[Chronic inflammatory and dystrophic diseases of the eye anterior segment and their association with genetic polymorphisms in workers of metallurgic industry].

The ophthalmologic investigation of workers of the two metallurgical enterprises has shown that 1045 persons (55%) from 1911 observed workers suffer chronic diseases of a forward piece of eyes. Chronic inflammatory diseases (blepharitis, conjunctivitis and blepharoconjunctivitis) are found at 28,9% of them, and dystrophic diseases (pinguecula/pterygium)--at 25,8%. Among metallurgists (1801 persons) ophthalmopathy was found in 2, 2 times more often than at persons in control group (110 observed engineers and managers). Two polymorphisms of cytochrome P450 1A1 (CYP1A1) and P-450 2E1 (CYP2E1) genes were defined in 91 workers, by the method of allele-specific polymerase chain reaction. It is revealed that CYP1A1 Ile462Val polymorphism associates with pinguecula/pterygium, raising risk of their development almost in 3 times, unlike CYP 2E1 -1293G/C polymorphism. Development of chronic inflammatory diseases is not connected with tested polymorphisms.

[Serum lactoferrin levels in children with viral hepatitis A].

Serum lactoferrin levels were studied in 79 healthy children and 80 children with viral hepatitis A in the Republic of Tyva. No statistically significant age- and gender-related differences were found in the healthy children. In viral hepatitis A, the level of the protein was shown to decrease with disease severity and to return to the normal values after 6 months.

[Alpha-2-macroglobulin ligands and their biotransport mechanisms].

Alpha-2-macroglobulin (MG) is a high-molecular weight glycoprotein that possesses a wide range of regulatory functions. Earlier it has been shown that covalent binding of MG with proteinases results in conformational transformation of MG, which enables MG to transport some additional types of cytokines linked by noncovalent interactions. The results of our study have demonstrated that the range of proteins, with the ability for additional binding with transformed MG is variable and comprises IgG, IgA, IgM, albumin, both types of lipoprotein chain, plasmin, some cytokines and even pregnancy associated alpha-2-glycoprotein (structured MG homolog). The major ligands are found to be albumin, IgG, plasmin and, to a lesser degree, lipoproteins. MG interactions with both acidic and low-alkaline proteinases contribute to neutralization of total charge of the formed complex at neutral pH, typical for internal fluids of the organism, and that the addition of low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein (LRP) increases the amount of electroneutral complexes at pH 7.4. We suppose, that this mechanism enables the transformed MG (or may be its complex with other regulatory proteins) to rapidly precipitate rapidly on cellular surface and then, after binding with LRP and secondary neutralization of the total charge under physiological pH conditions, to pass through cellular membrane and to realize its own regulatory functions.

[Level of lactoferrin in serum and cerebrospinal fluid of patients with meningitis].

Study showed 9-fold increase of concentration of lactoferrin (LF) in serum of patients with bacterial meningitis (BM) compared with normal concentration and 5-fold increase of LF concentration in patients with aseptic meningitis (AM). Level of LF in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of patients with BM and AM was 200-fold and 22-fold higher than in control group respectively. In 71% of patients with AM concentration of protein in CSF did not exceed minimal level observed in patients with BM. Level of LF in serum and CSF during treatment statistically significantly decreased. Concentration of LF (the latter is marker of neutrophilic granulocytes activation) can be used as a characteristic of acuteness and intensity of inflammatory process in central nervous system, whereas detection of LF in CSF--as additional criterion in differential diagnostics between bacterial and viral meningitis. Furthermore, repeated measurement of LF level can be useful for monitoring of disease course and assessment of effect of treatment.

[Development of acute exudative inflammation in rats upon perftoran infusion].

The effect of the perftoran--a blood replacing emulsion with multifunctional properties--on the biochemical parameters of blood serum has been studied in rats with acute exudative inflammation. It is established, that perfloran does not influence the adaptive biochemical reactions on early terms of inflammation development. At the same time, perftoran essentially reduces exudate volume, however this effect is short-time upon single infusion of the preparation.

[Specific reactions of polyfunctional proteins of the family of macroglobulins and lactoferrin with receptors and ligands in the protection of the body from pathogens].

