ADAM10, ADAM17, and SPAG6 contribute significantly to humoral immunity and secondary lymphoid tissue architecture. ADAM10 and ADAM17 are two closely related zinc-metalloproteinases. Through cleavage of their ligands CD23 and TNF, respectively, they greatly influence IgE production and secondary lymphoid tissue architecture maintenance. Th1 prone WT strains initially exhibit increased ADAM17 and TNF yet reduced ADAM10 relative to Th2 prone WT strains. In the absence of B cell ADAM10, a compensatory increase in ADAM17 and TNF cleavage is noted only in Th1 prone C57Bl/6, not Th2 prone Balb/c. B cell TNF homeostasis is important for maintaining secondary lymphoid tissue architecture. We show for the first time that excessive B cell TNF production in C57-ADAM10B-/- lymph nodes contributes to loss of B/T segregation, increased HEV number and size, fibrosis, loss of FDC networks, and impaired germinal center formation. Furthermore, B cell ADAM10, which enhances IgE production through CD23 cleavage, is shown to be a marker of Th2 susceptibility. B cell ADAM10 is elevated in Th2 prone mouse strains and allergic patients compared to Th1 prone controls and as B cell ADAM10 level increases, so does IgE production. Lastly, the B cell profile of allergic patients is determined to be B cell ADAM10highADAM17lowTNFlow. Furthermore, the mechanism underlying reduced class-switched antibody production in C57-ADAM10B-/- mice is explored. C57-ADAM10B-/- B cells exhibit a B10, or IL-10 producing, phenotype, which is linked to reduced antibody production. Furthermore, increased Tregs noted in C57-ADAM10B-/- mice contributed to reduced class switched IgE production and disease parameters following a house dust mite airway inflammation challenge. SPAG6, a component of the central apparatus of the “9+2” axoneme, plays a central role in flagellar stability and motility. Immune cells lack cilia, but the immunological synapse is a surrogate cilium as it utilizes the same machinery as ciliogenesis including the nucleation of microtubules at the centrosome. We demonstrate that Spag6 localizes in the centrosome and is critical for centrosome polarization at and actin clearance away from the synapse between CTL and target cells. Furthermore, improper synapse formation and function likely explains reduced CTL function and class-switched antibody production in Spag6KO mice.

This study investigated how gastrointestinal and skin bacterial infections were affected by differential expression of connexin (Cx) 26 and a disintegrin and metalloprotease (ADAM) 17 in vitro. Cx26 is a component of gap junctions, which facilitate the transfer of small molecules between two cells. Recessive mutations in Cx26 cause non syndromic hearing loss (NSHL), and in certain populations, specific mutations account for the majority of Cx26 related NSHL. Their common occurrence suggests that they may provide a heterozygous, protective advantage to carriers. In this study adherence by the attaching and effacing pathogen Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) was significantly reduced in cells expressing mutant Cx26 compared to wild type Cx26. Furthermore, EPEC adherence and invasion of an alternative enteric pathogen, Shigella flexneri were reduced following treatment with Cx26 short-interfering-RNA in intestinal cells. These findings suggest that the loss of functional Cx26 expression improves protection against enteric bacteria. ADAM17 releases substrates including tumour necrosis factor alpha and ligands of the epidermal growth factor receptor and therefore is involved in the induction of immune responses and maintenance of the epidermal barrier. This study demonstrated that ADAM17 provides protection during Staphylococcus aureus infection of keratinocytes. Subsequently the protective effects of ADAM17 mediated protection were explored. Secretion of the proinflammatory cytokines Interleukins 6 and 8 correlated with ADAM17 activity. Additionally gene expression profiling was performed which identified the IL-17 signalling pathway, which is known to be important during S. aureus infection, as a potential downstream target of ADAM17. In summary, based on these findings, Cx26 and ADAM17 may represent potential therapeutic targets for gastrointestinal and skin bacterial pathogens.

