Proliferation and cytotoxicity of thymus lymphocytes in vitro

The proliferative and cytolytic activity of lymphocytes from the spleen and intact thymus was compared after alloimmunization. The number of living cells and of DNA-synthesizing cells in a monoculture of thymocytes was 90–97% less, and in a mixed culture of thymus cells about 80% less that the corresponding number of spleen cells. The index of stimulation of immune thymocytes was several times greater than that of immune spleen cells. The peak of cytotoxicity was observed on the fourth to fifth day of stimulation, when the cytolytic activity of the immune thymocytes was close to the activity of immune spleen cells. The low DNA synthesis and the considerable cytotoxic activity of the immune thymocytes mean that stimulation of thymus cells in vitro can be used to obtain a cell population with a high content of cytolytic T lymphocytes.Laboratory of Systemic Blood Diseases, Oncologic Scientific Center, Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR, Moscow. (Presented by Academician of the Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR O. V. Baroyan.) Translated from Byulleten Éksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 84, No. 9, pp. 330–333, September, 1977.     

Role of nitric oxide in activation of human T lymphocytes induced by bacterial superantigen

The involvement of nitric oxide (NO) in the regulation of human T cell response to bacterial superantigen (staphylococcal enterotoxin B) was studied. It was shown that stimulated T lymphocytes are the main source of NO. This superantigen markedly increased NO production and triggered the proliferative response of mononuclear cells from healthy individuals; the degree of apoptosis was low. In patients with purulent surgical diseases with high spontaneous and induced NO production, superantigen enhanced apoptosis of lymphocytes and induced anergy of T cells to enterotoxins. Increasing the concentration of NO in cultured cells from healthy individuals in the presence of NO donors also stimulated apoptosis and inhibited proliferative activity. These data suggest that NO regulates T lymphocyte response to superantigens. The increased production of NO probably contributes to the development of immunosuppression during bacterial infection. Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 130, No. 10, pp. 402–406, September, 2000     

Mechanism of depression of antibody formation in high-density suspension cultures

The cause of the decrease in number of antibody-producing cells formed on induction of the primary immune responsein vitro, observed when the surface density (the number of cells per square centimeter floor of the incubation vessel) was increased was studied. Depression of antibody formation in high-density cultures was found to be due, not to disturbance of induction of the clone of antibody-forming cells, but to inhibition of the subsequent proliferation of the cells of that clone. The disturbance of proliferation is reversible: A decrease in the density of the cultures 1 or 3 days after the beginning of incubation led to resumption of the increase in number of antibody producers. The depressant effect cannot be transferred humorally from high-density to low-density cultures. It cannot be abolished by changing the incubation medium of high-density cultures daily for fresh nutrient medium.Laboratory of Chemistry and Biosynthesis of Antibodies, N. F. Gamaleya Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology, Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR, Moscow. (Presented by Academician of the Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR G. V. Vygodchikov.) Translated from Byulleten' Éksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 81, No. 3, pp. 342–344, March, 1976.     

Effect of structural modification of membrane proteins on lipid-protein interactions in the human erythrocyte membranes

Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol.116, N ^o 11, pp. 488–491, November, 1993     

Effects of fibroblast-keratinocyte interactions on the secretion of interleukin-8

Using two models for preparing skin equivalent, the effects of interactions between various types of fibroblasts and keratinocytes on their secretory activity in the production of interleukin-8 are studied. The secretion of an antiinflammatory cytokine is found to depend on the type and function of fibroblasts, the level of their proliferative activity, and the extent of formation of the dermal layer. Keratinocytes are capable of recognizing fibroblast function and stimulate or inhibit the secretion of interleukin-8 depending on the functional status. A new concept of hyperkeratosis and parakeratosis in psoriasis is proposed, which is based on a defect in the autoregulation of mediators, specifically, interleukin-8. Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 121, N ^o 2, pp. 181–184, February, 1996 Presented by D. S. Sarkisov, Member of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences     

Suppression of antibody formation by bone marrow T cells activated by histocompatibility antigens

The suppressive action of bone marrow T cells activated by histocompatibility antigens on antibody formation was studied. The bone marrow of CBA mice was shown to contain thymus-dependent lymphocytes which, on hyperactivation by repeated transplantation into F₁ recipients, have a suppressive action on the development of the cooperative immune response to sheep's red cells. Preliminary treatment of the bone marrow cells with antithymocytic globulin and complement abolished the suppressive effect.Institute of Biophysics, Ministry of Health of the USSR, Moscow. (Presented by Academician of the Academy of Sciences of the USSR, P. D. Gorizontov.) Translated from Byulleten' Éksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 83, No. 3, pp. 300–302, March, 1977.     

