Doctor of Philosophy / Department of Biochemistry / Dolores J. Takemoto / Connexin proteins are the principle structural components of gap junction channels that connect the cytoplasm of two cells and maintain direct intercellular communication through the exchange of ions, small molecules and cellular metabolites. Colocalization and tissue-specific expression of diverse connexin molecules are reported to occur in a variety of organs. Impairment of gap junctional intercellular communication, caused by mutations, gain of function or loss of function of connexins, is involved in a number of diseases including the development of cancer. Here the functions of a gap junction protein, connexin46 (Cx46), have been investigated in two hypoxic tissues, lens and breast tumor. We show that human breast cancer cells, MCF-7 and breast tumor tissues express connexin46 (Cx46) and it plays a critical role in protecting cells against hypoxia-induced death. Interestingly, I find that Cx46 is upregulated in MCF-7 breast cancer cells and human breast cancer tumors. Downregulation of Cx46 by siRNA promotes cell death of human lens epithelial cells (HLEC) and MCF-7 cells under hypoxic conditions. Furthermore, direct injection of anti-Cx46 siRNA into xenograft tumors prevents tumor growth in nude mice. Our result suggests that both normal hypoxic tissue (lens) and adaptive hypoxic tissue (breast tumor) utilize the same protein, Cx46, as a protective strategy against hypoxia. In the last part of the dissertation, we show that over expression of Cx46 induces the degradation of another connexin, connexin43, in rabbit lens epithelial NN1003A cells. Over expression of Cx46 increases ubiquitination of Cx43. Moreover, the Cx46-induced Cx43 degradation is counteracted by inhibitors of proteasome. Taken together, these data indicate that the degradation of Cx43, upon Cx46 over expression, is mediated by the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway. I also provide evidence that that C-terminal tail of Cx46 is essential to induce degradation of Cx43. Therefore, our study shows that Cx46 has a novel function in the regulation of Cx43 turnover in addition to its conventional role as a gap junction protein. This may contribute to protection from hypoxia in both the lens and tumors.

Telomerase, a ribonucleoprotein enzyme minimally composed of an RNA template (hTR) and a catalytically active protein subunit (hTERT), synthesizes telomeric repeats onto chromosome ends and is obligatory for continuous tumor cell proliferation, as well as malignant progression of breast cancer cells. Telomerase is an attractive anticancer therapeutic target because its activity is present in over 90% of human cancers, including more than 95% of breast carcinomas, but undetectable in most somatic cells. Traditions chemo- and radio-therapies lack the ability to effectively control and cure breast cancer, in part because residual cells are or become resistant to DNA damaging modalities.While various telomerase inhibition strategies cause cancer cells to undergo apoptosis car senescence, there is often a lag period between administration and biologic effect (Corey, 2002). Our goal in this study was to compare the efficacy of different telomerase inhibition strategies in concert with standard chemotherapeutic agents at triggering senescence and/or apoptosis in cultures of breast cancer cells. We hypothesized that telomerase inhibition strategies will sensitize breast cancer cells to traditional chemotherapies, potentially reducing the lag phase, allowing for more potent anti-tumor effects at lower doses, and therefore ultimately imparting less toxicity to the patient.We blocked telomerase by targeting hTR and hTERT, individually and collectively utilizing synthetic short interfering RNA (siRNA), short hairpin RNA (siRNA), and a dominant negative form of hTERT (DN-hTERT) in MCF-7 breast cancer cells. We analyzed the efficiency of telomerase inhibition for each strategy alone and then treated the cells with two mainstay chemotherapeutic agents, Adriamycin (AdR) and Taxol. The most effective telomerase inhibition strategies were synthetic siRNA and DN-hTERT, individually. After treatment with various concentrations of AdR or Taxol, breast cancer cells with inhibited telomerase grew significantly slower and exhibited widespread senescence or apoptosis within a much shorter time period and at a dose that is insufficient to trigger cytostasis. In addition, we provide evidence that cells in which telomerase was inhibited were more sensitive to anti-cancer agents, whether the drug inhibited topoisomerase II resulting in DNA damage (AdR) or blocked mitosis via protracted microtubule stabilization (Taxol). Collectively, our data indicate that alone, anti-telomerase inhibition strategies differ in their efficacy. However, when used in the adjuvant setting with diverse acting chemotherapeutic agents, there is a potent synergy resulting in chemotherapeutic sensitization characterized in part by widespread senescence and/or apoptosis.

