[Changes of humoral and cellular immunity in chronic hepatitis C patients of different staging]. / Izmenenie pokazatelei gumoral'nogo i kletochnogo immuniteta u patsientov s khronicheskim gepatitom C pazlichnoi tiazhesti.

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the influence produced by viral proteins in the hepatic cells and RNA of hepatitis C virus (HCV) on the indices of T- and B-cell response in 52 patients with chronic hepatitis C (CHC). A relative count of peripheral-blood lymphocytes (PBL), expressing antigens CD3+, CD4+, CD8+, CD16+, CD20+ and CD95+ was estimated. The repertoire of antibodies to HCV proteins was specified. The thus obtained data were compared with an activity and a disease stage by using the histological diagnosis and alanine-amino-transferase (ALT) level as well as with the presence of HCV RNA in the serum and viral protein of the liver. Such comparison of data and the use of the correlation analysis made it possible to establish that the antibodies to NS5 protein were detected reliably more often in patients with a more pronounced hepatic fibrosis, with a higher ALT activity and with expression of HCV proteins in the liver. At the same time, the presence of proteins in the liver and of RNA in the serum were accompanied by a more active humoral response to the non-structure proteins of NS4 and NS5 as well as by more profound discrepancies of the immunity T-cell chain (a lowered ratio of CD4+/CD8+ and a smaller content of CD95+). There were no differences between PBL of the studied populations in patients with various activities and an HCV stage. A relatively bigger quantity of CD95(+)--positive PBL was found to be reliably higher in patients with viremia but lower in those cases, in which HCV proteins were detected in the liver. This confirms the inhibiting ability of HCV proteins to the Fas-mediated apoptose of PBL in CHC patient.

[A study of the effect of thymotropin on immunologic indicators and excretion of virus in women with chronic cytomegalovirus infection]. / Izuchenie vliianiia timotropina na immunologicheskie pokazateli i ékskretsiiu virusa u zhenshchin s khronicheskoi tsitomegalovirusnoi infektsiei.

Thymotropic hormone was given subcutaneously in a dose of 100 mg twice a week for 3 months to 10 women with verified chronic cytomegalovirus infection. After termination of the treatment, in 8 women the virus excretion was decreased and this was accompanied with some improvement in immunological parameters: increased activity of natural killers, enhanced interferon-producing activity of lymphocytes, higher theophylline-resistant lymphocytes, and lower theophylline-sensitive T-cells. The above results confirm the association between the activity of cytomegalovirus infection and the state of immunity and allow thymotropic hormone to be recommended for treatment of other groups of patients with cytomegalovirus infection.

[Lymphocyte subpopulations in patients with viral hepatitis B and delta-infections]. / Subpopuliatsii limfotsitov u bol'nykh virusnym gepatitom B i del'ta-infektsiei.

Changes in subpopulations of T3, T4, T8, HNK-1, Ia-positive, B-IgM and B-IgG producing lymphocytes were studied in patients with acute and chronic active virus hepatitis B and delta infection. A decrease of T4-helpers/inducers was demonstrated in all the groups under study and of T3-lymphocytes only in patients with delta-hepatitis turning into liver cirrhosis. The number of suppressors/cytotoxic T8 cells increased and T4/T8 ratio decreased in most patients. The number of HNK-1, Ia-positive, B-IgM and B-IgG lymphocytes increased in many subjects examined. Most marked quantitative changes in lymphocyte subpopulations were observed in patients with severe forms of delta-hepatitis and with liver cirrhosis. Changes in lymphocyte subpopulations in patients with viral hepatitis B and delta-infection are explained by reconstruction of the immune system in response to infection, affection of lymphocytes with viruses and emergence of antilymphocyte antibodies.

[Lymphocyte subpopulations in carriers of antibodies to the human immunodeficiency virus]. / Subpopuliatsii limfotsitov u nositelei antitel k virusu immunodefitsita cheloveka.

Changes in subpopulations of OKT 3, OKT 4, OKT 8, HNK-I, B-IgM, and B-IgG-producing lymphocytes in carriers of HIV antibodies were studied. A decrease in OKT 4 helpers/inducers, an increase in OKT 8-suppressors of cytotoxic cells, HNK-I, Ia-positive and B-IgM-producing lymphocytes was demonstrated. The ratio of OKT 4/OKT 8 lymphocytes was below 1.0 in most of the subjects examined. Most marked changes in lymphocyte subpopulations were observed in anti-HIV carriers with lymphadenopathy.