Transcriptional programs regulating myogenesis are multi-layered, requiring carefully orchestrated temporal activation of a wide range of myogenic transcription factors for proper muscle formation. The MEF2 transcription factor family is required for muscle differentiation, however the roles of individual mammalian MEF2 isoforms, MEF2A, -B, -C, and -D, in this process has not been thoroughly investigated. Acute knockdown of individual MEF2 isoforms in skeletal myoblasts revealed that MEF2A is required for myogenesis in vitro, whereas MEF2B, -C, and -D are dispensable for this process. Microarray analysis performed on myotubes depleted of each MEF2 isoform revealed that MEF2 factors regulate distinct gene programs in skeletal muscle. Moreover, computational analysis of the upstream regulatory regions of MEF2 isoform-dependent genes uncovered a distinct complement of transcription factor binding sites suggesting potential co-factor interactions in muscle gene regulation. Whereas all four MEF2 family members are expressed in adult skeletal muscle, MEF2A and MEF2D are the major isoforms expressed in the post-natal heart. Previous studies in cardiomyocytes have demonstrated that MEF2A regulates genes encoding proteins localized to the costamere, an essential macromolecular complex required for proper muscle contraction. By contrast, genome-wide expression analysis suggests a role for MEF2D in cardiomyocyte cell cycle regulation. MEF2D- deficient cardiomyocytes up-regulate a subset of positive cell cycle regulators and display activation of the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. Furthermore, MEF2D-depleted cardiomyocytes have increased levels of cytoplasmic FOXO3a, a cell cycle inhibitor and direct AKT target. Along these lines, MEF2D-depleted cardiomyocytes have decreased levels of the PI3K/AKT repressor PTEN. Analysis of the Pten promoter revealed a highly conserved MEF2 site, which is required for activation of this promoter by MEF2D. Taken together, these findings demonstrate that MEF2D modulates PI3K/AKT activation through transcriptional regulation of the tumor suppressor PTEN. In the absence of MEF2D, aberrant activation of the cell cycle ultimately results in cardiomyocyte cell death. These results demonstrate that MEF2 family members regulate distinct gene programs required for proper skeletal and cardiac muscle function.

No description available.

No description available.

<p><strong>Purpose:</strong> Microglia are the innate immune cells of the central nervous system. Activated microglia release nitric oxide, glutamate, and superoxide radicals, which are harmful to retinal ganglion cells (RGCs). They may also benefit surviving cells by removing toxic cellular debris or by secretion of neurotrophic factors. The paradoxical role of microglia remains controversial because the nature and time-course of the injury that determines whether microglia acquire a neuroprotective or pro-inflammatory phenotype is unknown. HAPI cells are an immortalized microglial cell line, whose phenotype can be manipulated <em>in vitro</em>. It is my HYPOTHESIS that pharmacological manipulation of microglia to acquire either a pro-inflammatory or pro-survival phenotype will exacerbate neuronal cell death or enhance neuronal survival after injury, respectively.</p> <p><strong>Method:</strong> Lipopolysaccharides (LPS) were used to hyper-stimulate the HAPI cells and minocycline to maintain the HAPI cells in a quiescent state. Prior to the experiments, the HAPI cells were labelled with Wheat Germ Agglutinin conjugated to Texas Red. The HAPI cells were cultured and exposed to minocycline (10 µg/mL for 1 hour) or LPS (1 µg/mL for 24 hours). Sprague-Dawley rats then recieved intraocular (30,000 cells) or tail vein (5 million cells) injections of either the minocycline treated HAPI cells or the LPS treated HAPI cells and an optic nerve crush. Retinas were examined at 4-14 days later and the number of surviving RGCs will be determined by Brn3a labelling of RGCs. BM88 antibody labelling was done to determine the severity of the injury and to determine molecular changes after neuroinflammation.</p> <p><strong>Results: </strong>Injection of untreated HAPI cells resulted in the greater loss of RGCs early after ONC when injected into the vitreous and later after ONC when injected into the tail vein. LPS activated HAPI cells injected into the vitreous resulted in greater RGC loss with and without injury. When injected into the tail vein with ONC there was no loss of RGCs 4 days after ONC but later there was greater loss of RGCs. Minocycline treated HAPI cells injected into the vitreous resulted in greater RGC survival than when untreated HAPI cells were injected. However, when injected into the tail vein with ONC there was greater loss of RGCs. There was also BM88 down regulation after injury and this was more pronounced after HAPI cell injection.</p> <p><strong>Conclusion:</strong> Neuroprotection or cytotoxicity of microglia depends on the type of activation, time course of the injury, and if the microglia act on the axon or cell body of the retinal ganglion cell.</p> / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