Leukemia is a hematological neoplasm with abnormal genetic mutation or chromosomal translocation in the myeloblast or lymphoblast, and characterized by accumulation of immature cells and malfunction of lymphocytes and myeloid-derived cells. The prognosis of treatment depends on genetic mutation, chromosomal aberration, disease progression and age of patients. Currently, bone marrow transplantation is a useful therapeutic strategy, but the success in therapy is limited by the bone marrow of donors and life-threatening events such as immune repulsion. Although chemotherapy improves leukemia treatment, long-term chemotherapy usually leads to the production of drug-resistant cancer cells. Thus, the development of new modality in overcoming drug-resistant should be beneficial for in leukemia therapy. In this thesis, Naja nigricollis toxin £^, piceatannol, caffeine, and Bungarus multicinctus protease inhibitor-like protein 1 (PILP-1) are employed to investigate the molecular mechanisms in regulating apoptosis and invasion of leukemic cell lines K562 and U937. Hopefully, the signaling pathways elicited by these treatments may be aid in identifying new targets in treating leukemia. Toxin £^ inducing cell death is found to evoke p38 MAPK-mediated Bcl-2 down-regulation, which facilitates mitochondria dysfunction, ROS generation and cytiochrome c release. Finally, activation of caspases leads to apoptotic death of toxin £^-treated cells. Piceatannol elicits Ca2+/p38£\ MAPK- mediated c-Jun and ATF-2 phosphorylation, leading to up-regulation of Fas/FasL protein expression and autocrine Fas-mediated death pathway activation. Caffeine treatment down-regulates MMP-2/-9 down-regulation via Ca2+/ROS-mediated inactivation of ERK/c-Fos and activation of p38 MAPK/c-Jun pathway. Consequently, caffeine treatment suppresses invasion of leukemia cells. PILP-1-induced ADAM17 down-regulation suppresses Lyn-mediated Akt phosphorylation, resulting in death of PILP-1-treated leukemia cells. Taken together, the results of the present study elucidate the signaling pathways responsible for apoptosis and invasion of leukemia cells. Moreover, these findings might suggest new targets in developing therapeutic strategy in treating leukemia.

L’activation des cellules NKCD56dim par l’engagement ou non du récepteur FγRIIIA/CD16A entraîne la perte d’expression membranaire de celui-ci par un mécanisme dépendant au moins en partie de la metalloprotéase ADAM17. Celle-ci clive le récepteur entre l’Alanine 195 et la Valine 196 et agit exclusivement en cis. La modulation d’expression du FγRIIIA/CD16A est un marqueur d’activation des cellules NK plus fortement corrélé à la dégranulation qu’à la production d’IFN-γ. L’engagement du récepteur FγRIIIA/CD16A ou le co-engagement des récepteurs activateurs des NKCD56dim induisent de manière non corrélée la dégranulation et la production d’IFN-γ. Cette dichotomie fonctionnelle varie selon les donneurs et dépend de l’expression des récepteurs inhibiteurs spécifiques des molécules du CMH-I. La production d’IFN-γ est ainsi associée à l’expression des KIRs (Killer like-Immunoglobuline Receptor) mais pas à celle du NKG2A. Une meilleure compréhension des réponses effectrices dépendantes du FγRIIIA/CD16A est importante pour améliorer l’efficacité thérapeutique des anticorps monoclonaux à visée anti-tumorale. / FγRIIIA/CD16A-dependent or independent activation of CD56dim NK cells induces down-modulation of this receptor. The mechanism partially involves the ADAM17 metalloprotease, which cleaves the FγRIIIA/CD16A between Alanine 195 and Valine 196 and acts exclusively in cis. FγRIIIA/CD16A downmodulation is a marker of NK cell activation more strongly correlated with degranulation than to IFN-γ- production. FγRIIIA/CD16A engagement or activating receptors co-engagement on CD56dim NK cell induces degranulation and IFN-γ-production, which are not correlated. This functional dichotomy depends on the donor and on the CMH-I-specific inhibitory receptor expression. IFN-γ-production is thus associated with KIRs (Killer like-Immunoglobuline Receptor) but not with NKG2A expression. Understanding the FγRIIIA/CD16Adependent functional responses is essential to improve the efficacy of monoclonal antibodies used in cancer therapy.

