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The review analyzes some parameters of CBA mice-males as model of spontaneous carcinogenesis characterizing adhesive and adaptive disorders. A weakening of the hepatocytes mutual adhesiveness force was noted already in early ontogenesis (5–10 days of postnatal development). This violation persisted and enhanced during hepatocarcinogenesis. A decrease of the β2 leukocyte integrins LFA-1 and Mac-1 expression on peripheral blood cells as well as an increase of the interleukins 6 and 10 in blood serum were determined during ontogenesis. It is significant for weakening the liver cells contact interactions (mutual adhesiveness) as well as immunity effectors and tumor cells interactions. A disbalance of the adaptive reactions and life quality important components was revealed in the CBA mice-males ontogenesis. Number of dopaminergic neurons and the neurogenesislevel in CBA micemales were decreasing. This does not contradict the dynamics of chronic stress and the aging process: an increase in the catabolic stress hormone corticosterone, a decrease in the anabolic hormone testosterone in the blood serum, a decrease in motor activity, signs of cachexia and alopecia, as well as a violation of immunological parameters.CBA mice-males with an assessment of parameters characterizing adhesive and adaptive disorders during spontaneous carcinogenesis (the hepatocytes mutual adhesiveness forсe, the expression of β2 leukocyte integrins LFA-1 and Mac-1 on peripheral blood cells, the content of interleukins 6, 10, corticosterone and testosterone in blood serum, the number of dopaminergic neurons in the midbrain during ontogenesis) as well as the frequency and size of tumours, lifespan and somatic status of animals can be used as a scientifically- and evidence-based test system to study cytostatic drugs as well as non-toxic geroprotective medications for prevention and treatment of cancer in individuals with an increased risk of malignant neoplasms developing especially hepatocellular carcinoma.

Cytochrome P450 3A4 (3A4) is highly expressed in the human liver cells and plays a decisive role in the metabolism of xenobiotics, including more than 50 % of medical products. The activity of this enzyme can be regulated at the expression level of genes, as well as at the conformation level of the structure of the protein itself, due to changes in the molecular environment, including due to the interaction with high-molecular effectors. The understanding of the structure changes and the 3A4 dynamics in response to the environmental changes is necessary to predict the changes in the level of its activity that to a considerable extent regulates the body’s homeostasis. To perform in vitro experiments on the structure, dynamics, and protein-ligand/protein interactions of the enzymes by the modern spectral methods, the approach is used, in which the target protein is selectively added with cysteine residues in the given polypeptide chain loci by the protein engineering methods for subsequent labeling with specialized molecular labels. To do this, the human mutant form of membrane-bound (full length) recombinant cytochrome P450 3A4 C58A/C64M/C98A/C239T/C377A/C468S/S291C was obtained. According to the circular dichroism spectroscopy data we established that the introduced mutations do not cause significant changes in the secondary structure of the obtained form 3A4, which shows the preservation of the folding of the peptide chain. The spectral photometric measurements were made to comparatively analyze the changes in the affinity to the ligands of the active center. Moreover, we showed that the testosterone hydroxylase activity in the in vitro reconstructed system for a given mutation form of 3A4 increases many times with respect to the wild form of the enzyme.

The review presents the concept the key mechanism of the tumor process is a violation of adhesion interactions involving local and central mechanisms. Local features of adhesive dysregulation are demonstrated in the first part. The lack of histospecific adhesion molecules expression resulting from stress or genetic mutation damages an important mechanism of antitumor protection of the tissue disrupting the processes of proliferation and differentiation. The deficiency of histone-specific homotypic adhesion molecules which occurs later exacerbates the disorders. This leads to a decrease in the expression of leukocyte integrins (LFA-1, Mac-1) ligands of the β2 family on the surface of immune effectors and to an increase also in the expression of adhesion molecules to the substrate-antigens VLA (very late activation) family of β1 -integrins on tumor cells. The first restricts the interaction of ICAM family molecules with their contra-receptors from the β2 -integrin family reducing the elimination of target cells by immune effectors which contributes to the screening of the tumor from antitumor surveillance. The second promotes the invasion of the tumor into the surrounding tissues, the formation of blood vessels as well as its heterotypic adhesion with other tissues which further stimulates the proliferation and suppression processes of tumor cells apoptosis. So, the adhesion molecules can be compared to the Phoenix bird: disappearing at the beginning of the process (between the similar cells), they reappear in a new quality (increasing adhesion to cells of other tissues), increasing the totalysm of the tumor. It should be taken into account that tumor cells due to adhesion dysregulation “isolate themselves from society”, lose their differentiation, their maturity and “fall into childhood”, being unable to perform specific, “adult” functions. So, cancer can be considered as a manifestation of the cells aging. Therefore, the anti-stress, endogenous geroprotective mechanisms activation based on the adhesion correction can be effective for preventing and treatment the oncological process.

