Pleiotropicity of immunomodulating effects of synthetic thymic hexapeptide in chronic infectious and inflammatory diseases of the genital tract in immunocompromized women

Abstract

A reason for a protracted course and frequent recurrence of pelvic inflammatory diseases (PID) is dysfunction of the immune system, which dictates the need of effective immunotherapeutic approaches. Objective: to clarify the features of immune system functioning, the interferon system, the profile of cytokines during the period of exacerbation of PID in women; to develop targeted immunotherapy using hexapeptide with assessment of its effectiveness. The studied immunocompromised women 20-40 years old with exacerbation of PID were divided into study groups (SG): SG1 (n = 22), SG2 (n = 70) before treatment; SG1a, SG1 receiving standard therapy; SG2a, SG2, receiving standard therapy and hexapeptide (HP, Imunofan®). The parameters of cellular and humoral immunity, levels of serum interferons, cytokines were determined. During exacerbation of PID, a decrease in IFNα was in both groups and IFNγ, more pronounced in SG1. In SG1, the levels of IL-6, TNFα were increased, the level of IL-8 was decreased. In SG2, the level of IL-6 was increased. An increase in IL-4, IL-10 was noted in both groups. Against the background of IFNα, IFNγ deficiency and cytokine imbalance, a significant decrease in T lymphocytes, T helper cells, B lymphocytes was observed in both study groups. After standard treatment, there was no recovery of IFNα, IFNγ. Only TNFα decreased, the levels of IL-1β, IL-6 were increased at the end of treatment, there was no increase in IL-4, IL-10 and restoration of cellular and humoral immunity. It leads to maintaining chronic inflammation and exacerbation of PID within 3 months after treatment. After immunotherapy including fHP, IFNα was restored in 50% cases. There was a decrease in IL-1β, TNFα without significant changes in the levels of IL-8, IL-18. Resolution of inflammation was accompanied by an increase in IL-10. The modulating effect of fHP on interferons and cytokines contributed to the restoration of T cell and humoral immunity, which is related to the onset of clinical remission of PID at an earlier time and an increase in the duration of the inter-relapse period. The positive effectiveness of immunotherapy with Imunofan® is due to its pleiotropic effects, which provides significant advantages compared to the use of standard therapy only.