[The structure of the determinants of streptococcal group A polysaccharide common to epidermal antigens to which antibodies are formed at different stages of the rheumatic process].

Several epidermal antigens containing carbohydrate determinants (DT), common with those of group A streptococcal polysaccharide (A-PS), were identified: basal-cell antigen (1), antigens of the cytoplasm (2) and perinuclear zone (3) of the cells of the differentiated epidermal layers, as well as antigen characteristic of all layers of skin epithelium (4). As shown for the first time, in addition to N-acetyl-D-glucosamine, cross-reacting DT of A-PS, antibodies to which were detected in rheumatism, also contained the remnants of rhamnose joined by bonds 1=> 2 and/or 1=>3. At the same time DT, common for A-PS and antigen 1, was found to contain N-acetylflucosamine and residues of rhamnose, joined by bond 1 reversible 2.

[The effect of streptococcal group A polysaccharide on PHA-induced T-cell proliferation].

The influence of group A streptococcal polysaccharide (A-PS) on the proliferation and functional activity of subpopulations CD4+ and CD8+ of human peripheral blood lymphocytes has been studied. As revealed in this study, A-PS, though having no mitogenic activity of its own, is capable of influencing the process of proliferation of two main T-cell subpopulations in the presence of PHA. Its action has a regulatory character and is manifested by the maintenance of the ration of lymphocytes CD4+ and CD8+ in the culture at a constant level (approximating 1).

[An immunomorphological study of the effect of ionizing radiation on the nonlymphoid structures of the mouse thymus using monoclonal antibodies].

Expression of cytoskeleton components revealed with monoclonal antibodies was increased in epithelial cells of mouse thymus one day after total gamma-irradiation with doses of 0.5-4.0 Gy, while after the doses of 10 and 15 Gy it was decreased.

[Lymphocytes with receptors to streptococcal polysaccharide group A in the thymus of rheumatism patients. Change in the response of normal thymocytes to adenosine, theophylline and decantate].

With the help of immunomodulators (adenosine, theophylline, levamisole) and decantat of 3-hour culture of normal thymocytes, the features of thymocytes with the receptor for polysaccharide of streptococcus group A(A-PSC) (R = PSC+cells) in patients with rheumatism. It has been established that in patients' thymus the quantity of lymphocytes, able to express R-PSC (predecessors of R = PSC + cells) decreased under the influence of theophylline and adenosine. The predecessors of R = PSC+thymocytes in the majority of patients with rheumatism are areactive to decantat action.

[Determination of autoantibodies to antigens of thymic epithelial cells of clean up team workers and patients who survived acute radiation sickness at distant periods after irradiation].

A group of patients, suffering from sequelae of acute radiation sickness (ARS), and liquidators was studied 5 years after exposure to a complex of factors resulting from the Chernobyl A.P.S.

[Suppression of cytotoxic cellular reactions by the production of antibodies to rhamnose determinants of streptococcal group A polysaccharide cross-reacting with antigens of the skin epithelium].

By the BALB/c mice after different periods of immunization with the streptococci group A, treated with pepsin, antibodies belonging to autoantibodies to the determinants (DT) of polysaccharide (A-PS), cross-reactive (CR) with the epithelial skin cells, were investigated. In one of the mice groups, in the autologous system, on the target cells--macrophages of lymph nodes, the suppression of cytotoxic (CT) reactions was obtained. The CR are bound with the delayed type hypersensitivity appearing after the sensibilization with BCG.

[The suppression of delayed hypersensitivity to BCG antigens in BALB/c mice during the production of antibodies to the rhamnose determinants of Streptococcus group A polysaccharide].

The data obtained for the first time in our studies indicate that the production of antibodies to group A streptococcal polysaccharide (A-PS), one of the cross-reacting streptococcal antigens, may suppress delayed hypersensitivity (DH) to microbial antigens. The existence of sharply pronounced correlation between the suppression of DH and the presence of antibodies to the rhamnose area of A-PS in the blood of BALB/c mice immunized with the pepsin-treated culture of group A streptococci has been shown. The suppression of DH is absent in the immunized animals of the same group whose blood contains antibodies to the determinant, specific for A-PS.

[Characteristics of cytoplasmic antigens of cells from differentiated epidermal layers in human thymic epithelium].

It was found that donor's serum and serum of patients with rheumatic fever, erysipelas and myasthenia gravis contained autoantibodies to the cytoplasmic antigens and to the antigen of perinuclear zone of differentiated layers cells of human epidermis. Using the serum with different level of autoantibodies to these epidermal antigens it's localization in the human thymus epithelium was determined. It was shown that perinuclear antigen of differentiated epidermis cells is localized in the cytoplasm of cortical and medullar thymus epithelial cells and in the perinuclear zone of some cells in Hassall's corpuscles.

[Group A streptococcal polysaccharide--stimulator of nonspecific cytotoxic reaction in autologous system of spleen cells].

p4 was shown the ability of group A streptococcal polysaccharide (A-PS) to stimulate nonspecific cytotoxic effect of spleen cells on autologous adherent cells (macrophages). The stimulating effect can be observed in vivo under the treatment of spleen cells with A-PS and any antigen (BSA, PPD, M-protein of group A streptococci). In the presence of antigen A-PS can induce nonspecific cytotoxic effect of normal spleen cells (mice CBA, BaLB/c) and of the mice with DHT and therefore these two immunologic phenomena do not depend on each other.

[The effect of immunization with Streptococcus group A on the development of delayed hypersensitivity to BCG antigens in mice of different strains].

