<p>During development, the precise regulation of the processes of proliferation, migration, and differentiation is required to establish proper organ structure and function and to prevent the deregulation that can lead to disease, such as cancer. Improved understanding of the signals that regulate these processes is therefore necessary to both gain insight into the mechanisms by which organ development proceeds and to identify strategies for treating the consequences of deregulation of these processes. In the cerebellum, some of the factors that regulate these processes have been identified but remain incompletely understood. Our studies have focused on the signals that regulate the migration of cerebellar granule neuron progenitors (GNPs) and the contribution of the SDF-1/CXCR4 signaling axis to postnatal cerebellar development. Using conditional knockout mice to delete CXCR4 specifically in GNPs, we show that loss of CXCR4 results in premature migration of a subset of GNPs throughout postnatal development that are capable of proliferation and survival outside of their normal mitogenic niche. Loss of CXCR4 also causes a reduction in the activity of the Sonic hedgehog (SHH) pathway (the primary mitogen for GNPs) but does not affect GNP proliferation, differentiation, or capacity for tumor formation. Our data suggest that while other factors likely contribute, SDF-1/CXCR4 signaling is necessary for proper migration of GNPs throughout cerebellar development. </p><p>In addition to understanding the signals that regulate normal development, the identification of vulnerabilities of established tumors is also necessary to improve cancer treatment. One strategy to improve treatment involves targeting the cells that are critical for maintaining tumor growth, known as tumor-propagating cells (TPCs). In the context of the cerebellar tumor medulloblastoma (MB), we have previously identified a population of TPCs in tumors from patched mutant mice that express the cell surface carbohydrate antigen CD15/SSEA-1. Here, we employed multiple approaches in an effort to target these cells, including a biochemical approach to identify molecules that carry the CD15 carbohydrate epitope as well as an immunotoxin approach to specifically target CD15-expressing cells. Unfortunately, these strategies were ultimately unsuccessful, but an alternative approach that recognized a vulnerability of CD15+ cells was identified. We show that CD15+ cells express elevated levels of genes associated with the G2/M phases of the cell cycle, progress more rapidly through the cell cycle than CD15- cells, and contain an increased proportion of cells in G2/M. Exposure of tumor cells to inhibitors of Aurora and Polo-like kinases, key regulators of G2/M, induces cell cycle arrest, apoptosis and enhanced sensitivity to conventional chemotherapy, and treatment of tumor-bearing mice with these agents significantly inhibits tumor progression. Importantly, cells from human patient-derived MB xenografts are also sensitive to Aurora and Polo-like kinase inhibitors. Our findings suggest that targeting G2/M regulators may represent a novel approach for the treatment of human MB.</p> / Dissertation

by Ling Lin. / "November 2002." / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2002. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 149-168). / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Mode of access: World Wide Web. / Abstracts in English and Chinese.

