[The structure of the determinants of streptococcal group A polysaccharide common to epidermal antigens to which antibodies are formed at different stages of the rheumatic process]. / Struktura determinant polisakharida streptokokkov gruppy A, obshchikh s antigenami epidermisa, k kotorym obrazuiutsia antitela na raznykh stadiiakh revmaticheskogo protsessa.

Several epidermal antigens containing carbohydrate determinants (DT), common with those of group A streptococcal polysaccharide (A-PS), were identified: basal-cell antigen (1), antigens of the cytoplasm (2) and perinuclear zone (3) of the cells of the differentiated epidermal layers, as well as antigen characteristic of all layers of skin epithelium (4). As shown for the first time, in addition to N-acetyl-D-glucosamine, cross-reacting DT of A-PS, antibodies to which were detected in rheumatism, also contained the remnants of rhamnose joined by bonds 1=> 2 and/or 1=>3. At the same time DT, common for A-PS and antigen 1, was found to contain N-acetylflucosamine and residues of rhamnose, joined by bond 1 reversible 2. N-acetylglucosamine was also contained in DT of A-PS, common with antigen 3. In addition, the epitopes of antigens 2 and 4, cross-reacting with A-PS, seemed to contain no N-acetylglucosamine and were characterized by some specific features of rhamnosides which they contained. It was at interest that at different stages of the rheumatism, simultaneously with autoantibodies having the same specificity, autoantibodies to different epidermal antigens were detected in the blood of patients. The determination of the spectrum of autoantibodies to epidermal antigens may be used both for diagnostic purposes and for the prognostication of the course of the rheumatism.

[The effect of streptococcal group A polysaccharide on PHA-induced T-cell proliferation]. / Vliianie polisakharida streptokokka gruppy A na proliferatsiiu T-kletok, indutsirovannuiu FGA.

The influence of group A streptococcal polysaccharide (A-PS) on the proliferation and functional activity of subpopulations CD4+ and CD8+ of human peripheral blood lymphocytes has been studied. As revealed in this study, A-PS, though having no mitogenic activity of its own, is capable of influencing the process of proliferation of two main T-cell subpopulations in the presence of PHA. Its action has a regulatory character and is manifested by the maintenance of the ration of lymphocytes CD4+ and CD8+ in the culture at a constant level (approximating 1). This effect is seemingly linked with changes in the functional activity of lymphocytes in both subpopulation CD4+ and subpopulation CD8+. The detected properties of A-PS make it possible to regard it as a pathogenic factor playing an important role in immunoregulatory disturbances in diseases connected with infection caused by group A streptococcus.

[An immunomorphological study of the effect of ionizing radiation on the nonlymphoid structures of the mouse thymus using monoclonal antibodies]. / Immunomorfologicheskoe izuchenie vliianiia ioniziruiushchei radiatsii na nelimfoidnye struktury timusa myshei s pomoshch'iu monoklonal'nykh antitel.

Expression of cytoskeleton components revealed with monoclonal antibodies was increased in epithelial cells of mouse thymus one day after total gamma-irradiation with doses of 0.5-4.0 Gy, while after the doses of 10 and 15 Gy it was decreased. The antigen expression was reversed to initial level 14 days after the dose of 4 Gy; thymocyte depletion was progressed and continuous massifs of epithelial cells was formed. The oval cysts and immunoglobulin deposits were appeared in thymus two months after irradiation with the dose of 4 Gy.

[Lymphocytes with receptors to streptococcal polysaccharide group A in the thymus of rheumatism patients. Change in the response of normal thymocytes to adenosine, theophylline and decantate]. / Limfotsity s retseptorami k polisakharidu streptokokka gruppy A v timuse bol'nykh revmatizmom, izmenenie ikh reaktsii na adenozin, teofillin i dekantat normal'nykh timotsitov.

With the help of immunomodulators (adenosine, theophylline, levamisole) and decantat of 3-hour culture of normal thymocytes, the features of thymocytes with the receptor for polysaccharide of streptococcus group A(A-PSC) (R = PSC+cells) in patients with rheumatism. It has been established that in patients' thymus the quantity of lymphocytes, able to express R-PSC (predecessors of R = PSC + cells) decreased under the influence of theophylline and adenosine. The predecessors of R = PSC+thymocytes in the majority of patients with rheumatism are areactive to decantat action. Moreover R = PSC+cells in comparison with normal ones lose this receptors under it's influence.

[Determination of autoantibodies to antigens of thymic epithelial cells of clean up team workers and patients who survived acute radiation sickness at distant periods after irradiation]. / Opredelenie autoantitel k antigenam épitelial'nykh kletok timusa u likvidatorov i bol'nykh, perenesshikh ostruiu luchevuiu bolezn', v otdalennyi period posle oblucheniia.

