[[Expression of house dust mite allergens Der f1 and Der f2 in Nicotiana benthamiana leaves].

The class E immunoglobulins (IgE) is known to recognize conformational epitopes and therefore the native conformation of recombinant allergens is essential for their using in test-systems. Recombinant Dermatophagoides farinae house dust mite (HDM) allergens Der f1 and Der f2 were expressed in bacteria Escherichia coli and Nicotiana benthamiana plants. It has been shown that IgE in sera from children allergic to HDM recognizes Der f2 expressed both in E. coli and N. benthamiana. Mature form of Der f1 expressed in E. coli does not interact with IgE while the protein purified from N. benthamiana is able to recognize IgE as a native allergen.

[Fluorescent fusion proteins with 10th human fibronectin domain].

In the current paper we describe a new type of hybrid molecules including red fluorescent protein mCherry and 10th type III human fibronectin domain (10Fn3) - one of the alternative scaffold proteins which can be used for the construction of antibody mimics with various binding specificity. We have constructed different gene variants encoding for the hybrid fluorescent protein and studied their expression in Escherichia coli cells. It was shown that N-terminal position of mCherry and modification of its N-terminal amino acid sequence promotes efficientbacterial expression of the hybrid protein in the soluble form. On the basis of the proposed construction we have obtained the hybrid fluorescent protein ChIBF, containing alphaVbeta3-integrin binding vari- ant of 10Fn3, and demonstrated the possibility of its utilization for the visualization of alphaVbeta3-integrin at the surface of MDCK epithelial cells by confocal microscopy.

[Liposome formulations of combretastatin A4 and 4-arylcoumarin analog prodrugs: antitumor effect in the mouse model of breast cancer].

The antimitotic agent combretastatin A4 (CA-4) has been suggested as an antivascular agent for anticancer therapy relatively recently. To reduce systemic toxicity by means of administration in liposome formulations, in this study new lipophilic prodrugs, oleic derivatives of CA-4 and its 4-arylcoumarin analog (CA4-Ole and ArC-Ole, respectively), have been synthesized: Liposomes of 100 nm mean diameter prepared on the basis of egg phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylinositol from bakers yeast have been shown to include completely up to 10 mol. % of CA4-Ole, or 7 mol. % of ArC-Ole. Also, prodrug bearing liposomes decorated with tetrasaccharide selectin ligand Sialyl Lewis X (SiaLe(x)) have been constructed to achieve targeting to endothelium under neovascularization. The antitumor activity in vivo was studied in the model of slowly growing mouse breast cancer. Under the used dose (22 mg/kg) as well as the regimen of treatment (four injections, one per a week, starting from the appearance of palpable tumors) cytostatic CA-4 did not reveal any anticancer effect, and oppositely even stimulated tumor growth. Liposome formulations of CA4-Ole did not show such stimulation. However, to achieve pronounced antitumor effect, number of injections of liposomes should be apparently elevated. New antimitotic agent ArC revealed cytotoxic activity of only one tenth value obtained for CA-4 in vitro in the culture of human breast carcinoma cells. Nevertheless, in vivo in the mouse model of breast cancer this compound showed antitumor effect under double CA-4 equivalent dose. The results demonstrate availability of SiaLe(x)-liposomes loaded with ArC-Ole: this preparation began to inhibit tumor growth already after the second injection. It is necessary further to choose doses and regimens of administration both for ArC and liposome formulations bearing ArC-Ole.

[Antitumor activity of the plant remedy peptide extract PE-PM in a new mouse T-lymphoma/eukemia model].

A new mouse ASF-LL model of adult T-lymphoma/leukemia (ATLL) in humans was characterized by cytological, histopathological, and flow cytometry analyses. Encouraging similarities of morphological, pathological, and clinical signs were found. These included characteristic flower appearance of leukemic cells, lymphadenopathy and hepatosplenomegaly, multiple growths in the skin, urogenital tissues, lungs and pituitary gland, CD4+CD25+ phenotype of the majority of tumor cells that were selectin-L positive, a rapid clinical course, and poor response to standard chemotherapy. Plant peptides obtained from the traditional Russian herbal medicine have gradually gained considerable attention as a new source of anticancer drugs. We have tested antitumor activity of a peptide extract PE-PM obtained from a mixture of Chelidonium majus L., Inula helenium L., Equisetum arvense L. and Inonotus obliquus in new mouse T-lymphoma/leukemia model ASF-LL. Distinct antitumor activity of two local injections of the peptide extract PE-PM was detected by tumor growth inhibition and survival improvement of 33% of recipients bearing intraperitoneal form of ASF-LL.

[The participation of oxygen in the process of the interphase death of T-lymphocytes following irradiation in vivo]. / Uchastie kisloroda v protsesse interfaznoi gibels T-limfotsitov posle oblucheniia in vivo.

The ability of lymphocytes to inhibit proliferation of non-syngeneic stem cells decreases differently after exposure in vivo and in vitro. The causes of the observed differences and the mechanism of radiation impairment of this function under different irradiation conditions have been investigated. Cells exposed in vivo die in the interphase irreversibly. The newly formed lymphocytes start the repair process as late as one month after irradiation. The injury to in vivo exposed cells is severer due to the presence of oxygen in tissues. A definite time interval is needed for the damaging effect of oxygen radicals to be implemented: the effect is maximum as early as 4 h following irradiation. With in vivo exposure under hypoxic conditions the functional activity of lymphocytes is the same as that of lymphocytes irradiated in vitro with the same dose. In vitro irradiation of lymphocytes at a high oxygen content causes a decrease in the functional activity of cells.

[The role of the serum interleukin-2 inhibitor in the rejection of allogeneic hematopoietic tissue in sublethally irradiated mice]. / Rol' syvorotochnogo ingibitora interleikina-2 v protsesse ottorzheniiaallogennoi krovetvornoi tkani v organizme subletal'no obluchennykh myshei.

The influence of ionizing radiation (5 Gy) on the interleukin-2 inhibitor in mouse serum has been investigated. It has been shown that the concentration of IL-2 inhibitor decreases on days 3-6 and increases considerably on days 10-15 after irradiation. A correlation has been found between the number of T-helpers in spleens of exposed allogenic chimeras and low IL-2 inhibitor content of serum. An attempt has been made to use the increased IL-2 inhibitor level for improving the acceptance of allogenic cells in the sublethally exposed mice.

[Effect of administration of allogeneic lymphocytes on the survival of sublethally irradiated mice]. / Vliianie vvedeniia allogennykh limfotsitov na vyzhivanie subletal'no obluchennykh myshei.

The administration of allogenic (CBA----C57B1/6) and semi-allogenic (CBA----F1) lymphocytes to sublethally exposed recipient mice either stimulates or inactivates endogenous colony-formation depending on the dose of lymphocytes administered. The stimulation of endogenous colony-formation correlates with the increased survival rate after radiation doses that decrease the survival rate of the control recipients.