[Role of innate immunity in tolerance induction].

This review considers the role of innate immunity in mechanisms of transplant tolerance and rejection, analyse the role of innate immunity cells (dendritic cells-DC, NK, must and other cells) in these processes, and the pathes of creation of tolerogenic DC for transplant rejection therapy and tolerance.

[The clinical experience with hepatocyte transplantation for the treatment of hepatic insufficiency].

Hepatocyte transplantation represents a supplementary strategy for treating liver diseases. Several methods including extracorporeal devices, cell transplantation and implanted tissue-engineered units were proposed as liver support before liver transplantation. The ability to repopulate the liver with healthy and disease-resistant hepatocytes opens up new possibilities for correcting genetic disorders and treating patients with chronic liver diseases. Some results of experimental and clinical therapy of liver diseases are summarized in this review.

[The cultivation of bone marrow cells and cell lines on polymeric films].

The cultivation of multipotent mesenchymal stromal bone marrow cells and cells of A-431, MDCK, Vero, 3T3 and Hep-G2 was performed on polymeric films (PVA) with different hydrophobic fatty acid residues. The cells of different types grew on these films with different intensity, but in the most cases comparable with the cultivation control on usual plastic. The examined films were nontoxic to cells and sufficiently adhesive. They did not changed pH of cultural media, were optically transparent under microscope and comfortable in the experimental work. These films can be used as a model for the artificial organ construction. The covalent binding of different fatty acids to PVA shows possibility of the adaptable changes of films properties (hydrophobity and adhesiveness), and therefore possibility of the creation of optimal conditions for different cell types attachement and growth.

[Modern technologies for engineering of bioartificial liver implants].

The liver transplantation is the most effective method for treating severe liver disease. The hepatocytes transplantation may serve as the perspective means for treating liver failure. This review analyzes the experimental approaches and perspectives on the adult hepatocytes use for the creation of implanting bioartificial liver module for hepatic failure treatment.

[The perspectives of hepatic failure treatment by stem cells].

The insufficiency of liver functions remains one of the major causes of death. The liver transplantation is the most effective method for treating severe liver diseases. The shortage of donor organs and high risk of graft rejection are the main problems for liver transplantation. Stem cells and isolated hepatocytes are alternative means for repopulating the liver after various injuries instead of liver transplantation. This review analyses the experimental and clinical advantage and perspectives on the stem cells use in clinical trials for treating hepatic failure.

[Gene and cell therapy approaches to cardiovascular and systemic diseases in modelic experiments on animals].

The therapeutic potential of gene and cell therapy in cardiovascular and systemic disease such as myocardial ishemia, postangioplasty restenosis, hypertensia, arteriosclerosis, trombogenicity, posttransplantation complications is considered.

Use of recombinant AdSV40-BetaGal adenoviral construction for monitoring of transplanted cells.

Original recombinant adenoviral construction carrying E. coli beta-galactosidase LacZ gene designed by the authors is convenient for labeling and monitoring of bone marrow mesenchymal (stromal) progenitor cells and myocardial and skin fetal cells transplanted in damaged rat tissues (in the perinecrotic zone of the myocardium and onto burnt skin surface) for their reparation. This genetic construction after pre-inactivation of endogenous beta-galactosidase allows to detect transplanted cells in the foci of injury; positive effects of transplantation on tissue reparation processes can be attributed to the presence of transplanted cells.

[Gene cellular therapy and its potential use in transplantology for preventing transplant rejection]. / Genno-kletochnaia terapiia i vozmozhnosti ee ispol'zovaniia v transplantologii dlia predotvrashcheniia reaktsii ottorzheniia transplantata.

Review considers perspectives and the main advantages in the development of the approaches to gene therapy in organ and cell transplantology. The methods of prevention in allo- and xenotransplantation by the inhibition of the recipient immune system, and the problem of specific tolerance to graft in host organism creation by mixed antigenic chimerism making by means of gene therapy methods are discussed.

[Polymerase chain reaction in diagnosis of cytomegalovirus infection in patients with organ allotransplants]. / Polimeraznaia tsepnaia reaktsiia v diagnostike tsitomegalovirusnoi infektsii u bol'nykh s allotransplantantami organov.

AIM: Investigation of potentialities of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in diagnosis of cytomegalovirus infection in recepients of allotransplants. MATERIALS AND METHODS: PCR with primers on the MIE region was used to examine the blood of recepients of the kidney, heart, hemodialysis patients, donors (199, 6, 35 and 67 subjects, respectively) for DNA of cytomegalovirus (CMV). RESULTS: CMV DNA was found in none of the donors, 95 recepients. Severity of clinical symptoms in blood carriers of CMV correlated with the level of DNA CMV (p < 0.001). 85% of those with high levels of DNA CMV (1000 per 10(5) leukocytes) had acute clinical symptoms. 15.8% of all the PCR-positive patients had no symptoms at the time of the examination. Specific antivirus ganciclovir therapy was given to 50% of PCR-positive patients and to 85% of those who had DNA CMV higher than 1000 c. per 10(5) leukocytes. The treatment resulted in a sharp fall or disappearance of DNA CMV and symptoms of CMV disease. CONCLUSION: PCR can be applied in diagnosis of CMV infection in allotransplants recepients.

[The detection of cytomegalovirus DNA by the polymerase chain reaction in different biological materials in patients with organ allografts]. / Detektsiia DNK tsitomegalovirusa metodom polimeraznoi tsepnoi reaktsii v raznykh biologicheskikh materialakh u bol'nykh s allotransplantatami organov.

