Correction of Stress-induced Dysfunctions of the Immune and Neuroendocrine Systems by Peptide and Nucleotide Preparations

The authors analyzed the effects of short synthetic peptides and native DNA preparations on the function of the immune and neuroendocrine systems under various stress conditions. These preparations of peptides and nucleotides are known to be effective modulators of the immune and neuroendocrine systems. Here we discuss a new concept, which suggests that endogenous short peptides and their synthetic analogs bind to specific sequences of nucleotides in DNA strands. These site-specific peptide- DNA interactions modulate cellular genetic functions and form the basis of molecular-genetics of stress-protective short synthetic peptides. Protective action of nucleotide preparations on impaired functions of the immune and neuroendocrine systems was shown. It seems that these effects are based on the ability of nucleotides to penetrate cells and subsequently splitting into nucleotides, which, after releasing from the cell, bind to purinergic P2 receptors. The results indicate that short synthetic peptides and native DNA preparations are capable of correcting stress induced impairment of neuroimmune function.