La production inductrielle de ferments nécessite une étape de stabilisation qui affecte la qualité des cellules. Ce phénomène étroitement lié à l’espèce, voire à la souche bactérienne considérée, dépend également des conditions mises en œuvre lors de la conduite du procédé de production. Dans ce contexte, ce travail de thèse vise à améliorer les performances de Lactobacillus buchneri R1102 et Bifidobacteium longum R0175 à la lyophilisation et au stockage, et à identifier les réponses physiologiques associées.Dans une première partie, l’effet du temps de récolte sur les caractéristiques membranaires et les performances industrielles de Lb. Buchneri R1102 et B. lolngum R0175 a été anlysé. Une récolte en phase stationnaire conduit à une meilleure tolérance au cours de la congélation pour B. longum R0175 mais ne permet pas de maintenir une activité acidifiante élevée pour Lb. Buchneri R1102. Ces résultats sont reliés à une rigidificatioin de la membrane et à une augmentation de la proportion en acides gras saturés et cycliques en phase stationnaire de croissance.Dans une deuxième étape, les cellules de Lb. Buchneri R1102 ont été soumises à différentes conditions de stress osmotique. Un stress osmotique avec du KCl 0.1 M augmente la survie au cours de la lyophilisation mais ne modifie les caractéristiques membranaires des cellules. Un ajout de KCl 0.6 M en début de fermentation améliore la survie au cours du stockage à l’état lyophilisé. Ce phénomène est expliqué par une rigidification de la membrane lié à une augmentation de la concentration en acides gras cycliques et à une accumulation de bétaïne intracellulaire.Dans une troisème partie, l’effet de différentes atmosphères de culture sur l’état physiologique et les performances de Lb. Buchneri R1102 et B. longum R0175 a été étudié.Pour Lb. Buchneri R1102, l’apport d’air accélère significativement la croissance et la concentration bactérienne (air à 1.2 vvm) en fluidifiant les membranes cellulaires et en orientant le flux métabolique vers la production d’acétate. A l’inverse, l’apport d’azote ou d’un mélange de gaz N2H2 allonge les fermentations en diminuant le potentiel d’oxydoréduction. Enfin, l’apport des gaz air, N2 et N2H2 dégrade l’activité acidifiante de Lb. Buchneri R1102 mais augmente sa survie au cours du stockage, en lien avec des modifications de composition an acides gras et de synthèse protéique. Pour B. longum R0175, une concentration cellulaire plus élevée est obtenue lorsqu’un bullage N2 ou N2CO2 est effectué en début de culture. L’activité acidifiante des ferments est préservée au cours du procédé pour toutes les conditions testées, en lien avec une augmentation de la proportion d’acides gras insaturés et cycliques, mais sans variation de fluidité membranaire.Enfin, une meilleure survie cellulaire est obtenue lorsque les cellules sont cultivées avec du N2CO2 pendant toute la fermentation.Ce travail se conclut par la validation, à l’échelle pilote, des conditions conduisant à une amélioration de la stabilité biologique des ferments lyophilisés, tout en préservant les performances des fermentations. / Industrial starter’s production requires a stabilization step that affects the quality of the cells. This phenomenon is closely linked to the used species and strains, and depends on the procedures applied during the production process. In this context, this thesis aims at improving the performances of Lactobacillus buchneri R1102 and Bifidobacterium longum R0175 during freeze-drying and storage, and to identify the corresponding physiological responses.In the first part of this work, the effect of the harvesting time on membrane characteristics and industrial performances of Lb. buchneri R1102 and B. longum R0175 has been analyzed. Harvesting the cells in stationary phase led to a better tolerance during freezing of B. longum R0175 but did not allow the maintenance of elevated acidification activity for Lb. buchneri R1102. These results have been related to a rigidification of the membrane and to an increase of the proportion of saturated and cyclic fatty acids in cellular membranes of cells recovered in stationary growth phase.In a second step, cells of Lb. buchneri R1102 have been submitted to different conditions of osmotic stress in order to improve their performances. An osmotic stress with 0.1 M KCl increased the cells survival during freeze-drying, without changing their membrane characteristics. In addition, adding 0.6 M KCl in the beginning of the fermentation improved the survival during storage on freeze-dried form. This phenomenon was explained by a rigidification of the membrane that was linked to an increase of cyclic fatty acids content and intracellular betaine concentration.The third part was devoted to the study of the effect of various gaseous atmospheres during the cultures, on the physiological state and the performances of Lb. buchneri R1102 and B. longum R0175. For Lb. buchneri R1102, aeration (air at 1.2 vvm) significantly accelerated the growth and the final cell concentration by increasing membrane fluidity and by directing metabolic flux towards acetate production. Conversely, adding nitrogen or the gas mixture N2H2 delayed the fermentations by decreasing redox potential. Lastly, injecting different gases (air, N2, N2H2) decreased acidification activity Lb. buchneri R1102 but increased its survival during storage, as a result of modifications of fatty acids composition and proteins synthesis. For B. longum R0175, a higher cell concentration was obtained when the culture medium was bubbled with N2 or N2CO2 at the beginning of the fermentation. In addition, acidification activity of these starters was well maintained for all tested conditions, which was linked to an increase of unsaturated and cyclic fatty acids proportion, but without any change in membrane fluidity. Lastly, a better cell survival was obtained for cells grown with N2CO2 all along the fermentation.Finally, this work is concluded finish with the validation, at pilot scale, of the conditions leading to an improvement of the biological stability of freeze-dried starters, while maintaining their performances during fermentation.

