Abstract:
The present invention relates to immunopharmacology and, more specifically, to a preparation controlling the T-system of immunity and to a method for producing the same. 
     The preparation controlling the T-system of immunity is characterized by its content as the active principle, peptides with a molecular mass of from 1,500 to 6,000 Dalton having absorption maximum in UV-light at 280 and 275 nm and electrophoretic mobility in a polyacrylamide gel relative to bromophenol blue: 0.062-0.102; 0.156-0.236; 0.354-0.374; 0.382-0.422; 0.432-0.472; 0.485-0.545; 0.850-0.930. 
     The method for producing the preparation according to the present invention comprises homogenization of a tissue of thymus gland in a solution of sodium chloride; the homogenizate is kept for 12-16 hours at a temperature of from 2° to 6° C., the residue is removed, thermolabile proteins are removed from the solution, peptides and proteins are precipitated and then dissolved and peptides are salted-out from the solution successively in three stages, the residue of peptides is removed, ultrafiltered through a membrane with a rated retention limit relative to globular proteins of from 12,000 to 30,000, the ultrafiltrate is gel-chromatographed to isolate peptides with a molecular mass of from 1,500 to 6,000 Dalton, desalted and lyophilized. 
     This preparation is used for the treatment of primary and secondary immunodeficient states, diseases caused by malignant neoplasms, psoriasis and other pathological states.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to medicine and, more specifically to immunopharmacology, in particular to a preparation for controlling the T-system of immunity and to a method for producing same. 
     The preparation is useful in the treatment of primary and secondary immunodeficiency states. The preparation contributes to restoration of immunohomeostasis of the organism and exerts a regulating effect on the immune and hematoplastic systems. 
     This invention relates, first of all, to T-lymphocytes and restoration of the balance of different sub-populations of the T-system of immunity, thus providing an implicit influence on the B-system of immunity. Consequently, the preparation according to the present invention is useful in clinics for the restoration of disturbances of the T-system of immunity functions. This applies, first of all, to such well known disturbances of the immune system in various tumors, congenital immunodeficient pathology (for example with manifestation of Louis-Bar syndrome), acute viral infection (for example, Herpes Zoster) and some other diseases associated with the immune status disturbance such as psoriasis, systemic lupus erythematosis. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     First attempts to restore the immunity system in primary and secondary immunodeficiency states have been made by way of transplantation of embryonal or neonatal thymus, and thymus in combination with sternum (cf. Yu. M. Lopukhin, Yu. I. Morozov, R. V. Petrov &#34;Actual Problems of Transplantation of Organs&#34;, Moscow, 1974, pp. 286-302). In patients suffering from ataxia-telangiectasia (Louis-Bar syndrome), a genetic disease associated with disturbance of the function of T-cells in absence of immunoglobulins A and E (IgA, AgE), the transplantation of thymus causes a partial restoration of immunocompetence and a positive clinical dynamics. However, along with the tissue of the implanted thymus, numerous biochemical compounds are introduced into the body and a portion thereof can be toxic for the recipient. Insufficient vascularization, origination of immunological conflict are responsible for a rapid deterioration of the transplant. In transplantation of thymus it is impossible to ensure dosage of the active principle into the patient&#39;s organism. For this reason, the therapeutic effect in transplantation of thymus is but a short-termed and not always clearly pronounced. All these factors necessitate the production of preparations from thymus, or from other organs which should possess a considerably higher biological activity, a wide range of the therapeutic effect relative to primary and secondary immunodeficiency states caused by various external factors, malignant neoplasms having no immunogenic properties and causing no complications upon administration. 
     In the investigation of the preparation produced from thymus it has been found that its biological activity is due to the protein with the molecular mass of 12,600 Dalton. The method for producing the preparation involves homogenization of the tissue of thymus gland in NaCl, the removal of a residue from the homogenate, separation of thermolabile proteins from the solution, precipitation of proteins and peptides from the solution, dissolution of the precipitated proteins and peptides, salting-out of the peptides, dissolution of the residue of peptides, desalting of the separated peptides and lyophilization thereof (cf. Goldstein A. L., Guha A., et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 69, p.1800, 1972). 
     Further investigations have shown that the protein comprises an aggregation consisting of a number of polypeptides with a molecular mass of below 1,000 Dalton (cf. Hopper J. A., McDaniel M. C., et al., Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci., 249, p.125, 1975). 
     Disk-electrophoresis in a polyacrylamide gel and isoelectric focusing in ampholines have made it possible to identify individual polypeptides. The biologically active fraction of thymosin (V fraction) has more than 20 components with a molecular mass of from 1,000 to 15,000 Dalton. It should be noted that certain polypeptide fractions of the preparation of thymus or combinations thereof have different biological activity in immunological tests in vivo and in vitro. Thus, the highest activity in the test of inhibition of migration of lymphocytes is manifested by α-thymosin with the molecular mass of 3,108 and pI of 4.2 (cf. Low, T. L. K., Goldstein A. L. In: The Year in Hematology; R. Silber, J. Lobuc, A. S. Gordon, eds) pp. 281-319, Plenum Publishing, New York, 1978). Other peptides produced from thymus, e.g. β 3  and β 4  induce the synthesis of the termonal desoxynucleotidyltransferase in precursors of T-cells. A number of polypeptides of thymus such as β 1  are fully identical with biologically active peptides of other organs and, in particular, ubiquitin (cf. U.S. Pat. No. 4,002,602, 1977). Ubiquitin is capable of causing expression of T and B cell markers in vitro by activation of the adenylatecyclase cycle and influencing on β-adrenergic receptors. 
     Also known is a thymic humoral factor capable of inducing immunocompetent cells in vitro by sensitivity of rosette-forming cells (E-RFC) in respect of azotioprin. The molecular mass of the humoral factor is about 56,700 Dalton; in fractions with a lower molecular mass there have been found only traces of biological activity (cf. White A. In: Biochemical Action of Hormones (G. Lidruk, ed.), Vol. 7, Academic Press, N.Y., 1979). 
     Therefore, thymus peptides, polypeptides and proteins have a too wide heterogeneity both in molecule size and biological properties thereof. It is obvious that a medical preparation based on peptides and possessing an effective action should contain molecules with a specific molecular mass and a sufficiently high biological activity. In this case a unique composition of peptides defines the range and efficiency of their therapeutic effect. The biological activity of peptides can be enhanced in principle by way of an additional purification, or by their chemical or enzymatic modification. The attempts of clinical application of the preparations containing polypeptides for stimulation of the T-system of immunity have been undertaken on patients suffering from primary and secondary immunodeficient states. In the case of the primary immunodeficient state (thymus hypoplasia) after the administration of a preparation containing thymus polypeptides the patient&#39;s condition is improved. However, directly after completion of the course of immunotherapy the patient&#39;s condition is sharply declined (cf. Goldstein A. L. et al., Transplant. Proc., V.7, pp. 681-686, 1975). 
     In secondary immunodeficient states caused by malignant tumors, the administration of the preparation containing polypeptides (V-fraction of thymus) has given a positive effect only in 5 patients out of 32 leukemia-suffering patients. In a patient with chorion-epithelioma the health condition is worsened (cf. Shafer L. A. et al., Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci., V.277, pp.609-620, 1976). It should be noted that the preparation containing polypeptides (fraction V) has been administered in very high doses of about 400 mg/m 2  per day for the period of 21 days. In patients with severe combined immunodeficiency no positive dynamics in the immunological status was observed at all. (Cf. Astaldi A. et al., Treat. Rep. 62, p.1779, 1978). 
     Therefore, it is an urgent medical problem to provide a preparation containing polypeptides which would be more effective in respect of primary and secondary immunodeficiency. 
     OBJECT OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a preparation controlling the T-system of immunity which possesses a higher therapeutic activity and has no immunogeneity and pyrogeneity. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     This object is accomplished by a preparation controlling the T-system of immunity which, in accordance with the present invention contains, as the active principle, peptides with a molecular mass ranging from 1,500 to 6,000 Dalton which have their absorption maximum in UV-light at 208 and 275 nm and electrophoretic mobility in a gel relative to bromophenol blue of: 0.062-0.102; 0.156-0.236; 0.354-0.374; 0.382-0.422; 0.432-0.472; 0.485-0.545; 0.850-0.930, and a pharmaceutical vehicle therefor. 
     The preparation controlling the T-system of immunity according to the present invention will be referred to hereinafter as T-activine. 
     In this preparation a physiological solution is used as a vehicle. The physiological solution comprises a 0.14 M solution of NaCl. In the preparation according to the present invention a content of the active principle is 100 to 200 μg/ml for injections. 
     The preparation possesses a specific immunostimulant activity relative to T-lymphocytes in vitro. In the test for restoration of sensitivity of T-rossette-forming cells (T-RFC) to azatioprin it shows activity in a dose of 1 μg per 3×10 6  lymphocytes. The preparation possesses a regulating effect on the T-system of immunity in the cases of its disturbances in patients suffering from malignant neoplasms, psoriasis and some other diseases. The regulating effect of T-activine is revealed in normalization of the quantity and balance of populations of T-lymphocytes at a lowered or increased activity thereof in patients. The preparation exerts a lytic effect on the primary tumor tissue and metastases, potentiates specific polychemotherapy and provides opportunities for a local radiotherapy of tumors. T-activine causes a stable and lasting restoration of T-immunity in patients with disturbances of the immune system due to the primary or secondary immunodeficient state and provides a pronounced therapeutic effect in the case of Louis-Bar syndrome and psoriasis. Furthermore, the preparation according to the present invention reduces intoxication symptoms, normalizes the body temperature and neurological status in all the above-mentioned diseases. The preparation results in no complications, pyrogenic effect or appearance of antibodies specific therefor, or cases of idiosincrasy. 
     The object of the present invention is accomplished by a method for producing a preparation controlling the T-system of immunity which involves: 
     (1) homogenization of a tissue of thymus gland in a solution of sodium chloride; 
     (2) keeping the homogenizate for a period of from 12 to 16 hours at a temperature of from 2° to 6° C.; 
     (3) removing the residue from the homogenizate; 
     (4) heating the solution to a temperature within the range of from 70° to 90° C. until a precipitate of thermolabile protein components is formed; 
     (5) removing thermolabile proteins; 
     (6) precipitation of proteins and peptides from the solution; 
     (7) dissolution of the resulting proteins and peptides; 
     (8) salting-out peptides from the solution in three stages: the first one--in a 20-30%, of saturation, solution of ammonium sulphate at a pH of from 6.9 to 7.1; the second--in a 45-55%, of saturation, solution of ammonium sulphate at pH of 3.9-4.1 and the third--in a 45-55%, of saturation, solution of ammonium sulphate at pH of 4.5-6.0; 
     (9) dissolution of the resulting precipitate of peptides; 
     (10) ultrafiltration of the solution of peptides through a membrane with a rated limit of retention relative to globular proteins of from 12,000 to 30,000 Dalton; 
     (11) gel-chromatography of the ultrafiltrate with separation of peptides with a molecular mass of from 1,500 to 6,000 Dalton in a buffer with pH of from 6.8 to 8.2 and an ionic strength of from 0.1 to 0.4 M; 
     (12) desalting of the separated peptides and lyophilization thereof; 
     (13) mixing the peptides with a pharmaceutical vehicle. 
     It is advisable that the salting-out in stage (8) be conducted at a concentration of proteins and peptides in the solution of from 15 to 25 mg/ml. This ensures a fuller yield of biologically active peptides. 
     It is advisable to maintain homogenizate in the stage (2) at a ratio of the solid and liquid portions of 1:3; the gel-chromatography of peptides in the stage (11) is preferably conducted in a buffer solution containing KCl or NaCl. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The preparation T-activine according to the present invention possesses a high-immunostimulant activity relative to T-lymphocytes in vitro. In the test of suppression of a spontaneous rosette-formation by azatioprin, its effect is revealed in a dose of 1 μg per 3×10 6  lymphocytes. The preparation is capable of restoring T-rosette-formation in the cases of disturbances of the immune system including those accompanying oncologic and other diseases. After the treatment with the preparation according to the present invention of lymphocytes of oncologic and other patients in vitro normalization of percentage of T-rosette-forming cells (T-RFC) is observed. (See Table 1 hereinbelow). 
     
