Correlation of Radiation Response of Cervical Cancer Stem Cells with Their Initial Number before Treatment and Molecular Genetic Features of Papillomavirus Infection.

The proportion of CD44+CD24low cancer stem cells (CSC) was determined in cervical scrapings of 41 patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix before treatment and after irradiation in a total focal dose of 10 Gy. The relationship of quantitative changes in the CSC population with such parameters of papillomavirus infection as genotype, viral load, and physical status of HPV DNA (the absence or presence of HPV DNA integration into the cell genome and the degree of integration) was studied. Single- and multi-factor analysis revealed 2 independent indicators affecting the radiation response of CSC: initial number of these cells before treatment and physical status of HPV DNA. The increase in the CSC proportion after radiation exposure was observed 4.5-fold more often in patients with an initially low proportion of CSC (<3%) than that in other patients (p=0.001). The CSC proportion increased by on average 3% after irradiation in patients with complete integration of HPV 16/18 DNA and decreased by 3.8 % in patients with partial integration or no integration (p=0.03).

The Presence of Human Papillomavirus DNA Integration is Associated with Poor Clinical Results in Patients with Third-Stage Cervical Cancer.

The presence of virus DNA integration into the cell genome was studied for 47 primary HPV16-positive patients with morphologically verified stage III cervical cancer. By using ROC analysis, the patients were divided into two groups: with and without HPV DNA integration into the host cell genome. The differences between the groups by the histological type, degree of tumor differentiation, and primary response to therapy were statistically insignificant. Virus DNA integration more than 7-fold reduced 5-year relapse-free survival and 1.7-fold reduced overall survival rate in comparison with patients without HPV DNA integration (p=0.0002 and p=0.05, respectively). The relative risk of adverse outcome of the disease in patients with the presence of HPV16 DNA integration increases by 4 times over a period of less than 3 years (р=0.0006) at high AUC level. The probability of earlier progression of the disease in patients with of HPV DNA integration calculated according to the Cox proportional hazards model was 85.5% (hazard ratio 5.96; p=0.002). Thus, the results suggest that the presence of HPV16 DNA integration into the cell genome is an independent factor in predicting clinical outcome of advanced cervical cancer and can serve as an effective criterion for the individual choice of treatment tactics for the patients.

[Inhibition of Linseed Oil Autooxidation by Essential Oils and Extracts from Spice Plants].

Clove bud essential oil, extracts from ginger, pimento and black pepper, or ascorbyl palmytate were studied as natural antioxidants for the inhibition of autooxidation of polyunsaturated fatty acids in linseed oil. Different methods were used to estimate antioxidant efficiency. These methods are based on the following parameters: peroxide values; peroxide concentration; content of degradation products of unsaturated fatty acid peroxides, which acted with thiobarbituric acid; diene conjugate content; the content of volatile compounds that formed as products of unsaturated fatty acid peroxide degradation; and the composition of methyl esters of fatty acids in samples of oxidized linseed oil.

[The risk of neoplastic processes transformation in cervix uteri].

There was performed a comparative analysis of quantitative load and physical status of human papillomavirus (HPV) type 16 in groups of patients with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN)--25 people and cervical cancer (CC)--85 people. According to the analysis there were selected criteria appropriate to a combination of adverse factors that characterized HPV- infection and at the same time estimated both quantitative load and physical status of the virus: high viral load (> 6,5 lg copies of HPV DNA per 100000 cells) in episomal form or low load (< 6,5 lg copies of HPV DNA per 100000 cells) in integrated form of the virus. According to calculations a relative chance of appearing of CC in CIN patients with unfavorable combination of factors was 7,5 times higher than in other patients.

[The significance of physical status of human papillomavirus type 16 for predicting the effectiveness of invasive cervical cancer treatment].

For the 83 patients with HPV 16-cancer of the cervix (cervical cancer) I-III stages it was performed a comparative analysis of primary tumor response to therapy, the clinical outcome of the disease for 3-5 years after radical treatment and an evaluation of the possible contribution in these rates of the physical status of the virus. It was shown that total tumors regression in the early stages of the observation predominate in patients with "high-integrated" virus DNA (the degree of integration > 50%) of compared with a group of patients with episomal and "low-integrated" form of the virus, but in a distant periods (3-5 years) in the first group predominate an adverse outcome of disease. This pattern is true for tumors of stage I-III, and for less common--I-II stages. It is assumed that the integration of HPV16 DNA into the cellular genome may serve as an independent predictor of clinical outcome of cervical cancer.

[Infection with high-risk human papillomavirus and prognosis of cervical carcinoma].

