Bronchial asthma (BA) is a heterogeneous chronic inflammatory disease of the respiratory tract. The majority of patients with mild to moderate BA are well respond to corticosteroid treatment. However, there is a group of patients (up to 10% of BA cases) with severe BA which resistant to conventional corticosteroid therapy. A detailed study of this phenomenon revealed a relationship between the severity of BA, activation of Th1- and Th17-immune responses and neutrophilic type of inflammation. At the same time patients with Th2-mediated eosinophilic pulmonary inflammation respond to corticosteroids well. In order to understand the mechanisms of corticosteroid resistance we developed a model of BA in mice with a predominant neutrophilic rather than eosinophilic type of inflammation. BALB/c mice were immunized with the mixture of the ovalbumin allergen and Freund’s adjuvant, followed by aerosol challenge with the same allergen mixed with E. coli lipopolysaccharide. As a result, mice developed key manifestations of neutrophilic BA: production of allergen-specific IgE antibodies, development of bronchial hyperreactivity, remodeling of the respiratory tract and infiltration of lung tissue with neutrophils. Moreover, the development of this pathology was Th17-dependent, that corresponds to the clinical observations in human. The presented model of neutrophilic BA in mice can be used both for studying the pathogenesis of the disease, and for testing new approaches to its therapy.

Reddytux^® is an antitumor agent that is a monoclonal antibody against the CD20 transmembrane antigen. The drug is registered in Russian Federation since 2016. Reddytux^® is the cheapest biosimilar drug containing rituximab, included in the list of vital and most important drugs for medical use. This means that it can be the best-choice medication in the treatment of patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) in complex and monotherapy. No works evaluating the clinical experience of Reddytux^® in Russian Federation have been published. We conducted a study on the effectiveness of the use of the Reddytux^® (rituximab bioanalogue) in patients older than 35 years with DLBCL during immunochemotherapy in the R-CHOP mode. As a control was taken a group of patients who underwent a course of immunochemotherapy in the CHOP mode. It was shown that in the group treated in the R-CHOP regimen (with the inclusion of the Reddytux^® preparation), the frequency of complete remissions increased, the overall and event-free survival rate, the mortality of patients during treatment decreased, and the number of relapses decreased. In addition, a clinical example of the successful use of R-CHOP therapy with the addition of the Reddytux^® preparation is given, which made it possible to achieve complete remission of the disease, confirmed by CT data.

The aim of the present study was to assess the association rs3213619, rs2229109, rs1128503, rs2032582 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the ABCB1 gene with response to cyclosporine treatment in Russian patients with psoriasis. DNA samples were collected from 168 patients with psoriasis. Genotyping of rs3213619, rs2229109, rs1128503, rs2032582 SNPs in the ABCB1 gene was performed by real-time polymerase chain reaction using the CFX 96™ RealTime Cycler (BioRad, USA). The variant rs1045642 in the ABCB1 gene showed an association with a negative response to cyclosporine therapy (OR = 2.58, 95% CI = 1.64-4.06). Further, larger studies are required to confirm our findings and replicate them in various populations.

Miscarriage remains an actual public health problem worldwide. Fetal-maternal interaction, in which pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines are of great importance, determines the outcome of pregnancy. The aim of the study was to perform a comparative assessment of the immune microenvironment in the placenta and gravidar endometrium in various mouse models of pregnancy. The non-abortion-prone ♀CBA×♂Balb/c mating was used for modeling a physiological pregnancy. Spontaneous abortions were reproduced by the abortion-prone ♀CBA×♂DBA/2 mating. Abortions induced or potentiated by an immunostimulant were simulated in ♀CBA×♂BALB/c or CBA×♂DBA/2 matings, respectively, by intraperitoneal injections of muramyl dipeptide β-heptylglycoside (C7MDP) on the 5^th and 7^th days of gestation. Mice were sacrificed on the 8^th day of gestation, then uteroplacental units were isolated. In formalin-fixed, paraffin embedded tissue sections from uteroplacental units, cells producing transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) and interleukin-10 (IL-10) were immunohistochemically stained, followed by an assessment of their distribution density. In homogenates of uteroplacental units of mice, a low level of IL-1α was observed in the groups of spontaneous and potentiated abortions. In the group of induced abortions, the highest level of IL-5 was observed in comparison with the groups of physiological pregnancy and potentiated abortions. The level of IL-10 was the highest in the group of physiological pregnancy, and the lowest in the group of spontaneous abortions, which corresponded to the density of IL-10⁺-cells obtained by analysis of immunohistochemical staining. IFN-γ was highest in the physiological pregnancy group and lowest in the spontaneous abortion group. In the group of potentiated abortions, its level increased in comparison with the group of spontaneous abortions. Increased resorption in the induced abortion group occurs against the background of a decrease in IL-10 and an increase in IL-5, and in the potentiated abortion group against a background of an increase in both IL-10 and IFN-γ. Obviously, the abortogenic effect of C7MDP in pregnant mice with initially different levels of embryonic loss is realized with the participation of various immune mechanisms.

Introduction. The composition of the microbiota of the oral cavity is crucial in the formation of a normal biocenosis, its imbalance can be the cause of pathophysiological processes not only of the oral cavity, but also of the whole organism. Disorder of the microbiome diversity in the oral cavity, a quantitative decrease in the presence of opportunistic microflora contributes to the population of pathogenic strains and correlates with various diseases of the oral cavity, such as caries and periodontitis, diseases of the gastrointestinal tract and bronchopulmonary system.

