A aterosclerose é uma doença degenerativa crônica dos vasos, com conseqüências clínicas agudas que incluem o infarto do miocárdio e o acidente vascular cerebral, resultantes geralmente da ruptura da placa e trombose. É atualmente reconhecida como de característica inflamatória, iniciada e propagada no contexto da hipercolesterolemia. Um trabalho de nosso grupo utilizou técnicas de phage display para comparar placas ateroscleróticas e carótidas normais objetivando a busca de proteínas alteradas potencialmente envolvidas na patogênese da doença. Diversas semaforinas e plexinas (receptores de semaforinas) foram identificadas dentre elas a plexina B1, que possui alta afinidade por CD100, sugerindo assim uma concentração aumentada de CD100 na placa aterosclerótica. CD100 foi a primeira semaforina descrita no sistema imune e a única até hoje descrita como possuidora de duas formas de funcionalidades distintas, sendo uma de membrana (mCD100) e outra solúvel (sCD100). Neste trabalho demonstramos a expressão da semaforina CD100 em macrófagos e células espumosas em placas ateroscleróticas humanas, assim como seu padrão de expressão ao longo da diferenciação monócito-macrófago-célula espumosa, e sob estímulos distintos. Além disso, identificamos pela primeira vez o receptor que medeia suas atividades nessas células, a plexina B2. Adicionalmente, detectamos também pela primeira vez detectamos a expressão de CD100 em células endoteliais teciduais e cultivadas in vitro, o que sugere um papel significativo da semaforina em fenômenos vasculares. Com base nessas observações e nos resultados de experimentos de bloqueio de adesão constatamos que CD100 pode atuar na fase mais precoce da aterosclerose, como uma molécula de adesão envolvida na ligação entre monócitos e células endoteliais. Verificamos ainda que CD100 diminui a captação de LDLox em macrófagos e células espumosas. Poucos estudos relatam a presença ou possível atividade biológica de CD100 tanto na aterosclerose quanto em macrófagos. Devido às já estabelecidas ações no sistema imune, acreditamos que a expressão diferencial dessa semaforina desempenha um papel amplificador na patogênese da aterosclerose. Posteriormente, essa proteína poderá servir como alvo de inibição da progressão da doença e de suas complicações / Atherosclerosis is a chronic degenerative disease affecting vessels, with acute clinical consequences that include myocardium infarction or stroke, generally resulting from plaque rupture and thrombosis. It is now recognized as an inflammatory disease, initiated and developed in a hipercholesterolemic context. A work in our lab has used phage display techniques to compare atherosclerotic plaques and normal carotids, searching for altered proteins potentially involved in the pathogenesis of the disease. Many semaphorins and plexins (semaphorin receptors) have been identified, among which plexin B1, a high affinity receptor for CD100, suggesting an augmented level of CD100 in the atherosclerotic plaques. CD100 is the first semaphorin described in the immune system, and the only to possess two forms with distinct functionalities, being one associated to the membrane, mCD100, and another soluble form, sCD100. In the present work we have demonstrated CD100 expression in macrophages and foam cells of human atherosclerotic plaques, as well as its pattern of expression along monocyte-macrophage-foam cell differentiation and under distinct stimuli. Furthermore, we have identified for the first time the receptor involved in CD100 activities in these cells, namely plexin B2. Aditionally, we have detected CD100 expression in tissue as well as in in vitro cultured endothelial cells, also for the first time. According to these informations and adhesion blockage experiments we have shown that CD100 may act in the earliest phase of the establishment of atherosclerosis, as an adhesion molecule involved in monocyte-endothelial cell association. We have also verified that CD100 diminishes the intake of oxLDL in macrophages and foam cells. Only a few studies describe the presence or possible biological activity of CD100 in atherosclerosis or macrophages. Since the molecule has been shown to participate in the immune system, we believe that the differential expression of this semaphorin plays an amplifying role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. In the future, this protein could act as an inhibition target of the disease progression as well as its complications

Morphologic and metabolic change is a known property of the adult brain. A number of behavioural tasks alter local cerebral blood flow and glucose utilisation. The expression of the glucose transporter 1 (GLUT1), which allows the entry of glucose to the brain, also has been shown to change in response to long-lasting neuronal activation. However, little is known about the effect of acute neuronal activation on GLUT1 expression. Using immunohistochemistry and Western blot, we investigated cerebral GLUT1 expression and vasculature density in mice undergoing a 48-hour voluntary wheel running period. The results showed that the striatum was the main region where GLUT1 protein was up-regulated: There was a trend for GLUT1 expression and blood vessels density to be associated with the distance run during the experiment. These results indicate that short-term increased neuronal activation is associated with rapid changes in glucose transport and possibly vascular remodelling.

