As fraturas e perdas ósseas representam altos riscos para o Sistema público de Saúde (SUS), além de afetar a qualidade de vida do paciente, portanto é necessário o entendimento das bases moleculares que envolvem os mecanismos de reparo ósseo. Citocinas secretadas por células do sistema imune presentes no local da inflamação, como as IL-6, IL-10 e TNFα atuam como fatores quimiotáticos para células mesenquimais, que proliferam e se diferenciam em osteoblastos pela ação autócrina e parácrina de Proteínas Morfogenéticas Ósseas (BMPs), principalmente a BMP2. Embora seja conhecido que a ação de BMP2 ocorra através de sua ligação nos receptores ActRI/BMPR, que ativam proteínas SMADS 1/5/8 efetoras, pouco se sabe sobre os mecanismos intracelulares que participam do processo de diferenciação osteoblástico. Neste estudo propôs-se analisar as diferenças no conteúdo de proteínas totais e de proteínas fosforiladas em células mesenquimais de pele induzidas à osteogênese pelo tratamento com BMP2 por diferentes períodos de tempo, utilizando-se de Isótopos Estáveis de Dimetila acoplado ao LC/MS. A partir de 150µg de material inicial, foi possível identificar 2.264 proteínas, as quais foram quantificadas nos diferentes pontos de indução, sendo que 235 são fosforiladas. Análise de motivos de quinases mostrou que diversos substratos possuem sítios fosforilados correspondentes àqueles dos motivos de fosforilação das quinases Casein Kinase, p38, CDK e JNK. A análise da ontologia gênica mostrou um aumento de processos biológicos relacionados com sinalização e diferenciação após a primeira hora de indução com rhBMP2. Além disso, proteínas envolvidas com o rearranjo do citoesqueleto e com vias de sinalização Wnt e Ras foram encontradas como tendo fosforilação diferencial durante todos os períodos estudados. Os dados revelaram novos substratos intracelulares que são fosforilados nos primeiros momentos do comprometimento com a diferenciação osteoblástica mediada pelo tratamento com rhBMP2 em células mesenquimais derivadas da pele. Além disso, clones celulares que superexpressam as proteínas recombinantes humanas BMP2 e BMP4 foram gerados, e sua atividade verificada in vitro. Paralelamente, a rhBMP7, obtida anteriormente, foi purificada por cromatografia de afinidade utilizando-se uma coluna de Heparina-Sepharose, que foi posteriormente utilizada para ensaios in vitro e in vivo, nos quais se mostrou capaz de gerar osteoblastos e tecido ósseo, respectivamente, o que abre novas possibilidades para o uso destas proteínas como biofármacos no Brasil. / Bone fractures and loss represent significant costs for the public health system and often affect the patients quality of life, therefore, understanding the molecular basis for bone regeneration is essential. Cytokines, such as IL-6, IL-10 and TNFα, secreted by inflammatory cells at the lesion site, at the very beginning of the repair process, act as chemotactic factors for mesenchymal stem cells, which proliferate and differentiate into osteoblasts through the autocrine and paracrine action of bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs), mainly BMP-2. Although it is known that BMP-2 binds to ActRI/BMPR and activates the SMAD 1/5/8 downstream effectors, little is known about the intracellular mechanisms participating in osteoblastic differentiation. We assessed differences in the phosphorylation status of different cellular proteins upon BMP-2 osteogenic induction of isolated human skin mesenchymal stem cells using Triplex Stable Isotope Dimethyl Labeling coupled with LC/MS. From 150 µg of starting material, 2,264 proteins containing two or more peptides were identified and quantified at five different time points, 235 of which are differentially phosphorylated. Kinase motif analysis showed that several substrates display phosphorylation sites for Casein Kinase, p38, CDK and JNK. Gene ontology analysis showed an increase in biological processes related with signaling and differentiation at early time points after BMP2 induction. Moreover, proteins involved in cytoskeleton rearrangement, Wnt and Ras pathways were found to be differentially phosphorylated during all timepoints studied. Taken together, these data, allow new insights on the intracellular substrates which are phosphorylated early on during commitment to BMP2-driven osteoblastic differentiation of skin-derived mesenchymal stem cells. Cell clones overexpressing the human BMP 2 and 4 recombinant proteins were also generated, and their biological activity was confirmed in vitro. In parallel, chromatography-affinity purified rhBMP7, obtained using heparin-Sepharose columns, was used for in vivo and in vitro assays to evaluate the ability of this purified protein to generate osteoblasts and bone tissue, respectively, opening new avenues for the use of these proteins as biopharmaceuticals in Brazil.

