[The role of interferons in the socially important human viral diseases].

The role of interferon in influenza and herpes infections, general patterns of the interferon system in these diseases, the identification of interferon deficiency, the possibility of their correction with the immune active drugs, including interferon inducers combining antiviral immunomodulatory interferon effects with etiopathogenic corrective mode of action, are discussed. Clinical values of faster recovery confirm the suitability of their application in the immunocompromised patients.

[Detection of the interferon deficiency in inflammatory gynecological diseases and its correction with interferon inducers].

Interferons deficiency has a negative influence on the development of infection and inflammation in general. The use in the complex of anti-inflammatory therapy of interferon inducers (Meglumine acridоnacetate, Tilorone), combining antiviral, immunomodulatory, interferon correction effects with etiopathogenic action leads to the correction of the interferon system defects and eliminate etiological infectious agents, that is confirmed by laboratory data and clinical efficacy.

[Evaluation of the interferon system and major cytokines in patients with bronchial asthma].

AIM: Study of the interferon system (IFN) and the production of major cytokines in patients with bronchial asthma of various course severity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 204 patients with atopic bronchial asthma (BA); 32 patients with allergic rhinitis (AR) and 93 mostly healthy volunteers were examined. Blood cells of patients with BA of various course severity were studied by biological method in HEP cell culture for the ability to produce IFN. Levels of cytokines in the blood sera were determined by EIA method with the corresponding commercial test systems: IL-4, IL-10, IL-13 and IFN-gamma according to user manual. RESULTS: Disorders in the ability ofleukocytes to produce IFN-alpha and IFN-gamma were detected in patients with bronchial asthma and allergic rhinitis. Misbalance in the production of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines depending on the level of disease severity was noted. The highest serum IFN-gamma was noticed in patients with mild persistence BA course, that is most probably determined by higher frequency of ARVI in this group of patients. Maximum level of IL-10 was detected in mild BA form and was nearly undetected in the severe course of the infection, which is characterized by higher content of IL-4 in blood sera. CONCLUSION: Increase of course severity of chronic (allergic) inflammation in bronchial tissue and higher frequency of ARVI among patients with persistent BA of medium and severe course is characterized by a lack of interferon link of the immune system and disorders of regulatory mechanisms, that is expressed by a change in the ratio of IFN-gamma/IL-4 parameters and decrease of IL-10 content in blood sera.

[Dynamics of interferon status in patients with atopic dermatitis during standard therapy combined with cycloferon].

Interferon status at different stages of atopic dermatitis was evaluated in 28 patients. Its dynamics and disturbances during standard therapy combined with cycloferon were clarified. Positive laboratory and clinical results of the combined treatment give reason to recommend it for the management of patients with atopic dermatitis.

[Cycloferon administration in chronic pyelonephritis: changes in interferon status].

AIM: To detect correlations between changes in interferon (INF) system and a course of chronic pyelonephritis (CP), to ascertain a corrective effect of cyclopheron in combined treatment with antibacterial drugs. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We examined 30 CP patients in different periods of the disease: group 1 had latent CP without laboratory evidence for exacerbation, group 2 had CP exacerbation treated with antibiotics, group 3 had exacerbation given basic treatment and cyclopheron by a standard scheme. All the patients were examined for interferon status, patients of groups 2 and 3 were examined once more after therapy. RESULTS: Patients of all the groups showed diminished ability of blood leukocytes to produce IFN, especially IFN-gamma. Cyclopheron addition to antibacterial therapy significantly stimulated production of IFN alpha and gamma by blood cells compared to basic therapy. Examination of 5 patients after 1-year follow-up detected preserved ability of blood cells to produce IFN and reduce the number of exacerbations after combined treatment with cyclopheron. CONCLUSION: Administration of cyclopheron in combination with standard antibacterial treatment results in persistent correction of IFN status.

[Designing of hybrid human interferon alfa-2 strain-producers and the use of enteropeptidase for obtaining N-terminal methionine-free interferons].

A system for production of human interferon-alpha2a (IFN-alpha2a) and IFN-alpha2b lacking N-terminal methionine has been developed. Plasmids containing genes of hybrid IFN-alpha2 under the control of different promoters were constructed; a sequence encoding the enteropeptidase hydrolysis site being introduced in proximal part of the genes. As the result, 4 strains of Escherichia coli producing hybrid IFN-alpha2 have been obtained. The methodology for IFN-alpha2 renaturation, hydrolysis of its N-terminal part, chromatographic purification of N-terminal methionine-free IFN-alpha2 has been developed.

[Interferons and other cytokines in patients with chronic pyelonephritis].

The article considers the modern views on changes in the cytokines system in patients with chronic pyelonephritis, which is one of the most common kidney disease. In this study we summarize data obtained by different researchers who assessed the role of cytokines for the diagnosis and prognosis of chronic pyelonephritis and for the application of antibacterial and immunomodulatory therapy of this pathology. We present results, that indicate changes in the interferon system of patients with exacerbation of chronic pyelonephritis under both standard antibiotic therapy and its combination with interferon inducers.

