Laboratory of Molecular Immunology

The realization of the protective properties of immunity is related to the functional state of immune cells. The ability of white blood cells to maintain their viability, divide, produce cytokines, and perform other functions largely depends on the degree of cell depletion and aging. It is known that these functional states are determined by the ability of immunocytes to rebuild cellular metabolism. However, the question of how individual metabolic processes of leukocytes change in response to external influences is currently poorly understood.

Intensive metabolic restructuring and an increase in the rate of metabolic processes accompanying the activation, differentiation and proliferation of leukocytes are similar to those in tumor cells. In this sense, tumor cell lines are an excellent model for studying the mechanisms of action of various factors on subpopulations of immunocytes.

The functional state of the cells of the immune system is affected by infections. So, when In HIV infection, immunocompetent cells divide unproductively and cannot increase their numbers sufficiently. This leads to the formation of immunodeficiency, contributes to the development of concomitant diseases and death of patients. Preliminary data suggest that in HIV-infected subjects, the reason for the low productivity of CD4+ T lymphocyte proliferation lies in the depletion of their pool. It has also been shown that, compared with the corresponding cells of healthy individuals, T-helper cells of HIV-positive patients consume more metabolic substrates such as glucose. It is suggested that these substrates are used by cells to divide and perform effector functions, which, however, does not correspond to the realities of empirically observed reality.

Compounds of chemical and biological origin, including pharmacological preparations, can also affect the functional state and metabolism of immune cells. It has been shown that many antiretroviral drugs have a toxic effect on mitochondria, which play the role of central nodes of cellular metabolism. Mitochondrial problems can lead to pathogen-independent disorders of CD4+ proliferative capacity T-lymphocytes of HIV-infected patients. Hormones, analgesics and many drugs, the sale and reception of which often occurs uncontrollably, can also have a significant effect on the functional state of the cells of the immune system. The means of targeted drug delivery , microbial synthesis products, and drug prototypes based on synthetic and biological compounds that are actively being developed today are also not inert and can have both stimulating and inhibitory effects on the immune system.

The causes and mechanisms of changes in the functional state of leukocytes under various influences have not been studied. This prevents the development of new approaches to therapy or modification of health-saving technologies, and hinders the rational use of medicines.