[Multinuclear blue copper-proteins: the evolutionary design].

The review presents both our and literature data of results of studies of pathways of evolution of the so-called multinuclear blue copper-proteins (MBCP) that have the domain organization. The MBCP are widely spread in living nature, they have been revealed in cells of archais, bacteria, and eukaryotes. Included in the MBCP composition are such different by their functions copper-proteins as oxidases, reductase, blood coagulation factors V and VIII. Most likely, MBCP have been originated from the low-molecular protein-precursor similar topologically with blue electron-transporting protein of the type of cupredoxin, as a result of action of various evolutionary mechanisms: amplification of genes, formation of protein structures by different combinations of domains, a change of size of domains, the segment elongation at the expense of the activational domain, formation and loss of various copper-binding centres, variation of amino acid ligands in such centres, the appearance of centres of binding of other proteins, glycosylation, etc.

[Cytokines as mediators of neuroimmune interactions].

Cytokines regulate numerous physiological and pathological processes in the central nervous system (CNS), i.e. they function both as immune regulators and neuromodulators. Acting upon the CNS via different ways, cytokines, mainly proinflammatory ones IL-1beta and TNF-alpha, can disturb physiological functions of the CNS, cause neurotoxic and neurodegenerative damage and stimulate IL-1beta synthesis in hypothalamus nuclei and posterior pituitary. They can produce stress-like effects upon the CNS and affect the activity of the axis hypothalamus--pituitary--adrenal glands, levels of neuropeptides in hypothalamic regions of brain, synthesis and utilization of central monoamines. These influences can implement the effects of sensitization, which enhances neuroendocrine responses to later stresses. Microglia and astrocytes, secondary messengers and interaction between hypothalamus and anterior pituitary play an important role in range of these processes as well as in the maintenance of Th1/Th2 cytokine balance.

[Immunomodulating peptides, regulation of interleukin-2 expression and its possible mechanism]. / Immunomoduliruiushchie peptidy, reguliatsiia obrazovaniia interleikina-2 i vozmozhnyi ee mekhanizm.

The influence of some immunomodulation peptides SKD, R and L on the interleukin-2 (IL-2) synthesis in T-lymphocytes and possibility of their specific interaction with nucleotide sequences of IL-2 gene were studied. It was firstly shown that peptides R and L specifically interacted with regulatory nucleotide sequences of IL-2 gene and, possibly, play a key role in the immunomodulation actions on the IL-2 production.