Includes list of publications arising from this thesis / Erratum attached to inside back cover. / "25/03/2004." / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 185-257) / xii, 257 leaves : ill. ; 30 cm. / Title page, contents and abstract only. The complete thesis in print form is available from the University Library. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Adelaide, Dept. of Medicine and Royal Adelaide Hospital, Rheumatology Unit, 2004

[Truncated abstract] In recent years a better understanding of the biology of PPAR , a nuclear transcription factor, has emerged, leading to a resurgence in targeting PPAR for chemotherapy. The family of synthetic PPAR agonists, the thiazolidinediones (TZDs), and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) have been implicated in the inhibition of cell proliferation, apoptosis and cell cycle arrest of androgen-sensitive (LNCaP) and androgen-independent (PC-3 and DU145) prostate cancer cells generating much interest in their use for potential curative cancer therapies. In light of the potential use of TZDs and NSAIDs in prostate cancer prevention and their ability to induce inhibitory effects in vitro and in vivo, the first aim of this project was to undertake a comprehensive study of the effects of ciglitazone (TZD) and indomethacin (NSAID) on the androgen-independent prostate cancer cell line DU145, using standardised concentrations and time-points to compare the effects of TZDs and NSAIDs on cell proliferation, cell cycle and apoptosis. Treating the cells with either 10 µM ciglitazone or 10 µM indomethacin resulted in a time-dependent decrease in DU145 cell proliferation. The anti-proliferative effects were found to be in-part attributed to the slowing of cell progression through the G1/S-phase checkpoint of the cell cycle, and in the case of ciglitazone, apoptosis also played a role in its anti-proliferative effects in this cell line. Interestingly, although indomethacin failed to induce apoptosis, its antiproliferative effects were more potent than ciglitazone. The second aim of this project was to further investigate the underlying mechanisms responsible for the anti-proliferative effects of ciglitazone and indomethacin by evaluating their ability to modulate PPAR mRNA and protein expression, and to induce PPAR transcriptional activity. ... In addition, ligandinduced regulation of secreted frizzled related protein 4 (sFRP4) expression, a Wnt/ - catenin antagonists, was investigated. It was demonstrated that both ciglitazone and indomethacin attenuated Wnt/ -catenin signalling via the down-regulation of total - catenin levels within the cells, inhibition or slowing of the translocation of cytoplasmic -catenin into the nucleus and inhibition of cyclin–D1 expression An inverse relationship between PPAR and -catenin protein levels was also detected, suggesting that PPAR may directly bind to -catenin itself. sFRP4 expression was transiently upregulated by ciglitazone and indomethacin-treatment, suggesting that the antiproliferative effects of the ligands may be mediated in part through regulation of sFRP4 mRNA and protein levels. In summary, the anti-proliferative effects of ciglitazone and indomethacin on the androgen-independent prostate cancer cell line, DU145, described in this thesis are progressive steps in characterising the role of PPAR in prostate cancer cell proliferation. The identification of indomethacin as a more potent PPAR agonist than ciglitazone represents a novel target for the development of preventative strategies for advanced disease, and the relationship between PPAR and the Wnt/ -catenin signalling pathway provide an insight into the mechanisms involved in the anti-proliferative effects of ciglitazone and indomethacin. Further studies into this relationship would advance help identify novel preventative and curative therapeutic strategies for advanced prostate cancer.

