Treatment with intravenous immunoglobulins (IVIG) is widely used in modern clinical practice inorder to cure different clinical disorders, including obstetric conditions. Currently, IVIGs have become drugs of  choice  for  treatment of  anti-phospholipid  syndrome  in pregnant women,  like  as  in  cases of  intrauterine cytomegalovirus infection.

Present  study  used  in  vitro  cultures  of  human  peripheral  blood  cells  (PBC) with  addition  of γ-globulins, or  their complexes with copper and zinc, or  single copper and zinc  ions. We have  shown  that, among  common  pool  of  induced  cytokines,  interleukin-18  (IL-18)  was detectable  at  a concentration  of 24.4±1.03 to 33.25±0.90 pg/ml. IL-18 production in PBC after 24h treatment with γ-globulin-zinc complexes zinc was higher by 13-19%  than  following 24-h  incubation with control proteins, or zinc  ions. Accordingly,   IL-18 production in PBC after 72-h  incubation with γ-globulin copper  complexes  was higher than with control proteins.  In parallel  to  IL-18, human  PBC  produce detectable   interferon  (IFN, up  to  32 U/ml).  We have  shown  a  strong positive correlation between  the peaks of IFN  increase,  and elevated IL-18  levels  caused  by γ-globulin-metal  complexes.  Hence,  an opportunity  for  regulation of intracellular IL-18  and  IFN  production  by  γ-globulin-metal  complexes  at  the  level  of  basal  cell  functions  was  demonstrated  in  context  of  IFNγ induction, thus causing Th1-directed shift of immune response.

In present study, the following low-MW inhibitors were used to dissect mechanisms of action for two muramyl peptide components of Polymuramyl, an immunomodulatory drug: (1) N-acetyl-D-glucosaminyl-(β1→4)-N-acetyl-D-muramoyl-L-alanyl-D-isoglutaminyl-meso-diaminopimelic acid (GMtri); (2) a dimeric   muramyl peptide (diGMtetra), wherein two monomers [N-acetyl-D-glucosaminyl-(β1→4)-N-acetyl-D-muramoyl-L-alanyl-D-isoglutaminyl-meso-diaminopimeloyl-D-alanin] are linked via an amide bond between the carboxyl group of terminal D-alanin at one monomer and the ω-amino group of meso-diaminopimelic acid at another monomer. In vitro production of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) by human macrophages stimulated with GMtri or diGMtetra was shown to be inhibited by SB203580 (a RIP2 kinase inhibitor), genistein (a protein tyrosine kinase inhibitor) and BAY 11-7082 (an IκB-kinase inhibitor). Moreover, response to diGMtetra was inhibited by dynasore (an inhibitor of clathrin-dependent endocytosis), as well as by a broad-range protease-inhibiting cocktail. Thus, activating effects upon macrophages induced by the Polymuramyl components is provided by, at least, three biological processes: (1) clathrin-dependent endocytosis; (2) peptidase-mediated processing of diGMtetra; 3) activation of a signal chain RIP2 – IκB-kinase – NF-κB transcription factor.

This investigation was aimed for studying efficacy of Betaleukin in combined therapy of influenza and flu-like respiratory diseases complicated by pneumonia, and development of inclusion criteria. Treatment with Betaleukin was significantly associated with shorter duration of catarrhal syndrome and decreased resolution terms of lung infiltrates. Usage of Betaleukin was shown to influence the levels of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines and interferons. Betaleukin is effective in patients under 50 years old, independent on initial volume of lung infiltrates. Full resolution of pneumonia treated with Betaleukin was observed in patients with initial IL-1β concentrations under 80  pg/ml, or 80-120  pg/ml, and IL-1rа concentrations of 500-1000  pg/ml in blood serum.

