Preparative isolation of gonadotropin and urokinase on carboxylic cation exchangers]

Low-pressure ion-exchange chromatography was used for sequential isolation of chorionic gonadotropin and urokinase (EC 3.4.99.26) from urine of pregnant women. Theoretical analysis of electrostatic interactions of protein macromolecules with the sorptive surface of a carboxylic cation exchanger was performed. This analysis allowed us to optimize the pH values for selective sorption and reversible desorption of the target component on a cation exchanger with a selected acidity of functional groups. The use of carboxylic cation exchangers KM-2p and Biokarb-GM allowed us to obtain the preparations with purity not inferior to commercially available preparations.     

DNA-Hydrolyzing Antibodies from Sera of Autoimmune-Prone MRL/MpJ-lpr Mice

Catalytically active antibodies (abzymes) hydrolyzing proteins, polysaccharides, ATP, DNA, and RNA have been detected in the sera of patients with various autoimmune and some viral diseases, but abzymes from the sera of animals are practically unstudied. The development of lupus-like autoimmune disease of MRL/MpJ-lpr mice is an experimental model for study of autoimmune pathologies and immunopathogenesis. In this work, homogeneous IgG preparations were isolated from the sera of MRL/MpJ-lpr mice. These antibodies (Abs), their Fab-fragments, and isolated light chains were shown to possess catalytic activity in DNA hydrolysis, whereas Abs from the sera of control healthy mice did not hydrolyze DNA. The data demonstrate that DNA hydrolyzing activity is an intrinsic property of Abs from MRL/MpJ-lpr mice. It was shown that various markers of autoimmune pathologies (level of total protein concentration in urea (proteinuria), Abs titers to native and denatured DNA, and DNA-hydrolyzing activity of IgG) increased in animals with aging, but they noticeably increased (2-22 times) only after appearance of obvious indicators of pathology independently of age. The highest increase in proteinuria (25-fold), anti-DNA Abs titers (12-19-fold), and abzyme activity (120-fold) was found in mice after their immunization with DNA–protein complex.     

Catalytic antibodies in the bone marrow and other organs of Th mice during spontaneous development of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis associated with cell differentiation

Exact mechanisms of autoimmune disease development are still yet unknown. However, it is known that the development of autoimmune diseases is associated with defects in the immune system, namely, the violation of the bone marrow hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) differentiation profiles. Different characteristics of autoimmune reaction development in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) prone Th mice characterizing T-lymphocytes response were analyzed using standard approaches. Profiles of several HSCs differentiation of bone marrow (BFU-E, CFU-E, CFU-GM, CFU-GEMM, T- and B-lymphocytes) of Th male and female mice during spontaneous development of EAE were noticeably different. Patterns of total lymphocytes, B- and T-cells proliferation in several different organs (bone marrow, blood, spleen, thymus, and lymph nodes) were also remarkably different. In addition, there were in time noticeable differences in their changes for some organs of male and female mice. Characters of changes in the profiles of CD4 and CD8 cells proliferation in some organs not always coincide with those for total T lymphocytes. The changes in the differentiation profiles of HSCs and the level of lymphocytes proliferation in the bone marrow and other organs were associated with the increase in the concentration of antibodies against DNA, myelin basic protein, and myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein, and catalytic antibodies hydrolyzing these substrates. Despite some differences in changes in the analyzed parameters, in general, the spontaneous development of EAE in male and female mice occurs to some extent in a comparable way.

     

Changes in the lactate dehydrogenase isoenzyme spectrum during T-lymphocyte differentiation

The pattern of lactate dehydrogenase isoenzyme spectrum changes on different stages of T-lymphocyte differentiation was studied An enriched population of stem cells has LDH-5, 4 and 3 isoenzymes, and much less LDH-2 activity. The isoenzyme pattern of thymic cell precursors consists of LDH-5, 4, 3 and 2. All the five LDH isoenzymes were found in cortical thymocytes. Medullary thymocytes reveal LDH-5, 4 and 3 isoenzymes. T-lymphocytes of peripheral lymphoid organs contain mainly LDH-5 and in a lesser degree LDH-4 activity.     

Antimicrobial Activity of Geometric Isomers of Etherolenic Acid—the Products of Plant Lipoxygenase Cascade

Data on the influence of the double bond geometry on the antimicrobial properties of different isomers of etherolenic acid against phytopathogenic bacteria are presented. (ω5Z)-Etherolenic acid possesses bactericidal properties against Xanthomonas campestris ssp. vesicatoria, Pseudomonas syringae ssp. tomato, Pectobacterium atrosepticum SCRI1043; the etherolenic and (11Z)-etherolenic acids possess only bacteriostatic properties.