[The superoxide theory of pathogenesis and therapy of immune disorders]

On the basis of the understanding that there are common development mechanisms for the inflammatory and immune reactions it was established that the activity of the oxidant-antioxidant system (OAS) correlates not only with a severity of the inflammatory reaction but also with a degree of immune disorders. Such disorders were studied in patients with endogenous uveitis and with cancer of the esophagus or uterine cervix, i.e. those nosological forms, which are normally accompanied by OAS decompensation, which comprised a lower activity of primary antioxidants (superoxides of dismutase, catalase, lactoferrin, ceruloplasmin etc.) in patients with pronounced immune disorders. Moreover, a lower content of secondary antioxidants, like vitamin A, ascorbic acid and tocopherol, was registered in the blood of patients with immune disorders. The suppression of the antioxidant system was concomitant with an essentially increased level of lipid peroxidation in all patients. Besides, it was noted that there were intensifying signs of immune disorders primarily observed during irradiation chemotherapy. In this context, a clear-cut correlation was established, in monitoring the body immune status, between degrees of free-radical formation and lipid peroxidation, on the one hand, and an activity of detoxication-system antioxidants, on the other hand,. The OAS correction by direct or indirect-action antioxidants normally improves the clinical course of immune impairments. The indirect-action antioxidants, e.g. synthetic regulatory peptide "Imunofan", induce the increasing activity of primary endogenous antioxidants. An activation of the detoxication antioxidant system, brings about, in such cases, a lower content of inflammation mediators, a recovery of cell-immunity indices and lower parameters of body auto-sensitization. Finally, the antioxidant system in patients with chronic inflammatory or oncological disorders, when recovered, ensures the correction of cell immunity and cuts the number of auto-immune reactions and of other immune disturbances.