-macroglobulin (a2M) secreted by tissue macrophages and fibroblasts functions in the environment of extracellular matrix macromolecules. We supposed that it may interact with these molecules and change the properties of extracellular matrix. Modified variant of ELISA was used to prove the direct binding of human a2M to collagen. Native and transformed by plasmin a2M, as well as plasmin, used as the control, were labeled by biotin. It has been found that the transformed, but not the native a2M form binds to type I collagen molecules: K(d)=(1.168 +/- 1.14) x 10(-11) M. The data obtained give a strong evidence of high power of the interaction between a2M and type I collagen: practically no reverse dissociation may be seen for such a binding. The modification of three-dimensional collagen matrix by binding to the transformed a2M resulted in the enhancement of migration of macrophages, carrying the receptors for a2M, but not splenocytes that lack for such receptors. Our results allow to suggest that a2M may be one of the components of extracellular matrix, and may change the properties of microenvironment for immunocompetent cells during the processes of inflammation, reparation and tumor invasion.

The method is described dealing with the synthesis of conjugates protein-polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), highly soluble in water, stable without special stabilizers and containing the minimum quantity of cross-linked products. The reaction of protein with PAH containing an aldehyde group, has been carried out in an alkaline solution, and stabilization of the conjugate has been achieved by reduction with sodium borohydride in the presence of a compound blocking the formation of an insoluble polymeric fraction. The efficiency of synthesized conjugates for the induction and immunoassay of Abs to PAH for benzo[a]pyrene is shown.

Negative correlation between serum IgE levels and production of IFN-gamma by lymphocytes and positive correlation between serum IgE levels and production of IL-4 by lymphocytes was detected in 12 children with allergic asthma and recurrent respiratory diseases. Deficiency of reduced glutathione in whole blood and some disorders in phagocytic and oxidative burst activity of monocytes were observed in these children. Use of reduced glutathione, L-cysteine and anthocyane (Recancostat, Clear Vision, Switzerland) resulted in elevation of IFN-gamma production, lymphocyte response to mitogens, NK cell activity, increase in percentage of naive CD4(+) T lymphocytes (refreshment effect) and improvement of clinical status. Positive clinical results were lasted during 6 months.

The great attention to reactions of immune system to the physical exercises in sportsmen is linked to the growth of training volumes, to the increase of competition numbers and to the elevation of morbidity. Immune deficiency may be considered as the detonator of pathological processes among which acute respiratory diseases (ARD) are investigated most completely in sports medicine. Other pathologies require long-term observations, but it is not so simple to do due to the frequent renewal of sports groups. Besides ARD, there are reports about the growth of cases of poliomyelitis, endotoxemia, allergic and autoimmune disorders. Immune reactions in sportsmen are developed at the background of fever, impaired balance of ergotrophic hormone activity and in a number of cases under conditions of systemic endotoxemia. We have described the extreme type of immune deficiency in sportsmen, in which we could not determine different isotypes of Ig. The phenomenon of Ig disappearance is reproduced under the experimental conditions that opened the way to study its mechanisms. Physical exercises decrease function of immunocompetent cells, their antiviral resistance, antigen presentation and expression of class II MHC molecules. With the involvement of macrophages hyperproduction of IL-6 is developed in muscle tissues. After physical exercises other cytokines also change the state of immunity. Also, neuropeptides getting in touch the links between endocrine and immune systems may make a contribution to immunosuppression. The immunosuppression may be prevented by use of special carbohydrate diets and by administration of complexed preparations. The prophylaxis is capable to control the morbidity, profoundly to increase the training volumes and to enhance the labor efficiency.

The aim of our work was to establish the peculiarities of phenotype profile and functional activity of peritoneal immunocompetent cells of women with different rate of myoma growth. Forty three women with uterine myoma (main group) and 16 healthy women (control group) were recruited for study. According to the growth rate and tumor's size the main group was divided into two clinical subgroups: (1) women with stable small size of uterine myoma (23 patients), (2) women with large size rapidly growing myoma (20 patients). The expression of CD markers on the surface of peritoneal fluid (PF) lymphocytes and bactericidal and adhesive activity of macrophages were studied. It was found that in women with stable small myomas both lymphocytes and macrophages in PF were activated. In women with rapidly growing large myomas cellular reactions seemed to be inhibited and the impairment of maturation and differentiation of lymphocytes was observed. It can be suggested that local immune response is directly connected with the rate of myoma growth.

The article presents the author's concept of four levels of immune reactivity revealed in various acute infections. These four levels of immune response are different in cytokine production quantity, time of non-specific immunosuppression and the balance of cellular and humoral host defense forms. The explanation of this phenomenon seems to be in line with T helper cell heterogeneity (Th1, Th2, Th0).