Fibronectin as a compensating factor in the natural cytotoxicity system in interferon-dependent immunodeficiency

The cytotoxicity of natural killer cells (NK) against³H-uridine-labeled target cells (TC, human erythromyeloleukosis cells K-562) and the intensity of conjugate formation in the NK:TC system in the presence of γ-interferon, C-reactive protein, and human fibronectin are studiedin vitro in 14 patients with multiple sclerosis. It is shown that γ-interferon and C-reactive protein decrease the cytotoxic activity of NK with a simultaneous stimulation of conjugate formation in the NK:TC system. The correlation between the studied parameters becomes weaker. Human fibronectin induces collateral changes in the activity of NK and in the number of effector:target conjugates formed in the natural cytotoxicity reaction. Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 118, N ^o 7, pp. 67–70, July, 1994     

Circulating serum interferon andits effect on the activity of human natural killer cells

The interferon content in the plasma of 6 healthy donors and 10 patients with multiple sclerosis and the effect of an 1-h treatment of mononuclear cells with autologous plasma on their natural killer activity are studiedin vitro using³H-uridine-labeled (3 μCi/ml) human erythromyeloleukosis cells K-562. The serum interferon content in healthy donors is 2.3±0.82 IU/ml, whereas that in patients is higher: 5.2±0.8 IU/ml. Autologous plasma does not affect the activity of natural killer cellsin vitro, whereas it increases the cytotoxicity of mononuclear cells obtained from patients with multiple sclerosis by 35–64%. Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 118, N ^o 12, pp. 619–622, December, 1994 Presented by S. V. Prozorovskii, Member of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences     

Involvement of fibronectin and interacting serum components in the regulation of activity of human natural killer cells

The cytotoxic activity of natural killer cells and the intensity of conjugate formation are studiedin vitro in the natural cytotoxicity reaction against³H-uridine-labeled human erythromyeloleukotic cells K-562 in the presence of fibronectin, γ-globulin, and fibronectin/γ-globulin combination. It is demonstrated that fibronectin does not change natural cytotoxicity, γ-globulin increases the activity of human natural killer cells, and the fibronectin — γ-globulin combination increases both the intensity of conjugate formation and the cytotoxic activity of natural killer cells. Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 118, N ^o 7, pp. 54–59, July, 1994     

Effect of interferon on the structural organization of rat thymus

Changes in the thymus of male Wistar rats were studied under a light microscope at various times after intranasal administration of α-interferon. The relative mass of the organ, the cortex volume, the total number of cells, the number of small and medium lymphocytes, and the number of mitoses decrease 14 days after interferon administration. At the same time, the number of macrophages, neutrophils, mature plasmacytes, eosinophils, and erythrocytes increases, and mast cells appear. Thus, α-interferon probably suppresses the formation of T cells, facilitates allergization of the organism, and increases the permeability of the vascular endothelium. Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 118, N ^o 12, pp. 609–612, December, 1994     

Stimulation of proliferative activity of human natural killers (CD16+CD56+ cells) by recombinant interleukin-3in vitro

The proliferative activity of human natural killers (CD16⁺CD56⁺ cells) in the presence of 100 and 1000 IU/ml human recombinant interleukin-3 is investigatedin vitro. It is shown that recombinant interleukin-3 reliably enhances natural killer proliferation, causing a 9–15.2-fold increase of³H-thymidine uptake by CD16⁺CD56⁺ cells both in complete culture medium and in conditioned medium. The effect of the factor is 3.9–6.4 and 3.6–8.9-fold more potent than that of recombinant interleukin-2 and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor, respectively, in the same doses. Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 119, N ^o 4, pp. 409–412, April, 1995 Presented by S. V. Prozorovskii, Member of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences     

Blast transformation of lymphocytes and the activity of natural killer cells in the presence of γ-globulinin vitro

The cytotoxic activity of natural killer cells against³H-uridine-labeled target cells (human erythromyeloleukosis cells K-562) and the intensity of spontaneous blast transformation are studiedin vitro in the presence of human serum γ-globulin. It is shown that spontaneous blast transformation is 49–51% due to the presence of aggregated γ-globulin, while the aggregate-free γ-globulin fraction does not induce this reaction. The cytotoxic activity of natural killer cellsin vitro declines in the presence of native γ-globulin, which is related to the influence of aggregated γ-globulin, the intensity of whose formation may increase upon a manyfold decrease in the γ-globulin content of the preparation. Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 118, N ^o 12, pp. 625–630, December, 1994     

