Angiogenesis, the process of new vessel formation, appears to be a central mechanism that underlies the development of haemangiomas. Recently, intralesional bleomycin injection was used to treat paediatric haemangiomas with very good results. The purpose of this study was to determine whether there was significant systemic circulatory spill-over of bleomycin in haemangioma patients treated with intralesional bleomycin to determine safety of use. Furthermore, in order to elucidate bleomycin’s mechanism of action in inducing haemangioma regression, this study aimed at determining the effects of bleomycin on aspects of angiogenesis, namely, endothelial cell migration, growth and apoptosis, and comparing these effects with those of drugs previously reported to inhibit various aspects of the angiogenic process (mitomycin C, 2-methoxyestradiol, taxol, vincristine, vinblastine, colchicine, nocodazole and cytochalasin D). Lastly, the effects of bleomycin, mitomycin C, 2-methoxyestradiol, taxol, vincristine, vinblastine, colchicine, nocodazole and cytochalasin D were studied in an animal haemangioma model. A rapid and highly sensitive high performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method was developed. Blood samples were collected from four haemangioma patients before and after (over a 24 hour period) intralesional bleomycin (IB) therapy. As a control, blood samples were also collected at identical time intervals from four patients undergoing intravenous (IV) bleomycin chemotherapy for various malignant tumours. The HPLC method was used to quantitate bleomycin fractions in patient samples. The mean bleomycin concentration detected in plasma samples obtained from IB treated patients was 0.00 ìg/ml for both bleomycin A<Sub>2 and B2 over the 24-hour period following therapy. Plasma bleomycin A2 and B2 levels of 360.79 and 158.85 ìg/ml respectively were detected in samples obtained from cancer patients treated with bleomycin IV. These findings indicate that the low levels detected may translate to a significantly lesser risk of pulmonary fibrosis following IBI. The effect of drugs on endothelial cell migration was analyzed by wounding a confluent monolayer of cells and determining the number of cells that had migrated from the wound edge. Endothelial cell growth was determined in cells treated with various drug concentrations while apoptosis was examined using hematoxylin and eosin staining, DNA fragmentation assay and acridine orange staining. The effect of test drugs on in vitro angiogenesis was determined on endothelial cells induced to form capillary-like tubes in collagen gel. Test drugs were then evaluated for antitumour activity in an animal haemangioma model. Data demonstrated that test drugs inhibited endothelial cell migration, with the exception of mitomycin C. All test drugs induced a reduction in the percentage of viable endothelial cell in a dose-dependant manner, and also induced endothelial cell apoptosis. The drugs inhibited angiogenesis in vitro and inhibited tumour development in vivo with varying potency. In general, results from this study indicated that there was negligible systemic spill-over of bleomycin following IB administration in patients with haemangiomas, suggesting a much lesser risk of developing bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis. This study also showed that test drugs inhibited angiogenesis in vitro and haemangioma development in vivo in a mouse model. Taken together, these observations demonstrate that bleomycin may inhibit haemangioma growth by inhibiting angiogenesis. In addition, mitomycin C, 2-methoxyestradiol, taxol, vincristine, vinblastine, colchicine, nocodazole and cytochalasin D may have potential in the treatment of haemangiomas of infancy, and should be investigated further in a murine haemangioma model to determine effective dose schedules. / Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2009. / Physiology / unrestricted

Le syndrome de détresse respiratoire aiguë (SDRA) est une forme sévère de défaillance respiratoire qui se caractérise par la présence de dommages alvéolaires, d’un oedème pulmonaire et d’une réponse inflammatoire exacerbée. C’est une condition pour laquelle il n’existe à ce jour aucun traitement pharmacologique efficace. Lors des dernières années, des antagonistes des récepteurs de l’IL-1 (Kineret) et de l’IL-6 (tocilizumab) ont fait preuve d’une efficacité modérée pour le traitement du SDRA causé par la COVID-19. Cependant, leur potentiel thérapeutique en SDRA clinique non causé par la COVID reste à démontrer et les résultats obtenus dans les modèles animaux sont mitigés. Nous avons émis l’hypothèse que le tocilizumab et le Kineret pourraient améliorer la résolution des différents paramètres du SDRA non causé par la COVID-19. Nous avons aussi posé l’hypothèse que des peptides, antagonistes des récepteurs de l’IL-1 (rytvela) ou de l’IL- 6 (HSJ633) et permettant de préserver certaines voies aux propriétés cytoprotectrices en aval de ces récepteurs, pourraient potentiellement être plus efficaces que le Kineret et le tocilizumab pour le traitement des paramètres du SDRA. L’objectif de ma maîtrise était donc de tester ces deux hypothèses dans un modèle murin d’atteinte pulmonaire aiguë (ALI) induite par la bléomycine, qui mime pendant sa phase aiguë les principaux paramètres du SDRA. Mes travaux montrent qu’aucun des quatre antagonistes n’a permis d’améliorer significativement les paramètres observés à jour 7 post-bléomycine (état général, dommages alvéolaires, oedème et inflammation pulmonaire). Ainsi, mes données suggèrent que dans notre modèle d’ALI induit par la bléomycine, la réponse inflammatoire induite via le IL-1R ou le IL-6R ne semble pas constituer un des mécanismes principaux engendrant les différentes atteintes, puisqu’elles ne sont pas prévenues par les