Experimental Substantiation of Application of Semax as a Modulator of Immune Reaction on the Model of "Social" Stress

Bull Exp Biol Med. 2019 Apr;166(6):754-758. doi: 10.1007/s10517-019-04434-y. Epub 2019 Apr 26.

Abstract

We studied immunocorrecting effects of Semax (Met-Glu-His-Phe-Pro-Gly-Pro) on the model of "social" stress caused by sensory contact and intermale confrontation. Functional activity of the immune system of laboratory animals was evaluated in standard immunopharmacological tests: delayed-type hypersensitivity reaction, direct agglutination test, latex test for studying phagocytic activity of peripheral blood neutrophils, changes in differential leukocyte count, and weight of immunocompetent organs. It was found that changes in the immune response caused by "social" stress are multidirectional, which confirms the theory of stress-induced "immune imbalance". Semax acted as effective immune corrector restoring cellular and humoral immunogenesis reactions and phagocytic activity of neutrophils. This attested to the presence of immunomodulating properties in Semax and necessitates further studies in this field.

Keywords: Semax; immune system; sensory contact; social stress.

MeSH terms

  • Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / analogs & derivatives*
  • Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / pharmacology
  • Aggression
  • Animals
  • Animals, Outbred Strains
  • Hypersensitivity, Delayed / drug therapy
  • Hypersensitivity, Delayed / immunology
  • Immunity, Innate / drug effects
  • Immunologic Factors / pharmacology*
  • Latex Fixation Tests
  • Leukocyte Count
  • Male
  • Neuroprotective Agents / pharmacology*
  • Neutrophils / drug effects
  • Neutrophils / immunology
  • Nootropic Agents / pharmacology*
  • Peptide Fragments / pharmacology*
  • Phagocytosis / drug effects
  • Stress, Psychological / drug therapy*
  • Stress, Psychological / immunology
  • Stress, Psychological / physiopathology

Substances

  • Immunologic Factors
  • Neuroprotective Agents
  • Nootropic Agents
  • Peptide Fragments
  • ACTH (4-7), Pro-Gly-Pro-
  • Adrenocorticotropic Hormone