ABSTRACT

Genotoxic stress and the ways of immune competent cell (ICC) death (apoptosis and necrosis) were studied in modeling of systemic immune system damage by immunization of CBA mice with the bovine serum albumin (BSA). In immunized mice, using immunofluorescence method, we have revealed the fixation of immune complexes in the tissues of the liver, the spleen, the aorta, and the kidney. Histological analysis of these organs has shown damage to the vascular system and, to a lesser extent, parenchymal organs. It has been shown that the DNA-comet index increases 1.4 times in the lymph node cells and 1.5 times in the thymus cells in BSA-immunized mice. We also observed an increase in the number of cells with maximum damage to DNA in the thymus preparations (3.4-fold) and lymph nodes (3.3-fold), respectively, indicating severe genotoxic stress. The number of living ICC decreases, while the number of dead cells increases, including those through the pro-inflammatory and immunogenic necrotic way. It has been shown that generalized immune complex − mediated pathologic process leads to DNA damage and ICC death in both central and peripheral organs of the immune system. Genotoxic stress of the ICC and an increase in their death through the necrotic way may play an important role in the development of immune complex-mediated diseases. The number of lymphocytes in the peripheral blood can serve as a prospective test system to assess the severity of autoimmune and immune complex-mediated diseases and effectiveness of their treatment.