[Immuno-PCR Assay for Quantitation of Antibodies to Epstein-Barr Virus].

Successful disease prevention and therapy critically depend on timely diagnosis of infections. Quantitative immuno-PCR (qiPCR) technology improves the sensitivity in the detection of antibodies to pathogens. A qiPCR-based assay was developed to determine IgG antibodies to Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) in the human blood serum.

Direct versus sequential immunoglobulin switch in allergy and antiviral responses.

Allergy is characterized by IgE production to innocuous antigens. The question whether the switch to IgE synthesis occurs via direct or sequential pathways is still unresolved. The aim of this work was to analyze the distribution of immunoglobulins (Ig) to house dust mite D.

Alternative variants of human HYDIN are novel cancer-associated antigens recognized by adaptive immunity.

A mutation in the hydin gene has been recently described as one possible mechanism leading to lethal congenital hydrocephalus in mice, and a similar defect is proposed to be involved in an autosomal recessive form of hydrocephalus in human. Here, we report for the first time on the cancer association and immunogenicity of two HYDIN variants in humans. One is a previously described sequence derived from the chromosome 1 gene copy, that is, KIAA1864.

Cancer-associated antigens and antigen arrays in serological diagnostics of malignant tumors.

The appearance of antibodies to cancer-associated antigens in biological fluids (particularly, in blood sera) of cancer patients is now a well-established fact, and their detection by immunochemical methods is a promising approach to diagnostics of malignant neoplasms. In this review, we consider some immunobiological aspects of the most extensively studied cancer-associated B-cell antigens, various applications of autoantibodies as cancer biomarkers, and prospects for the use of antigen arrays for improving diagnostic sensitivity.

Human tankyrases are aberrantly expressed in colon tumors and contain multiple epitopes that induce humoral and cellular immune responses in cancer patients.

Purpose: Tankyrases 1 and 2 are telomere-associated poly(ADP-ribose) polymerases (PARP) that can positively regulate telomere elongation and interact with multiple cellular proteins. Recent reports implicated tankyrases as tumor antigens and potential targets of anticancer treatment. We examined expression of tankyrases in colon tumors and immune response to these enzymes in patients with different types of cancer.

[Contemporary molecular-biological methods of cancer diagnosis and monitoring based on the humoral immune response to tumor-associated antigens].

Humoral immune response to tumor-associated antigens in cancer patients can be used as a basis for disease diagnosis and monitoring. Moreover, identification of molecular targets of such response may be used to develop antigen-specific anticancer vaccines. Here, we review the main approaches to identification and study of tumor-associated antigens recognized by serum antibodies.

RAP80/UIMC1 as cancer-associated antigen: alternative splice variants and their immunogenicity.

We have identified RAP80/UIMC1, the protein highly expressed in testis, as a new cancer-associated antigen. Sera from 5% to 10% of patients with different types of cancer contain specific antibodies to RAP80/UIMC1. In order to investigate the possible reasons for RAP80/UIMC1 immunogenicity, we characterized its numerous splice isoforms and mapped immunogenic regions of the protein.

New mutations in the human p53 gene--a regulator of the cell cycle and carcinogenesis.

Mutations in the tumor suppressor gene p53 often lead to disarrangement of the cell cycle and of genetic integrity control of cells that may contribute to tumor development. We studied p53 gene mutations in 26 primary tumors of colorectal cancer patients. Mutations in p53 were found in 17 tumors (65.

[Mites allergy in children from Tula region].

Characteristics of allergy to mites in children living in Tula region have been revealed. It was shown that mites from Pyroglyphidae (Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, Dermatophagoides farinae), Cheyletidae and Glycyphagidae (G. destructor, G.

[Evaluation of specific activity of preparations of allergens from synanthropic insects].

Physical, chemical and immunobiological characteristics of allergens from synanthropic insects were studied by tests for anaphylaxis, indirect degranulation of mast cells test and ELISA. Sera from 20 patients with severe and intermediate atopic asthma with sensiblization to common allergens have been studied. All extracts of allergens from synanthropic insects (german cockroach, oriental cockroach, american cockroach, speckled feeder cockroach, cricket, common house fly, brown house moth, confused flour beetle, rice weevil, grain weevil) have specific activity.

[House-dust mites allergen for specific immunotherapy by oral administration: experimental study].

The oral medicinal form of house-dust allergen has been prepared with the use of new technology. To produce the preparation, the standard water-saline extract obtained from house-dust mites (Dermatophagoides farinae) allergen has been used. This preparation is chemically stable and does not lose its biological activity for 2 - 3 years of storage.

Humoral immune response to thymidylate synthase in colon cancer patients after 5-FU chemotherapy.

Thymidylate synthase (TYMS), the critical enzyme for DNA synthesis and a target for chemotherapy, was recently characterized as an oncogene and a potential target for specific immunotherapy. Here we report TYMS-specific antibody response in a fraction of colon cancer patients. Humoral immune response to TYMS is induced by chemotherapy using TYMS inhibitors, such as 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), and may be associated with tumor burden.