A estomatite protética é uma patologia que acomete muitos usuários de prótese total. Um dos principais fatores da sua etiologia é a fácil adesão de microrganismos, como a Candida albicans, à resina acrílica, principalmente devido às características de superfície facilitadoras deste material. Por esta razão, estuda-se materiais que possam modificar as características de superfície da resina acrílica sem alterar as suas propriedades mecânicas. A investigação das propriedades desses materiais, como a biocompatibilidade e como eles influenciam as células de C. albicans, é de extrema importância para uma futura aplicação clínica. Dessa forma, a proposta desta pesquisa foi avaliar a citotoxicidade sobre fibroblastos gengivais humanos (FGH) e o estresse oxidativo causado em células de C. albicans por 6 produtos (etil-cianoacrilato convencional -ECAc; etil-cianoacrilato em forma de gel formulação a -ECAga; etil-cianoacrilato em forma de gel formulação b -ECAgb; butil-cianoacrilato - BCA; octil-cianoacrilato OCA; selante tissular a base de veneno de cobra-VC;), que quando aplicados na superfície da resina acrílica, modificam suas características de superfície, visando diminuir a formação do biofilme de C. albicans. Espécimes de resina acrílica foram confeccionados e duas camadas de cada produto foram aplicadas nas superfícies. Cada espécime foi deixado em 1, 066 mL de meio de cultura durante 24 horas para extração e utilização do meio condicionado para os dois ensaios. Para a investigação da citotoxicidade, os FGH foram cultivados em placas de 96 poços, meios condicionado de cada grupo foram depositados em cada poço onde permaneceram em contato por 24, 48 e 72 h. Após o processamento para o ensaio de MTT as placas foram analisadas em espectrofotômetro a 500 nm. Foram realizados quatro experimentos independentes em triplicata (n=12). Para a investigação de estresse oxidativo (ERO) causado em C. albicans, biofilme foi desenvolvido em placas de 96 poços durante 24 h. Então, os meios condicionados foram adicionados aos poços e a placa foi mantida em agitadora durante 1 h. Após a retirada dos meios condicionados, foi adicionado a cada poço o reagente CellRox® Deep Red e leituras foram realizadas a cada 30 min durante 3 h em fluorímetro a 640/665nm. Amostras foram coletadas e ensaio de cultura microbiológica foi executado para a realização da normalização dos valores. Foram realizados 3 experimentos independentes em triplicata (n=9). Os resultados obtidos pelo ensaio MTT foram analisados por meio de ANOVA a 2 critérios, seguido pelo teste Tukey para a comparação entre grupos (p<0,05). Para o ensaio ROS, a análise estatística realizada foi ANOVA a 1 critério, seguida, igualmente, por Tukey (p<0,05). Os resultados mostraram que todos os grupos apresentaram certo grau de citotoxicidade quando comparados ao controle, com exceção do VC (ECAc&lt;ECAgb&lt;BCA&lt;OCA&lt; ECAga). O grupo ECAc em 24 e 48 h apresentou viabilidade em torno de 80%. Avaliando os tempos experimentais, a citotoxicidade demonstrou uma característica progressiva. O resultado do ERO demonstrou que todos os grupos induzem estresse oxidativo em células de C. albicans (OCA&lt;ECAc&lt;VC&lt;BCA&lt;ECAgb). Para a utilização clínica de tais produtos experimentais, estudos mais aprofundados devem ser realizados. / Denture stomatitis is a disease that affects many denture wearers. One of the main factors of its cause is the easy adhesion of microorganisms, such as Candida albicans, to acrylic resin, mainly due to its permissive surface characteristics. For this reason, materials that can modify surface characteristics of acrylic resin without changing its mechanical properties are being studied. The investigation of these materials features, such as biocompatibility and how they affect Candida albicans, is of utmost importance for future clinical application. Thus, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the cytotoxicity of human gingival fibroblasts (HGF) and oxidative stress in C. albicans cells after contact with 6 experimental products (conventional ethyl-cyanoacrylate -ECAc; ethyl-cyanoacrylate in gel formulation \"a\" -ECAga; ethyl-cyanoacrylate in gel formulation \"b\" -ECAgb; butyl- cyanoacrylate - BCA; octyl-cyanoacrylate -OCA; tissue adhesive based on snake venom -VC) applied to the surface of the resin acrylic, modifying its surface characteristics, in order