Biological Effects of Polynucleotides: Proceedings of the Symposium on Molecular Biology, Held in New York, June 4-5, 1970 Sponsored by Miles Laborato

ISBN-13: 9783642857744 / Angielski / Miękka / 2012 / 344 str.

Roland F. Jr. Beers; W. Braun

Opis

In recent years our horizons regarding the role of nucleic acids in biological systems have been expanded vastly by the finding that these molecules not only carry and transmit specific infOImation but also can act as less specific triggers of antiviral factors and of immunological responses. The latter properties are of particular interest in terms of possible utilization in human and veterinary medicine and consequently led, in the last few years, to the development of a new research area that combines both fundamental and applied problems in a uniquely attractive way. Furthermore, the importance and the complexity of the problems has attracted investigators from many fields, including molecular biologists, virologists, immunologists, chemists, biophysicists, oncologists, pharmacologists, and clinicians. A discussion of new developments in this area of biological effects of polynucleotides, with particular emphasis on interferon induction and modification of immune responses, therefore, seemed a logical topic for one of the annual symposia that Miles Laboratories, Inc., has sponsored in recent years. The manage ment of Miles accepted the suggestion with enthusiasm and thus once again earned the gratitude of the scientific community for sponsoring a catalytic meeting that was principally concerned with basic research problems and only tangentially with immediate applications. Springer-Verlag agreed to publish the proceedings of the meeting which was held at the Americana Hotel in New York City, June 4-5, 1970 and attracted an unusually large audience."

Spis treści

I Template Effects and Their Modification.- Qualitative and Quantitative Aspects of Polynucleotide Modification.- Template and Messenger Activities of Mutagen-Treated Polynucleotides.- Discussion.- II Interferon Stimulation.- Double-Stranded RNA’s in Relation to Interferon Induction and Adjuvant Activity.- Factors Affecting the Interferon Response of Mice to Polynucleotides.- Studies on the Anti-Tumor Action of Poly I: Poly C.- Molecular Requirements for Synthetic RNA to Act in Interferon Stimulation.- The Specificity of Interferon Induction.- Structural Requirements of Ribopolymers for Induction of Human Interferon: Evidence for Interferon Subunits.- Immunogenic Polynucleotides.- Discussion.- III Stimulation of Antibody Formation and Cell-Mediated Immunity.- Spectrum and Mode of Action of Poly A: U in the Stimulation of Immune Responses.- Stimulation of the Immune System by Homopolyribonucleotides.- Effect of Polynucleotides (Poly I · C and Poly A · U) on Protein, RNA, and Polysomal Synthesis in Rabbit and Human Lung, and Rat and Human Peritoneal Macrophages.- Conversion with Polynucleotides of a Genetically Controlled Low Immune Response to a High Response in Mice Immunized with a Synthetic Polypeptide Antigen.- Influence of Synthetic Polynucleotides on the Bactericidal Power of Mouse Macrophages against Listeria monocytogenes.- Remission Induction with Poly IC in Patients with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (Preliminary Results).- Immunity and Tolerance to Synthetic Polynucleotides in New Zealand Mice.- Discussion.- IV Pharmacological Aspects of Polynucleotide Effects.- The Double-Bitted Axe: A Study of Toxicity of Interferon Releasers.- Polyinosinic-Polycytidylic Acid Toxicity.- Discussion.- V Polynucleotide-Associated Events in Immunocompetent Cells.- Cell to Cell Cooperation in the Immune Response: A Role for Macrophage RNA-Antigen Complexes?.- Antigen Capture by a Unique Ribonucleoprotein of Macrophage Cells.- Observations on the Regulatory Effects of the Transfer RNA Minor Base, N6-?2-(Isopentenyl)Adenosine, on Human Lymphocytes.- Discussion.