Antinuclear Autoantibodies in Health: Autoimmunity Is Not a Synonym of Autoimmune Disease

The incidence of autoimmune diseases is increasing. Antinuclear antibody (ANA) testing is a critical tool for their diagnosis. However, ANA prevalence in healthy persons has increased over the last decades, especially among young people. ANA in health occurs in low concentrations, with a prevalence up to 50% in some populations, which demands a cutoff revision. This review deals with the origin and probable physiological or compensatory function of ANA in health, according to the concept of immunological clearance, theory of autoimmune regulation of cell functions, and the concept of functional autoantibodies. Considering ANA titers ≤1:320 as a serological marker of autoimmune diseases seems inappropriate. The role of anti-DFS70/LEDGFp75 autoantibodies is highlighted as a possible anti-risk biomarker for autoimmune rheumatic disorders. ANA prevalence in health is different in various regions due to several underlying causes discussed in the review, all influencing additive combinations according to the concept of the mosaic of autoimmunity. Not only are titers, but also HEp-2 IFA) staining patterns, such as AC-2, important. Accepting autoantibodies as a kind of bioregulator, not only the upper, but also the lower borders of their normal range should be determined; not only their excess, but also a lack of them or "autoimmunodeficiency" could be the reason for disorders.

[Experimental evaluation of combined effects caused by stress and metals (cadmium and aluminium) in reproductivity of male rats]

To investigate combined effects of stress and metal (aluminium, cadmium) on reproductivity, male rats twice per week received intraperitoneal injections of aluminium (3.8 mg Al3+ per kg of body weight) or cadmium (0.3 mg Cd2+ per kg of body weight) and were subjected to stress via short-term immobilization during spermatogenic cycle (54 +/- 3 days). Findings are cumulation of both cadmium and aluminium in genitals and brain, increasing under stress. When acting separately to the laboratory animals, the three factors (aluminium/cadmium/stress) increase serum corticosterone level, change testosterone level, increase number of aberrant mitoses of spermatogenic epithelium cells, increased sperm count with fragmented DNA, lower percentage of the impregnated females. If the exposure combined with stress, spermatogenesis disorders are more marked, and preimplantation death rate of intact females' offspirngs becomes statistically significant.

Reaction of CD117+ cells to renal lesion under conditions of phagocytic mononuclear system stimulation

The content of CD117(+)cells in the kidneys and CD45(low)CD117(+)cells in the bone marrow and blood of mice were studied after partial nephrectomy and under conditions of macrophage stimulation with 3-aminophthalhydrazide. The counts of tubular CD117(+)epitheliocytes sharply increased and the content of CD45(low)CD117(+)cells in the bone marrow decreased after renal damage. Injection of 3-aminophthalhydrazide stimulated the expression of CD117 by renal epitheliocytes and led to reduction of CD45(low)CD117(+)cell counts in the bone marrow and blood. Macrophages stimulated proliferative processes in the kidney and differentiation of stem cells in the bone marrow due to synergic effects of their cytokines and stem cell factor.

[Combined effects of aluminium and immobilization stress on the reproductive system of male rats]

The evaluation of the isolated and combined effects of aluminum and immobilization stress on the reproductive system of male laboratory rats has been performed. We have established the influence of these factors on spermatogenesis and spermiogenesis: the development of degenerative processes in the testes, on specific hormonal status, apoptosis, increasing abnormal forms of epididymal sperms and reducing their mobility, and on the growth of early embryonic losses. Neither synergistic nor antagonistic effect in the combined aluminum and the stress action has been found.

Opposite effects of 5-hydroxymethyluracil on mitogenic response of T cells stimulated through T-cell receptor or through T-cell receptor and CD28 co-receptor molecule

The effect of a synthetic analog of "minor" pyrimidine base 5-hydroxymethyluracil (0.01-10 μg/ml) on the mitogenic response of donor peripheral blood T cells was studied in vitro under conditions of lymphocyte stimulation through T-cell receptor (antiCD3 monoclonal antibodies) or through T-cell receptor and CD28 co-receptor molecule (antiCD3 and antiCD28 monoclonal antibodies). 5-hydroxymethyluracil suppressed the mitogenic response of T cells stimulated with antiCD3 antibodies, which was paralleled by an increase in the count of silent cells and decrease in the count of dividing lymphocytes, but not by stimulation of apoptosis of activated cells. Under conditions of integration of stimuli (lymphocyte stimulation with antiCD3 and antiCD28), 5-hydroxymethyluracil stimulated the mitogenic response, which was paralleled by suppression of activation apoptosis and increase in proliferative potential of cells.

[On the problem of radioadaptation in small mammals (ecological specialization of species, radioresistance, hemopoiesis, immunity)]

The data illustrating ambivalent nature of radioresistance of rodents having different ecological specialization: wood mice (Apodemus uralensis Pallas 1811) and mole-voles (Ellobius talpinus Pallas 1770) to acute (laboratory experiment) and chronic (long-term inhabiting the East Ural Radioactive Trace - EURT) radiation action are presented. These species are greatly distinguished by a way of life, a migratory activity, an average life span etc. Numerous immunological, hematological disturbances were found in more radioresistant wood mice inhabiting in radioactively-polluted biogeocenosis (density of pollution 90Sr - 18.5 MBq/m2 = 500 Ci/km2). On the contrary there are no pathological shifts in more radiosensitive mole-voles from the EURT zone (density of pollution 90Sr - 37 MBq/m2 = 1000 Ci/km2). Comparative analysis of the hematological and immunological parameters and absorbed dose loads in rodents from radiocontaminated environment testify about the possibility of radioadaptation in a series of generations in Ellobius talpinus Pall. The leading role in development of radioadaptation of mole-voles belongs to ecophysiological peculiarities of the species.