Polyamines as receptor-independent aggression factors of opportunistic pathogens

Godovalov A.P., Karpunina T.I., Nesterova L.Yu.,Morozov I.A.

Acad. E.A. Wagner Perm State Medical University, Perm
Institute of Ecology and Genetics of Microorganisms of the Ural Branch RAS, Perm

In the studies of biogenic polyamines, much attention is paid to their activity in prokaryotic and transformed eukaryotic cells. There is practically no information on the role of polycations of microbial origin in the development of an immune response to opportunistic pathogens.

The aim of research was to study the effect of cadaverine and putrescine on the viability and functional activity of peripheral blood leukocytes from healthy donors.

Materials and methods. Viability, phagocytic activity and the ability to produce radicals by peripheral blood leukocytes (n=10) after their preincubation with cadaverine (0.01 M) and putrescine (0.01 M) for 60 minutes at 37°C were evaluated.

Results. It was shown that biogenic polyamines do not affect the viability of leukocytes, but at the same time inhibit their phagocytic activity and the ability to produce oxygen radicals, especially by neutrophilic granulocytes. Cadaverin increases the absorption activity of both neutrophils and monocytes. Conclusion. Thus, the ability of cadaverine and putrescine to suppress the functional activity of leukocytes while maintaining their viability can be considered as a factor of aggression, especially in the context of microbial persistence.