Este estudo apresenta o desenvolvimento e validação de uma nova abordagem para a avaliação do cálcio intracelular em culturas de cardiomiócitos derivados de células-tronco pluripotentes induzidas humanas (hiPSC-CM - do inglês human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes) que pode ser aplicada para avaliar o efeito de drogas no acoplamento excitação-contração. O método consiste na estimulação elétrica e medição conjunta da fluorescência de forma automatizada e foi viabilizado a partir da inclusão de um sistema de estimulação elétrica em um leitor de ELISA (do inglês Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay). Um estimulador eletrônico compacto foi projetado para operar junto a um leitor de placas gerando pulsos quadrados monofásicos com duração de 5 ms e campo elétrico de 8 Vcm-1 aplicados por microeletrodos metálicos de platina-irídio em células em cultura. Uma placa de cultura normalmente utilizada em leitor de placas foi modificada para permitir a colocação do estimulador e dos eletrodos. A intensidade de fluorescência do cálcio intracelular foi avaliada utilizando um leitor de ELISA durante a estimulação elétrica em culturas de células marcadas com o indicador de Ca2+ Fluo-4 AM. A estimulação elétrica das células resultou em contrações regulares nas frequências de 0,1 Hz; 0,2 Hz; 0,3 Hz e 0,5 Hz induzidas pelo estimulador. Parâmetros dos transientes de cálcio foram estudados após a exposição de culturas de células ao Verapamil (0,05; 0,5 e 5,0 µM), a amplitude e a inclinação máxima da fase de subida foram progressivamente reduzidas com doses crescentes da droga. Os dados obtidos demonstraram que o método apresentado permite a avaliação automatizada de transientes de cálcio durante a estimulação elétrica de culturas de hiPSC-CM utilizando o sistema de estimulação em um leitor de ELISA. Esses resultados validaram a aplicabilidade do sistema ao estudo das alterações da dinâmica do cálcio intracelular induzidas por drogas em células sob estimulação elétrica. O sistema de avaliação automatizada desenvolvido pode ser ampliado para realizar a triagem de alto rendimento em bibliotecas de compostos que tem como alvo o acoplamento excitação-contração em células cardíacas humanas in vitro. / This study presents the development and validation of a new approach for the evaluation of intracellular calcium in cultures of cardiomyocytes derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSC-CM), which can be applied to evaluate the effect of drugs on excitation-contraction coupling. The method consists of electrical stimulation and joint measurement of fluorescence in an automated manner and was made possible by the inclusion of an electrical stimulation system in an ELISA (Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay). A compact electronic stimulator was designed to operate inside a plate reader generating monophasic square pulses with duration of 5 ms and electric field of 8 Vcm-1 applied by platinum-iridium metal microelectrodes to cells in culture. A culture plate used in a plate reader was modified to allow placement of the stimulator and electrodes. Fluorescence intensity of intracellular calcium was measured during electrical stimulation of cell cultures loaded with Ca2+ Fluo-4 AM indicator using a plate reader. The electrical stimulation of the cells generated regularly spaced contractions following the pace of the stimulator at the frequencies of 0.1 Hz, 0.2 Hz, 0.3 Hz and 0.5 Hz. Transient profile parameters were studied after treating cell cultures with Verapamil (0.05, 0.5 and 5.0 µM) the amplitude and the maximum slope of rising phase were progressively reduced with increasing verapamil doses. The data obtained demonstrated that the method presented allows the automated evaluation of calcium transients during the electrical stimulation of hiPSC-CM cultures using the stimulation system in an ELISA reader. These results demonstrated the applicability of the system to the study of changes in the intracellular calcium dynamics induced by drugs in electrically stimulated cells. The system developed is amenable to scaling thus allowing high content automated drug library screening for compounds that target the excitationcontraction coupling in human heart cells in vitro.

<p>Generation of DNA damage is regarded to be an important initial event in the development cancer. Consequently, a battery of tests have been developed to detect different types of genotoxic effects in order to be able to predict the potential genotoxicity and mutagenicity of chemicals, including both pharmaceutical drugs and various types of environmental and occupational agents, as well as dietary factors. The aim of this thesis was to evaluate whether the combination of the comet assay and the extended-term cultures of human lymphocytes (ETC) can be used as an alternative <i>in vitro</i> system to more commonly used transformed mammalian cell lines, and primary cell cultures from humans, when testing the potential genotoxicity of chemicals. </p><p>Using the comet assay, a panel of reference compounds showed that the ETC were found to detect the DNA-damaging effects with no remarkable difference to what has been reported in other cell types. Moreover, in comparison with a well-established rodent cell line, the mouse lymphoma L5178Y cells, the ETC showed similar sensitivity to the DNA damaging effects of the genotoxic agents hydrogen peroxide and catechol. Although there was an interindividual variation in induced DNA damage and the subsequent repair when using ETC from different blood donors, it did not seem to be of crucial importance for the identification of DNA-damaging agents. The demonstrated difference in sensitivity to catechol-induced DNA damage between freshly isolated peripheral lymphocytes and ETC may very well be due to their different proliferative status but despite this difference, both <i>in vitro</i> systems were able to identify catechol as a DNA-damaging agent at the same concentration.</p><p>Based on these results, it is proposed that the ETC and the comet assay are a useful combination when testing for the potential DNA damaging effects of chemicals. Representing easily cultivated cells possessing the normal human karyotype, where one blood sample can be used for numerous experiments performed over a long time, extended-term cultures appear to be a useful alternative, both to transformed mammalian cell lines, and primary cell cultures from humans. In fact, the extended-term lymphocytes, with or without S9 and/or lesion specific DNA repair enzymes, should be used more frequently when screening for the potential genotoxicity of chemicals.</p>

