[Analysis of polymorphism of the interleukin-4 gene of healthy and HIV-infected persons]. / Analiz polimorfizma gena interleikina-4 u zdorovykh i VICH-infitsirovannykh lits.

The distribution of the allel variants of the promoter area (C = 590T) of the interleukin-4 (IL-4) gene in HIV-infected and relatively healthy representatives of the Caucasoid population has been studied. The relationship between the genotypes of this polymorphism and the production of IL-4 by mononuclear cells of peripheral blood as well as distribution of IL-4 genotypes among males and females is analyzed. The occurrence of the homozygous combination of the allel variant C/C of the promoter of IL-4 has been shown to prevail almost twofold over the occurrence of the variant C/T among healthy donors and HIV-infected patients. Sexual differences play an essential role in the character of inheriting the allel variants of the genes of IL-4, the presence of the homozygous variant C/C or T/T being a risk factor of HIV infection in males. As revealed in this study, in the peripheral blood of healthy donors mononuclear cells having genotype C/C differ from cells with the heterozygous variant C/T in higher spontaneous production of IL-4 and, simultaneously, in lower capacity for the activation of its production in response to stimulation with mitogen. In HIV-infected patients mononuclear cells differ in higher spontaneous production of IL-4 in comparison with controls. We may thus infer that the human genotype controlling the initial level of the production of IL-4 by lymphocytes Th2 may influence the intensity of antibody production in the process of infection.

Therapeutic effectiveness of 2,3,2 tet, cyclam and EDTA in toads exposed to lethal doses of nickel and cobalt.

1. In the course of the present investigation, three chelating agents (2,3,2 tet, cyclam or EDTA) were tested for their therapeutic effect on nickel and cobalt poisoned toad. 2. Our results showed that EDTA appears to be superior to the two other ligands, which have been proved to be chemical ligands for Ni and Co in vitro. 3. EDTA was able to prevent disturbances in the activities of serum aspartate and alanine aminotransferases, alkaline phosphatase, total protein, urea, uric acid and blood glucose level. 4. Our results suggest caution in the use of 2,3,2 tet or cyclam in human Ni and Co intoxication.

Studies of Zn, Mg, Cu, Ca and Fe in cadmium poisoned toads before and after treatment with EDTA.

Zn, Mg, Cu, Ca and Fe were determined spectrophotometrically in liver, kidneys, muscle, spleen and blood of Bufo regularis after a single i.m. injection of 6.2 mg Cd/kg (which represents the 96 hr LD50) alone or in combination with 40 mg EDTA/kg (the minimal EDTA concentration causing 100% survival over that period). Cadmium administration caused recognizable effects on the essential metals levels in different tissues and organs. In the majority of the tissues and organs studied, zinc and copper concentrations returned to their normal ranges in animals that received both cadmium and EDTA. In contrast, magnesium, calcium and iron contents not only returned back to their control values but also exceeded them.

The use of the chelating agent EDTA in the treatment of acute cadmium toxicity, tissue distribution and some blood parameters in the Egyptian toad Bufo regularis.

Erythrocyte count, haemoglobin content, haematocrit value, erythrocyte sedimentation rate and cadmium accumulation in some organs and tissues were estimated in toads administered 6.2 mg Cd2+/kg i.m. for 4 days. EDTA therapy caused considerable decrease in all the blood parameters studied. A striking reduction in the cadmium content of all the organs and tissues studied except the kidneys was also observed after simultaneous treatment with EDTA.