Many human diseases including cancer, degenerative and autoimmune disorders, diabetes and others are multifactorial. Pharmaceutical agents acting on a single target do not provide their efficient curation. Multitargeted drugs exhibiting pleiotropic pharmacological effects have certain advantages due to the normalization of the complex pathological processes of different etiology. Extracts of medicinal plants (EMP) containing multiple phytocomponents are widely used in traditional medicines for multifactorial disorders' treatment. Experimental studies of pharmacological potential for multicomponent compositions are quite expensive and time-consuming. In silico evaluation of EMP the pharmacological potential may provide the basis for selecting the most promising directions of testing and for identifying potential additive/synergistic effects. Multiphytoadaptogen (MPhA) containing 70 major phytocomponents of different chemical classes from 40 medicinal plant extracts has been studied in vitro, in vivo and in clinical researches. Antiproliferative and anti-tumor activities have been shown against some tumors as well as evidence-based therapeutic effects against age-related pathologies. In addition, the neuroprotective, antioxidant, antimutagenic, radioprotective, and immunomodulatory effects of MPhA were confirmed. Analysis of the PASS profiles of the biological activity of MPhA phytocomponents showed that most of the predicted anti-tumor and anti-metastatic effects were consistent with the results of laboratory and clinical studies. Antimutagenic, immunomodulatory, radioprotective, neuroprotective and anti-Parkinsonian effects were also predicted for most of the phytocomponents. Effects associated with positive effects on the male and female reproductive systems have been identified too. Thus, PASS and PharmaExpert can be used to evaluate the pharmacological potential of complex pharmaceutical compositions containing natural products.

The possibilities of tandem mass spectrometry have been studied for the technology of analyzing aralosides in the pharmaceutical composition of Multifitoadaptogen (MFA) and extract of the roots of Aralia mandshurica (which is an ingredient in MFA). Chromatography is performed on an ACQUITY UPLC BEH C18 column in gradient mode. A TSQ Vantage electrospray ionization triple quadrupole mass spectrometer is used. In MFA, as well as in the extract of the roots of Aralia mandshurica, Aralosides A, B, C, and/or their isomers are identified.

