CHANGE OF NON-SPECIFIC FACTORS OF IMMUNITY UNDER INFLUENCE OF INTERFERON INDUCTOR (CYCLOFERON) IN BRONCHIAL ASTHMA IN CHILDREN

The aim of the work was to evaluate the effect of immunomodulation therapy on factors of nonspecific immunity in children with bronchial asthma (BA) by including interferon (cycloferon) in a standard therapy. 120 children with BA aged from 5 to 14 were examined. The main group (n = 60) included children who, in addition to basic therapy, received an interferon inducer (cycloferon) according to the generally accepted scheme. In comparison group were children who received only basic therapy (n = 60), depending on the severity of the disease. In control group were 25 healthy children. The level of serum interferon, virus-induced interferon production (VII), mitogen-stimulated production of interferon (MSI), phagocytic activity of neutrophils, as well as spontaneous and induced activity were determined. The arithmetic mean (M) and the absolute value error (m) were statistically calculated. The reliability of the differences was determined by the t-test of the Student (p < 0,05). The analysis of the indices of interferon status and phagocytic activity, depending on the type of therapeutic tactics, showed that as a result of the inclusion of cycloferon in the baseline, there was a significant increase in the levels of VII (p < 0,05) and MSI (p < 0,05 ), spontaneous and induced neutrophil activity. It was noted that this positive effect was more noticeable in moderate and severe BA (p < 0,05). Activation of factors of nonspecific protection contributed to a decrease in the frequency of exacerbations of BA in children, as well as a longer-term clinical remission in this contingent of children

МАГМАТИЧЕСКИЕ ПОРОДЫ ТЕКТУРМАССКОГО АККРЕЦИОННОГО КОМПЛЕКСА, ЦЕНТРАЛЬНЫЙ КАЗАХСТАН: ГЕОЛОГИЧЕСКАЯ ПОЗИЦИЯ И ГЕОДИНАМИЧЕСКИЕ ОБСТАНОВКИ ФОРМИРОВАНИЯ

The paper provides an overview of the geological structure and presents new data on petrography and geochemistry of igneous rocks of the Tekturmas accretionary complex (TAC). Consideration is being given to the age, petrogenesis and probable tectonic settings of formation of igneous rocks. It is shown that the TAC and adjacent ophiolite belt are parts of the Late Cambrian – Ordovician Pacific-type orogenic belt formed at an active margin of the Paleo-Asian Ocean. The TAC is dominated mainly by tholeiitic mafic igneous rocks (basalt, dolerite, gabbro). There are recognized three groups of rocks: high-Ti, medium-Ti and low-Ti. Geological and geochemical features of TAC igneous rocks suggest their formation in three tectonic settings: mid-ocean ridge (medium-Ti), oceanic island/seamount (high-Ti) and over subduction zones (low-Ti).В статье представлен обзор геологического строения и новые данные по петрографии и химическому составу вулканических пород Тектурмасского аккреционного комплекса (ТАК). Обсуждается их возраст, условия петрогенезиса и вероятные тектонические обстановки формирования. Показано, что ТАК и связанный с ним офиолитовый пояс являются частью орогена тихоокеанского типа позднекембрийско-ордовикского возраста, образованного на активной окраине Палеоазиатского океана. Выделены магматические комплексы преимущественно основного состава (базальты, долериты, габбро) преимущественно толеитовой серии. По содержанию TiO2 базальты и андезибазальты можно разделить на три группы: высоко-Ti, средне-Ti и низкo-Ti. Геологическая позиция и геохимические характеристики магматических пород ТАК предполагают образование cредне-Ti базальтов в обстановке срединно-океанического хребта, высоко-Ti и щелочных андезитов – в обстановке океанического острова/симаунта, а низко-Ti вулканитов – в надсубдукционной обстановке

The ART-XC telescope on board the SRG observatory

ART-XC (Astronomical Roentgen Telescope - X-ray Concentrator) is the hard X-ray instrument with grazing incidence imaging optics on board the Spektr-Roentgen-Gamma (SRG) observatory. The SRG observatory is the flagship astrophysical mission of the Russian Federal Space Program, which was successively launched into orbit around the second Lagrangian point (L2) of the Earth-Sun system with a Proton rocket from the Baikonur cosmodrome on 13 July 2019. The ART-XC telescope will provide the first ever true imaging all-sky survey performed with grazing incidence optics in the 4-30 keV energy band and will obtain the deepest and sharpest map of the sky in the energy range of 4-12 keV. Observations performed during the early calibration and performance verification phase as well as during the on-going all-sky survey that started on 12 Dec. 2019 have demonstrated that the in-flight characteristics of the ART-XC telescope are very close to expectations based on the results of ground calibrations. Upon completion of its 4-year all-sky survey, ART-XC is expected to detect ~5000 sources (~3000 active galactic nuclei, including heavily obscured ones, several hundred clusters of galaxies, ~1000 cataclysmic variables and other Galactic sources), and to provide a high-quality map of the Galactic background emission in the 4-12 keV energy band. ART-XC is also well suited for discovering transient X-ray sources. In this paper, we describe the telescope, results of its ground calibrations, major aspects of the mission, the in-flight performance of ART-XC and first scientific results.Comment: 19 pages, 30 figures, accepted for publication in Astronomy and Astrophysic