                       TABLE 1______________________________________Restoration of T-RFC in vitro by T-activine          T-RFC content in peripheral          blood, %                prior    after treatment withPatient              to the   T-activine (1 μg/2 ×No.   Diagnosis      treatment                         10.sup.5 lymphocytes)1     2              3        4______________________________________1     lymphosarcoma  22       462     lymphosarcoma  34       553     lymphosarcoma  30       564     lymphosarcoma  16       375     lymphogranulomatosis                34       676     lymphogranulomatosis                54       837     lymphogranulomatosis                41       808     lymphogranulomatosis                42       739     chronic lymphoid/leu-                44       70 kosis10    psoriasis      42       5111    psoriasis      42       5912    psoriasis      12       6013    psoriasis      23       59______________________________________ 
    
     The ability of restoring immunological response in animals under the effect of T-activine is observed in experimental data obtained on thymectomized mice and mice with congenital thymus aplosia. The thymectomized mice treated with the preparation become capable of forming T-rosette-forming cells within different periods after thymectomy. The data on the effect of T-activine in a dose of 40 μg/m 2  5, 35 and 245 days after thymectomy on the immune response of thymectomized mice to sheep erythrocytes (T-RFC) are shown in FIG. 1, wherein along the axis of abscissae there is shown the number of rosette-forming cells per 10 3  nucleated spleen cells, along the axis of ordinates there are shown the periods (days) after thymectomy;    denotes administration of erythrocytes to normal animals;    -denotes administration of erythrocytes to thymectomized animals;    denotes administration of erythrocytes to thymectomized animals along with administration of T-activine. 
     From Graph 1 it is seen that the restoration of T-rosette-formation to normal values is observed in the animals 245 days after the thymectomy, i.e. even within the period of physiological ageing of the organism. 
     The effect of T-activine, manifested through the T-immune system, on the B-immune system upon immunization of &#34;Nude&#34; mice with sheep erythrocytes as determined by the test of antibody-forming cells (AFC) is shown in Graph 2, wherein the number of AFC is shown along the axis of abscissae;  -immunization with sheep erythrocytes,    -immunization with sheep erythrocytes with administration of T-activine. 
     Under the effect of T-activine the &#34;nude&#34;-line mice obtain ability of a normal immune response towards T-depending antigen-sheep erythrocytes and form specific antibody-forming cells. The data obtained point to the regulating effect of T-activine on the immune system of the organism. 
     The preparation according to the present invention reveals a specific action only on the organs of the immune system: thymus, lymphatic nodes and spleen. Upon the administration of T-activine in these organs there is noted stimulation of proliferation of lymphoid cells and DNA synthesis. In the remaining organs: liver, kidneys, heart, intestinal wall, lungs, spinal marrow and brain no morphological changes are observed by the light-microscopy data. The preparation is non-toxic and does not changes physiological functions of the nervous system, breathing, blood circulation in doses exceeding the therapeutic dose by 100 times. T-activine causes no disturbances in hemogenesis and composition of cells of peripheral blood in healthy animals which is illustrated by the data shown in Tables 2 (a, b and c) and 3 (a and b). 
     
                       TABLE 2a______________________________________ Erythrocytic composition of peripheral bloodof experimental animals one week after theadministration of T-activine            Therape-Charac-  Control   utical dose   20-time doseteristics  M ± m  M ± m  p     M ± m                                    p______________________________________Hemo-  12.0 ± 0.57            11.7 ± 0.15                      &gt;0.2  11.1 ± 0.5                                    &gt;0.1globin,g %Erythro-   4.2 ± 0.21             5.9 ± 0.16                      &lt;0.001                             6.0 ± 0.38                                    &lt;0.001cytes,mln/μlColour 0.86 ± 0.02            0.54 ± 0.01                      &lt;0.001                            0.54 ± 0.01                                    &lt;0.001index______________________________________ 
    
     
                       TABLE 2b______________________________________Erythrocytic composition of peripheral bloodof experimental animals 2 weeks after theadministration of T-activine              Therapeu-Character-    Control   tical dose   20-time doseistics   M ± m  M ± m  p    M ± m                                     p______________________________________Hemoglobin,    12.0 ± 0.57              13.9 ± 1.10                        0.01 14.1 ± 0.40                                     0.001g %Erythrocyt-     4.2 ± 0.21               6.2 ± 0.16                        0.001                              6.3 ± 0.38                                     0.001es, mln/μlColour index    0.86 ± 0.02               0.7 ± 0.02                        0.001                             0.75 ± 0.03                                     0.001______________________________________ 
    