Based on the prediction of biological activity spectra for several secondary metabolites of medicinal plants using the PASS computer program and validation in vitro of the predictions results the priority direction of the pharmaceutical composition Phytoladaptogene (PLA) development was determined. PLA is a complex of structurally diverse small organic compounds including biologically active substances of phytoadaptogenes (ginsenosides from Panax ginseng, rhodionin from Rhodiola rosea and others) compiled considering previously developed pharmaceutical compositions. Two variants of the pharmaceutical composition were studied: - the major and minor variants included 22 and 13 compounds, respectively. The probability of activity exceeds the probability of inactivity for 1400 out of 1945 pharmacological effects and mechanisms predicted by PASS for the major variant of PLA. The wide range of predicted activities is mainly due to the low structural similarity of constituent compounds. An in silico prediction indicates the possibilities of antitumor properties against bladder, stomach, colon, ovarian and cervical cancers both for minor and major PLA compositions. It was found that the highest probability values of activity were predicted for three mechanisms: apoptosis agonist, caspase-3 stimulant, and transcription factor NF-κB inhibitor. According to the PharmaExpert program they are associated with the antitumor effect against bladder cancer. Experimental validation was using the human bladder cancer cell line RT-112. The results of the MTT test have shown that the cytotoxicity of the major PLA variant is higher than that of the minor PLA variant. In vitro experiments performed using two methods (double staining with annexin V and propidium iodide and detection of active caspase-3 in cells) confirmed that the death of bladder cancer cells occurred via the apoptotic mechanism. The data obtained correspond to the results of the prediction and indicate advantages of the major PLA composition. Thus, PLA can become the basis for the development of a drug with the antitumor activity against bladder cancer. The antitumor activity predicted by PASS for other cancers may be the subject of further studies.Na osnove prognoza spektrov biologicheskoĭ aktivnosti dlia riada vtorichnykh metabolitov lekarstvennykh rasteniĭ s ispol'zovaniem komp'iuternoĭ programmy PASS i validatsii rezul'tatov predskazaniĭ in vitro opredeleno prioritetnoe napravlenie razrabotki farmatsevticheskoĭ kompozitsii Fitoladaptogen (FLA). Analiziruemaia farmatsevticheskaia kompozitsiia predstavliaet soboĭ kompleks strukturno raznoobraznykh nizkomolekuliarnykh organicheskikh soedineniĭ, v tom chisle biologicheski aktivnykh veshchestv fitoadaptogenov (ginzenozidov iz zhen'shenia, rodionina iz rodioly rozovoĭ i drugikh), sostavlennyĭ s uchetom ranee razrabotannykh farmkompozitsiĭ. Byli rassmotreny dva varianta farmatsevticheskoĭ kompozitsii — mazhornyĭ (22 soedineniia) i minornyĭ (13 soedineniĭ). Dlia mazhornogo varianta farmatsevticheskoĭ kompozitsii veroiatnost' nalichiia aktivnosti prevyshaet veroiatnost' ee otsutstviia dlia 1400 iz 1945 prognoziruemykh PASS farmakologicheskikh éffektov i mekhanizmov deĭstviia. Shirokiĭ nabor prognoziruemykh aktivnosteĭ, glavnym obrazom, obuslovlen nizkim strukturnym skhodstvom soedineniĭ mezhdu soboĭ. Prognoz in silico ukazyvaet na vozmozhnost' proiavleniia protivoopukholevogo deĭstviia v otnoshenii raka mochevogo puzyria, zheludka, tolstoĭ kishki, iaichnikov i sheĭki matki kak minornym, tak i mazhornym sostavami FLA. Ustanovleno, chto naivysshie veroiatnostnye otsenki proiavleniia aktivnosti prognoziruiutsia dlia trekh mekhanizmov, kotorye, po otsenke programmy PharmaExpert, sviazany s protivoopukholevym éffektom v otnoshenii raka mochevogo puzyria: Apoptosis agonist, Caspase 3 stimulant i Transcription factor NF kappa B inhibitor. Éksperimental'naia validatsiia byla provedena in vitro na kletochnoĭ linii raka mochevogo puzyria cheloveka RT-112. V rezul'tate MTT testa po opredeleniiu tsitotoksicheskogo deĭstviia mazhornogo i minornogo variantov farmkompozitsii ustanovleno, chto tsitotoksichnost' mazhornogo nabora vyshe, chem minornogo. Takzhe v éksperimentakh in vitro dvumia metodami — dvoĭnym okrashivaniem anneksinom V i ĭodidom propidiia, a takzhe detektirovaniem v kletkakh aktivnoĭ kaspazy 3— podtverzhdena gibel' opukholevykh kletok raka mochevogo puzyria po mekhanizmu apoptoza. Poluchennye éksperimental'nye dannye sootvetstvuiut rezul'tatam prognoza i svidetel'stvuiut o preimushchestvakh mazhornogo sostava FLA. FLA mozhet sluzhit' osnovoĭ dlia razrabotki preparata s protivoopukholevoĭ aktivnost'iu v otnoshenii raka mochevogo puzyria. Prognoziruemaia PASS protivoopukholevaia aktivnost' dlia drugikh nozologiĭ ukazyvaet napravleniia dal'neĭshikh issledovaniĭ.

