Abstract Collagen XVIII is a basement membrane proteoglycan, which has three variant N-termini. These variants are coded by two promoters; promoter 1 directs the synthesis of a short variant and promoter 2 directs the synthesis of two longer variants, of which the middle variant is generated from the longest by splicing. The longest variant contains a cysteine-rich domain in its N-terminus, which shows homology to the frizzled receptors of the Wnt molecules and can inhibit Wnt/beta-catenin signalling in vitro. The C-terminal domain of collagen XVIII, endostatin, is an inhibitor of tumor growth and angiogenesis. Lack of collagen XVIII accelerates cutanous wound healing and wound angiogenesis. Overexpression of endostatin leads to delayed wound healing and the presence of morphologically abnormal wound capillaries. Moreover, endostatin overexpression leads to delayed formation of the wound epidermal basement membrane and impaired maturation of hemidesmosomes. Endostatin treatment decreases osteoblast proliferation in vitro. Moreover, osteoblast proliferation and mineralization of the matrix by osteoblasts are inhibited when cells are treated with endostatin together with VEGF. In vivo, lack of collagen XVIII leads to delayed formation of secondary ossification centers in mouse femurs, whereas overexpression of endostatin leads to a slower growth of bone length. However, both of these changes are transient and mild, suggesting that collagen XVIII/endostatin is not essential for skeletal development. The growth of hair follicles is delayed in the mice overexpressing endostatin. This delay in growth is preceded by an impaired hair follicle associated angiogenesis. Lack of collagen XVIII causes an accelerated onset of the first hair cycle. A similar change can be seen in mice lacking the long variants of collagen XVIII. Lack of the short variant causes mild acceleration in the catagen of the first cycle, and anagen is also significantly accelerated in these mice. The long variants were located in the bulge region, which contains the hair follicle stem cells, and in the basement membrane surrounding the dermal papilla. As it is known that several Wnt-inhibitors are upregulated in the bulge, our results suggest that the longest variant of collagen XVIII may have a role as a regulator of Wnt-signalling in hair follicles.

Abstract Lysyl hydroxylase (EC 1.14.11.4, procollagen-lysine, 2-oxyglutarate, 5-dioxygenase, Plod) catalyzes the hydroxylation of certain lysine residues in collagens and in other proteins with collagenous domains. Three lysyl hydroxylase isoforms have been cloned from human and rat. The importance of lysyl hydroxylase 1 in collagen biosynthesis is demonstrated by the heritable disorder, Ehlers-Danlos syndrome type VI, which is characterized by joint laxity, progressive scoliosis, muscle hypotonia, scleral fragility and rupture of the ocular globe. An alternatively spliced form of lysyl hydroxylase 2 seems to function as a telopeptide lysyl hydroxylase. Lysyl hydroxylase 3 has three enzyme activities, lysyl hydroxylase, hydroxylysyl galactosyltransferase (EC 2.4.1.50), and galactosylhydroxylysyl glucosyltransferase (EC 2.4.1.66) activities that have been demonstrated earlier with in vitro experiments. In this thesis study, the cDNAs of mouse lysyl hydroxylase isoforms 1, 2 and 3 were cloned and characterized and the gene structures of lysyl hydroxylase 2, Plod2, and lysyl hydroxylase 3, Plod3, were determined. Mouse lysyl hydroxylase isoforms were found to be highly homologous to the corresponding human isoforms and they were approximately 60% identical with each other. The mouse Plod3 gene has 19 exons as do the human PLOD1 and PLOD3 genes, and mouse Plod2, like the human PLOD2, has 20 exons including one alternatively spliced extra exon. The mouse isoforms were also found to have distinct tissue distributions. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the lysyl hydroxylase genes have evolved from an ancestral gene through two gene duplication events. Lysyl hydroxylase 3 was demonstrated to be the oldest isoform, which is further supported by the association of glycosyltransferase activities with lysyl hydroxylase 3 and with the only lysyl hydroxylase of Caenorhabditis elegans. The roles of the different enzyme activities of lysyl hydroxylase 3 were determined in vivo by generating three genetically modified lysyl hydroxylase 3 mouse lines. The analysis of these mouse lines demonstrated that lysyl hydroxylase 3 possesses at least lysyl hydroxylase and glucosyltransferase activities in vivo and it functions as the main, if not the only glucosyltransferase during embryogenesis. The absence of lysyl hydroxylase 3 and, especially, its glucosyltransferase activity results in the abnormal glycosylation of type IV collagen, and thus causes a severe basement membrane defect leading to death during early development. By contrast, lysyl hydroxylase activity had no effect on embryonic development, but caused changes in the structure of the epidermal basement membrane and changes in collagen fibril organization and probably in their interactions.

