Experimental Substantiation of Application of Semax as a Modulator of Immune Reaction on the Model of "Social" Stress.

We studied immunocorrecting effects of Semax (Met-Glu-His-Phe-Pro-Gly-Pro) on the model of "social" stress caused by sensory contact and intermale confrontation. Functional activity of the immune system of laboratory animals was evaluated in standard immunopharmacological tests: delayed-type hypersensitivity reaction, direct agglutination test, latex test for studying phagocytic activity of peripheral blood neutrophils, changes in differential leukocyte count, and weight of immunocompetent organs. It was found that changes in the immune response caused by "social" stress are multidirectional, which confirms the theory of stress-induced "immune imbalance". Semax acted as effective immune corrector restoring cellular and humoral immunogenesis reactions and phagocytic activity of neutrophils. This attested to the presence of immunomodulating properties in Semax and necessitates further studies in this field.

[PHENOTROPIL AS MODULATOR OF CYTOKINE LEVEL UNDER CONDITIONS OF EXPERIMENTAL IMMUNOPATHOLOGY].

We have studied the effect of phenotropil on the level of cytokines IL-1, IL-4, and IL-6 under conditions of immunosuppression induced by cyclophosphamide (150 mg/kg, single i.p. injection) and under immune system hyperreactivity caused by lipopolysaccharide (LPS of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, 100 gg/kg, single i.p. injection). The experiments were performed on 48 Wistar male rats aged 6-8 months. Each series was carried out according to similar schedule onree groups of animals: group 1, intact animals; group 2 received cyclophosphamide (series 1) or LPS (series 2); group 3 received phenotropil on the background of immunomodulators. Phenotropil (synthesized at the Department of Organic Chemistry of the A. I. Herzen St. Petersburg Pedagogical University) was administered in a dose of 25 mg/kg (i.p.) for 5 days, starting 2 days before the introduction of immune system activity modulatos. The levels of serum cytokines IL-1ß, IL-4, and IL-6 were determined by ELISA "sandwich" with the use of monoclonal antibodies (ELISA kits of BenderMedsystems company; instrument Uniplan AIRF-01 of Picon company, Moscow) at a wavelength of 450 nm. In case of immunodeficiency caused by cyclophosphamide, there was a significant decrease in IL-1ß, IL-4 and IL-6, but the introduction of phenotropil largely restored their levels. Upon stimulation with LPS, the immune response showed inc- rease in pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-ß, IL-6 and decrease in IL-4. Under these conditions, phenotropil restored the normal levels of IL-1ß, IL-6 and caused an increase in the level of IL-4.