The scavenger receptors (SRs)) include > 30 different molecules structurally classified into 11 classes (A to L). They are expressed mostly on stromal macrophages, and their expression may be augmented in direct dependence with concentrations of their ligands. The SRs are heterogenous by their structure, however, being common in their functional potential. E.g., different SR classes may participate in absorption of modified low-density lipoproteins and glycated proteins, apoptotic and ageing cells, altered erythrocytes and platelets, like as a big variety of other endogenous ligands from metabolic and cellular “trash”. A common property of SRs is their participation in removal of small pathogen amounts from blood circulation, regulation of cell and tissue stress responses, ability to form complicated receptor complexes with other receptor types including integrins and toll-like receptors. Opposite to classic pattern-recognizing receptors, the SR involvement does not always elicit a pronounced cellular activation and development of pro-inflammatory cellular stress. The SR functional effects provide interactions between different physiological events and immune system, including the processes of neuroendocrine and metabolic regulation. These mechanisms provide both homeostatic stability and, likewise, act at the border of normal and pathological conditions, i.e., participating in pathogenesis of transitional processes, e.g., physiological ageing. Moreover, the SR-associated processes represent a key pathogenetic factor in different somatic diseases, e.g., those associated with low-intensity chronic inflammation, including obesity, type 2 diabetes, atherosclerosis, arterial hypertension, various neurodegenerative disorders. Similarly, the SRs are involved into the processes of cancer transformation and antitumor response, different processes of classical inflammation, from antigen presentation to the morphofunctional T cell and macrophage polarization in the inflammation foci and immunocompetent organs. SR are playing a controversial role in development of acute systemic inflammation, the main reason for lethal outcomes in the intensive care wards. Targeted effects upon the SRs represent a promising approach when treating a broad variety of diseases, whereas detection of membrane-bound and soluble SR forms could be performed by means of diagnostic and monitoring techniques in many human disorders.

The interleukin-36 (IL-36) family was discerned in the superfamily of interleukin-1 (IL-1) ten years ago. This family includes three isoforms of IL-36α, IL-36β, IL-36γ, which have pro-inflammatory activity and a specific receptor antagonist, IL-36ra, which implements anti-inflammatory function. All of them bind to the same IL-1R6 receptor. The pro-inflammatory isoforms also involve an accessory IL-1RAcP protein into signaling; resulting into conduction of a signal into the cell via the assembling heterodimer receptor. In contrast, IL-36ra inhibits the formation of a heterodimer and blocks the signal transmission. The cytokines of the IL-36 family and appropriate receptors are normally expressed on epithelial cells in barrier tissues such as the respiratory, intestinal tract and skin. Like all cytokines of the IL-1 superfamily, IL-36 is synthesized as inactive form and requires activation, but not due to caspases, but being mediated by neutrophil enzymes, such as cathepsin G, proteinase-3, and elastase, which are constantly present in barrier tissues. In this regard, IL-36 is involved in homeostasis of barrier tissues. Apparently, the IL-36 cytokine system appeared in response to the developing ability of some microorganisms to avoid immune recognition and activation of innate immune response, and, in particular, the IL-1 pro-inflammatory system. An imbalance between the pro- and anti-inflammatory pathways readily causes inflammation in the corresponding tissue. This review discusses participation of cytokines from the IL-36 family in homeostasis of barrier tissues, as well as potential role of the IL-36 family in pathogenesis of bacterial, viral, and fungal skin diseases, atopic dermatitis, autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, Sjogren's syndrome, ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease. The role of IL-36 family cytokines in the immunopathogenesis of psoriasis has been well studied. This review is presenting the modern ideas about immune pathogenesis of psoriasis. The special role of cytokines from the IL-36 family was shown both for induction of psoriatic inflammation and evolving a positive feedback loop that supports and enhances the immune component of inflammation, which leads to progression of the disease. Moreover, modern methods of treating psoriasis are discussed, in particular, a possible promising approach to IL-36 blockade, or usage of recombinant IL-36ra for the treatment of psoriatic patients. Experimental studies in this area in mice provide some grounds for optimism.

At the present time, corneal transplantation (keratoplasty) is one of the most frequent modes of solid tissue transplants in the world. Unlike other kinds of transplants, corneal grafting is often performed without tissue typing and systemic immunosuppression.