Abstract Transmembrane collagen XVII (BP180) is a structural component of hemidesmosomes that connects the two layers of skin. Collagen XVII is associated with both autoimmune and inherited bullous skin diseases. Mutations in collagen XVII gene cause junctional epidermolysis bullosa, and in the diseases of the pemphigoid group autoantibodies target collagen XVII. In this work, collagen XVII was studied in both junctional epidermolysis bullosa and gestational pemphigoid. Two novel glycine substitution mutations were found in the largest collagenous domain of collagen XVII. Analysis of recombinantly produced mutated proteins showed that these novel mutations and previously described glycine substitution mutations decrease the thermal stability of collagen XVII ectodomain. In addition, these mutations were found to cause intracellular accumulation of the mutated proteins and affect the post-translational modifications of collagen XVII. Meanwhile, an in-frame deletion of nine amino acids had no effect on the thermal stability or secretion of the collagen XVII ectodomain. Gestational pemphigoid autoantigen collagen XVII has been mainly studied in the skin, and its expression and function during pregnancy are so far largely unknown. For the first time, collagen XVII was shown to be expressed by cytotrophoblasts of the first trimester human placenta and by cultured cytotrophoblasts. Transmigration assay of cytotrophoblasts indicated that collagen XVII promotes trophoblast invasion, and may thus have a role in placental formation. In addition, significant amounts of in vivo produced collagen XVII were found in the amniotic fluid throughout pregnancy. Collagen XVII expression was also observed in hemidesmosomes of amniotic membranes and in cells cultured from amniotic fluid. These findings suggest that collagen XVII could have a function, albeit so far unknown, during pregnancy.

