[Immunoregulatory proteins and cytokines in the blood of patients with Graves' disease].

BACKGROUND: Immunoregulatory proteins (alpha-2-macroglobulin, lactoferrin) actively participate in inflammatory and autoimmune processes, affect synthesis and transport of hormones and cytokines, and control cell proliferation and apoptosis. However, the role of these proteins in the pathogenesis of Graves' disease (GD) is poorly understood. Objective - the study objective was to determine blood levels of alpha-2-macroglobulin (α2-MG), lactoferrin (LF), and cytokines (TNF-α, IL-6, IL-8, and IFN-γ) in GD. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We determined blood levels of TSH, free T4, TSH receptor antibodies, TNF-α, IL-6, IL-8, IFN-γ, and LF by ELISA as well as α2-MG by quantitative rocket immunoelectrophoresis in 50 patients with decompensated and compensated (4-6 months and 1.5-2 years after treatment onset) GD and 25 healthy females (control group). RESULTS: GD clinically manifested by body weight l in 84% of patients, sinus tachycardia in almost all patients, paroxysmal atrial fibrillation in 18% of cases, endocrine ophthalmopathy in 12% of patients, and neurological changes. In decompensated GD, there was a statistically significant increase in levels of IFN-γ, IL-6, and α2-MG and an especially significant increase in levels of IL-8 and LF. At 4-6 months after treatment onset, clinical manifestations were stopped in all patients, levels of IL-6 and α2-MG decreased, but the concentrations of TSH receptor antibodies (TSHR-Abs), IL-8, IFN-γ, and LF remained elevated. At 1.5-2 years, levels of the studied proteins and cytokines did not differ from those in the control group. CONCLUSION: An increase in blood levels of IL-8, LF, IL-6, and α2-MG in incident or recurrent GD and a decrease in the levels during treatment confirm involvement of immunoregulatory proteins in pathogenesis of the disease.

[Group preventive consultation of the population concerning nutrition. Experience of School of the balanced nutrition founded on the basis of the Health center].

The development of the program of group preventive consultation of visitors of the centers of health concerning nutrition and assessment of its efficiency was the purpose of the work. The analysis of the results of inspection of 2569 visitors of the Health сenter at the age of 18­78 years and randomized, open, cross research of 242 women (27­72 years old) who passed group preventive consultation in the Center of health at «School of a balanced nutrition ¼ were carried out. Anthropometrical data and the actual nutrition with use of the computer program «Analysis of the Person Nutrition¼ were studied. The study of nutritional status of 242 women with different body mass revealed an excess consumption of fats and carbohydrates, dietary energy supply in obese. Basing on the structural features of patient's nutrition the School nutrition program was developed. Сomparing of laboratory, diagnostic and resource capabilities of Health сenter with algorithm of overweight and obesity patients treatment has shown wide opportunities of Health сenter, not only in the diagnosis (the study of nutrient, metabolic status), but also in the complex treatment of patients with different body mass. Due to group preventive counseling in the School of a balanced nutrition the efficiency of such an approach contributed 1-month weight loss (2.18±1.28 kg) in 64.4% of the participants.

[The concentrations of certain cytokins and lactoferrin in blood and supernatants of cell cultures in patients with autoimmune thyroiditis].

The analysis was applied to serum and supernatants of day cultures of blood cells of patients with autoimmune thyroiditis and healthy women to determine the content of cytokins (IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha, IL-beta, IL-6, IL-10, L-17) and lactoferrin. The test-system "Cytokin-Stimul-Best" was applied. It is established that in patients with autoimmune thyroiditis the proliferative response of cells to mitogen stimulation is lowered in vitro: the levels of alpha-tumor necrosis factor interleikin-6, lactoferrin. The stimulation index of alpha-tumor necrosis factor, interleikin-6, 1beta, 10 and interferon was statistically reliably lower in supernatants of mitogen stimulated cultures of cells of patients with autoimmune thyroiditis as compared with indicators of healthy women.

[Hormones, cytokines and macroglobulines in blood of women with autoimmune thyroid diseases].

AIM: To study proportions of hormones, cytokines and macroglobulins in autoimmune thyroid diseases. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Participants of the study were 28 females aged 43 +/- 5 years with diffuse toxic goiter (DTG), 31 females aged 41 +/- 6 years with autoimmune thyroiditis (AIT) and 26 controls (n = 26) free of thyroid pathology aged 40 +/- 4 years. DTG and AIT diagnoses were confirmed by ultrasound and laboratory examinations. RESULTS: Both autoimmune diseases were accompanied by a significant rise of serum IL-6 and fall of TNF-alpha levels vs those in the controls. In AIT interferon-gamma was higher than in DTG while in DTG alpha-2-macroglobulin rose higher but TNF-alpha reduced more than in AIT. CONCLUSION: It is suggested that an elevated level of interferon-gamma in AIT contributes to blockade of endocytosis of peptid hormones and cytokines transported by macroglobulins. Overproduction of IL-6 in DTG may be caused by deficiency of its antagonist--TNF-gamma leading to an increase in macroglobulin concentration, its gene inductor is the above interleukin.