Antibodies to group A streptococcal polysaccharide (A-PS) have been shown to appear within three weeks after the injection of group A streptococcus culture, heat-killed and treated with pepsin (A-STP), in the blood of not only BALB/c mice, but also CBA mice. As revealed in this study, in BALB/c mice antibodies are mainly active against the group-specific antigenic determinant (AD) of A-PS and in CBA mice, against the rhamnose AD of A-PS, common for streptococci of different groups. This study has revealed that the appearance of antibodies to the rhamnose AD of A-PS in the blood of CBA mice inhibits antigen-specific cytotoxicity, appearing with the development of delayed hypersensitivity to BCG antigens.

[Autoantibodies to different layers of epidermis during immunization of BALB/c mice with a culture of Group A Streptococcus treated with pepsin].

As revealed in the indirect immunofluorescence test, antibodies to the cross-reacting group A streptococcal polysaccharide determinant (A-PS), common to the antigen of the basal cell layer of the epidermis, regularly occur at the end of the first cycle and disappear after further immunization of BALB/c mice with the pepsin-treated culture of group A streptococci. This model may be used for the study of antibodies to A-PS, cross-reacting with the cells of the basal layer of the epidermis, in the development of the autoimmune process linked++ with group A streptococcal infection.

[Receptors for polysaccharides of group A streptococci on human thymic lymphocytes. Stimulation of their expression by action of adenosine, theophylline and supernatant of thymocytes].

It was established by indirect immunofluorescence that thymic lymphocytes bear receptors for polysaccharide of group A streptococci (Rps). The ability of thymic lymphocytes to express Rps depends on the cAMP concentration in the cell, because the treatment of thymocytes with adenosine and theophylline increases the number of cells with Rps (Tps cells). Supernatant of thymic lymphocytes is also capable of stimulating expression of Rps.

[Receptors for the secretory component on human thymic lymphocytes. Stimulation of their expression as affected by adenosine, theophylline and a thymic lymphocyte supernatant].

It has been established by indirect immunofluorescence that thymic lymphocytes bear receptors for secretory component (Rsc). The bound secretory component, i. e.

[Stimulation of expression of IgM and IgG receptors on human thymus lymphocytes after treatment with lactoferrin in vitro].

It was established by immunofluorescence that lactoferrin, one of the heteroorganic thymus antigens, can stimulate the expression of Fc mu and Fcj receptors on thymus lymphocytes. The stimulating effect of lactoferrin on T mu cells is more pronounced with the level of these cells in the thymus being low. Its effect on Tj cells seems independent of their level in the thymus and may be related to their precursor differentiation.

[Localization of basal cell antigen in the epithelial tissues of animals and humans detected by means of natural antibodies].

By means of the immunofluorescent method using rabbit serum that contains natural antibodies against the basal cell antigen of epidermis, the distribution of the antigen has been demonstrated in cells of the basal layer of all types of the stratified epithelium. The reaction is also noted in cytoplasm of the epithelial cells in the thymus and the tracheal mucous membrane. This demonstrates their histogenic affinity to stratified epithelii.

[Demonstration of secretory component in membrane structures of the human thymus].

A large amount of secretory component (Sc) was demonstrated in human thymus by the immunofluorescence technique. The component was found to be contained by the membranes permeating the parenhuyma and surrounding numerous tubular formations in the cortical layer of the organ under discussion. It is suggested that like other heteroorgan antigens, secretory component is involved in the formation of natural immunological tolerance, informing organ lymphocytes of the structures of the host own antigens.

[Bound immunoglobulins and immune complexes in the thymus of myopathy patients].

Profound changes in epithelial and lymphoid tissues were detected by the immunofluorescent technique in the thymus of myopathy patients. The characteristic immunomorphological manifestation indicating injuries to the thymic epithelial tissue is the sedimentation of IgG, IgA and complement in basal membranes and in the cytoplasm of adjacent poorly differentiated epithelial cells. Another remarkable sign of the changes in the thymic epithelial tissue during the disease is a sharply marked cystic degeneration of Hassall bodies, eventuating in the sedimentation of keratinized material in the internal environment of the organ.

[Characteristics of the reaction of healthy human blood serum with the epidermis].

Indirect immunofluorescence has shown that the blood serum of normal subjects reacts with cytoplasm antigens of epidermis differentiated cells in 100% of the cases. The level of antibodies and the immunomorphological picture of the reaction are marked by high constancy and intense fluorescence of the cytoplasm of epidermis differentiated cells, while the reaction with basal layer cell antigens is observed comparatively seldom and little pronounced. The authors discuss possible participation of antibodies contained by the normal blood serum and of their complexes with tissue antigens in the regulation of vital activity of the cells and immune response to the host antigens.

[Myoid cells in the thymus of patients with myopathy].

Immunofluorescence was used to demonstrate that in progressive muscular dystrophy, myoid cells in the patients' thymus undergo profound changes which affect the processes of their formation, differentiation and maturation. Pronounced changes in the myoid cells were disclosed in two forms of myopathy. These changes lie in the increased number of myoid antigens in Erb's myopathy, whereas in Duchenne's myopathy, they manifest in the diminution of the number of myoid antigens in the internal environment of the thymus.

[Cross-reacting antigens of human thymus myoid cells and stable L-forms of group A streptococci].

Indirect immunofluorescence has shown a similarity between the antigen components of group A streptococcus L-forms and human thymus myoid cells. An analogous antigen (or antigens) is present in the cytoplasmic membrane of human myocardial cell fibers. The depletion of antiserum to the streptococcal L-forms both by the culture of L-forms grown in meat or casein media and by the homogenate of the cardiac muscle leads to the inhibition of immunofluorescence.