La membrane basale (BM) constitue une barrière physiologique entre les tissus et leur microenvironnement. Dans le cas des cancers épithéliaux, au stade de carcinome invasif, la membrane basale est compromise et les cellules cancéreuses envahissent le stroma. Dans cette thèse de doctorat, j’ai proposé d’étudier l’invasion de la membrane basale par les cellules cancéreuses et comment une population de cellules stromales, les fibroblastes, affectent cette invasion. Dans le cadre de cette étude, nous avons utilisé le modèle du cancer colorectal. En collaboration avec l’hôpital Curie, nous avons isolé des fibroblastes à partir de tumeurs de patients opérés. On a nommé les fibroblastes isolés de la partie tumorale « CAF » et ceux venant de la partie du tissu normal, à proximité de la tumeur, « NAF ». Comme modèle de BM nous avons utilisé le mésentère de souris. Afin étudier l’invasion des cellules cancéreuses à travers le mésentère et l’effet des fibroblastes, nous avons mis en place une construction en 3D in vitro. Nous avons montré que les CAFs, et rarement les NAFs, induisent l’invasion des cellules cancéreuse et que cet effet est prononcé quand les CAFs sont physiquement présents sur la membrane. En faisant une étude protéomique comparative entre CAFs et NAFs, on a montré que les CAF expriment plus de protéines composantes de la membrane basale, des protéines impliqués dans le remodelage de la matrice extracellulaire, et des protéines impliquées dans la contraction des cellules. Nous avons ensuite voulu comprendre par quel mécanisme les CAFs induisent l’invasion. Nous avons montré qu’en présence des CAFs, l’invasion ce fait de façon indépendante des métaloprotéinases mais que l’effet contractif des CAFs est nécessaire. En conclusion, l’ensemble de ces résultats mets en évidence l’effet promoteur des CAFs sur l’invasion des cellules cancéreuses et souligne l’importance de leur contractilité dans ce mécanisme. / Basement membrane represents a physiological barrier between epithelial tissues and their microenvironment. In invasive carcinomas, the membrane is breached and cancer cells disseminate in the stroma. In this PhD thesis, I investigated how cancer cells breach the BM and whether a stromal cell population, fibroblasts, assist them in that process. I used colorectal cancer as a model. In collaboration with the Institut Curie Hospital, we isolated human primary fibroblasts from human colorectal cancers, called CAFs and the adjacent normal tissue, NAFs. To study BM invasion, I developed a 3D in vitro assay based on the mouse mesentery. We showed that CAFs, and rarely NAFs, induce cancer cell invasion. This pro-invasive effect is mainly mediated when CAFs are physically present on the membrane, rather than through paracrine ways. To understand how CAFs facilitate invasion, we performed a proteomic comparison between cancer cell-stimulated CAFs and NAFs. Results showed that CAFs produced more proteins-components of the ECM, matrix remodelers and they were more contractile compared to NAFs. Further, we wished to understand the mechanism by which CAFs mediate their effect. We showed that CAFs can induce invasion in a MMP independent way. However, Inhibition of contractility abolished CAFs capacity to induce invasion. Dynamic analysis of cancer cells-fibroblasts co-cultures showed that CAFs could pull on the BM fibers. To directly test this possibility, we created holes in the BM using laser ablations. While in the presence of cancer cells alone, holes remained the same size, in the presence of CAFs, holes widen over time. We further showed that this mechanism is MMP independent but depends on contractility. Altogether, these results demonstrate that CAFs stimulate cancer cell invasion through BM by acting directly on the BM, possibly by depositing ECM components and proteins that remodel ECM and by exerting physical forces on the membrane by contraction.

The thesis deal a project documentation of a multifunctional building, which is a multi-purpose sports hall with facilities and penthouses. The object is designed as a three-storey, semi-basement in a slightly sloping terrain. The roof of the hall aisle truss and above the background is a saddle.

In intention of investor is to build on land number 2194/1 single apartment house for 13 families in location Slatina, city Brno. Apartment house is designed as a four-storey building, without basement. Ground plan has the shape of letter T. The maximum dimensions of 16,82 x 30,32 m. The roof is planned single-layer flat roof.The apartment building is designed as a walled insulated. The apartment building created thirteen apartment units.

This thesis describes the design of the kindergarten in Bílovice nad Svitavou. This is two– storey house with a partial basement. The building has an atypical shape and is covered by a flat roof.

This thesis describes the design of a kindergarten in Sezemice near Pardubice. This is a two-storey building with partial basement. The building is covered with a flat roof.

This thesis deals with the project documentation of the accommodation facility. Guest house kapacity is 45 beds and 52 seated restaurant.The object is designed as a fourfloor with a partial basement. Basement floor will consist of storage, utility room. In the first floor is located main entrance, reception desk and restaurant with facilities. In the sekond and thirt floor are rooms for guests. On second floor has been situated room for invalids also. The building is walled with saddle roof.

The master’s thesis topic is a project of a low-energy cottage. The cottage is situated in Kralický Sněžník near Jeseník and it is designed for forty customers. The house is designed as a detached house with two floors and with one basement and with a gable roof. A substructure is from a system blockpanel of a concrete and a heat insulations. The structural system of a superstructure is designed from a timber frame and a heat insulations. The indoor shell is formed from a plasterboard. The house shell is covered by heat insulations. The main entrance is located to the south. It leads to a hall with a reception. On the ground floor we can find a restaurant which is situated in the left part of the cottage. On the ground floor we can also find a room for disabled people and in the north-eastern corner are situated WC for people. The first floor is reachable via stairs from the entry hall. Upstairs there are seven rooms and four bathrooms with toilets. Two rooms of them have a ensuite bathroom. All of the rooms are enterable from the hall. Five of them have a window to the south side and other two rooms have a window to the north side. In the basement there is an utility room a boiler room a laundry a workshop and stocks.