Tumores são definidos como microambientes compostos não só pelas células malignas, mas também por células endoteliais, fibroblastos e leucócitos, que promovem o crescimento tumoral e a angiogênese. Galectina-3, uma proteína que se liga a b- galactosídeos, é abundantemente expressa por monócitos/macrófagos, dentre outros leucócitos. Inúmeras evidências sugerem que galectina-3 atua como uma molécula reguladora da resposta inflamatória. Tendo em vista que o infiltrado inflamatório pode promover a progressão de tumores, o objetivo do presente trabalho foi avaliar se galectina-3, expressa tanto pela célula tumoral como pelas células estromais, modula o crescimento de melanoma. Para tal, células de melanoma murino Tm1 foram transfectadas com o gene de galectina-3. Ambos clones celulares (galectina-3 positivos e negativos) foram injetados na intrafáscia ou no subcutâneo de camundongos (fêmeas) C57BL/6 selvagens e/ou nocautes para o gene de galectina-3 para análise da implantabilidade e crescimento tumoral. Com relação à implantabilidade, não foi observado diferenças no estabelecimento de uma massa tumoral proliferativa em animais selvagens inoculados com células Tm1 transfectadas ou não com o gene de galectina-3 em animais selvagens. Em relação a taxa de crescimento dos tumores, nenhum animal nocaute inoculado com células Tm1 galectina-3 positivas apresentou tumores de dimensões mensuráveis até o 11º dia pós-inóculo. Independente do nível de expressão de galectina- 3 pela célula tumoral, os tumores originados nos animais nocautes apresentavam menor massa em gramas comparados ao grupo selvagem, sugerindo que galectina-3 expressa pelas células estromais promove o crescimento tumoral. Ainda, os tumores originados nos animais nocautes e no grupo selvagem inoculado com células Tm1 galectina-3 positivas apresentavam menor extensão de área necrótica do que os animais selvagens inoculados com células Tm1 galectina-3 negativas. Interessantemente, os animais selvagens e nocautes inoculados com células Tm1 galectina-3 positivas apresentaram tumores com menor área vascular e menor número de estruturas vasculares funcionais quando comparados aos animais selvagens inoculados com células Tm1 galectina-3 negativas. A análise de expressão gênica nos tumores mostrou que os níveis relativos de RNAm de VEFG (fator de crescimento de endotélio vascular) foram menores nos animais inoculados com células Tm1 galectina-3 positivas em relação aos inoculados com células Tm1 galectina-3 negativas, indicando que galectina-3 expressa pelas células tumorais atua como uma molécula anti-angiogênica. Finalizando, o presente trabalho sugere que galectina-3 pode atuar como uma molécula pró- ou anti-tumoral, dependendo do tipo celular que a expressa no microambiente tumoral. / Tumors have been described as microenvironments composed not only by malignant cells, but also by endothelial cells, fibroblasts and leukocytes, which can promote tumor growth and angiogenesis. Galectin-3, a b-galactoside binding protein, is expressed by monocytes/macrophages and others leukocytes. In fact, several lines of evidence suggest that galectin-3 act as master regulators of the inflammatory response. Based on the fact that the inflammatory infiltrate can promote tumor progression, the proposal of this study was to evaluate if galectin-3, either from tumor or stromal cells could modulate melanoma growth. Tm1 murine melanoma cell line was transfected with the galectin-3 gene. Both clones (galectin-3 negative and positive) were injected in the foot pad or subcutaneous in female C57BL/6 wild-type (WT) and galectin-3 knock-out (KO) mice to tumor engraftment and growth analysis. There was no difference in the tumor engraftment between animas injected with Tm1 galectin-3 positive or negative cells. In addition, any knock-out mice injected with galectin-3 positive cells had measurable tumors up to day 11 post inoculation. Regardless the galectin-3 expression level in the melanoma cell, tumors from galectin-3 KO mice were smaller than those from WT animals, suggesting that galectin-3 expressed by stromal cells promotes tumor growth. Moreover, tumor necrotic area was smaller in KO mice and in wild-type animals injected with Tm1 galectin-3 positive cells compared to wild type animals injected with Tm1 galectin-3 negative cells. Interestingly, both vascular area and the number of functional vessels in animals injected with galectin-3 positive Tm1 cells were smaller in WT as well as in KO mice compared to the same animals injected with galectin-3 negative Tm1 cells. Gene expression analysis showed that VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor) mRNA levels were smaller in wild type animals injected with Tm1 galectin-3 positive cells compared to those injected with Tm1 galectin-3 negative cells, indicating that galectin-3 expressed by tumor cells can act as an anti-angiogenic molecule. The present study suggests that galectin-3 can act either as a pro or antitumoral molecule, depending on which type of cell (tumoral or stromal) this lectin is expressed within tumor microenvironment.

