Abstract. Over past years, extensive studies were dedicated to pathogenetic mechanisms of HIV-associated disease. In addition to progressive decrease and dysfunction of CD4+T cells, HIV-1 infection also causes intensive defects of humoral immune links. Absence of antiviral immune control leads to infection, and this presents great obstacles when treating the disease and developing an effective vaccine against HIV-1 infection. This review article concerns some features of humoral immunity and disturbed B lymphocyte functions that are studied to lesser degree, with respect to HIV infection pathogenesis.

Abstract. Expression of endocannabinoid receptors (СВ1, СВ2) in immunocompetent cells was studied under the conditions of in vivo stimulation of immune system. Intracorporeal blood irradiation and enrichment of peripheral blood by ozone/oxygen mixture were used to stimulate immune system. It was revealed that normal amounts of mononuclear leukocytes (MLs) expressing a differentiating surface antigen for СВ2 receptor exceeded 90%. We have not detected MLs with a differentiating antigen to СВ1 receptor. In vivo stimulation of immune system caused a suppressed endocannabinoid СВ2 receptor expression on ML surface. The data provide a direct proof for involvement of endocannabinoid system in immune response regulation.

Abstract. In course of physiological pregnancy, peripheral blood CD4+T-lymphocytes normally migrate to the uterine decidual tissue. Hence, this study aimed to compare expression profiles of adhesion molecules and chemokine receptors on the surface of CD4+T-lymphocytes from peripheral blood in healthy pregnancy and in pre-eclampsia. The amounts of CD4+T-lymphocytes expressing CD184, CD119, CD192, CD197, β7 integrin, CD29, CD49d, CD11b were elevated in healthy pregnant women, as compared with non-pregnant women. The amounts of CD4+T-lymphocytes expressing CD49d, CD44, CD47, as well as intensity of CD47, CD29, CD49d, CD44, Integrin β7, CD54 expression proved to be decreased in cases of preeclampsia when compared with healthy pregnancy. This work was supported by grants ГК N 02.740.11.0711 from Russian Ministry of Education and Science, and Presidential grants НШ-3594.2010.7, МД-150.2011.7.

Abstract. We have performed a study of 117 children (106 with BА, and 11, a comparison group). Upon examination of BA patients, they exhibited high rates of pneumotropic intracellular infections more frequent is found out, in comparison with healthy children, endocellular infection pathogens, in particular, cytomegalovirus (CMV), as shown by more frequent detection of specific IgM, IgG, and detection of virus-specific DNA in sputum samples of the sick children suffering with BA. In the children with BА shedding CMV DNA with sputum, a more severe clinical course of the disease was shown, as evidenced by more frequent bronchial obstruction episodes, and more severe symptoms. Decreased levels of all lymphocyte subpopulations was revealed in the patients, but in CMV-positive children, this drop was more pronounced, and accompanied by increase in CD4+ and decrease in CD8+ subpopulations, higher levels of IgA, IgM, and IgG, as well as stronger phagocytic activity. Exacerbation of BA significantly correlates with CD8+ numbers, along with correlations between presence of anti-CMV IgG and amounts of CD16+, CD16a+ cells.

Abstract. To study immunological indices and functional activity of neutrophils in women with human papillomavirus infection (HPV), as well as their dependence on severity of cervical morphological alterations, we examined sixty-seven female patients in their reproductive age. It was found that, regardless of severity of pathological changes in uterine cervix, the women with HPV infection show decreased numbers of NK cells and CD4+ lymphocytes in peripheral blood, along with increased contents of gd T cells. In cases of combined sub-clinical infection with leukoplakia and endocervicosis, more severe disorders of cellular immunity were detectable than in CIN I and CIN II. It is assumed, that initial neoplastic processes with HPV background are accompanied by a more pronounced immune response. Meanwhile, functional activity of neutrophilic granulocytes varies in an inverse manner, being, generally, increased in common HPV infection, followed by most significant changes in CIN I and CIN II.

Abstract. Blood cell reactions to a submaximal physical load were studied in nine male athletes aged from 18 to 22 years, involved in wrestling sports. Subpopulational profiling of blood cell was performed 7, 35, and 60 min after completing the physical exercises. An absolute increase in total nucleated cells, erythrocytes, neutrophils, monocytes, and T-lymphocytes was noted in blood counts at the 7-min time-point. Both absolute and relative increases were revealed for СD16+ and СD56+ natural killer cells, CD19+ B-cells, as well as for stem-like cell population (CD34+CD133+) at this period. It is worth of mention that all the tested blood parameters returned to basal ranges within 35 min after the physical exercise was completed. We suggest that the changes in blood cell parameters observed during first minutes after the physical load may characterize a physical potential of athletes. Thus, evaluation of these indices may be used for optimizing their training efforts.