[Interferons and other cytokines in rheumatic diseases].

With the growth of rheumatic morbidity the spectrum of medicines for its management needs to be extended. Selected aspects of etiology and clinical course of rheumatic diseases are discussed with reference to prospects of their application for etiopathogenetic therapy.

[Clinical and immunological changes in atopic dermatitis patients treated with purified staphylococcal toxoid]. / Klinicheskie i immunologicheskie izmeneniia u bolnykh atopicheskim dermatitom pri terapii anatoksinom stafilokokkovym ochishchennym.

32 patients with atopic dermatitis (AD), complicated by pyoderma, were treated with purified staphylococcal toxoid (PST). Changes in clinical and laboratory characteristics in the course of treatment were evaluated. PST was shown to produce a satisfactory therapeutic effect, arresting the symptoms of local staphylococcal infection. An increase in the levels of alpha- and gamma-interferons and decreased content of CD25+ lymphocytes were found. Thus prospects appear for using this preparation as an interferon inductor, as well a for the immunotherapy of AD patients sensitized to Staphylococcus aureus.

[Photopheresis--anew method for treatment of myasthenia]. / Fotoferez--novyi metod lechenia miastenii.

Photopheresis with blood lymphocytes UV radiation exposure was for the first time used in the treatment of patients with myasthenia. Twenty-three patients with generalized form of the disease, aged 23-66 years, were treated. Twenty patients (87%) exhibited clinical improvement after a treatment course (4 sessions). One photopheresis session was shown to be more or less beneficial in 16 out of 23 patients (70%). The treatment resulted in strengthening of all the muscles studied, especially of mimic, platysma, biceps, deltoid, illiopsoas and gastrocnemius. Photopheresis was effective not only in a mild and moderate but in severe form of myasthenia as well. Compared to plasmapheresis, photopheresis exerts a more prolonged effect. Clinical improvement correlated with positive changes in immune status of the patients.

[Interferon status of patients with non-specific ulcerous colitis and its correction with interferon inducers]. / Interferonovyi status bol'nykh nespetsificheskim iazvennym kolitom i ego korrektsiia induktorami interferona.

AIM: To examine validity of using interferon inductors (amixin and cycloferon) in combined treatment of patients with non-specific ulcerous colitis (NUC). MATERIAL AND METHODS: 113 NUC patients received basic antiinflammatory therapy (glucocorticoids and preparations of 5-aminosalycylic acid). Patients of groups 1 and 2 received interferon inductors (amixin and cycloferon in tables), respectively. Patients of groups 1a and 2a received placebo. All the patients were examined clinically with evaluation of interferon status and cellular immunity before and after the treatment. Colon mucosa biopsies obtained endoscopically were studied histologically. RESULTS: Alpha- and gamma-interferon production by leukocytes was substantially suppressed in all the examinees against normal levels of serum and spontaneous interferon. The interferon inductors stimulated relief of clinical symptoms and eliminated endoscopic signs of the disease. Amixin and cycloferon normalized interferon status in 36.3 and 33.3% of the treated patients, respectively. No response was registered in 9.1 and 8.4%, respectively. Improvement was seen in 54.6 and 58.3%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Cycloferon and amixin, interferon inductors, are effective in the treatment of NUC.

[Cytokine production by blood cells in herpes, hepatitis C, and other diseases]. / Produktsiia tsitokinov kletkami krovi pri gerpese, gepatite C i drugikh formakh patologii.

A new method for simultaneous evaluation of interferon and cytokine production by human blood cells is developed. Study of interferon and cytokine status helps evaluate the possibility of correction of the detected disorders by immunomodulating agents.

[Effect of purified staphylococcal toxoid preparation on the in vitro production of interferon by leukocytes from patients with atopic dermatitis]. / Vliianie preparata stafilokokkovogo ochishchennogo anatoksina na produktsiiu interferona leikotsitami in vitro u bol'nykh atopicheskim dermatitom.

The impact of purified staphylococcal toxoid (PST) on the in vitro production of interferon (IFN) by blood leukocytes was evaluated. PST was found to produce a stimulating effect on the production of alpha-IFN in patients with atopic dermatitis (AD): in 88% of cases a two-fivefold increase in IFN production was observed in AD patients in comparison with healthy donors. In addition, the incubation of leukocytes obtained from atopic and nonatopic patients with PST was shown to stimulate the production of gamma-IFN by these leukocytes fivefold, on the average. These results give theoretical basis for use of PST (as an inducer of endogenic IFN) for AD patients treatment.

[Effectiveness of cycloferon in treating virus-associated inflammatory gynecologic diseases]. / Effektivnost' tsikloferona v lechenii virusassotsiirovannykh vospalitel'nykh ginekologicheskikh zabolevanii.

Cycloferon, a low molecular weight interferon inducer synthesized in Russia, was used for treating chronic acute gynecological inflammations. The etiology of diseases was mixed in the majority of cases. Clinical efficacy of the drug was 79%. Cycloferon, an antiviral immunomodulating drug, is recommended for combined therapy of chronic and acute gynecological inflammations.