Neste trabalho, foi desenvolvido um sistema laser utilizando como meio ativo um cristal de YLF cortado em ângulo de Brewster e dopado com 15mol% de érbio substituindo o ítrio, emitindo na região dos 3 m e bombeado por diodo laser com pico de emissão em 975 nm. Com este sistema foi obtido 1,80(18) W operando em regime quasecontínuo. O oscilador foi otimizado para aplicações médicas operando com potência máxima em 250 s de tempo de pulso. O peculiar comportamento temporal do laser foi estudado neste trabalho pela primeira vez, assim como a otimização da potência máxima em função da duração do pulso. Há diferenças nos mecanismos intrínsicos do laser quando este é operado em regime contínuo ou pulsado, especialmente no efeito da transferência de energia por conversão ascendente W22, cujo valor ainda é muito divergente na literatura. O valor estimado neste trabalho para este parâmetro de transferência de energia é 2,0x10-16 cm3/s. / In this work we present the development of a laser system based on an Er:YLF Brewster cut crystal with 15mol% erbium at the yttrium site, emitting at 3 m and pumped by a laser diode emitting at 975 nm. Using this system we obtained 1,80(18) W peak power when operating in the quasi-continuous regime. The cavity is optimized for medical applications and to operate at maximum power when pumped with 250 s pulse duration. The unique temporal behavior of this laser was subject of this study for the first time, as the optimization of the maximum output power as a function of the pulse duration. There are differences in the intrinsic mechanism of the laser when it is operated in pulsed or cw condition, especially with respect to the effect of the W22 energy transfer upconverssion parameter which value in the literature is very divergent. The estimated value of this process was also obtained in this work and is 2,0x10-16 cm3/s.

A angiogênese é um processo fundamental e fisiológico de organismos vertebrados, sendo responsável pela formação de novos vasos sanguíneos a partir dos já existentes. Entretanto, a angiogênese pode ocorrer também em condições patológicas, como causa ou consequência de doenças. Um exemplo disso está nos tumores, que para crescer além de alguns milímetros cúbicos, necessitam de um suprimento adequado de oxigênio e nutrientes, e, portanto, dependem da angiogênese. Por isso, compostos que inibem a angiogênese já estão em uso na clínica, não só para o tratamento de tumores, mas também de outras doenças dependentes da angiogênese, as retinopatias. Neste projeto, daremos continuidade à linha de pesquisa do nosso grupo, que procura identificar e validar peptídeos com potencial translacional (pré-fármacos), por apresentarem atividade anti-angiogênica. Utilizando a metodologia do Phage Display, nosso grupo identificou e caracterizou um hexapeptídeo, que foi selecionado por interagir com os receptores do principal fator iniciador da angiogênese, o VEGF (fator de crescimento endotelial vascular). Os receptores de VEGF (ou VEGFR) são proteínas do tipo receptor tirosina quinase, expressos em células endoteliais e essenciais para a iniciação e progressão da neovascularização. O hexapeptídeo identificado em nosso laboratório liga-se ao VEGFRs e inibe a formação de vasos sanguíneos in vivo em modelos animais de angiogênese. Neste trabalho, procuramos estender os estudos com este hexapeptídeo para identificar o sítio de ligação do mesmo no VEGFR e avançar em modelos que permitam a determinação dos requisitos estruturais de interação peptídeoreceptor. Com estes conhecimentos, poderemos num futuro próximo, caminhar para o desenvolvimento racional de moléculas peptideomiméticas com propriedades anti-angiogênicas. / Angiogenesis is a fundamental and physiological process for vertebrate organisms, being responsible for the formation of new blood vessels, sprouting from the existent ones. However, angiogenesis may occur in pathological conditions, being cause or consequence of diseases. One example is tumor development. To grow beyond a few cubic millimeters, tumors need a suitable supply