antagonistes de ces récepteurs. En plus de contribuer à mieux comprendre ce modèle animal, mes résultats permettent de mettre en lumière que la réparation des dommages ainsi que la résorption secondaire de l’oedème sont cruciales pour la résolution du SDRA et que de viser seulement la voie inflammatoire est insuffisant. / Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a form of severe lung failure characterized by the presence of a pulmonary edema, an inflammatory response, and alveolar damage. There is currently no effective pharmacological treatment for ARDS. In recent years, IL-1 and IL-6 receptor antagonists Kinerert and tocilizumab, respectively, have shown some efficacy as a treatment of ARDS caused by COVID-19. However, their therapeutic potential in non-COVID ARDS remains to be proven and the results obtained in animal models are conflicting. We thus tested the hypothesis that tocilizumab and Kineret could improve the resolution of key parameters of non-COVID ARDS. We also hypothesized that two peptides, rytvela and HSJ633, IL-1 and IL-6 receptor antagonists, respectively, which preserve some of the cytoprotective downstream pathways, could potentially be more effective than Kineret and tocilizumab in treating the various parameters of ARDS. The goal of my master thesis was therefore to test these two hypotheses in a mouse model of acute lung injury (ALI) induced by bleomycin instillation, which, during its acute phase, mimics the main parameters of ARDS. My work has shown that none of the antagonists were able to significantly improve the parameters observed on day 7 post-bleomycin (general condition of the mice, alveolar damages, pulmonary edema and inflammation). Thus, my data suggest that in our bleomycin-induced ALI model, the inflammatory response triggered via IL-1R or IL-6R does not appear to be the principal mechanism generating the main damaging outcome, since they are not prevented by the antagonists of these receptors. In addition to contributing to a better understanding of this animal model of ALI, my research has highlighted the fact that targeting inflammation alone is insufficient and that repairing alveolar damages, and secondary resorbing lung edema, are cornerstones for the resolution of ARDS.

No description available.

Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF) is a debilitating respiratory disorder that is characterized by a progressive decline in lung function. Originating through unknown etiology, it is essentially an unchecked wound healing response that causes the build-up of excessive scar tissue in the lung interstitial tissue with a heavy toll on the patient’s respiratory capacity. Pro-fibrotic alternatively activated macrophages (M2) have been linked as an important contributor to the fibrotic remodeling of the lung. Previous Ask research indicates that targeting M2 macrophages is possible through the use of the Dectin-1 receptor, a transmembrane cell surface receptor found in high abundance on M2 macrophages. Activating the Dectin-1 receptor through the use of beta-glucan, a ligand the receptor has a high affinity for, initiates a pro-inflammatory response within the naturally immunosuppressive macrophage and can alter its activity to be less fibrogenic. Our data suggest that M2 polarization of naïve macrophages can be inhibited in vitro by beta-glucan microparticles. Additionally, we have found that polarized M2 macrophages adopt M1-like characteristics when treated with beta-glucan microparticles, in a process that is largely Dectin-1 dependent. M2 cell surface marker CD206, increased levels of which are associated with rapidly progressing IPF, shows significantly decreased frequency of expression in M2 macrophages treated with beta-glucan microparticles. Our assessment for cell-specific uptake of beta-glucan microparticles suggests an important role of the Dectin-1 receptor for significantly increased uptake in murine wild-type M2 macrophages relative to their Dectin-1 knockout counterpart. The use of beta-glucan microparticles as a potential anti-fibrotic therapeutic was assessed in the bleomycin model of fibrotic lung disease. Mice given bleomycin and treated with beta-glucan displayed decreased soluble collagen content and TGFB expression within lung homogenate relative to fibrotic bleomycin control mice. Overall, these results provide insight into the use of beta-glucan as a potential activity modulator of macrophage function in IPF and the possibility of its use as a therapeutic. / Thesis / Master of Science (MSc)

Recent knowledge suggests that the onset of cancer is modulated by the interplay of internal and external environmental factors along with numerous gene variants. Structural chromsomal aberrations in peripheral blood lymphocytes are considered as biomarkers of effect of genotoxic carcinogens and reflect elevated risk of cancer. Incomplete or deficient repair of double-strand breaks in DNA underlie chromosomal aberrations and the measurement of cytogenetic alterations may reflect interindividual differences in the response towards the mutagen. In this study the expected deficiences in the DNA repair capacity have been determined in incident oncological patients with breast, colorectal and urogenital cancers. The determination of chromosomal aberrations have been supplemented by the measurement of variants in genes involved in double-strand breaks repair (XRCC3, rs861539; RAD54L, rs1048771). Methodologically, we employed conventional cytogenetic analysis, cytogenetic analysis following the induction of chromocomal damage by bleomycin ("Challenge assay"), TaqMan discrimination analysis for the detection of allelic variants and statistical analyses. By using these methods we did not observe statistically signifiant differences either in chromosomal breaks (p=0,354) or in a percentage of cells with...

