Биохимическое тестирование индуцированной мокроты у больных бронхиальной астмой и хроническим обструктивным бронхитом

The study was designed to investigate a role of nitric oxide, α1-acidic glycoprotein (AAGP), and tumor necrotic factor (TNF) for inflammatory response in bronchial asthma (BA) and chronic obstructive bronchitis (COB) with biochemical testing of induced sputum (IS). The study material was IS supernatant. The search of IS biochemical markers showed their different concentration in BA and COB patients dependent on the diseases stage and therapy. The IS biochemical analysis can be applied to monitor the inflammatory activity in the airways in BA and COB and the efficacy of the treatment as well.Цель исследования состояла в изучении по данным биохимического тестирования индуцированной мокроты (ИМ) роли оксида азота, α1-кислого гликопротеина (АКГП) и фактора некроза опухоли (ФНО) в формировании воспаления при бронхиальной астме (БА) и хроническом обструктивном бронхите (ХОБ). Материалом для исследования служил супернатант ИМ. Исследование биохимических маркеров в ИМ показало, что их содержание различно у больных БА и ХОБ и зависит в обеих группах от периода заболевания и используемой терапии. Биохимический анализ ИМ может быть использован для мониторинга активности воспалительного процесса в дыхательных путях при БА и ХОБ и эффективности проводимой терапии

Identification and Characterization of a Novel Lectin from the Clam Glycymeris yessoensis and Its Functional Characterization under Microbial Stimulation and Environmental Stress

Lectin from the bivalve Glycymeris yessoensis (GYL) was purified by affinity chromatography on porcine stomach mucin–Sepharose. GYL is a dimeric protein with a molecular mass of 36 kDa, as established by SDS-PAGE and MALDI-TOF analysis, consisting of 18 kDa subunits linked by a disulfide bridge. According to circular dichroism data, GYL is a β/α-protein with the predominance of β-structure. GYL preferentially agglutinates enzyme-treated rabbit erythrocytes and recognizes glycoproteins containing O-glycosidically linked glycans, such as porcine stomach mucin (PSM), fetuin, thyroglobulin, and ovalbumin. The amino acid sequences of five segments of GYL were acquired via mass spectrometry. The sequences have no homology with other known lectins. GYL is Ca2+-dependent and stable over a range above a pH of 8 and temperatures up to 20 °C for 30 min. GYL is a pattern recognition receptor, as it binds common pathogen-associated molecular patterns, such as peptidoglycan, LPS, β-1,3-glucan and mannan. GYL possesses a broad microbial-binding spectrum, including Gram-positive (Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus) and Gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli, Vibrio proteolyticus), but not the fungus Candida albicans. Expression levels of GYL in the hemolymph were significantly upregulated after bacterial challenge by V. proteolyticus plus environmental stress (diesel fuel). Results indicate that GYL is probably a new member of the C-type lectin family, and may be involved in the immune response of G. yessoensis to bacterial attack

FEATURES OF CYTOKINE PROFILE IN PATIENTS WITH ATHEROSCLEROSIS

Our study included measuring the following biological substances: cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, IFNγ, TNFα, IL-10, TGF-β1, TGF-β2, IL-2, IL-17); soluble receptors to cytokines (IL-2R, IL-6R, TNFαRI and TNFαRII); total serum cholesterol; indicators of intercellular matrix degradation (metalproteinases-9; tissular inhibitor of MMP-9 1 type (TIMP-1); MMP-9/TIMP 1 and MMP-9/TIMP 2 complexes) in 260 patients with clinically manifestations of coronary and lower limb atherosclerosis. Among the patients with atherosclerosis, we have found increased average levels of IL-6, TGF-β2, TNFα RI, TNFαRII, IL-2R, along with decreased IL-2 and IL-10 concentrations, increase of MMP-9/TIMP-2 ratio in blood serum. The following direct correlations were revealed between MMP-9 and IL-1β; between MMP-9/TIMP-1 complex and IL-1β, IL-2, IL-2R, IL-17, IL-10; TIMP-1 with TNFα, IL-2 and IL-2R. At high levels of the general cholesterol, an increased production of TNFα, IL-17, TGF-β1, IL-2, IL-10, MMP-9, TIMP-1 was detected, as well as decreased amounts of TNFα I and TNFαII soluble receptors in blood serum of these patients.Direct correlations were established between total blood cholesterol levels and IL-2, IFNγ, MMP- 9, TIMP-1, MMP-9/TIMP-2. However blood cholesterol levels showed reverse correlations with TNFαRI, and TNFαRII.In the course of this study, we have specified a functional imbalance between pro- and anti-inflammatory mechanisms of immune reaction in clinically expressed atherosclerosis. Significant regulatory interactions have been revealed between cytokine levels, total blood cholesterol and markers of intercellular matrix degradation

Spatial Structure of Lectin from the Mussel <i>Mytilus trossulus</i>: In-Sights from Molecular Modelling and Practical Proof

Most proteins have the ability to self-associate into homooligomeric protein complexes, which consist of two or more identical subunits. Today, modern methods of molecular modeling are an integral part of the study of many biologically active molecules. In silico methods are widely used in structure establishing and function and activity prediction of lectins – carbohydrate-binding proteins. Here, we described by computer simulation the spatial organization of lectin isolated from the mantle of the mussel Mytilus trossulus (MTL). It was shown that the dimerization of MTL gives a total of six ligand binding sites that may be important for the manifestation its biological properties. The ability of MTL to form a dimeric and oligomeric structure was confirmed by dynamic light scattering and SDS-PAGE methods