Effect of Alpha-Fetoprotein on Differentiation of Myeloid Supressor Cells

Doklady Biochemistry and Biophysics - The effect of recombinant alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) on human myeloid suppressor cell (MDSC) differentiation was studied in vitro in the presence of cytokines...     

Role of α-fetoprotein in differentiation of regulatory T lymphocytes

The effect of native α-fetoprotein (AFP) on the expression of T-regulatory lymphocyte (Treg) markers by activated CD4⁺ lymphocytes with different proliferative status was studied. α-Fetoprotein did not affect the ratio of proliferating and non-proliferating activated CD4⁺ cells. In the study of Treg differentiation, it was found that AFP at concentrations of 50 and 100 μg/mL significantly inhibited the number of nonproliferating CD4⁺FOXP3⁺ and CD4⁺FOXP3⁺HELIOS⁺ lymphocytes without affecting the expression of Treg markers by proliferating CD4⁺ lymphocytes.     

Effect of pregnancy-specific β1-glycoprotein on indoleamine-2,3-dioxygenase activity in human monocytes

The role of heterogenic human pregnancy-specific glycoprotein (PSG), obtained by the authors’ technology, in the regulation of the indoleamine-2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) activity in female blood monocytes has been studied in vitro. PSG stimulated IDO activity under the conditions of induction of the monocytes by interferon-γ. Upon the induction of cell proliferation by lipopolysaccharides, the stimulating effect was obtained only with 10 μg/mL of PSG. Enhanced IDO activity is probably a factor of peripheral immunological tolerance and antimicrobial protection against intracellular infections in the gestation period.     

The epidemic situation in relation to HIV infection in Ukraine (1987-1997)

The analysis of the dynamics of the epidemic process for 10 years made it possible to find out the presence of two separate epidemic waves of HIV infection. The first wave (1987-1994) was manifested as the slow type of the development of the epidemic, characterized mainly by sexual transmission. During this period 398 persons with HIV infection were detected, 24 persons were found to have AIDS; of these, 13 persons died. The second epidemic wave began in 1995 and was due to the spread of HIV among users of drugs introduced by injection. By the end of 1995 the number of HIV carriers was 34 times greater than that of 1994, reaching 1490 persons. In 1996-1997 this figure increased 8 times (annually). The number of AIDS patients rose to 420 persons. The most unfavorable regions with respect to HIV infection and AIDS morbidity were determined. The western regions of the Ukraine were noted to be in a more favorable situation in this respect with infection indices being lower more than 30 times. Up to 80% of all infected persons were found to be addicts introducing drugs intravenously. Growing morbidity in sexually transmitted disease, particularly in syphilis, contributed to the deterioration of the epidemiological situation. The conclusion was made on the necessity of introducing new prophylactic programs and expanding current ones. The signs of stabilization in Odessa and Nikolayev were observed; in these cities pilot programs aimed at the strategy of the "decrease of harm" have been introduced (in collaboration with UNAIDS) since 1996.     

Solution of the problem of nonspecific binding in solid-phase noninstrumental dot immunoassay

In this work, we evaluated blocking properties of various reagents used in dot immunoassay test systems on nitrocellulose membranes employing carbon-based diagnosticum to determine antibodies to tetanus anatoxin, thermostable toxin of Yersinia pseudotuberculosis, and HIV-I. The results support the usage of a nonionic detergent Tween 20 which efficiently inhibited nonspecific protein binding to the solid-phase reagent surface and did not decrease sensitivity of the analysis.