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Made available in DSpace on 2015-07-22T20:50:27Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2011-01-26. Added 1 bitstream(s) on 2015-08-11T03:26:03Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 Publico-12529a.pdf: 1382817 bytes, checksum: 65bd98549521fbf2650836a170f9761e (MD5). Added 1 bitstream(s) on 2015-08-11T03:26:03Z : No. of bitstreams: 2 Publico-12529a.pdf: 1382817 bytes, checksum: 65bd98549521fbf2650836a170f9761e (MD5) Publico-12529b.pdf: 1113563 bytes, checksum: 3261d75b2356f849d087c69443322b57 (MD5) / As BMPs, proteínas indutoras de crescimento ósseo, desde o início de sua utilização têm sido avaliadas em diferentes modelos experimentais objetivando determinar sua eficácia. Sabemos que algumas substâncias podem interferir positiva ou negativamente quando utilizadas de forma sistêmica ou local, associadas à BMP. Objetivo: Este estudo tem por objetivo avaliar as possíveis interferências da utilização de antibioticoterapia profilática pré e pós-operatória, utilizando-se como princípio ativo a cefazolina, aplicada a um modelo experimental em coelhos. Métodos: Foram utilizados dois grupos de coelhos fêmea, neozelandeses, submetidos à artrodese intertransversa da coluna lombar, segmento L5-L6, por via posterior. No primeiro grupo foi utilizado o enxerto autólogo associado ao biocomposto (BMP bovino, 1,0mg e hidroxiapatita, 9,0mg). No segundo grupo foi realizado o mesmo procedimento e utilizado o mesmo biocomposto, porém os animais foram submetidos a antibioticoterapia profilática com cefazolina iniciada duas horas antes e mantida por 24 horas após o término do procedimento. Os animais foram acompanhados por 15 semanas, isolados em cativeiro e avaliados diariamente por veterinário sob o ponto de vista clínico e neurológico, sendo posteriormente sacrificados e retiradas as peças cirúrgicas para serem submetidas à análise radiográfica e histológica. Resultados: Para o grupo 1, a quantidade e localização do material implantado variaram entre os indivíduos, porém, na maioria dos casos (6 amostras), a quantidade de partículas de osso homólogo era insignificante e estava dispersa ao longo do tecido mole que recobre o dorso da vértebra, circundado por tecido reacional com área de necrose. Nos demais casos as partículas com reabsorção preenchiam o reduzido espaço entre os processos transversos. Para o grupo 2, a quantidade do material e sua localização também variaram entre os indivíduos. Na maioria dos casos inúmeras partículas de osso mole preenchiam o espaço entre os processos laterais cuja neoformação óssea levou ao aprisionamento de algumas dessas partículas. Todos os casos exibiram formação em maior ou menor intensidade de tecido cartilaginoso na superfície dos processos transversos. A análise radiográfica mostrou em sua freqüência relativa maior freqüência de fusão completa para o grupo 2 quando comparado ao grupo 1. Conclusão: Do ponto de vista histológico para o modelo e período experimental analisado, inferimos que, embora nenhum dos tratamentos propostos tenha promovido o completo fusionamento das vértebras por tecido ósseo, a utilização de osso homólogo + BMP bovina, associada à aplicação de cefazolina, promoveu maior formação cartilaginosa e óssea com menor índice de rejeição do material enxertado na área doadora, quando comparada ao grupo sem associação de cefazolina. Do ponto de vista radiográfico, a análise relativa também demonstrou-se superior para o grupo onde foi utilizado cefazolina. / The BMPs, the inductive proteins of bone growth since the beginning of their use have been evaluated in different experimental models aiming to determine their efficacy. We know that some substances can interfere positively or negatively when used in a systemic way or places associated with the BMP. Objective: this study objective to evaluate the possible interferences of antibiotic-therapy by using the active principle of cefazolin in an experimental model with rabbits. Methods: Two groups of female New Zealand rabbits