of oxygen and nutrients, and, therefore, they are dependent of angiogenesis. In fact, anti-angiogenic compounds are already in therapeutic use, targeting not only tumors but other angiogenesis dependent diseases, like retinopathies. In this project, we expand research from our own group to identify and develop anti-angiogenic peptides with translational potential (pre-drugs). Using Phage Display methodology, our group identified and characterized a hexapeptide, that was selected based on its capacity to interact with the receptors for the main initiator factor of angiogenesis, the VEGF (Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor). VEGF receptors (VEGFR) are tyrosine kinase proteins, expressed by endothelial cells and essential for neovascularization initiation and progress. The hexapeptide identified in our lab binds to VEGFRs and inhibit blood vessel formation in vivo when tested in an angiogenesis animal model. In this study, we seek to further understand the interaction of this hexapeptide with its receptor by identifying its binding domain on VEGFR and develop models that will allow the determination of the structural requirements for interaction of this receptor ligand pair. With this knowledge, we can in a near future progress to a rational development of novel peptidemimetic molecules with angiogenic properties similar to this hexapeptide.

Devido ao grande avanço na descoberta de novos fármacos a partir de compostos naturais, tornou-se interessante avaliar o potencial antiproliferativo de moléculas isoladas de extratos de plantas. Este trabalho prioriza o estudo da atividade antitumoral de benzofenonas (carifenona A e carifenona B) e floroglucionóis (japonicina A e uliginosina B), isolados das espécies nativas do sul do Brasil, Hypericum carinatum e Hypericum myrianthum, respectivamente, bem como a associação destes com quimioterápicos utilizados na clínica. Os experimentos propostos foram realizados em modelos in vitro, utilizando diferentes tipos de linhagens tumorais humanas comercialmente disponíveis. Foi avaliado o efeito de diferentes doses destes compostos através de experimentos de viabilidade e sobrevivência celular, análise morfométrica nuclear (NMA) e citometria de fluxo. Na análise estatística foi utilizada a variância de uma via (ANOVA) seguida de teste post-hoc (Tukey). Os resultados foram expressos como média ± erro padrão da média (SEM), sendo valores de P menores do que 0,05 considerados significativos. Verificamos que nas linhagens de adenocarcinoma de ovário e colorretal e de glioblastoma (OVCAR-3, HT-29 e U-251) ocorreu uma diminuição significativa na viabilidade celular quando tratadas com a dose de 100μg/mL tanto de carifenona A como de carifenona B, enquanto os compostos japonicina A (50μg/mL) e uliginosina B (20μg/mL) só foram ativos na linhagem OVCAR-3. Dentre as associações com quimioterápicos, a única que apresentou efeito sinérgico foi a combinação de japonicina A e paclitaxel na linhagem OVCAR-3. A partir deste momento selecionamos a japoncina A para dar continuidade aos estudos. Este composto foi avaliado frente a outros tipos de linhagens tumorais, sendo ativa somente em células de adenocarcinoma de ovário e próstata (OVCAR-3 e PC-3). Na linhagem PC-3, a análise do ciclo celular demonstrou decréscimo da fase G1 e indução ao arraste da fase G2, assim como, através da técnica de NMA, foi verificado um aumento de células apoptóticas, quando as células foram tratadas com japonicina A. Estudos moleculares devem ser realizados para melhor entendimento do mecanismo de ação da japonicina A, composto que pode servir de modelo para o desenho de fármacos mais específicos para este tipo de neoplasia. / Due to the great progress in the discovery of new drugs from natural compounds, it has become interesting to evaluate the antiproliferative activity of molecules isolated from plant extracts. This work emphasizes the study of antitumor activity of benzophenones (cariphenone A and cariphenone B) and phloroglucionols (japonicin A and uliginosin B), isolated from Hypericum