This study aimed to clarify interactions of the pattern-recognition receptor DC-SIGN with cells from the HIV-infected peripheral blood lymphocyte cultures. Cells from control and HIV-infected peripheral blood lymphocyte cultures were tested for the surface expression of DC-SIGN ligands. The DC-SIGN ligand expressing cells were analyzed for the role of DC-SIGN-ligand interaction in their functionality. In the vast majority of experiments HIV-infected lymphocytes did not express detectable DC-SIGN ligands on their cell surfaces. In contrast, non-infected cells, carrying NK-specific marker CD56, expressed cell surface DC-SIGN ligands. The weakly polysialylated CD56 was identified as a novel DC-SIGN ligand. The treatment of DC-SIGN expressing dendritic cells with anti-DC-SIGN antibodies increased the anti-dendritic cell cytotoxicity of CD56pos cells. The treatment of CD56pos cells with a peptide, blocking the weakly polysialylated CD56-specifc trans-homophilic interactions, inhibited their anti-dendritic cells cytotoxicity. The interaction between DC-SIGN and CD56 inhibits homotypic intercellular interactions of CD56pos cells and protects DC-SIGN expressing dendritic cells against CD56pos cell-mediated cytotoxicity. This finding can have an impact on the development of approaches to HIV infection and cancer therapy as well as in transplantation medicine.

Sulphates are sparingly soluble salts of sulfuric acid, the increase of which may indicate the presence in patients inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Recent findings demonstrate a possible role of sulphated compounds in the aetiology of IBD, where the latter is characterised by specific changes in 5-hydroxytryptamine metabolism. The aim of our study was to assess the level of sulphate in the urine in patients with IBD and to study relationship between the sulphate and 5-hydroxytryptamine metabolisms. The study included 40 patients with IBD. Urine samples from patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn’s disease (CD) taken twice in the morning and afternoon, were used for the analysis of free sulphates and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) with specific detection strips and ELISA, respectively. Among 40 patients, UC was detected in 26 (65%) (10 male and 16 female), CD – in 14 (35%) (7 males and 7 females). The average age was 37.2 years. The clinical characteristics of the patients were analysed. According to the severity of disease: mild, 8 patients (20%); moderate, 17 (42.5%); severe, 15 (37.5%). Among UC patients, total colitis was observed in 15 (58%) patients, left-sided colitis in 7 (27%), proctitis in 4 (15%). Among patients with CD, colitis was observed in 6 (43%), ileocolitis in 5 (36%), terminal ileitis in 3 (21%) patients. Extraintestinal manifestations of IBD were detected in 21 (52.5%) cases, of which arthropathy in 13 (61.9%), aphthous stomatitis in 5 (23.9%), spondylitis/sacroiliitis 3 (14.2%). Complications (intestine perforation, bleeding, strictures, toxic dilatation) were identified in 7 (17.5%) patients. The average level of sulphates in patients with IBD was 746.3 ± 45.0 mg/l, while in patients with UC 690.4 ± 57.0 mg/l and in patients with CD 850.0 ± 66.9 mg/l. There were no differences between the level of sulphates in the urine of patients with UC and BK (p = 0.09). However, compared with the level of sulphate in the urine of a healthy population ( 0.72, p < 0.01) between the concentrations of free sulphates from the ‘morning’ urine and 5-HIAA from the ‘afternoon’ urine. CD patients demonstrated stronger (R > 0.77 vs. R > 0.72) correlation compare to UC patients in both sets of experiments. Patients with IBD have a higher urine sulphate level than healthy populations, which can be useful as an indirect sign of inflammation. Our data suggest a close relationship between sulphate and 5-hydroxytryptamine metabolism.