A group of patients, suffering from sequelae of acute radiation sickness (ARS), and liquidators was studied 5 years after exposure to a complex of factors resulting from the Chernobyl A.P.S. disaster. Studied were: the antibody titres to antigens of the cytoplasm of thymus epithelial reticulum cells and to Hassall's corpuscles the levels of serum immunoglobulins M, G, A; and the content of serum alpha 1-thymosin. Patients with ARS sequelae and liquidators showed a high level and incidence of autoantibodies to antigens of cytoplasm of thymus epithelial reticulum cells and to Hassall's corpuscles. There were no significant differences between the antibody levels in the blood of patients with ARS sequelae and liquidators. The antibodies were found to belong to IgM class; there was a correlation between the serum IgM titres and the rate of the indirect immunofluorescence reaction with autoantibodies to antigens of the cytoplasm of the thymus epithelial reticulum cells. To identify autoantibodies cryostat sections of human and mouse, (CBA x C57BL/6) F1, thymus as well as the epithelial and stromal cell culture of mouse thymus can equally be used.

[The suppression of delayed hypersensitivity to BCG antigens in BALB/c mice during the production of antibodies to the rhamnose determinants of Streptococcus group A polysaccharide]. / Supressiia giperchuvstvitel'nosti zamedlennogo tipa k antigenam BTsZh u myshei linii BALB/c pri produktsii antitel k ramnoznym determinantam polisakharida streptokokka gruppy A.

The data obtained for the first time in our studies indicate that the production of antibodies to group A streptococcal polysaccharide (A-PS), one of the cross-reacting streptococcal antigens, may suppress delayed hypersensitivity (DH) to microbial antigens. The existence of sharply pronounced correlation between the suppression of DH and the presence of antibodies to the rhamnose area of A-PS in the blood of BALB/c mice immunized with the pepsin-treated culture of group A streptococci has been shown. The suppression of DH is absent in the immunized animals of the same group whose blood contains antibodies to the determinant, specific for A-PS. As revealed in this study, the effect of the suppression of antigen-specific cytotoxicity linked with DH to BCG antigens can be reproduced by mixing lymph node cells taken from these two groups of the animals. The data thus obtained are possibly linked with the activation of nonspecific T suppressors in the production of antibodies to the rhamnose determinants of A-PS in the animals immunized with streptococci. The mechanism of the newly discovered phenomenon is discussed.

[Suppression of cytotoxic cellular reactions by the production of antibodies to rhamnose determinants of streptococcal group A polysaccharide cross-reacting with antigens of the skin epithelium]. / Supressiia tsitotoksicheskikh kletochnykh reaktsii pri produktsii antitel k ramnoznym determinantam polisakharida streptokokka gruppy A, perekrestno-reagiruiushchikh s antigenami épiteliia kozhi.

By the BALB/c mice after different periods of immunization with the streptococci group A, treated with pepsin, antibodies belonging to autoantibodies to the determinants (DT) of polysaccharide (A-PS), cross-reactive (CR) with the epithelial skin cells, were investigated. In one of the mice groups, in the autologous system, on the target cells--macrophages of lymph nodes, the suppression of cytotoxic (CT) reactions was obtained. The CR are bound with the delayed type hypersensitivity appearing after the sensibilization with BCG. The suppression effect correlate (z-0.95) with the presence in the sera antibodies to the rhamnose DT'S of A-PS, which cross-react with the cells of basal and superbasal layers of skin epithelium. Antibodies to the group specific of the A-PS, cross-react only with the basal skin layer and not produce the suppression of CT reactions. It is possible that they also prevent the suppression of CT reactions, bound with the CR antibodies to the rhamnose DT-S of A-PS. The obtained data corroborate the earlier supposition that the autoantibodies to the CR DT'S of A-PS reacting with the skin epithelial cells as a rule common the thymus epithelial cells. It is possible that different IRD'S can prevent or stimulate the development of autoimmune processes by the infections with the streptococci group A.

[Characteristics of cytoplasmic antigens of cells from differentiated epidermal layers in human thymic epithelium]. / Osobennosti lokalizatsii antigenov tsitoplazmy kletok differentsirovannykh sloev épidermisa v épitelii timusa cheloveka.

It was found that donor's serum and serum of patients with rheumatic fever, erysipelas and myasthenia gravis contained autoantibodies to the cytoplasmic antigens and to the antigen of perinuclear zone of differentiated layers cells of human epidermis. Using the serum with different level of autoantibodies to these epidermal antigens it's localization in the human thymus epithelium was determined. It was shown that perinuclear antigen of differentiated epidermis cells is localized in the cytoplasm of cortical and medullar thymus epithelial cells and in the perinuclear zone of some cells in Hassall's corpuscles. The cytoplasmic antigen of differentiated epidermal cells is detected only in the cytoplasm of the Hassall's corpuscle cells. The ability of many tissues (possibly all of them) and in the first turn of epidermis to produce lymphokine along with immunomodulating properties of thymus hetero-organic antigens enables to consider these thymus antigens as a complex of immunomodulating factor proper for other tissues. These factors may provide the competence of certain T-cell subpopulations to different organ's tissues necessary for proceedings them the immunological survey both in normal and pathological conditions.