A icterícia por hiperbilirrubinemia indireta afeta mais de 60% dos recém-nascidos a termo. O tratamento, quando necessário, é realizado através da fototerapia. Não existem estudos na literatura avaliando os efeitos da fototerapia na função dos neutrófilos de recém-nascidos. O melhor entendimento da função dos neutrófilos nos recém-nascidos antes e após a fototerapia seria importante para avaliar as possíveis repercussões na expressão dos neutrófilos desencadeadas pelo tratamento fototerápico. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar e comparar a função dos neutrófilos, através da mensuração pela citometria de fluxo da expressão dos principais marcadores de superfície em recémnascidos ictéricos, antes e após 24 horas de fototerapia. Metodologia: Foram incluídos recém-nascidos com idade gestacional ≥ 35 semanas e peso de nascimento ≥ 2000g, que possuiam critérios da Academia Americana de Pediatria para tratamento fototerápico. Os critérios de exclusão foram: mal-formações congênitas, síndromes com alterações cromossômicas, erro inato do metabolismo, infecções do grupo STORCH, asfixia neonatal, sepse ou suspeita de sepse, exsanguineotransfusão, transfusão de hemocomponentes e uso de imunoglobulina. Foi realizada a avaliação de expressão da intensidade média de fluorescência (IMF) de CD10, CD11b, CD11c, CD15, CD16, CD18, CD62L, CD64 e CD66, antes do início e após 24 horas do início da fototerapia. Foram utilizados o teste T de Student para análise dos dados. Resultados: Foram incluídos 25 recém-nascidos no estudo, com idade mediana de 53 (27.5-75.5) horas de vida e bilirrubina média de 13.6±2.85 mg/dL. Não houve diferença estatística na expressão de CD11b, CD15, CD18, CD62L, CD64 e percentual de neutrófilos antes e após 24 horas de fototerapia. Ocorreu aumento da expressão de CD10 8 (p=0.038) e CD16 (p=0.017) e redução da expressão de CD11c (p=0.023) e CD66acde (p=0.004) após 24 horas de fototerapia. Conclusão: Os recém-nascidos submetidos ao tratamento fototerápico apresentaram aumento da expressão de CD10 e de CD16 e diminuição da expressão de CD11c e de CD66acde após 24 horas de exposição, que pode estar relacionado a um efeito antiinflamatório da fototerapia nos recém-nascidos expostos a este tratamento. / Jaundice due to indirect hyperbilirubinemia affects more than 60% of term neonates. The treatment when necessary is carried out using phototherapy. There are no studies in the literature evaluating the effect of phototherapy on the function of neonates' neutrophils. A better understanding of the function of neutrophils in neonates before and after phototherapy would be important in order to assess potential effects on the expression of neutrofils triggered by the phototherapy treatment. The aim of this study was to assess and compare the function of neutrophils by measuring the expression of the main surface markers in icteric neonates, using flow cytometry, before and after 24 hours of phototherapy. Methodology: Neonates at a gestational age ≥ 35 weeks and at a birth weight ≥ 2000g who met the criteria of the American Academy of Pediatrics for phototherapy were included. The exclusion criteria were: congenital malformations, syndromes with chromosomal alterations, inborn errors of metabolism, infections of the STORCH group, neonatal asphyxia, sepsis or suspicion of sepsis, exchange transfusion, transfusion of blood components, and use of immunoglobulin. The evaluation of the MFI expression of CD10, CD11b, CD11c, CD15, CD16, CD18, CD62L, CD64 and CD66 was performed before and 24 hours after the initiation of phototherapy. The chi-square and Student T tests were used for data analysis. Results: Twenty-five neonates were included in the study at the mean age of 53 (27.5- 75.5) hours of life and with a mean bilirubin level of 13.6±2.85 mg/dL. There was no statistical difference in the expression of CD11b, CD15, CD18, CD62L, CD64 and percentage of neutrophils before and after 24 hours of phototherapy. There was an increase in the expression of CD10 (p=0.038) and CD16 (p=0.017) and a reduction in 10 the expression of CD11c (p=0.023) and CD66acde (p=0.004) after 24 hours of phototherapy. Conclusion: The newborns submitted to phototherapy had increased expression of CD10 and CD16 and decreased expression of CD11c and CD66acde after 24 hours of exposure, which may be related to an anti-inflammatory effect of phototherapy on the neonates exposed to this treatment.