Immunomodulating effects of α1-acid glycoprotein (Orosomucoid) in a culture of human peripheral blood lymphocytesglycoprotein (Orosomucoid) in a culture of human peripheral blood lymphocytes

The mechanisms of the antiproliferative effect of α₁-acid glycoprotein (AGP) isolated from the blood of healthy donors (nAGP) and from the ascitic fluid of patients with stomach cancer (aAGP) are studied. Three fractions of AGP are divided into 3 groups according to their ability to bind to concanavalin A (ConA): AGP not binding to ConA (AGP-1) and AGP weakly (AGP-2) and strongly (AGP-3) binding to ConA. It is shown that native preparation of aAGP has a more potent inhibitory effect on lymphocyte proliferation than native preparation of nAGP. The most potent inhibitory effect is exerted by AGP-3. Native preparation of aAGP does not affect the secretion of interleukin-2 (IL-2) by lymphocytes, whereas AGP-1 inhibits this process. The weakly bound fraction has a stimulatory effect both on the proliferative response and on IL-2 secretion. Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 118, N ^o 7, pp. 71–73, July, 1994     

Count and heterogeneity of human fetal blood lymphocytes in the course of fetal development

Blood specimens from 89 human embryos and fetuses were analyzed by immunological methods during gestation weeks 4–40. All formed elements circulate in fetal blood starting from week 13 of gestation. Lymphocytes predominate among blood leukocytes, because normally lymphocytosis is an inherent, feature of blood. T cells and their subpopulations: active T lymphocytes, Tγ lymphocytes, and theophylline-sensitive and risistant, cells are present. B lymphocytes are represented by cells with immunoglobulins M and G, zero cells, and large granular lymphocytes. Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 126., No. 9, pp. 331–333, September, 1998     

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     

Changes in the hypothalamus,reticular formation,and pituitary of rats during development of induced subcutaneous tumors

The dynamics of structural changes in the hypothalamus, reticular formation, and pituitary of rats at different phases of development of tumors induced in the animals by 9, 10-dimethyl-1,2-benzanthracene was studied. In the phase of appearance of subcutaneous tumors structural and functional changes were found in the hypothalamus, reticular formation, and pituitary.Department of Biology with General Genetics, A. V. Lunacharskii Astrakhan' Medical Institute. (Presented by Academician of the Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR A. P. Avtsyn.) Translated from Byulleten' Éksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 83, No. 3, pp. 334–336, March, 1977.     

Role of various subpopulations of B lymphocytes in production of antigen-induced nonspecific immunoglobulins

Congeneric CBA and CBA/N mice (with and without Lyb5+B cells, respectively) respond to T cell-dependent antigens by the appearance of antibody-producing cells and accumulation of cells synthesizing nonspecific immunoglobulins. Type 2 cell-independent antigens induce similar changes only in CBA mice having mature B lymphocytes. The data suggest that B lymphocytes are responsible for the appearance of antibody-producing cells and polyclonal activation. Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditisiny, Vol. 128. No. 12, pp. 681–683, December, 1999     

In vitro anti-acetylcholine receptor antibody synthesis by myasthenia gravis patient lymphocytes: Correlations with thymic histology and thymic epithelial-cell interactions

In vitro anti-acetylcholine receptor antibody (anti-AChR Ab) production by peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) and thymic lymphocytes was investigated in 52 patients with myasthenia gravis (MG). There was a positive correlation betweenin vitro anti-AChR Ab synthesis andin vivo titers. A relationship between the rates of synthesis by PBL and histological abnormalities of the thymus was also observed. Patients with hyperplastic thymus tended to produce the largest amountsin vitro, while those with an involuted thymus produced little or none. Production in thymoma patients is likely to correlate with the histological nature of the thymus associated with the tumor.In vitro Ab synthesis was modulated by the depletion of a cell subset for half of the patients tested. Finally, anti-AChR Ab production by thymocytes but not by PBL is enhanced by the addition of autologous or allogeneic thymic epithelial cells, suggesting a possible role of thymic epithelial cells in the autosensitization against AChR occurring in the thymus.     

