[Significance of estradiol in the development of fibrosis in systemic scleroderma (bases of sexual predisposition to the disease)].

The influence of estradiol (E2) was studied on the production of type III procollagen by cultivated fibroblasts from the skin of healthy donors and SSD patients. It has been found that when in the norm E2 (concentration 10(-8) and 10(-7) M) inhibits the production of type III procollagen. In SSD the hormone's effect is not found.

[The effect of cyclic nucleotides on the specific binding of estradiol by skin fibroblasts in the normal state and in systemic scleroderma].

Specific binding of estradiol E2 was studied in homogenates of cultivated skin fibroblasts from healthy persons and patients with systemic sclerodermia as well as effect of cAMP and cGMP on the hormone binding was evaluated. Binding of estradiol E2 was decreased 4-fold in systemic sclerodermia. cAMP and cGMP were of importance in activation of the estradiol specific binding.

Cyclic nucleotides and calcium transport in cultured dermal fibroblasts from progressive systemic sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis patients.

Levels of cAMP were decreased and cGMP increased in progressive systemic sclerosis (PSS) fibroblasts compared with normal fibroblasts. PSS cells took up unusually large quantities of Ca++. The epinephrine-induced increases in cAMP were diminished sixfold and epinephrine-induced Ca++ uptake was abnormal in PSS cells.

[Mechanism of disruption in the metabolism of the cyclic AMP system in myocardial tissue in allergic deterioration].

Role of hormones, guanylic nucleotides and sodium fluoride in regulation of adenylate cyclase activity was studied in rabbit heart under conditions of its allergic deterioration caused by repeated administration of horse blood serum. In the allergic injury activation of adenylate cyclase was found to occur simultaneously with a decrease in the rate of the enzyme stimulation by means of either the hormones in presence of guanylic nucleotides or by sodium fluoride. Without guanylic nucleotides the hormones did not stimulate adenylate cyclase activity.