underwent a lumbar spine inter-transverse artrodesys of segment L5-L6 using posterior approach. An homolog bone graft associated with a bio-compound (bovine BMP, 1,0mg and hydroxiapatita, 9,0mg) was used in the first group. The same procedure and bio-compound were used in the second group. However the animals were submitted to a prophylactic antibiotic-therapy with cefazolin starting two hours before the procedure and maintained for 24 hours after surgery. The animals were analyzed for 15 weeks, isolated in captivity and daily evaluated by a veterinarian under the clinical and neurological views and then euthanized, being the surgical pieces removed and submitted to a radiological and histological analysis. Results: For the first group the quantity and location of the implanted material varied among the individuals. However in most of the cases, the quantity and particles of homolog bone was insignificant and disperse along the soft tissue that covers the posterior region of the vertebrae. In the other cases, the particles with reabsorvation filled the reduced space between the transversal processes. For the second group, the quantity of material and its location also varied among the individuals. In most of the cases, several particles of homolog bone filled the space between the lateral processes whose bone neo-formation led to a trapping of these particles. All the cases showed formation in a higher or lower intensity of the cartilaginous tissue in the surface of the transverse processes. The radiological analysis showed in its relative frequency a higher frequency of complete fusion for group 2 when compared to group 1. Conclusion: Under the histological view for the model and experimental period analyzed, we inferred that, despite the fact that none of the proposed treatments had promoted a complete fusion of the vertebraes per bone tissue, the use of homolog bone + bovine BMPs associated with the use of cefazolin promoted a higher cartilaginous and bone formation with lower incidence of rejection of the material grafted in the doer area when compared to the group without the association of cefazolin. Under the radiological view, the relative analysis also showed to be superior in the group where cefazolin was used as a prophylactic antibiotic. / TEDE / BV UNIFESP: Teses e dissertações

Made available in DSpace on 2014-12-17T15:32:18Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 CyntiaCPC.pdf: 2470782 bytes, checksum: 4619c7ffcab85bffa54a732d30786d99 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2010-02-24 / Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cient?fico e Tecnol?gico / Currently, bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) have effective participation in the growth of malignancies. Knowing that there are few studies involving BMPs and oral squamous cell carcinoma, this work constitutes an immunohistochemical study of BMP-2, BMPR IA and BMPR II in squamous cell carcinomas (SCC) of the lower lip relating to the clinical and pathological aspects of this lesion. The sample consisted of 40 cases of SCC of the lower lip, being 20 cases of SCC of the lower lip with regional metastasis and 20 cases without metastasis. We evaluated the intensity of expression (score 1 to mark absent / weak, score 2 for high ) and was found the percentage of labeled cells, where the score was 1 cases with 0 to 50% of positive cells, score 2 with 51 to 75% of positive cells, and score 3 more than 75% of positive cells. The sample comprised 72.5% of men with a mean age of 65.8 years, there was a predominance of stage II and 52.5% of the carcinomas were classified as low grade, being carcinoma with metastasis presenting most cases (70%) as carcinomas of high malignancy grade (p = 0.004). The largest number of cases of SCC of the lower lip that were in stages I / II (61, 9%) were classified as carcinomas of low grade malignancy and carcinomas in stages III / IV were classified as high-grade tumors (p = 0, 024). The BMP-2 showed strong intensity of immunostaining in 