[Effects of the nef and tat genes of the human immunodeficiency virus type I on rodent cells in vivo and in vitro]. / Vliianie genov nef i tat virusa immunodefitsita cheloveka tipa 1 na kletki gryzunov in vivo i in vitro.

The tat and nef regulatory genes of the human immunodeficiency virus type I (HIV-1) under the control of eukaryotic promoters were transferred in vivo into mice and in vitro into rat cell cultures. The development was disturbed and adenocarcinomas of the lacrimal glands and pancreas appeared in transgenic mice carrying the HIV-1 tat gene. Transfection with the tat gene altered morphology and increased proliferative activity of Rat-2 pseudonormal cells. The tat gene also induced the formation of neoplastic foci in a primary rat embryo fibroblast culture. The results obtained showed that the HIV-1 tat gene can act as an oncogene and activate the proliferation of cultured cells. Cell proportions in peripheral blood and bone marrow were altered and mitogen-induced lymphocyte proliferation was decreased in transgenic mice carrying the HIV-1 nef gene. This gene also significantly suppressed proliferation but had no effect on morphology of Rat-2 cells. Thus, the HIV-1 nef gene appeared to suppress proliferation of various animal cells.

[Experience of immunotherapy with leukinferon in the comprehensive therapy of breast cancer]. / Opyt primeneniia immunoterapii leikinferonom v kompleksnom lechenii raka molochnoi zhelezy.

Patients with breast tumors, stage IIb-IIIb, received complex treatment including radiation therapy, radical surgery and polychemotherapy. Some of them were also injected 4-40 doses of leukinferon, im, for immunocorrection. The latter treatment carried out during radiotherapy and preparation for surgery prevented lymphopenia development. Leukinferon administered during 6-8 courses of cytostatic polychemotherapy was followed by a significant rise in lymphocyte concentration. Leukinferon-treated patients, on the whole, revealed higher rates of postoperative rehabilitation, improved tolerance of rigorous treatment and lower frequency of metastatic development. A correlation was established between preoperative lymphocyte level and risk of metastasis development at later stages. No metastasis or recurrence was detected within 15-42 months in 16 patients who received leukinferon throughout the entire period of treatment.

[Leukinferon in immunological correction of acute inflammatory diseases of the abdominal organs]. / Immunokorrektsiia leikinferonom pri ostrykh vospalitel'nykh zabolevaniiakh organov briushnoi polosti.

Addition of (intramuscular+intravenous) leukinferon (LF) to the schemes for the treatment of acute peritonitis promoted a more rapid positive development of the time course of clinical signs and decreasing of leukocytosis in the presence of a pronounced tendency to normalization of the main immunological indices i. e. the counts of differential T-lymphocytes and T-helper cells. There was also activation of neutrophil phagocytic function. A rapid decrease in objective signs of endotoxicosis was recorded: the intoxication leukocytic index and the level of medium-mass molecules. In parallel with the decrease in the intoxication leukocytic index, there was a decrease in cytosis of the peritoneal exudate. The use of LF in the treatment of elderly patients with acute cholecystitis eliminated the clinical signs and normalized the main laboratory indices without surgical interventions which allowed one to make a planned operation with the minimum risk.

[Tumor necrosis factor in medicinal interferon preparations]. / Faktor nekroza opukholi v meditsinskikh preparatakh interferona.

In response to virus induction a culture of donor leukocytes alongside with interferon (IF-alpha) produced a factor of tumor necrosis (TNF). The kinetics of TNF and IF-alpha biosynthesis did not depend on the kind of IF used for priming, was rapid, with maximum production within 7-8 hours. Antibodies to IF-alpha and IF-alpha had no effect on TNF production, while antibody to TNF did not reduce IF-alpha yields. TNF in detectable titres was present in medical preparations of native IF-alpha but was absent in preparations of recombinant IF-alpha and IF-alpha as well as in an injection preparation of IF purified by chemical methods.