The aim is to reveal the features of microcirculation of athletes with various sport qualifications practicing cyclic endurance sports, as well as its dependence on the VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor) level and hematological parameters. Research materials and methods. The study involved athletes aged 18-22 practicing track-and-field (middle and long distances, from 1st rank to Master of Sports of the Russian Federation), swimming (middle distances, from 1st rank to Master of Sports of the Russian Federation), skiing (from 1st rank to Master of Sports of the Russian Federation), and non-athletes. We utilized a laser detection to record parameters of peripheral blood flow and tissue fluorescence amplitudes. Research results and discussion. We recorded significant difference in microcirculation parameters for skiers and field athletes. Skiers demonstrated a lower value of average perfusion, while field athletes showed its double predominance in contrast with skiers. At the same time, cooling of the studied area caused no difference between the studied groups. Heating of the studied area resulted in the statistically significant changes in microcirculation between groups of skiers in contrast with field athletes and swimmers, as well as swimmers, in contrast with field athletes and non-athletes. At the same time, the VEGF level had correlations with the microcirculation of field athletes, and it was recorded with the NADN parameter under the cooling (r = 0.89; p = 0.019) and heating (r = 0, 94; p = 0.005) conditions. Conclusion. We revealed the signs of long-term adaptation of peripheral blood flow of athletes conditioned by the type and conditions of sport activities. It results in difference in perfusion of the studied skin area.

Introduction. The testing for mitochondrial dysfunction has become routine assay for drug and cosmetics safety evaluation. Mitochondria are targets of many pharmaceutical and therapeutic agents that can damage them and lead to changes in morphology and function. Spermatozoa have one of the highest ratios of mitochondria to body size, they lack the cytoplasm between the mitochondria and the plasma membrane, which makes them a good potential model for a rapid test on mitochondrial toxicity. The aim of our work - assessment of motility and mitochondrial membrane potential of bovine spermatozoa Bos taurus taurus in the presence of T-2-toxin and deltamethrin. Material and methods. T-2-toxin and deltamethrin were used as toxins. The main parameters studied were the level of mitochondrial potential (using the MitoTracker™ Green FM dye), sperm motility and their relationship. Results. We found a strong correlation between the motility of bovine spermatozoa and the mitochondrial potential of their mitochondria (R>0.87; p<0.05). The mitochondrial toxicity of deltamethrin has been confirmed, although to a much lesser extent than that of the T-2-toxin. In addition, certain patterns were found in the distribution of active zones of the mitochondrial potential in bull spermatozoa. Conclusion. Using deltamethrin and T-2-toxin in this study, it was shown that the sperm cells of bulls and their mitochondrial potential can be used as an express test for mitochondrial toxicity. Limitations. Determination of the mitochondrial potential of the studied spretamotozoa using the MitoTracker™ dye was rather of a qualitative nature, reflecting not so much the level of the mitochondrial potential but the number of spermatozoa that have the potential sufficient to initiate the luminescence of the dye.

The relatively low level of Russian rowing teams’ performance at international rowing competitions reflects certain mistakes in the training process of these teams. Basing on the analysis of the best training practices, we tried to identify possible mistakes in the training process that had caused poor results of the Russian national team in the 2014-15 season. Research methods and organization. Comparative analysis of the training volume and intensity practiced by the world leading teams and the Russian rowing team in the 2014-15 season; analysis of the special fitness level of teams on the basis of literature resources and proceedings of the coach conferences of the World Rowing Federation (FISA). Results and Discussion. Analysis of the completed training loads in the 2014-15 season revealed that the Russian national rowing team executed about 57% of the water exercises and 66% of the Rowing Ergometer exercises in the 3rd and 4th zones of intensity. Rowers did not experience the loads for the development of power qualities by means of general physical training. Conclusion. The system of training of the Russian rowing team in 2014-2015 looks less effective in comparison with the system of training of world-leading national teams. The method of training of the Russian rowing national team employed in the 2014-15 season was totally different from the world standards. The above mentioned factors caused the low level of the team performance in that season due to the premature achievement of the sport fitness peak by the Russian athletes.