High frequency of transparent corneal engraftment (up to 90% of cases) in the absence of risk factors is due to special immunoprivileged area in the anterior eye segment (functionally, a structural aggregation of the cornea and anterior chamber, AC) accomplished by local and systemic immunoregulatory mechanisms, i.e., phenomenon of immune deviation associated with anterior chamber of the eye (ACAID), components of the internal liquid medium, a watery moisture with immunosuppressive properties, e.g., IL-1ra, TSP-1,TGF-β2, regulatory complement proteins, α-MSH (alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone), VIP (vasoactive intestinal peptide), indolamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO), calcitonin-gene-bound peptide (CGRP), somatostatin, etc.

In addition to ACAID and liquid AC components, a contribution to the maintenance of immune privilege which is extremely important for a successful outcome of keratoplasty, is provided by other mechanisms, in particular, immunologically active membrane-associated molecules of corneal endothelium, i.e., PDL-1 (Programmed death ligand 1), and sVEGFR-1, sVEGFR-2, sVEGFR-3 involved in maintaining avascularity of the corneal tissue. Disturbances of the immune privilege of the cornea promotes activation of immune recognition with switching the effector mechanisms of transplantation immunity, thus leading to subsequent development of the tissue incompatibility reaction and clouding of transplanted cornea. Graft rejection can be localized in any of the corneal cell layers, including epithelium, stroma, and endothelium. Endothelial rejection causes the most severe affection of visual functions, due to the inability of local endothelial recovery, and water accumulation due to the endothelial dysfunction.

Graft rejection is clinically characterized by edema and the presence of inflammatory cells, either circulating in the anterior chamber, or forming precipitates on the graft endothelial cells.

A number of factors are associated with an increased risk of corneal graft rejection, including the degree of inflammation and/or vascularization of the transplant bed i.e., location of the donor cornea, repeated keratoplasty, allosensitization due to other cellular transplants, including bone marrow, blood transfusions, pregnancy, etc., as well as allergic and systemic diseases.

This review article considers and systematizes the data from the literature concerning studies of the factors determining the immune privileged state of cornea, and the ACAID phenomenon, their role in development of allotolerance in corneal transplantation, highlights the main conditions required for triggering the tissue incompatibility reactions, discusses the mechanisms of allogeneic recognition and effector stage of the immune response, destruction of corneal allografts.

Recent studies have provided strong evidence that long-term ethanol consumption leads to activation the mechanisms of neuroimmune signaling. Recently, much attention has been focused on the study of toll-like receptors (Toll-like receptors, TLRs), which play one of the key roles in the mechanisms of activation of the innate immune system in brain structures subsequently ethanol consumption. It is known that the activation of TLRs leads to the release of many proinflammatory cytokines with the resulting neuroinflammatory process. There are suggestions that TLRs may also be involved in the modulation of neurotransmitter systems of the brain, thereby contributing to the formation of pathological dependence on ethanol. The goal of our work was to study the level of expression the genes of TLRs (TLR3, TLR4, TLR7) and pro-inflammatory cytokine genes (IL-1β, CCL2) in the rat brain (amygdala, hippocampus, medial entorhinal cortex, striatum) under conditions of prolonged alcoholization and on different periods of alcohol withdrawal, which was previously not studied by researchers. Prolonged alcoholization of rats with ethanol did not lead to changes in levels mRNA of TLRs in the studied structures of the rat brain, with the exception of a small increase in the level of TLR3 mRNA in the hippocampus of prolonged alcoholized rats and a slight increase in the level of TLR3 mRNA in mEC. However, gene expression of TLRs undergoes changes in all the structures of the rat brain studied by us at different periods of alcohol withdrawal. The increased level of expression of both TLRs and proinflammatory genes in the period of alcohol withdrawal in the rat brain hippocampus deserves special attention, which indicates the presence of a persistent neuroinflammatory process in this brain structure in the period of alcohol withdrawal, which is probably supported with the participation of TLR-dependent signaling. The study of the mechanisms of inflammatory process activation by TLR-dependent signaling in different brain structures can open new targets for drug exposure. Such drugs can be used in the treatment of alcoholism.