Abstract. TLR4 is a key player in signaling system of host cells. Possible role of TLR4 is actively discussed, e.g. its significance for phagocytosis. A capacity of neutrophils to engulf FITC-labeled E. coli bacteria upon activation with LPS of different origin was studied in presence of anti-TLR4 Mab’s (HTA125 clone). It was shown that, in whole blood, TLR4 does not play any essential role in engulfment of bacteria by the neutrophils. Phagocytic activity of neutrophils in blood increases increased after their priming with E. coli endotoxins. LPS from Rb. сapsulatus did not affect phagocytosis. In presence of endotoxins, the degree of TLR4 involvement in neutrophil phagocytosis depends on LPS structure.

Abstract. Influence of topical application of bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS), a Toll-like receptor 4 agonist, upon epithelization process was investigated, using a murine incisional skin wound model. It was shown that topical LPS application accelerates wound epithelization, and this process was associated with increased levels of epidermal growth factor secretion in wounded skin area.

Abstract. Amounts of several neutrophil enzymes (elastase, myeloperoxidase (MPO), MMP-2) and their local inhibitors, i.e., Clara cell protein (CC16) and HSP-70, have been determined in blood plasma from fifty-two patients with various forms of influenza A/H1N1. Sixteen patients have developed acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). In cases of uncomplicated influenza, elastase and MPO levels were shown to be increased, while MMP-2 levels did not change, along with higher contents of HSP-70 and unchanged CC16 amounts. Upon development of influenza-associated pneumonia, elastase and MPO concentrations became elevated, whereas MMP-2 levels were decreased, along with unchanged amounts of CC16 and HSP-70. In cases of ARDS development, CC16 amounts exhibited a sharp decrease. Meanwhile, contents of other proteins remained at the levels shown for pneumonia patients. It has been shown that increased concentrations of neutrophil elastase and MPO with a relative CC16 deficiency and decreased MMP-2 may represent a mechanism of pneumonia development. Decreased CC16 concentration may serve as a risk predictor of ARDS development.

Abstract. This work was aimed for studying immunity markers, especially, T-regulatory cells, in patients suffering from polypous rhinosinusitis and treated with nasal steroids, in frame of integrated preventive treatment. The study included fifteen patients of both sexes (18 to 60 years of age), and eighteen persons with difficulties of nasal breathing not associated with inflammatory events. T-regulatory cells were determined by a specific set of membrane receptors (CD4+, CD25+, CD127-). We have shown a significant reduction in T-regulatory cell contents prior to treatment, followed by their increase to normal levels in the course of therapy.

Abstract. Defensin amounts in severe forms of influenza-associated pneumonia and acute respiratory distresssyndrome is increased to a lesser degree than in pneumonias with milder clinical course. This difference may be determined by selective accumulation of defensins in areas of infectious lesions. Mean content of α-defensins in non-severe pneumonias with influenza А/H1N1 accompanied by normocytosis or leukopenia, is higher than in bacterial pneumonias with leukocytosis. High levels of defensins, along with substantially increased neutrophil counts, associated with normocytosis or leukopenia, reflect a pronounced systemic inflammatory response caused by influenza А/H1N1.

Abstract. The article presents results of immunological evaluation of 74 patients with posttraumatic osteoarthritis of knee joint, and 29 health humans. The data indicate that progression of posttraumatic inflammatory changes in joint cavity is accompanied by signs of systemic inflammation and disorders in cytokine balance. Following treatment including radon therapy, a significant trend for normalization of all the studied immunological data was observed in majority of patients. The findings provide further evidence for application of radon therapy, in order to treat patients with posttraumatic inflammatory changes of the joint cavity.

Abstract. Immunophenotype profile of lymphocytes (CD3+, CD4+ and CD8+) from peripheral blood in gastric ulcer associated with Helicobacter pylori, chronic gastritis and stomach cancer has been studied in Khakassian aboriginals and migrants. Apoptosis of peripheral blood lymphocytes was also evaluated. Some alterations of immunological indexes were revealed in patients infected with Helicobacter pylori, as compared to healthy donors and migrants. The changes were characterized by a more intense apoptotic death of lymphocytes in the patients, when compared with numbers of apoptotic cells in control group. Probable role of apoptotic events in regulation of local and system immunity in Helicobacter pylori infection is discussed.