Real-time polymerase chain reaction procedure was used to evaluate bioptic tumor samples from patients suffering cervical carcinoma (CC) stages I-IV. Out of 110 patients, high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) infection was identified in 98 (89.1%), HPV type 16--63, HPV type 18--10 and HPV type 45--5. One of genotypes 31.33, 35, 39, 52, 58, 59 was established in 8 and a combination of several genotypes of the virus--12 patients. Frequency of remission in CC patients associated with HPV type 16 who had survived 3 years was significantly higher than in the same category associated with HPV type 18 (p=0.03). Relapse frequency and mortality rates in patients with tumors associated with one of viruses 31.33, 35, 39, 52, 58 or 59 were higher as compared with HPV type 16--associated cases 2 years (p=0.03) or 3 years on (p=0.11), respectively. A similar trend was established for squamous-cell tumors stages 1 and 2 (p=0.07) (p=0.12), respectively. No difference was observed in efficacy of therapy for infection with one or a combination of several genotypes of high-risk HPV. Hence, the genotype of virus is believed to be a factor of prognosis in CC early cancers. However, a definitive conclusion cannot be reached until results of a larger body of evidence and longer follow-up are available.

Destabilase from the medicinal leech is a representative of a novel family of lysozymes.

Intrinsic lysozyme-like activity was demonstrated for destabilase from the medicinal leech supported by (1) high specific lysozyme activity of the highly purified destabilase, (2) specific inhibition of the lysozyme-like activity by anti-destabilase antibodies, and (3) appreciable lysozyme-like activity in insect cells infected with recombinant baculoviruses carrying cDNAs encoding different isoforms of destabilase. Several isoforms of destabilase constitute a protein family at least two members of which are characterized by lysozyme activity. The corresponding gene family implies an ancient evolutionary history of the genes although the function(s) of various lysozymes in the leech remains unclear. Differences in primary structures of the destabilase family members and members of known lysozyme families allow one to assign the former to a new family of lysozymes. New proteins homologous to destabilase were recently described for Caenorhabditis elegans and bivalve mollusks suggesting that the new lysozyme family can be widely distributed among invertebrates. It remains to be investigated whether the two enzymatic activities (isopeptidase and lysozyme-like) are attributes of one and the same protein.

Natural hidden antibodies reacting with DNA or cardiolipin bind to thymocytes and evoke their death.

Both free and hidden natural antibodies to DNA or cardiolipin were obtained from immunoglobulins of a normal donor. The free antibodies reacting with DNA or cardiolipin were isolated by means of affinity chromatography. Antibodies occurring in an hidden state were disengaged from the depleted immunoglobulins by ion-exchange chromatography and were then affinity-isolated on DNA or cardiolipin sorbents. We used flow cytometry to study the ability of free and hidden antibodies to bind to rat thymocytes. Simultaneously, plasma membrane integrity was tested by propidium iodide (PI) exclusion. The hidden antibodies reacted with 65.2 +/- 10.9% of the thymocytes and caused a fast plasma membrane disruption. Cells (28.7 +/- 7.1%) were stained with PI after incubation with the hidden antibodies for 1 h. The free antibodies bound to a very small fraction of the thymocytes and did not evoke death as compared to control without antibodies. The possible reason for the observed effects is difference in reactivity of the free and hidden antibodies to phospholipids. While free antibodies reacted preferentially with phosphotidylcholine, hidden antibodies reacted with cardiolipin and phosphotidylserine.

[Detection of Chlamydia trachomatis and Ureaplasma urealyticum by hybridization analysis using DNA-Pt((dien)Cl)Cl-probes and PCR]. / Detektsiia Chlamydia trachomatis i Ureaplasma urealyticum metodami gibridizatsionnogo analiza s ispol'zovaniem DNK-Pt((dien)Cl)Cl-zondov i PTsR-analiza.

A simple method for detecting pathogenic microorganisms in clinical samples has been developed. This method is based on identification of specific nucleotide sequences by Pt[(dien)Cl] Cl-labelled DNA probes and simultaneous immunochemical control of total DNA content in each clinical sample. Such control is provided by a simple semiquantitative enzyme-linked immunoassay using antibodies to denatured DNA; its implementation requires the same procedures, materials and solutions used in the hybridization analysis. The information about the DNA content in the sample is necessary for adequate interpretation of results of hybridization analysis. Pt[(dien)Cl]Cl for the probe and affinity antibodies to DNA-Pt[(dien)Cl] Cl and rabbit immunoglobulin antibodies conjugated to phosphatase for DNA hybrid detection were used. The results of hybridization analysis show a good correlation with those of the PCR-test. The method is simple, relatively inexpensive and fit for population monitoring.