Morphologic and metabolic change is a known property of the adult brain. A number of behavioural tasks alter local cerebral blood flow and glucose utilisation. The expression of the glucose transporter 1 (GLUT1), which allows the entry of glucose to the brain, also has been shown to change in response to long-lasting neuronal activation. However, little is known about the effect of acute neuronal activation on GLUT1 expression. Using immunohistochemistry and Western blot, we investigated cerebral GLUT1 expression and vasculature density in mice undergoing a 48-hour voluntary wheel running period. The results showed that the striatum was the main region where GLUT1 protein was up-regulated: There was a trend for GLUT1 expression and blood vessels density to be associated with the distance run during the experiment. These results indicate that short-term increased neuronal activation is associated with rapid changes in glucose transport and possibly vascular remodelling.

Morphologic and metabolic change is a known property of the adult brain. A number of behavioural tasks alter local cerebral blood flow and glucose utilisation. The expression of the glucose transporter 1 (GLUT1), which allows the entry of glucose to the brain, also has been shown to change in response to long-lasting neuronal activation. However, little is known about the effect of acute neuronal activation on GLUT1 expression. Using immunohistochemistry and Western blot, we investigated cerebral GLUT1 expression and vasculature density in mice undergoing a 48-hour voluntary wheel running period. The results showed that the striatum was the main region where GLUT1 protein was up-regulated: There was a trend for GLUT1 expression and blood vessels density to be associated with the distance run during the experiment. These results indicate that short-term increased neuronal activation is associated with rapid changes in glucose transport and possibly vascular remodelling.

Dissertation (Ph.D.) -- University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, 2008. / Vita. Bibliography: p. 174-213.

Polysialic acid is a unique carbohydrate that decorates the surface of the neural cell adhesion molecule. Polysialic acid is an onco-developmental antigen, expressed in tumours principally of neuroendocrine origin, notably neuroblastoma, strongly correlating with invasion and metastasis. Polysialylation is regulated by two polysialyltransferase enzymes, PST (ST8SiaIV) and STX (ST8SiaII), with STX dominant in cancer. Post-development polysialic acid expression is only found at low levels in the brain, thus this could be a novel target for cancer therapy. It is hypothesized that inhibition of polysialyltransferase could lead to control of tumour dissemination and metastasis. The aims of this thesis were to develop tools and in vitro assays to screen novel polysialyltransferase inhibitors. A panel of tumour cell lines were characterised in terms of growth parameters (using the MTT assay) and polysialic acid expression. This includes a pair of isogenic C6 rat glioma cells (C6-STX and C6-WT) and naturally polysialic acid expressing neuroblastoma cells (SH-SY5Y). Following this, an in vitro assay was validated to screen modulation of polysialic acid expression by removing pre-existing polysialic acid expression using endoneuraminidase N and evaluated the amount of re-expression of polysialic acid using immunocytochemistry. Then, a functional assay was developed and validated for invasion, the matrigel invasion assay. Cytidine monophosphate (tool compound) significantly reduced polysialic acid surface expression and invasion. A panel of six novel polysialyltransferase inhibitors was screened for cytotoxicity, polysialic acid surface expression and invasion. Of the potential polysialyltransferase inhibitors evaluated, ICT3176 and ICT3172 were identified from virtual screening of Maybridge library and were emerged as the most promising inhibitors, demonstrating significant (p < 0.05) reduction in cell-surface polysialic acid re-expression and invasion in polysialic acid expressing cells. Furthermore, the specificity of compounds for polysialyltransferase (α-2,8-sialyltransferase) over other members of the wider sialyltransferase family (α-2,3- and α-2,6-sialyltransferases) was confirmed using differential lectin staining. These results demonstrated that small molecule inhibitors as STX is possible and provides suitable in vitro cell based assays to discovery more potent derivatives.