     
                       TABLE 2c______________________________________Erythrocytic composition of peripheral bloodof experimental animals one year after theadministration of T-activine           Therapeu-   Control tic dose    20-time doseCharacteristics     M ± m  M ± m  p   M ± m                                     p______________________________________Hemoglobin,     15.2 ± 0.66               15.5 ± 0.75                         0.2 14.5 ± 0.75                                     0.2g %Erythrocytes,      6.2 ± 0.28               6.7 ± 0.2                         0.1 5.6 ± 0.3                                     0.1mln/μlColour index     0.84 ± 0.04               0.78 ± 0.02                         0.1 0.76 ± 0.04                                     0.1______________________________________ 
    
     
                       TABLE 3a______________________________________Leukocytic composition of peripheral blood ofexperimental animals after the administrationof the therapeutic and 20-fold doses ofT-activine 14 days after the injection              Therape-Character-    Control   utic dose    20-time doseistics   M ± m  M ± m  p    M ± m                                     p______________________________________Leukocytes,    4.7 ± 0.3              4.95 ± 0.27                        0.2  4.64 ± 0.12                                     0.210.sup.3 /μlEosinophils,    3.0 ± 0.8              0.5 ± 0.2                        0.01 0.5 ± 0.2                                     0.01Stab     1.5 ± 0.3              3.5 ± 1.3                        0.1  3.5 ± 0.4                                     0.01neutrophils,%Segmented    14.0 ± 2.6              18.5 ± 2.7                        0.1  13.25 ± 3.6                                     0.05neutrophils,%Lymphocytes,    76.5 ± 3.2              74.0 ± 2.5                        0.05 81.0 ± 4.2                                     0.05%Monocytes,    5.0 ± 1.1              3.5 ± 1.1                        0.05 1.75 ± 0.2                                     0.05%Index of  0.1 ± 0.01              0.19 ± 0.13                        0.05 0.26 ± 0.08                                     0.05nucleous shiftof neutrophils______________________________________ 
    
     
                       TABLE 3b______________________________________Leukocytic composition of peripheral blood ofexperimental animals after the administrationof the therapeutic and 20-fold doses ofT-activin one year after the injectionof the preparation              Therape-Character-    Control   utical dose  20-time doseistics   M ± m  M ± m  p    M ± m                                     p1        2         3         4    5       6______________________________________Leukocytes,    4.7 ± 0.3              4.10 ± 0.25                        0.1  3.9 ± 0.3                                     0.110.sup.3 /μlEosinophils,    3.0 ± 0.8              1.5 ± 0.2                        0.02 1.8 ± 0.2                                     0.02Stab     1.5 ± 0.3              2.9 ± 0.5                        0.02 3.1 ± 0.5                                     0.02neutrophils,%Segmented    14.0 ± 2.6              17.1 ± 1.1                        0.02 18.3 ± 2.1                                     0.03neutrophils,%Lymphocytes,    76.5 ± 3.2              79.1 ± 2.3                        0.1  69.1 ± 3.4                                     0.1%Monocytes,    5.0 ± 1.1              3.4 ± 0.6                        0.1  4.5 ± 0.5                                     0.1%Index of  0.1 ± 0.01              0.15 ± 0.05                        0.2  0.13 ± 0.03                                     0.2nucleous shiftof neutrophils______________________________________ 
    
     A more important property of the preparation according to the present invention, T-activine, is its positive effect in vivo as regards normalization of the characteristics of the T-immune system and implicit effect on the B-system of immunity of the body in various pathological states and its direct therapeutic effect in primary immunodeficient states: ataxia-telangiectasis (Louis-Bar syndrome) and secondary immunodeficient states including those in the case of malignant tumors such as lymphogranulomatosis, lymphosarcoma, retinoblastoma and many others. 
     In the evaluation of the immunological status of patients with a primary immunodeficient state there is observed a functional disorder of the T- and B-immune systems which is manifested in a reduced ability of T-lymphocytes to blast-transformation and a reduced amount of serum immunoglobulin (IgA). The data obtained in this evaluation are shown in Table 4 hereinbelow. 
     
                                           TABLE 4__________________________________________________________________________Dynamics of variation of concentration ofserum immunoglobulins in children withLouis-Bar syndrome, mg %Prior to immuno-           After immunoth-                     After immunother-therapy         erapy (7 days)                     apy (14 days)ImmunoglobulinsPatientIgA   IgG IgM IgA              IgG IgM                     IgA                        IgG  IgM__________________________________________________________________________Norm            50-              950-                  70-           200              1,980                  2001     45     350        49  74                330                  505                     82   560                             1032    110   1,680       280 190               2460                  500                     48 2,250                             3603     56     960        70           38 1,030                             1404     74   1,140        90  8 1,500                  250                     16 1,350                             3505     58     690       250average69 ±   964 ±       146 ±      46 ±                        1,297 ±                             238 ±444    93            27   198                        133__________________________________________________________________________ 
    
     As follows from the above Table 4, after the administration of the preparation, within the first 7 days there is noted the tendency towards restoration of the functional activity of T-lymphocytes in the test of the reaction of blast-transformation. The amount of serum immunoglobulins IgA, G, M is also increased thus pointing to the stumulation of the B-immunity system. 
     The clinical effect after administration of the preparation is revealed by the 3-d day after the injection of the preparation and is manifested in positive dynamics of the akinetic-rigid syndrome and hyperkinetic syndrome, restoration of the speed of propagation of an impulse along the nervous fibres and an increased force of muscle contractions by 1.5-2 times. 
     In the evaluation of the immunological status of patients with a secondary immunodeficient state in the case of lymphogranulomatosis there are observed quantitative and functional disturbances of the T-system of immunity. Table 5 shows the data pointing to the decreased absolute content of T-lymphocytes and their functional activity in the test of blast-transformation with phytohemagglutinin (PHA). As follows from the quantitative content of immunoglobulins IgA, IgG, IgM no functional disturbance of the B-system is observed. (See Table 5). 
     After the introduction of T-activine there is observed restoration of the absolute content of T-lymphocytes. In the group of patients with a reduced percentage of T-rosette-forming cells (T-RFC) there is observed restoration of the parameter to the normal value. The functional activity is also restored to the norm. The data obtained demonstrate the regulating effect of T-activine relative to the cellular immunity. These data are shown in Table 6 hereinbelow. 
     