Role of macrophages in the mechanism of specific retention of sensitized lymphocytes in lymph glands containing antigen

The role of macrophages in the phenomenon of specific retention of antigen-activated. lymphocytes in lymph glands containing the same antigen was investigated. Injection of peritoneal macrophages, phagocytosing sheep's red cells (as well as of the red cells alone) was found to cause specific retention of lymphocytes in the regional lymph glands. Preliminary treatment of the antigen-loaded macrophages with antierythrocytic serum reduced the retention of lymphocytes. It is postulated that lymphocytes are fixed by means of receptors on their surface to the membrane of macrophages, into which antigen molecules are incorporated.Laboratory of Histochemistry and Molecular Pathology, Institute of Human Morphology, Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR, Moscow. (Presented by Academician of the Academy of Medical Sciences of the USSR A. P. Avtsyn.) Translated from Byulleten' Éksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 81, No. 3, pp. 345–347, March, 1976.     

Unity and opposition of cytogenetic lymphocyte activity and antibody formation during regenerative processes

Here we present a comparative temporal analysis of the appearance and dynamics of cytogenetic and immune activity of lymphocytes during regenerative processes in different organs based on own and published data. The changes in these activities are coupled and codirected, depend on experimental conditions, but are realized via different pathways. These similarities depend on changes in the balance between immunoregulatory cells (T helpers and T suppressors). Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 128, No. 11, pp. 484–490, November, 1999     

Inhibition of IL-2-Dependent proliferation of human lymphocytes and of the expression of interleukin-2 receptors by synthetic peptide fragments of α-2 interferon

It is shown that biologically active peptides inhibit the concanavalin A-induced generation of cells which may proliferate in response to exogenous recombinant interleukin-2. Determination of the number of CD25-containing cells showed that synthetic peptides are able to lower not only the number of CD25-containing cells but the level of its expression as well. Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 117, N ^o 1, pp. 65–68, January, 1994 Presented by I. P. Ashmarin, Member of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences     

Factors influencing the immunomodulating effect of met-enkephalin: Role of mitogen dose,stage of cell activation,and time of opioid administration

Met-enkephalin in a concentration range of 10⁻¹⁵ to 10⁻⁹ M exhibited an immunomodulating effect upon concanavalin A-induced proliferation of mouse lymphocytesin vitro. The effect of met-enkephalin was shown to depend on the stage of lymphocyte activation, the time of opioid administration, and the dose of mitogen. Met-enkephalin produced the maximal effect when given in the phases of increase or decrease of the proliferative response. Met-enkephalin augmented the proliferative response to the suboptimal dose of concanavalin A and, on the contrary, inhibited the response to the optimal dose of mitogen. Administration of met-enkephalin at different times could both inhibit and stimulate proliferation depending on the stage of lymphocyte activation. An inhibitory effect was induced by δ-class opioid ligand, while κ-ligand was responsible for stimulation. Naloxone abolished the stimulating effect of opioids. Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 119, N ^o 4, pp. 398–401, April, 1995 Presented by R. V. Petrov, Member of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences     

Polyfurancarbonic acid inhibits proliferation and induces apoptosis of cultured human T lymphocytesin vitro

Polyfurancarbonic acid dose-dependently suppresses proliferation and induces apoptosis of human peripheral blood T lymphocytesin vitro. This finding indicates its possible involvement in the pathogenesis of lymphopenia during chronic renal failure. Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 127, No. 6, pp. 672–674, June, 1999     

Role of prostaglandins and cyclic nucleotides in the mechanism of development of drug-induced thrombocytopenia

Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 115, N ^o 4, pp. 354–356, April, 1993