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento CientÃfico e TecnolÃgico / CoordenaÃÃo de AperfeiÃoamento de Pessoal de NÃvel Superior / O influxo celular (IC) à sinÃvia participa na fisiopatologia da artrite reumatÃide (AR). Hà controvÃrsias sobre o papel do Ãxido nÃtrico (NO) na modulaÃÃo do influxo de neutrÃfilos para sÃtios inflamatÃrios, seja reduzindo ou estimulando-o. Esse trabalho investigou o efeito de inibidores de Ãxido nÃtrico sintase (NOS) sobre o IC agudo em animais submetidos à artrite ou peritonite induzida por zymosan (AZy ou PZy) ou lipopolissacarÃdeo (ALPS ou PLPS), bem como a participaÃÃo de leucotrieno B4 (LTB4) e da molÃcula de adesÃo intercelular -1 (ICAM-1). Ratos Wistar receberam 10-1000 micrograma de Zy ou 1-10 micrograma de LPS intra-articular (i.a.). Outros grupos receberam 1 mg de Zy ou 10 Âg de LPS intraperitoneal (i.p.). Camundongos selvagens ou geneticamente manipulados (knock out) para ICAM-1 (ICAM-1-/-) receberam 100 Âg de Zy i.a. ou i.p. Esquema dos prÃ-tratamentos (30 minutos antes da artrite ou peritonite): na AZy, L-NAME (1-30 mg/kg; i.p. ou 0,3-1 micromol; i.a), 1400W (1 mg/kg; i.p.) ou Aminoguanidina (Amino) (50 mg/kg; i.p.) em ratos e camundongos receberam L-NAME (3-10 mg/kg;i.p.) ou NG-nitro-L-arginia (Nitro) (50 mg/kg; i.p.). Na PZy, L-NAME (10-30 mg/kg; s.c. ou i.p.) ou 1400W (1 mg/kg; s.c.) foi administrado em ratos e camundongos receberam L-NAME (30 mg/kg; s.c.) ou Nitro (50 mg/kg; s.c.). Na ALPS, ratos receberam L-NAME (10-30 mg/kg; i.p) e, na PLPS, L-NAME (30 mg/kg; s.c.). Controles receberam veÃculo (grupos NT). ApÃs o sacrifÃcio, foram quantificados o IC e LTB4 nos lavados articulares e peritoneais. Na AZy (10-100 micrograma) em ratos, L-NAME (1-3 mg) reduziu o IC (47,4 - 76,6%), quando comparado aos animais NT (p<0,05). Na AZy 1mg, L-NAME (30 mg), 1400W (1 mg) e Amino (50 mg) diminuÃram o IC (57,4%, 74,8% e 76,6%) (p<0,05). L-NAME (0,3 micromol) i.a. tambÃm reduziu o IC (85,3%) (p<0,05). Semelhante aos ratos, camundongos prÃ-tratados com L-NAME (3-10 mg) ou Nitro (50 mg) apresentaram diminuiÃÃo do IC (67,6%, 53,8% e 39,5%) (p<0,05). Contrariamente, na PZy, L-NAME (10-30 mg) e 1400W (1 mg) aumentaram o IC (566,7%, 495,1% e 470,7%) em ratos e L-NAME (30 mg), em camundongos (155,8%) (p<0,05). Nesses, Nitro aumentou o IC, mas nÃo significativamente (p>0,05). L-NAME (10 mg) i.p. tambÃm aumentou o IC (747,6%) (p<0,05). Na ALPS, L-NAME (30 mg) diminuiu o IC nas duas doses de LPS (50,3% e 52,3%) (p<0,05). Na PLPS, L-NAME (30 mg) aumentou o IC (53,4%) (p<0,05). Os inibidores de NOS nÃo alteraram os nÃveis de LTB4. Animais ICAM-1-/- artrÃticos prÃ-tratados ou nÃo com Nitro apresentaram reduÃÃo do IC (57,8% ou 32,1%)(p<0,05). Nos ICAM-1-/- com peritonite prÃ-tratados ou nÃo com Nitro, houve uma reduÃÃo do IC (9,5% e 22,3%), mas nÃo significativa (p>0,05). O NO, particularmente o produzido pela NOSi, reduz o IC agudo na articulaÃÃo, enquanto que o incrementa no peritÃneo. Esse efeito à independente do estÃmulo, da espÃcie, da via de administraÃÃo e da liberaÃÃo de LTB4, alÃm de envolver cÃlulas residentes e/ou migradas. ICAM-1 parece