                       TABLE 5______________________________________Clinical and immunological characteristics ofchildren suffering from lymphogranulomatosis(LGM) prior to immunotherapy______________________________________Pa-                    Absolute      Absolutetient&#39;s         Hystolo-                       number of     numberage,    LGM     gical  lympho- % of  ofNo.  years   stage   type   cytes   E-RFC T-lymph1    2       3       4      5       6     7______________________________________                NORM   above   65    above                       1500          10001    7       IIAa    mx.cl.  726    29    2112    6       IIIAb   mx.cl. 1300    30    3903    3       IIBb    mx.cl. 1080    36    3884    3.5     IIIAb   mx.cl. 2940    32    9405    7       IIIAb   mix.cl.                       1480    25    3706    3.5     IIAa    mx.cl.  875    46    4027    13      IIIBb   mx.cl. 1533    46    7208    7       IIIAb   --     2394    46    11109    8       IIBb    --     1495    52    74810   7       IIIBb   lymph. 2490    60    1494                pred.11   7       IIAb    mx.cl. 2223    40    88912   9       IVBb    mx.cl. 2071    41    84813   4       IIIAb   mx.cl. 1330    68    904______________________________________Blast/transformationreaction with PHA        Concentration of serumback-                 % of   immunoglobulins, mg %No.  ground  PHA     Index B-RFC IgA   IgM   IgG1    8       9       10    11    12    13    14______________________________________                above 10-30 50-200                                  70-200                                        950-                40                      19801    424     18869   30.3  40    195    40    9502    346     14355   41.4  20    320   160   21003    115     3350    29.1  244                          28    208   220   14005    152     1357    9     20    150    90   15206    130     2352    18.0  30    116    60   13207                          22    376   160   20008     80     2527    31.3  23    125   135   10509    439     9810    22.3  2510                   5.7   30    210   120   168011   286     6830    23    25     62    70   150012                         1413   585     16773   28.6  37     72   130   1380______________________________________ B-RFC  Brosette-forming cells; mx.cl.  mixed cellular type; lymph,pred.  lymphoid predomination; PHA  phytohemagglutinin. 
    
     
                       TABLE 6______________________________________Clinical and immunological characteristics ofchildren suffering from lymphogranulomatosis(LGM) after immunotherapy______________________________________                       AbsolutePatient&#39;s        Hysto-                       number       Absoluteage,     LGM     logical                       of lymph-                              % of  number ofNo.  years    stage   type  ocytes E-RFC T-lymph.1    2        3       4     5      6     7______________________________________         NORM          above  65    above                       1500         1000 1   7        IIAa    mx.cl.                       1178   66     7772    6        IIIAb   mx.cl.                       1316   65     8553    3        IIBb    mx.cl.                       1566   67    10494    3.5      IIIAb   mx.cl.                       2288   68    15565    7        IIIAb   mx.cl.                       1184   68     8056    3.5      IIAa    mx.cl.                       2544   68    12487    13       IIIBb   mx.cl.                       1540   72    11088    7        IIIAb   --    1591   68    10819    8        IIBb    --    1664   64    106410   7        IIIBb   lymph.                       3180   55    1749                 pred.11   7        IIAb    mx.cl.                       1071   67     71712   9        IVBb    mx.cl.                       104013   4        IIIAb   mx.cl.                       1308   54     707______________________________________Blasttransformationreaction with PHA        Concentration of serumback-                 % of   immunoglobuline, mg %No.  ground  PHA     Index B-RFC IgA   IgM   IgG1    8       9       10    11    12    13    14______________________________________                above 10-30 50-200                                  70-200                                        950-                40                      19801    149     23965   160   26    200   60     8602    375     19962   55    22    400   270   25003    184      8720   29    194                    107   28    210   144   16805    714     66282   92    23    135   90    11206    248      8437   34    35    120   120   17407    330      4900   14    25    210   310   14408    308      9512   30    48     90   85    12009    200      7545   38    19     50   30     48010   420     17902   47    20    320   80    144011   273     17046   62    20    280   500    2001213   1513    34433   22    40     45   70    1050______________________________________ Abbreviations are the same as in Table 5. 
    