to decrease C. albicans biofilm formation. Acrylic resin specimens were manufactured and two layers of each product were applied to the surfaces. Each specimen was immersed in 1,066 mL of growth media for 24 hours for extraction and the resulting conditioned media were used for both tests. To investigate cytotoxicity, HGF were cultured in 96-well plates and conditioned media from each group were deposited into each well, where they remained in contact for 24, 48 and 72h. After the MTT assay processing, plates were analyzed in a spectrophotometer at 500 nm. Four independent experiments were performed in triplicate (n=12). To investigate oxidative stress (ROS), C. albicans biofilm was developed in 96-well plates for 24 h, conditioned media were added to the wells and the plate was allowed to stir for 1 h. Then, conditioned media were removed and CellRox® Deep Red reagent was added to each well. Readings were performed every 30 min for 3 h in fluorometer at 640/665nm. Samples were collected and microbiological culture test was executed to values normalization. Three independent experiments were performed in triplicate (n=9). Results obtained in MTT assay were analyzed by two-way ANOVA and Tukey\'s test for comparison between groups (p<0.05). for comparison between groups (p<0.05). For ROS results, one-way ANOVA was performed followed by Tukey test, as well (p<0.05). The results showed that all groups presented different degrees of cytotoxicity when compared to control group, except for VC (ECAc&lt;ECAgb&lt;BCA&lt;OCA&lt;ECAga). ECAc group at 24 and 48 h showed viability about 80%. Evaluating experimental periods, the cytotoxicity showed a progressive characteristic. ROS results showed that all groups induced oxidative stress in C. albicans cells (OCA&lt;ECAC&lt;VC&lt;BCA&lt;ECAgb). For clinical use of such experimental products, further studies should be conducted.

O fator 2 derivado de células estromais, SDF2 (do inglês Stromal cell derived fator 2) é um gene de função ainda desconhecida, conservado em mamíferos e descrito primeiramente por Hamada et al. (1996). Neste estudo, observamos que a proteína Sdf2 de camundongo possui a alta similaridade de sequência em relação ao SDF2-like(L)1 humano e murino e de estrutura preditiva também similar em relação ao SDF2-like de Arabidopsis thaliana. A proteína mostrou-se sublocalizada no retículo endoplasmático e apresentou ampla distribuição nos tecidos e órgãos de camundongos. O mapeamento da expressão de Sdf2 ao longo da gestação humana e de camundongo nos mostrou que a proteína está presente em todas as etapas e compartimentos da placenta, com expressão em diversos tipos celulares. Nossos resultados sugerem que o SDF2 participa dos processos de diferenciação de células trofoblásticas humanas e murinas de maneira oposta. Em humanos, onde o processo é dependente da ativação de caspase-8 observou-se um aumento da expressão de SDF2. Em camundongos, onde o processo é por endoreduplicação, houve diminuição da expressão da proteína. A participação do SDF2 na via de estresse de retículo endoplasmático (RE) nas células trofoblásticas também foi analisada. Fatores adversos que podem levar à perda da homeostase do RE e levar a um acúmulo de proteínas mal enoveladas geram o fenômeno conhecido como Estresse de RE. O estresse de RE ativa a via de Resposta a Proteínas Mal Enoveladas (UPR, em inglês Unfolded Protein Response), que atua em diferentes vias de sinalização para aumentar a produção de chaperonas, a degradação das proteínas mal enoveladas e a diminuição da produção de novas proteínas. Estas respostas aumentam as chances de sobrevivência celular. Se, no entanto, a célula não recuperar sua homeostase, vias que levam à apoptose serão ativadas. A geração de estresse de RE pelo agente tunicamicina alterou significativamente a expressão de SDF2. Além disso, o silenciamento do gene SDF2 alterou a expressão dos principais fatores de controle de sobrevivência e apoptose da UPR. Desta forma, estes achados sugerem que o SDF2 desempenha um papel na regulação de sobrevivência/apoptose das células trofoblásticas pela via UPR. / The stromal cell derived factor 2 (SDF2) was first described by Hamada et al.