species native to southern Brazil, H. carinatum and H. myrianthum, respectively, as well as their association with chemotherapeutic drugs used in the clinic. The proposed experiments were performed in vitro using commercially available cell lines. The effect of different doses of these compounds were evaluated via cell viability and survival assay, nuclear morphometric analysis (NMA) and flow cytometry. One way analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by post hoc tests (Tukey) were utilized for statistical analysis. Results were expressed as mean ± standard error of the mean (SEM), and P values less than 0.05 were considered significant. We found that in ovarian, colorectal (adenocarcinoma) and glioblastoma cell lines (OVCAR-3, HT-29 and U-251) a significant decrease in cell viability occurred when these were treated with a dose of 100μg/mL of cariphenone A and B, while compounds japonicin A (50μg/mL) and uliginosin B (20μg/mL) were active only in OVCAR- 3. Among the associations with chemotherapeutic agents, only japonicin A presented a synergistic effect with paclitaxel in the OVCAR-3 cell line. We then selected japonicin A for evaluation against other cell lines, but its effects were only observed in ovary and prostate adenocarcinoma cell lines (OVCAR-3 e PC-3). In PC-3, the cell cycle revealed a decreased in the G1 phase and induction of G2 arrest, the NMA showed an increase in apoptotic cells when cells were treated with japonicin A. More studies should be conducted to better understand the mechanisms of action of japonicin A, since this compound may serve as pharmacophore model for the design of more specific drugs to treat this tumor type.

Galectina-3, uma proteína que se liga a -galactosídeos, é expressa por neutrófilos e inúmeras evidências indicam que esta molécula atua como uma possível reguladora da resposta imune. Sabe-se que galectina-3 ao ligar com LPS pode levar a formação de oligômeros, que podem alterar o limiar de ativação de células da resposta imune inata. Apesar de existirem diversos estudos que mostram a influência de galectina-3 na resposta de neutrófilos frente a componentes bacterianos, os resultados são em sua maioria contraditórios e inconclusivos. Para elucidar a influência da galectina-3 na reposta imune inata a patógenos periodontais, o presente trabalho avaliou a atividade antimicrobiana in vitro de neutrófilos, isolados de camundongos selvagens (WT) ou geneticamente deficientes de galectina-3 (Gal-3KO), previamente estimulados com LPS de Aa e Pg. Os resultados não evidenciaram diferenças significativas no número de unidades formadoras de colônia (UFC) recuperadas das culturas de neutrófilos provenientes de animais deficientes de galectina-3 e do grupo controle (WT). Contudo, a estimulação de neutrófilos com LPS por 18 horas levou a redução no número de UFC recuperadas das culturas, quando comparado com as culturas estimuladas com LPS por apenas 3 horas. / Galectin-3, a protein that binds -galactosides, is expressed by neutrophils and numerous evidences indicate that this molecule acts as a possible regulator of the immune response. It is known that galectin-3 binding to LPS can lead to the formation of oligomers and thus changing the activation threshold of cells of the innate immune response. Although there are several studies that show the influence of galectin-3 in neutrophil response against bacterial components, the results are conflicting and inconclusive in their majority. To elucidate the influence of galectin-3 in the innate immune response to periodontal pathogens, the present study evaluated the in vitro antimicrobial activity of neutrophils, isolated from wild-type or galectin-3 deficient mice, previously stimulated with LPS of Aa and Pg. The results showed no significant differences in the number of colony forming units (CFU) recovered from cultured galectin-3 deficient neutrophils or control group. However, in a 18 hours time course of LPS stimulation, we observed reduction in the number of CFU, when compared to 3 hours of LPS stimulation.