Our objective was to develop a model of systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) by chemical induction of colon injury and antibiotic-associated intestinal dysbiosis in rats with primary visceral obesity (PVO) for studies of myocardial resistance to ischemia-reperfusion injury. The experiments were performed with adult Wistar male rats with PVO under improved conditions of a conventional animal clinic. The chemically induced inflammatory colon disease (CIICD) was accomplished by intragastric administration of a mixture of broad-spectrum antimicrobial agents (AMA) for 3 days. Five days later, immunological and biochemical studies were carried out, as follows: composition of the intestinal microbiota in feces and shortchain fatty acids in blood, morphological changes in the structure of the colon, hemodynamic parameters and myocardial stability with modified Langendorff system. In PVO rats, the mass of visceral fat deposits and the content of lipopolysaccharides (LPS) in the blood were significantly increased when giving them fatcarbohydrate diet (FCD). In animals with CIICD, in addition to LPS, there was a significant increase in proinflammatory cytokine concentration (TNF, IL-8, MCP-1), and after oral administration of the AMA mixture, pronounced disturbances of food behavior and evacuatory function of gastrointestinal tract, deep destructive changes in colon, as well as qualitative and quantitative composition of intestinal microbiota with characteristics typical to the first-grade dysbiosis. High levels were shown for IL-8 cytokine only. An increase in acetic and propionic acid concentrations were shown in blood in animals with CIICD, and, to a greater extent, in rats with antibiotic-induced dysbiosis (AID). FCD was followed by significantly reduced levels of lactobacilli and bifidobacteria in colonic contents. CIICD leads to detection of Escherichia coli, and intestinal dysbiosis leads to the manifestation of Proteus. A comorbid combination of pathological changes in the immune and digestive systems caused a significant increase in the area of myocardial necrosis (by 35 percent) in isolated heart by, thus presuming decreased myocardial resistance to ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI). The SIRS model induced by chemical trauma to large intestine is aggravated by the introduction of AMAs mixture, and it is characterized by a controlled change in inflammatory markers. Deterioration of morphofunctional characteristics in isolated heart included decrease in resistance to IRI seems to correspond to acute inflammatory bowel disease with induced intestinal dysbiosis. This model can be used in experimental medicine in the field of cardiology, endomicroecology, gastroenterology, and immunology.

Secondary bacterial infections after influenza virus infection further increase morbidity and mortality due to influenza. Despite of seasonal influenza vaccination, antiviral drugs and antibiotics are widely used in viral/bacterial pneumonia therapy. Therefore, further comprehensive study of the infection pathogenesis is relevant. Murine models for influenza virus infection were reproduced with different virus subtypes A/California/04/2009MA (pandemic H1N1 2009), A/Puerto Rico/8/34 (H1N1) and A/Aichi/2/69 (H3N2), Anadyr/177/2009 (H1N1) and for post-influenza bacterial pneumonia caused by the Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus. After the infection occurs, its pathogenic features were detected by daily monitoring the mortality (survival) and morbidity rate (body weight loss) and, in addition, viral pathogenesis also was evaluated by assessing virus replication (viral titer) and humoral immune responses (production of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines) in respiratory tract of infected mice including during antiviral (oseltamivir) and antibacterial (cefuroxime) therapy. Mortality and virus titer in the infected mice did not differ significantly between the groups of different influenza A virus subtypes. However, production of cytokines (IL-10, IFNg, TNFa) and weight gain proved to be different. Mortality of the mice reached 100% after secondary bacterial infection, whereas IFNg and TNFa levels in mice lung increased reached maximal values in the treated groups. Viral subtype A/California/04/2009MA of influenza A was most pathogenic in mouse model of secondary bacterial pneumonia. Antiviral and antibacterial treatment caused a decrease in mortality, reduced viral titers in lungs, and retain body weight gain of mice. According to these points, the treatment groups did not significantly differ from each other. At the same time, it should be noted that the cytokine production significantly decreased in the treated groups, and IL-10 and IFNg levels in lungs were different, that may be due to therapeutic mechanisms of these drugs. Thus, antiviral therapy for influenza infection and combination therapy for viralbacterial pneumonia can be an effective tool to reduce mortality of influenza.