Bibliography: leaves 211-260 / xvii, 260 leaves ; 30 cm. / Title page, contents and abstract only. The complete thesis in print form is available from the University Library. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Adelaide, Dept. of Pathology, 1986

Ko, Wai Man. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2007. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 243-257). / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / Publications Based On The Work In This Thesis --- p.i / Abstract --- p.ii / Acknowledgements --- p.ix / Abbreviations --- p.x / Chapter Chapter 1 --- Introduction / Chapter 1.1 --- Prevalence of arthritis --- p.1 / Chapter 1.2 --- Pathogenesis of arthritis --- p.4 / Chapter 1.2.1 --- Histological changes --- p.6 / Chapter 1.2.1.1 --- Synovium changes --- p.6 / Chapter 1.2.1.2 --- Articular cartilage degradation --- p.8 / Chapter 1.2.1.3 --- Bone erosions --- p.10 / Chapter 1.3 --- Western medicines for arthritis --- p.14 / Chapter 1.3.1 --- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) --- p.15 / Chapter 1.3.2 --- Glucocorticoids (GCs) --- p.18 / Chapter 1.3.3 --- Disease modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) --- p.20 / Chapter 1.3.4 --- Biological therapies --- p.22 / Chapter 1.4 --- Traditional Chinese medicines for arthritis --- p.24 / Chapter 1.4.1 --- Ganoderma lucidum (靈芝））) --- p.26 / Chapter 1.4.1.1 --- Major chemical constituents --- p.27 / Chapter 1.4.1.2 --- Functions --- p.27 / Chapter 1.4.2 --- Cortex Phellodendri (黃柏） --- p.28 / Chapter 1.4.2.1 --- Major chemical constituents --- p.29 / Chapter 1.4.2.2 --- Traditional description --- p.29 / Chapter 1.4.2.3 --- Functions --- p.30 / Chapter 1.4.3 --- Atractylodisa Rhizoma (蒼术) --- p.31 / Chapter 1.4.3.1 --- Major chemical constituents --- p.31 / Chapter 1.4.3.2 --- Traditional description --- p.32 / Chapter 1.4.3.3 --- Functions --- p.32 / Chapter 1.4.4 --- Radix Achyranthis Bidentatae (牛膝) --- p.33 / Chapter 1.4.4.1 --- Major chemical constituents --- p.34 / Chapter 1.4.4.2 --- Traditional description --- p.34 / Chapter 1.4.4.3 --- Functions --- p.34 / Chapter 1.5 --- Animal models of arthritis --- p.36 / Chapter 1.5.1 --- Adjuvant-induced arthritis --- p.37 / Chapter 1.6 --- Aims of study --- p.42 / Chapter Chapter 2 --- Materials and Drugs --- p.44 / Chapter Chapter 3 --- Methodology --- p.49 / Chapter 3.1 --- Induction of anaesthesia --- p.49 / Chapter 3.2 --- Induction of monoarthritis --- p.49 / Chapter 3.3 --- Measurements of knee extension angles --- p.50 / Chapter 3.4 --- Measurements of knee joint sizes --- p.51 / Chapter 3.5 --- Assessment of changes in articular blood flow --- p.52 / Chapter 3.6 --- Assessment of morphological changes --- p.53 / Chapter 3.6.1 --- Fixation --- p.53 / Chapter 3.6.2 --- Decalcification --- p.53 / Chapter 3.6.3 --- Processing --- p.54 / Chapter 3.6.4 --- Embedding --- p.54 / Chapter 3.6.5 --- Sectioning --- p.55 / Chapter 3.6.6 --- Staining --- p.55 / Chapter 3.6.7 --- Scoring --- p.56 / Chapter 3.7 --- Statistical analysis --- p.57 / Chapter Chapter 4 --- Adjuvant-induced Monoarthritic Rats / Chapter 4.1 --- Adjuvant-induced monoarthritic rats (1 week) --- p.58 / Chapter 4.1.1 --- Method --- p.58 / Chapter 4.1.2 --- Results --- p.59 / Chapter 4.1.2.1 --- Body weight --- p.59 / Chapter 4.1.2.2 --- Knee joint sizes --- p.59 / Chapter 4.1.2.3 --- Knee extension angles --- p.59 / Chapter 4.1.2.4 --- Knee joint blood flow --- p.60 / Chapter 4.1.2.5 --- Histological evaluation --- p.60 / Chapter 4.1.2.5.1 --- Cell infiltration --- p.60 / Chapter 4.1.2.5.2 --- Synovial tissue proliferation --- p.61 / Chapter 4.1.2.5.3 --- Cartilage degradation --- p.61 / Chapter 4.2 --- Adjuvant-induced monoarthritic rats (2 weeks) --- p.68 / Chapter 4.2.1 --- Method --- p.68 / Chapter 4.2.2 --- Results --- p.69 / Chapter 4.2.2.1 --- Body weight --- p.69 / Chapter 4.2.2.2 --- Knee joint sizes --- p.69 / Chapter 4.2.2.3 --- Knee extension angles --- p.69 / Chapter 4.2.2.4 --- Knee joint blood flow --- p.70 / Chapter 4.2.2.5 --- Histological evaluation --- p.70 / Chapter 4.2.2.5.1 --- Cell infiltration --- p.70 / Chapter 4.2.2.5.2 --- Synovial tissue proliferation --- p.71 / Chapter 4.2.2.5.3 --- Cartilage degradation --- p.71 / Chapter 4.3 --- Discussions --- p.78 / Chapter Chapter 5 --- Effects of intra-articular injection of LS in adjuvant-induced monoarthritic rats --- p.82 / Chapter 5.1 --- Method --- p.82 / Chapter 5.2 --- Results --- p.83 / Chapter 5.2.1 --- Body weight --- p.83 / Chapter 5.2.2 --- Knee joint sizes --- p.83 / Chapter 5.2.3 --- Knee extension angles --- p.85 / Chapter 5.2.4 --- Knee joint blood flow --- p.87 / Chapter 5.3 --- Discussions --- p.98 / Chapter Chapter 6 --- Effects of oral administration of LS in adjuvant-induced monoarthritic rats --- p.102 / Chapter 6.1 --- Oral administration of LS for 6 days after induction of arthritis --- p.102 / Chapter 6.1.1 --- Method --- p.102 / Chapter 6.1.2 --- Results --- p.103 / Chapter 6.1.2.1 --- Body weight --- p.103 / Chapter 6.1.2.2 --- Knee joint sizes --- p.103 / Chapter 6.1.2.3 --- Knee extension angles --- p.105 / Chapter 6.1.2.4 --- Knee joint blood flow --- p.106 / Chapter 6.1.2.5 --- Histological evaluation --- p.107 / Chapter 6.1.2.5.1 --- Cell infiltration --- p.107 / Chapter 6.1.2.5.2 --- Synovial tissue proliferation --- p.107 / Chapter 6.1.2.5.3 --- Cartilage degradation --- p.108 / Chapter 6.2 --- Oral administration of LS for 7 days before and 7 days after induction of arthritis --- p.131 / Chapter 6.2.1 --- Method --- p.131 / Chapter 6.2.2 --- Results --- p.132 / Chapter 6.2.2.1 --- Body weight --- p.132 / Chapter 6.2.2.2 --- Knee joint sizes --- p.132 / Chapter 6.2.2.3 --- Knee extension angles --- p.134 / Chapter 6.2.2.4 --- Knee joint blood flow --- p.137 / Chapter 6.2.2.5 --- Histological evaluation --- p.137 / Chapter 6.2.2.5.1 --- Cell infiltration --- p.137 / Chapter 6.2.2.5.2 --- Synovial tissue proliferation --- p.138 / Chapter 6.2.2.5.3 --- Cartilage degradation --- p.138 / Chapter 6.3 --- Oral administration of LS for 13 days after induction of arthritis --- p.165 / Chapter 6.3.1 --- Method --- p.165 / Chapter 6.3.2 --- Results --- p.166 / Chapter 6.3.2.1 --- Body weight --- p.166 / Chapter 6.3.2.2 --- Knee joint sizes --- p.166 / Chapter 6.3.2.3 --- Knee extension angles --- p.168 / Chapter 6.3.2.4 --- Knee joint blood flow --- p.169 / Chapter 6.3.2.5 --- Histological evaluation --- p.170 / Chapter 6.3.2.5.1 --- Cell infiltration --- p.170 / Chapter 6.3.2.5.2 --- Synovial tissue proliferation --- p.170 / Chapter 6.3.2.5.3 --- Cartilage degradation --- p.171 / Chapter 6.4 --- Discussions --- p.194 / Chapter Chapter 7 --- Effects of intra-peritoneal administration of LS in adjuvant-induced monoarthritic rats --- p.203 / Chapter 7.1 --- Method --- p.203 / Chapter 7.2 --- Results --- p.204 / Chapter 7.2.1 --- Body weight --- p.204 / Chapter 7.2.2 --- Knee joint sizes --- p.205 / Chapter 7.2.3 --- Knee extension angles --- p.207 / Chapter 7.2.4 --- Knee joint blood flow --- p.209 / Chapter 7.2.5 --- Histological evaulation --- p.209 / Chapter 7.2.5.1 --- Cell infiltration --- p.209 / Chapter 7.2.5.2 --- Synovial tissue proliferation --- p.210 / Chapter 7.2.5.3 --- Cartilage degradation --- p.210 / Chapter 7.3 --- Discussions --- p.237 / Chapter Chapter 8 --- Conclusions --- p.239 / References --- p.243