[Identification of immunoreactive epitopes in proteins coded by gag, env, and pol genes of the type I human T-lymphotropic virus (HTLV-I) using synthetic peptides]. / Identifikatsiia immunoreaktivnykh épitopov v belkakah, kodiruemykh genami gag, env i pol T-limfotropnogo virusa cheloveka tipa I (HTLV-I) s ispol'zovaniem sinteticheskikh peptidov.

Reactivity of 26 synthetic peptides that comprise 12 to 26 amino acid residues corresponding to segments of the gag p19, env gp46, and pol proteins of human T-lymphotropic virus type I toward 31 positive sera was studied using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Specific reactivity with high titers of antibodies (presented in reciprocal dilution values) was detected for the synthetic peptides corresponding to fragments 110-130 and 100-130 (titers up to 4050) of p19, 174-197 (up to 800), 186-201 (up to 4050), 191-215 (up to 1350), 242-257 (up to 800), and 272-292 (up to 450) of gp46. Immunoreactivity of seven peptides, fragments of pol-proteins, was weak. New linear epitopes in the regions 145-158, 272-277, and 292-300 of gp46 were detected. In addition, location of the known linear epitopes in p19 and gp46 was refined on the basis of comparative study of overlapping peptides from these proteins.

[Use of histocompatibility class I molecule peptides for in vivo induction of specific T-suppressors in allogenic systems and prolongation of mouse skin graft life]. / Ispol'zovanie peptidov molekuly gistosovmestimosti klassa I dlia induktsii spetsifichnykh T-supressorov in vivo v allogennoi sisteme i prodleniia zhizni transplantata kozhi myshei.

Six synthetic peptides were selected for the individual molecule H-2Kb of the major histocompatibility complex class 1. Optimum conditions were elaborated for the induction of specific suppressor T cells in vivo by peptide 6 (alpha 2 domain) in an intravenous dose of 33 micrograms to the tail vein or 100 micrograms to the orbital sinus, followed by testing the suppressor activity in inhibiting in vitro proliferation in the three-cell MLC in response to irradiated cells of the stimulator Kb (BL/6) in the absence of suppressed response to the foreign stimulator Kk (B10.BR). Out of 6 different peptides of the same molecule H-2Kb, suppressor T cells were induced effectively by peptides 2 (alpha 2-domain), 5 and 6 (alpha 2-domain), while the high efficiency of suppressors is realized by memory cells along with peptides 2. Under the same conditions, in vivo peptide immunization did not induce cytotoxic T lymphocytes at all. In contrast, CTL were specific in their high efficiency where memory cells were in vitro pretreated with stimulators of warmed BL/6 cells. Intravenous administration of peptide 6 to mice gave rise to prolongation of Kb (BL/6 or B10.MBR)-induced skin transplantation during the transfer from allogenic murine R101 and B10.AKM, respectively, but without the terms of skin prolongation at all with the stranger donors Kk (B10.BR) or Kd (DBA/2).

[Use of peptides of major histocompatibility type I molecules for induction of specific T-suppressors in vivo in an allogeneic system and extending the life of a murine skin transplant]. / Ispol'zovanie peptidov molekuly gistosovmestimosti klassa I dlia induktsii spetsifichnykh T-supressorov in vivo v allogennoi sisteme i prodleniia zhizni transplantata kozhi myshei.

Six synthetic peptides represented as variable sequences of the MHC class 1 molecule H-2Kb were synthesized. Appropriate conditions were elaborated for induction of specific suppressor T cells in vivo by peptide 6 (alpha 2 domain) that is introduced intravenously in a dose of 33 micrograms into the tail vein or 100 micrograms into the orbital venous sinus with subsequent testing for inhibition of proliferation in vitro in response to irradiated stimulator cells Kb (BL/6), whereas the stimulator Kk (B10.BR) did not induce any suppressor activity. Of six different peptides tested, suppressor T cells were induced efficiently by peptides 2 (domain alpha 1), 5, and 6 (domain alpha 2), while the highest suppressor efficiency was realized by i/v injection of peptide 2 into mice preimmunized with EL-4 cells. In the same conditions in vivo, immunization by peptides did not induce any cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL). In contrast, specific CTL of high efficiency were induced when memory cells were incubated in vitro with heated BL/6 stimulator cells for 4 days. Intravenous injections of peptide 6 into mice gave rise to prolongation of (BL/6 or B10.MBR) skin graft retention Kb when transferred into allogeneic R101 and B10.AKM mice, respectively, but had no influence on rejection of skin grafts from foreign donors of Kk (B10.BR) or Kd (DBA/2) haplotype, respectively.

[Indications and contraindications to glomectomy in patients with bronchial asthma]. / Pokazaniia i protivopokazaniia k gloméktomii u bolnykh bronkhialnoi astmoi.

Thirty-year experience in surgical treatment of more than 3,000 patients with severe and moderately severe bronchial asthma showed that unilateral glomectomy produces a stable positive result in 69.5% of patients in follow-up repiods of two and more decades. Clinical recovery occurred in 23.2% of patients. Immunocorrection methods, such as hemosorption, plasmapheresis, plasmacytopheresis, xenosplenoperfusion, and the use of splenoperfusate raise the efficacy of the operation to 80-90%. The indications and contraindications for glomectomy in patients with bronchial asthma and methods for immunocorrection treatment of patients after glomectomy were developed.

[Xenogeneic splenic perfusion in the treatment of bronchial asthma patients]. / Ksenosplenoperfuziia v lechenii bol'nykh bronkhial'noi astmoi.

Blood morphology, external respiratory function, central hemodynamics, cellular and humoral immunity, circulating immune complexes, average molecules and leucocytic index were examined in 40 patients with a severe and average severe course of infection-dependent bronchial asthma before and after xenosplenoperfusion. Positive clinical results were noted manifested in an increase of the immune reactivity, improvement of external respiratory function. The method should be used with care due to additional sensibilization of the patient and possible bronchospasm.

[Glomectomy, plasmapheresis and plasmacytapheresis in the treatment of bronchial asthma patients]. / Gloméktomiia, plazmaferez i plazmatsitoferez v lechenii bol'nykh bronkhial'noi astmoi.

Plasmapheresis was used in 9 patients and plasmacytapheresis in 27 patients with bronchial asthma. This was in 35 patients preceded by glomectomy. Inefficiency of the operation, presence of immunological changes was the basis for the apheresis procedures. No serious complications were observed. Both methods further the elimination of immune complexes. The treatment was positive in 33 of the 36 patients.