Characteristics of the Antitumor Effect of Doxorubicin and Pegylated Hyaluronidase on Models of Rat Brain Tumors.

Hyaluronidase increases tissue permeability and diffusion of the extracellular fluid by cleaving hyaluronan, the primary component of the extracellular matrix. Hyaluronidase pegylation (Hyal-PEG) decreases its clearance and enhances biodistribution. The pro- and anticancer activity of Hyal-PEG and a combination of Hyal-PEG with doxorubicin were studied in vitro (morphological analysis of rat glioblastoma 101.8 spheroids) and in vivo (by the survival time of rats after intracerebral transplantation of the tumor and morphological analysis). In the presence of doxorubicin and Hyal-PEG in the culture medium in vitro, spheroids lost their ability to adhere to the substrate and disintegrate into individual cells. Intracerebral transplantation of the tumor tissue with Hyal-PEG did not accelerate glioblastoma growth. The mean survival time for animals receiving transplantation of the tumor alone and in combination with Hyal-PEG was 13 and 20 days, respectively. In one rat with transplanted tumor and Hyal-PEG, this parameter increased by 53%. The survival time of rats receiving systemic therapy with doxorubicin and Hyal-PEG significantly increased (p=0.003). Antitumor effect of therapeutic doses of doxorubicin combined with Hyal-PEG was demonstrated on the model of rat glioblastoma 101.8 in vitro. Hyal-PEG inhibited adhesion of tumor cells, but did not cause their death. Transplantation of Hyal-PEG-treated tumor did not reduce animal survival time. Systemic administration of therapeutic doses of doxorubicin with Hyal-PEG increased survival time of rats with glioblastoma 101.8.

Regenerative Potential of Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor Immobilized by Using Electron-Beam Synthesis Nanotechnology in an Experimental Model of Ovarian Reserve Depletion.

The pharmacological activity of granulocyte CSF (G-CSF) immobilized using electron-beam synthesis nanotechnology (imG-CSF) was evaluated in an experimental model of ovarian reserve depletion. The effectiveness of the drug was compared with that of its unmodified form. Depletion of the ovarian follicular pool in female Sprague-Dawley rats was caused by a single intravenous injection of the antitumor drug etoposide in the maximum tolerated dose. The effectiveness of the studied drugs was assessed by serum concentration of anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) measured by ELISA and by the number of primordial, two-layer, multilayer, and atretic follicles counted on serial sections of the ovaries (5-µm thick; through the entire organ) stained with hematoxylin and eosin. It was found that imG-CSF prevents depletion of the ovarian reserve in the model used, which was confirmed by high AMH concentration and higher numbers of primordial, two- and multilayer follicles in comparison with the corresponding parameters in the control (etoposide), and by a decrease in the severity of atretic processes. Unmodified form of the drug demonstrated lower efficiency.

Potential of Interferon Lambda as an Inhibitor of SARS-CoV-2.

This study provides an overview of scientific results on the feasibility of using type III interferons against SARS-CoV-2. We have analyzed data obtained from the PubMed electronic database for the period 2020‒2022. The results of our own studies of pharmacological substances based on recombinant IFN-λ1 and its pegylated form are also presented. Completed and ongoing investigations allow us to position IFN-λ as an effective therapeutic agent against SARS-CoV-2.

[Potential of Interferon Lambda as an Inhibitor of SARS-CoV-2].

This study provides an overview of scientific results on the feasibility of using type III interferons against SARS-CoV-2. We have analyzed data obtained from the PubMed electronic database for the period 2020-2022. The results of our own studies of pharmacological substances based on recombinant IFN-λ1 and its pegylated form are also presented. Completed and ongoing investigations allow us to position IFN-λ as an effective therapeutic agent against SARS-CoV-2.

Postpartum Involution of Mouse Myometrium in Acute CCl4-Induced Hepatosis and Its Correction with Immobilized Hyaluronidase.

We studied structural rearrangement of the myometrium of C57BL/6 mice during the postpartum period under conditions of acute toxic hepatosis induced by CCl4 injection and its correction with immobilized hyaluronidase. In contrast to physiological pregnancy, involution of the myometrium in mice under conditions of acute toxic hepatosis were not completed by the 10th day of the postpartum period. When toxic hepatosis was corrected with immobilized hyaluronidase, the main mechanism of postpartum involution of the mouse myometrium was clasmacytosis, the process of postpartum involution was significantly accelerated, but not completed by the 10th day, probably due to reduced vascularization of the myometrium.