Ninety-eight patients with organ allografts were examined using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Cytomegalovirus (CMV) DNA was not found in the blood of any of 67 blood donors. At least 85% patients with CMV DNA in the plasma developed CMV disease. CMV DNA was detected in leukocytes of 22 (40.7%) out of 54 patients with negative results of analysis for CMV DNA in the plasma; 16 (29.6%) of these 22 presented with clinical symptoms of CMV infection by the moment of investigation. Results of PCR analysis of blood, urine, and saliva specimens of 30 patients examined did not always coincide. DNA isolated from the urine can contain components inhibiting DNA polymerase. Blood leukocytes or whole blood are the most suitable for the diagnosis of active and symptomatic CMV-infection.

[The isolation of an antigen, species-specific in immunochemical tests, from the culture broth of yeastlike fungi in the genus Candida]. / Vydelenie antigena kul'tural'noi zhidkosti drozhzhepodobnykh gribov roda Candida, vidospetsifichnogo v immunokhimicheskikh testakh.

In this work an antigen obtained from the culture fluid of C. tropicalis strain 928 is described. The strain was cultivated in a synthetic culture medium in fermenters. The culture fluid was concentrated in cartridges and then on membranes. The concentrate was electrophoretically separated in an agar block. The isolated fraction was purified on Con-A Sepharose. The antigen thus obtained proved to be homogeneous in immunophoresis and in immunodiffusion with homologous serum to the culture fluid. In immunodiffusion and immunophoresis this purified fraction did not precipitate with sera to antigens obtained from the culture fluids of strains of other Candida species.

[Isolation of antigen-active biopolymers from Candida maltosa culture fluid for obtaining allergens of diagnostic value for examination of industrial microbiology workers]. / Vydelenie antigenoaktivnykh biopolimerov kul'tural'noi zhidkosti Candida maltosa s tsel'iu polucheniia diagnosticheski tsennykh aller- genov dlia obsledovaniia rabochikh mikrobiologicheskikh proizvodstv.

The membrane filtration technique and column gel chromatography+ (with sepharose 6B or sephacryl S-200) were used to receive fractions of KJ Candida maltosa, strain VSB 899, which were studied with highly effective liquid chromatography, immunochemical reactions and intracutaneous allergotesting on guinea-pigs sensibilized with VSB 899 live cultures. In the whole KJ strain VSB 899 concentrate, 8 components were identified, six of which had molecular masses from 350,000 to 18,000 and had no analogue in the surface antigen preparation (SAP) from the same strain of yeast-like fungi. It was shown that the SAP-related antigen determinants were present in predominantly polysaccharide-containing fractions. In intracutaneous allergotesting, chromatographic fractions with molecular masses of 50,000 and 18,000-35,000 were most manifesting. It was supposed that still further purification of the allergen will increase its specificity.

[Immunogenic properties of Clostridium perfringens type A anatheta-hemolysin]. / Izuchenie immunogennykh svoistv anateta-gemolizina Clostridium perfringens tipa A.

Guinea-pigs were immunized with anatheta-hemolysin preparations adsorbed on aluminum hydroxide, as well as with the mixture of anatheta-hemolysin and type A Cl. perfringens toxoid, purified and concentrated. Anatheta hemolysin preparations were obtained with the use of homogeneous theta hemolysin, as well theta hemolysin of various purification degrees. As a result, antatheta hemolytic guinea-pig sera capable of neutralizing 2,000-8,000 HU of theta-hemolysin were obtained. Tests made to establish the degree of protection in the immunized guinea-pigs did not show that the animals immunized with the mixture of anatheta-hemolysin and type A Cl. perfringens toxoid, purified and concentrated, had any advantages in the degree of protection over the animals immunized with the toxoid alone. But there is no doubt that this component plays a positive role under the conditions of natural gas gangrene when the hemolytic action of Cl. perfringens toxin becomes considerably pronounced.

[Isolation of the theta-hemolysin of Cl. perfringens]. / Vydelenie theta-gemolizina CL. perfringens.

Teta-hemolysine was purified from Cl. perfringens strain BP6K 28 as follows: reprecipitation in the isoelectric point of the enzyme with 2 N H2SO4 containing 15% NaCl, DEAE cellulose chromatography, gel filtration on Sephadex G-100-G75 or Bio Gel P-60--P-100, rechromatography on DEAE-Sephadex A-50 and affinity chromatography. The biological activity of homogenous teta-hemolysine, estimated by complete hemolysis of human erythrocytes, exceeded 100, 000 theta E over mg protein but the enzyme was highly labile. Molecular weight of the enzyme was 53,000 daltons.

[Ornithine transcarbamylase in Clostridium perfingens]. / Ornitintranskarbamilaza Clostrium perfringens

Five strains of A type Cl. perfringens of different titres of toxicity (BP6K, SR-12, 2836, 2910, 1) possessed a distinct activity of ornithine transcarbamylase. In cells the maximal activity of the enzyme was observed within 3-5 hrs of growth of the culture. The enzyme was partially purified and some of its physico-chemical properties were studied. Ornithine transcarbamylase was termostable. Monoiodine acetate, p-chloromercurybenzoate, semicarbazide, Hg-2+, Cu-2+ and Fe-3+ inhibited the enzymatic activity, but Mg-2+ and Ca-2+ activated the enzyme. Ornithine transcarbamylase was shown to be active in wide region of pH: from pH 6.0 to pH 9.0 and higher. Two peaks of the enzyme activity were observed: the first (a more distinct one) at pH 8.6-8.9 and the second, smaller,--at pH 6.5-6.7.