participar do IC nesses modelos, especialmente na artrite, com o NO modulando sua expressÃo na peritonite. / Cell influx (CI) to synovium participates in physiopathology of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). There are controversies about the nitric oxide (NO) action in modulation of neutrophil influx to inflammatory sites, with NO decreasing or increasing it. This study investigated the effect of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitors on acute CI in animals submitted to arthritis or peritonitis induced by zymosan (ZyA or ZyP) or lipopolysaccharide (LPSA or LPSP), and the participation of leukotriene B4 (LTB4) and intercellular adhesion molecule -1 (ICAM-1). Rats Wistar received Zy (10-1000 micrograme) or LPS (1-10 micrograme) intraarticular (i.a.). Other groups received Zy (1 mg) or LPS (10 Âg) intraperitoneal (i.p.). Wild or ICAM-1-deficient (ICAM-1-/-) mice received Zy (100 Âg) i.a. or i.p. Animals were pre-treated (30 minutes before arthritis or peritonitis): in ZyA, rats received L-NAME (1-30 mg/kg; i.p. or 0.3-1 micromol; i.a), 1400W (1 mg/kg; i.p.) or Aminoguanidine (Amino) (50 mg/kg; i.p.). Mice received L-NAME (3-10 mg/kg;i.p.) or NG-nitro-L-arginine (Nitro) (50 mg/kg; i.p.). In ZyP, L-NAME (10-30 mg/kg; s.c. or i.p.) or 1400W (1 mg/kg; s.c.) was administrated in rats and mice received L-NAME (30 mg/kg; s.c.) or Nitro (50 mg/kg; s.c.). In LPSA, rats received L-NAME (10-30 mg/kg; i.p) and, in LPSP, they received L-NAME (30 mg/kg; s.c.). Controls received vehicle (NT groups). After sacrifice, CI was counted and LTB4 was measured in articular and peritoneal exudates. In ZyA (10-100 Âg), L-NAME (1-3 mg) reduced CI (47.4 â 76.6%) as compared to NT animals (p<0.05). In ZyA (1mg), L-NAME (30 mg), 1400W (1mg) and Amino (50 mg) reduced CI (57.4%, 74.8% and 76.6%, respectively) (p<0.05). L-NAME (0.3 Âmol) i.a. also reduced CI (85.3%) (p<0.05). Similarly, L-NAME (3-10 mg) or Nitro (50 mg) pre-treated mice showed a CI reduction (67.6%, 53.8% and 39.5%) (p<0.05). In contrast, in ZyP, L-NAME (10-30 mg) and 1400W (1 mg) increased CI (566.7%, 495.1% and 470.7%, respectively) in rats and L-NAME (30 mg) in mice (155.8%) (p<0.05). In mice, Nitro increased CI, but not significantly (p>0.05). L-NAME (10 mg) i.p. also increased CI (747.6%) (p<0.05). In LPSA, L-NAME (30 mg) decreased CI in two LPS doses (50.3% and 52.3%) (p<0.05). In LPSP, L-NAME (30 mg) increased the influx (53.4%) (p<0.05). NOS inhibitors didnât change LTB4 levels. Arthritic pre-treated or not with Nitro ICAM-1-/- animals showed a CI reduction (57.8% or 32.1%)(p<0.05). In peritonitis, pre-treated or not with Nitro ICAM-1-/- showed a CI reduction (9.5% and 22.3%), but not significantly (p>0.05). NO, especially that produced by iNOS, reduces the acute CI in articulation while increases it in the peritoneum. This effect is independent of stimulus, species, route of administration and LTB4 liberation. Beyond, it involves resident and/or migrated cells. ICAM-1 appears to participate in CI in these models, especially in arthritis. Besides, NO modulates the expression of ICAM-1 in peritonitis.