O tumor mamário é a terceira neoplasia mais incidente na espécie felina, seguida das neoplasias hematopoiéticas e cutâneas. Nos gatos, diferentemente do observado em cães e humanos, cerca de 85 a 95% dos tumores mamários são malignos e a doença tende a apresentar um comportamento mais agressivo. Desta forma, parâmetros clínico-epidemiológicos, patológicos e moleculares têm sido propostos como fatores prognósticos nesta espécie, porém os resultados ainda são controversos. Recentemente, uma nova classificação molecular foi proposta nesta doença em felinos, na qual foram estabelecidos seis subtipos moleculares de acordo com o St. Gallen International Expert Consensus Panel para humanos. Assim, o presente estudo teve como principal objetivo investigar o valor prognóstico de parâmetros clínico-patológicos e dos subtipos moleculares no carcinoma mamário em felinos. Foram analisados 65 tumores, provenientes de 42 gatas atendidas em hospitais veterinários públicos e particulares. Os tumores foram submetidos à análise histopatológica e imuno-histoquímica para os receptores de estrógeno e progesterona, HER-2, Ki67 e citoqueratina 5/6. Os parâmetros clinico-patológicos foram correlacionados com a sobrevida pelo teste de Log-rank (p<0,05). Os tipos histológicos mais frequentes foram os carcinomas tubulopapilares, sólidos e cribiformes, a maioria graduados como grau II. Em relação aos subtipos moleculares, os tumores foram classificados em triplo negativo normal-like (35,4%), triplo negativo basal-like (29,1%), HER-2 positivo (25%) e Luminais A e B (10,5%). Em relação aos fatores prognósticos, animais com idade superior a 12 anos (p=0,0036) e com tumores ulcerados (p=0,0139) demonstraram correlação significativa com menor tempo de sobrevida. Os parâmetros raça, status reprodutivo, uso de anticoncepcional, tratamento, tamanho e volume tumorais, multiplicidade tumoral, morfologia, grau histológico, índice de proliferação e os subtipos moleculares não apresentaram correlação com a sobrevida. Os resultados demonstrados aqui ressaltam a importância da correlação clínica, patológica e molecular na determinação dos fatores prognósticos e, consequentemente, no desenvolvimento de novos procedimentos e alvos terapêuticos. / The mammary tumor is the third most frequent neoplasm in the feline species, followed by hematopoietic and cutaneous neoplasms. In cats, unlike that observed in dogs and humans, about 85 to 95% of mammary tumors are malignant and the disease tends to present more aggressive behavior. In this way, clinical-epidemiological, pathological and molecular parameters have been proposed as prognostic factors in this species, but the results are still controversial. Recently, a new molecular classification was proposed in this feline disease, in which six molecular subtypes were established according to \"St. Gallen International Expert Consensus Panel \"for humans. Thus, the present study had as main objective to investigate the prognostic value of clinical-pathological parameters and molecular subtypes in mammary carcinoma in felines. A total of 65 tumors were analyzed, from 42 cats treated in public and private veterinary hospitals. Tumors were submitted to histopathological and immunohistochemical analysis for the estrogen and progesterone receptors, HER-2, Ki67 and cytokeratin 5/6. The clinical-pathological parameters were correlated with survival by the log-rank test (p <0.05). The most frequent histological types were tubulopapillary carcinomas, solid and cribiform, commonly grade II. Tumors were classified as \"normal-like\" (35.4%), triple negative \"basal-like\" (29.1%), HER-2 positive (25%) and Luminais A And B (10.5%). Regarding the prognostic factors, animals aged over 12 years (p = 0.0036) and ulcerated tumors (p = 0.0139) showed a significant correlation with a shorter survival time. The parameters race, reproductive status, use of contraceptive, treatment, tumor size and volume, tumor multiplicity, morphology, histological grade, proliferation index and molecular subtypes had no correlation with survival. The results demonstrated here emphasize the importance of clinical, pathological and molecular correlation in the determination of prognostic factors and, consequently, in the development of new procedures and therapeutic targets.

