N-acetylphenylisoserinates of Lactarius sesquiterpenoid alcohols--cytotoxic, antiviral, antiproliferative and immunotropic activities in vitro.

In the present study a new group of derivatives of both paclitaxel and Lactarius sesquiterpenes, the N-acetylphenylisoserinates of Lactarius sesquiterpenoid alcohols, was tested for antiviral, cytotoxic, antiproliferative and immunotropic activities in vitro. Among the 13 compounds tested two, isolactarorufin 8-[ N-acetyl-(2' R,3' S)-3'-phenylisoserinate] and 3-O-ethylfurandiol 8-[ N-acetyl-(2' R,3' S)-3'-phenylisoserinate] inhibited Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) replication at low cytotoxic concentrations. Selectivity indices were: > 12.

TNF-alpha production-enhancing activity of 2-(1-adamantylamino)-6-methylpyridine (AdAMP) in cultures of human normal and neoplastic cells.

The purpose of this study was to determine the TNF-alpha-stimulatory effect of a novel immunomodulator 2-(1-adamantylamino)-6-methylpyridine (AdAMP) on normal and neoplastic human cells. In a panel of several human ovarian cancer cell lines, almost half of them spontaneously secreted significant amounts of TNF-alpha. When incubated with AdAMP, a 3-fold enhancement of TNF-alpha production by cells was observed.

Immunomodulatory activity and influence on mitotic divisions of N-benzoylphenylisoserinates of Lactarius sesquiterpenoid alcohols in vitro.

Six N-benzoylphenylisoserinates of Lactarius sesquiterpenoid alcohols, which previously showed antiviral activities, were tested for their biological properties. Their influence on the mitotic division of the cells and on selected immunological parameters, e. g.

Cytotoxic, antiviral (in-vitro and in-vivo), immunomodulatory activity and influence on mitotic divisions of three taxol derivatives: 10-deacetyl-baccatin III, methyl (N-benzoyl-(2'R,3'S)-3'-phenylisoserinate) and N-benzoyl-(2'R,3'S)-3'-phenylisoserine.

The aim of this study was to evaluate cytotoxic, antiviral (in-vitro and in-vivo) and immunomodulatory activity, as well as the influence on mitotic division, of three taxol derivatives representing modified parts of its molecule: 10-deacetyl-baccatin III, methyl (N-benzoyl-(2'R,3'S)-3'-phenylisoserinate) and N-benzoyl(2'R,3'S)-3'-phenylisoserine. The cytotoxicity of the compounds, assessed by the formazane method, was relatively low, with a 50% cytotoxic concentration (CC50)>500 microg mL-1. Moreover, all tested compounds inhibited Herpes simplex type 1 virus (HSV-1) replication in non-cytotoxic concentrations in-vitro.

Influence of clindamycin, metronidazole and polymyxin B on the expression of cell adhesion molecules stimulated by endotoxin and enterotoxin of Bacteroides fragilis.

The aim of this study was to compare the influence of antimicrobials (clindamycin, metronidazole and polymyxin B) on the expression of adhesion molecules (VCAM-1, ICAM-1 and E-selectin) on the HMEC-1 cell line stimulated by LPS and enterotoxin of B. fragilis. LPS was extracted from two reference: ATCC 43858 and NCTC 11295 and one isolated in our laboratory (W2) enterotoxigenic strains, and one nonenterotoxigenic reference strain--IPL E 323.

[Stimulation of adhesion molecule expression in human vascular endothelium by Bacteroides fragilis toxins--influence of polymyxin B].

The aim of this study was to examine the influence of polymyxin B on the level of expression of adhesion molecules E-selectin, ICAM-1, and VCAM-1 on human vascular endothelium activated with B. fragilis endotoxins or enterotoxin. Lipopolysaccharides were extracted by phenol-water method from one nonenterotoxigenic (NTBF) and three enterotoxigenic (ETBF) B.

New insights into the possible role of bacteriophages in host defense and disease.

BACKGROUND: While the ability of bacteriophages to kill bacteria is well known and has been used in some centers to combat antibiotics - resistant infections, our knowledge about phage interactions with mammalian cells is very limited and phages have been believed to have no intrinsic tropism for those cells. PRESENTATION OF THE HYPOTHESIS: At least some phages (e.g.

Stimulation of TNF-alpha production by 2-(1-adamantylamino)-6-methylpyridine (AdAMP) - a novel immunomodulator with potential application in tumour immunotherapy.

The immunomodulatory effects of a recently synthesized adamantane derivative of aminopyridine - 2-(1-adamantylamino)-6-methylpyridine (AdAMP) - were tested on normal and neoplastic cells in vitro. When incubated with TNF-alpha gene-transduced mouse melanoma cells (B78/TNF), AdAMP significantly enhanced basal production of TNF-alpha by these cells, both by "high" and "moderate" TNF-alpha-producer cells. A similar TNF-alpha production-enhancing effect was observed in cultures of human ovarian carcinoma cells (CAOV1) which spontaneously produce TNF-alpha but not in cultures of tumour cells incapable of TNF-alpha secretion.

[Interaction of T lymphocytes with elastin and their significance in immunopathology].

Recent data indicate that human T lymphocytes can adhere to elastin and respond to co-stimulatory signals of that protein. This reactivity is mediated by non-integrin receptor, elastin binding protein. In addition, another receptor belonging to integrin family may be also involved.

Expression of FasL gene in T cells of renal allograft recipients.

FasL molecule expressed on activated T cells induces apoptosis in Fas-expressing cells. It is possible that apoptosis induced by FasL is involved in the process of allograft destruction brought about by infiltrating T cells. The aim of our study was to evaluate expression of FasL gene in peripheral blood T cells of renal allograft recipients (RAR).