Purification and characterization of the immunostimulatory properties of recombinant human interleukin-1 beta.

In this study we have used a new method for human recombinant IL-1 beta (rIL-1 beta) purification and investigated its immunostimulatory biological activity. The IL-1 beta gene was cloned using a novel mRNA preparation from activated human blood monocytes. The purification protocol consists of extraction and two chromatographic steps using the new Soloza cation exchange resin.

Carnosine as a potential scavenger of oxidants generated by stimulated neutrophils.

Luminol-dependent chemiluminescence of PMA-stimulated human neutrophils decrease more than by 50% in the presence of physiological concentrations of carnosine (20 mM). This inhibition is the result of carnosine ability to scavenge hypochlorite (OCl-), since carnosine exerts a similar effect on chemiluminescence produced by myeloperoxidase-H2O2-Cl- and OCl(-)-H2O2 systems. The previously undocumented property of this dipeptide to scavenge active oxygen species requires further experiments.

Serum protein degradation by hypochlorite.

The structural integrity of serum proteins: albumin, immunoglobulin G, transferrin, ceruloplasmin and superoxide dismutase, and the functional activity of the latter two enzymes after their interaction with hypochlorite were studied. It was shown that the interaction between the proteins and hypochlorite resulted in protein injury and degradation of their native structure. In the case of ceruloplasmin and transferrin, a practically complete protein "dissipation" occurred, the albumin and superoxide dismutase structures being injured in a lesser degree.