A remodelação do epitélio e do mesênquima subjacente tem um papel crucial na patogênese da fibrose pulmonar experimental. A iniciação, gravidade e distribuição de fibrose varia entre os diferentes agentes químicos. Estudos recentes indicaram que o envolvimento epitelial, a expressão de proteínas reguladoras do epitélio, ativação endotelial, estresse do retículo endoplasmático, a ativação de fibroblastos e acumulação de diferentes tipos de colágeno, pode ser específica em lesão causadas por diferentes agentes químicos. Neste estudo, comparou-se a fibrose pulmonar induzida por bleomicina (BLM) e hidroxitolueno butilado (BHT). Envolvimento epitelial, proteínas reguladoras, ativação endotelial e de fibroblastos foram quantitativamente avaliados pela densidade de células alveolares, expressão de telomerase, endotelina-1 (ET-1), fator de crescimento vascular (VEGF), fator de transformação do crescimento beta (TGF-beta) e do fator de crescimento de fibroblastos básico (bFGF). Estresse celular em células epiteliais alveolares do tipo 2 (AEC II) e fibroblastos, eventualmente, responsáveis pela gênese da fibrose pulmonar, foram investigados por microscopia eletrônica. Os colágenos do tipo I (Col I), III (Col III) e V (Col V) foram caracterizados e quantificados por imunofluorescência. A quantidade de colágeno pulmonar e alterações histológicas fibróticas foram significativamente aumentadas nos grupos BLM e BHT em relação aos controles, com diferença significativa entre a resposta fibrótica precoce e tardia. A densidade AEC II, a expressão da telomerase, ET-1, VEGF, TGF-beta e bFGF foram significativamente maiores nos grupos BLM e BHT do que em pulmões dos grupos controles, com diferença significativa entre a fase precoce e tardia da resposta fibrótica. Mitocôndrias anormais e estresse do retículo endoplasmático em AEC II e fibroblastos foram encontrados em ambos os grupos fibróticos. Aumento no acumulo de fibras de Col I, III e V, foram encontradas no interstício pulmonar após instilação de BLM e BHT. A expressão gênica de TGF-beta1 e alfa actina de músculo liso (alfa-SMA) foi significativamente maior em ambos modelos de fibrose pulmonar. Ativação de Smad3 (Mothers against decapentaplegic homolog 3) associada à expressão de IL-beta1 (Interleucina-1 beta), Lox (lisil-oxidase) e o fator de transcrição Sp1 (Specificity protein 1) foi associada com a ativação do gene alfa-SMA. Em conclusão, os nossos resultados tornam-se relevantes pois demonstram que, independentemente do insulto inicial, há uma convergência no perfil de sinalização, onde fica evidente que a lesão epitélio/endotelial está envolvida num amplo e contínuo processo de reparação com consequente final fibrótico. Um elemento chave no reparo e remodelamento tecidual ou fibrose é a resposta mesenquimal que fornece componentes essenciais de MEC necessários para a infraestrutura da cura e por outro lado para a fibrose progressiva crônica / Epithelial and underlying mesenchyme remodeling have a critical role in the pathogenesis of experimental pulmonary fibrosis. The initiation, distribution and severity of fibrosis varies among different chemical agents. Recent studies have indicated that epithelial involvement, expression of epithelial regulatory proteins, endothelium activation, endoplasmic reticulum stress, fibroblast activation and accumulation of different types of collagen may be specific in various chemical agents of injury. In this study, bleomycin (BLM) and Butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT)-induced pulmonary fibrosis in mice were compared. Epithelial involvement, regulatory proteins, endothelium and fibroblast activation were quantitatively evaluated by alveolar cells density, telomerase, endothelin-1 (ET-1), Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), Transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta) and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) expression. Cellular stress in type 2 alveolar epithelial cells (AEC II) and fibroblasts, eventually responsible by generating lung fibrosis, were investigated by electron microscopy. We characterized and quantified collagen type I (Col I), III (Col III) and V (Col V) by immunofluorescence. Lung collagen content and fibrotic histological changes were significantly increased in BLM and BHT models compared to control with significant difference between early and late fibrotic response. AEC II density, telomerase expression, ET-1, VEGF, TGF-beta and bFGF were significantly higher than control