A icterícia por hiperbilirrubinemia indireta afeta mais de 60% dos recém-nascidos a termo. O tratamento, quando necessário, é realizado através da fototerapia. Não existem estudos na literatura avaliando os efeitos da fototerapia na função dos neutrófilos de recém-nascidos. O melhor entendimento da função dos neutrófilos nos recém-nascidos antes e após a fototerapia seria importante para avaliar as possíveis repercussões na expressão dos neutrófilos desencadeadas pelo tratamento fototerápico. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar e comparar a função dos neutrófilos, através da mensuração pela citometria de fluxo da expressão dos principais marcadores de superfície em recémnascidos ictéricos, antes e após 24 horas de fototerapia. Metodologia: Foram incluídos recém-nascidos com idade gestacional ≥ 35 semanas e peso de nascimento ≥ 2000g, que possuiam critérios da Academia Americana de Pediatria para tratamento fototerápico. Os critérios de exclusão foram: mal-formações congênitas, síndromes com alterações cromossômicas, erro inato do metabolismo, infecções do grupo STORCH, asfixia neonatal, sepse ou suspeita de sepse, exsanguineotransfusão, transfusão de hemocomponentes e uso de imunoglobulina. Foi realizada a avaliação de expressão da intensidade média de fluorescência (IMF) de CD10, CD11b, CD11c, CD15, CD16, CD18, CD62L, CD64 e CD66, antes do início e após 24 horas do início da fototerapia. Foram utilizados o teste T de Student para análise dos dados. Resultados: Foram incluídos 25 recém-nascidos no estudo, com idade mediana de 53 (27.5-75.5) horas de vida e bilirrubina média de 13.6±2.85 mg/dL. Não houve diferença estatística na expressão de CD11b, CD15, CD18, CD62L, CD64 e percentual de neutrófilos antes e após 24 horas de fototerapia. Ocorreu aumento da expressão de CD10 8 (p=0.038) e CD16 (p=0.017) e redução da expressão de CD11c (p=0.023) e CD66acde (p=0.004) após 24 horas de fototerapia. Conclusão: Os recém-nascidos submetidos ao tratamento fototerápico apresentaram aumento da expressão de CD10 e de CD16 e diminuição da expressão de CD11c e de CD66acde após 24 horas de exposição, que pode estar relacionado a um efeito antiinflamatório da fototerapia nos recém-nascidos expostos a este tratamento. / Jaundice due to indirect hyperbilirubinemia affects more than 60% of term neonates. The treatment when necessary is carried out using phototherapy. There are no studies in the literature evaluating the effect of phototherapy on the function of neonates' neutrophils. A better understanding of the function of neutrophils in neonates before and after phototherapy would be important in order to assess potential effects on the expression of neutrofils triggered by the phototherapy treatment. The aim of this study was to assess and compare the function of neutrophils by measuring the expression of the main surface markers in icteric neonates, using flow cytometry, before and after 24 hours of phototherapy. Methodology: Neonates at a gestational age ≥ 35 weeks and at a birth weight ≥ 2000g who met the criteria of the American Academy of Pediatrics for phototherapy were included. The exclusion criteria were: congenital malformations, syndromes with chromosomal alterations, inborn errors of metabolism, infections of the STORCH group, neonatal asphyxia, sepsis or suspicion of sepsis, exchange transfusion, transfusion of blood components, and use of immunoglobulin. The evaluation of the MFI expression of CD10, CD11b, CD11c, CD15, CD16, CD18, CD62L, CD64 and CD66 was performed before and 24 hours after the initiation of phototherapy. The chi-square and Student T tests were used for data analysis. Results: Twenty-five neonates were included in the study at the mean age of 53 (27.5- 75.5) hours of life and with a mean bilirubin level of 13.6±2.85 mg/dL. There was no statistical difference in the expression of CD11b, CD15, CD18, CD62L, CD64 and percentage of neutrophils before and after 24 hours of phototherapy. There was an increase in the expression of CD10 (p=0.038) and CD16 (p=0.017) and a reduction in 10 the expression of CD11c (p=0.023) and CD66acde (p=0.004) after 24 hours of phototherapy. Conclusion: The newborns submitted to phototherapy had increased expression of CD10 and CD16 and decreased expression of CD11c and CD66acde after 24 hours of exposure, which may be related to an anti-inflammatory effect of phototherapy on the neonates exposed to this treatment.

