Characterization of lymphocyte surface markers in patients with vitiligo.

It was demonstrated that all vitiligo patients, independently of the disease stage, have a significant decrease in the total number of T cells and an elevated level of peripheral blood lymphocytes and activated natural killers (CD56). The low level of T lymphocytes is associated with the increase in the number of CD3(+)4(+)8(+) cells, which are characterized by a faster apoptosis induction. The elevated level of B lymphocytes in peripheral blood in vitiligo is due to the significant increase in the number of B cells of all the stages of differentiation, suggesting a general activation of the whole B-cell immunity.

Parameters of cellular immunity in perimenopausal patients with glandular and adenomatous endometrial hyperplasia.

No appreciable disorders of cellular immunity were detected in patients with glandular cystic endometrial hyperplasia. Atypical endometrial hyperplasia was associated with quantitative changes in T lymphocytes and their subpopulations, decreased level of lymphocytes carrying activation antigens, and increased count of natural killers. These changes can be characterized as immunocompensation.

Changes in neuronal pulse activity of bulbar cardiovascular center after administration of dynorphin A1-13.

Acute experiments on cats showed that dynorphin A(1-13) modulates pulse activity of afferent neurons and interneurons in the bulbar cardiovascular center against the background of stable blood pressure.

Binding of alpha2-macroglobulin to collagen type I: modification of collagen matrix by alpha2-macroglobulin induces the enhancement of macrophage migration.

Alpha2-macroglobulin (a2M) secreted by tissue macrophages and fibroblasts functions in the environment of extracellular matrix macromolecules. We supposed that it may interact with these molecules and change the properties of extracellular matrix. Modified variant of ELISA was used to prove the direct binding of human a2M to collagen.

Role of interferon homeostasis in the pathogenesis of bronchial asthma in children.

Interferon homeostasis was studied in children with bronchial asthma (BA) at different stages of the disease. The control group consisted of 10 children with no predisposition to atopic reaction. Children with BA showed a disfunction of interferon homeostasis, with a significant decline in the leukocyte ability to produce IFN-alpha and IFN-gamma.

Method to evaluate the proliferation of activated lymphocytes in a three-dimensional collagen matrix.

It is well known that the enhancement of the cell-matrix interactions represents one of the early steps in the process of lymphocyte activation. However, the information regarding the role of these interactions in the late stages of lymphocyte activation (in particular, the proliferation) is still controversial. This is basically due to the absence of adequate experimental models.

Modulation of delayed type hypersensitivity in mice treated with photoproducts of various photosensitizers used in photodynamic therapy.

Photodynamic therapy is frequently accompanied by the induction of immunosuppression. The photochemical mechanisms behind the induction of this immunosuppression are not clear. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the potential of photoproducts of merocyanine 540 (MC540), protoporphyrin IX (PPIX) and hematoporphyrin derivative (HpD) to cause modulation (suppression/activation) of the T cell immune response in vivo.

Restoration of FAS-Mediated Apoptosis of Lymphocytes in Patients with Myocarditis by Specific Peptide Sequence of Human Alpha-Fetoprotein (AFP(13-19)).

Human alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) is capable of modulating cellular proliferative processes. A study has been made of the regulatory properties of a synthetic peptide corresponding to the part of the human AFP molecule participating in receptor interaction, the peptide consisting of seven amino acids and having an amino acid sequence LDSYQCT. The study was carried out on the lymphocytes of the peripheral blood of six patients with immune myocarditis in the period of exacerbation of the illness.

Alpha2-Macroglobulin Modulates Interactions between Lymphocytes and Fibroblasts.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the influence of apha2-macroglobulin (alpha(2)M) on lymphocyte adhesion to fibroblasts. Peripheral blood lymphocytes from healthy donors and two fibroblast lines (human diploid embryo fibroblasts M-19 and mouse transformed fibroblasts L929) were used in the experiments. alpha(2)M treatment of fibroblast monolayer appeared to result in the enhancement of lymphocyte adhesion to fibroblasts.

The Clinical Significance of the Activation Energy during Cryoglobulin Complex Formation.

The problem of cryoglobulins role in different diseases is very actual. Our preliminary investigations showed that activation energies of protein transition from the cryocomplex into solution correlate with clinical symptoms of cryoglobulinemia. The average meaning of activation energy show that the main type of interaction between the molecules in cryocomplexes is of Van-der-Vaalse type.

Adhesion of Fibroblasts to Immobilized alpha(2)-Macroglobulin.