The purposeof this investigation was to evaluate the efficacy of correcting the LFA-1 and Mac-1 leukocyte integrins expression on peripheral blood cells as well as IL-6 and IL-10 serum levels using liquid form multiphytoadaptogene preventive application for hepatocarcinomas incidence suppression and life-span increase of CBA inbreed mice.Materials and methods.The study was carried out on 439 males of inbred CBA mouse strain (subline CBA/LacY). The experimental mice received 10 % liquid form multiphytoadaptogene complex (MPAC) solution in drinking water during the first month of life including the final time period of liver differentiation (preventive administration). MPAC is the standardized herbal formula composed of 40 plant extracts components including adaptogenes Panax ginseng, Eleutherococcus senticosus, Rhodiola rosea, as well as compounds with phenolic structure (flavonoids, triterpene glycosides, etc). Anti-mutagenic, anti-oxidant, immunomodifying activities of MPAC were demonstrated. The CD11a and CD11b antigens expressions on peripheral blood cells were analyzed by indirect immunofluorescence reaction, serum cytokines IL-6 and IL-10 concentrations were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay as well as the liver tissue morphology were analyzed at the age of 4, 8, 22 months. Tumor incidence and volumes were evaluated at the age of 8 and 22 months. Motor activity and physical status (body weight, coat state) were estimated in the ontogenesis. The average life-span and survival median was analyzed by the Kaplan–Meier method. Statistical analysis was performed with the program STATISTICA 6.0.Results.Inhibited expression of LFA-1 and Mac-1 leukocyte integrins on peripheral blood cells as well as elevated IL-6 and IL-10 serum levels, high incidence of liver tumors (100 % of mice-males), their high number and big sizes in the late period of postnatal ontogenesis in CBA high-cancer inbrede mice, also as life-span not reaching two years was demonstrated. At the same time plural tumor-infiltrating limphocytes were not found. Short-term MPAC preventive administration (during the first month of mouse life occupying the final differentiation period of liver tissue genetically predisposal to hepatoms incidence) revealed the long-term heterotypic adhesion molecules leukocyte integrins LFA-1 (CD11a/CD18) and Mac-1 (CD11b/CD18) up-regulated expression, providing the contact interactions of immune effectors and cancer cells. The events shown is able to enhance the anti-tumor activity of immune reactions including spontaneous hepatocarcinomas lymphocytes infiltration and destruction of tumor tissue. As a result, the hereditary tumors incidence, their number and sizes were reduced as well as life-span and life quality of animals were improved.Conclusion.Up-regulated leukocyte integrins expression on peripheral blood cells, reduced IL-6 and IL-10 serum levels accompanied by tumors lymphocyte infiltration and destruction using MPAC preventive administration is essential for tumor incidence down-regulation. The herbal formula with multiple components is capable to controle anti-tumor immune reactions, as well as the life-span and life quality of high-cancer animals. Hence, the regulation of adhesion violations involved in tumor incidence can be cancer preventive.

We created a high-performance system for expression of 13C, 15N-double-labeled recombinant НU-proteins from mycoplasms S. melliferum (HUSpm) and M. gallisepticum (HUMgal), and a purification protocol that yields protein samples suitable for structure studies by high-resolution NMR. Using these proteins we optimized the conditions of NMR experiments and obtained two-dimensional heteronuclear 1H/15N-HSQC and 1H/13С-HSQC-CT NMR spectra of free НU-proteins (HUSpm and HUMGal), and 1H/15N-HSQC spectrum of a complex between HUSpm and a double-stranded DNA (ds-DNA). The techniques we created are applicable in the studies of НU-proteins from other organisms. They allow analyzing structure and dynamics of free proteins and of their conformational changes induced by binding of various ds-DNAs or of DNA binding inhibitors.

The article presents the results of high-cancer CBA inbred mice liver morphological research while using multiphytoadaptogene early postnatal ontogenesis administration. Moderate and pooly differentiated trabecular and trabecular-acinar hepatocarcinomas were determined. Lymphocytes infiltration and destructive features were microscopically visible in hepatocarcinomas at the age of 22 months. Infiltrated lymphocytes and destructive features in control mouse hepatocarcinomas were not detected.

We studied the influence of nontoxic phytoadaptogen complex on the lifespan and somatic status (body weight, coat state, and motor activity) of CBA mice predisposed to spontaneous hepatomas. Administration of the complex phytoadaptogen during the first month of postnatal ontogeny increased mean animal lifespan by 17.1% (p

Multiphytoadaptogene (MPA) consists of plant extracts components including adaptogenes. Genotoxicity analysis revealed the antimutagenic activity of MPA. MPA decreased the direct mutations frequency in ADE4-ADE8 loci induced by UV radiation and nitrous acid by 3.7 and 33 times, respectively. The lethal effect of UV radiation was inhibited when the preparation was used. MPA had no effect on replicative mutagenesis. At the same time it depressed mutagenesis caused by repair errors. The data obtained suggest the antimutagenic activity of multiphytoadaptogene is associated with postreplicative repair activation.