lungs with significant difference between early and late BLM and BHT fibrotic response. Abnormal mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum in AEC II and fibroblasts was found in both groups of chemical agents. Increased of Col I, Col III and V fibers accumulation was found in the lung interstitium after BLM and BHT instillation. The expression of TGF-beta1 and alfa smooth muscle actin (alfa-SMA) gene was significantly increased in both model of pulmonary fibrosis. Activated Smad3 (Mothers against decapentaplegic homolog 3) associated to the IL-beta1 (Interleukin-1 beta), Lox (Lysyl oxidase) and the transcription factor Sp1 (Specificity protein 1) was associated to the activation of alfa-SMA gene. In conclusion, our results become relevant because they demonstrate that, regardless of the initial insult, there is a convergence in the signaling profile, where it is clear that the epithelial/endothelial injury is involved in a broad and continuous repair process with consequent fibrotic end. A key component in tissue repair and remodeling, or fibrosis is the mesenchymal response which provides essential components of extracellular matrix infrastructure needed to cure and secondly for chronic progressive fibrosis

A remodelação do epitélio e do mesênquima subjacente tem um papel crucial na patogênese da fibrose pulmonar experimental. A iniciação, gravidade e distribuição de fibrose varia entre os diferentes agentes químicos. Estudos recentes indicaram que o envolvimento epitelial, a expressão de proteínas reguladoras do epitélio, ativação endotelial, estresse do retículo endoplasmático, a ativação de fibroblastos e acumulação de diferentes tipos de colágeno, pode ser específica em lesão causadas por diferentes agentes químicos. Neste estudo, comparou-se a fibrose pulmonar induzida por bleomicina (BLM) e hidroxitolueno butilado (BHT). Envolvimento epitelial, proteínas reguladoras, ativação endotelial e de fibroblastos foram quantitativamente avaliados pela densidade de células alveolares, expressão de telomerase, endotelina-1 (ET-1), fator de crescimento vascular (VEGF), fator de transformação do crescimento beta (TGF-beta) e do fator de crescimento de fibroblastos básico (bFGF). Estresse celular em células epiteliais alveolares do tipo 2 (AEC II) e fibroblastos, eventualmente, responsáveis pela gênese da fibrose pulmonar, foram investigados por microscopia eletrônica. Os colágenos do tipo I (Col I), III (Col III) e V (Col V) foram caracterizados e quantificados por imunofluorescência. A quantidade de colágeno pulmonar e alterações histológicas fibróticas foram significativamente aumentadas nos grupos BLM e BHT em relação aos controles, com diferença significativa entre a resposta fibrótica precoce e tardia. A densidade AEC II, a expressão da telomerase, ET-1, VEGF, TGF-beta e bFGF foram significativamente maiores nos grupos BLM e BHT do que em pulmões dos grupos controles, com diferença significativa entre a fase precoce e tardia da resposta fibrótica. Mitocôndrias anormais e estresse do retículo endoplasmático em AEC II e fibroblastos foram encontrados em ambos os grupos fibróticos. Aumento no acumulo de fibras de Col I, III e V, foram encontradas no interstício pulmonar após instilação de BLM e BHT. A expressão gênica de TGF-beta1 e alfa actina de músculo liso (alfa-SMA) foi significativamente maior em ambos modelos de fibrose pulmonar. Ativação de Smad3 (Mothers against decapentaplegic homolog 3) associada à expressão de IL-beta1 (Interleucina-1 beta), Lox (lisil-oxidase) e o fator de transcrição Sp1 (Specificity protein 1) foi associada com a ativação do gene alfa-SMA. Em conclusão, os nossos resultados tornam-se relevantes pois demonstram que, independentemente do insulto inicial, há uma convergência no perfil de sinalização, onde fica evidente que a lesão epitélio/endotelial está envolvida num amplo e contínuo processo de reparação com consequente final fibrótico. Um elemento chave no reparo e remodelamento tecidual ou fibrose é a resposta mesenquimal que fornece componentes essenciais de MEC necessários para a infraestrutura da cura e por outro lado para a fibrose progressiva crônica / Epithelial and underlying mesenchyme remodeling have a critical role in the pathogenesis of experimental pulmonary fibrosis. The initiation, distribution and severity of fibrosis varies among different chemical agents. Recent studies have indicated that epithelial involvement, expression of epithelial regulatory proteins, endothelium