Pharmacokinetic Parameters of Oral Pegylated IFN-λ1.

We studied the pharmacokinetics of a pegylated IFN-λ1 (PEG IFN-λ1) after its oral administration to rats in different therapeutic doses. The hypothesis on linear pharmacokinetics of PEG IFN-λ1 within the dose range of 2.6-7.8 µg/kg was confirmed, high for protein molecules bioavailability from 17.5 to 21%, the absence of intravascular deposition, and effective elimination with feces and urine (85 and 15% of the administered dose, respectively) were demonstrated. At the same time, the mean retention time for PEG IFN-λ1 in the circulation is 6.46-6.65 h and half-life is 3 h. These findings give ground for continuing experimental studies of PEG IFN-λ1 pharmacokinetics, in particular, tissue distribution of the drug.

Evaluation of the Anti-Viral Activity of Human Recombinant Interferon Lambda-1 against SARS-CoV-2.

The antiviral activity of recombinant human IFN-lambda type 1 (IFNλ-1) against culture strain of SARS-CoV-2 virus was determined by infecting a highly sensitive VeroE6 coronavirus cell culture after preincubation test (the cell monolayer was incubated with 4-fold dilutions of IFNλ-1 in a concentration range of 0.16-42,500 ng/ml in a culture medium for 12 h at 37°C) and without preincubation (simultaneous addition of different concentrations of IFNλ-1 and SARS-CoV-2 infection in a dose of 102 TCID50). The created recombinant human IFNλ-1 demonstrated obvious antiviral activity against SARS-CoV-2 virus in vitro. In the tests with and without preincubation, IFNλ-1 exhibited significant activity, although somewhat lower in variant with simultaneous addition of IFNλ-1 and virus to the cell culture. It should be noted that the antiviral effect of IFNλ-1 was observed in a wide range of concentrations.

Effect of a New Lithium Preparation on the Behavior of CBA/CaLac Mice in an Experimental Conflict Model.

The use of lithium drugs in clinical practice requires constant monitoring of lithium plasma concentration, because toxicity is sometimes observed at therapeutic concentrations of lithium. This is often associated with fluctuations of plasma concentration of lithium ions after intake of individual doses. Therefore, the use of a porous carrier providing a stable blood level of the drug is extremely promising and important for clinical practice. We studied activity of a new lithium drug (lithium complex) consisting of aluminum-silicon base and lithium citrate immobilized on its surface. Lithium carbonate served as the reference drug. It was shown that lithium carbonate and lithium complex exhibited no anxiolytic activity in the conflict model, but produced an antidepressant effect and improved exploratory behavior of animals.

Role of Endogenous Agonists of Opioid Receptors in the Regulation of Heart Resistance to Postischemic Reperfusion Injury.

Intravenous injection of nonselective antagonists of opioid receptors (OR) naltrexone (5 mg/kg) and naloxone methiodide (5 mg/kg), selective δ1-OR antagonist BNTX (0.7 mg/kg), selective δ2-OR blocker naltriben (0.3 mg/kg), selective κ-OR antagonist norbinaltorphimine (2 mg/kg), and selective blocker of ORL1 opioid receptors JTC-801 (0.1 mg/kg) produced no effect on reperfusion injury to the heart in rats narcotized with α-chloralose. In contrast, selective µ-OR antagonist CTAP (1 mg/kg) limited the infarct size, although this effect was not observed at a lower CTAP concentration of 0.1 mg/kg. Probably, the myocardial infarct size-limiting effect of CTAP was associated with activation of the non-opioid receptors. It was hypothesized that endogenous OR agonists did not affect heart resistance to reperfusion injury in unadapted rats.

[ROLE OF OPIOID RECEPTORS IN THE REGULATION OF RESISTANCE OF HEART TO IMPACT OF ISCHEMIA-REPERFUSION].

Activation of m-, d1-, d2- and k1-opioid receptors increases cardiac resistance to ischemia-reperfusion. The cardioprotective effect of opioids in many cases appears to be associated with the activation of the peripheral OR. However, when it comes to non-peptide agonists OR able to cross the blood-brain barrier, we cannot exclude the involvement of central opioid receptors in cardioprotection. Endogenous opioids are not involved in the regulation of cardiac tolerance to ischemia- reperfusion in non-adapted animals. Stimulation of k1- and d1-OP may exert delayed cardioprotective effect. Activation d- and k1-OP reduces the intensity of cardiomyocyte apoptosis after reperfusion. The results of studies related to the inotropic effect of opioids during reperfusion of the heart remain highly controversial.