DNA interactions of antitumor platinum(IV) complexes.

Modifications of natural DNA and synthetic double-stranded oligodeoxyribonucleotides by cis-diamminedichloro-trans-dihydroxyplatinum(IV) (oxoplatin) were studied by means of ELISA, Maxam-Gilbert footprinting techniques, HPLC of enzymically digested DNA, and transcription assay. It was found that oxoplatin can bind DNA directly without addition of a reducing agent. In addition, the antibodies elicited against DNA modified by cisplatin were not competitively inhibited by DNA modified by oxoplatin. However, DNA containing the adducts of oxoplatin became a strong inhibitor of these antibodies, if it was subsequently treated with ascorbic acid, which is a reducing agent. These results were interpreted to mean that oxoplatin can form DNA adducts containing the platinum moiety in the quadrivalent state. The direct irreversible binding of the platinum(IV) drug is, however, slow as compared to the reaction of its platinum(II) counterpart. It was also found that oxoplatin preferentially binds to guanine residues and can form DNA intrastrand and interstrand cross-links containing platinum(IV). The DNA adducts containing platinum(IV) can inhibit in vitro transcription by a prokaryotic DNA-dependent RNA polymerase. We find that the platinum(IV) complex binds to DNA at similar sites as its platinum(II) counterpart. On the other hand, the DNA adducts containing the platinum(II) or platinum(IV) analogues differ in the number of ligands and the formal charge on their platinum center. We suggest that these differences could be responsible for distinct conformational features and stability of DNA modified by platinum(II) or platinum(IV) complexes.

[Determination of DNA-binding proteins by countercurrent isotachopheresis on nitrocellulose membranes. I. Antibodies to DNA and its adducts]. / Opredelenie DNK-sviazyvaiushchikh belkov metodom protivotochnogo izotakhoforeza na nitrotselliuloznykh membranakh. I. Antitela k DNK i ee adduktam.

A very strong electroosmotic counterflow was produced on nitrocellulose membranes during isotachophoresis in a system of 0.06 M Tris-HCl (pH 6.7) as the leading electrolyte and 0.012 M Tris-beta-alanine (pII 8.6) as the terminating one. This counterflow was equal in rate and opposite in direction to the migration of the Cl-/beta-alanine boundary. The rate of counterflow was much higher than the rate of migration of any organic anions, including different proteins. Double-stranded and single-stranded DNA or its adducts were fixed on the nitrocellulose membrane, and the membrane was blocked with unrelated proteins. DNA-binding proteins, namely antibodies to DNA, followed by peroxidase-conjugated anti-IgG, were introduced into the counterflow, which transferred them one after another to the DNA spots. Thus, sequential binding and washing was performed automatically. In this way, antibodies were detected to ds- and ss-DNA, to BrdU-DNA, to Z-DNA, to biotinylated DNA and DNA modified with trans-Pt, as well as development of biotinylated DNA dots by steptavidin-peroxidase.

Electrochromatography: a method for automatic immunoaffinity chromatography on porous membranes.

Electrochromatography (ECHR) exploits a very high electro-osmotic counterflow developed in porous membranes at discontinuous electrophoresis. This counterflow exceeds considerably the anodic migration of any negatively charged protein and is used as a 'conveyer belt' for sequential transfer of immunoreagents to the specific adsorbents (antigens or antibodies) fixed on the nitrocellulose membrane. This approach was applied for simultaneous detection of two antigens (alpha-fetoprotein and carcino-embryonic antigen) in one sample, for determination of subfractions of alpha-fetoprotein, different in their epitope specificity, and for detection of L chains with certain idiotype on the background of heterogeneous L fraction. ECHR was used also for the partition of different antibodies to DNA adducts, demonstrating the possibility of applying this method to the study of DNA-binding proteins.

[Use of diethylenetriaminochloroplatinum in hybridization analysis of specific nucleic acid sequences]. / Ispol'zovanie diétilentriaminkhlorplatiny v gibridizatsionnom analize spetsificheskikh posledovatel'nostei nukleinovykh kislot.

Monofunctional platinum compound [Pt(dien)Cl] Cl and high-affinity antibodies against DNA-[Pt(dien)Cl]Cl were suggested for non-radioactive hybridisation analysis of DNA. The simple labelling procedure was based on mixing the reagents followed by the incubation for 2 h at 60 degrees C. The sensitivity and specificity of the technique were sufficient to detect 10 fg DNA in dot-hybridisation without cross-reaction with 10-fold excess of a heterologous DNA. This technique permits genome libraries screening.

