Nonspecific protective factors in patients with early latent syphilis (report 1)

The objective of this work is to study nonspecific protective factors in patients with latent early syphilis. The results of the study are based on the data of a comprehensive examination before treatment of 142 patients with early latent syphilis and 20 patients of the comparison group. Methods of investigation: serological methods for the diagnosis of syphilis complex of serological reactions, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (IgM, IgG), Indirect immunofluorescence reaction (RIF) RIF-200, RIF-abs; determination of cytokines IL-2, IL-6, IL-10, TNFα and INFγ in blood serum by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay; determination of the phenotype of lymphocytes (CD-receptors), the concentration of circulating immune complexes, phagocytic number, phagocytic index, Nitroblue tetrazolium test. In the blood serum of patients the concentration of IL-2, IL-6, IL-10 and TNFα, INFγ was significantly increased. The concentration of IL-10 and IL-6 was also significantly increased in patients with more than 1 year of infection. The most significant disorders of the parameters of the metabolic activity of neutrophils were found in patients with an infection of more than 1 year; an imbalance in the circulating immune complexes concentration was also established. Under the increasing duration of the infection, the concentration of CD16+ in the blood serum progressively decreases. The content of pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines in the blood serum of patients with early latent syphilis was significantly increased and depended on the timing of infection. This relationship was most pronounced for IL-6 and IL-10. In patients with early latent syphilis there is also an imbalance between CD25+ and late activation factor HLA-DR against the background of a progressive decrease in the number of CD16+ lymphocytes. A direct relationship was established between the time of infection and the number of NK-cells. The revealed disorders may be the consequence of significant disorders on the part of neutrophils and may be one of the factors of the latent course of syphilitic infection.

FEATURES OF IMMUNOLOGICAL REACTIVITY OF PATIENTS WITH LICHEN PLANUS OF THE ORAL MUCOSA

Lichen planus is considered as a multifactorial disease. Various factors play a role in the development of lichen planus of the oral mucosa: genetic, dental materials that are used for restoration, prosthetics of teeth, Helicobacter pylori, viruses, psychological stress, somatic pathology and others. The pathogenesis of oral lichen planus is based on an autoimmune process. The aim of the study was to determine the immunological reactivity in patients with various clinical forms of lichen planus of the oral mucosa. The study carried out clinical, laboratory examination of 75 female patients aged 29 to 75 years old with red lichen planus of the oral mucosa. All patients were divided into three groups depending on the clinical form of the disease. The control group consisted of 30 women aged 39 to 70 years old without red lichen planus of the oral mucosa. The phagocytic activity of neutrophils, the level of immunoglobulins of classes A, M, G and circulating immune complexes in the blood serum were evaluated. The humoral link of immunity in patients with exudative-hyperemic form of OLP was characterized by hyperimmunoglobulinemia of classes A, M, G, an increase in circulating immune complexes, in patients with erosive-ulcerative form of hyperimmunoglobulinemia of class M against the background of hypoimmunoglobulinemia A, G and an increase in circulating immune complexes. In patients with a typical form of OLP, only an increase in the level of circulating immune complexes was noted. When assessing the immune reactivity in patients with OLP, the relationship between the manifestations of the "dysphagocytosis" syndrome, disorders in the humoral immunity system with various clinical forms of the disease was established. This fact allows us to conclude about the pathogenetic role of an imbalance in the system of mechanisms that ensure the elimination of pathogens, including infectious nature in the occurrence of a disease with the formation of an autoimmune component.

Immune response in new coronavirus infection COVID-19 in children and adults

Introduction. It is known that COVID-19 occurs more often in adult patients, especially if they have concomitant somatic diseases, children are at less risk of developing it. The aim of this work is to evaluate and compare immune response parameters in new coronavirus infection COVID-19 in children and adults. Materials and methods. The results of the examination of 56 adults 19-55 years old and 57 children 14-18 years old were included in the work. The examination results of COVID-19 patients were compared with similar data in practically healthy individuals of the corresponding age groups. All patients underwent laboratory tests to determine the following parameters: presence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA, general blood test parameters, major lymphocyte subpopulations, level of total immunoglobulins (IgM, IgG, IgA), number of CIC, absorbance and bactericidal activity of leukocytes.Results. The proportion of positive findings for SARS-CoV-2 RNA in different age groups ranged from 13.6% to 25.8%. General and specific patterns of immune response in patients of different age groups were established. Common features were an increase in the number of circulating immune complexes and activated T-lymphocytes. Differences were noted in the level of serum immunoglobulins IgM and IgG, neutrophil uptake activity, the number of monocytes, as well as in the level of different subpopulations of lymphocytes. Discussion. In adults, changes in the adaptive immune response, including the cellular level, are predominantly expressed. In children, there are signs of inefficiency of innate mechanisms of immune responses. Conclusion. The dynamics of the number of examined and positive findings correlate with similar figures in Russia and have a two-wave pattern. Increased number of circulating immune complexes and activated T-lymphocytes is typical for all patients with new coronavirus infection COVID-19 regardless of age, which is a sign of acute infection-inflammatory process development and insufficiently effective elimination of antigen (pathogen).