Effect of Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor Immobilized by the Electron-Beam Synthesis Nanotechnology on Reparative Regeneration of Spermatogenous Tissue.

Effectiveness of the granulocyte colony-stimulating factor immobilized by using electronbeam synthesis nanotechnology was investigated on the model of experimental testicular failure caused by the toxic effect on stem spermatogonia. Administration of the drug to experimental paclitaxel-treated animals increased the number of sources of the proliferative pool of spermatogenesis and its productivity. The effectiveness of immobilized granulocyte colony-stimulating factor was based on its ability to stimulate reparative regeneration of the spermatogenic tissue, which manifested in a decrease in spermatogenic layer maturity and increase in the number of microenvironment cells. Effectiveness of the immobilized form of the drug was superior to that of non-immobilized form.

Immunotropic Properties of Immobilized Interferon-α2b.

Course treatment with IFN-α2b immobilized on polyethylene glycol stimulates phagocytic activity of peritoneal macrophages and neutrophils, enhances humoral immune response in CBA/CaLac mice, stimulates IL-4 synthesis, and suppresses IFN-γ production by mitogenstimulated splenocytes from experimental animals.

[Efficacy of oral drug Thrombovasim® in therapy of lower extremity deep vein thromboses]. / Éffektivnost' peroral'nogo preparata Trombovazim® v terapii trombozov glubokikh ven nizhnikh konechnostei.

Within the framework of the multicenter randomized placebo-controlled double-blind clinical trial "VETTER-1" the authors carried out assessment of therapeutic efficacy and safety of oral drug Thrombovasim® possessing a thrombolytic effect in comprehensive treatment of lower-extremity deep vein thrombosis (LEDVT). The clinical study comprised a total of 154 patients. All patients received standard therapy accepted in LEDVT. The patients were subdivided into 4 groups. Patients from the three study groups received Thrombovasim® at a daily dose of 1,600, 3,200, and 4,800 IU. The control group patients were given placebo. Efficacy was assessed by the results of ultrasound duplex scanning first performed before treatment commenced and then after it terminated. The relative frequency of positive dynamics according to the findings of instrumental methods of study in patients taking Thrombovasim® amounted to 0.728 and in the group of patients receiving placebo to 0.585, p=0.0031. Comparing the degree of blood flow normalization in the zone of the compromised blood flow revealed a pronounced dose-dependent effect: in patients taking the drug at a daily dose of 1,600 IU, the relative frequency of positive dynamics amounted to 0.707 corresponding to an increase in therapeutic efficacy by 21%, for a dose of 3,200 IU these parameters amounted to 0.0257 and 24% and for 4,800 IU - 0.747 and 28%, respectively. In patients taking Thrombovasim® there were no cases of negative dynamics observed. Of the patients taking Thrombovasim®, none developed undesirable or severe adverse events. Inclusion of Thrombovasim® into the composition of comprehensive therapy for LEDVT increases efficacy of treatment at the expense of a spontaneous thrombolytic effect. The most effective dose amounted to 4,800 IU daily. Thrombovasim® turned out to be an efficient and safe agent in treatment of venous thromboses.

[Experience with clinical administration of new drug Thrombovasim® in vascular surgery].

Recent years have witnessed an increased worldwide interest in medical use of unique naturally occurring enzymes - subtilisins possessing pronounced fibrinolytic and anti-inflammatory properties. The article deals with experience in clinical administration in vascular surgery of new therapeutic agent Thrombovasim® containing pegylated subtilisin as an active substance. Thrombovasim® has a favourable profile of safety, good tolerance and causes no severe haemorrhagic complications. The pharmacological action of Thrombovasim® consists in combination of the targeted effect on the fibrin carcass of the thrombus without participation of the own system of haemostasis and anti-inflammatory effect. In the Russian Federation Thrombovasim® has been used for 6 years predominantly in vascular pathology of lower limbs accompanied by the development of chronic venous insufficiency.

Antifibrotic activity of conjugates based on amphiphilic pluronic F68 and hydrophobic pluronic L31 with hyaluronate-endo-ß-N-acetylhexosaminidase in pulmonary fibrosis.

