Mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) are characterized by tolerogenic potential and therefore, are used in the treatment of autoimmune diseases such as graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) reactions after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation to improve the transplant functions, as well as for the therapy and prevention of cytokine storm in COVID-19 patients and some other conditions. However, MSC can exhibit proinflammatory activity, which causes risks for their clinical use. We studied the cytokine profile of bone marrow MSC culture and demonstrate intensive production of IL-6, IL-8, and chemokine MCP-1, which participate in the pathogenesis of cytokine storm and GVHD. At the same time, no anti-inflammatory IL-4 and IL-10 were detected. To reduce the risks of MSC application in the GVHD therapeutic protocols, further studies of the conditions promoting generation of MSC with tolerogenic potential and approved clinical standards of MSC use are required.

Starting from the biotechnologically available trisaccharide sialyl 3´ lactose, representing the carbohydrate portion of the tumor associated ganglioside GM3, the corresponding 3 aminopropyl β glycoside (1) and 3 (4 maleimidobutanoylamino)propyl glycoside were syn thesized. The reaction of the latter with a thiolated derivative of the Megathura crenulata hemocyanine (KLH) afforded a carbohydrate-protein conjugate, a tumor vaccine prototype containing about 330 trisaccharide ligands attached to KLH. N Stearoylation of ligand 1 gave the model neoglycolipid for comparative study of the activity of mono and polyvalent immu nogens and the natural ganglioside GM3. A monovalent conjugate, in which ligand 1 is linked to biotin through an oligo(ethylene glycol) spacer and a polyvalent conjugate with a polyacryl amide carrier were also prepared. These conjugates are meant as covering antigens to assess the specificity and efficiency of the immune response in the ELISA assay.

SummaryTwo new triterpenoid saponins 1 and 2 were isolated from the methanol extract of the roots of Acanthophyllum gypsophiloides Regel. These saponins have quillaic acid or gypsogenin moieties as an aglycon, and both bear similar sets of two oligosaccharide chains, which are 3-O-linked to the triterpenoid part trisaccharide α-L-Arap-(1→3)-[α-D-Galp-(1→2)]-β-D-GlcpA and pentasaccharide β-D-Xylp-(1→3)-β-D-Xylp-(1→3)-α-L-Rhap-(1→2)-[β-D-Quip-(1→4)]-β-D-Fucp connected through an ester linkage to C-28. The structures of the obtained saponins were elucidated by a combination of mass spectrometry and 2D NMR spectroscopy. A study of acute toxicity, hemolytic, anti-inflammatory, immunoadjuvant and antifungal activity was carried out. Both saponins 1 and 2 were shown to exhibit immunoadjuvant properties within the vaccine composition with keyhole limpet hemocyanin-based immunogen. The availability of saponins 1 and 2 as individual pure compounds from the extract of the roots of A. gypsophiloides makes it a prospective source of immunoactive agents.

The potential of mesenchymal multipotent (stem) cells (MSC) to modify immune reactions and mediate hematopoiesis boosted great interest for their use in allogeneic hemopoietic stem cell transplantation. Because of MSC production of a wide range of cytokines and growth factors, these cells are included in the therapy of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). A number of clinical studies have demonstrated safety and efficacy of MSC-based therapy in acute GVHD. Japan and some other countries approved biomedical cell products on the base of allogeneic bone marrow (BM) MSCs as medical agents for acute GVHD treatment. Besides, MSCs may form BM stroma and improve hematopoiesis. Simultaneous transplantation of hematopoietic stem cells and MSCs effectively improved engraftment and prevented GVHD in transplantation of umbilical cord blood and human leukocyte antigens-incompatible BM stem cells. The review presents the analysis of clinical studies of MSCs in allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and discusses different approaches for improvement of MSC-based GVHD treatment and prophylaxis.

The 2 aminoethyl β glycoside of the trisaccharide 3´ (N glycolylneuraminyl)lactose was synthesized in the framework of studies of approaches to the preparation of synthetic tumor vaccines based on carbohydrate chains of tumor associated gangliosides and converted to the corresponding 2 (4 maleimidobutanoylamino)ethyl glycoside. The reaction of the latter with thiolated hemocyanin from the keyhole limpet Megathura crenulata (KLH) gave a carbo hydrate-protein conjugate, a tumor vaccine prototype containing about 250 trisaccharide ligands attached to a macromolecular KLH complex. A polyvalent conjugate with a polyacryl amide support was synthesized to be used as a coating antigen in the control of specificity and efficiency of immune response by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). * On the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the foundation of the N. D. Zelinsky Institute of Organic Chemistry of the Russian Academy of Sciences. 4.49 (d, 1 H, H(1) Gls, J 1,2 = 8.0 Hz); 4.48 (dd, 1 H, H(3) Gal , J 2,3 = 9.8 Hz, J 3,4 = 2.7 Hz); 4.42 (dd, 1 H, H(6a) Gls, J 6a,6b = 12.0 Hz, J 6b,5 = 1.7 Hz); 4.38 (dd, 1 H, H(9a) Neu , J 9a,8 = 2.6 Hz, J 9a,9b = 12.5 Hz); 4.14 (dd, 1 H, H(6b) Gls, J 6a,6b = 12.0 Hz, J 6b,5 = 4.9 Hz); 3.91-4.02 (m, 5 H, H(5) Neu , H(6a,6b) Gal , H(9b) Neu , OCH a H b CH 2 Cl); 3.84 (dd, 1 H, H(4) Glc ), Scheme 3