Time course of the cytotoxicity of blood mononuclears in patients with bladder cancer during endolymphatic immunotherapy with lymphokine-activated killers and recombinant interleukin-2

A specific stimulation of mononuclear cellsin vivo was observed after 3 or 4 endolymphatic injections of autologous lymphokine-activated killers and recombinant interleukin-2 in male patients with disseminated bladder cancer. This activation presented as an increase of the cytotoxicity of mononuclears towards target cells of bladder carcinoma. A statistically reliable increase of natural killer activity was observed, and in one patient a reliable increase of the cytolytic activity of mononuclear cells against Mel-1 target cells. After 1 or 2 injections the activity of natural killers increased to 80–90% for an initial level of 23–50%. Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 121, N ^o 2, pp. 188–191, February, 1996 Presented by N. N. Trapeznikov, Member of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences     

How the ability of bacteria to inactivate natural antiinfectious resistance factors affects their resistance to the bactericidal action of the blood (Serum)

A relationship is found between the resistance ofEscherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, andStaphylococcus epidermidis to human serum and whole blood and their ability to inactivate the factors of natural antiinfectious resistance (lysozyme, complement, immunoglobulins, and a bactericidal fraction of leukocytic interferon). Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 121, N ^o 2, pp. 174–176, February, 1996     

Inhibition of mitogen-stimulated proliferation of human lymphocytesin vitro by synthetic peptide fragments of α-2 interferon

Human α-2 interferon and peptides representing parts of the amino-acid sequence 124–138 of the IF molecule inhibit the proliferative response of peripheral blood lymphocytes from healthy donorsin vitro induced by ConA. It is shown that neither interferon α-2 nor biologically active peptides change the level of interleukin-2 ConA-induced production by human blood mononuclears. Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 117, N ^o 1, pp. 72–74, January, 1994 Presented by I. P. Ashmarin, Member of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences     

Role of different types of adrenoreceptors of the lateral hypothalamus in the mechanisms of natural excitation due to food motivation

Following microiontophoresis of propranolol, a β-adrenoblocker, and prasosine, an α-adrenoblocker, rearrangements of the impulse flows are observed in a number of neurons of the lateral hypothalamus, which manifest themselves in the development of regular activity with a monomodal distribution of interspike intervals. Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 117, N ^o 1, pp. 9–12, January, 1994. Presented by K. V. Sudakov, Member of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences     

Dissociation of E∶T conjugates upon activation of human natural killers by factors acting at the “lethal blow” stage

It is demonstrated that in the presence of human recombinant γ-interferon and C-reactive protein the activity of natural killers increases 9–43%, whereas the number of effector:target cell conjugates formed at the stage of recognizing and binding of target cells decreases 14–80%. There is a weak positive correlation (ρ=0.35) between the activity of natural killers and the number of effector:target cell conjugates. Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 117, N ^o 3, pp. 280–285, March, 1994     

Antimutagenic activity of β-carotene

Data are presented on the ability of synthetic β-carotene to reduce the level of cyclophosphane-induced chromosome aberrations in murine bone marrow cells. InSalmonella typhimurium cells β-carotene exhibits antimutagenic activity only against an indirect mutagen (2-acetylaminofluorene). Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 120, N ^o 9, pp. 276–278, September, 1995 Presented by Yu. N. Solov'ev, Member of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences     

Cytotoxic activity of peripheral blood platelets and mononuclears in cancer patients and healthy donors

The cytotoxic activity of peripheral blood platelets and mononuclears from 82 patients with cancer, 9 with diseases other than cancer, and 18 healthy donors towards a continuous cell line of pulmonary adenocarcinoma was studied. There were no appreciable differences in the killer activity of platelets in cancer patients (32±3.5%), patients with diseases other than cancer (33±8.1%), and healthy donors (30±6.7%). In contrast to platelets, mononuclears of cancer patients possessed a higher cytotoxicity than mononuclears of healthy donors. The cytotoxicity of platelets of cancer patients was found to reliably drop in cases with disseminated metastases and after polychemo-and radiotherapy. Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 121, N ^o 2, pp. 192–195, February, 1996 Presented by N. N. Trapeznikov, Member of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences     