Growth hormone somatotropin and its membrane receptor GHR, belonging to a superfamily of the type I receptors possessing tyrosine kinase activity, are involved in the intercellular signal transduction cascade and regulate a number of important physiological and pathological processes in humans. Binding with somatotropin triggers a transition of GHR between two alternative dimer states, resulting in an allosteric activation of JAK2 tyrosine kinase in the cell cytoplasm. Transmembrane domain of GHR directly involved in this complex conformational transition. It has presumably two dimerization interfaces corresponding to the "unliganded" and the active state of GHR. In order to study the molecular basis of biochemical signal transduction mechanism across the cell membrane, we have developed an efficient cell-free production system of a TM fragment of GHR, which contains its TM domain flanked by functionally important juxtamembrane regions (GHRtm residues 254-298). The developed system allows to obtain -1 mg per 1 ml of reaction mixture of 13C- and 15N-isotope-labeled protein for structural and dynamic studies of the GHR TM domain dimerization in the membrane-mimicking medium by high-resolution heteronuclear NMR spectroscopy.

The goal of the study was to elaborate the pharmacokinetics methods of the amide derivative of peptide HLDF-6 (TGENHR-NH2) and its range of nootropic and neuroprotective activity is wide. The hexapeptide 41TGENHR46 is a fragment of the HDLF differentiation factor. It forms the basis for the development of preventive and therapeutic preparations for treating cerebrovascular and neurodegenerative conditions. Pharmacokinetic and molecular mechanisms of the action of the HLDF-6 peptide were studied using tritium- and deuterium-labeled derivatives of this peptide, produced with the use of the high-temperature solid-state catalytic isotope exchange reaction (HSCIE). This reaction was employed to produce the tritium-labeled peptide [3H]TGENHR-NH2 with a molar radioactivity of 230 Ci/mmol and the deuterium-labeled peptide [2H]TGENHR-NH2 with an average deuterium incorporation equal to 10.5 atoms. It was shown by the NMR spectroscopy that the isotope label distribution over the labeled peptide's molecule was uniform, which allowed qualitative analysis ofboth the peptide itself and its fragments in the organism's tissues to be conducted. The newly developed pharmacokinetics method makes it possible to avoid almost completely losses of the peptides under study due to biodegradation during the analysis of tissues. These labeled peptides were used in mice, rats and rabbits to study the pharmacokinetics of the peptide and to calculate the values of its principal pharmacokinetic parameters. Characteristics of its pharmacokinetic profile in the blood were obtained, the hypothesis of pharmacokinetics linearity tested, its metabolism analyzed and its bioavailability value, 34%, calculated. It has been shown that the studied TGENHR-NH2 peptide shows high resistance to hydrolysis in the blood plasma, with dipeptidyl aminopeptidases making the largest contribution to its hydrolysis.

The dopaminergic nigrostriatal system of the brain is a key component in controlling motor behavior. The bodies of dopaminergic neurons are located in the compact zone of the substantia nigra and their axons, forming the nigrostriatal tract, project to the striatum. The aim of the present work was to develop an experimental model of functional deficiency of the dopaminergic neurons of the nigrostriatal system with no impairment to motor behavior, i.e., the presymptomatic stage of parkinsonism. The model was created in mice by administration of single subcutaneous injections of low doses (12 mg/kg) of 1-methyl- 4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP), which is converted to MPP+ in the brain, this being a neurotoxin for dopaminergic neurons. These experiments showed that 14 days after administration of MPTP the animals a) lacked any impairment to motor behavior; b) had no decrease in the dopamine level or any dopamine neuron degeneration in the substantia nigra; c) showed significant reductions in dopamine levels in the striatum due to degeneration of half of its dopaminergic fibers. The absence of changes in motor behavior in the presence of significant changes in dopamine metabolism and structural damage to dopaminergic axons in the striatum provides evidence for the activation of compensatory mechanisms in the brain. Thus, we have developed an experimental model of the presymptomatic stage of parkinsonism, which is characterized by degeneration of the axons of dopaminergic neurons in the striatum with no changes in the bodies of these neurons in the substantia nigra; this model will be used for further studies of compensatory mechanisms.

