Monodisperse nonmagnetic macroporous poly(glycidyl methacrylate) (PGMA) microspheres were synthesized by multistep swelling polymerization of glycidyl methacrylate, ethylene dimethacrylate and 2-[(methoxycarbonyl)methoxy]ethyl methacrylate (MCMEMA). This was followed (a) by ammonolysis to modify the microspheres with amino groups, and (b) by incorporation of iron oxide (γ-FeO) into the pores to render the particles magnetic. The resulting porous and magnetic microspheres were characterized by scanning and transmission electron microscopy (SEM and TEM), atomic absorption and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (AAS and FTIR), elemental analysis, vibrating magnetometry, mercury porosimetry and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller adsorption/desorption isotherms. The microspheres are meso- and macroporous, typically 5 μm in diameter, contain 0.9 mM · g of amino groups and 14 wt.% of iron according to elemental analysis and AAS, respectively. The particles were conjugated to p46/Myo1C protein, a potential biomarker of autoimmune diseases, to isolate specific autoantibodies in the blood of patients suffering from multiple sclerosis (MS). The p46/Myo1C loaded microspheres are shown to enable the preconcentration of minute quantities of specific immunoglobulins prior to their quantification via SDS-PAGE. The immunoglobulin M (IgM) with affinity to Myo1C was detected in MS patients. Graphical abstract Monodisperse magnetic poly(glycidyl methacrylate) microspheres were synthesized, conjugated with 46 kDa form of unconventional Myo1C protein (p46/Myo1C) via carbodiimide (DIC) chemistry, and specific autoantibodies isolated from blood of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients; immunoglobulin M (IgM) level increased in MS patients.

Affinity isolation of anti-histone immunoglobulins from blood serum of systemic lupus erythematosus patients using histone-conjugated magnetic poly(2-oxoethyl methacrylate) microspheres (IO-iron oxide, HIS-histone).

In order to find novel molecular markers of multiple sclerosis we developed a scheme of oligopeptides' isolation including their extraction from blood serum with 10 % trichloroacetic acid, followed by precipitation of soluble substances with acetone in ratio 6:1. Oligopeptides were dissolved in water and their characteristics was determined by gel filtration under HPLC conditions and thin layer chromatography. Obtained data have shown that blood serum of MS patients contains two oligopolypeptides with average molecular masses of 300-500 Da. We also studied biological activity of TCA-soluble peptides toward some eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells in comparison with phosphopeptides isolated from casein hydrolysates. It was found that TCA-soluble peptides are capable of effective inhibiting HeLa cells' proliferation, while their inhibitory effect was expressed toward Jurkat T-cells and was not detectable toward U373 cells. The casein's phosphopeptides were capable to stimulate proliferation of Jurkat cells and effectively inhibited growth of cells. Neither antibacterial, nor antifungal activities of these oligopeptides were detected.

The review is focused on the analysis of published data and the results obtained by the authors about the catalytic activity of antibodies (abzymes) at norm and pathology. Potential pathogenic and beneficial role of natural abzymes is discussed.Abzymes, possessing protease activity were named as "protabzymes". As was mentioned above, protabzymes, capable of hydrolyzing intestinal