Glycogen synthase kinase-3beta (GSK-3beta) has been demonstrated to play a critical role in a diverse range of cellular functions from cell fate determination to cancer development. It is also implicated to be involved in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases (e.g. Alzheimer's disease), cancers and endocrine disorders (e.g. Type II diabetes). To gain further insight into the cellular mechanisms mediated by GSK-3beta, proteomic approach to identify novel cellular targets has become popular in recent years. GSK-3beta was inhibited by treating with lithium and kenpaullone in SH-SY5Y cell model, and over-expressed in Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO) Tet-Off cell model. To getting more reliable results, we have used both conventional 2-D approach and Difference Gel Electrophoresis (DIGE) approach for this proteomic study. In 2-D electrophoresis, samples were resolved by two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel-electrophoresis (2D-PAGE). Protein spots were excised from the gels for in-gel trypsin digestion and further subjected to protein identification using mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS or MS/MS). In the GSK-3beta inhibition approach, cofilin was found to be down-regulated and Pin1 was found to be up-regulated, these consequence events demonstrated inhibition of GSK-3beta would protect the cells from structure alteration and tau hyperphosphorylation. In the GSK-3beta activation approach, cyclin-dependent kinase 5 (CDK-5) was found to significantly up-regulated in tau and GSK-3beta/Tau over-expressed cells, confirmed by Western blotting and RT-PCR. This finding indicates there is a new pathway between GSK-3beta, tau and CDK-5. Pin1 is also identified to be up-regulated after GSK-3beta activation. This result indicated a protection mechanism in response to the accumulation of hyperphosphorylated tau proteins. Our study help to get a better understanding of the GSK-3beta mediated substrates and pathways that help us to identify novel targets for the treatment of neurodegenerative and other diseases mediated by GSK-3beta. / Mak, Ying Cheong. / "September 2007." / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 69-08, Section: B, page: 4588. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2007. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 157-181). / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Electronic reproduction. [Ann Arbor, MI] : ProQuest Information and Learning, [200-] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / School code: 1307.

O mecanismo pelo qual a sinalização da leptina no hipotálamo permite o início da puberdade ainda não foi esclarecido. Um possível mecanismo para a ação molecular da leptina no eixo reprodutivo é constituído por uma alteração na sinalização do NPY. Objetivou-se neste estudo foi verificar se novilhas precoces Bos taurus indicus possuem a expressão modificada de genes hipotalâmicos relacionadas à sinalização da leptina. Dentre uma população de 500 novilhas entre 20 e 25 meses de idade, 100 novilhas foram selecionadas com base nas características da raça (Nelore), mês de nascimento e peso corpóreo (290 kg). Estas 100 novilhas foram classificadas de acordo com a presença ou não de um corpo lúteo (CL) notável. Dez novilhas sem um CL e dez novilhas com CL notável receberam uma injeção de prostaglandina, e de acordo com a observação visual de cio e palpação retal, 6 novilhas precoces e 6 novilhas não precoces foram selecionadas para o experimento. Estas 12 novilhas foram abatidas e amostras de tecido do hipotálamo foram coletadas e congeladas em nitrogênio