This study examines effects of alpha(2)-macroglobulin (alpha(2)M) on adhesion of fibroblasts. Native alpha(2)M and transformed form of alpha(2)M, alpha(2)M-plasmin, were bound to plastic. Adhesion of mouse L929 and human embryo M-19 fibroblasts to immobilized alpha(2)M was estimated under various conditions by counting adherent cells using videomicroscopy and computer-assisted image analysis.

Methodology of Immunology and Allergology Teaching.

In Russia the imminent experience is acquired dealing with teaching for clinical immunology with allergology in medical institutions. Since 1986 according to the directive of Ministry of Health "About the organization of chairs of immunology with allergology in 10 Medical Educational Institutions of Russian Federation" the teaching for immunology as a separate training discipline is carried out in many medical institutes of Russia. At present, teaching for immunology with allergology is given at the separate chairs and courses of more than 20 medical institutes of Russian Federation (Moscow, Smolensk, Kursk, Kazan, Novosibirsk, Tver, Ivanovo, Tomsk, Chelyabinsk, etc.

Current Features of Secondary (Acquired) Types of Immune Deficiency.

Secondary (acquired) types of immune deficiencies (SID) take a leading place in practice of modern clinical immunology. The causes for SID development are extremely variable. Special attention is concerned with accumulating facts about target action of microorganisms, and first of all viruses, on certain processes in immune system.

Dynamic Characteristic of Surface Phenotype of Peripheral Blood Lymphocytes in Myocarditis Patients.

A study of the expression of activated markers in peripheral blood lymphocytes makes it possible to carry out continuous monitoring of the immune system of a patient by means of a non-invasive method. This is of great importance for patients with acute myocarditis with immunopathological processes. However, there are very few papers in medical literature which are dedicated to this problem.

Low-Molecular Collagen Peptides Have Different Effects on Peritoneal Macrophages and Neutrophils.

Two types of phagocytes - neutrophils and macrophages, are very important participants in inflammation. However, the roles played by these cells in the regulation of an inflammation are radically different. Neutrophils initiate and ensure the alteration phase.

Apoptogenesis of Immunodeficiency Diseases.

The tremendous progress, which has been made in the study of cellular and molecular basis of the maturation and functioning of immune system allowed to reveal the fine pathogenetic mechanisms of many primary (genetically caused) immunodeficiencies in human. The programmed cellular death is well known to be the basic natural mechanism of positive and negative selection in T and B lymphocytes, directed to elimination of cells with defective antigen-cognitive receptors or with capacity to react against "self". The controlled apoptosis is considered to be an important mechanism for support of optimal balance in the immune system.

CD Antigens: Review of Data Obtained by April' 98.

CD nomenclature may be considered as chronologically set up list of elucidated molecules with each molecule number characterized by the time when it was discovered and thus by the advances in immunology. The Nomenclature Committee of World Health Organization (WHO) and International Union of Immunological Societies (IUIS) have a specialized classification department - Subcommittee on CD Nomenclature. Registration and indexing of the particular CD number to the selected clusters is carried out at International Workshops on Human Differentiation Antigens.

Low Molecular Weight Collagen Peptides Affect Migration, Proliferation and Apoptosis of Mouse Spleen Lymphocytes.

As a consequence of inflammatory tissue degradation collagen proteolysis products may be accumulated in the altered tissue. In this connection, we elaborated a hydrolysis scheme to obtain low molecular weight collagen peptides analogous to those produced in vtiro. To elucidate a possible role of collagen peptides during inflammation their action on lymphocyte migration, proliferation and apoptosis was studied at a wide range of concentrations 1-1000 &mgr;g/ml.

Complex of Natural Cytokines Regulate Post-Burn Regeneration in Cornea.

Cytokines form a kind of regulatory net which normal functioning is critical for development of inflammation and regeneration in eye, namely cornea. In connection with this, we studied effects of complex of natural cytokine obtained from pig and comprising activities of IL-1, IL-6, TNF, MIF, TGFbeta1, on post-burn regeneration in rabbit cornea. The cornea burn was induced by 10% NaOH and cytokine complex was locally administered (over month after the burn) to the regeneration site observed as wall-eye.

Calcium-Induced Stimulation of Cyclooxygenase in Rabbit Leukocytes and its Modulation by Ultraviolet Radiation.

Ultraviolet radiation induces immunostimulative activity in blood. One of the mechanisms of this phenomenon is a photostimulation of blood cell cyclooxygenase (for example, in leukocytes and platelets). It is not known what are the ways of ultraviolet-induced stimulation of the enzyme.