[Biochemical effects of chronic peroral administration of carbon nanotubes and activated charcoal in drinking water in rats].

Chronic 6-month experiment was carried out in rats, which received drinking water with multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs), diameter of 15-40 nm, length ≥ 2 mkm) or activated charcoal (AC, diameter of 10-100 mkm), blood samples of the animals were used for assessment of biochemical markers. Both coal compounds induced the appearance of signs of oxidative stress 2 weeks after the beginning of the experiment and alteration of serum markers of liver and renal damage, as well as changes of cortisol and protein serum concentrations later Thus, despite of known high (asbest-like) inhalation toxicity of carbon nanotubes in comparison with other carbon allotrops (fullerenes and black carbon), we have found similar effects of MWCNTs and carbon microparticles in orally treated rats.

[Changes in the cytokine profile in residents with chronic obstructive lung disease exposed to urban air pollutants].

The complex of urban air pollutants was established to affect the cytokine profile in Moscow residents with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)), as it causes a significant reduction of L-6 and TNF-alpha in their blood samples. The identified changes indicate to inhibition of the functional activity of cells of the reticuloendothelial system, which can lead to the persistence of seasonal bacterial-viral infections and more rapid chronization of the basic disease.

[Testing of the system of biochemical and immunological indices of the state of population health in the survey of residents of Moscow, exposed to ambient air pollution].

New biomarkers of effect of some controlled ambient air pollutants (formaldehyde, carbon monoxide and TSP) were found in two surveys of Moscow residents (apparently healthy and outpatients with allergic diseases) with a help of screening system of biochemical and immunological parameters. Possible mechanisms of the effects, including interference of atmospheric carbon monoxide and sulfur dioxide with corresponding endogenous second messengers, are discussed.

Tax-independent stimulation of human T-cell leukemia virus type-I expression and differential effects on its infectivity by subtoxic and toxic doses of 3-methylcholanthrene.

Using the human T-cell leukemia virus type I (HTLV-I) infected SLB-I T-cell line, we showed in this study that 5-d treatment with the maximal subtoxic 3-methylcholanthrene (3-MC) dose (0.25 microgram/ml), as well as with a 3-MC dose that inhibits 50% of the cell growth (5 micrograms/ml), profoundly increased the level of viral RNA. Exposure to these 3-MC doses for 5 d before transient transfection of HTLV-I LTR-CAT construct into these cells markedly stimulated CAT activity, indicating that 3-MC exerted its effect by a trans-acting mechanism.