HLA-DR Expression in Natural Killer Cells Marks Distinct Functional States, Depending on Cell Differentiation Stage.

HLA-DR-positive NK cells, found in both healthy individuals and patients with different inflammatory diseases, are characterized as activated cells. However, data on their capacity for IFNγ production or cytotoxic response vary between studies. Thus, more precise investigation is needed of the mechanisms related to the induction of HLA-DR expression in NK cells, their associations with NK cell differentiation stage, and functional or metabolic state.

Myths, reality and future of mesenchymal stem cell therapy.

Mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) therapy represents an alternative approach for tissue regeneration and inflammation control. In spite of a huge amount of preclinical data that has been accumulated on the therapeutic properties of MSCs, there are many conflicting results, possibly due to differences in the properties of MSCs obtained from different sources or underestimated mechanisms of MSC in vivo behavior. This review consolidates the in vivo effects of MSC therapy, discusses the fate of MSCs after intravascular and local delivery and proposes possible trends in MSC therapy.

ROS production, intracellular HSP70 levels and their relationship in human neutrophils: effects of age.

ROS production and intracellular HSP70 levels were measured in human neutrophils for three age groups: young (20-59 years), elders (60-89 years) and nonagenarians (90 years and older). Elders showed higher levels of spontaneous intracellular ROS content compared with young and nonagenarian groups, which had similar intracellular ROS levels. Zymosan-induced (non-spontaneous) extracellular ROS levels were also similar for young and nonagenarians but were lower in elders.

Purification of high-molecular-weight subfraction from porcine skin inhibiting proliferation of A431 human carcinoma epidermoid cells.

Subfraction with a molecular weight >250 kDa isolated from porcine skin and inhibiting the proliferation of A431 human carcinoma epidermoid cells was purified by DEAE 32 anion exchange chromatography with NaCl concentration step-gradient. The effects of the initial subfraction and fractions obtained by separation in DEAE 32 on the proliferation of A431 human carcinoma epidermoid cells were studied in vitro in two tests (MTT and fluorescent test). The more sensitive fluorescent test showed the highest inhibitory activity of fraction No.

[Autocrine factor participation in defence of cytotoxic CTLL-2 cells from oxidative stress].

The role of autocrine factors (AF) secreted by cytotoxic IL-2-dependent CTLL-2 cells along with pyruvate in cell defense from oxidative stress was investigated. The addition of conditioned medium (CM) containing pyruvate and AF into CTLL-2 cell cultures increased significantly cell survival under oxidative stress condition. The kinetics of hydrogen peroxide removal from cell cultures under oxidative stress in the case of CM addition has been obtained.

Barnase as a new therapeutic agent triggering apoptosis in human cancer cells.

Background: RNases are currently studied as non-mutagenic alternatives to the harmful DNA-damaging anticancer drugs commonly used in clinical practice. Many mammalian RNases are not potent toxins due to the strong inhibition by ribonuclease inhibitor (RI) presented in the cytoplasm of mammalian cells.

Methodology/principal Findings: In search of new effective anticancer RNases we studied the effects of barnase, a ribonuclease from Bacillus amyloliquefaciens, on human cancer cells.

[Influence of autocrine factor deficit in culture on survival and energy metabolism of CTLL-2 cells under oxidative stress].

A lot of data has shown recently that survival of mammalian cells is under a control of growth factors and autocrine survival factors (AF). We studied the influence of AF deficit on survival, intracellular ATP content, and transmembrane potential of mitochondria of IL-2-dependent CTLL-2 cells under oxidative stress. CTLL-2 cells cultivated under deficit of AF have been shown to be more susceptible to oxidative injury in comparison with the cells cultivated without deficit of AF (control); they died at smaller concentrations of H2O2 than control cells did.

[Specific features of nucleic acid synthesis in mitochondria of Elymus sibiricus from different natural populations].

Conditions and kinetic characteristics of nucleic acid synthesis were studied in the isolated mitochondria of Elymus sibiricus from different natural populations. The results showed the reciprocal dependence of RNA and DNA synthesis rates in the mitochondrial genetic system of E. sibiricus seedlings of different genotypes.

Immunosuppressive activity of glycosphingolipids. Influence of serum factors on ganglioside inhibition of IL-4-dependent cell proliferation.

Gangliosides have been shown to inhibit proliferation of the interleukin-4 (IL-4) responsive cell line CT.4R. Kinetic analysis has revealed that ganglioside GT1b is a competitive inhibitor of proliferation, while GM and GM3 show a mixed pattern of inhibition, i.

Analysis of cellular interactions in limiting dilution cultures.

Limiting dilution (LD) cultures are often used to study cellular heterogeneity in responses of murine splenocytes to specific or polyclonal activation. LD titration curves often reveal a nonlinear dependence of response on input cell dose. Although 'zigzag' shaped curves of this kind are often interpreted and analyzed as resulting from interactions among three distinct cell types, we observe that a more parsimonious two cell model, including a cell type that can generate both positive and negative effects, provides better fit to a wide range of experimental data.

[Use of neurotransplantation in the treatment of Parkinson's disease].

The outcomes of transplantation of the human embryonal mid-brain into the striatum of patients with Parkinson's disease are presented. For this, a procedure for obtaining, isolating, preparing the human embryonic midbrain, as well as a method for stereotactic administration of embryonal nerve tissue suspension having high dopaminergic neuron levels into the patients' striatum are specified. Patients underwent neurological examinations by the international protocol Core Assessment Program for Intracerebral Transplantation including monthly video recording within 3 months before and 3-24 months after surgery.