Prognostic significance of bcl-2 expression in stage III breast cancer patients who had received doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide followed by paclitaxel as adjuvant chemotherapy

BACKGROUND: Bcl-2 is positively regulated by hormonal receptor pathways in breast cancer. A study was conducted to assess the prognostic significances of clinico-pathologic variables and of ER, PR, p53, c-erbB2, bcl-2, or Ki-67 as markers of relapse in breast cancer patients who had received the identical adjuvant therapy at a single institution. METHODS: A cohort of 151 curatively resected stage III breast cancer patients (M:F = 3:148, median age 46 years) who had 4 or more positive lymph nodes and received doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide followed by paclitaxel (AC/T) as adjuvant chemotherapy was analyzed for clinico-pathologic characteristics including disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS). Patients with positive ER and/or PR expression received 5 years of tamoxifen following AC/T. The protein expressions of biomarkers were assessed immunohistochemically. RESULTS: The median follow-up duration was 36 months, and 37 patients (24.5%) experienced a recurrence. Univariate analyses indicated that the tumor size (P = 0.038) and the number of involved lymph nodes (P < 0.001) significantly affected the recurrences. However, the type of surgery, the histology, histologic grade, the presence of endolymphatic emboli, and a close resection margin did not. Moreover, ER positivity (P = 0.013), bcl-2 positivity (P = 0.002) and low p53 expression (P = 0.032) were found to be significantly associated with a prolonged DFS. Furthermore, multivariate analysis identified 10 or more involved lymph nodes (HR 7.366; P < 0.001), negative bcl-2 expression (HR 2.895; P = 0.030), and c-erbB2 over-expression (HR 3.535; P = 0.001) as independent indicators of poorer DFS. In addition, bcl-2 expression was found to be significantly correlated with the expressions of ER and PR, and inversely correlated with the expressions of p53, c-erbB2 and Ki-67. Patients with bcl-2 expression had a significantly longer DFS than those without, even in the ER (+) subgroup. Moreover, OS was significantly affected by ER, bcl-2 and c-erbB2. CONCLUSION: Bcl-2 is an independent prognostic factor of DFS in curatively resected stage III breast cancer patients and appears to be a useful prognostic factor in combination with c-erbB2 and the number of involved lymph nodes

Влияние ДНК-тропных антиканцерогенных соединений на механизмы регуляции экспрессии генов

The presented review is devoted to the analysis of molecular mechanisms of action for different natural DNA-tropic compounds with established tumor preventive activity. Here we present their cancer preventive effects observed in vivo, mechanisms of DNA binding, influence on epigenetic regulation and “housekeeping” protein function. Additionally, the influence of these compounds on DNA helix parameters is discussed that should impact on epigenetic regulation of gene expression and formation of topologically associated domains.Обзор посвящен анализу молекулярных механизмов действия ряда природных ДНК-тропных соединений с установленной антиканцерогенной активностью. Приведены данные исследований антиканцерогенного действия этих соединений в экспериментах in vivo, рассмотрены механизмы их связывания с ДНК, влияния на метилирование ДНК и модификацию гистонов, способность к ингибированию функций ферментов «домашнего хозяйства». Кроме того, проанализированы возможные эффекты этих соединений на характеристики дуплекса ДНК, что должно иметь значение для эпигенетической регуляции экспрессии генов и формирования топологически ассоциированных доменов

Активация сигнального пути интерферона-альфа ресвератролом, генистеином и кверцетином