liquido. A expressão de SOCS-3, NPY, NPY-Y1 e NPY-Y4 no hipotálamo foi quantificada por PCR em tempo real usando uma proteína ribossomal RP-L19 como um gene de referência. A expressão hipotalâmica de SOCS-3 ou NPY não foi diferente entre os grupos de novilhas (P > 0,50). Acreditava-se que as novilhas ciclando poderiam ser resistentes à leptina devido a um aumento na expressão do SOCS-3 no hipotálamo. Houve uma tendência (P = 0,10) de redução na expressão dos receptores do NPY, NPY-Y1 e NPY-Y4 em novilhas que atingiram a puberdade precocemente. A expressão do NPY-Y1 foi 8.3 vezes menor e a expressão do NPY-Y4 foi 14.3 vezes menor em novilhas precoces. Quando analisados em conjunto, houve uma redução de 11 vezes na expressão dos receptores de NPY em novilhas precoces, e este efeito foi estatisticamente significante (P = 0,03). Estes resultados sugerem que, a menor expressão dos receptores de NPY pelo hipotálamo de novilhas precoces pode torná-lo menos sensível à inibição do NPY, e permitir a obtenção da puberdade com maior peso vivo e níveis menores de leptina circulante. Em conclusão, não houve uma correlação entre a expressão do gene NPY e SOCS-3 e a precocidade sexual das novilhas Nelore, porém houve uma tendência significativa de redução da expressão dos receptores de NPY-Y1 e NPY-Y4 no hipotálamo das novilhas precoces. / The molecular mechanism by which leptin signaling in the hypothalamus might permit the initiation of puberty has not been elucidated. One possible mechanism for leptin molecular action on the reproductive axis is affecting NPY signaling. It was our objective to test whether early-maturing Bos indicus heifers have altered expression of hypothalamic genes related to leptin signaling. Among a population of 500 heifers between 20 and 25 months of age, 100 heifers were selected base on breed attributes (Nelore), month of birth, and body weight (290 kg). These 100 heifers were scored as prepubertal or pubertal according to the presence or not of a noticeable corpus luteum (CL). Ten heifers without a CL and ten heifers with noticeable CL received a prostaglandin injection, and according to visual observation of heat and rectal palpation, 6 prepubertal and 6 pubertal heifers were selected for the experiment. These 12 heifers were slaughtered and samples of hypothalamus were collected and frozen in liquid nitrogen. Expression of SOCS-3, NPY, NPY-Y1 and NPY-Y4 at the hypothalamus was quantified by real-time PCR using the ribosomal protein RP-L19 as a reference gene. Hypothalamic expression of SOCS-3 or NPY was not different between groups of heifers (P > 0, 50). It was thought that late-maturing heifers could be resistant to leptin due to an increased expression of SOCS-3 at the hypothalamus. However, there was a tendency for NPY-Y1 and NPY-Y4 expression to be reduced in heifers that reached puberty earlier (P = 0,10). Expression of NPY-Y1 was 8.3-folds lower and NPY-Y4 expression was 14.3-folds lower in early-maturing heifers. When analyzed together, there was an 11-fold reduction in NPY receptors expression in early-maturing heifers, and this effect was statistically significant (P = 0,03). These results suggest that, because of the lower expression of NPY receptors, the hypothalamus of early-maturing heifers could be less sensitive to NPY inhibition, and therefore reach puberty with lower levels of circulating leptin. In conclusion, there was no effect between the expression of NPY and SOCS-3 and sexual precocity of Nelore heifers, but there was a significant tendency of reduction in NPY-Y1 e NPY-Y4 receptors expression in the hypothalamus of sexually precocious heifers.