Clinical and immunological features of opisthorchiasis

Aim. To assess the clinical and immunological features in patients with chronic opisthorchiasis, depending on the duration of the infection. Methods. The first group consisted of 19 patients with the duration of the infection up to 1 year, the second group consisted of 21 patients with the duration of the infection between 1 and 5 years, the third group was formed of 23 patients with the duration of the disease more than 5 years, the control group 20 healthy individuals. Immunological research was carried out at the Clinical Diagnostic Center. Statistical processing was performed using Microsoft Excel 2010 and Statistica 6.0 software. The statistical significance of differences was determined by using the MannWhitney test (U-test) at the level of significance of p 0.05. The correlations were assessed by calculating Spearman's rank correlation coefficients.Results Clinical features of chronic opisthorchiasis were revealed in the disease duration groups of up to 1 year, from 1 year to 5 years, more than 5 years: the subclinical course was most common in the group of up to 1 year; cholangiohepatitis prevailed in the group of between 1 to 5 years, allergic skin syndrome, cholangiocholecystitis and pancreatitis dominated in the group of more than 5 years. The immune response in chronic opisthorchiasis was characterized by: up to 1 year lymphocytosis, increased levels of immunoglobulins M (IgM) and circulating immune complexes (CIC), a decrease in the number of T-lymphocytes (CD3+), as well as an increase in bactericidal activity of leukocytes (BAL); between 1 and 5 years monocytosis, increased levels of immunoglobulins M, immunoglobulins G and circulating immune complexes, a decrease in T-cytotoxic lymphocytes (CD8+) and nitro blue tetrazolium (NBT test), as well as an increase in NK cells and phagocytic activity of monocytes, more than 5 years eosinophilia. Conclusion. Common features of rearrangement of the immune system in opisthorchiasis: inflammatory changes in the hemogram, activation of humoral immunity with parallel suppression of the cellular component of the immune system, and increased phagocytosis.

Role of acute respiratory diseases in pathogenesis of distal limb infections in cattle

According to current concepts, ruminal and metabolic acidosis occur due to feeding cattle mainly with preserved acidic feeds such as silage and haylage. However, errors in feeding are not the only etiological factor leading to acidosis. In some cases, metabolic acidosis in cattle can develop along with respiratory infection caused by viral and bacterial agents. The main pathological processes resulting from acute respiratory diseases of cattle are bronchitises, tracheites and pneumonias. When the respiratory tract is affected in cattle, hypoxia occurs, causing intoxication and, thus, leading to ruminal acidosis. As a result, vasoactive substances (bacterial endotoxins, histamine, lactate) enter the bloodstream, the vascular endothelium is damaged due to the simultaneous expansion of arterioles and compression of venules, blood fluid is perfused from the vessels into the surrounding tissues, the blood flow in the microcirculatory bed is disrupted. An important role in the disturbance of blood circulation in small blood vessels is played by circulating immune complexes representing the «antigen-antibody» complex. Low molecular weight circulating immune complexes settle in various organs and tissues of the body, lead to inflammation and damage the normal tissue structure. Most frequently, immune complexes affect the endothelium of blood vessels, renal glomeruli and joints. Distal limb vessels are primarily affected in cattle, leading to disturbance of skin trophism of the limbs and hooves, development of laminitis, while the hoof horn is weakly keratinized and cannot resist aggressive mechanical and chemical environmental factors. Damaged hooves are the gateway of infection for the agents of necrobacteriosis (Fusobacterium necrophorum), staphylococcosis (Staphylococcus spp.), streptococcosis (Streptococcus spp.) and other pathogens. In addition, favorable conditions evolve for the development of mixed infection due to reduction in the overall organism resistance, which is observed for both respiratory and distal limb infections.