Degeneration of dopaminergic (DAergic) neurons of the nigrostriatal system is the key stage in the pathogenesis of Parkinson’s disease. The fi rst symptoms of this disease are observed after degeneration of 70-80% neurons, which occurs over 20–30 years. The clinical stage of Parkinson’s disease begins after this period. Late diagnostics of Parkinson’s disease contributes to low effi ciency of therapi for this disorder. Detailed study of the pathogenesis and development of preclinical diagnostic methods for Parkinson’s disease are the urgent problems. This work was designed to develop a new experimental model of the preclinical and clinical stages of the disease. Experimental modeling was performed on C57Bl/6 mice using 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP). This agent is converted into the MPP+−neurotoxin in brain DAergic neurons. We showed that MPTP in a dose of 4 mg/kg has no effect on the nigrostriatal DAergic system. MPTP in a dose of 8–16 mg/kg produced the toxic effect only on DAergic axons, which simulates the preclinical stage of Parkinson’s disease. MPTP in a dose of 20–40 mg/kg had the toxic effect on neuronal axons and bodies, which simulates the clinical stage of Parkinson’s disease. The data suggest that progressive degeneration of DAergic neurons is accompanied by activation of compensatory mechanisms for functional defi ciency of these cells.

Motor neuron disease (MND), or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, is a fatal neurodegenerative disorder characterized by a progressive loss of motor neurons in the spinal cord and the brain. Several angiogenic and neurogenic growth factors, such as the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), angiogenin (ANG), insulin-like growth factor (IGF) and others, have been shown to promote survival of the spinal motor neurons during ischemia. We constructed recombinant vectors using human adenovirus 5 (Ad5) carrying the VEGF, ANG or IGF genes under the control of the cytomegalovirus promoter. As a model for MND, we employed a transgenic mice strain, B6SJL-Tg (SOD1*G93A)d11 Gur/J that develops a progressive degeneration of the spinal motor neurons caused by the expression of a mutated Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase gene SOD1. Delivery of the therapeutic genes to the spinal motor neurons was done using the effect of the retrograde axonal transport after multiple injections of the Ad5-VEGF, Ad5-ANG and Ad5-IGF vectors and their combinations into the limbs and back muscles of the SOD1(G93A) mice. Viral transgene expression in the spinal cord motor neurons was confirmed by immunocytochemistry and RT-RCR. We assessed the neurological status, motor activity and lifespan of experimental and control animal groups. We discovered that SOD1(G93A) mice injected with the Ad5-VEGF + Ad5-ANG combination showed a 2-3 week delay in manifestation of the disease, higher motor activity at the advanced stages of the disease, and at least a 10% increase in the lifespan compared to the control and other experimental groups. These results support the safety and therapeutic efficacy of the tested recombinant treatment. We propose that the developed experimental MND treatment based on viral delivery of VEGF + ANG can be used as a basis for gene therapy drug development and testing in the preclinical and clinical trials of the MND.

Oral administration of 10% solution of Phytomix-40 (multicomponent plant phytoadaptogen) to C57Bl/6 mice with MPTP-induced Parkinson's syndrome alleviated symptoms (oligokinesia and muscle rigidity), compensated for the deficiency of dopamine and its metabolites (DOPAC and homovanillic acid), and reduced the level of lipid peroxides in the striatum. In vitro Phytomix-40 in a concentration of 3.3 x 10(-2) g/liter exhibited a pronounced antioxidant effect (5-fold decreased MDA level in mouse brain homogenate in Fe(2+)-ascorbate-dependent LPO).

The incidence, size, and number of hepatocarcinomas decreased in cancer-prone male CBA mice under the effect of preventive and therapeutic treatment with a complex phytoadaptogen.

The purpose of the work was to elucidate the radioprotective efficacy of multyphytoadaptogene (MPA) in dogs in various conditions of gamma radiation and MPA application. Dogs were given 15% MPA solution with drinking water in 3,6 ml/kg dose per day 2 weeks before the radiating (preventive application), 2 weeks before and 2 weeks after the radiating (preventive and therapeutic application) as well as 2 weeks after the radiating only (therapeutic application). Animals of control groups received radiation. Dogs were exposed to 3,5 Cy acute radiation and 8,0 Gy prolonged radiation. There were no survived dogs in control groups. At the same time MPA increased dogs survival in preventive, preventive and therapeutic as well as therapeutic applications after 3,5 Gy acute radiation and after 8,0 Gy prolonged radiation. MPA improved the somatic state, interfere with leukocytes amount in blood. The data obtained suggest the radioprotective efficacy of MPA.