The reactions of polyfunctional proteins alpha2-macroglobulin (MG) and lactoferrin (LF) lipoprotein-receptor protein (LRP) and different ligands (antibodies and hydrolases) for ascertaining the mechanisms of their interaction and the probable role of MG and LF in the neutralization of bacterial pathogens were under study. The binding of MG and LF with ligands, irrespective of their nature, was shown to lead to the neutralization of the complex thus formed. This mechanism of neutralization in reaction of LF with ligands was supposedly due to the antibacterial properties of this protein: multiple reactions of LF with receptor sites on the surface of pathogens neutralized the charge of the latter and facilitated phagocytosis. The interaction of LRP of immunocompetent cells with MG, in the presence of additional binding sites on its surface, made it possible for MG to effectively bind and present even heretofore unknown pathogens in the presence of hydrolases on their surface.

Effect of perftoran on macroglobulin content in the plasma and peritoneal exudate of rats with acute exudative inflammation (peritonitis).

The effect of blood substitute perftoran on the content of alpha(1)- and alpha(2)-macroglobulins in the plasma and exudate was studied in rats with acute exudative inflammation. After intravenous injection of perftoran macroglobulin content increased in the plasma, but remained unchanged in the peritoneal fluid.

[Lactoferrin and its role in the pathogenesis of tick-borne encephalitis]. / Laktoferrin i ego diagnosticheskaia rol' pri kleshchevom éntsefalite.

The content of lactoferrin (LF) was studied in the liquor and blood of patients with tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) of the meningeal and focal types; additionally, the information density of the discussed parameter was assessed for evaluating the severity and degree of the inflammation process in the central nervous system (CNS). The LF level was determined in liquor of 37 samples obtained from TBE patients (main group) and of 10 persons with osteochondrosis (controls); it was also determined in the serum taken from 21 TBE patients and from 40 healthy donors by using the immune-enzyme analysis. The LF concentration in TBE patients was found to exceed the normal value by 1.5-3 times during the whole observation period. As for the liquor, it was high, by the onset of the disease, by more than 20 times, however, after the 7th day it was higher 6-fold. A direct dependence of a concentration of the studied protein on a form and severity of the disease was established. The LF level in the liquor of TBE patients alongside with clinical signs can be an objective indicator of a severity and activity of the inflammation process in the CNS; it can also be a criteria of how much the conducted therapy effective is.

[Permeability of the blood-brain barrier in severe craniocerebral trauma]. / O pronitsaemosti gematoéntsefalicheskogo bar'era pri tiazheloi cherepno-mozgovoi travme.

Permeability of the blood-brain barrier was studied by comparing the molar concentrations of albumin and alpha 2-macroglobulin in the spinal fluid and blood of patients with severe brain injury. If the outcome was good, the selective permeability of the barrier was shown to be fully retained, which meant that its regulatory and protective functions remained normal. If the outcome was poor, the selective permeability changed to a greater extent and the alterations found suggested that the regulatory function of the barrier was preserved with simultaneous loss of its protective properties. More marked changes in the function of blood-brain barrier and in the protein composition of spinal fluid occurred with simultaneously elevated intracranial pressure.

[The possible role of alpha 2-macroglobulin in regulating the immune components of the brain in tick-borne encephalitis]. / Vozmozhnaia rol' al'fa 2-makroglobulina v reguliatsii immunnykh komponentov mozga pri kleshchevom éntsefalite.

In tick-borne encephalitis certain immunopathological reactions develop in the tissues of the central nervous system; alpha 2-macroglobulin may serve as the marker of the activity of these reactions. The dynamic study of liquor taken from 16 patients with the meningeal and focal forms of tick-borne encephalitis (TBE), 8 patients with severe craniocerebral traumas accompanied by meningitis and 10 patients with osteochondrosis was made. As revealed in this study, in TBE patients the level of alpha 2-macroglobulin increases 3.5-fold and remains stable during the acute period of the disease.

[Immunoenzyme method of lactoferrin analysis]. / Immunofermentnyi metod opredeleniia laktoferrina.

The authors propose a highly effective method for isolation of lactoferrin from female colostrum. Lactoferrin is measured by the sandwich enzyme immunoassay. Its concentrations in the serum, urine, amniotic and cerebrospinal fluid in health are measured. The advantages of the method for lactoferrin purification and the practical significance of this protein are discussed.

Immunoregulatory Properties of alpha(2)-Macroglobulin.

Native and modified with ammonium ions alpha(2)-macroglobulin forms exhibit similar abilities to influence proliferative activity and secretion of immunoglobulins in cultures of human blood mononuclear cells in vitro. Effects of modified with ammonium ions alpha(2)-macroglobulin were more significant than those of native alpha(2)-macroglobulin. Revealed properties of native alpha(2)-macroglobulin could be conditioned by a partial modification of its structure with endogenous proteinases or cytokines, some of which were shown to be common affinants for both forms.