82.5%, BMPR-IA showed 55% of cases with an intensity of immunostaining absent / weak and BMPR-II showed 85% of cases with an intensity of immunostaining absent / weak. Only the protein BMPR-IA were significantly associated with all clinic-pathological parameters studied, metastasis (p <0.001), TNM (p <0.001) and histological grade of malignancy with (p = 0.028). The percentage of positive cells, all markers showed the highest number of cases with more than 75% of positive cells (score 3) and only BMPR-II showed statistical difference when related to the presence and absence of metastasis (p = 0.049 ). We conclude that there is disturbance in the BMP signaling pathway in EC-mediated lower lip and that high expression of BMP-2 associated with the expression of BMPR-IA and BMPR-II are associated with metastasis in carcinoma / Atualmente as prote?nas morfogen?ticas do osso (BMPs) t?m efetiva participa??o no crescimento de neoplasias malignas. Sabendo que s?o escassos os trabalhos envolvendo BMPs e o carcinoma epiderm?ide oral, este trabalho realizou um estudo imunoistoqu?mico da BMP-2, BMPR IA e BMPR II em carcinomas epiderm?ides (CE) de l?bio inferior relacionando com os aspectos clinico-patol?gicos desta les?o. A amostra constou de 40 casos de CE de l?bio inferior, sendo 20 casos de CE de l?bio inferior com met?stase linfonodal regional e 20 casos sem met?stase. A grada??o histol?gica de malignidade foi realizada no front invasivo da les?o. Foi avaliada a intensidade de express?o (escore 1 para marca??o ausente/ fraca e escore 2 para marca??o forte), bem como foi verificado a porcentagem de c?lulas positivas, onde o escore 1 era os casos com 0 a 50% das c?lulas positivas; escore 2 com 51 a 75% das c?lulas positivas; e escore 3 com mais de 75% das c?lulas positivas. A amostra foi composta por 72,5% de homens com a m?dia de idade de 65,8 anos, houve um predom?nio do est?gio II e 52,5% dos carcinomas foram classificados como de baixo grau, sendo os carcinomas com met?stase regional apresentando a maioria dos casos (70%) como carcinomas de alto grau de malignidade (p =0,004). O maior n?mero de casos de CE de l?bio inferior que estavam nos est?gios I/ II (61, 9%) foi classificado em carcinomas de baixo grau de malignidade e os carcinomas nos est?gios III/ IV foram classificados em alto grau de malignidade (p =0, 024). A BMP-2 apresentou intensidade da imunomarca??o forte em 82,5%, BMPR-IA observou-se 55% dos casos com intensidade de imunomarca??o ausente/ fraca e a BMPR-II revelou 85% dos casos com intensidade de imunomarca??o ausente/ fraca. Apenas a prote?na BMPR-IA apresentou associa??o estatisticamente significante com todos os par?metros clinico-patol?gicos estudados, met?stase (p<0,001), TNM (p<0,001) e grada??o histol?gica de malignidade com ( p=0,028). Quanto ? porcentagem de c?lulas positivas, todos os marcadores apresentaram o maior n?mero de casos com mais de 75% das c?lulas positivas (escore 3) e apenas a BMPR-II apresentou diferen?a estat?stica quando relacionada com a presen?a e aus?ncia de met?stase (p=0,049). Conclui-se que existe dist?rbio na via de sinaliza??o BMP-mediada no CE de l?bio inferior e que a alta express?o da BMP-2 associada com a express?o da BMPR-IA e BMPR-II est?o relacionadas com a met?stase neste carcinoma

Abstract Heterotopic ossification is a pathological condition in which bone forms outside the skeletal system. It can also occur in skin, which is the case in some genetic disorders. In multiple miliary osteoma cutis (MMOC), tiny bone fragments develop in the dermis and nearby subcutaneous tissue of the face and upper chest region during middle age. The etiology of the disease is poorly understood. The origin of the osteoma-forming cells is not known and also unknown are the signaling factors that direct the skin cells towards an osteogenic lineage. The purpose of this study was to investigate MMOC and the pathogenesis of ectopic bone formation by combining patient study and cell biology methods. The results from an extensive review of the literature and five