Effect of macrophage-activating factor (GcMAF-RF) upon ex vivo polarization of macrophages, activation of dendritic cells and production of cytokines by human whole blood cells

This article is the second communication in a series of articles devoted to the effects of a domestic preparation of macrophage-activating factor (GcMAF-RF) and assessment of its biological properties. The aim of this work was to study the effect of the GcMAF-RF upon M0 → M1 polarization of macrophages (Mph), and activation of the professional properties of ex vivo generated antigen-presenting dendritic cells (DC), as well as on ex vivo production of pro-inflammatory (TNFα, IL-1β, IL-6, IFNγ, IL-17, IL-18) and anti-inflammatory (TGF-β, IL-4, IL-10) cytokines, growth factors (IL-2, GM-CSF, G-CSF, VEGF) and chemokines (MCP, IL-8) by the whole blood cells from healthy donors. Mph and DC were generated from the monocytes (3 to 5×106 /ml) derived from adherent fraction of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (MNC) of healthy donors. Granulocyte/macrophage colony-stimulating factor (rhGM-CSF) was used to obtain Mph, whereas DC production was induced by GM-CSF and interferon-α. To provide M1 polarizing signals, bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS from E. coli 0114:B4) was used in controls. In experimental series, GcMAF-RF was added 48 h before the end of culture. The stimulating effect of the obtained Mph and DC upon cell proliferation was assessed in allogeneic mixed culture of leukocytes (alloMLC) using radiometric technique, by 3 H-thymidine incorporation. The influence index (IR) of Mph or DC upon allo-SCL was calculated as the ratio of the proliferative response of MNCs in the presence of Mph, or DC to the level of spontaneous MNC proliferation. To determine the cytokine production by human whole blood cells ex vivo, peripheral blood samples from 3 donors with two replicate GcMAF-RF preparations were used, at a total of 6 points. All variants of the study were carried out with mitogen-activated and non-activated blood cells. The cytokine content was determined by the ELISA assays. The effects of GcMAF-RF were quantified as a fold increase (FI), i.e., the ratio of cytokine production in the presence of GcMAF-RF to the level of their spontaneous production. It was shown that the GcMAF-RF preparation was as effective, as lipopolysaccharide (LPS), the standard Mph and DC activator which induces polarization of differentiated M0-macrophages into M1 cells and final maturation of DCs, manifesting by a significant increase in their allo-stimulatory activity in a mixed leukocyte culture (allo-MLC). Moreover, GcMAF-RF stimulates production of numerous cytokines and chemokines (TNFα, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-18, IL-4, IL-10, GM-CSF, G-CSF, VEGF, IL-8), by blood cells (granulocytes, lymphocytes, monocytes), thus indicating direct participation of the macrophage activator GcMAF-RF in various immune processes. The domestic GcMAF-RF drug induces polarization of macrophages M0 → M1, final maturation of DCs and allostimulating activity of Mf and DCs, and is also able to effectively stimulate circulating blood cells to synthesize cytokines/chemokines with pro-inflammatory and immunoregulatory activities

Клиническое исследование переносимости, безопасности и иммуногенности отечественной гриппозной инактивированной сплит-вакцины «ФЛЮ-М» у детей в возрасте от 6 месяцев до 9 лет

Purpose: To study the reactogenicity, safety and immunogenicity of the Russian vaccine Flu-M in comparison with Vaxigrip vaccine for influenza prevention in children aged from 6 months to 9 years (phase III).Materials and Methods. In 2021, a clinical study was conducted in which children aged 6 months to 9 years were immunized with Flu-M vaccine (produced by SPbSRIVS, Russia) and Vaxigrip vaccine (produced by Sanofi Pasteur S.A., France). After randomization one group of children was vaccinated with Flu-M, the other with Vaxigrip, and monitored for 180±3 days after vaccination. Children vaccinated between 3 and 9 years of age were studied in phase I, and between 6 months and 3 years of age in phase II. Tolerability and safety were assessed by the frequency and extent of adverse events, as well as by the assessment of vital signs and physical examination. Immunological efficacy assessment criteria were geometric mean antibody titer, seroconversion level, seroconversion factor, seroprotection level.Results. Both vaccines (Flu-M and Vaxigrip) were shown to be well tolerated by children of both age groups. No serious adverse events or severe adverse events were reported   in the study. Immunological efficacy criteria were achieved for both vaccines for all strains of influenza virus in children of both age groups at 28 and 56 days after vaccination. No cases of influenza or acute respiratory infections were seen at 180±3 days postvaccination.Conclusion. The results of the clinical study show that the Flu-M and Vaxigrip vaccines are comparable in both age groups of children.The trial is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT 05470582).Цель: изучение реактогенности, безопасности и иммуногенности отечественной вакцины «Флю-М» в сравнении с вакциной «Ваксигрип» для профилактики гриппа у детей в возрасте от 6 месяцев до 9 лет (фаза III).Материалы и методы: в 2021 г. проведено клиническое исследование при иммунизации детей в возрасте от 6 месяцев до 9 лет вакциной «Флю-М» (производство СПбНИИВС, Россия) и вакциной «Ваксигрип» (производство «Санофи Пастер С.А.», Франция). После рандомизации в соотношении 1:1 одну группу детей прививали вакциной «Флю-М», другую  –  вакциной  «Ваксигрип» и наблюдали в течение 180±3 суток после  вакцинации. На I этапе исследовали детей в возрасте от 3 до    9 лет, на II этапе – в возрасте от 6 месяцев до 3 лет. Переносимость и безопасность оценивали по частоте развития и степени тяжести нежелательных явлений, а также по результатам лабораторных исследований, оценки показателей жизненно важных функций и результатам физикального обследования и неврологического осмотра. Критериями оценки иммунологической эффективности являлись средняя геометрическая титра антител, уровень сероконверсии, фактор сероконверсии, уровень серопротекции.Результаты: показано, что обе вакцины («Флю-М» и «Ваксигрип») хорошо переносились детьми обеих возрастных групп. Нежелательных явлений сильной степени тяжести, а также серьезных нежелательных явлений в исследовании не было зарегистрировано. Критерии иммунологической эффективности были достигнуты для обеих вакцин по всем штаммам вируса гриппа у детей обеих возрастных категорий через 28 и 56 дней после вакцинации. В ходе наблюдения в течение 180±3 суток после вакцинации случаев заболеваемости гриппом или острыми респираторными вирусными инфекциями не отмечалось.Заключение: результаты клинического исследования свидетельствуют о сопоставимости вакцин «Флю-М» и «Ваксигрип» для детей обеих возрастных категорий. Исследование зарегистрировано на ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT05470582)

Classification of bulk material from the gas flow in a device with coaxially arranged pipes

The paper deals with the problem of classification of bulk material, based on silica gel, larger than 30 µm, from dusty gas flow. In order to solve this problem, the design of a classifier with coaxially arranged pipes is proposed. According to the conducted studies, it is more efficient to use a classifier with an inner conical pipe to solve the problems of separating the particles from the gas flows of various sizes, since a greater value is achieved for the centrifugal, inertial, gravitational and other forces acting on the dusty flow, that contribute to knocking the particles out of its structure, than in a classifier with a cylindrical inner pipe. On average, the efficiency of a classifier with a conical inner pipe is by 35.3% higher than that of a classifier with a cylindrical inner pipe. Classification of particles of bulk material, based on silica gel, larger than 30 µm from the dusty gas flows is solved most effectively by using a classifier with a conical inner pipe and hd parameter of 50 mm and a classifier with a cylindrical inner pipe and hd parameter of –10 mm