Binding of alpha2-macroglobulin to collagen type I: modification of collagen matrix by alpha2-macroglobulin induces the enhancement of macrophage migration.

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.

Method to evaluate the proliferation of activated lymphocytes in a three-dimensional collagen matrix.

It is well known that the enhancement of the cell-matrix interactions represents one of the early steps in the process of lymphocyte activation. However, the information regarding the role of these interactions in the late stages of lymphocyte activation (in particular, the proliferation) is still controversial. This is basically due to the absence of adequate experimental models.

Alpha2-Macroglobulin Modulates Interactions between Lymphocytes and Fibroblasts.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the influence of apha2-macroglobulin (alpha(2)M) on lymphocyte adhesion to fibroblasts. Peripheral blood lymphocytes from healthy donors and two fibroblast lines (human diploid embryo fibroblasts M-19 and mouse transformed fibroblasts L929) were used in the experiments. alpha(2)M treatment of fibroblast monolayer appeared to result in the enhancement of lymphocyte adhesion to fibroblasts.

Adhesion of Fibroblasts to Immobilized alpha(2)-Macroglobulin.

This study examines effects of alpha(2)-macroglobulin (alpha(2)M) on adhesion of fibroblasts. Native alpha(2)M and transformed form of alpha(2)M, alpha(2)M-plasmin, were bound to plastic. Adhesion of mouse L929 and human embryo M-19 fibroblasts to immobilized alpha(2)M was estimated under various conditions by counting adherent cells using videomicroscopy and computer-assisted image analysis.

Low-Molecular Collagen Peptides Have Different Effects on Peritoneal Macrophages and Neutrophils.

Two types of phagocytes - neutrophils and macrophages, are very important participants in inflammation. However, the roles played by these cells in the regulation of an inflammation are radically different. Neutrophils initiate and ensure the alteration phase.

Apoptogenesis of Immunodeficiency Diseases.

The tremendous progress, which has been made in the study of cellular and molecular basis of the maturation and functioning of immune system allowed to reveal the fine pathogenetic mechanisms of many primary (genetically caused) immunodeficiencies in human. The programmed cellular death is well known to be the basic natural mechanism of positive and negative selection in T and B lymphocytes, directed to elimination of cells with defective antigen-cognitive receptors or with capacity to react against "self". The controlled apoptosis is considered to be an important mechanism for support of optimal balance in the immune system.

Low Molecular Weight Collagen Peptides Affect Migration, Proliferation and Apoptosis of Mouse Spleen Lymphocytes.

As a consequence of inflammatory tissue degradation collagen proteolysis products may be accumulated in the altered tissue. In this connection, we elaborated a hydrolysis scheme to obtain low molecular weight collagen peptides analogous to those produced in vtiro. To elucidate a possible role of collagen peptides during inflammation their action on lymphocyte migration, proliferation and apoptosis was studied at a wide range of concentrations 1-1000 &mgr;g/ml.

[In vitro migration activity of human peripheral blood neutrophils in the normal state and in immunopathology].

Methodological approaches to evaluation of the migration activity of human peripheral blood neutrophils into a collagen matrix were worked out. The migration of neutrophils in healthy donors and in patients with severe bronchial asthma was studied. In the normal state there was practically no migration of intact neutrophils into the collagen matrix (1.

[Role of dysbacteriosis in the formation of chronic noninfectious pathology in children].

The results of clinical observations and laboratory data make it possible to regard dysbacteriosis as an important factor in the pathogenesis of chronic noninfectious pathology in children. The adequate complex correction of intestinal dysbacteriosis on the basis of probiotic therapy facilitates the prolonged remission of the disease in children with diabetes mellitus of type 1 (DM1) and myopathy, decreases severity of late complications of DM1. A suggestion is made on the role of dysbiotic microflora in the development of chronic non-infectious pathology in children.

[Pathogenetic role of intestinal microbiocenosis in the pathogenesis of hereditary myodystrophy].

The effect of the inclusion of probiotic preparations for the correction of disturbances in normal intestinal microflora into the complex therapy of patients wish Duchenne's childhood muscular dystrophy and Becker's myopathy was analyzed. Probiotic therapy made it possible to improve the clinical state of patients, manifested by an increase in muscular strength and accompanied by positive shifts in electromyographic, immunological, biochemical, hormonal characteristics. Intestinal microbiocenosis plays seemingly a certain role in the formation of hereditary pathology.

[Level of serum antibodies to opportunistic microflora as a marker of the secondary immunodeficiency processes in children].

Examination of children with different noninfectious diseases resulted in obtaining the data base on the state of health of 201 children belonging to the potential risk group of the development of secondary immunodeficiency. The children were subdivided into several groups which differed by the type of immune disturbances and accompanying metabolic shifts. The level of antibodies to one of the fragments of peptidoglycan-N-acetylmuramyldipeptide was compared with the character of changes in the immune system.

[The apoptogenic mechanisms for the occurrence of immunodeficient diseases].

Suggestion has been made that the development of immunodeficient states should be considered as the result of the acceleration of the apoptosis of immune cells. The pathogenetic basis of the apoptogenic mechanism of the development of immunodeficient morbidity is considered.

[Immunological prognosis of the effectiveness of soybean diet].

During 50 days a group of 23 volunteers received lunches prepared on the basis of textured proteins of soy beans. Each lunch included 50 g of proteins. Laboratory investigation was carried on dynamic values of lipid metabolism, cell-mediated, humoral and local immunity.

Pathogenetic Principle of Immune System Evaluation in Human: Positive and Negative Activation.

The main advantage of the pathogenetic principle for immune system evaluation is that the principle allows to optimize assessment of the main and accessory functions of immunocompetent cells. The investigation of immune system begins from the evaluation of cell recognition function, and then, step by step, the investigator moves further, while determining the capacity of immunocompetent cells to be activated, to proliferate and differentiate. The investigation of immune system may be terminated at its every stage once a defect in immune system is detected.

Dynamics and Mechanisms of Interaction of Mouse Spleen Lymphocytes with 3D Collagen Matrix in vitro.

Interaction of immunocompetent cells with extracellular matrix is one of the main stages in their homing and circulation. In this connection we investigated quantitative and dynamic parameters of interaction between splenocytes and 3D collagen matrix in vitro. It was found out that, about 20% of mouse spleen lymphocytes exhibited ability to bind to type I collagen that reflected as their adhesion to and/or migration in collagen matrix.

Contact Effects of Mononuclear Cells on L929 Fibroblast Morphological Phenotype.

We studied the contact interactions of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (MNC) and transformed mouse fibroblast cell line L929 (L-cells), namely their effects on morphological phenotype of L-cells. The morphological characteristics of the fibroblast, (cell area, nucleus-cytoplasmic ratio, cell spreading, cell shape) were estimated with the aid of fight scanning microscopy, followed by computer image analysis. Contact interaction between fibroblasts and MNC caused normalization of morphological phenotype of the fibroblasts (increase of cell area, shape factor, spreading and decrease of nucleus-cytoplasmic ratio).