O tumor mamário é a terceira neoplasia mais incidente na espécie felina, seguida das neoplasias hematopoiéticas e cutâneas. Nos gatos, diferentemente do observado em cães e humanos, cerca de 85 a 95% dos tumores mamários são malignos e a doença tende a apresentar um comportamento mais agressivo. Desta forma, parâmetros clínico-epidemiológicos, patológicos e moleculares têm sido propostos como fatores prognósticos nesta espécie, porém os resultados ainda são controversos. Recentemente, uma nova classificação molecular foi proposta nesta doença em felinos, na qual foram estabelecidos seis subtipos moleculares de acordo com o St. Gallen International Expert Consensus Panel para humanos. Assim, o presente estudo teve como principal objetivo investigar o valor prognóstico de parâmetros clínico-patológicos e dos subtipos moleculares no carcinoma mamário em felinos. Foram analisados 65 tumores, provenientes de 42 gatas atendidas em hospitais veterinários públicos e particulares. Os tumores foram submetidos à análise histopatológica e imuno-histoquímica para os receptores de estrógeno e progesterona, HER-2, Ki67 e citoqueratina 5/6. Os parâmetros clinico-patológicos foram correlacionados com a sobrevida pelo teste de Log-rank (p<0,05). Os tipos histológicos mais frequentes foram os carcinomas tubulopapilares, sólidos e cribiformes, a maioria graduados como grau II. Em relação aos subtipos moleculares, os tumores foram classificados em triplo negativo normal-like (35,4%), triplo negativo basal-like (29,1%), HER-2 positivo (25%) e Luminais A e B (10,5%). Em relação aos fatores prognósticos, animais com idade superior a 12 anos (p=0,0036) e com tumores ulcerados (p=0,0139) demonstraram correlação significativa com menor tempo de sobrevida. Os parâmetros raça, status reprodutivo, uso de anticoncepcional, tratamento, tamanho e volume tumorais, multiplicidade tumoral, morfologia, grau histológico, índice de proliferação e os subtipos moleculares não apresentaram correlação com a sobrevida. Os resultados demonstrados aqui ressaltam a importância da correlação clínica, patológica e molecular na determinação dos fatores prognósticos e, consequentemente, no desenvolvimento de novos procedimentos e alvos terapêuticos. / The mammary tumor is the third most frequent neoplasm in the feline species, followed by hematopoietic and cutaneous neoplasms. In cats, unlike that observed in dogs and humans, about 85 to 95% of mammary tumors are malignant and the disease tends to present more aggressive behavior. In this way, clinical-epidemiological, pathological and molecular parameters have been proposed as prognostic factors in this species, but the results are still controversial. Recently, a new molecular classification was proposed in this feline disease, in which six molecular subtypes were established according to \"St. Gallen International Expert Consensus Panel \"for humans. Thus, the present study had as main objective to investigate the prognostic value of clinical-pathological parameters and molecular subtypes in mammary carcinoma in felines. A total of 65 tumors were analyzed, from 42 cats treated in public and private veterinary hospitals. Tumors were submitted to histopathological and immunohistochemical analysis for the estrogen and progesterone receptors, HER-2, Ki67 and cytokeratin 5/6. The clinical-pathological parameters were correlated with survival by the log-rank test (p <0.05). The most frequent histological types were tubulopapillary carcinomas, solid and cribiform, commonly grade II. Tumors were classified as \"normal-like\" (35.4%), triple negative \"basal-like\" (29.1%), HER-2 positive (25%) and Luminais A And B (10.5%). Regarding the prognostic factors, animals aged over 12 years (p = 0.0036) and ulcerated tumors (p = 0.0139) showed a significant correlation with a shorter survival time. The parameters race, reproductive status, use of contraceptive, treatment, tumor size and volume, tumor multiplicity, morphology, histological grade, proliferation index and molecular subtypes had no correlation with survival. The results demonstrated here emphasize the importance of clinical, pathological and molecular correlation in the determination of prognostic factors and, consequently, in the development of new procedures and therapeutic targets.