Bacterial lysates may produce immunoregulatory effects in the inflammatory diseases that are not directly caused by infectious agents; they may also stimulate the immune response against pathogens which are not a part of the lysate composition. Imudon® is a polyvalent bacterial lysate that is available in orodispersible tablets. However, the influence of this drug product on aseptic inflammation and immune defense against the infectious agents, the antigens of which are not contained in this preparation have not been studied so far. The aim of this study, therefore, was to determine the anti-inflammatory and immunomodulating effects of Imudon® using the models of aseptic lymphadenitis (in Wistar rats) and pneumococcal pneumonia (in Balb/c mice), i.e., the conditions not related to the specific components of the bacterial lysate. Lymphadenitis was induced in rats by administration of λ-carrageenan into a cervical lymph node via an open operative approach. Whereas pneumonia was induced in mice by administering Streptococcus pneumoniae suspension intranasally. The choice of pneumococcus was determined by the absence of pneumococcal antigens in Imudon®, i.e., it cannot be a direct inducer of adaptive immune response against pneumococcal infection. Imudon® was administered intragastrically as a crushed tablet suspension following a therapeutic-preventive regimen (for 14 days daily until the induction of inflammation and for 3 [in the lymphadenitis model] or 5 days [in the model of pneumonia] in three doses thereafter). In the lymphadenitis model, Imudon® demonstrated both local and systemic anti-inflammatory responses manifested in the reduced number of circulating leucocytes and lower TNFα levels and by ameliorated histological features of inflammation in the operated lymph node. In rats, the anti-inflammatory effect was most pronounced when the product was administered at a dose of 2.2 mg/kg (equivalent to a human therapeutic dose) and 6.6 mg/kg. In the model of pneumonia, administration of Imudon® at 4.44 mg/kg (equivalent to a human therapeutic dose) and 13.32 mg/kg demonstrated a trend towards increased survival rate as compared to the control group. On Day 5 after infection Imudon® (4.44 and 13.32 mg/kg) decreased significantly the severity of inflammation and bacterial titer in the lungs. The titer of anti-pneumococcal immunoglobulins A in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid were found to be higher in the Imudon® treated group (13.32 mg/kg) compared to control group. The results of this study showed high antiinflammatory and immunomodulatory activities of Imudon® and provided an insight into the mechanisms that underlie the clinical effects of this drug in various inflammatory diseases.

Apoptosis is the leading mechanism of pancreatic β-cell destruction in type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM). Assessment of activation apoptosis in response to stimulation with mitogen or a specific antigen is considered more significant when studying apoptosis markers in peripheral blood mononuclear cells to clarify the role of programmed cell death in pathogenesis of various diseases, since the role of apoptosis in immune response is increased in activated cells. It has been established that the stimuli that activate resting Tlymphocytes initiate apoptotic death of activated T lymphocytes. Therefore, detection of spontaneous apoptosis only is not very informative. In addition, determination of cell sensitivity to apoptosis induction makes it possible to identify relations of pathological process to the enhancement or weakening of this sensitivity. The key point in the T1DM initiation is apoptosis resistance of activated autoreactive T lymphocytes, that migrate from bloodstream to the pancreas and take an active part in destruction of the pancreatic insular structures. Despite long studies of T1DM pathogenesis, the exact causes of resistance of effector T cell clones to apoptosis remain unclear. There are no facts that answer the question: to what extent is the ability of T lymphocytes of peripheral blood to enter into apoptosis associated with severity and duration of the disease. In this regard, the aim of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness of in vitro activation-induced apoptosis of T lymphocytes in the patients with T1DM, depending on the state of compensation and duration of the disease. The features of activationinduced apoptosis have been studied in cultures of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) in the patients with T1DM. Phytohemagglutinin (PHA) and insulin were used as apoptosis inducers. Increased in vitro sensitivity of PBMC to activation-induced apoptosis was revealed in T1DM patients. The strongest apoptotic response to PHA was detected in cases of T1DM decompensation. Considering predominantly Tcells to undergo apoptosis in response to PHA stimulation, one may speak about high sensitivity of activated T lymphocytes to induced apoptosis in the patients with T1DM. The highest level of activation-induced apoptosis in response to insulin stimulation was revealed in the compensation phase of T1DM. We have found that the intensity of spontaneous and activation-induced apoptosis correlates with decompensation of the disease and the degree of β-cells secretory function disorder. In fact, strong direct correlation was observed between the percentage of hypodiploid cells and blood concentration of glucose, and the inverse correlation was shown between the number of apoptotic cells and serum levels of C-peptide. The data obtained are in accordance with the modern concept of T1DM immunopathogenesis, which includes a development of autoimmune diseases associated not only with enhanced apoptosis of target cells, but also with a defect in phagocytic clearance of apoptotic cells due to impaired efferocytosis, i.e., phagocytosis of apoptotic cells. Thus, the maximal increase in spontaneous and activation-induced apoptosis levels of peripheral blood lymphocytes during the DM-1 decompensation is explained not only by the hyperglycemia effects, but also by the secondary immune response to the so-called “late apoptotic” or “secondary necrotic” β-cells, due to their ineffective phagocytic clearance.