Made available in DSpace on 2015-05-14T13:00:08Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 arquivototal.pdf: 7780446 bytes, checksum: c3d9b30a61c17cf2f7b0a011741a719d (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014-10-17 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES / Oxidative stress has been indicated as a central mechanism in Ang II-dependent hypertension. Furthermore, previous studies reported that oxidative stress is associated with the impairment of angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) compensatory activity by the disintegrin and metalloprotease 17 (ADAM17) during hypertension. In this context, -lipoic acid (LA), a potent antioxidant, has been studied by its effects on cardiovascular system, however its effects on Ang II/ROS/ADAM17/ACE2 pathway have not been studied yet. Here we used two Ang II-dependent hypertensive models, the two-kidney-one-clip (2K1C) and deoxycorticosterone-sal (DOCA-salt) hypertension. Firstly, we analyzed the effects induced by chronic treatment with LA on blood pressure, heart rate and baroreflex sensitivity (sympathetic and parasympathetic components) in renovascular hypertensive rats. Male Wistar rats underwent 2K1C or sham surgery and were maintained untouched for four weeks to develop hypertension. Four weeks post-surgery, rats were orally treated with LA (60 mg/kg) or saline for 14 days. On the 15th day, mean arterial pressure (MAP) and heart rate (HR) were recorded. In addition, baroreflex sensitivity test using phenylephrine (8 μg/kg, i.v.) and sodium nitroprusside (25 μg/kg, i.v.) was performed. Chronic treatment with LA decreased blood pressure in hypertensive animals compared to 2K1C + saline group (133.5 ± 9.3 vs 176.5 ± 9.6 mmHg, p<0.05, respectively); however, no significant changes in baseline HR were observed. Regarding baroreflex, LA treatment increased the sensitivity of both the sympathetic and parasympathetic components (−2.80 ± 0.6 vs −2.61 ± 0.4 and −4.14 ± 0.6 vs. −3.85 ± 0.5 bpm.mm Hg−1, p < 0.05, n = 8, respectively). To investigate the relationship between ADAM17 and oxidative stress, Neuro2A cells were treated with Ang-II (100 nM) 24 h after vehicle or LA (500 μM). ADAM17 expression was increased by Ang-II (100.2 ± 0.8 vs 120.5 ± 9.1%, p<0.05) and decreased after LA (120.5 ± 9.1 vs 69.0 ± 0.3%, p<0.05). In other set of experiments, LA reduced ADAM17 (92.9 ± 5.3 vs control: 77.3 ± 3.3%, p<0.05) following its overexpression. Moreover, ADAM17 activity was reduced by LA in ADAM17-overexpressing cells (109.5 ± 19.8 vs 158.0 ± 20.0 FU/min/μg protein, p<0.05), in which ADAM17 overexpression increased oxidative stress (114.1 ± 2.5 vs 101.0 ± 1.0%, p<0.05). Conversely, LA-treated cells attenuated ADAM17 overexpression-induced oxidative stress (76.0 ± 9.1 vs 114.1 ± 2.5%, p<0.05). In DOCA-salt-hypertensive mice, a model in which ADAM17 expression and activity are increased, hypertension was blunted by pretreatment with LA (119.0 ± 2.4 vs 131.4 ± 2.2 mmHg, p<0.05). In addition, LA improved dysautonomia and baroreflex sensitivity. Furthermore, LA blunted the increase in the expression of NADPH oxidase subunits as well as the increase in ADAM17 and decrease in ACE2 activities in the hypothalamus of DOCA-salt hypertensive mice. Our data suggest that chronic treatment with LA promotes antihypertensive effect and improves baroreflex sensitivity and autonomic function in rats with renovascular hypertension as well as in DOCA-salt mice. Therefore, these data suggest that LA might preserve