D. O. Leontieva’s research while affiliated with St Petersburg University and other places

The objective: to study the role of CaD proteins, αV integrin and TIMP-1 in the development of pulmonary tuberculosis. Subjects and Methods. 27 specimens of pulmonary tuberculomas were used for this study. The specimens were divided into 3 goups in accordance with the degree of inflammatory and reparative changes occurring in the tuberculoma tissue. The targeting proteins were visualized by immunohistochemical methods. For quantification, the relative area of expression of signaling molecules was counted. The obtained data were statistically processed based on nonparametric criteria. Results. Data analysis showed an increased level of CaD expression during wall epithelialisation compared to the group with no connective tissue repair, which was associated with the involvement of CaD in the concomitant repair and fibrosis formation. Statistically significant differences in the expression levels of αV integrin between Groups 2 and 3 were found in the case of granuloma inflammation. The decrease in the protein levels from Group 2 to Group 3 may be due to activation of the anti-inflammatory mediator TGFβ1 and induction of M2 macrophages. The results of testing TIMP-1 expression level demonstrated its involvement both in granuloma fibrosis and formation of connective tissue complex in the inflammation site. The obtained data indicate that the studied proteins can be considered as informative biomarkers in molecular diagnostics and assessment of prognosis of pulmonary tuberculosis development.

Introduction. Mitochondrial dysfunction is an important pathogenic mechanism of neurodegeneration, characterized by a progressive structural and functional loss of neurons, leading to heterogeneous clinical and pathological manifestations with subsequent impairment of the functional anatomy of the brain. Aim of research. To study the influence of occupational hazards and stress experienced by civil aviation pilots and cosmonauts on the expression of mitochondrial biomarkers in buccal epithelial cells to assess the risk of developing neurodegenerative processes. Material and methods. The study involved 23 male participants in two age groups. 4 groups of investgation were formed, according to the occupation, comparable in age. The expression of mitochondrial proteins prohibitin and parkin in the buccal epithelium of the study participants was assessed by immunohistochemical methods. Results. A decrease in the expression level of the prohibitin protein was found in the group of civil aviation pilots compared to the control group of the corresponding age. There was also a tendency to a decrease in the level of expression of the studied proteins prohibitin and parkin in the group of cosmonauts compared with the control group of the corresponding age. Conclusion. The results obtained indicate a mitochondrial dysfunction, which may increase the risk of developing neurodegenerative changes.