Indicators of total homeostasis in cows in different periods of lactations

The immunomorphological parameters of cattle in different periods of lactation were studied. In the first 3 months of lactation, excluding 7 days of the colostrum period, 59.3 units of circulating immune complexes were found in the serum, in the middle of lactation (4–7 months) – 94.2 (p <0.05), at the end (8–10 months) – 94.1 units (p <0.05). The significant difference between the indicator in the first 3 months and in the subsequent periods of lactation is due to the fact that at the beginning of lactation the cows were not yet pregnant. In the colostrum period, a high rate of circulating immune complexes of 116.1 units (p <0.05) was determined as a consequence of a fetal prenatal immune attack on the cow's body, when the system of mononuclear phagocytes had not yet coped with the elimination of neutralization products. During the dry period, the number of circulating immune complexes was 87.6 units (p <0.05). The decrease in the indicator occurred due to an increase in the activity of mononuclear phagocytes and the absence of lactation effect on the body. The content of segmental, functionally mature leukocytes at the beginning of lactation was 39.4%, in the middle of lactation this indicator decreased to 24.8% (p<0.05), at the end it was 26.3% (p<0.05). A significant difference was found in the relative number of segmented neutrophils in the control group and in non-lactating cows in the dry period – 29.9% (p <0.05). During the colostrum period, the level of lymphocytes in the blood of animals was 62.0% (p <0.05) and it significantly differed from the control – 43.6%. In the middle and at the end of lactation, there was also a significant difference between the indicator and the control, up to 58.9–59.4% (p<0.05). A significant difference with the group of down-calving dry cows was established – 53.9% (p <0.05). In the first 1–3 months of lactation, cows are either not yet pregnant, or a close bond (placenta) between the mother and the fetus has not yet been formed, therefore a low activity of specific immunity at this time is caused by the absence of foreign fetal antigens in the blood of cows. The findings suggest that the birth process may be initiated by the immune system.

The Dynamics of Circulating Immune Complexes in Horses with Severe Equine Asthma

Non-invasive diagnostic biomarkers of equine asthma syndrome (EAS) from blood or urine are sought. The aim of this study was to assess the absorbance of circulating immune complexes (CICs) during the exacerbation, remission, and treatment of an asthma episode and assess the potential usefulness of CIC levels in the diagnosis and monitoring of the disease. The control group, asthma group, and treated asthma group each contained six horses. Following an initial examination and group classification, the horses were kept in a dusty environment for seven days and then moved to an asthma-friendly environment for three weeks (the treated group received injections of glucocorticoids). Blood was collected at baseline and on the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 7th, 14th and 30th days. CIC was measured using the modified Haskova method. The time points did not show significant statistical differences. There was a significant decrease in CIC in the treated group, and a significant increase in CIC in the non-treated group on day 30. CIC did not support the EAS diagnosis, although it may help in monitoring patients. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study to analyse the dynamics of CIC during environmental challenge, remission, and treatment.

Evaluation of Serum Immunoglobulins (IgG, IgA, IgM) and Circulating Immune Complexes in Oral Precancer and Cancer Patients

Objectives The aim of the present study is to evaluate the role of immunoglobulins (IgA, IgG, and IgM) and circulating immune complexes (CIC) as tumor marker in oral cancer and precancer patients. Materials and Methods The present study was performed on 45 individuals subdivided into three groups, that is, oral precancer, oral cancer and healthy individuals, and levels of immunoglobulins, and CIC was estimated by turbidometry and ELISA method. Results In the present study, the mean serum IgA levels in oral precancer were 161.00 ( ± 118.02) mg/dL, oral cancers were 270.67 ( ± 171.44) mg/dL, and controls were 133.73 ( ± 101.31) mg/dL. Mean serum levels of IgG in oral precancer were 1,430.87 ( ± 316) mg/dL, oral cancers were 1,234.27 ( ± 365.42) mg/dL, and controls were 593.87 ( ± 323.06) mg/dL. Conclusion We found that the levels of serum IgG and IgA were elevated consistently in precancer and cancer group, and Serum IgM levels were increased only in precancer. Also, significant increase in serum CIC levels were seen in oral precancer and cancer group on comparison with control.

Role of Circulating Immune Complexes in the Pathogenesis of Canine Leishmaniasis: New Players in Vaccine Development

During canine visceral leishmaniasis (CanL), due to Leishmania infantum (L. infantum), uncontrolled infection leads to a strong humoral immune response. As a consequence of the production of high antibody levels and the prolonged presence of parasite antigens, circulating immune complexes (CIC) are formed, which can be deposited in certain organs and tissues, inducing vasculitis, uveitis, dermatitis and especially glomerulonephritis and renal failure. A method to detect CIC and quantify their levels in serum samples from dogs infected with L. infantum has been recently described. It allowed demonstration of a correlation between CIC levels and disease severity. Thus, CIC measurement may be useful for diagnosis, assessment of disease progression and monitoring response to treatment. This is an interesting finding, considering that there remains an urgent need for identification of novel biomarkers to achieve a correct diagnosis and for optimal disease staging of dogs suffering from Leishmania infection. The objective of the present review is to shed light on the role of CIC in CanL, as well as to highlight their potential use not only as diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers but also as a valuable tool in vaccine development and new immunotherapy strategies to prevent or control disease outcome.