     An especially important property of the preparation according to the present invention is its therapeutic effect in respect of oncological diseases in patients with immunodeficient states. The optimal therapeutic effect is revealed upon administration of the preparation as injections in courses with a daily dose of 20-40 μg per 1 m 2  of the body surface area. In patients suffering from malignant neoplasms with specific intoxication, body temperature is normalized even during the first day, health condition is improved along with appetite. Together with immunotherapy of children suffering from lymphogranulomatosis in the stage of the process generalization (stages II-IV) with T-activine, even within the first day after the administration of the preparation there is observed division, softening and separation of individual lymphatic nodes out of the conglomerate of injured lymphatic nodes and, further decrease of the area of the injured nodes by 60-70% of the initial value by the 7-14-th day. Upon analysis of cytograms of the injured lymphatic nodes in the course of therapy with T-activine there is observed an increased percentage of lymphocytes in lymphatic nodes from 70-80% to 95-98% along with lymphonodulous effect, specific Berezovsky-Schternberg cells are destroyed too. In children with a pronounced biological activity of the process there is observed normalization of the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and discontinuation of intoxication. The data are shown in FIGS. 3a and 3b, wherein: a--effect on symptoms of specific intoxication, b--effect on the biological activity of the process (ESR),    - prior to the introduction of T-activine,    - after the administration of T-activine. In parallel to the effect of T-activine in the patients, the absolute content of peripheral T-lymphocytes is normalized along with normalization of the percentage of E-rosette-forming cells and index of stimulation of lymphocytes. On completion of the immunotherapy of the patients suffering from malignant neoplasms with T-activine, an opportunity is provided for continuation of a more efficient polychemotherapy or local radiotherapy. There is observed a rapid occurrence of remission of the progress of the malignant disease. The corresponding data are shown in Tables 7 and 8 hereinbelow. The positive dynamics of the lymphonodulous effect is shown in FIG. 4, wherein along the axis of abscissae the area of lymphatic nodes in cm 2  is shown, along the axis of ordinates 2 days after the beginning of the treatment; the line -------------------- means periods of administration of T-activine; the line           denotes the period of absence of the pharmaceutical therapy; the line --------- denotes the period of chemotherapy. 
     The preparation of T-activine according to the present invention causes a stable and lasting restoration of the immunity. In the treatment of malignant tumors it possesses a clearly pronounced direct antitumor effect, reduces time of remission occurrence, potentiates a specific polychemotherapy and provides an opportunity for a local radiotherapy. 
     
                       TABLE 7______________________________________Effect of T-activine on time limits of occurrenceof lymphogranulomatosis remission in children     Time limits     of remission occurrence (months)Group of    1.5-2.0 6.0    12  No remission                                    Deathpatients    number of children______________________________________1.  After immuno-           12       1   --  --        --    therapy with    T-activine    13 children2.  Non-treated  2      17   1   1         1    with T-acti-    vine    22 children______________________________________ 
    
     
                       TABLE 8______________________________________Effect of T-activine on frequency of complica-tions in children suffering from lymphogranulo-matosis    Kinds of complications      Cytotaxic disease                   Induced immunodefici-Groups of  (number of child-                   ency (number of child-patients   ren)         ren)______________________________________13 children       1           --subjected toimmunotherapy22 children sub-      11           14jected to no im-munotherapy______________________________________ 
    