Therapeutic efficacy of the plant neuroprotector Phytomix-40 in Parkinson's disease was demonstrated. This preparation consists of the components from extracts of 40 plants, including some adaptogens (ginseng, eleutherococcus, Rhodiola rosea, etc.). The preparation normalized immune, antioxidant, and hormonal parameters in patients. The neuroprotective plant adaptogen can be used in complex therapy for Parkinson's disease for improving its efficacy.

The aim of the work was to elucidate the radioprotective activity of multyphytoadaptogene (MPA) in mice in various conditions of gamma radiation and MPA application. Males of CBA x C57BL/6 F1 mice were given 15% MPA solution with drinking water 2 weeks before the radiating (preventive application), 2 weeks before and 2 weeks after the radiating (preventive and therapeutic application) and also 2 weeks after the radiating only (therapeutic application). Animals of control groups received radiation or were given 5% ethanol solution in drinking water in the same application schemes. MPA increased the mice survival in preventive, preventive and therapeutic as well as therapeutic applications after 7.5 Gy radiation (66.7: 66.4 and 40.2% correspondingly). After 11.0 Gy radiation MPA increased the mice survival in preventive as well as preventive and therapeutic applications (75.0 and 76.9% correspondingly). MPA administration improved the somatic state, weight of animals, quality of life. MPA has no side effects. The data suggest the radioprotective activity of MPA.

The expression of leukocyte integrins LFA-1 and Mac-1 and cytokines IL-6 and IL-10 was studied in mice predisposed to spontaneous hepatocarcinomas. The efficacy of a phytoadaptogen in correcting these parameters was evaluated. The role of adhesive interactions between immune cells and target cells in the recovery of antitumor regulatory mechanisms was estimated.

Alzheimer’s disease affects people all over the world, regardless of nationality, gender or social status. An adequate study of the disease requires essential understanding of the molecular fundamentals of the pathogenesis. The amyloid β-peptide, which forms amyloid plaques in the brain of people with Alzheimer’s disease, is the product of sequential cleavage of a single-span membrane amyloid precursor protein (APP). More than half of the APP mutations found to be associated with familial forms of Alzheimer’s disease are located in its transmembrane domain. The pathogenic mutations presumably affect the structural-dynamic properties of the APP transmembrane domain by changing its conformational stability and/or lateral dimerization. In the present study, the structure and dynamics of the recombinant peptide corresponding to the APP fragment, Gln686-Lys726, which comprises the APP transmembrane domain with an adjacent N-terminal juxtamembrane sequence, were determined in the membrane mimetic environment composed of detergent micelles using NMR spectroscopy. The structure obtained in dodecylphosphocholine micelles consists of two α-helices: a short surface-associated juxtamembrane helix (Lys687-Asp694) and a long transmembrane helix (Gly700-Leu723), both connected via a mobile loop region. A minor bend of the transmembrane α-helix is observed near the paired residues Gly708-Gly709. A cholesterol-binding hydrophobic cavity is apparently formed under the loop region, where the juxtamembrane α-helix comes into contact with the membrane surface near the N-terminus of the transmembrane α-helix.

The first symptoms of Parkinson's disease manifest 20-30 years after the disease onset when the most dopaminergic neurons degenerated. Therefore, it is necessary to work out preclinical diagnostics and preventive treatment of this disease. Modeling of preclinical and early stages of Parkinson's disease was conducted in mice using 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropiridine (MPTP). The changes in motor behavior were not observed in mice by 14 day after MPTP injections in dose 12 mg/kg two times with interval of two hours. In the striatum, the region of dopaminergic axon projection, the content of dopamine and number of dopaminergic axons decreased by 57% and 59%, respectively, i.e. there were no changes in dopamine in single axons. In the substantia nigra, the region of dopamine neuron localization, the content of dopamine did not change though the total number of neurons decreased by 28%. However the dopamine content in remained neurons was higher by 77% compared to the control that indirectly indicated the compensatory enhancement of dopamine synthesis. After the MPTP injections in dose 4x12 mg/kg, there were changes in motor behavior of mice in the most sensitive tests. In the striatum, the dopamine content and number of dopaminergic axons decreased by 75% and 68%, respectively. In the substantia nigra, there were no changes in dopamine content but the number of dopaminergic neurons decreased by 43%. The intraneuronal dopamine content increased by more than 70%. In conclusion, we constructed the models of preclinical stage (two-time MPTP injections) and transition phase from presymptomatic to symptomatic stage (four times of MPTP injections) of Parkinson's disease.