Effects of muscarine agonists and antagonists on vasopressin-stimulated water transport in the amphibian bladder

The effects of M₁ and M₂ cholinoceptors on stimulated water transport in the urinary bladder of the common frogRana temporaria L. are described. In the presence of pirenzepine, a selective M₁ cholinoceptor antagonist, carbachol stimulated water transport. Activation of M₂ cholinoceptors by oxotremorine in concentrations of 0.5–5.0 μM inhibited water transport, whereas their activation by this compound in higher concentrations (10–100 μM) stimulated it. The use of the phospholipase C inhibitor neomycin (0.5 mM) and the calmodulin inhibitor W-7 (1 mM) indicated that activation of M₂ cholinoceptors switches on phospholipid-Ca²⁺-calmodulin-dependent mechanisms. Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 120, N ^o 9, pp. 252–254, September, 1995 (Presented by P. V. Sergeev, Member of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences)     

Stimulation of peritoneal macrophage activity in rats with experimental peritonitis during transfusion of UV-irradiated blood

Three transfusions of blood irradiated at 254 nm induce an increase of phagocytic activity of peritoneal macrophages in rats with peritonitis in comparison with infusion of intact blood. Addition of aspirin, an inhibitor of enzymatic peroxidation of lipids, to the irradiated portion of the blood before irradiation abolishes this stimulating effect. Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 117, N ^o 2, pp. 140–142, February, 1994 Presented by Yu. A. Vladimirov, Member of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences     

Responses of the arterial and venous vessels of the skeletal muscle to norepinephrine following damage to their endothelium

The functional activity of vascular endothelium in a muscle preparation from the feline gastrocnemius is impaired with ethanol, which results in an increase of an adrenergic responsiveness of the arterial compartment of the vascular bed. The exchange function of the microvessels changes little. Veins exhibit nonuniform changes in their responsiveness after exposure of their endotheliocytes to ethanol. Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 118, N ^o 9, pp. 315–318, September, 1994     

Antimetastatic effects of arbidol,a new antiviral drug

Arbidol, a new antiviral drug, is found to suppress metastases of Lewis' pulmonary carcinoma for various methods of transplantation. The effects of arbidol are compatible with those of the standard interferon inductor poly-I-poly-C. Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 118, N ^o 7, pp. 80–81, July, 1994     

Effect of some lectins on the cholinergic structures of the frog heart

The effect of lectins (phytohemagglutinin — PHA, concanavalin A — ConA,Pisum sativum lectin — PSL,Ricinus communis lectin — RCL, and pokeweed mitogen — PWM) on the cardiac cholinoceptors is studied in experiments on isolated hearts of maleRana temporaria frogs. The test lectins in concentrations from 10⁻²³ to 10⁻³ are shown to exhibit cholinomimetic properties. Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 118, N ^o 9, pp. 252–255, September, 1994 Presented by A. D. Ado, Member of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences     

Electron-histochemical data on the localization of aminopeptidase M in the liver

The activity of aminopeptidase M in rat liver is studied electron histochemically. The enzyme is shown to be localized in the lysosomes of Kupffer's cells and endotheliocytes, and extracellularly on hepatocyte microvilli. Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 120, N ^o 9, pp. 312–314, September, 1995 Presented by D. S. Sarkisov, Member of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences     

Role of γ-globulin-associated fraction containing carbohydrate component inin vitro regulation of human natural killer activity

Carbohydrate-rich components released from fractions of aggregated and protein aggregate-free γ-globulins decreased the cytotoxicity of natural killer cells in relation³H-uridine-labeled standard human K562 erythroblasts. In a dose of 0.1 μg/ml, these components decreased activity of natural killer lymphocytes by 57% and 42%, respectively. The data suggest that γ-globulin-associated fractions containing carbohydrate components are involved in the regulation of human natural killer activity. Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 128, No. 11, pp. 545–547, November, 1999