     Taking into account the regulating effect of the preparation, it is now possible to use T-activine for the treatment of secondary hypoplastic states of hemogenesis. Along with immunotherapy of an acute hypoplastic state by the preparation in combination with an immunodeficient state there is observed restoration of immunity and characteristics of the peripheral blood and the bone-marrow hemogenesis. 
     The application of the preparation in the treatment of other diseases associated with disorders of the immunity system such as psoriasis, systemic lupus erythematosis and the like provides a good clinical effect even after the first course of immunotherapy. The clinical effect of T-activine in this case is revealed in reduced time of occurrence of remission which is of a great importance for the patients manifesting resistance against a specific chemotherapy. Upon administration of the preparation to patients there are never observed any complications, pyrogenic effect or appearance of antibodies specific relative to T-activine. No cases of idiosincrasy are noted. 
     The method for producing the preparation according to the present invention is effected in the following manner. As the source of raw materials use is made of a calf thymus gland. Prior to the use, the gland tissue can be stored at a temperature of -20° C. up to 3 months. Thymus is cleared-off the capsule and cut to pieces of 0.5-1 g on the cold. To the disintegrated raw material any physiological salt solution is added, usually a 0.14 M NaCl, in the ratio of 1:3. Then the material is homogenized in a homogenizer of a vortex type for 3 minutes at the speed of 8,000 r.p.m. In this stage the material is disintegrated into a uniform mass. The stage of homogenization is conducted at a temperature within the range of from 2° to 4° C. 
     The above-specified ratio of the raw material and the physiological solution ensured the production of a uniform homogenizate and a most full yield of biologically active substances from the raw material at the stage of residence. The residence of the homogenizate is effected at a temperature of from 2° to 6° C. for a period of from 12 to 16 hours. The residence (autolysis) conditions are found experimentally and variations of the time or temperature parameters result in a lowered yield and biological activity of the desired product. During autolysis there occurs an additional destruction of cells, cytoplasmatic and nucleous membranes, as well as modification under the effect of enzymes, proteins and peptides. This provides for a higher yield of biologically active substances and transformation thereof to products with an increased specific biological activity. Then the insoluble coarse-size fragments are removed by centrifugation at 14,000 to 20,000 g for one hour at the temperature of 4° C. The supernatant is drained through a gauze or kapron filter to retain large-size fatty fragments. 
     Then the supernatant is heated in a water bath under vigorous stirring to a temperature of from 70° to 90° C., usually to 80° C. and maintained at this temperature for 15 minutes. In this stage there occurs denaturation of thermolabile ballast protein components. After cooling to a temperature of 4° C. the thermolabile components are removed by centrifugation at 14,000 to 20,000 g for one hour. The centrifugation can be substituted by any other known method ensuring elimination of denaturated proteins, for example by filtration on filters with a sufficient pore size. The supernatant containing biologically active thermostable proteins and peptides is subjected to precipitation with acetone. It is also possible to use another organic solvent such as ethanol. The procedure is carried out at a temperature within the range of from -20° to -25° C. One volume of the supernatant is drop-wise added to 5 volumes of acetone simultaneously with stirring of a mixture. The mixture is maintained for 2 days at the temperature of -20° C. At this stage there occurs dissolution of fats and other ballast substances in the organic solvent. The precipitate contains biologically active proteins and peptides. The liquid portion is removed, a residue is dried under vacuum at the temperature of 4° C. It is very important, during the precipitation of biologically active peptides with acetone, to strictly observe the temperature conditions and the ratio between the volume of the supernatant and acetone (of from 1:5 to 1:7). Change of these parameters causes a reduced biological activity of the material and contamination thereof with ballast substances. The dried residue is dissolved in a 0.01 M sodium-phosphate buffer, pH=7.0 at a temperature of from 18° to 22° C. and stirred for one hour. The insoluble products are removed by centrifugation at 10,000 to 16,000 g for 40 minutes. The supernatant is collected and diluted with the buffer solution to a concentration of from 15 to 25 mg/ml. 
     It is advisable to use the above-specified concentration of proteins and peptides in solution, since it ensures minimal losses of biologically active peptides in a further salting-out. The resulting solution is added with a saturated solution of ammonium sulphate to the final concentration thereof of 20-30% at a pH of from 6.9 to 7.1. The mixture is stirred for one hour at a temperature of from 2° to 4° C. The insoluble portion is removed by centrifugation at 16,000 g for 30-40 minutes. Then the supernatant is added with a 10% acetic acid to a pH of from 3.9 to 4.1. In doing so there is observed a partial precipitation of a biologically active material. A complete precipitation is ensured by introduction, into the supernatant, of a dry powder of ammonium sulphate so as to obtain 45-55% of saturation with the account of the final volume of the mixture. The mixture is stirred for one hour at a temperature of from 2° to 4° C. The supernatant is removed and the residue is dissolved in a 0.01 M tris-HCl buffer solution at pH of 8.0. The third stage of salting-out is effected in a 45-55% solution, of saturation, of ammonium sulphate at pH of from 4.5 to 6.0. The solution is thoroughly stirred at a temperature of from 2° to 4° C. for one hour and the residue is collected by centrifugation at 16,000 g for 30 to 40 minutes. The carrying-out of the salting-out in three stages makes it possible to ensure an additional purification from ballast substances and is necessary to obtain the desired product with predetermined properties. Then the residue is dissolved in a 10 μM tris-HCl buffer solution at pH of 8.0 and the concentration of the protein is brought to 8-12 mg/ml using the same buffer. 