The dopaminergic nigrostriatal system is a key component of regulation of the motor behaviour. Cell bodies of dopaminergic DA-ergic neurons are located in the compact zone of the substantia nigra, and their axons are projected along the nigrostriatal tract to the striatum. This study was aimed to develop an experimental model of the functional insufficiency of the DA-ergic neurons of the nigrostriatal system without any manifestation of movement disorders, i.e., a model of presymptomatic stage of parkinsonism. This model has been developed with a single subcutaneous injection of a low dose of MPTP (12 mg/kg) which is converted in the brain into the MPP+, a neurotoxin of DA-ergic neurons. It has been shown that the MPTP injection on the 14th day is followed by: (a) absence of any sign of movement disorders; (b) no change in the DA content and the number of DA-ergic neurons in the substantia nigra; (c) substantial loss of DA in the striatum as a result of the degeneration of about 50% of DA-ergic axons. The absence of movement disorders under the substantial DA depletion and degradation of DA-ergic axons in the striatum is supposed to be a consequence of the turning on of the compensatory processes in the brain. Thus, we have developed the experimental model of presymptomatic stage of parkinsonism which is characterized by the degeneration of DA-ergic axons in the striatum without degradation of the neuron cell bodes in the substantia nigra.

Carbon fluxes through main pathways of glucose utilization in Escherichia coli cells--glycolysis, pentose phosphate pathway (PPP), and Enther-Doudoroff pathway (EDP)--were studied. Their ratios were analyzed in E. coli strains MG1655, MG1655(edd-eda), MG1655(zwf, edd-eda), and MG1655(pgi, edd-eda). It was shown that the carbon flux through glycolysis was the main route of glucose utilization, averaging ca. 80%. Inactivation of EDP did not affect growth parameters. Nevertheless, it altered carbon fluxes through the tricarboxylic acid cycles and energy metabolism in the cell. Inactivation of PPP decreased growth rate to a lesser degree than glycolysis inactivation.

In the article the authors demonstrated that phytoadaptogens (Panax ginseng, Eleutherococcus senticosus, Rhodiola rosea) take part in protecting brain neurons from various injuries. Ability of phytoadaptogens to have influence on neurodegenerative mechanisms at Parkinson's disease is discussed. Phytoadaptogens should be proposed for study or use as therapeutic modulators in neurodegenerative disorders including Parkinson's disease.

The results of toxicological evaluation of the new plant preparation Phitomix-40 (PM-40) used in the treatment of cancer are presented. To prevent a patient's individual immunological responsiveness to some phytoadaptogens, the preparation comprises 40 plant extracts (Rhodiola r. L.; Juniperus C. L.; Helichrysum a. L; Viburnum o. L., etc.). Animal experiments demonstrated that PM-40 had a low toxicity; LD50 was more than 20 and 15 ml/kg for rats and mice, respectively.

Nearly all resonances were assigned in the two-dimensional 1H NMR spectra of binase, guanylospecific ribonuclease from Bacillus intermedius containing 109 amino acid residues. The exchange rates of amide protons with the solvent deuterium were measured in 2H2O at pH 6.7 and 30 degrees C. Coupling constants 3J of H-NC alpha-H, NOE contacts, solvent exchange rates of amide protons, and indices of C alpha H chemical shifts were measured, and the binase secondary structure was deduced from these data. It involves three alpha-helices in the N-terminal part (the 6-16, 26-31, and 41-45 segments) and a beta-sheet formed by five antiparallel beta-strands (51-55, 71-75, 86-90, 95-99, and 104-108 segments). The binase secondary structure was compared with that of its closest homologue, barnase from B. amyloliquefaciens.