Resveratrol, genistein and quercetin from the group of polyphenols from secondary plant metabolites reveal cancer preventive and antivirus effects realized via their pleiotropic influence on the different macromolecules in cells. These compounds can interact with DNA without the formation of covalent bonds. This process is usually followed by changes in spatial, physical-chemical and structural DNA characteristics that can result in disfunction of DNA metabolism enzymes and chromatin destabilization. Similar effects were described for anticancer drug Curaxine CBL0137 in association with activation of interferon-α signaling. We demonstrated dose-dependent stimulating effects of resveratrol, genistein and quercetin on interferon-α signaling using HeLa cells expressed mCherry protein with interferon-stimulated response elements (ISRE) in promoter. Furthermore, it was shown by live-cell fluorescent microscopy in HT1080 cells with mCherry-labeled histone H1.5 that described polyphenols induced the redistribution of this linker histone in cell nuclei. The data obtained suggest an existence of DNA-dependent mechanism of anticancer effects of plant polyphenols and a need for further study of crosslinks between the polyphenols’ influence on chromatin structure and the changes in genome function, in particular, induction of interferon- interferon-α signaling.Ресвератрол, кверцетин и генистеин, относящиеся к полифенолам вторичных метаболитов растений, обладают антиканцерогенным и противовирусным эффектами, реализуемыми в результате их плейотропного действия на различные макромолекулы клетки. Эти соединения могут взаимодействовать с ДНК, не образуя ковалентные связи. При этом может происходить изменение пространственных, физико-химических и структурных характеристик ДНК, что может приводить к нарушению функционирования белков метаболизма ДНК и вызывать дестабилизацию хроматина. Такие эффекты были описаны для нового противоопухолевого препарата Кураксина CBL0137, причем индуцированная данным соединением дестабилизация хроматина приводила к активации сигнального пути интерферона-α. Используя клеточную линию HeLa с трансгенным флуоресцентным белком mCherry, содержащим в промоторной области консенсусный сайт связывания интерферона-α (ISRE), мы продемонстрировали дозозависимый стимулирующий эффект ресвератрола, кверцетина и генистеина на активность сигнального пути интерферона-α. Использование прижизненной флуоресцентной микроскопии на клеточной линии HT1080 c трансгенным флуоресцентно-меченным гистоном H1.5 позволило продемонстрировать, что данные полифенолы вызывают перераспределение данного линкерного гистона в ядрах клеток. Полученные нами данные свидетельствуют о возможности существования ДНК-зависимого механизма реализации противоопухолевого действия растительных полифенолов и необходимости дальнейшего изучения влияния полифенолов на структуру хроматина и связанного с этим изменения функционирования генома, в частности регуляции сигнального пути интерферона-α

p27 Deficiency Cooperates with Bcl-2 but Not Bax to Promote T-Cell Lymphoma

The effect of Bcl-2 on oncogenesis is complex and expression may either delay or accelerate oncogenesis. The pro-oncogenic activity is attributed to its well characterized anti-apoptotic function while the anti-oncogenic function has been attributed to its inhibition of cellular proliferation. Recent studies demonstrate that p27 may mediate the effects of Bcl-2 on cellular proliferation. We hypothesized that p27 may suppress tumor formation by Bcl-2 family members. To test this hypothesis, cell cycle inhibition and lymphoma development were examined in Lck-Bcl-2 and Lck-Bax38/1 transgenic mice deficient in p27. Strikingly, p27 deficiency synergistically cooperates with Bcl-2 to increase T cell hyperplasia and development of spontaneous T cell lymphomas. Within 1 year, >90% of these mice had developed thymic T cell lymphomas. This high penetrance contrasts with a one year incidence of <5% of thymic lymphoma in Lck-Bcl-2 or p27 −/− mice alone. In contrast, p27 deficiency had no effect on tumor formation in Lck-Bax38/1 transgenic mice, another model of T cell lymphoma. Histologically the lymphomas in p27 −/− Lck-Bcl-2 mice are lymphoblastic and frequently involve multiple organs suggesting an aggressive phenotype. Interestingly, in mature splenic T cells, Bcl-2 largely retains its anti-proliferative function even in the absence of p27. T cells from p27 −/− Lck-Bcl-2 mice show delayed kinetics of CDK2 Thr-160 phosphorylation. This delay is associated with a delay in the up regulation of both Cyclin D2 and D3. These data demonstrate a complex relationship between the Bcl-2 family, cellular proliferation, and oncogenesis and demonstrate that p27 up-regulation is not singularly important in the proliferative delay observed in T cells expressing Bcl-2 family members. Nonetheless, the results indicate that p27 is a critical tumor suppressor in the context of Bcl-2 expression

An NF-κB and Slug Regulatory Loop Active in Early Vertebrate Mesoderm

BACKGROUND: In both Drosophila and the mouse, the zinc finger transcription factor Snail is required for mesoderm formation; its vertebrate paralog Slug (Snai2) appears to be required for neural crest formation in the chick and the clawed frog Xenopus laevis. Both Slug and Snail act to induce epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) and to suppress apoptosis. METHODOLOGY & PRINCIPLE FINDINGS: Morpholino-based loss of function studies indicate that Slug is required for the normal expression of both mesodermal and neural crest markers in X. laevis. Both phenotypes are rescued by injection of RNA encoding the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-xL; Bcl-xL's effects are dependent upon IκB kinase-mediated activation of the bipartite transcription factor NF-κB. NF-κB, in turn, directly up-regulates levels of Slug and Snail RNAs. Slug indirectly up-regulates levels of RNAs encoding the NF-κB subunit proteins RelA, Rel2, and Rel3, and directly down-regulates levels of the pro-apopotic Caspase-9 RNA. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: These studies reveal a Slug/Snail–NF-κB regulatory circuit, analogous to that present in the early Drosophila embryo, active during mesodermal formation in Xenopus. This is a regulatory interaction of significance both in development and in the course of inflammatory and metastatic disease