activation, endoplasmic reticulum stress, fibroblast activation and accumulation of different types of collagen may be specific in various chemical agents of injury. In this study, bleomycin (BLM) and Butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT)-induced pulmonary fibrosis in mice were compared. Epithelial involvement, regulatory proteins, endothelium and fibroblast activation were quantitatively evaluated by alveolar cells density, telomerase, endothelin-1 (ET-1), Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), Transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta) and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) expression. Cellular stress in type 2 alveolar epithelial cells (AEC II) and fibroblasts, eventually responsible by generating lung fibrosis, were investigated by electron microscopy. We characterized and quantified collagen type I (Col I), III (Col III) and V (Col V) by immunofluorescence. Lung collagen content and fibrotic histological changes were significantly increased in BLM and BHT models compared to control with significant difference between early and late fibrotic response. AEC II density, telomerase expression, ET-1, VEGF, TGF-beta and bFGF were significantly higher than control lungs with significant difference between early and late BLM and BHT fibrotic response. Abnormal mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum in AEC II and fibroblasts was found in both groups of chemical agents. Increased of Col I, Col III and V fibers accumulation was found in the lung interstitium after BLM and BHT instillation. The expression of TGF-beta1 and alfa smooth muscle actin (alfa-SMA) gene was significantly increased in both model of pulmonary fibrosis. Activated Smad3 (Mothers against decapentaplegic homolog 3) associated to the IL-beta1 (Interleukin-1 beta), Lox (Lysyl oxidase) and the transcription factor Sp1 (Specificity protein 1) was associated to the activation of alfa-SMA gene. In conclusion, our results become relevant because they demonstrate that, regardless of the initial insult, there is a convergence in the signaling profile, where it is clear that the epithelial/endothelial injury is involved in a broad and continuous repair process with consequent fibrotic end. A key component in tissue repair and remodeling, or fibrosis is the mesenchymal response which provides essential components of extracellular matrix infrastructure needed to cure and secondly for chronic progressive fibrosis

The study of cis-regulatory elements (CREs) will allow for increased understanding of regulation and lead to insight regarding the mechanisms governing growth, development, health, and disease. The aim of this study was to characterize the de novo in silico predictions of Arabidopsis CREs. Eight synthetic and 30 native promoter-constructs containing an eGFP/GUS reporter protein were generated for cold, genotoxic, heat, osmotic, and salt stress; the circadian clock; ABA signaling; root and epidermis tissue. Constructs were stably transformed into A. thaliana Col-0 and the effects of the CREs were evaluated by in planta stress or tissue assays using GUS expression levels. Results reveal a novel genotoxic element that specifically directs GUS expression in rosette leaves during genotoxic stress. Results also look promising for novel epidermis and root-specific elements. Results of these assays validate the de novo prediction pipeline's ability to identify novel and known CREs related to abiotic stress.

The study of cis-regulatory elements (CREs) will allow for increased understanding of regulation and lead to insight regarding the mechanisms governing growth, development, health, and disease. The aim of this study was to characterize the de novo in silico predictions of Arabidopsis CREs. Eight synthetic and 30 native promoter-constructs containing an eGFP/GUS reporter protein were generated for cold, genotoxic, heat, osmotic, and salt stress; the circadian clock; ABA signaling; root and epidermis tissue. Constructs were stably transformed into A. thaliana Col-0 and the effects of the CREs were evaluated by in planta stress or tissue assays using GUS expression levels. Results reveal a novel genotoxic element that specifically directs GUS expression in rosette leaves during genotoxic stress. Results also look promising for novel epidermis and root-specific elements. Results of these assays validate the de novo prediction pipeline's ability to identify novel and known CREs related to abiotic stress.