Regulation of human natural killer activity with autologous interferon

A study is performed of the effects of α-interferon and γ-interferon induced in 8 healthy donors and 9 patients with multiple sclerosis on thein vitro cytotoxic activity of natural killers in an autologous and allogeneic systems. The general characteristics of regulation are estimated on the basis of the results. There is found to be an inhibitor regulating the effect of interferon on natural killer activity, which is produced in parallel with interferon in response to interferon induction, the efficacy of this inhibitor being dependent on the initial natural killer activity; the inhibitor is absent in commercial interferon preparations. Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 118, N ^o 9, pp. 281–284, September, 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     

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     

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     

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     

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     

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     

Effect of recombinant interleukin-4 on immunoglobulin synthesis in a culture of mononuclear cells isolated from human peripheral blood

The effect of recombinant interleukin-4 on the synthesis of immunoglobulins is studied in a culture of mononuclear cells isolated from peripheral blood of healthy donors and patients with hay fever. It is shown that interleukin-4 stimulates production of IgE in cells of healthy donors, but not of hay fever patients, and does not affect the synthesis of other isotypes in either group. At the same time, increased cell proliferation under the influence of interleukin-4 was observed in cultured cells of both healthy donors and patients. Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 118, N ^o 10, pp. 426–428, October, 1994 Institute of Pulmonology, Ministry of Health, Moscow. (Presented by D. S. Sarkisov, Member of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences)     

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     

Effect of a micellar preparation of polyunsaturated phosphatidylcholine on platelet aggregationin vitro

Platelet aggregation was studied after incubation of cells with polyunsaturated phosphatidylcholine in platelet-rich plasma from healthy donors and coronary patients. The aggregation capacity of cells was found to be reduced after preincubation with the above drug. Statistical processing of the results using Student's and Van der Varden's tests showed more expressed effects of polyunsaturated phosphatidylcholine on cell aggregation in coronary patients than in donors. Translated fromByulleten's Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 121, N ^o 2, pp. 199–203, February, 1996 Presented by Yu. M. Lopukhin, Member of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences     

Decreased sensitivity of adenylate cyclase to sodium ions in lymphocytes of patients with arterial hypertension

Patients with arterial hypertension showed decreased sensitivity of isoproterenol-stimulated adenylate cyclase of mononuclear lymphocytes toward sodium ions compared with normotensive donors. Ouabain, an inhibitor of Na,K-ATPase, increased the half-maximal inhibition of adenylate cyclase activity by sodium ions in the cells of healthy subjects and did not change enzyme sensitivity to sodium in the lymphocytes of hypertensive patients. Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 120, N ^o 8, pp. 206–207, August, 1995 Presented by V. N. Smirnov, Member of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences     

Effect of the synthetic regulatory peptide thymohexin on the production of various classes of immunoglobulins

Some mechanisms of the immunoregulatory effect produced by the new drug thymohexin (immunophan), which contains synthetic hexapeptide as a pharmacological agent, are studied. Administration of the drug in a culture of polyclonally activated mononuclear cells from healthy donors intensifies IgM, IgG, and IgA production and inhibits IgE synthesis. Treating intact mononuclear cells with thymohexin does not significantly affect the production of immunoglobulins. The drug is found to intensify IgA synthesis in cases of genetically determined insufficiency and to suppress the production of IgE by lymphocytes in patients with atopic dermatitis. The immunoregulatory effect of the drug is shown to be mediated via cell-cell interaction in the system of transfer of thymohexin-activated mononuclears. Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 118, N ^o 10, pp. 417–420, October, 1994     

Relationship between the expression of surface markers and synthesis of immunoglobulin E by peripheral blood mononuclear cells under the influence of recombinant interleukin-4

The relationship between interleukin-4-induced synthesis of immunoglobulin E (IgE) by peripheral blood mononuclear cells of healthy donors and the expression of T- and B-cell surface differentiating markers is studied. It is demonstrated that the high level of IgE response on day 10 of culturing correlates with a higher level of expression of the T-cell activation markers HLA-DR and CD25 and a low level of expression of the low-affinity IgE receptor CD23 on the surface of B cells. Activation of T cells is interleukin-4-independent, since it occurs to an equal degree when these cells are cultured without interleukin-4. Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 118, N ^o 10, pp. 421–425, October, 1994 Presented by D. S. Sarkisov, Member of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences     

