[Preclinical study of immunocorrection action of the sum of active substances of Coluria geoides (Pall.) Ledeb. (Rosaceae)].

A preclinical study of the immunocorrection action of the sum of active substances isolated from ethereal-oil plants Coluria geoides (Pall.) Ledeb. (Rosaceae family) with respect to experimental immunodeficiency showed that preparations relieve symptoms of immunodeficiency caused by the administration of cyclophosphan: suppressed synthesis of anti-erythrocyte antibodies (agglutinine) and proliferative processes in the spleen. Under the influence of C. geoides preparations, the absolute numbers of cariocytes and antibody forming cells in spleen significantly increased (compared to the group of animals with experimental immunodeficiency) and in some cases reached the background level. The drugs studied produced a more pronounced stimulating effect on the synthesis of specific immunoglobulins and proliferation of antibody forming cells of spleen as compared to the effect of Echinacea tincture. Preparation C-2 (extract from underground organs and grass of C. geoides obtained by percolation method with 70% ethanol) is most promising for in-depth research and the development of new effective drugs with immunocorrecting properties.

[New promising natural immunocorrective agents].

The influence of Sorbus sibirica, Calendula officinalis and Althaea officinalis extracts on the humoral immune response and nonspecific resistance of mice to immunosuppression by cyclophosphan was studied. It was shown that these extracts are not inferior to Echinacea purpurea tincture in terms of stimulation of humoral immune response, phagocytic and bactericidal activity of peritoneal macrophages but exceed effect of E. purpurea on phagocytic activity of peripheral blood neutrophils.

Immunodeficiency disorders in horses.

Immunodeficiencies are characterized as primary (genetic) or secondary (acquired). Primary immunodeficiencies are relatively uncommon; however, clinically, they present a significant challenge to the practitioner, especially if the underlying disorder goes unrecognized. Secondary immunodeficiencies may present at any age, but failure of passive transfer in neonatal foals is most commonly encountered. This article provides a general overview of clinical signs and diagnosis of primary and secondary immunodeficiencies currently recognized in horses.

Combined immunodeficiency associated with increased apoptosis of lymphocytes and radiosensitivity fibroblasts.

Severe immunodeficiency characterized by lymphopenia was found in two siblings, one of whom was examined in detail. The calcium flux, pattern of tyrosine phosphorylation of proteins, and interleukin 2 (IL-2) production and proliferation in response to mitogens suggested that the peripheral blood T cells activated normally. The peripheral blood T cells were shown to have an activated phenotype with increased expression of CD45RO+ and CD95/Fas. Increased spontaneous apoptosis occurred in unstimulated lymphocyte cultures. The elevated apoptosis was not due to alterations in expression or to mutations in Bcl-2, Bcl-X(L), or Flip, nor could the spontaneous apoptosis be prevented by blocking Fas, suggesting that it was independent of Fas signaling. This is the first inherited combined immunodeficiency associated with impaired lymphocyte survival. Fibroblasts derived from the patient showed appreciable radiosensitivity in clonal assays, but apoptosis was not elevated. Our results show that the fibroblasts represent a new radiosensitive phenotype not associated with cell cycle checkpoint defects, V(D)J recombination defects, or elevated chromosome breakage. We suggest that the affected gene plays a role in an undetermined damage response mechanism that results in elevated spontaneous apoptosis in lymphoid cells and radiosensitivity in fibroblasts.

[A cytomorphological basis for the correction of radiation-induced immunodeficiencies and hematopoietic depression using thymus and bone marrow peptides]. / Tsitomorfologicheskoe obosnovanie korrektsii radiatsionnykh immunodefitsitov i depressii krovetvoreniia peptidami timusa i kostnogo mozga.

The correction of radiation-induced immunodeficiency and hematopoiesis depression in clinical setting (100 patients) and in experiments (160 animals) by peptide preparations of the thymus and bone marrow (thymalin, hemalin, thymogemine and synthetic thymalin analog thymogen) has been studied. Administration of the bone marrow and thymus recovery of damage to the thymus, bone marrow, spleen and lymph nodes, improved the function of circulating neutrophilic granulocytes. Thymalin was able to compensate for immune disturbances and reduce manifestations of asthenia.

[The effect of a synthetic thymus peptide (thymogen) on the immune system in candidiasis under immunodepression]. / Vliianie sinteticheskogo peptida timusa (timogena) na immunnuiu sistemu pri kandidoze v usloviiakh immunodepressii.

Experimental candidiasis developing against the background of the secondary immunodeficiency is described. After thymogen injections the course of candidiasis proceeds less severely, this suggesting that thymogen activates the immunocompetent system, including thymus, favouring the disappearance of the fungal infection.

[Myelopeptide correction of the differentiation of hematopoietic precursor cells in mice with experimental T-immunodeficiency]. / Korrektsiia mielopeptidami differentsirovki krovetvornykh kletok-predshestvennikov u myshei s éksperimental'nym T-immunodefitsitom.

The influence of myelopeptides on differentiation of bone marrow haemopoietic precursors cells in thymectomized and normal mice has been studied in vivo. The introduction of myelopeptides decreased the number of erythroid (E) colonies and increased that of granulocytic ones (G). This results in the decrease of initially raised E/G ratio in thymectomized mice (from 4.3) down to 1.3). Myelopeptides exerted no influence on haemopoietic precursors in normal mice (E/G-2.0).