[Group A streptococcal polysaccharide--stimulator of nonspecific cytotoxic reaction in autologous system of spleen cells]. / Polisakharid streptokokka gruppy A--stimuliator nespetsificheskikh tsitotoksicheskikh reaktsii v autologicheskoi sisteme kletok selezenki.

p4 was shown the ability of group A streptococcal polysaccharide (A-PS) to stimulate nonspecific cytotoxic effect of spleen cells on autologous adherent cells (macrophages). The stimulating effect can be observed in vivo under the treatment of spleen cells with A-PS and any antigen (BSA, PPD, M-protein of group A streptococci). In the presence of antigen A-PS can induce nonspecific cytotoxic effect of normal spleen cells (mice CBA, BaLB/c) and of the mice with DHT and therefore these two immunologic phenomena do not depend on each other. Because A-PS has cross-reactive (CR) determinant with thymus epithelial antigen (factor), it can be assumed that via the CR determinant A-PS links with T-cells receptor for this thymus factor and thus realized the stimulating effect as it's functional analogue.

[The effect of immunization with Streptococcus group A on the development of delayed hypersensitivity to BCG antigens in mice of different strains]. / Vliianie immunizatsii streptokokkom gruppy A na razvitie giperchuvstvitel'nosti zamedlennogo tipa k antigenam BTsG u myshei raznykh linii.

Antibodies to group A streptococcal polysaccharide (A-PS) have been shown to appear within three weeks after the injection of group A streptococcus culture, heat-killed and treated with pepsin (A-STP), in the blood of not only BALB/c mice, but also CBA mice. As revealed in this study, in BALB/c mice antibodies are mainly active against the group-specific antigenic determinant (AD) of A-PS and in CBA mice, against the rhamnose AD of A-PS, common for streptococci of different groups. This study has revealed that the appearance of antibodies to the rhamnose AD of A-PS in the blood of CBA mice inhibits antigen-specific cytotoxicity, appearing with the development of delayed hypersensitivity to BCG antigens. This effect is not linked with the immunization of the animals with high doses of streptococci. Experiments have shown that the in vitro transfer of the inhibition of antigen-specific cytotoxicity to lymph node cells of normal BCG-sensitized animals may be carried out with lymph node cells of CBA mice, immunized with A-STP and having antibodies to the rhamnose AD of A-PS, but not with the serum containing these antibodies. The mechanisms of this effect are discussed.

[Autoantibodies to different layers of epidermis during immunization of BALB/c mice with a culture of Group A Streptococcus treated with pepsin]. / Autoantitela k razlichnym sloiam épidermisa pri immunizatsii myshei linii BALB/c kul'turoi Streptokokka gruppy A, obrabotannoi pepsinom.

As revealed in the indirect immunofluorescence test, antibodies to the cross-reacting group A streptococcal polysaccharide determinant (A-PS), common to the antigen of the basal cell layer of the epidermis, regularly occur at the end of the first cycle and disappear after further immunization of BALB/c mice with the pepsin-treated culture of group A streptococci. This model may be used for the study of antibodies to A-PS, cross-reacting with the cells of the basal layer of the epidermis, in the development of the autoimmune process linked++ with group A streptococcal infection.

[Receptors for polysaccharides of group A streptococci on human thymic lymphocytes. Stimulation of their expression by action of adenosine, theophylline and supernatant of thymocytes]. / Retseptory k polisakharidu streptokokka gruppy A na limfotsitakh timusa cheloveka. Stimuliatsiia ikh ékspressii pri deistvii adenozina, teofillina i dekantata timotsitov.

It was established by indirect immunofluorescence that thymic lymphocytes bear receptors for polysaccharide of group A streptococci (Rps). The ability of thymic lymphocytes to express Rps depends on the cAMP concentration in the cell, because the treatment of thymocytes with adenosine and theophylline increases the number of cells with Rps (Tps cells). Supernatant of thymic lymphocytes is also capable of stimulating expression of Rps. Because the A-polysaccharide has common antigenic determinant with thymus epithelium antigen it can be assumed that A-polysaccharide links with the thymocytes via receptor for this epithelial antigen. This assumption needs a detailed study in view of the hypothesis about the important role of cross-reactive antigens of group A streptococci in generating autoimmune process during rheumatic fever and other streptococcal diseases. It should also be noted that Rps may be a useful marker for identification and studying the changes of Tps subpopulation in the thymus and peripheral lymphoid organs of patient with different streptococcal diseases.