ACE2 compensatory activity by breaking the feed-forward cycle between ADAM17 and oxidative stress, resulting in reduction in hypertension. / O estresse oxidativo tem sido apontado como um mecanismo fundamental na hipertensão arterial dependente de Ang II. Além disso, o estresse oxidativo está associado com a regulação negativa da enzima conversora de angiotensina tipo 2 (ECA2) por meio da ação da desintegrina e metaloprotease 17 (ADAM17) na hipertensão. Neste contexto, o ácido lipóico (AL), um potente antioxidante, vem sendo estudado por suas ações sobre o sistema cardiovascular e foi selecionado para o estudo na modulação da via Ang II/ROS/ADAM17/ECA2. Neste trabalho foram utilizados dois modelos de hipertensão dependentes de Angiotensina II (Ang II): dois-rins-um-clipe (2R1C) e o modelo desoxicorticosterona-sal (DOCA-sal). Primeiramente, ratos Wistar foram submetidos à cirurgia 2R1C ou Sham, para avaliação do tratamento crônico do AL sobre os parâmetros cardiovasculares. Quatro semanas após a indução da hipertensão renovascular, os ratos foram tratados com AL (60 mg/kg) ou solução salina durante 14 dias, por via oral. No 15º dia, a pressão arterial média (PAM) e freqüência cardíaca (FC) foram registradas. Além disso, o teste da sensibilidade do barorreflexo, utilizando fenilefrina (8 μg/kg, i.v) e nitroprussiato de sódio (25 μg/kg, i.v) foi realizado. O tratamento crônico com AL reduziu a pressão arterial em animais hipertensos, quando comparado ao grupo 2R1C + salina (133,5 ± 9,3 vs 176,5 ± 9,6 mmHg, p<0,05, respectivamente); no entanto, não foram observadas alterações significativas na FC. O tratamento com AL aumentou a sensibilidade de ambos os componentes simpático e parassimpático do barorreflexo (-2,80 ± 0,6 vs -2,61 ± 0,4 e - 4,14 ± 0,6 vs -3,85 ± 0,5 bpm.mm Hg-1, p<0,05, respectivamente). Para investigar a relação entre ADAM17 e o estresse oxidativo, células Neuro2A foram tratadas com Ang II (100 nM) 24h após veículo ou AL (500 μM). Ang II aumentou a expressão da ADAM17 (100,2 ± 0,8 vs 120,5 ± 9,1%, p<0,05) e foi reduzida pelo tratamento com o AL (120,5 ± 9,1 vs 69,0 ± 0,3%, p<0,05). Em outro experimento, AL reduziu a expressão da ADAM17 (92,9 ± 5,3 vs controle: 77,3 ± 3,3%, p<0,05) em células que superexpressaram o ADAM17, bem como sua atividade foi atenuada após o tratamento com AL (109,5 ± 19,8 vs 158,0 ± 20,0 FU/min/mg de proteína, p<0,05). A produção de espécies reativas de oxigênio (ROS) mostrou-se aumentada em células com superexpressão da ADAM17 (114,1 ± 2,5 vs 101,0 ± 1,0%, p <0,05), porém em células tratadas com o AL, a formação de ROS foi atenuada (76,0 ± 9,1 vs 114,1 ± 2,5%, p<0,05). Em camundongos DOCA-sal, modelo em que a expressão e a atividade de ADAM17 encontram-se elevadas, a hipertensão foi diminuída pelo tratamento com AL (119,0 ± 2,4 vs 131,4 ± 2,2 mmHg, p<0,05). Além disso, o AL melhorou a disfunção autonômica e a sensibilidade do barorreflexo. O AL aboliu o aumento da expressão da NADPH-oxidase, bem como o aumento da atividade da ADAM17 e promoveu uma redução na atividade da ECA2 no hipotálamo dos animais DOCA-sal. Esses dados sugerem que o tratamento crônico com AL promove um efeito anti-hipertensivo, com melhora da sensibilidade do barorreflexo e função autonômica em ratos com hipertensão renovascular, bem como no modelo DOCA-sal. Portanto, podemos sugerir que o AL preserva a atividade compensatória da ECA2 por romper o ciclo de retroalimentação positiva entre a ADAM17 e o estress oxidativo, resultando na redução da hipertensão arterial.