new cases revealed MMOC as a distinct disease entity, where heterotopic bone formation is intramembranous. No correlation was found between MMOC and acne scars, hormonal disturbances or GNAS gene mutations. In cell culture studies mouse and human dermal fibroblasts and mouse dermal papilla (DP) cells were found to differentiate into osteoblast-like matrix mineralizing cells. The bone morphogenetic protein 4 (BMP-4) homodimer and BMP-2/7 heterodimer had significant effects on the osteogenic differentiation of the above mentioned cells. Interestingly, the BMPs enhanced the differentiation of mouse cells but reduced it in human cells. In mouse DP cells and human fibroblasts BMP-2/7 was more potent than BMP-4. The skin area affected by osteomas in patients was compared to their unaffected skin and also to the corresponding skin areas in controls with regard to osteogenic differentiation and gene expression studies. MMOC patients’ skin differs from controls both in osteoma and unaffected skin areas, which suggests MMOC is not only a local but also a systemic skin disease. The results confirm the previous findings that gene expression in skin is different in different parts of the body, which could explain why the osteomas develop in certain skin areas. The results of this study provide new information about MMOC and heterotopic ossification in skin and could be useful when developing treatments for MMOC. This study also presents new information about BMPs and their different effects in mouse and human cells, which may stimulate discussion about the generalization of mouse studies in humans and the clinical use of BMPs. / Tiivistelmä Virhesijaintinen luutuminen on patologinen tila, jossa luuta muodostuu luisen tukirangan ulkopuolelle. Tätä voi tapahtua myös ihossa, kuten käy tietyissä sairauksissa. Ihon lukuisat jyvämäiset osteoomat on tauti, jossa pieniä luujyväsiä ilmaantuu verinahkaan ja ihonalaiskudokseen keski-iässä. Taudin syytä, osteoomia muodostavien solujen alkuperää tai sitä, mitkä viestinvälittäjät saavat esiastesolut siirtymään luusolulinjalle, ei tiedetä. Tässä työssä tutkittiin ihon lukuisia jyvämäisiä osteoomia ja virhesijaintista luutumista yhdistämällä kliinisiä ja solubiologisia menetelmiä. Laajasta kirjallisuuteen perehtymisestä ja viidestä omasta potilaasta saadut tulokset osoittivat ihon lukuisten jyvämäisten osteoomien olevan oma erillinen tautinsa, jossa virhesijaintinen luutuminen tapahtuu suoran luutumisen mekanismilla. Tauti ei näytä olevan yhteydessä aknearpiin, hormonihäiriöihin tai GNAS-geenin mutaatioihin. Soluviljelykokeissa hiiren ja ihmisen verinahan fibroblastien ja hiiren karvatupen nystyn solujen havaittiin erilaistuvan osteoblastityyppisiksi soluväliainetta mineralisoiviksi soluiksi. Luun morfogeneettisillä proteiineilla (BMP) 4 ja 2/7 oli merkitsevä vaikutus yllä mainittujen solujen erilaistumisessa. Yllättävää kyllä, ne edistivät hiiren solujen, mutta vähensivät ihmisen solujen erilaistumista. Hiiren karvatupen soluille ja ihmisen fibroblasteille BMP-2/7 oli tehokkaampi kuin BMP-4. Potilaiden osteoma-aluetta verrattiin heidän terveeseen ihoalueeseensa samoin kuin vastaaviin ihoalueisiin kontrollihenkilöillä käyttäen menetelminä solujen erilaistamista luuta muodostavaan suuntaan sekä geenien ilmentymisen tutkimista. Potilaiden iho erosi kontrollien ihosta sekä osteooma-alueella että terveellä ihoalueella, mikä viittaa taudin olevan koko elimistöön vaikuttava. Tulokset vahvistavat aikaisempia löydöksiä siitä, että geenien ilmentyminen ihossa on erilaista eri puolilla kehoa. Tämä voisi selittää osteoomien esiintymisen vain tietyllä alueella. Tämän tutkimuksen tulokset antavat uutta tietoa ihon lukuisista jyvämäisistä osteoomista ja virhesijaintisesta luutumisesta ja saattavat olla hyödyksi kehitettäessä taudin hoitoa. Tutkimus antaa uutta tietoa luun morfogeneettisten proteiinien erilaisesta käyttäytymisestä hiirellä ja ihmisellä, mikä herättänee keskustelua hiirikokeiden yleistämisestä ihmiseen ja luun morfogeneettisten proteiinien kliinisestä käytöstä.