     The resulting solution is subjected to ultrafiltration through membrane filters with a nominal retention limit relative to globular proteins within the range of from 12,000 to 30,000 Dalton in the atmosphere of nitrogen under a pressure of from 3.0 to 3.5 atmospheres at a temperature of 2° to 4° C. It is preferable to use membranes Pellicon PSED (Millipore), though it is possible to use any other filter possessing the same characteristics (VM-30, PM-30). Then the membrane is washed with a triple volume of a 0.01 M tris-HCl buffer solution at pH of 8.0. This ensures a complete passing of the biologically active components into the filtrate. 80-85% of ballast substances are retained on the filter. The filtrate is collected and lyophilized. The resulting material is dissolved in a minimal volume of distilled water and then subjected to desalting by way of exclusion chromatography in columns with sephadex G-15 (medium) of 2.5×30 cm. It is also possible to use other molecular sieves having similar characteristics. Elution is conducted in distilled water. The material containing protein components is collected and again lyophilically dried. The dry powder is dissolved in a buffer solution at a pH of from 6.8 to 8.2 with an ionic strength of 0.1 to 0.4 M containing NaCl or KCl. The solution is subjected to gel-chromatography in a 2.5×100 cm column with Sephadex G-50 (medium) preliminarily equallized with the same buffer solution. As the carrier for gel-chromatography in this stage it is possible to use other molecular sieves with the same characteristics. 
     Optimal separation of biologically active peptides is ensured in a buffer solution with the above-specified characteristics. After gel-chromatography the desired product with a molecular mass of from 1,500 to 6,000 Dalton is collected. The product with a molecular mass in this particular range contains peptides possessing a regulating effect on the T-immune system of the organism. The solution of peptides is again desalted by gel-chromatography in columns with Sephadex G-15, lyophilized, dissolved in a salt physiological solution and sealed in ampules in a dose of from 100 to 200 μg/ml. 
     For a better understanding of the present invention, some specific examples illustrating the method for producing the preparation controlling the T-immune system are given hereinbelow. 
     EXAMPLE 1 
     500 g of freshly freezed calf thymus (-20° C.) are purified from capsule and homogenized in a 0.14 M NaCl solution (volume of 1.5 l) at a temperature of 4° C. Thereafter the homogenizate is centrifuged at 20,000 g for two hours. The residue is removed. The supernatant in the volume of about 1.5 l is heated at a temperature of 80° C. for 15 minutes in a water bath. Then the solvent is cooled and denaturated thermolabile components are removed by centrifugation at 20,000 g for 1 hour. The supernatant (volume of about 1.35 l) is treated with a 5-time volume of acetone cooled to -20° C. for two days. The resulting precipitate is separated from the liquid portion by decantation and dried in vacuum. The residue is dissolved in 100 ml of a 10 μM sodium-phosphate buffer of pH=7.0 under continuous stirring for one hour at room temperature. The insoluble portion is removed by centrifugation at 16,000 g for 40 minutes and the supernatant is diluted with distilled water to a protein concentration of 25 mg/ml by the biuret method. The resulting solution is added with 39.6 ml of a solution of ammonium sulphate saturated at a temperature of 4° C., pH=7.0. The mixture is stirred for one hour at 4° C. The insoluble portion is removed by centrifugation at 16,000 g. The supernatant is acidified with acetic acid to pH of 4.0, added with 24.82 g of ammonium sulphate and stirred for 1 hour at 4° C. The resulting residue is collected by centrifugation, dissolved in 80 ml of a 10 μM tris-HCl buffer with pH of 8.0 and again precipitated by adding 80 ml of a solution of ammonium sulphate saturated at 4° C., pH=5.0. The residue is again collected by centrifugation, dissolved in a 10 μM of tris-HCl buffer with pH of 8.0 and the protein concentration, as determined by the biuret method, is brought to 10 mg/ml with the same buffer solution. The resulting solution is subjected to ultrafiltration through a membrane Pellicon PSED (Millipore) at a temperature of 4° C. under nitrogen pressure of from 3.5 to 4 atm. The membrane is washed by three portions by 150 ml of a 10 μM of tris-HCl buffer with pH of 8.0. 
     The volume and concentration of protein in the fraction under and above the filter are respectively equal to 510 ml, 0.7 mg/ml and 0.6 ml, 12 mg/ml. Both fractions after desalting and lyophilization are tested for biological activity in the system of T-rosette-formation. Only the fraction under the filter possesses biological activity, while the fraction retained by the filter is inactive. A portion of the biologically active fraction in the amount of 30 mg is dissolved in a 0.2 M KCl solution prepared on tris-HCl buffer, pH=8.0, and gel-chromatography is carried out in a 1×100 cm column with Sephadex G-50 balanced with the same buffer. Peptides with a molecular mass of from 1,500 to 6,000 Dalton are collected, desalted on a column with Sephadex G-15 and lyophilized. The minimal active dose is 1-2 μg per 3×10 6  lymphocytes in vitro. The total yield of the desired product is 110 mg/kg of thymus. The activity as defined by the test of inhibition of a spontaneous rosette-formation by azotioprin is not more than 1 μg per 3×10 6  lymphocytes. The resulting peptides are dissolved in a 0.14 M NaCl. 
     To determine heterogeneity of the thymus preparation by its molecular mass, 10 mg of the preparation in 1 ml of a buffer solution (0.14 M NaCl 0.01 M tris-HCl), pH=8.0, are applied onto a 1×100 cm column with Sephadex G-50 (fine) balanced with the same buffer solution. The rate of elution was made equal to 6.0 ml/hr, the time of collection of the fraction was 15 minutes. The active components of the preparation were distributed in test-tubes with serial numbers of from 32 to 50. The column was preliminarily graduated with a mixture of standard substances with a known molecular mass. This enabled determination the presence, in said test tubes, of the components with a mass of from 1,500 to 6,000 Dalton. 
     To determine heterogeneity of the preparation there was also carried out an analytical disk-electrophoresis in a 15% polyacrylamide gel at pH of 8.9 on an instrument available from the company &#34;Reanal&#34; (Hungary). Onto every tube of the gel there are applied 400-600 μg of the preparation in 0.02-0.03 ml of the electrode buffer. Electrophoresis is conducted at a temperature of 5°-7° C. and current of 2 mA per tube within the following 1-1.5 hours. The front of ion movement was marked by bromophenol blue. On completion of electrophoresis the gel is extracted from the tubes, fixed and dyed with a 0.1% solution of amido-black 10B in a 7% acetic acid for 40 minutes, whereafter the dyestuff is washed with a 7% acetic acid. There are found 7 bands corresponding to 7 components of the preparation; their electrophoretic mobility is evaluated from the formula: ##EQU1## wherein 1 is gel length before dyeing 
     1.sup.• is gel length after dyeing 
     1 p  is the distance passed by the protein band 
     1 bphb  is the distance passed by bromophenol blue. 
     The test results are shown in Table 9. 
     
