L’accident vasculaire cérébral (AVC) est l’une des principales causes de mortalité dans le monde. Sile taux de de mortalité associé à l’AVC a sensiblement diminué dans les dernières décennies, cela estprincipalement du à l’amélioration globale de l’état de santé de la population et non à la découverte d’untraitement thérapeutique contre l’AVC et de nombreux survivants garderont des séquelles. Dans ce contexte,l’influence de la nutrition qui pourrait jouer un rôle central dans la résistance à l’AVC reste très peu étudier.Pourtant de nombreuses études épidémiologiques confèrent des propriétés protectrices à certaines moléculesnaturelles comme les acides gras polyinsaturés oméga-3.Dans un modèle murin d’AVC, notre laboratoire ayant montré que la consommation d’un régimeenrichi en acide a-linolénique (ALA), l’oméga-3 végétal, réduisait le volume d’infarctus cérébral, mestravaux ont porté sur l’effet de la supplémentation nutritionnelle en ALA. J’ai montré que la supplémentationen ALA par voie orale ou intraveineuse favorise la récupération cognitive post-AVC. Ces bénéfices sontassociés à la préservation des neurones de l’hippocampe, une structure cérébrale impliquée dans la mémoire.Par la suite, je me suis intéressé à l’effet de l’ALA sur la réponse inflammatoire pos-AVC, une composantemajeure dans l’étendue des séquelles. J’ai pu ainsi caractériser le rôle neurotoxique de la chimiokine CCL2 etd’identifier la réduction de son expression post-AVC, comme un facteur clé de la protection cérébrale induitepar la supplémentation en ALA. De plus, une étude collaborative nous a permis de mettre en évidencel’implication de la voie de signalisation de cette chimiokine dans la perte de poids induite par uneinflammation du système nerveux central. Mes travaux soulignent l’importance de la supplémentation en ALA pour réduire les conséquences d’un AVC, en ciblant la réponse pro-inflammatoire post-ischémique, apportant une preuve supplémentaire del’intérêt de l’ALA contre l’une des priorités les plus urgentes de la médecine / Stroke is a worldwide major cause of mortality and morbidity without any therapeutic opportunities.While improvements in population health - in the control of major risk factors of stroke - over the pastdecades have contributed to reduced stroke mortality, numerous therapeutics applied acutely after stroke havefailed to improve long-term clinical outcomes. Weirdly, how nutrition may affect stroke damage and recoveryhas not yet been intensely investigated, which is surprising given its great influence as risk factor. Therefore,our lab is investigating an emerging view that is the health potential of a-linolenic acid (ALA is the omega-3contained in plant-derived edible products) in stroke.Our laboratory has previously shown that ALA injections or dietary supplementation reduces strokedamage by direct neuroprotection in rodent models of stroke. As successful translation of putative therapieswill depend on demonstration of efficacy on stroke-induced motor and cognitive deficits, my PhD work hasevaluated the value of ALA supplementation in stroke recovery. I demonstrated that oral and intravenoussupplementation of ALA improved cognitive recovery, which was associated to a better preservation ofhippocampus, a brain structure involved in memory. Looking for mechanistic insights, I also investigated theeffect of ALA supplementation by modification of the daily diet on post-stroke inflammatory response. Wefirst demonstrated a neurotoxic role of the chemokine CCL2 after stroke and identified its reduction, as a keyfactor in brain protection induced by ALA supplementation. In addition, I also contributed to a collaborativestudy deciphering the role of CCL2 in weight loss induced by inflammation of the central nervous system.To conclude, my PhD highlights the importance of ALA supplementation to reduce the consequencesof stroke, targeting post-ischemic pro-inflammatory response and prepare the ground of clinical trial onnutritional interventions that are yet to be evaluated

No description available.

Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is an emerging therapy for the treatment of cancer and various other human disorders. 5-Aminolaevulinic acid (ALA) is a simple natural product that is of great interest for PDT because it can be converted within cells via the haem biosynthetic pathway to the photosensitiser, protoporphyrin IX (PpIX). ALA-PDT has become a first line clinical approach for the treatment of cancerous and precancerous skin lesions (e.g Bowen’s disease, basal skin carcinomas, and actinic keratosis) that would otherwise require significant conventional surgery. However, ALA being a zwitterion suffers from poor lipid solubility and at the same time has stability issues at physiological or alkaline pH. The work herein describes some novel strategies to enhance the delivery of ALA to specific cell types using targeted ALA dendrimeric prodrugs. Specifically, it describes the synthesis of molecules consisting of branched units with 3 or more copies of ALA attached to a central core structure (e.g. gallic acid) using copper-catalysed azide-alkyne click chemistry (CuAAC). Selective delivery of the dendrimeric ALA cargo was achieved by attachment of a homing peptide to an independently addressable functional group on the prodrug core. As proof of concept of this approach, systems were prepared containing a peptide that allows selective targeting of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) which is overexpressed in a variety of tumours. Targeted ALA delivery and PpIX production was studied with these prodrugs in EGFR-expressing breast adenocarcinoma cells (MDA-MB-231 cells) and a peptide-targeted derivative with 9 ALA units was found to have enhanced PDT efficacy compared to an equimolar dose of ALA. Other targeting units that have been attached to these dendrimeric ALA prodrugs include biomolecules such as vitamin E, thymidine (a nucleoside) and a glucose derivative. Additionally, strain-promoted azide-alkyne cycloadditions (SPAAC) of the same EGFR-targeting peptide with some classical photosensitisers were also investigated and biological studies in EGFR-overexpressing cell lines were carried out. Lastly, a group of cell penetrating peptide-ALA conjugates have been synthesised via CuAAC as a novel approach for targeted ALA delivery.

Thesis (D. Min.)--Covenant Theological Seminary, 2007. / Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 152-157).

Thesis (M.S.)--Auburn University, 2008. / Abstract. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (p. 166-174).

Thesis (M.S.)--Florida State University, 2004. / Advisor: Dr. Cheryl Ward, Florida State University, College of Arts and Sciences, Department of Anthropology. Title and description from dissertation home page (viewed June 16, 2004). Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (D. Min.)--Dallas Theological Seminary, 2000. / Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 151-157).

Thesis (D. Min.)--New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, 2000. / Abstract and vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 86-89).

The protein SiaA (Streptococcal iron acquisition) is involved in heme uptake in the bacterium Streptococcus pyogenes. It is difficult to obtain this protein in its fully holo form (completely loaded with heme). To increase the concentration of heme in the growing cell, we added ä-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) and ferrous sulfate (FeSO4), precursors of heme, to the growth media. Neither increasing the concentration of heme in vivo, nor growth at lower temperature for longer times, increased the production of holoprotein. The classical method of measuring the concentration of heme in a newly discovered heme protein is cumbersome. We have developed an improved method, which gives a solution that is more stable and has a cleaner spectrum. With further development, this new technique may replace the classical assay. Background information on S. pyogenes, SiaA, ABC transporters, heme biosynthesis, and the pyridine hemochrome assay are described.

Background: We report here early attempts of adapting a prototype fluorescence imaging system (PRODIGI™) to be used as a surgical guidance tool to improve margin-detection in breast cancer. Methods: 36 patients were recruited to study the autofluorescence characteristics of ex vivo specimens. 5-ALA (20 mg/kg) was used as a contrast agent in human breast cancer cell lines and xenograft tumour models to detect PpIX fluorescence. Results: Administrative approvals were obtained and a surgical drape was used for sterilization. PRODIGITM could differentiate between normal and tumour tissues based on autofluorescence alone in ex vivo samples. PpIX signal was detected in experimental mice, and absent in control mice. The threshold of detection was on the order of 10 nM. Conclusions: Autofluorescence alone with PRODIGI™ was not sufficient for margin assessment of ex vivo breast tumour surgical specimens. 5-ALA at an optimal dosage may be adopted as a contrast agent to enhance tumour signal.