Effect of human defensins on the cytoplasmic Ca2+ content in platelets

The effect of the total fraction of human defensins (HNP-1, HNP-2, and HNP-3) on the cytoplasmic Ca²⁺ content ([Ca²⁺]_i) in the platelets of healthy donors was studied. At concentrations of 0.1–40 μg/ml and an incubation time of 10 min defensins have no effect on [Ca²⁺]_i in platelets labeled with Fura-2AM. However, at higher concentrations (100 μg/ml) they increased platelet [Ca²⁺]_i. In addition, defensins (40 μg/ml) inhibited the Ca²⁺ increase in platelets induced by thrombin, adenosine diphosphate, and the lipopolysaccharide ofS. typhimurium endotoxin. The most pronounced inhibitory effect was observed in a suspension of thrombin-stimulated platelets. It is shown that the effect of human defensins on the functional activity of platelets is due to the alterations in the intracellular Ca²⁺. Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 118, N ^o 12, pp. 600–603, December, 1994     

Functional activity of human leukocytes exposed to a hypotonic medium

This study, in which zymosan-stimulated luminol-dependent chemiluminescence of leukocytes was used to examine the osmotic resistance and functional activity of peripheral blood leukocytes from 23 patients with purulent septic lesions and 11 healthy donors before and after exposure of these cells to a hypotonic medium (0.45% NaCl), showed that this medium stimulated their spontaneous chemiluminescence while reducting their reserve capacities. The effects of the hypotonic medium on cells from the patients were more strongly marked. Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 118, N ^o 7, pp. 93–94, July, 1994 Presented by D. S. Sarkisov, Member of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences     

Time course of serotonin in platelets from patients with affective disorders

Temporal variations in platelet levels of serotonin were found to be significantly decreased in patients with endogenous affective disorders, particularly those with the bipolar type of manic-depressive psychosis. The time course of serotonin content in these cells was not affected by either the sex or the age of the patients.In vitro incubation with lithium oxybutyrate raised mean platelet serotonin levels and stabilized their fluctuation in platelets from healthy subjects but not in those from the mental patients. Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 117, N ^o 3, pp. 240–242, March, 1994 Presented by E. D. Gol'dberg, Member of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences     

An enzyme immunoassay system for neonatal screening for predisposition to allergy

A test system has been developed for rapid, simple, and reliable measurement of immunoglobulin E in umbilical blood in the range from 0 to 10 IU/ml with a sensitivity of 0.1 IU/ml. The system may be used for the detection of a predisposition to allergy at a very early age, allowing for timely measures to prevent allergic diseases. Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 120, N ^o 10, pp. 418–421, October, 1995 Presented by A. D. Ado, 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     

Antitumor activity of normal bone marrow cells

After separation of normal murine bone marrow cells in a Percoll density gradient cellular fractions with densities of 1.076 and 1.060 g/ml are capable of suppressing thein vitro growth of leukemia cells. The cytostatic activity of these fractions, however, does not surpass the level of antitumor antiproliferative activity intrinsic to intact bone marrow cells. These cells were found to be capable of joining the splenocytes, thymocytes, and lymph node cells in effector cytostatic cooperation and thus enhance the final antitumor effect. Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 120, N ^o 8, pp. 181–183, August, 1995     

Comparative analysis of progesterone and estradiol reception in human myoma

Cytosolic and plasma membrane receptors for progesterone and estradiol are studied in myomatous nodes (MN) and in histologically unaltered myometrium (HUM) against the background of myoma. The level of cytosolic receptors for both hormones is higher in the myoma cells than in the essentially healthy myometrium. In the plasma membranes the progresterone reception is reduced and the estradiol reception is unchanged compared with HUM. Translated fromByulleten' Eksperimental'noi Biologii i Meditsiny, Vol. 118, N ^o 7, pp. 33–34, July, 1994