Myeloid Derived Suppressor Cells (MDSC) represent a significant hurdle to cancer immunotherapy because they dampen anti-tumor cytotoxic T cell responses. Previous studies have reported on the myelo-depletive effects of certain chemotherapies. Using guadecitabine, a next-generation DNA methyltransferase inhibitor (DNMTi), we observed significantly reduced tumor burden in the 4T1 murine mammary carcinoma model. Guadecitabine treatment prevents excessive tumor-induced myeloid proliferation and systemic accumulation, and skews remaining MDSCs toward a beneficial antigen-presenting phenotype. Together, this alters the splenic environment to improve T cell activation and interferon-gamma (IFNg) production. Additionally, guadecitabine enhances the therapeutic effect of adoptively transferred antigen-experienced lymphocytes to diminish tumor growth and improve overall survival. Based on these findings, the immune-modulatory effects of guadecitabine can help rescue the anti-tumor immune response and could contribute to the overall effectiveness of current cancer immunotherapies. Allergies and asthma are common ailments that are on the rise around the world. Mast cells play a direct role in the signs and symptoms characteristic in allergic patients. The family of A Disintegrin And Metalloproteinases (ADAMs) are involved in regulating many cellular processes by cleaving surface receptors, ligands, and signaling molecules. We sought to determine the role of ADAM17 in mast cell activity. In studies using ADAM17-deficient mast cells, percent degranulation and cytokines released by IgE-mediated activation were significantly reduced. Interestingly, ionomycin-activation was unchanged, suggesting ADAM17 may be involved in IgE-mediated mast cell activation upstream of calcium release. Additionally, ADAM17MC-/- mice showed protection from IgE-, but not histamine-, mediated passive systemic anaphylaxis (PSA). The underlying mechanism behind the reduced degranulation occurs through signaling deficiencies downstream of Lyn phosphorylation. Together, the data suggest that ADAM17 is required for proper mast cell signaling through its interaction with the Src family kinase, Lyn.

A disintegrin and metalloprotease (ADAM) 17 cleaves and releases membrane-tethered pro-forms of several signalling molecules from the plasma membrane, including the inflammatory cytokine tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNFα) and ligands of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). Due to the important functions of its substrates, ADAM17 activity has to be tightly controlled, and its misregulation has implications for inflammation and cancer. The multi-pass membrane proteins iRhom1 and iRhom2 are members of the conserved rhomboid-like superfamily and control ADAM17 activity by several mechanisms throughout the secretory pathway. First, iRhoms facilitate trafficking of the catalytically inactive proenzyme form of ADAM17 from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) to the Golgi apparatus, where the inhibitory pro-domain of ADAM17 is removed. Subsequently, iRhoms exert a different form of control of ADAM17 at the plasma membrane, this time on stimulus-induced ADAM17 activity, its substrate specificity, and its stability. iRhoms ultimately regulate the release of ADAM17 substrates, and are consequently key players in TNF&alpha; and EGFR signalling. However, it remains unclear how iRhom function itself is regulated posttranslationally, and whether iRhoms require co-factors to exert their roles as ADAM17 regulators. The goal of my project was to shed light into these questions by identifying new iRhom interaction partners. I developed a mass spectrometry-based screen to identify new binding partners of human iRhoms using co-immunoprecipitation. The top hit of the screen was the poorly characterised FERM domain-containing protein 8 (FRMD8), which binds to both iRhom1 and iRhom2. FRMD8 was found to play a crucial role in the iRhom/ADAM17 pathway because FRMD8 knockdown and knockout in HEK293T cells significantly reduced the levels of mature ADAM17 and the release of ADAM17 substrates. The closely related metalloprotease ADAM10 was not affected by the loss of FRMD8, implying that FRMD8 is not a general regulator of ADAM metalloproteases. Interaction studies revealed that FRMD8 binds to the cytosolic N-terminus of iRhom2 throughout the entire secretory pathway. FRMD8 loss does not affect the ER-to-Golgi trafficking of iRhom2 but plays a role in stabilising iRhom2 at the plasma membrane by preventing the lysosomal degradation of both iRhom2 and mature ADAM17. Using human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC)-derived macrophages, I showed that FRMD8 regulates mature ADAM17 levels and the ADAM17-dependent release of TNF&alpha; in human macrophages. Studies in FRMD8 knockout (KO) mice confirmed the reduced mature ADAM17 levels in all mouse tissues tested, further supporting the conclusion that FRMD8 is a novel regulator of the iRhom/ADAM17 pathway with physiological relevance in mammals. Finally, I showed that the interaction of FRMD8 and iRhom, which are both conserved from Drosophila to human, is also conserved. Furthermore, loss of the FRMD8 orthologue in flies, Bili, leads to motility defects and shows similarity to the loss of iRhom in flies. These results suggest that FRMD8 is a novel regulator of iRhom function in mammals and Drosophila.