O tumor mamário é a segunda neoplasia maligna mais incidente em cães, com uma elevada taxa de mortalidade. Em cães, constituem aproximadamente 52% de todos os tumores que afetam as fêmeas, possuindo uma elevada heterogeneidade biológica e histomorfológica, sendo que 50% são malignos. As neoplasias, independentemente de suas causas primárias, apresentam distúrbios no controle do ciclo celular, o que acaba gerando um aumento na proliferação celular, perda da diferenciação e formação de massas tumorais. Na gênese das neoplasias mamárias estão envolvidos fatores de natureza genética, ambiental e hormonal. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar "in vitro" o efeito da terapia com célula- tronco da medula óssea canina de feto em tumores mamários canino. Após a avaliação histopatológica os tumores foram divididos em grupos de grau I (adenocarcinoma, sem metástase), grau II (carcinoma com metástase regionais) e grau III (carcinomas com metástases sistêmicas). As células dos tumores mamários caninos (TM) e as células - tronco de medula óssea de feto canina (CTMs) foram caracterizadas antes e após o tratamento utilizando marcadores de proliferação, angiogênese e da resposta inflamatória através da citometria de fluxo. A expressão de marcadores de proliferação celular Ki67 foi maior nas linhagens tumorais dos carcinomas grau III, o mesmo observado para os marcadores que regulam a angiogênese e migração celular como VEGFR1, CD44, COX-2 e EGFR. Foi possível observar nas culturas celulares de TM a redução do potencial elétrico mitocondrial alterando permeabilidade da membrana ativando a caspase 3 e reduzindo a Bcl-2, sugerindo que a CTM apresenta efeitos antitumorais pela indução de apoptose e efeitos antiproliferativos da expressão de COX-2 e IL-6 inibindo a proliferação celular levando ao acúmulo das células na fase G0/G1. . A terapia celular com CTMs proporciona novas expectativas para o tratamento de diversas patologias que acometem diferentes espécies.. Desta forma, os resultados os resultados obtidos pela expressão das TM tratadas com CTM pode apresentar como uma nova perspectiva no tratamento de tumores em cadelas. / The breast tumor is the second most frequent malignancy in dogs, with a high mortality rate. In dogs, they constitute approximately 52% of all tumors affecting female, having a high biological and histomorphological heterogeneity, and 50% are malignant. Neoplasms, regardless of their root causes, have disturbances in cell cycle control, which ends up generating an increase in cell proliferation, differentiation loss and formation of tumor masses. In the genesis of mammary tumors are involved genetic, environmental and hormonal factors nature. The objective of this study was to evaluate "in vitro" the effect of therapy with stem cell-canine bone marrow fetus in canine mammary tumors. After histopathological evaluation tumors were divided into grade I groups (adenocarcinoma without metastasis), grade II (carcinoma with regional metastasis) and grade III (carcinomas with metastatic disease) .The cells of canine mammary tumors (TM) and cells - bone marrow stem canine fetuses (MSCs) were characterized before and after treatment using proliferation markers, angiogenesis and inflammatory response by flow cytometry. The expression of cell proliferation markers Ki67 was higher in tumor cell lines of the carcinomas grade III, the same was observed for markers that regulate angiogenesis and cell migration as VEGFR1, CD44, COX-2 and EGFR. It was observed in TM cell cultures to reduce the electric potential changing mitochondrial membrane permeability by activating caspase 3 and reduces Bcl-2, suggesting that MSC has antitumor effects by inducing apoptosis and antiproliferative effects of COX-2 expression and IL-6 inhibiting cell proliferation leading to an accumulation of cells in G0 / G1 phase. Cell therapy MSCs provides new expectations for the treatment of various pathologies affecting different species. Thus, the results the results obtained by the expression of TM-treated MSC can present as a new approach in the treatment of tumors in dogs..