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / Reactive gliosis is known to have a beneficial and a degenerative effect following injury to neurons. Although many factors have been implicated in reactive gliosis, their role in regulating this change is still unclear. We investigated the role of bone morphogenetic proteins in reactive gliosis in vivo and in vitro. In vivo, IHC analysis indicated reactive gliosis in the 6 week Ins2Akita mouse and WPK rat retinas. Expression of BMP7 was upregulated in these models, leading to an increase in the phosphorylation of downstream SMAD1. In vitro, treatment of murine retinal astrocyte cells with a strong oxidizing agent such as sodium peroxynitrite regulated RNA levels of various markers, including GFAP, CSPGs, MMPs and TIMPs. BMP7 treatment also regulated RNA levels to a similar extent, suggesting reactive gliosis. Treatment with high glucose DMEM and BMP4, however, did not elicit increase in levels to a similar degree. Increase in SMAD levels and downstream targets of SMAD signaling such as ID1, ID3 and MSX2 was also observed following treatment with sodium peroxynitrite in vitro and in the 6 week Ins2Akita mouse retinas in vivo. These data concur with previously established data which show an increase in BMP7 levels following injury. It also demonstrates a role for BMP7 in gliosis following disease. Further, it suggests SMAD signaling to play a role in initiating reactivity in astrocytes as well as in remodeling the extracellular matrix following injury and in a disease condition.

No / Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) play pivotal roles in the regulation of skin development. To study the role of BMPs in skin tumorigenesis, BMP antagonist noggin was used to generate keratin 14-targeted transgenic mice. In contrast to wild-type mice, transgenic mice developed spontaneous hair follicle-derived tumors, which resemble human trichofolliculoma. Global gene expression profiles revealed that in contrast to anagen hair follicles of wild-type mice, tumors of transgenic mice showed stage-dependent increases in the expression of genes encoding the selected components of Wnt and Shh pathways. Specifically, expression of the Wnt ligands increased at the initiation stage of tumor formation, whereas expression of the Wnt antagonist and tumor suppressor Wnt inhibitory factor-1 decreased, as compared with fully developed tumors. In contrast, expression of the components of Shh pathway increased in fully developed tumors, as compared with the tumor placodes. Consistent with the expression data, pharmacological treatment of transgenic mice with Wnt and Shh antagonists resulted in the stage-dependent inhibition of tumor initiation, and progression, respectively. Furthermore, BMP signaling stimulated Wnt inhibitory factor-1 expression and promoter activity in cultured tumor cells and HaCaT keratinocytes, as well as inhibited Shh expression, as compared with the corresponding controls. Thus, tumor suppressor activity of the BMPs in skin epithelium depends on the local concentrations of noggin and is mediated at least in part via stage-dependent antagonizing of Wnt and Shh signaling pathways.

No / BMP signaling has a crucial role in skin development and homeostasis, whereas molecular mechanisms underlying its involvement in regulating gene expression programs in keratinocytes and fibroblasts remain largely unknown. We show here that several BMP ligands, all BMP receptors, and BMP-associated Smad1/5/8 are expressed in human primary epidermal keratinocytes and dermal fibroblasts. Treatment of both cell types by BMP-4 resulted in the activation of the BMP-Smad, but not BMP-MAPK pathways. Global microarray analysis revealed that BMP-4 treatment induces distinct and cell type-specific changes in gene expression programs in keratinocytes and fibroblasts, which are far more complex than the effects of BMPs on cell proliferation/differentiation described earlier. Furthermore, our data suggest that the potential modulation of cell adhesion, extracellular matrix remodeling, motility, metabolism, signaling, and transcription by BMP-4 in keratinocytes and fibroblasts is likely to be achieved by the distinct and cell-type-specific sets of molecules. Thus, these data provide an important basis for delineating mechanisms that underlie the distinct effects of the BMP pathway on different cell populations in the skin, and will be helpful in further establishing molecular signaling networks regulating skin homeostasis in health and disease.