Stem/progenitor cells are considered an alternative method of heart failure therapy by promoting regeneration of damaged myocardium in myocardial infarction. Effectiveness of cell therapy depends on the population composition and functional activity of the cell graft, and, in turn, it depends on the conditions of microenvironment. Cultivation of stem/progenitor cells with erythropoietin stimulates proliferative potential causing in vitro resistance to hypoxia, and in vivo stimulation of angiogenesis. We aimed for assessing effects of erythropoietin upon hematopoietic cells. We studied some effects of short-term incubation of bone marrow mononuclear cells (BM-MNCs) in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) with erythropoietin upon cellular phenotype, cell cycle, apoptosis and their proliferative potential. BM-MNCs were isolated from bone marrow aspirate from patients with CHD in a density gradient, then incubated for 60 minutes with erythropoietin (33.4 IU/ml). Using flow cytometric assay of the total BM-MNCs pool, we have shown there endothelial progenitor cells at different stages of maturation and differentiation, mesenchymal stem cells are. Their total number did not exceed 30%. Short-term incubation of BM-MNCs with erythropoietin reduces expression of CD184 “homing receptor” molecules on CD34+ cells, and causes increase of CD184 on CD31+ cells in the BM-MNCs pool (p < 0.05). In addition, erythropoietin has been shown to cause a delay of CD34+ cells in the resting phase (G0G1), reduce a proportion of cells in the synthetic phase (S) and mitosis (G2/M) (p<0.05), and does not affect apoptosis, as shown by Annexin V-FITC Apoptosis Detection Kit. Erythropoietin had no significant effects on expression on BM-MNCs surface molecules involved in providing adhesion, such as CD18, CD29, CD44, CD49a, CD54, CD62E, CD146, and CD202b. MTT-method has shown that the short-term preincubation of BM-MNCs with erythropoietin contributed to a significant decrease in proliferative activity of BM-MNCs (p < 0.05). However, there was a tendency towards increased resistance of erythropoietin-pretreated BM-MNCs to oxidative stress induced by hydrogen peroxide. We have also revealed a correlation between the numbers of endothelial progenitor cells at different stages of differentiation, and numbers of hematopoietic stem cells in the total BM-MNCs pool. The number of CD34+/CD133+, CD34- / CD31+, CD45+/EpoR+, and CD34+/EpoR+ in BM-MNCs pool are dependent on the age of patients. Hence, a short-term incubation of BM-MNCs with erythropoietin promotes the cells to be retained in resting phase of the cell cycle, thus, in turn, helping to reduce proliferative potential of BM-MNCs.

