[Effect of ultrasound on cellular and humoral immunity factors]. / Vliianie ul'trazvuka na kletochnye i gumoral'nye faktory immuniteta.

Experiments on CBA mice were performed to explore the changes in the body immunoreactivity induced by low intensity ultrasound. A study was made of the content of lysozyme, properdine, T and B rosette-forming lymphocytes, and complement in the peripheral blood, the histophysiological properties of the lymphoid organs, and the titer of pertussis antibodies. It has been disclosed that ultrasound has a stimulant effect, primarily on the T system immunity, which was confirmed during immunization with B. pertussis vaccine. The stimulant effect has been also supported by histostructural analysis of the lymphoid organs.

Relative importance of C3b inactivator and beta 1H globulin in the modulation of the properdin amplification loop in systemic lupus erythematosus.

Serum concentrations of C4, C3, factor B (B), properdin (P), C3b inactivator (C3bINA) and beta 1H globulin have been measured by radial immunodiffusion in sixty-two samples from thirteen patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Significant reductions in the mean serum concentrations of C4 (classical pathway) B and P (alternative pathway) and C3 were found. In addition, the mean level of the control protein beta 1H, but not C3bINA, was reduced. Sera from thirteen patients taking during disease exacerbation (low C3) showed significantly lower levels of both C3bINA and beta 1H than sera taken from the same thirteen patients during disease remission (high C3). Serum concentrations of C3bINA correlated with B (P less than 0.005) but not C4, C3 or P, whereas levels of beta 1H correlated with C4 (P less than 0.01), B (P less than 0.005) and properdin (P less than 0.01). Serial measurements of the serum concentrations of C3bINA and beta 1H showed that levels of these protein fell during exacerbation, and such falls were more closely associated with diseases in the serum levels of the alternative pathways proteins than C4. It is concluded from these observations that serum concentrations of the control proteins C3bINA and beta 1H, especially the latter, control the extent of turnover of the alternative pathway in SLE. Metabolic studies are required to determine the causes of the decreased serum concentrations of these control proteins.

[Complex laboratory-morphologic study of allergic joint inflammation in rabbits]. / Kompleksnoe laboratorno-morfologicheskoe issledovanie allergicheskogo vospaleniia v sustave u krolikov.

During the period of sensitization and in the dynamics of the development of the articular allergic inflammation in rabbits there occured regular slowing down of the properdin activity, decrease in the compliment titres and increase in the blood plasma magnesium content. An increased liability of the basophilic leukocytes to damage and an elevated activity of acid phosphotase in lymphocytes of the peripheral blood were also noted. In the acute period of inflammation the synovial sheaths were found to be diffusibly infiltrated by the lymphoid-histocytic and plasma cells. Proliferation of synoviocytes and the appearance therein of the PAS-positive granules were observed. Weakening of the myocardial staining with Schiff's reagent was established. The processes of disorganization of the connective tissue in a joint and in the heart were closely conjugated and manifested themselves in mucoid and fibrinoid swelling, and changes in the PAS-reaction. Dissociation of the natural resistance of the organism was revealed: mobilization of the processes of immunogenesis and inhibition of the nonspecific link of protection. Decrease in the immunological reactivity was associated with formation of hypersensitivity of delayed type. Cosequently, arthritis developed in rabbits on the immune basis.

Properdin anc C3 proactivator: alternate pathway components in human glomerulonephritis.

Serological and immunopathological studies of human glomerulonephritis have suggested that alternate pathways of activation of the third component of complement may be important in some forms of glomerulonephritis. We have investigated the role of two alternate pathway proteins, properdin and C3 proactivator, in 22 patients with chronic membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis, 21 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus, 20 patients with acute poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis, and 19 patients with other forms of renal disease. C3 (measured at beta(1)A), properdin, and C3 proactivator were assayed by single radial immunodiffusion. In sera with low beta(1)A (< 2 SD), mean properdin was most significantly decreased in patients with acute poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis but was also significantly decreased in chronic membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis and in untreated systemic lupus erythematosus. Properdin levels in other renal disease, acute glomerulonephritis, and chronic membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis with normal beta(1)A levels were not significantly different from normal. A positive correlation between beta(1)A and properdin levels in individual sera was present in all diseases except systemic lupus erythematosus. Serum C3 proactivator was markedly decreased in active systemic lupus erythematosus and there was a positive correlation between beta(1)A and C3 proactivator levels in systemic lupus erythematosus and other renal diseases but not acute poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis. Properdin in fresh sera from four patients with systemic lupus erythematosus and five with chronic membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis showed increased migration toward the cathode on immunoelectrophoresis, suggesting in vivo change of the properdin molecule. The observation of reduced serum levels of properdin and C3 proactivator and altered electrophoretic migration of properdin in some patients with glomerulonephritis provide new evidence for participation of these alternate pathway proteins in glomerulonephritis.