Publications by authors named "Alexander V Zhakhov"

Anaphylatoxin C3a is a small signaling polypeptide that is generated during complement activation. C3a is involved in the regulation of various innate and adaptive immune system processes; however, the role of C3a in macrophage differentiation and polarization is poorly elucidated. Here we showed that C3a impairs alternative M2 polarization of human macrophages and suppressed CD206, IL1Ra and CCL22 expression.

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The release of Hsp70 chaperone from tumor cells is found to trigger the full-scale anti-cancer immune response. Such release and the proper immune reaction can be induced by the delivery of recombinant Hsp70 to a tumor and we sought to explore how the endogenous Hsp70 can be transported to extracellular space leading to the burst of anti-cancer activity. Hsp70 transport mechanisms were studied by analyzing its intracellular tracks with Rab proteins as well as by using specific inhibitors of membrane domains.

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Cancer cells are known to contain high levels of the heat shock protein 70 kDa (Hsp70), which mediates increased cell proliferation, escape from programmed cell death, enhanced invasion, and metastasis. A part of Hsp70 molecules may release from cancer cells and affect the behavior of adjacent stromal cells. To explore the effects of Hsp70 on the status of monocytes/macrophages in the tumor locale, we incubated human carcinoma cells of three distinct lines with normal and reduced content of Hsp70 with THP1 monocytes.

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Antimicrobial peptides from marine invertebrates are known not only to act like cytotoxic agents, but they also can display some additional activities in mammalian organisms. In particular, these peptides can modulate the complement system as was described for tachyplesin, a peptide from the horseshoe crab. In this work, we investigated the influence on complement activation of the antimicrobial peptide arenicin-1 from the marine polychaete .

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Cerebral edema commonly accompanies brain tumors and contributes to neurologic symptoms. The role of the interleukin-1 receptor antagonist conjugated to superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPION-IL-1Ra) was assessed to analyze its anti-edemal effect and its possible application as a negative contrast enhancing agent for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Rats with intracranial C6 glioma were intravenously administered at various concentrations of IL-1Ra or SPION-IL-1Ra.

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Complement C3 is a pivotal component of three cascades of complement activation. C3 is expressed in human atherosclerotic lesions and is involved in atherogenesis. However, the mechanism of C3 accumulation in atherosclerotic lesions is not well elucidated.

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