Our aim was to characterize anti-EPO antibodies in serum samples of the patients treated with erythropoietin. 106 serum samples from the patients treated with erythropoietin (EPO) were collected and assayed. 134 serum samples of patients who did not receive EPO were taken for comparative analysis. The anti-EPO antibody detection was performed in ELISA test with rhEPO, by passive capture on ELISA plates, using steptavidin-biotin immunochemical system. Mouse monoclonal antibodies to human IgG, IgG1, IgG2, IgG3 and IgG4 conjugated to horseradish peroxidase were used to detect anti-EPO antibodies, and protein-A peroxidase conjugate was used for quantitative assays. Rabbit anti-human EPO polyclonal antibodies at known concentrations were used as a calibration standard. Six calibration samples at the concentration range of 16-1000 ng/ml were used to plot calibration curves. The lower detection limit was 12 ng/mL, and the quantitative detection limit was 31 ng/ml. Immunochemical capturing led to increasing of total IgG antibody detection by 3.2 times, IgG1 – by 1.1 times IgG2 – by 1.25 times, IgG3 – by 1.5 times, IgG4 – by 1.7 times. Antibodies of mixed isotype were found in most patients. IgG1 or IgG4 antibodies to EPO were determined only in 3 samples. Specific IgM was not detectable among 106 sera samples, whereas total IgG antibodies were detected in 36.8 % of cases. In 34% of sera, their presence was confirmed by detection of at least one of the subclasses. IgG1 antibody was detected in 83.3%; IgG4, in 80.6% of the samples positive for total IgG antibodies. In all cases, IgG2 and/or IgG3 were detected in presence of IgG1 or IgG4 antibodies. The antibody concentration was 3.2 to 35.5 µg/mL in sera from 28 patients, in 8 cases the level of antibodies was > 50 µg/ml, however, being below the limit of quantitative detection in 3 patients. Only 6 samples contained antibodies with avidity index of > 50%. Immunochemical capturing of the antigen led to increased sensitivity for detecting all subclasses of specific antibodies. The specific IgG antibodies to EPO were found in more than 1/3 of serum samples from the patients treated with erythropoietin. Low-avidity antibodies of IgG1 and IgG4 subclasses were determined in most cases.

When breeding minks, a lot of problems are associated with disturbances of reproduction, birth of weak offspring, metabolic disorders, weakening of immunity. Poor knowledge of the morphology of mink and lack of detailed information about their immune system is among appropriate reasons. The largest variety of antigens enter the body with food and water, through the wall of gastrointestinal tract. The first barrier to their penetration is lymphoid tissue associated with mucous membranes, thus causing changes in immune structures. Our purpose was to study the syntopia, morphology and quantitative characteristics of intestine-associated lymphoid tissue in American mink (Neovison vison). A biomaterial for the study was organocomplex of the small and large intestines from 11 American Minks at the age of 8 months, obtained from the fur farm “Vyatka” (Zonikha, Slobodsky district, Kirov region). In the walls of small and large intestines, both single and grouped lymphoid nodules are found. Single lymphoid nodules are detected in lamina propria of the mucous membrane and in the submucosa, along the entire length of the intestines, except of the ileum. Lymphoid nodules are round or oval, distributed diffusely, their density per 1 cm2 is in duodenum – 0.62±0.08; in jejunum – 1.88±0.32; in colon – 9.21±0.28; in rectum – 24.2±0.42. At the border of pyloric part between the stomach and duodenum, single lymphoid nodules form an intestinal-pyloric lymphoid ring; at the site of transition from rectum to the anal sphincter, the rectal lymphoid ring is observed. Abundance of lymphoid nodules in rectal area is associated with semi-voluntary management of animals, and retention of fecal mass in this part of intestine. By two lymphoid plaques are found in the duodenum; 6 to13, in the jejunum; one large striped (lingual) lymphoid plaque is found in the ileal wall; 1 to 3 plaques are found in the colonic wall. Presence of lymphoid plaques in colonic wall of American mink should be considered a protective/adaptive phenomenon, due to absence of coecum in the animals from Mustelid family. The revealed patterns of lymphoid tissue syntopia in American mink are associated with antigenicity of food substances and terms of their presence in the ileum, colon and rectum.

We studied sex differences lymphocytes subpopulations of peripheral blood in adult C57Bl/6 mice during acute and chronic colitis, induced with 1% DSS. We measured subpopulations of lymphocytes with flow cytometry. We showed that in the control group the female mice had statistically significantly higher values of the relative number of regulatory and cytotoxic T lymphocytes comparing to the males. During acute colitis the females showed an increase in the relative number of Thelpers and a decrease of cytotoxic Tlymphocytes, which reflects the activation of immune response. The males had a decrease in the absolute number of leukocytes, lymphocytes and cytotoxic and regulatory T lymphocytes, probably because of an increase in migration of these cells to the inflammation locus and local lymph nodes. In chronic colitis the females had a decrease in the absolute number of leukocytes, lymphocytes, T helpers, cytotoxic T lymphocytes and B lymphocytes when comparing with acute colitis. During chronic colitis the males had a decrease in the absolute number of T helpers and B lymphocytes but an increase of regulatory T cells in comparison with the control group; in comparison with acute colitis the males with chronic colitis had higher relative and absolute number of regulatory T cells. The increase of T regulatory lymphocytes is due to an increase in their proliferation rate in the thymus and increase of their migration to the inflammatory locus – the colon. Future clinical studies may be based on these results, which show that the treatment of colitis, especially with immunotropic agents, must take sex differences into account.

