Stress, ageing and their influence on functional, cellular and molecular aspects of the immune system

The immune response is essential for keeping an organism healthy and for defending it from different types of pathogens. It is a complex system that consists of a large number of components performing different functions. The adequate and controlled interaction between these components is necessary for a robust and strong immune response. There are, however, many factors that interfere with the way the immune response functions. Stress and ageing now consistently appear in the literature as factors that act upon the immune system in the way that is often damaging. This review focuses on the role of stress and ageing in altering the robustness of the immune response first separately, and then simultaneously, discussing the effects that emerge from their interplay. The special focus is on the psychological stress and the impact that it has at different levels, from the whole system to the individual molecules, resulting in consequences for physical health

Decreased frequency of activation of replicon clusters in Down syndrome lymphocytes

Human blood lymphocytes from two normal and seven Down syndrome (DS) subjects were examined to determine rates of synthesis of individual replicon and adjacent clusters of replicons, using DNA fiber autoradiography. Lymphocytes in 6 of 7 DS patients were shown to have significantly slower synthesis of simultaneously active adjacent replicon clusters compared to normal controls. Rates of synthesis of individual replicons were the same in lymphocytes from all the subjects investigated. These results demonstrate differences in respect to the structural organization of clusters of replicons between DS and normal lymphocytes. A possible relation of the above phenomenon to the chromosomal radiosensitivity in DS cells is discussed

Slower synthesis of individual replicons and adjacent replicon clusters in a radiosensitive xeroderma pigmentosum strain with and without X-irradiation.

Two replication parameters, synthesis of individual replicons and adjacent replicon clusters, were measured using DNA fiber autoradiography in a radiosensitive form of group C xeroderma pigmentosum (XP) XP2SP, in group C XP4SP, in group A Cockayne syndrome (CS) CS1SP and two normal human fibroblast strains. The novel observation here is that in non-irradiated XP2SP cells synthesis of individual replicons was significantly retarded as compared with all other cell lines tested and remained unchanged after 5-Gy X-rays. Also the number of simultaneously operating adjacent replicon clusters was uniquely reduced in only non-irradiated XP2SP cells and remained unaltered after 5-Gy irradiation. While the normal, XP4SP and CS1SP cells are radiosensitive to reduction in this replication parameter to a low level seen in both non-irradiated and 5-Gy irradiated XP2SP cells. Thus, non-irradiated XP2SP cells mimic irradiated normal, XP4SP and CS1SP cells. A possible relation of the above abnormalities in individual replicons and adjacent replicon clusters to a high incidence of spontaneous sister-chromatid exchanges and X-irradiation-induced chromosomal aberrations in XP2SP cells is discussed

Decreased number of simultaneously operating adjacent clusters of replicons in some human strains with and without X-irradiation.

Several parameters of DNA replicons and replicon clusters have been examined using DNA fiber autoradiography in normal vs. mutant human cell lines showing increased chromosomal sensitivity to ionizing radiation as well as radioresistant DNA synthesis. Rates of synthesis of individual replicons for unirradiated ataxia telangiectasia (AT) AT5MO, basal cell naevus syndrome (BCNS) BCN1SP and Down's Syndrome LCH944 appeared to be in the range seen with two normal fibroblast lines. With the longer labelling times (60-165 min), the average track lengths were longer in normal fibroblasts than mutant cell; after 5 Gy of radiation, normal and mutant cells had similar track lengths for all labelling times (10-165 min), as well as unchanged rates of replicon synthesis. These observations led to the determination of 'chain length', which measures simultaneously active adjacent replicon clusters. The main finding is that 'chain length' in mutant lines was significantly lower than that in the normal fibroblasts; upon 5 Gy irradiation, the values in normal cells were reduced about two-fold while the values for mutant cells remained about the same as controls. Thus, the experiments suggest that in unirradiated mutant cells DNA replication is delayed in a comparable manner as that induced by ionizing radiation in normal cells. A possible relation of the data to the chromosomal radiosensitivity and radioresistant DNA synthesis in the mutant lines is discussed

[DNA replication in intact and X-ray-irradiated cells in the Cockayne syndrome.

Using DNA fiber autoradiography, an estimation was made of DNA replication in normal fibroblasts and in those derived from a patient with Cockayne syndrome. The rate of replication fork movement as well as the rate of DNA chain growth, dependent on the frequency of initiation sites in the adjacent clusters of replicons, did not differ in Cockayne syndrome cells, compared to cells of normal donors, either before or after exposure to ionizing radiation

Alteration in DNA replication in inirradiated basal cell nevus syndrome fibroblasts and effect of ionizing radiation.

Analysis of DNA fiber autoradiograms from basal cell nevus syndrome (BCNS) skin fibroblasts has revealed for the first time a new defect in DNA replication earlier unknown in other chromosomal instability syndromes, that involves a significantly decreased rate of DNA-chain growth in unirradiated cells. Here we present evidence that the defect may be due to a marked reduction in number of simultaneously operating groups of replicons compared to that in normal cells, the rate of fork movement and the fusion of neighbouring units in the group remaining unchanged. Radioresistant DNA synthesis was observed in the BCNS cells. The exposure of cells derived from normal donor to gamma-rays at a dose of 5 Gy reduces the number of simultaneously operating groups of replicons to the level occurring in unirradiated BCNS cells, the rate of folk movement being unchanged in both cell types. However, the incidence of fusion between neighbouring units within the group is lower in the cells exposed to gamma-rays, due perhaps to a radiation-induced lesion in the group. Thus, ionizing radiation reduces the rate of DNA synthesis to the same level, however from different initial levels. Our data suggest that the phenomenon of radioresistant DNA synthesis may be explained by the presence of the initial defect in DNA replication in BCNS or any other chromosomal instability disorders