Cardiovascular diseases are among the leading causes of death worldwide and particularly in the developed World. The search for new therapeutic approaches for improving the functions of the damaged heart is therefore a critical endeavour. Myocardial infarction, which can lead to heart failure, is associated with irreversible loss of functional cardiomyocytes. The loss of cardiomyocytes poses a major difficulty for treating the damaged heart since terminally differentiated cardiomyocytes have very limited regeneration potential. Currently, the only effective treatment for severe heart failure is heart transplantation but this option is limited by the acute shortage of donor hearts. The high incidence of heart diseases and the scarcity donor hearts underline the urgent need to find alternative therapeutic approaches for treating cardiovascular diseases. Pluripotent embryonic stem (ES) cells can differentiate into functional cardiomyocytes. Therefore the engraftment of ES cell-derived functional cardiomyocytes or cardiac progenitor cells into the damaged heart to regenerate healthy myocardial tissues may be used to treat damaged hearts. Stem cell-based therapy therefore holds a great potential as a very attractive alternative to heart transplant for treating heart failure and other cardiovascular diseases. A major obstacle to the realisation of stem cell-based therapy is the lack of donor cells and this in turn is due to the fact that, currently, the molecular mechanisms or the regulatory signal transduction mechanisms that are responsible for mediating ES cell differentiation into cardiomyocytes are not well understood. Overcoming this huge scientific challenge is absolutely necessary before the use of stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes to treat the damaged heart can become a reality. Therefore the aim of this thesis was to investigate the signal transduction pathways that are involved in the differentiation of stem cells into cardiomyocytes. The first objective was the establishment and use of cardiomyocyte differentiation models using H9c2 cells and P19 stem cells to accomplish the specific objectives of the thesis. The specific objectives of the thesis were, the investigation of the roles of (i) nitric oxide (ii) protein kinase C (PKC), (iii) p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38 MAPK) (vi) phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) and (vi) nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kB) signalling pathways in the differentiation of stem cells to cardiomyocytes and, more importantly, to identify where possible any points of convergence and potential cross-talk between pathways that may be critical for differentiation to occur. P19 cells were routinely cultured in alpha minimal essential medium (α-MEM) supplemented with 100 units/ml penicillin /100 μg/ml streptomycin and 10% foetal bovine serum (FBS). P19 cell differentiation was initiated by culturing the cells in microbiological plates in medium containing 0.8 % DMSO to form embryoid bodies (EB). This was followed by transfer of EBs to cell culture grade dishes after four days. H9c2 cells were cultured in Dulbecco’s Modified Eagle’s medium (DMEM) supplemented with 10% FBS. Differentiation was initiated by incubating the cells in medium containing 1% FBS. In both models, when drugs were employed, they were added to cells for one hour prior to initiating differentiation. Cell monolayers were monitored daily over a period of 12 or 14 days. H9c2 cells were monitored for morphological changes and P19 cells were monitored for beating cardiomyocytes. Lysates were generated in parallel for western blot analysis of changes in cardiac myosin heavy chain (MHC), ventricular myosin chain light chain 1(MLC-1v) or troponin I (cTnI) using specific monoclonal antibodies. H9c2 cells cultured in 1% serum underwent differentiation as shown by the timedependent formation of myotubes, accompanied by a parallel increase in expression of both MHC and MLC-1v. These changes were however not apparent until 4 to 6 days after growth arrest and increased with time, reaching a peak at day 12 to 14. P19 stem cells cultured in DMSO containing medium differentiated as shown by the timedependent appearance of beating cardiomyocytes and this was accompanied by the expression of cTnI. The differentiation of both P19 stem cells and H9c2 into cardiomyocytes was blocked by the PI3K inhibitor LY294002, PKC inhibitor BIM-I and the p38 MAPK inhibitor SB2035800. However when LY294002, BIM-I or SB2035800 were added after the initiation of DMSO-induced P19 stem cell differentiation, each inhibitor failed to block the cell differentiation into beating cardiomyocytes. The NF-kB activation inhibitor, CAPE, blocked H9c2 cell differentiation into cardiomyocytes. Fast nitric oxide releasing donors (SIN-1 and NOC-5) markedly delayed the onset of differentiation of H9c2 cells into cardiomyocytes while slow nitric oxide releasing donors (SNAP and NOC-18) were less effective in delaying the onset of differentiation or long term differentiation of H9c2 cells into cardiomyocytes. Akt (protein kinase B) is the key downstream target of PI3K. Our cross-talk data also showed that PKC inhibition and p38 MAPK inhibition respectively enhanced and reduced the activation of Akt, as determined by the phosphorylation of Akt at serine residue 473. In conclusion, PKC, PI3K, p38 MAPK and NF-kB are relevant for the differentiation of stem cells into cardiomyocytes. Our data also show that the PKC, PI3K and p38 MAPK signalling pathways are activated as very early events during the differentiation of stem cells into cardiomyocytes. Our data also suggest that PKC may negatively regulate Akt activation while p38 MAPK inhibition inhibits Akt activation. Our fast NO releasing donor data suggest that nitric oxide may negatively regulate H9c2 cell differentiation.