The objective of our study was to evaluate correlation between the immune pheno-type and activity indices of NAD (P)-dependent dehydrogenases in peripheral blood lymphocytes in young children with hypertrophy of the pharyngeal tonsil (HPT). We have examined 57 children, 1-3 years of age, with hypertrophy of the pharyngeal tonsils (HPT). The control group consisted of 35 healthy children of the same age. The numbers of CD3+, CD4+, CD8+, CD19+, CD16+/56+ lymphoid cells in peripheral blood were determined by flow cytofluorimetry technique. Activity of NAD (P)-dependant dehydrogenases in peripheral blood lymphocytes was studied using bioluminescent method as described elsewhere (А. Savchenko, L. Suntsova, 1989). Correlation analysis has revealed an increase of positive correlations, a decrease of the correlation strength, and emergence of new connections between phenotype and activity indices of NAD (P)-dependent dehydrogenases in peripheral blood lymphocytes in children with hypertrophy of pharyngeal tonsils (HPT). Specific correlation patterns between the phenotype and activity indices of NAD (P)-dependent dehydrogenases in peripheral blood lymphocytes have been revealed in children with hypertrophy of pharyngeal tonsils (HPT).

Previous studies reported some associations between IgA and IgG antibodies specific to benzo[a] pyrene (Bp), estradiol (Es) and progesterone (Pg), and breast cancer (BC) in postmenopausal women. Likewise, the individual ratios of these antibodies (IgA-Bp/IgA-Pg, IgG-Bp/IgG-Pg, IgG-Es/IgG-Pg, IgG-Es/IgG-Pg) were associated with BC. It was suggested that development of antibodies to chemical carcinogens and steroid hormones was determined by functional polymorphisms of cytokine genes. The purpose of this study was to identify the suggested associations of antibodies to Bp, Es, Pg, and their individual ratios to the following gene polymorphisms: IL1RN (rs4251961), IL1B (rs16944), IL6 (rs1800795, rs1800796, rs1554606), IL8 (rs4073), TNFA (rs1800629) and CD40 (rs6074022) detected in postmenopausal healthy women and BC patients.

The serum IgA and IgG antibodies specific to Bp, Es and Pg were studied in 470 healthy women and 995 BC patients by non-competitive solid phase immunoassay. The conjugates of Bp, Es, Pg with bovine serum albumin were used as adsorbed antigen. The goat antibodies against human IgA or IgG conjugated with horseradish peroxidase were used for the detection of bound hapten-specific antibodies. Cytokine gene polymorphisms were analyzed by the real-time PCR.

Associations between the studied antibodies and their ratios with the gene polymorphisms in IL1RN (rs4251961), IL6 (rs1800795), TNFA (rs1800629) and CD40 (rs6074022) were found in healthy women. Higher individual ratios of IgA-Bp/IgA-Pg (p = 0.0001), IgG-Bp/IgG-Pg (p < 0.0001), IgG-Es/IgG-Pg (p = 0.0003) were associated with the allele C gene IL1RN. The higher IgG-Es levels were more common in the persons with allele G gene IL6 (p = 0.007), and with C allele of CD40 gene (p = 0.005). The high IgA-Pg levels were associated with A allele gene of TNFA (p = 0.008). Associations of antibodies were found only with genes polymorphisms in CD40 (rs6074022) in BC patients. Higher IgG-Es levels were more common in persons with allele T gene CD40 (p = 0.007).

In conclusion, we revealed the participation of cytokines in immune regulation of antibody genesis for environmental chemical carcinogens and endogenous steroid hormones in healthy women and BC patients. The future investigations of antibodies specific to Bp, Es and Pg combined with the analysis genes polymorphisms in cytokines will be useful for detection of the individual hormone-dependent cancer risks in humans.

