title: Block copolymers of ethylene oxide and propylene oxide (pluronics) as immunomodulators and antitumour agents.
abstract: Block copolymers of ethylene oxide and propylene oxide (pluronics) are nontoxic water-soluble membranotropic surfactants available as polymers with various compositions, molecular masses, number, and arrangement of blocks. In vivo experiments are reported which demonstrate that these polymers and their functional derivatives stimulate the production of anti-sheep-erythrocyte antibodies in mice. The introduction of reactive (hydroperoxide) groups into the polymers by chemical modification or by solubilization of low-molecular-mass hydroperoxides alters the properties of these immunostimulators. In vitro experiments revealed that these modified polymers enhance the activity of natural killer cells without reducing their viability. It is proposed that the immunomodulatory properties of pluronics and their derivatives play an important role in the antitumour activity of these substances in vivo.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Moscow State University.
authors.forename: I N
authors.initials: IN
authors.lastname: Topchieva
authors.forename: V N
authors.initials: VN
authors.lastname: Erokhin
authors.forename: S V
authors.initials: SV
authors.lastname: Osipova
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Khrutskaya
authors.forename: T A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Kupriyanova
authors.forename: S N
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Bykovskaya
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000917:Antibody Formation / Q000187:drug effects; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000188:drug therapy; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic / Q000187:drug effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004852:Epoxy Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005027:Ethylene Oxide / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007165:Immunosuppression Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000187:drug effects; D007939:Leukemia L1210 / Q000188:drug therapy; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects; D051379:Mice
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D004852:Epoxy Compounds; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D005027:Ethylene Oxide; C009068:propylene oxide