[Immune status in hiv-infected patients with candidosis].

In order to identify changes in immune status in patients with HIV infection in combination with candidosis, 52 adult patients were investigated who were divided into three groups: HIV-positives with candidosis (n=22), HIV positives without concomitant disease (n=10) and control group (n=20). Immunological investigations included immunophenotyping of lymphocytes, assessment of activity of phagocytosis by NBT test, measuring levels of immunoglobulins and circulating immune complexes in the serum. It was shown that the reduction of the absolute numbers of CD3 + and CD4 + lymphocytes is accompanied by the disturbances in humoral immunity, which are expressed by the hyperproduction of IgG, IgM, IgA antibodies. In patients from both (1st and 2nd) groups an apparent decrease of immunoregulatory index (IRI) has been revealed in comparison to the control group. In HIV-infected patients with candidosis IRI value was 0.418+/-0.06 vs. 1.6+/-0.04 in controls. Increased levels of circulating immune complexes (CIC) and decline in NBT-test parameters were also observed. Phagocytic activity measured by NBT-test was lowered twice, and the level of CIC was 80.9+/-4.5 vs. 49.2+/-1.6 in controls.

Comparative analysis of interferon and antiviral protein messenger RNAs.

A comparative analysis of interferon and antiviral protein messenger RNAs was carried out. Differences in their biological activities and sedimentation coefficients were found. In RNA preparations from superinduced cells (cells treated with poly(I).poly(C) and antimetabolites) and from cells treated with interferon, messenger RNAs possesing interferon and antiviral activities were detected. The results suggest the existence of two types of mRNA (for interferon and antiviral protein, respectively) and support the hypothetic model of interferon action via an antiviral protein.

[Increase in the antiviral resistance of cells after treating them with messenger RNA for antiviral protein]. / Povyshenie protivovirusnoi rezistentnosti kletok posle vvedeniia v nikh informatsionnoi RNK dlia antivirusnogo belka.

The authors studied antiviral resistance of murine cells L-929 following single introduction into them of homologous and heterologous informative RNA preparations for antiviral protein (i-RNA-AVP). As shown, in using homologous i-RVA-AVP preparations suppression of the virus production constituted 90--93%, and was stably traced in cell passage in the course of 1 1/2 months (observation period). Following cell contact with heterologous i-RNA-AVP preparations suppression the first 6 passages of the virus production constituted about 90%, rising by the 16th passage to 99.9%. The data obtained pointed to the possibility of stable increase of cell antiviral resistance with the aid of i-RNA-AVP, this could serve as a new effective method of nonspecific cell protection from the viruses.

[Interferonogenic and antiviral activity of the double-stranded replicative form of phage f2 RNA in tissue culture and on animals]. / Interferonogennaia i protivovirusnaia aktivnost' dvunitevoi replikativnoi formy RNK faga f2 v kul'ture tkani i na zhivotnykh.

Biological activity of a new natural interferon inductor, the replicative RNA form of phage f2 (RFf2) was studied. A possibility of using RFf2 for production of highly active interferon under conditions of superinduction providing an increase in the interferon yield by to 256--512 times as compared to the control samples was shown. The protective interferonogenic and antiviral effect of RFf2 in mice infected with Semliki forest virus (SFV) and tickborne encephalitis virus (TBEV) was studied on administration of the inductor by various routes. It was found that intraperitoneal administration of RFf2 in a dose of 10 gamma per a mouse protected the infected animals from death. It was accompanied by production of up to 1280 units/ml of interferon in the blood serum of the animals. Maximum protection of the animals from death under conditions of the experiment (80 per cent on infection with SFV and 65 per cent on infection with TBEV) was observed when the preparation was administered twice: 4 hours after the infection. Combined use of RFf2 with chemotherapeutics (rimantadine) increased the protective effect both in the tissue culture and in vivo.

[Superinduction of interferon and and a study of its messenger RNA]. / Superinduktsiia interferona i izuchenie ego informatsionnykh

Combined use of interferon inductor poly-IC and antibiotics (cycloheximide and actinomycin D) provided a significant increase (up to 1000 times) in interferon production by chick, mouse, monkey and human cells. Messenger RNA with matrix activity for interferon (mRNA-IF) was isolated from superinduced cells. On translation of mRNA-IF in homogenous and heterogenous cells the specificity of interferons produced was determined by the type of the cells from which mRNA-IF was isolated. Sedimentation analysis of various mRNA-IF revealed 2 peaks of activity: major (5--15S) and minor (25--30S).

[Isolation of the mRNA for interferon and its integration into the genome of a foreign host]. / Vydelenie mRNK dlia interferona i ee integratsiia v genom chuzherodnogo khoziaina

The study of superinduction and translation of interferon mRNA (mRNA-IF) in four cell systems was the experimental basis for tests on the establishment in mouse and monkey cells (L-1210 and BSC) of the capacity for long-term production of biologically active chicken interferon after their inoculation with chicken mRNA-IF. The interferon was tested and identified by the species-specificity, thermostability and antigenic specificity. During 3 months (the observation period) after a single inoculation of chicken mRNA-IF the L-1210 and BSC cells in response to induction with poly: C produced the homologous (mouse or monkey) and heterologous (chicken) interferons without any signs of decline of the latter's production. Titres of the heterologous interferon exceeded those of homologous interferon by approximately 10-fold. The dynamics of production of chicken interferon after induction and the sensitivity of this process to actinomycin D permit a conclusion on similar mechanisms of transcription and translation of homologous and heterologous interferons. It is suggested that integration of the genetic information for synthesis of chicken interferon with the genome of heterogenous cells may be a possible mechanism of this phenomenon.

[Antiviral activity of a poly A-poly U complex administered by various routes]. / Protivovirusnaia aktivnost' kompleksa poli A-poli U pri razlichnykh putiakh vvedeniia

Interferon-inducing and antiviral activity of a synthetic polyribonucleotide, polyaenylic and polyuridylic acid complex (poly A--poly U) was studied comparatively on a model of experimental infection of albino mice caused by Venezuela Horse Encephalomyeliti Viruos (VHEV) using oral and intraperitoneal administration of the complex. It was shown that dm-interferon induction and antiviral effect comparatively high doses of poly A--poly U (Reanal) were required (1 mg/mouse). The highest antiviral effect was observed after a two-fold administration of the drug (24 hours and immediately before infection). It was more evident after intraperitoneal administration of the inductor. The interferon titers in the animal blood serum after intraperitoneal or oral administration of poly A--poly U were almost the same 58=60+/- +/- 18.9 IU50/ml).