Signalling through the EGF receptor is subject to a complex and multilayered regulation. One such mode of regulation is through control of ligand production which plays an important role in fine- tuning EGF receptor activation. In mammals, the production of soluble, biologically active forms of EGF receptor ligands relies on ADAM metalloproteases, predominantly ADAM10 and ADAM17. Recently, a pseudoprotease from the rhomboid-like family of intramembrane proteases, iRhom, emerged as a key positive regulator of ADAM17. However, Drosophila iRhom has also been implicated in the negative regulation of EGF receptor signalling by promoting the degradation of precursors of its ligands. Cell culture based assays suggest that mammalian iRhoms might also be involved in a similar process. In this thesis, the effect of mammalian iRhom overexpression on the levels of EGF receptor ligands has been investigated. Contrary to previous findings, the data presented in this thesis suggest that the observed effect might not be entirely iRhom specific, for the inactive mutants of rhomboid proteases also diminish the levels of EGF receptor ligands. Nor do we find the effect to be specific to EGF receptor ligands, as unrelated transmembrane proteins were also depleted by iRhom overexpression. The coexpression of ADAM17 was...

Signalling through the EGF receptor is subject to a complex and multilayered regulation. One such mode of regulation is through control of ligand production which plays an important role in fine- tuning EGF receptor activation. In mammals, the production of soluble, biologically active forms of EGF receptor ligands relies on ADAM metalloproteases, predominantly ADAM10 and ADAM17. Recently, a pseudoprotease from the rhomboid-like family of intramembrane proteases, iRhom, emerged as a key positive regulator of ADAM17. However, Drosophila iRhom has also been implicated in the negative regulation of EGF receptor signalling by promoting the degradation of precursors of its ligands. Cell culture based assays suggest that mammalian iRhoms might also be involved in a similar process. In this thesis, the effect of mammalian iRhom overexpression on the levels of EGF receptor ligands has been investigated. Contrary to previous findings, the data presented in this thesis suggest that the observed effect might not be entirely iRhom specific, for the inactive mutants of rhomboid proteases also diminish the levels of EGF receptor ligands. Nor do we find the effect to be specific to EGF receptor ligands, as unrelated transmembrane proteins were also depleted by iRhom overexpression. The coexpression of ADAM17 was...

1 Abstract Liver fibrosis is a condition described by extensive accumulation of scar tissue in the liver. With further progression, it leads to cirrhosis or even to hepatocellular carcinoma. Liver fibrosis accompanies every chronic liver disease and its prevalence in adult European population is estimated to be around 4%. During my dissertation work, I studied the function of three members of Metzincin family of metalloproteinases - ADAM17, ADAM10 and MMP-19, in liver fibrosis and liver regeneration using mouse genetic models. ADAM17 and ADAM10 are important regulators of signalling pathways which are involved in immune response as well as differentiation. Both proteases are able to cleave ectodomains of their substrates from cell membrane, affecting bioavailability of ligands and functionality of receptors. Several of their substrates are involved in liver pathologies. MMP-19 on the other hand, is a metalloprotease mainly involved in extracellular matrix cleavage, important process in fibrosis development, as well as resolution of fibrosis. Our results demonstrate that ablation of ADAM10 results in increased susceptibility to liver fibrosis in mice, both spontaneous and toxin induced. ADAM10 deficiency affected biliary epithelium, as we detected higher markers of biliary damage in serum of ADAM10 deficient...