Antibody response to a non-conserved C-terminal part of human histone deacetylase 3 in colon cancer patients.

Antibodies to cancer antigens can often be detected in the sera of patients, although the mechanism of the underlying humoral immune response is poorly understood. Using immunoscreening of tumor-derived cDNA expression libraries (SEREX), we identified human histone deacetylase 3 (HDAC3) as serologically defined antigen in colon cancer. Closely related HDAC1 and HDAC2 do not elicit humoral response in colon cancer patients.

[Study of allergens from vegetables, fruits and berries].

Different methods of obtaining allergens from vegetables, fruit and berries have been evaluated. Two technologies for obtaining food allergens have been considered; of these, Coca's method has proved to be more technological, economical and less labor-consuming. The newly developed technology has made it possible to obtain stable, safe and specifically active allergens which may be used for diagnosing food allergy.

[Serological study of a repertoire of human cancer antigens and autoantigens].

The spectrum of human antigens allows a monitoring of various pathological processes such as autoimmune disorders and tumorigenesis. Serological analysis of cDNA expression libraries (SEREX) is now used to search for new cancer-associated antigens, which are potential diagnostic markers or targets for immunotherapy of cancer. The results obtained for several solid tumors are reviewed.

Thrombin-mediated events implicated in mast cell activation.

It has been suggested that mast cells contain receptors for thrombin because binding of thrombin to peritoneal mast cells (PMCs) results in heparin release. Peritoneal mast cell responsiveness to different thrombin forms was examined by measuring ion conductance, intracellular pH, the concentration of cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP), and release of histamine. Several types of receptors for thrombin are suggested by the results, which demonstrate that: (1) PMCs responded to alpha-thrombin and diisopryopyl-phosphoryl-alpha-thrombin (DIP-alpha-thrombin), but not to gamma-thrombin, by activation of Na/H exchange in reactions involving protein kinase C and by a simultaneous elevation in cell conductance and capacitance; (2) the initial 1-nmol/L alpha-thrombin-induced acidification of PMC cytoplasm was absent in Ca-free medium, and higher doses of alpha-thrombin induced a biphasic reaction (acidification preceeded alkalinization); and (3) PMC stimulation by alpha-thrombin at low concentrations (< 1 nmol/L) resulted in increase of cGMP and simultaneous decrease of histamine release, whereas thrombin concentrations > 1 mumol/L induced the acceleration of histamine release.

[The effect of formaldehyde modification on the physicochemical properties and specific activity of an allergen from Dermatophagoides farinae mites].

D. farinae allergen has been modified with formaldehyde and its properties have been studied. This study has demonstrated that the formolation of D.

[Allergens from Dermatophagoides dust mites: origin, antigenic and structural characteristics, and therapeutic agents].

Micromites (genus Dermatophagoides) are the major source of allergens in house dust. Four homologous classes of major allergens have been isolated from extracts of D. pteronyssinus and D.

[The mite allergen and allergoid stimulation of histamine secretion by mast cells].

Rat peritoneal mast cells were incubated with serum from highly mite-sensitive patients. It was demonstrated that exposure of passive sensitized mast cells to allergen from mites Dermatophagoides farinae induced the release of histamine. Exposure of mast cells to 10 micrograms/ml and 50 micrograms/ml mite allergen resulted in an increase of histamine secretion to 48% of the basal level.

[The effect of a mite allergen on Na/H metabolic activity in peritoneal mast cells].

Mite allergen interacting with mast cells treated with sera from bronchial patient sensitized to home dust Dermatophagoides farinae causes changes in intracellular pH. Regulation of pHi peritoneal mast cells is participated by Na/H metabolism probably activated by protein kinase C.

[Thymosin alpha(1)--an endogenous modulator of alpha-thrombin recognition site].

Thymosin alpha 1-inhibited fibrinogen clotting activity of alpha-thrombin, but not amidolysis of H-D-Phe-Pip-Arg-pNA. Modulation of thrombin interaction with rat peritoneal mast cells (RPMC) by suppressors of additional recognition binding site (thymosin and heparin) was studied. Thrombin-induced pHi changes of RPMC were controlled with pH-sensitive fluorescent dye, BCECF.

[Binding of FITC-labelled alpha-thrombin by peritoneal mast cells].

The interaction of bovine alpha-thrombin with peritoneal mast cells was studied using FITC-labeled enzyme. Thrombin was modified with FITC in the presence of heparin and was separated from heparin and free FITC by gel-filtration at HPLC yielding FITC-labeled alpha-thrombin with intact additional recognition binding site for high molecular substrates and cell receptors. Equilibrium studies have shown that the binding of thrombin to peritoneal mast cells is active independent, rapid, specific, saturable and reversible.

[Effect of non-fractionated and low-molecular heparin on the functional state of mast cells].

The state of the mast-cell population of rats treated with unfractionated and low-molecular weight heparins under stress conditions has been comparatively studied by the morphometrical assay. The stress was produced by 60 min immobilization followed by intravenous injection of unfractionated (UF) or low-molecular weight (LMW) heparin. The stress-induced heparin release from mast cells resulted in a 3.