Morphologic and metabolic change is a known property of the adult brain. A number of behavioural tasks alter local cerebral blood flow and glucose utilisation. The expression of the glucose transporter 1 (GLUT1), which allows the entry of glucose to the brain, also has been shown to change in response to long-lasting neuronal activation. However, little is known about the effect of acute neuronal activation on GLUT1 expression. Using immunohistochemistry and Western blot, we investigated cerebral GLUT1 expression and vasculature density in mice undergoing a 48-hour voluntary wheel running period. The results showed that the striatum was the main region where GLUT1 protein was up-regulated: There was a trend for GLUT1 expression and blood vessels density to be associated with the distance run during the experiment. These results indicate that short-term increased neuronal activation is associated with rapid changes in glucose transport and possibly vascular remodelling.

Polysialic acid is aunique carbohydrate that decorates the surface of the neural cell adhesion molecule. Polysialic acidis an onco-developmental antigen, expressed in tumours principally of neuroendocrine origin, notably neuroblastoma,strongly correlating with invasion and metastasis. Polysialylation is regulated by two polysialyltransferase enzymes, PST(ST8SiaIV)and STX(ST8SiaII),withSTX dominant in cancer. Post-development polysialic acid expression is only found at low levels in the brain, thus this could be a novel target for cancer therapy. It is hypothesized that inhibition of polysialyltransferasecould lead to control of tumour dissemination and metastasis.The aims of this thesis were to develop tools and in vitro assays to screen novel polysialyltransferaseinhibitors. A panel of tumour cell lines were characterised in terms of growth parameters (using the MTT assay) and polysialic acid expression. This includes a pair of isogenic C6 rat glioma cells (C6-STX and C6-WT) and naturally polysialic acid expressing neuroblastoma cells(SH-SY5Y). Following this, an in vitro assay was validated to screen modulation of polysialic acid expression by removing pre-existing polysialic acid expression using endoneuraminidase N and evaluated the amount of re-expression of polysialic acid using immunocytochemistry. Then, a functional assay was developed and validated for invasion, the matrigel invasion assay. Cytidine monophosphate (tool compound) significantly reduced polysialic acidsurface expression and invasion. A panel of six novel polysialyltransferase inhibitors was screened for cytotoxicity, polysialic acidsurface expression and invasion. Of the potential polysialyltransferase inhibitorsevaluated, ICT3176 and ICT3172 were identified from virtual screening of Maybridge library and were emerged as the most promising inhibitors, demonstrating significant (p<0.05)reduction in cell-surface polysialic acidre-expression and invasion in polysialic acid expressing cells.Furthermore, the specificity of compounds for polysialyltransferase (α-2,8-sialyltransferase) over othermembers of the wider sialyltransferase family (α-2,3-and α-2,6-sialyltransferases) was confirmed using differential lectin staining. These results demonstrated that small molecule inhibitors as STX is possible and provides suitable in vitrocell based assays to discovery more potent derivatives.