                       TABLE 9______________________________________Band No.fromcathode  1      2       3    4     5    6     7______________________________________K.sub.e/ph    0.082  0.169   0.364                        0.402 0.452                                   0.515 0.89______________________________________ 
    
     For the determination of isoelectric points of the components of the thymus preparation, isoelectric focusing in a thin layer of polyacrylamide gel in a pH range of from 3.5 to 10 on an instrument &#34;Multiphor&#34;. On completion of focusing the gel is fixed in trichloroacetic acid, 25% isopropanol for 16 hours, dyed with 0.05% Coumassi blue R-250 in 10% acetic acid, 25% isopropanol overnight and then treated with a 10% acetic acid. The pH gradient is defined by the position of protein-tracers with a known isoelectric point. The thymus preparation is focused in 13 bands with the following values of isoelectric points: 4.0; 4.3; 4.6; 4.7; 4.8; 5.0; 5.2; 5.5; 6.1; 6.3; 6.7; 7.4; 9.0. 
     The thymus preparation containing polypeptides proved to have two absorption maximums when analyzed in UV-light at 203 and 275 nm. 
     EXAMPLE 2 
     The procedure of Example 1 is repeated, except that the homogenizate is maintained for 12 hours at a temperature of 2° C.; the column with Sephadex G-50 is balanced with 0.14 M NaCl in a 0.05 M tris-HCl buffer solution, pH 7.2. 
     The yield of the desired product is 118 μg/kg of thymus. The activity by the test of inhibition of spontaneous rosette formation with azatioprin is not more than 1 μg per 3×10 6  lymphocytes. 
     EXAMPLE 3 
     The procedure described in the foregoing Example 1 is repeated, except that the first salting-out is conducted in a 20%, of saturation, solution of ammonium sulphate at a pH 6.9; the second--in a 40%, of saturation, solution of ammonium sulphate at a pH of 3.9; the third--in a 45%, of saturation, solution of ammonium sulphate at a pH=4.5; the column with Sephadex G-50 is balanced with a 0.14 M NaCl in a 0.01 M tris-HCl, pH 7.2. 
     The yield of the desired product is 115.5 mg/kg of thymus. 
     The activity, as determined by the test of inhibition of a spontaneous rosette-formation with azatioprin, is not more than 1 μg per 3×10 6  lymphocytes.