Present study has revealed low diagnostic value of Mantoux test with 2 TE in detection of tuberculosis in MBT-infected children, thus requiring implementation of novel methods. Detectable activity of tuberculosis infection among observed children with low tuberculin sensitivity was found in 23.8% of cases, as revealed by Diaskin test, as compared to 42.7% cases in a group with moderate sensitivity to tuberculin. As shown by radiological data it was accompanied by enlargement of intrathoracic lymphatic nodes in 14.3% and 53.0% cases, respectively. The data obtained with Diaskin probe were confirmed by a reference QuantiFERON testing in 95% cases. Parameters of diagnostic value for Diaskin test are two-fold higher than for Mantoux test with 2 TE. Positivity for Diaskin test reflects activity of tuberculosis infection which is accompanied by clear clinical signs in 67.3% cases, and, in 80% cases, it ischaracterized by enlargement of intrathoracic lymphatic nodes as based on radiologic data, thus arranging a risk group for tuberculosis morbidity in children. Appropriate recommendations for these patients include a fullscale phthisiatric assessment and administration of well justified and adequate therapy.

Diagnostics of immune functional disorders represents a systemic factor analysis of all disease features, seeking for identification of a primarily affected functional component of the system, its secondary systemic consequences and compensatory rearrangements, aiming for their subsequent correction. However,  clinically valid criteria of these disturbances are not yet determined so far.

Hence, the aim of our study was to characterize the disorders of immune system functions, as based on clinical data.

By virtue of present clinical information, we have revealed that the patients with different diseases,  during hospital treatment, exhibit a variety of immunopathological signs that may be classified into different syndromes, i.e., (1) humoral/effector deficiency; (2) macrophage/phagocyte deficiency, and, (3) hyperreactive reaginic syndrome. These disorders are mostly expressed at intermediate-to-severe degree. Upon dissecting mechanisms of their development and levels of immune system dysfunction, a particular group of combined disorders should be specified (resp., mixed and combined pathologies) that need special attention when planning efficient therapeutic programs.

Aims of study: evaluation of immunological parameters in course of sublingual allergen-specific immunotherapy with tree pollen mixture in children with hay fever.

Materials and methods: the study included one-hundred patients 5 to 18 years of age with hay fever (pollen rhinitis, rhinoconjunctivitis and/or asthma). Allergen-specific immunotherapy was administered pre-seasonally for three consecutive years. Cytokine

changes were studied in blood serum and in lavages from nasal cavity. Samples assessed before treatment and after 2^nd and 3rd courses SLIT completion.

Results: increased serum concentrations of IL-10, IFNγ, and decreased IL-4 contents were revealed in the course of treatment. No significant changes in cytokine

concentrations were detectable in nasal lavages.

Conclusions: the changes revealed correspond to a shift of T cell response profile towards Th1 pathway, thus confirming pathogenetic effects of sublingual allergen-specific

Cellular mechanisms are quite important immunological components of tumor surveillance, being, however, most vulnerable to influence of different adverse factors, including surgery-associated stress and ionizing radiation. Our study was aimed for assessing specific effects of immunotherapy upon indices of cellular immunity in patients with cervical cancer. Eighty-eight patients with cervical cancer (clinical stage I-IIA, Т1аN0M0-T2aN0M0), who underwent appropriate surgery (for IA stage), or a combined treatment, including surgery gamma-ray teletherapy (IB, IIA stages) are under study. The patients were distributed in two groups, depending on the therapy applied. Group 1 included patients subjected to surgical treatment plus and radiation therapy, Group 2 included those patients who were treated according to this protocol, with addition of a specific immunotherapy. Contents of T cells and various CD subpopulations of T-lymphocytes were identified by immunofluorescence techniques. Among patients with cervical cancer at clinical stages IA, IB, IIA, a reliable decrease in cellular immunity indices was registered, both after surgery, and during combined treatment. Introduction of specific immunotherapy to the conventional treatment schedule was associated with increase of cellular immune indices, and, in first line, the antineoplastic mechanisms (e.g., NK’s and NKT cell contents). One should point to a relatively low efficiency of this immunotherapy in combined treatment of patients with cervical cancer at IIA stage.

Правила для авторов

Указатель авторский. Указатель предметный