Cirka 300 000 individer drabbas årligen i världen av oral cancer och mer än nittio procent av alla orala cancerformer utgörs av skivepitelcancer. Den femåriga prognosen är generellt 50 % och den 5-åriga relativa överlevnaden har under en tioårsperiod förblivit densamma. Detta motiverar utvecklingen av bättre prognostiska markörer och diagnostiska metoder för att tidigt identifiera de patienter som har risk att utveckla oral skivepitelcancer för att förbättra prognosen och minska lidandet genom tidig insatt behandling. β-catenin är en adhesionsmolekyl som är viktig för bibehållandet av cellulär integration och avvikelser i celladhesionsmolekyler tros spela en central roll när tumörceller invaderar närliggande vävnad det vill säga metastaserar till andra organ.Syftet med studien är att med hjälp av immunohistokemi undersöka om β-catenin kan fungera som en prognostisk markör för utvecklingen av oral skivepitelcancer. Detta görs genom att jämföra förekomsten av β-catenin med hjälp av monoklonala antikroppar i normalt skivepitel, dysplasi och cancer från 18 patienter som har diagnostiserats med oral skivepitelcancer. Infärgningen av Beta catenin jämfördes i normalt oralt skivepitel med cancer och dysplasi för alla biopsier för att undersöka om det förekommer någon skillnad av infärgningen. Förutom detta skedde även en jämförelse av normalt skivepitel med dysplasi och cancer inom varje enskild biopsi.Resultaten visade att det finns en skillnad i uttrycket av β-catenin i normalt skivepitel jämfört med dysplasi och cancer i denna patientgrupp. I denna studie visade mer än 70 % av biopsierna en stark eller måttlig och stark infärgning av β-catenin i normalt skivepitel, mer än 60 % av biopsierna visade en måttlig eller måttlig och svag infärgning av dysplasi och 58,8 % av alla biopsier visade svag infärgning eller ingen och svag infärgning av skivepitelcancer. Då studien visar att mängden av β-catenin är starkast i normalt oralt skivepitel, måttligt i dysplasi och svagast i cancer tyder detta på att β-catenin skulle kunna vara en viktig faktor i utvecklingen av skivepitelcancer i munhålan vilket stämmer väl överens med resultat från andra studier. / Approximately 300,000 individuals are affected every year in the world of oral cancer and more than ninety percent of all oral cancers consists of squamous cell carcinoma. The five-year prognosis is generally 50 % and the 5-year relative survival has over ten years remained the same. This motivates the development of better prognostic markers and diagnostic methods for the early identification of patients at risk of developing oral squamous cell carcinoma to improve prognosis and reduce the suffering of these patients with early treatment.β-catenin is an adhesion molecule that is important for the maintenance of cellular integration and abnormalities of cell adhesion molecules is thought to play a central role in tumorigenesis. The abnormalites is though to enhance tumour cells to break loose from neighbouring cells and invade nearby tissues and organs, however the exact mechanisms are unknown. The purpose of the study is that using immunohistochemistry to examine whether β-catenin may serve as a prognostic marker for the development of oral squamous cell carcinoma. This is done by examining the presence of β-catenin with monoclonal antibodies in 18 biopsies with normal squamous epithelia, dysplasia and cancer from 18 patients diagnosed with oral squamous cell carcinoma from the department of Oral Pathology at Malmö Högskola, Malmö. The staining of beta catenin was compared in normal oral squamous cancer and dysplasia for all biopsies to see whether there is any difference of dyeing. Besides this, there was also a comparison of normal squamous epithelium with dysplasia and cancer in each biopsy.The results showed that there is a difference in the expression of β-catenin in normal squamous epithelium, dysplasia and cancer in this population. In this study, more than 70 % of the biopsies expressed a strong or moderate and strong staining of β -catenin in normal oral squamous epithelium, more than 60 % of the biopsies showed a moderate or moderate and weak staining of dysplasia and 58.8 % of all biopsies showed weak or no staining and weak staining of squamous cell carcinoma.As the study shows that the amount of β -catenin is strongest in normal oral squamous epithelium, moderate in dysplasia and weakest in cancer, this suggests that β -catenin could be an important factor in the development of squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity which is in line with results from other studies.