[Receptors for the secretory component on human thymic lymphocytes. Stimulation of their expression as affected by adenosine, theophylline and a thymic lymphocyte supernatant]. / Retseptory dlia sekretornogo komponenta na limfotsitakh timusa cheloveka. Stimuliatsiia ikh ékspressii pri deistvii adenozina, teofillina i dekantata limfotsitov timusa.

It has been established by indirect immunofluorescence that thymic lymphocytes bear receptors for secretory component (Rsc). The bound secretory component, i. e., in the molecule of secretory IgA, was found to react with a greater number of thymocytes than free secretory component. Such difference may indicate that T-Rsc have higher affinity to the bound secretory component than to free secretory component. However, this needs detailed investigation. The ability of thymocytes to express Rsc depends on the cellular cAMP level, as the treatment with adenosine and theophylline increases the number of cells with Rsc. Supernatant of a 3-hour thymocyte culture was also capable of stimulating the expression of Rsc. It is assumed that secretory component contained in great amounts in the thymus membrane system takes part in the differentiation of T alpha and Tsc cells of the thymus, which repopulate lymphoid organs and regulate their immune reactions. Rsc may also be useful in assessing the state of Tsc subpopulation in different pathological conditions.

[Stimulation of expression of IgM and IgG receptors on human thymus lymphocytes after treatment with lactoferrin in vitro]. / Stimuliatsiia ékspressii retseptorov dlia IgM i IgG na limfotsitakh timusa cheloveka pri deistvii laktoferrina in vitro.

It was established by immunofluorescence that lactoferrin, one of the heteroorganic thymus antigens, can stimulate the expression of Fc mu and Fcj receptors on thymus lymphocytes. The stimulating effect of lactoferrin on T mu cells is more pronounced with the level of these cells in the thymus being low. Its effect on Tj cells seems independent of their level in the thymus and may be related to their precursor differentiation. It can be assumed that one of the functions of lactoferrin in the thymus is to influence the process of differentiation of T mu and Tj cells and to regulate their level in the thymus. Lactoferrin, like other heteroorganic thymus antigens, may take part in the functional maturation of different subpopulations of thymocytes, including T mu and Tj thymus cells.

[Localization of basal cell antigen in the epithelial tissues of animals and humans detected by means of natural antibodies]. / Lokalizatsiia bazal'no-kletochnogo antigena v épitelial'nykh tkaniakh zhivotnykh i cheloveka, vyiavlennaia s pomoshch'iu estestvennykh antitel.

By means of the immunofluorescent method using rabbit serum that contains natural antibodies against the basal cell antigen of epidermis, the distribution of the antigen has been demonstrated in cells of the basal layer of all types of the stratified epithelium. The reaction is also noted in cytoplasm of the epithelial cells in the thymus and the tracheal mucous membrane. This demonstrates their histogenic affinity to stratified epithelii. The antigen studied is not species-specific, since it is revealed in the stratified epithelium of all species examined (human being, mouse, rat, guinea pig, rabbit). It is possible to use the basal cell antigen as a marker for immunomorphological reveal of epithelial cells in the thymus in the process of its physiological and pathological involution.

[Demonstration of secretory component in membrane structures of the human thymus]. / Vyiavlenie sekretornogo komponenta v membrannykh strukturakh timusa cheloveka.

A large amount of secretory component (Sc) was demonstrated in human thymus by the immunofluorescence technique. The component was found to be contained by the membranes permeating the parenhuyma and surrounding numerous tubular formations in the cortical layer of the organ under discussion. It is suggested that like other heteroorgan antigens, secretory component is involved in the formation of natural immunological tolerance, informing organ lymphocytes of the structures of the host own antigens. It is possible that in addition Sc promotes the differentiation of lymphocytes which repopulate to the lymphoid organs where serum IgA is synthesized and secretory IgA is formed.

[Bound immunoglobulins and immune complexes in the thymus of myopathy patients]. / Sviazannye immunoglobuliny i immunnye kompleksy v timuse bol'nykh miopatiei.

Profound changes in epithelial and lymphoid tissues were detected by the immunofluorescent technique in the thymus of myopathy patients. The characteristic immunomorphological manifestation indicating injuries to the thymic epithelial tissue is the sedimentation of IgG, IgA and complement in basal membranes and in the cytoplasm of adjacent poorly differentiated epithelial cells. Another remarkable sign of the changes in the thymic epithelial tissue during the disease is a sharply marked cystic degeneration of Hassall bodies, eventuating in the sedimentation of keratinized material in the internal environment of the organ. The changes in the thymic lymphoid tissue during myopathy are confirmed by the sedimentation of immune complex granules, containing IgM, IgA, IgG, and complement, in the intercellular space bordering individual groups of corticomedullar zone lymphocytes. The data obtained suggest that the thymic changes play an important part in the development and course of progressing muscle dystrophy.