Current Data about Milk Caseins

Russian Journal of Bioorganic Chemistry - Cow’s milk is one of the most common triggers of food allergies in children. It is believed that the main role in the development of clinical...     

Contemporary molecular-biological methods of cancer diagnosis and monitoring based on the humoral immune response to tumor-associated antigens

Humoral immune response to tumor-associated antigens in cancer patients can be used as a basis for disease diagnosis and monitoring. Moreover, identification of molecular targets of such response may be used to develop antigen-specific anticancer vaccines. Here, we review the main approaches to identification and study of tumor-associated antigens recognized by serum antibodies. We also focus on the challenges that must be met before serological antigens can be used in clinical cancer diagnostics.     

Evaluation of specific activity of preparations of allergens from synanthropic insects

Physical, chemical and immunobiological characteristics of allergens from synanthropic insects were studied by tests for anaphylaxis, indirect degranulation of mast cells test and ELISA. Sera from 20 patients with severe and intermediate atopic asthma with sensiblization to common allergens have been studied. All extracts of allergens from synanthropic insects (german cockroach, oriental cockroach, american cockroach, speckled feeder cockroach, cricket, common house fly, brown house moth, confused flour beetle, rice weevil, grain weevil) have specific activity. Extracts of allergens from common house fly, brown house moth, german cockroach and oriental cockroach had the strongest allergenic activity as measured by ELISA. Obtained allergens can be used for insect allergy diagnostics.     

Study of allergens from vegetables, fruits and berries

Different methods of obtaining allergens from vegetables, fruit and berries have been evaluated. Two technologies for obtaining food allergens have been considered; of these, Coca's method has proved to be more technological, economical and less labor-consuming. The newly developed technology has made it possible to obtain stable, safe and specifically active allergens which may be used for diagnosing food allergy.     

Cancer-associated antigens and antigen arrays in serological diagnostics of malignant tumors

The appearance of antibodies to cancer-associated antigens in biological fluids (particularly, in blood sera) of cancer patients is now a well-established fact, and their detection by immunochemical methods is a promising approach to diagnostics of malignant neoplasms. In this review, we consider some immunobiological aspects of the most extensively studied cancer-associated B-cell antigens, various applications of autoantibodies as cancer biomarkers, and prospects for the use of antigen arrays for improving diagnostic sensitivity.     

House-dust mites allergen for specific immunotherapy by oral administration: experimental study

The oral medicinal form of house-dust allergen has been prepared with the use of new technology. To produce the preparation, the standard water-saline extract obtained from house-dust mites (Dermatophagoides farinae) allergen has been used. This preparation is chemically stable and does not lose its biological activity for 2 - 3 years of storage. The microbiological purity of the allergen meets the requirements for oral preparations. The allergen has proved to be safe in cases of prolonged administration and has no chronic toxicity. As shown with the use of immunochemical methods, the preparation has high immunogenicity and lower allergenicity. This preparation may be recommended for clinical trials on a limited circle of subjects.     

Alpha-thrombin stimulation of heparin secretion by the peritoneal mast cells in rats

The interaction of alpha-thrombin with connective tissue-type mast cells (CTMC) purified by Ficoll density gradient centrifugation has been examined. It was demonstrated that exposure of CTMC to polymixin (widely used histamine liberator) (3 mg/ml) induced the release of heparin and histamine. Exposure of CTMC to 10(-11) M alpha-thrombin resulted in increase of heparin secretion by 75.5% in relation to basal level. CTMC which were stimulated by very low concentrations of alpha-thrombin (10(-11)-10(-8) M) can release high level of heparin, but not histamine. We have a suggestion that the thrombin specificity is connected with the additional recognition binding site for high molecular substrates (HMS) distinct from the active centre. Unlike alpha-thrombin which has both the active centre and the recognition site for HMS, beta/gamma-thrombin with catalytic activity but with disrupted recognition site induced the heparin release from mast cells only at higher concentrations than alpha-thrombin. It was revealed that DIP-alpha-thrombin without proteolytic activity was unable to activate mast cells in contrast to alpha-thrombin. We consider that alpha-thrombin induced release of heparin by CTMC account for proteolytic and hormone-like activity enzyme by means of both the active centre and the additional recognition site for HMS.     

Determination of Specific Class E Immunoglobulins to Bet v 1 Birch Allergen by the Immuno-PCR Method

The aim of the work is the development of a method of detection of specific class E immunoglobulins (IgE) to the main Bet v 1 birch allergen based on immuno-PCR (iPCR). The recombinant Bet v 1 allergen was obtained in E. coli cells. Its ability to bind to specific IgE was confirmed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using previously characterized sera of individuals with an allergic reaction to birch pollen and control sera in individuals, in which the reaction to this allergen is absent. Based on the obtained recombinant protein, the method of iPCR analysis of specific IgE to Bet v 1 was developed. It was demonstrated that iPCR sensitivity is comparable to ELISA sensitivity, and the titration curves of specific sera in iPCR (unlike those in ELISA) demonstrate a linear dependence; this makes the developed method preferable for quantitative estimation of specific IgE in sera as compared with ELISA.     

The effect of a mite allergen on Na/H metabolic activity in peritoneal mast cells]

Mite allergen interacting with mast cells treated with sera from bronchial patient sensitized to home dust Dermatophagoides farinae causes changes in intracellular pH. Regulation of pHi peritoneal mast cells is participated by Na/H metabolism probably activated by protein kinase C.     

SCF/c-kit signaling is required for cyclic regeneration of the hair pigmentation unit.

Hair graying, an age-associated process of unknown etiology, is characterized by a reduced number and activity of hair follicle (HF) melanocytes. Stem cell factor (SCF) and its receptor c-kit are important for melanocyte survival during development, and mutations in these genes result in unpigmented hairs. Here we show that during cyclic HF regeneration in C57BL/6 mice, proliferating, differentiating, and melanin-producing melanocytes express c-kit, whereas presumptive melanocyte precursors do not. SCF overexpression in HF epithelium significantly increases the number and proliferative activity of melanocytes. During the induced hair cycle in C57BL/6 mice, administration of anti-c-kit antibody dose-dependently decreases hair pigmentation and leads to partially depigmented (gray) or fully depigmented (white) hairs, associated with significant decreases in melanocyte proliferation and differentiation, as determined by immunostaining and confocal microscopy. However, in the next hair cycle, the previously treated animals grow fully pigmented hairs with the normal number and distribution of melanocytes. This suggests that melanocyte stem cells are not dependent on SCF/c-kit and when appropriately stimulated can generate melanogenically active melanocytes. Therefore, the blockade of c-kit signaling offers a fully reversible model for hair depigmentation, which might be used for the studies of hair pigmentation disorders.