Genetic functions of isolated maize mitochondria under model changes of redox conditions.

The template functions of maize mitochondrial genome have been studied under model conditions of redox potential created by the addition of potassium ferricyanide as an oxidising agent and sodium dithionite as a reducing agent. The addition of both potassium ferricyanide and sodium dithionite to the isolated mitochondria causes the changes in the activity of the mitochondria RNA and DNA synthesis. The data obtained indicate the possibility of redox regulation of genetic functions in isolated mitochondria.

Comparative study of immunomodulatory properties of muramyl peptides on immune system cells of young and old mice.

The immunomodulatory effects of two synthetic muramyl peptides (MP): muramyl dipeptide and glucosaminyl- muramyl dipeptide have been compared. It was shown, that MP effects on immune response are a consequence of the alteration in T lymphocyte regulators balance. MP action on old mice immune response and lymphocyte function was stimulating only: increasing of T helper precursors frequency and IL-1 production by macrophages.

Study of immunomodulatory properties of N-acetylmuramyl-L-alanyl-D-isoglutamine and N-acetylglucosaminyl-(beta 1----4)-N-acetylmuramyl-L-alanyl-D-isoglutamine.

The immunomodulatory activities of two synthetic muramylpeptides (MP), a muramyl dipeptide and a glucosaminyl-muramyl dipeptide, have been compared and have been found to exhibit many common features in their effects. In addition, the differential effects of low and high concentrations of MP on the primary humoral immune response in vitro were examined in detail. At high concentrations MP augmented the frequency of induced T-suppressor cells, while at low concentrations the primary immune response was stimulated by enhancement of the antigen-presenting function of accessory cells and by increasing the frequency of induced T-helper cells.

[Characteristics of the B lymphocytes participating in the reaction of allogeneic stem cell inactivation].

In this work the B-cells of mouse lymph nodes are characterized. B-cells produce a helper effect on the capacity of the T-lymphocytes of the lymph nodes for inactivating nonsyngeneic stem cells. The study has revealed that the genetic heterogeneity of the B-lymphocytes does not lead to the abolition of their helper activity.

[Effect of irradiation on the regulatory function of B-lymphocytes].

A study was made of the effect of irradiation of B-lymphocytes with doses of 0-464.4 mC/kg on their regulatory function in activating the allogenic haemopoietic stem cells of mice. Irradiation changed the function of B-lymphocytes leading to transformation of their helper effect into the suppressible one.

[Regulating role of the B-lymphocytes in lymphocyte interaction with allogeneic hematopoietic stem cells].

The preparative separation of lymph-node cells according to their charge and the study of the activity of each fraction have revealed that B-lymphocytes in the lymph nodes of mice have a regulating function in the phenomenon of the inactivation of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cells. The analysis of the dependence of effects, obtained in various experiments, on the ratio of B-lymphocytes and hematopoietic stem cells indicates that stem cells serve as targets for B-lymphocytes and the most probable mechanism of the above-mentioned effects is the direct interaction of the cells, one regulatory B-lymphocyte being capable of interacting with one target cell. Depending on the ratio of B-lymphocytes and stem cells, the inactivating effect may be either suppressed (the suppressor activity of B-lymphocytes) or enhanced (the helper activity of B-lymphocytes).

[Interaction of the lymph node and splenic lymphocytes of mice in inactivation of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cells].

A study was made of interaction of mouse spleen and lymph node lymphocytes in inactivation of allogeneic stem cells. It was established that T lymphocytes of the lymph nodes and spleen lymphocytes do not interact on combined administration; their action is of additive nature. B lymphocytes of the lymph nodes have a regulating activity both in respect to T lymphocytes of the lymph nodes and lymphocytes of the spleen.

[Adaptive T-lymphocyte differentiation in an allogeneic environment].

Some patterns of adaptive changes of the hemopoietic stem cells in allogenic environment and the functional activity and specificity of cytotoxic T-lymphocytes developing from them and responsible for the inactivation of allogenic hemopoietic stem cells were studied on the radiation chimaeras. The allogenic environment did not prevent the functional maturation of these T-lymphocytes. The phenotype of T-lymphocytes matured under the conditions of allogenic recipient is similar but not identical with that of lymphocytes of the recipient mouse strain.

[Action of radiation on cell interactions in the phenomenon of nonsyngeneic stem cell inactivation. Quantitative parameters of the regulating effect of B-lymphocytes].

Quantitative regularities have been revealed in the regulatory action of B-lymphocytes from mouse lymph nodes on killer activity of T-lymphocytes of low electrophoretic motility. It was shown that the radiation-induced changes in the mode of action of B-lymphocytes may be attributed to a decrease in the number of active cells.

[Effect of size-fractionated thymocytes on the number of hematopoietic stem cells in the bone marrow of sublethally irradiated mice].

A study was of the influence of size-fractionated thymocytes in the density gradient of bovine serum albumin on the number of CFUs in the bone marrow of mice exposed to sublethal irradiation. Subject to separation were thymocytes obtained from intact mice and mice after multiple injections of dexamethasone (DM). Two cell populations were demonstrated during separation of thymocytes from intact mice.

[Effect of radiation on cell interactions in the phenomenon of non-syngeneic stem cell inactivation. Changes in B-lymphocyte function after irradiation].

A study was made of the changes in the mode of interaction between T- and B-lymphocytes of mouse lymph nodes with respect to the phenomenon of inactivation of non-syngeneic haemopoietic stem cells. It was shown that irradiation of B-lymphocytes with doses of 77.4--232.