A icterícia por hiperbilirrubinemia indireta afeta mais de 60% dos recém-nascidos a termo. O tratamento, quando necessário, é realizado através da fototerapia. Não existem estudos na literatura avaliando os efeitos da fototerapia na função dos neutrófilos de recém-nascidos. O melhor entendimento da função dos neutrófilos nos recém-nascidos antes e após a fototerapia seria importante para avaliar as possíveis repercussões na expressão dos neutrófilos desencadeadas pelo tratamento fototerápico. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar e comparar a função dos neutrófilos, através da mensuração pela citometria de fluxo da expressão dos principais marcadores de superfície em recémnascidos ictéricos, antes e após 24 horas de fototerapia. Metodologia: Foram incluídos recém-nascidos com idade gestacional ≥ 35 semanas e peso de nascimento ≥ 2000g, que possuiam critérios da Academia Americana de Pediatria para tratamento fototerápico. Os critérios de exclusão foram: mal-formações congênitas, síndromes com alterações cromossômicas, erro inato do metabolismo, infecções do grupo STORCH, asfixia neonatal, sepse ou suspeita de sepse, exsanguineotransfusão, transfusão de hemocomponentes e uso de imunoglobulina. Foi realizada a avaliação de expressão da intensidade média de fluorescência (IMF) de CD10, CD11b, CD11c, CD15, CD16, CD18, CD62L, CD64 e CD66, antes do início e após 24 horas do início da fototerapia. Foram utilizados o teste T de Student para análise dos dados. Resultados: Foram incluídos 25 recém-nascidos no estudo, com idade mediana de 53 (27.5-75.5) horas de vida e bilirrubina média de 13.6±2.85 mg/dL. Não houve diferença estatística na expressão de CD11b, CD15, CD18, CD62L, CD64 e percentual de neutrófilos antes e após 24 horas de fototerapia. Ocorreu aumento da expressão de CD10 8 (p=0.038) e CD16 (p=0.017) e redução da expressão de CD11c (p=0.023) e CD66acde (p=0.004) após 24 horas de fototerapia. Conclusão: Os recém-nascidos submetidos ao tratamento fototerápico apresentaram aumento da expressão de CD10 e de CD16 e diminuição da expressão de CD11c e de CD66acde após 24 horas de exposição, que pode estar relacionado a um efeito antiinflamatório da fototerapia nos recém-nascidos expostos a este tratamento. / Jaundice due to indirect hyperbilirubinemia affects more than 60% of term neonates. The treatment when necessary is carried out using phototherapy. There are no studies in the literature evaluating the effect of phototherapy on the function of neonates' neutrophils. A better understanding of the function of neutrophils in neonates before and after phototherapy would be important in order to assess potential effects on the expression of neutrofils triggered by the phototherapy treatment. The aim of this study was to assess and compare the function of neutrophils by measuring the expression of the main surface markers in icteric neonates, using flow cytometry, before and after 24 hours of phototherapy. Methodology: Neonates at a gestational age ≥ 35 weeks and at a birth weight ≥ 2000g who met the criteria of the American Academy of Pediatrics for phototherapy were included. The exclusion criteria were: congenital malformations, syndromes with chromosomal alterations, inborn errors of metabolism, infections of the STORCH group, neonatal asphyxia, sepsis or suspicion of sepsis, exchange transfusion, transfusion of blood components, and use of immunoglobulin. The evaluation of the MFI expression of CD10, CD11b, CD11c, CD15, CD16, CD18, CD62L, CD64 and CD66 was performed before and 24 hours after the initiation of phototherapy. The chi-square and Student T tests were used for data analysis. Results: Twenty-five neonates were included in the study at the mean age of 53 (27.5- 75.5) hours of life and with a mean bilirubin level of 13.6±2.85 mg/dL. There was no statistical difference in the expression of CD11b, CD15, CD18, CD62L, CD64 and percentage of neutrophils before and after 24 hours of phototherapy. There was an increase in the expression of CD10 (p=0.038) and CD16 (p=0.017) and a reduction in 10 the expression of CD11c (p=0.023) and CD66acde (p=0.004) after 24 hours of phototherapy. Conclusion: The newborns submitted to phototherapy had increased expression of CD10 and CD16 and decreased expression of CD11c and CD66acde after 24 hours of exposure, which may be related to an anti-inflammatory effect of phototherapy on the neonates exposed to this treatment.