Trans-diamminedichlorplatinum (II)-modified probes for detection of picogram quantities of DNA.

A novel simple nonradioactive method for detection of specific nucleotide sequences has been developed. This method consists of the hybridization of a target DNA with a DNA probe modified with trans-diamminedichlorplatinum(II) (trans-DDP) followed by detection of DNA/DNA hybrids with affinity-isolated anti-DNA-trans-DDP antibodies and poly-horseradish peroxidase-protein A conjugate. Major advantages of this approach are the low cost and the extreme simplicity of the labeling procedure, which involves only mixing of the reagents. The sensitivity of the proposed technique is sufficient to detect 0.8 pg of DNA in Southern blot hybridization and 25 fg in dot hybridization and permits colony screening.

Conversion of DNA adducts of antitumour cis-diamminedichloroplatinum(II). Immunochemical analysis.

Polyclonal antibodies that bind selectively to DNA modified by antitumour cisplatin and its analogues were isolated. The reactivity of the antibodies with the epitope was enhanced by thermal denaturation of DNA that had been modified by cisplatin before its denaturation. On the other hand, denaturation of DNA before its modification resulted in considerably less reaction of the antibodies. The conversion of monofunctional cisplatin-DNA adducts to bifunctional lesions increased the capability of the modified DNA to competitively inhibit the antibodies. The double-helical oligonucleotides containing a unique bifunctional adduct formed by cisplatin at the d(GG) site cross-reacted with the antibodies in contrast to the oligonucleotide containing a single monofunctional adduct formed at the d(G) site. In addition, poly(dG-dC) . poly(dG-dC) modified by cisplatin did not react with the antibodies. It was concluded that the antibodies recognized monodentate lesions, intrastrand cross-links between two purine nucleosides separated by one or more nucleosides and interstrand cross-links negligibly. The antibodies apparently recognized a chemical nature of the bifunctional adduct formed between two adjacent purines and not an unusual conformational feature of DNA resulting from the formation of this adduct. The antibodies were used to analyse the adducts formed by cisplatin on DNA of cultured cells exposed to this drug. During the subsequent incubation of the already exposed cells in the drug-free medium, a part of the bifunctional adducts of cisplatin was completely removed from DNA or transformed to the adducts not recognized by the antibodies.

[Tuberculosis in prisoners and persons released from penitentiary-labor establishments]. / Tuberkulez u lits, nakhodiashchikhsia v zakliuchenii i osvobozhdennykh iz ispravitel'no-trudovykh uchrezhdenii.

High tuberculosis prevalence found among the convicts of penitentiary-labour establishments 20 times exceeds that found among the adult population of the Sverdlovsk region. Constant migration of patients exists between the antituberculosis institutions of the region and penitentiary-labour establishments located on its territory. Considering the fact that adequate treatment of patients with antisocial behaviour cannot be organized in tuberculosis hospitals the problem must be solved at places of confinement.

Polyclonal antibodies elicited against trans-diamminedichloroplatinum(II)-modified DNA and their application in nonradioactive hybridization experiments.

Polyclonal antibodies that bind selectively to adducts formed with DNA by chemotherapeutically inactive trans-diamminedichloroplatinum (II) [trans-[Pt(NH3)2Cl2]) were produced by immunization with calf-thymus double-helical DNA modified by trans-[Pt(NH3)2Cl2] at a ratio of bound platinum/nucleotide (rb) of 0.1. High selectivity was obtained by separation of the antibodies from the antiserum with the aid of affinity chromatography on a Sepharose column. The antibodies were competitively inhibited in an ELISA assay by 25 pM trans-[Pt(NH3)2Cl2] bound to double-helical DNA and 2.5 pM trans-[Pt(NH3)2Cl2] bound to denatured DNA (rb = 0.1). The conversion of monofunctional adducts, formed on DNA at the early stage of its interaction with trans-[Pt(NH3)2Cl2], to bifunctional lesions, decreased the ability of the modified DNA to competitively inhibit these antibodies. They did not cross-react with unmodified, denatured DNA, but they reacted with diethylenetriamine-chloroplatinum(II)-chloride-modified double-helical DNA and with double-helical DNA treated with cis-diamminedichloroplatinum(II) for a short time (10 min). The results of this work best fit a model in which one of the major antigenic determinants of double-helical DNA modified by trans-[Pt(NH3)2Cl2] is the platinum atom coordinated in a monodentate or bidentate manner with non-paired nucleotide residues or perhaps a short segment of single-stranded DNA which occurs around the platination site. Nucleic acids modified by trans-[Pt(NH3)2Cl2] can be used as immuno-probes in hybridization experiments.