The aim of the study was to determine the effect of muramyl peptide GMDP (Likopid® 1 mg) on the microbial landscape of the oral cavity of healthy volunteers.

Material and methods. With informed consent, 48 healthy volunteers aged 18-23 years were taken oral fluid before taking the GMDP (prophylactics with Likopid^® 1 mg) and 4 days after a 10-day course, 1 tablet sublingually 1 time per day. A microbiological study of the oral fluid was carried out using gas chromato-mass spectrometry of microbial markers.

Results. The use of an immunomodulating agent based on muramyl peptide increases the diversity of the microflora of the oral cavity, and reduces in quantitative terms Candida albicans, Clostridium difficile and Porphyromonas gingivalis.

Conclusion. The use of an immunomodulating agent based on muramyl peptide is advisable for the formation of a normal balanced microbiocenosis in order to prevent pathogen colonization.

Background. The work is devoted to assessing the possibility of using lectins for typing lymphoid and non-lymphoid thymus cells, as well as the separation of thymocytes into subpopulations.

Material and methods. 23 FITC-labeled lectins were used in the work. The study was performed on thymocytes of 80 female CBA mice by flow cytometry.

Results. It was found that not one lectin is suitable for identification of non-lymphoid thymus cells, while the results of snowdrop (GNA) and amaryllis (HHA) lectin staining almost exactly corresponded to the results of using antibodies to the CD45 antigen. None of the lectins also provided selective binding to thymocytes at any of the stages of their differentiation, although the lectins of the Roman snail (HPA) and leucojum spring (LVA), but not peanuts (PNA), mainly associated with immature cells.

Conclusion. Apparently, the use of lectins for typing thymocytes is limited to the field of comparative immunology and veterinary medicine in the absence of the corresponding monoclonal antibodies.

Introduction. Birch pollen allergy is one of the most frequent pollen allergies in Russia. In the case of allergy, preventive strategies include mainly allergen-specific forms of prevention, i.e., allergen avoidance and allergy vaccination, i.e., allergen-specific immunotherapy, AIT. Since extracts of allergens are obtained from natural raw materials, their composition may be highly biologically variable. This variability causes differences between consignments of medicine. Quality of drugs directly depends on the quality of the raw materials, thus it must meet the highest standards. Compliance with the requirements of standardization ensures the same composition and immunological activity of allergens (native extracts), issued by different manufacturers as well as from different batches issued by the same manufacturer.

Aim - studies of birch wart allergens obtained from pollen collected from 2008 to 2015 years using the complex of contemporary methods.

Material and methods. Allergens were extracted from pollen via degreasing with ether followed by water-salt extraction. Allergen proteins were analyzed with gel filtration and PAAG electrophoresis. Specific activity was determined with solid-phase competitive enzyme immunoassay (ELISA).

Results. On the example of birch wart pollen we present production technology and the results of quality control for pollen allergens. Gel chromatography profiles of pollen extracts collected during different years are different, while PAAG electrophoresis profiles are identical. Allergens show similar ability to bind IgE antibodies from sera of allergic patients (i.e. specific activity). These results demonstrate homogeneity of preparations and compliance of extraction methods.

Conclusion. Studies of birch wart allergen with complex of methods (chromatograpy, PAAG electrophoresis and competitive ELISA) allows to standardize preparations according to GMP. Competitive ELISA allows evaluate the ability of allergens to bind with IgE. Therefore we recommend this method for the evaluation of allergenic properties of preparations. This test allows, along with skin tests, to prove specific activity of preparations. Further studies will allow to exclude skin tests for each batch of allergens with involvement of volunteers. The use of contemporary methods of control would enable to ensure standardization and stable high quality of production.

It has now been shown that the inclusion of immunostimulators in the complex therapy of diseases associated with impaired immune system, can significantly increase in some cases the effectiveness of etiotropic therapy and reach the clinical effect quicker. These data were the basis for the creation of a number of therapeutic drugs aimed at activating the functional activity of the cells of the immune system. At the same time, as a result of these data, it became necessary to standardize and develop certain requirements for therapeutic drugs, defined as immunostimulators, which this review is devoted to.

Traditionally, the B-cell component of the immune system has been casting a role for regulating the humoral immune response due to the ability of B-lymphocytes to secrete protective antibodies. However, a growing number of authors draw attention to a wide range of processes regulated by B-cells. The ability of the B-cell population to participate in various immunological processes is caused by the existence of diverse B-lymphocytes subsets. The study of the relationship between the functions of the B-lymphocyte and molecular markers, expressed on its membrane, is one of the most important tasks of current immunology. This review is devoted to a considering the origin and formation of various subsets of B-lymphocytes during ontogenesis. Changes in the molecular phenotype at each stage: pro-B-lymphocytes, pre-B-lymphocytes, immature B-cells, transient B-cells, as well as mature naive B-cells are reviewed. Characteristics of B-1, B-2 and MZB subsets are provided. The pathways of differentiation of B-lymphocytes into plasma cells, memory B-cells and regulatory B-lymphocytes are described. The present review gives the outline of the main functions performed by each subset, summarizes literature data concerning the specific cell markers used for immunophenotyping of B-lymphocytes.