Positron emission tomography (PET) tracer 3-fluoro-3-deoxythymidine (FLT) is used for imaging tumor proliferation. Prior to this work, human equilibrative nucleoside transporter 1 (hENT1) was the only known human nucleoside transporter (hNT) capable of FLT transport. The aim of this research was to determine if other hNTs, including hENT2, human concentrative nucleoside transporter 1 (hCNT1), hCNT2 and hCNT3, were capable/important of/for FLT transport in mammalian cells. Transport assays performed in Xenopus laevis oocytes producing recombinant hNTs demonstrated that hENT1/2 and hCNT1/3 were capable of FLT transport. FLT uptake assays with or without hENT1 inhibitor nitrobenzylmercaptopurine ribonucleoside (NBMPR) in various cultured cancer cell lines demonstrated that hENT1 was responsible for the majority of mediated FLT uptake in all tested cell lines, suggesting that hENT1 was important for FLT uptake. The in vivo role of hENT1 in FLT uptake was determined by performing [18F]FLT PET on wild-type and ENT1 knockout mice. One hour after [18F]FLT injection, ENT1 knockout mice displayed significantly reduced [18F]FLT accumulation in the blood, heart, brain, kidney, liver, and lungs compared to wild-type mice. Interestingly, ENT1 knockout mice displayed increased [18F]FLT accumulation in the bone marrow and spleen which both have high CNT expression, suggesting that loss of ENT1 significantly alters FLT biodistribution in mice. hENT1 is a predictive marker of gemcitabine response in pancreatic cancers. Since FLT uptake and gemcitabine toxicity are dependent on hENT1, FLT uptake may predict gemcitabine response in pancreatic cancers. To test this hypothesis, six different pancreatic cancer cell lines were analyzed for FLT uptake and gemcitabine toxicity. hENT1/2 inhibition in cells decreased FLT uptake and gemcitabine sensitivity. In five of six cell lines, a positive correlation was observed between FLT uptake and gemcitabine toxicity, suggesting that FLT PET may be clinically useful for predicting gemcitabine response in pancreatic cancers. The results from this research suggest that hNTs, especially hENT1, are important for FLT uptake in mammalian cells and that FLT uptake can predict gemcitabine response in most cultured pancreatic cancer cells. The results warrant FLT PET clinical trials in pancreatic cancer patients to determine the potential of FLT PET in predicting gemcitabine response.

Regulation of class IIa histone deacetylases (HDACs) phosphorylation is crucial because it provides the opportunity to control important developmental processes associated with these key enzymes. Indeed, the transcriptional repressor activity of class IIa HDAC is controlled via their phosphorylation-dependent nucleo-cytoplasmic shuttling. While a lot of efforts have been directed towards the identification of the inactivating kinases that phosphorylate class IIa HDACs, the identity of the antagonist phosphatase remained an open question. During this work, we found that protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) is responsible for dephosphorylating the class IIa HDACs member HDAC7, thereby regulating its subcellular localization and repressor activity. In order to validate our model, functional consequences of these findings was illustrated during the two main biological processes involving HDAC7, i.e. T-cells apoptosis during negative selection and endothelial cells angiogenic activities during vascular network formation. Cellular PP2A represents a large population of trimeric holoenzymes containing a variable regulatory subunit, whose identity has a crucial role in determining the specificity of PP2A catalytic activity. In an effort to characterize the regulation of HDAC7 dephopshorylation, we identified the relevant PP2A holoenzyme regulating HDAC7 function during vasculogenesis and we found that, among diverse regulatory subunit isoforms, PP2A-Bα uniquely regulates endothelial cell angiogenic properties. PP2A-Bα silencing using small interfering RNAs results in a significant inhibition of endothelial cell tube formation and migration. These results establish PP2A, and more precisely the Bα containg PP2A holoenzyme, as an essential element in the regulation of the class IIa HDAC HDAC7 and unravel a first developmental function for the PP2A regulatory subunit Bα in the genesis of blood vessels.

We use stepwise [3+3] annulation to prepare the asymmetric glutarimides, and then we can build substituent group in C6 position after choosing regioselective addition reaction. And we establish a new approach to benzo[h]quinoline skeleton starting from glutarimides via ring-closing reaction. Finally, we applied this method to the synthetic studies toward benzo[h]quinoline derivatives.