O tumor mamário é a segunda neoplasia maligna mais incidente em cães, com uma elevada taxa de mortalidade. Em cães, constituem aproximadamente 52% de todos os tumores que afetam as fêmeas, possuindo uma elevada heterogeneidade biológica e histomorfológica, sendo que 50% são malignos. As neoplasias, independentemente de suas causas primárias, apresentam distúrbios no controle do ciclo celular, o que acaba gerando um aumento na proliferação celular, perda da diferenciação e formação de massas tumorais. Na gênese das neoplasias mamárias estão envolvidos fatores de natureza genética, ambiental e hormonal. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar "in vitro" o efeito da terapia com célula- tronco da medula óssea canina de feto em tumores mamários canino. Após a avaliação histopatológica os tumores foram divididos em grupos de grau I (adenocarcinoma, sem metástase), grau II (carcinoma com metástase regionais) e grau III (carcinomas com metástases sistêmicas). As células dos tumores mamários caninos (TM) e as células - tronco de medula óssea de feto canina (CTMs) foram caracterizadas antes e após o tratamento utilizando marcadores de proliferação, angiogênese e da resposta inflamatória através da citometria de fluxo. A expressão de marcadores de proliferação celular Ki67 foi maior nas linhagens tumorais dos carcinomas grau III, o mesmo observado para os marcadores que regulam a angiogênese e migração celular como VEGFR1, CD44, COX-2 e EGFR. Foi possível observar nas culturas celulares de TM a redução do potencial elétrico mitocondrial alterando permeabilidade da membrana ativando a caspase 3 e reduzindo a Bcl-2, sugerindo que a CTM apresenta efeitos antitumorais pela indução de apoptose e efeitos antiproliferativos da expressão de COX-2 e IL-6 inibindo a proliferação celular levando ao acúmulo das células na fase G0/G1. . A terapia celular com CTMs proporciona novas expectativas para o tratamento de diversas patologias que acometem diferentes espécies.. Desta forma, os resultados os resultados obtidos pela expressão das TM tratadas com CTM pode apresentar como uma nova perspectiva no tratamento de tumores em cadelas. / The breast tumor is the second most frequent malignancy in dogs, with a high mortality rate. In dogs, they constitute approximately 52% of all tumors affecting female, having a high biological and histomorphological heterogeneity, and 50% are malignant. Neoplasms, regardless of their root causes, have disturbances in cell cycle control, which ends up generating an increase in cell proliferation, differentiation loss and formation of tumor masses. In the genesis of mammary tumors are involved genetic, environmental and hormonal factors nature. The objective of this study was to evaluate "in vitro" the effect of therapy with stem cell-canine bone marrow fetus in canine mammary tumors. After histopathological evaluation tumors were divided into grade I groups (adenocarcinoma without metastasis), grade II (carcinoma with regional metastasis) and grade III (carcinomas with metastatic disease) .The cells of canine mammary tumors (TM) and cells - bone marrow stem canine fetuses (MSCs) were characterized before and after treatment using proliferation markers, angiogenesis and inflammatory response by flow cytometry. The expression of cell proliferation markers Ki67 was higher in tumor cell lines of the carcinomas grade III, the same was observed for markers that regulate angiogenesis and cell migration as VEGFR1, CD44, COX-2 and EGFR. It was observed in TM cell cultures to reduce the electric potential changing mitochondrial membrane permeability by activating caspase 3 and reduces Bcl-2, suggesting that MSC has antitumor effects by inducing apoptosis and antiproliferative effects of COX-2 expression and IL-6 inhibiting cell proliferation leading to an accumulation of cells in G0 / G1 phase. Cell therapy MSCs provides new expectations for the treatment of various pathologies affecting different species. Thus, the results the results obtained by the expression of TM-treated MSC can present as a new approach in the treatment of tumors in dogs..

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No description available.

