Evaluation of the immunotropic activity of neuropeptide compound Lys-Lys-Arg-Arg-Pro-Gly-Pro in conditions of "social" stress

Objective: to investigate immunotropic activity of the argenine-containing neuropeptide compound Lys-Lys-Arg-Arg-Pro-Gly-Pro in conditions of "social" stress. Material and methods. The study was conducted on mongrel male rats of 6 months of age using a model of "social" stress based on the provision of permanent residence of animals in conditions of sensory contact, as a result of which submissive and aggressive types of behavior were formed. All animals were divided into groups: control I - rats who were in a cage one at a time and received water for injection in an equivalent volume; control II - groups of stressed animals with aggressive and submissive types of behavior; three groups of stressed rats were intraperitoneally injected with Lys-Lys-Arg-Arg-Pro-Gly-Pro at a dose of 100 mcg/kg/day and the comparison drug Imunofan (Arginyl-alpha-aspartyl-lysyl-valyl-thyrosyl-argininum) at an average therapeutic dose of 0.7 mcg/kg/day. The following indicators were evaluated: delayed hypersensitivity reaction index, antibody titer of direct hemagglutination reaction, phagocytic activity of peripheral blood neutrophils, leukocyte formula indicators. Results. The results obtained in the course of this study indicate that the arginine-containing neuropeptide compound Lys-Lys-Arg-Arg-Pro-Gly-Pro contributes to the correction of immune changes that occur against the background of exposure to chronic "social" stress, namely, an increase in the delayed hypersensitivity reaction index, the level of anti-erythrocyte antibodies, the total number of leukocytes and a decrease in phagocytic activity of peripheral blood neutrophils (phagocytic number and phagocytic index), as well as restoration of the percentage ratio of elements of the leukocyte formula. Conclusion. Thus, the study of the immunotropic activity of the argenine-containing neuropeptide compound Lys-Lys-Arg-Arg-Pro-Gly-Pro showed the presence of an immunocorrecting effect on the cellular and humoral links of immunity, which actualizes the need for a detailed study of the immune mechanisms of this compound.