We aimed to evaluate a significance of T-bet transcription factor in bronchial asthma (BA). A total of 102 patients with BA were examined. The control group was represented by healthy subjects (21 people). The study model was represented by peripheral blood mononuclear cells isolated in a density gradient with standard method. It was found that some patients were characterized by high levels of transcription factor T-bet expression (T-bet > 1.0). The bronchial asthma patients with increased T-bet expression were moir often characterized by the severe disease, requiring therapy with systemic glucocorticoids and β2-agonists, did not have genetic predisposal for allergic diseases, the majority of them had excess body weight and concomitant morbidity (mainly, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal and endocrine disorders). The study of rs324011 polymorphism of STAT6 protein gene in these patients revealed CC and CT genotypes, mostly observed in severe BA. Moreover, they were observed in 100% patients with severe clinical course of BA. A positive correlation was found between the number of T allele presentation in loci, and BA severity (r = 0.88, p = 0.002), as well as between the distribution by genotype (CC-CT/TT), and absolute (counts per one L), and relative (%) number of eosinophils in the sputum (r = 0.79, p = 0.034). The detected associations may be referred to as “T-bet elevation syndrome”, being based on the phenomenon of “genetically determined heterogeneity of signaling system defects”. In individuals with an increased T-bet expression, a significant elevation of transcription factors STAT6 and STAT4 was also detected. Taken together, the presented data indicate that this phenomenon reflects a disturbance of the Th1 / Th2 balance, due to increase in both Th1 and Th2 transcriptional activity. Thus, the patients with bronchial asthma with increased expression of T-bet transcription factor revealed a symptom complex, which we have called “T-bet elevation syndrome” (T-bet > 1.0), which is characterized mainly by severe disease and a certain phenotype of patients. Most likely, this feature is caused by genetically determined defects of signaling systems. High T-bet expression has been observed in young patients with mild BA and can be a prognostic sign.

The preparation and study of anti-idiotypic (secondary) antibodies (Ab2) against monoclonal primary antibodies (Ab1) specific to biologically active molecules with a known structure is of great scientific and practical importance. Due to partial antigenic similarity of Ab2 and the initial antigen structures, these antibodies can be the basis of the vaccine, if the antigen usage is not possible, or is limited by law. In particular, one may create Ab2-based preparations, designed for immunization, in order to prevent and treat the drug addiction. The value of Ab2 properties increases even more if Ab1, used to obtain them, recognize different parts of the antigen molecule, which makes it possible to obtain second-generation antibodies with a wide range of specificity. In this work, the morphine-like polyclonal and monoclonal Ab2 were obtained. In each case, as the first-generation immunoglobulins for immunization, we used two murine monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) specific to different morphine derivatives: 3K11 antibodies to 3-0-carboxymethyl (CMM) and 2-p-carboxyphenylazomethyl (FAM) derivatives, as well as 6G1 antibodies to 6-hemisuccinyl derivative (GSM). After immunization of the horse with Ab1 and development of immune response, three pools of specific polyclonal antibodies were isolated from the animal blood serum: horse anti-species antibodies to the total mouse immunoglobulins (HAM); horse anti-idiotypic antibodies against 3K11 antibodies (HAM-K11), and against 6G1 antibodies (HAM-G1). In parallel, immunization of mice with 3K11 and 6G1 antibodies and fusion of obtained lymphocytes with Sp2/0 mouse myeloma cells by the Milstein-Köhler method resulted in three producers of anti-idiotypic antibodies: a clone producing mouse monoclonal Ab2 specific for mAb-6G1 (AIG1), as well as clones producing anti-mAb-3K11 antibodies (AI-K11A and AI-K11B). The physico-chemical and antigenic properties of all the Ab2 obtained were characterized. It was shown that the horse anti-idiotypic immunoglobulins not only belong to different classes, but are also polyvalent, while all monoclonal Ab2 obtained are represented by IgM immunoglobulins, being also strictly specific to the corresponding first-generation antibodies. Subsequently, the morphine-like properties of the first domestic polyclonal and monoclonal Ab2 obtained in the work will be investigated in a cellular model. Likewise, we shall study their ability to induce Ab3 as well as morphine-specific Ab1.