In general, ionizing radiation promotes cytoprotective autophagy in a majority of breast tumor cells. Previous studies from our laboratory indicated that radiation (5x2 Gy) induces cytoprotective autophagy in MCF-7 cells. In the current work, inhibition of autophagy by silencing of Beclin-1 in MCF-7 cells resulted in an increase in sensitivity to radiation based both on cell number and clonogenic survival; however, there was no increase in apoptosis and the basis for this sensitization is currently under investigation. Unexpectedly, enhancement of autophagy by silencing of Bcl-2 also led to an increase in sensitivity to radiation, possibly through the conversion of cytoprotective to cytostatic autophagy. In contrast to the MCF-7 cells, radiation (5x2 Gy) induces non-protective autophagy in Hs578t cells. Interference with autophagy through silencing of Beclin-1 or induction of Bcl-2 did not alter radiation sensitivity in the Hs578t cells. Since the induction of cytoprotective autophagy can represent an impediment to radiation therapy, it is important to understand the types of autophagy that occur in response to radiation in specific cellular settings and whether interference with autophagy can increase sensitivity to different forms of cancer treatment.

Orientador: Newton Nunes / Resumo: Objetivou-se, com este estudo, determinar e comparar a concentração mais efetiva de lidocaína, para tumescência em cadelas, na mastectomia radical unilateral por meio da avaliação de dor no período pós-operatório fazendo uso da Escala de Dor de Glasgow Modificada (EDGM) e dos filamentos de von Frey até 720 minutos pós extubação. Para tal, foram utilizadas 20 cadelas distribuídas aleatoriamente em dois grupos (n=10) de acordo com a concentração de lidocaína na solução tumescente. O grupo G1 recebeu a solução de tumescência com concentração de 0,1% de lidocaína e o grupo G2 recebeu solução com concentração de 0,32% do mesmo fármaco. Para pré-medicação empregou-se a associação de clorpromazina (0,3 mg/Kg) e meperidina (3 mg/Kg), pela via intramuscular. A indução anestésica foi realizada com propofol (5 mg/Kg) e a manutenção com isofluorano. A solução tumescente na dose fixa de 15 mL/Kg foi ministrada no tecido subcutâneo da cadeia mamária, com o auxílio de cânula de Klein. A aferição dos parâmetros no período transanestésico foi padronizada em conformidade com o ato cirúrgico e contempla parâmetros cardiovasculares e respiratórios. A avaliação da dor no período pós-operatório se iniciou imediatamente após a extubação e 30, 60, 120, 240, 480 e 720 minutos após. As cadelas foram submetidas ao uso de terapia antimicrobiana terapêutica, com início no transcirúrgico. Empregou-se ANOVA e teste de Tukey para as variáveis paramétricas e teste de Friedman para as não paramétricas. Foi co... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: The aim of this study was to determine and compare the most effective concentration of lidocaine, for tumescence in bitches, treated with unilateral radical mastectomy, through the evaluation of pain in the postoperative period using the Modified Glasgow Pain Scale and von Frey Filaments up to 720 minutes after extubation. For this, 20 bitches were randomly distributed into two groups (n = 10). The group G1 received lidocaine tumescent solution at 0,1% and the G2 group received a 0,32% solution of the same drug. The dogs were premedicated with the combination of chlorpromazine (0.3 mg/kg) and meperidine (3 mg/kg). Anesthetic induction was performed with propofol (5 mg/kg) and maintenance with isoflurane. The lidocaine solutions solution at the fixed dose of 15 mL/kg was applied in the subcutaneous tissue of the mammary chain using a Klein's cannula. The observation of the intraoperative parameters were standardized according to the surgical procedure and pain evaluation in the postoperative period started immediately after extubation and at 30, 60, 120, 240, 480 and 720 minutes after this. ANOVA and Tukey's test were used for the parametric variables and Friedman test for the non-parametric data. A p value of 0.05 was considered. There were no significant differences among groups in the physiological parameters studied. In agreement, there was no difference in the pain scores by the von Frey Filaments method and Modified Glasgow Pain Scale in both groups. The conclusion is th... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Mestre