(1996), is well conserved in mammals but its function is still unknown. In this study, we observed the predicted aminoacid sequence os Sdf2 is similar to human and mouse SDF2L1 sequence and the predicted Sdf2 structure is similar to SDF2-like from Arabidopsis thaliana. The protein is sublocalizes in the ER and it is widely expressed in mouse tissue and organs. The expression of Sdf2 throughout human and mouse gestation showed the protein is present in all gestational phases and compartments analysed and it is expressed by several cell types in the placenta. In trophoblast functional assays, SDF2 showed opposite expression patterns in human and mouse differentiation processes. In humans, where the process is dependent of caspase-8 activation, the protein is upregulated. Im mouse, the process is dependent of endoreduplication, the protein is downregulated. The participation of SDF2 in Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER) stress in trophoblastic cells was also evaluated. Adverse environmental conditions may lead to disruption of ER homeostasis causing accumulation of unfolded/misfolded proteins in ER, a phenomenon known as ER stress. ER stress activates the Unfolded Protein Response (UPR) that acts in several signaling cascades to improve chaperone production, misfolded protein degradation and to downregulate new protein production. These responses increase the capacity of cells to maintain alive even in stress conditions. Whether cells fail on restore homeostasis, the UPR activates apoptosis. We were able to observed that when gene silencing assays was used for SDF2, modifications in UPR cell survival/apoptosis markers were observed. In conclusion, we propose that SDF2 is playing a role in ER stress cell survival/apoptosis control in trophoblast cells.

Embora a terapia com uso de laser de baixa potência (TLBP) seja uma modalidade terapêutica amplamente estudada no meio científico, sua aplicação na clínica médica ainda gera controvérsias, já que a literatura reporta que a TLBP é capaz de promover a proliferação e diferenciação de células tumorais. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar os efeitos da TLBP no crescimento celular usando como modelo a linhagem B16F10 de melanoma murino em estado de homeostase e estado redox, além de verificar o comportamento quimiotáxico da linhagem B16F10 por meio do ensaio de migração transwell em resposta à TLBP em diferentes densidades de energia. Foram montados cinco grupos experimentais utilizando um laser de emissão vermelha em &lambda; = 660 nm: Grupo controle (GC) onde nenhuma irradiação foi realizada; G30 (30J/cm2); G60 (60J/cm2); G90 (90J/cm2); G120 (120J/cm2); G150 (150J/cm2), com as respectivas doses utilizadas. Todos os experimentos foram realizados em triplicata e os resultados obtidos foram submetidos à análise estatística. Sob as condições experimentais deste estudo, nossos resultados mostram que a TLBP neste comprimento de onda não promoveu mudanças no metabolismo celular nos tempos de 48 h e 72 h, independente do estado nutricional. Foi possível observar mudança no padrão de comportamento quimiotáxico da linhagem celular B16F10 irradiadas com laser de emissão vermelha. / The low power lasers (TLBP) is a therapeutic modality widely studied in scientific field, its application in clinical medicine still generates many conflicts since literature reports proliferation in cancer cells. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of TLBP on cell growth using as model the line B16F10 in state of homeostasis and redox state and investigate the chemotactic behavior of B16F10 lineage through transwell migration assay in response to TLBP in different energy densities. For this purpose five experimental groups were assembled using a laser emission at &lambda; = 660 nm: control group (G0) where no irradiation was performed; G30 (30J/cm2), G60 (60J/cm2), G90 (90J/cm2); G120 (120J/cm2); G150 (150J/cm2) with the respective doses used. All experiments were performed in triplicate and the results were statistically analyzed. Under the experimental conditions of this study, our results show that TLBP did not induced changes in cellular metabolism that influence proliferation at 48 h and 72 h, independent nutritional status. It was possible to observe changes in behavior pattern chemotactic of cell line B16F10 with TLBP at red emission.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Oklahoma. / Bibliography: leaves 229-253.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington, 2000. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 106-115).