Antifibrotic activity of intranasally administered conjugates of pluronics L31 and F68 with hyaluronate-endo-ß-N-acetylhexosaminidase was studied in C57Bl/6 mice under conditions of single and repeated bleomycin-induced injury to the alveolar epithelium. Conjugates were prepared using the technique of protein immobilization with ionizing radiation. We demonstrate that in cases of single and repeated injuries to the alveolar epithelium, the conjugates administered during phases of inflammation or deposition of fibrotic masses prevent the development of pulmonary fibrosis. The conjugates demonstrated more pronounced antifibrotic activity than hyaluronate-endo-ß-N-acetylhexosaminidase. The conjugate based on hydrophobic pluronic L31 showed higher effectiveness in comparison with the conjugate based on amphiphilic pluronic F68.

Pharmacological stimulation of the regenerative capacity of rat testes damaged by paclitaxel.

Productivity of spermatogenesis and the population of spermatogonial cells were substantially reduced in male Wistar rats 3 months after administration of cytostatic drug paclitaxel, damaging stem spermatogonia. However, signs of reparative regeneration appeared in the testicular tissue. In animals receiving paclitaxel in combination with granulocyte CSF, the same period of observation, the number of spermatogonia and the efficiency of spermatogenesis at the same terms of the study did not differ from those in intact animals. Intensive recovery processes started 1 month earlier than after administration of paclitaxel alone. These data attest to pronounced potentiating effect of granulocyte CSF on reparative regeneration of the testicular tissue.

Mechanisms of reparative regeneration of rat testis after injection of paclitaxel.

Population of spermatogonia was reduced in 2, 3, and 6 months after single intravenous injection of antitumor drug paclitaxel in maximum tolerated dose (MTD). The count of Sertoli cell increased in 3 months after the start of the experiment. The maturity of the seminiferous tubule epithelium was lower than in intact rats. Spermatogenesis productivity did not differ from that in intact animals 6 months after start of the experiment. These data indicate that regeneration of the spermatogenous tissue after paclitaxel treatment is realized via renewal of the spermatogenic epithelium, but considering the amount of spermatogonial cell population, the recovery rate would be low.

Specific effects of chondroitin sulfate-modified hyaluronidase on the function of progenitor cells.

We have demonstrated the possibility of stimulation of the function of various types of precursor cells with hyaluronidase modified with chondroitin sulfate. Parenteral administration of modified hyaluronidase increased the number of fibroblast, granulomonocyte, and erythroid CFU in the hemopoietic tissue. The changes in the pool of mesenchymal progenitor cells were more pronounced in comparison with those induced by native enzyme.

Effect of immobilized hyaluronidase on stem and progenitor cells in pulmonary fibrosis.

The effect of immobilized hyaluronidase on stem and progenitor cells of the lungs was studied on the model of partially reversible toxic bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis in C57Bl/6 mice. During the inflammation phase, immobilized hyaluronidase reduced infiltration of alveolar interstitium with hemopoietic stem cells Sca-1(+), c-Kit(+), CD34(-), (CD3, CD45R (B220), Ly6C, Ly6G (Gr1), CD11b (Mac1), TER-119)(-). Improvement of histological parameters of bleomycin lungs during the phase of collagen fiber deposition after the treatment was accompanied by accumulation of mesenchymal multipotent stromal cells (CD31(-), CD34(-), CD45(-), CD44(+), CD73(+), CD90(+), CD106(+)decrease in the population of pan-hemopoietic cells (CD45(+)), accelerated restoration of the content of endothelial cells, and inhibition of clonal activity of fibroblast precursors (CD45(-)).

Anti-inflammatory and antifibrotic effects of a combination of spiperone and immobilized hyaluronidase on partially reversible and irreversible toxic pneumofibrosis.

The possibility of boosting antifibrotic activity of testicular hyaluronidase immobilized on polyethylene oxide with spiperone was studied on the bleomycin models of a single (partially reversible pneumofibrosis) and repeated (irreversible pneumofibrosis) injuries to the alveolar epithelium in C57Bl/6 mice. The antifibrotic effect was more pronounced after successive treatment with immobilized hyaluronidase and spiperone than after individual treatment with each of the compounds: no collagen deposition in the parenchyma of bleomycin-damaged lungs was found. The decrease in inflammatory cell (lymphocytes, macrophages, neutrophils, plasma cells) infiltration of the alveoli and alveolar tracts interstitium in mice treated by immobilized hyaluronidase and spiperone did not differ from the anti-inflammatory effect of spiperone monotherapy.