Generation of DNA damage is regarded to be an important initial event in the development cancer. Consequently, a battery of tests have been developed to detect different types of genotoxic effects in order to be able to predict the potential genotoxicity and mutagenicity of chemicals, including both pharmaceutical drugs and various types of environmental and occupational agents, as well as dietary factors. The aim of this thesis was to evaluate whether the combination of the comet assay and the extended-term cultures of human lymphocytes (ETC) can be used as an alternative in vitro system to more commonly used transformed mammalian cell lines, and primary cell cultures from humans, when testing the potential genotoxicity of chemicals. Using the comet assay, a panel of reference compounds showed that the ETC were found to detect the DNA-damaging effects with no remarkable difference to what has been reported in other cell types. Moreover, in comparison with a well-established rodent cell line, the mouse lymphoma L5178Y cells, the ETC showed similar sensitivity to the DNA damaging effects of the genotoxic agents hydrogen peroxide and catechol. Although there was an interindividual variation in induced DNA damage and the subsequent repair when using ETC from different blood donors, it did not seem to be of crucial importance for the identification of DNA-damaging agents. The demonstrated difference in sensitivity to catechol-induced DNA damage between freshly isolated peripheral lymphocytes and ETC may very well be due to their different proliferative status but despite this difference, both in vitro systems were able to identify catechol as a DNA-damaging agent at the same concentration. Based on these results, it is proposed that the ETC and the comet assay are a useful combination when testing for the potential DNA damaging effects of chemicals. Representing easily cultivated cells possessing the normal human karyotype, where one blood sample can be used for numerous experiments performed over a long time, extended-term cultures appear to be a useful alternative, both to transformed mammalian cell lines, and primary cell cultures from humans. In fact, the extended-term lymphocytes, with or without S9 and/or lesion specific DNA repair enzymes, should be used more frequently when screening for the potential genotoxicity of chemicals.

Insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), a known secretory product of intestinal subepithelial myofibroblasts (ISEMF), is essential for the intestinotrophic effects of glucagon-like peptide-2(GLP-2). I hypothesized that GLP-2 increases the production of IGF-1 by primary murine ISEMF in culture. Immunocytochemistry showed that the ISEMF stained appropriately for α smooth muscle actin and vimentin but not for desmin. The ISEMF also expressed GLP-2 receptor and IGF-1 mRNA transcripts. ISEMF treated with GLP-2 revealed a maximal increase in IGF-1 mRNA transcript levels at 10-8 M GLP-2 and 2hr. Interestingly, immunoblotting revealed an increase in P-AKT/T-AKT with GLP-2, but no changes in cAMP, P-ERK/T-ERK or calcium were detected. PI3K inhibition and kinase-dead AKT over-expression abrogated GLP-2-induction of IGF-1 mRNA, and ISEMF from GLP-2R null mice demonstrated reductions in IGF-1 mRNA and cellular IGF-1, but not in media IGF-1, vs. wild-type ISEMF. These findings suggest a possible mechanism by which GLP-2 increases intestinal growth in-vivo.

Insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), a known secretory product of intestinal subepithelial myofibroblasts (ISEMF), is essential for the intestinotrophic effects of glucagon-like peptide-2(GLP-2). I hypothesized that GLP-2 increases the production of IGF-1 by primary murine ISEMF in culture. Immunocytochemistry showed that the ISEMF stained appropriately for α smooth muscle actin and vimentin but not for desmin. The ISEMF also expressed GLP-2 receptor and IGF-1 mRNA transcripts. ISEMF treated with GLP-2 revealed a maximal increase in IGF-1 mRNA transcript levels at 10-8 M GLP-2 and 2hr. Interestingly, immunoblotting revealed an increase in P-AKT/T-AKT with GLP-2, but no changes in cAMP, P-ERK/T-ERK or calcium were detected. PI3K inhibition and kinase-dead AKT over-expression abrogated GLP-2-induction of IGF-1 mRNA, and ISEMF from GLP-2R null mice demonstrated reductions in IGF-1 mRNA and cellular IGF-1, but not in media IGF-1, vs. wild-type ISEMF. These findings suggest a possible mechanism by which GLP-2 increases intestinal growth in-vivo.

Chez la brebis, les BMPs inhibent la synthèse et la libération de FSH. La détection des ARNm de certaines BMPs dans l’hypophyse et de leurs récepteurs sur les cellules gonadotropes suggère une action paracrine/autocrine des BMPs sur la production de FSH. L’objectif de cette thèse a visé à déterminer l’importance des BMPs hypophysaires, en particulier BMP-4, dans la régulation de la sécrétion de FSH chez la brebis. Nous montrons que l’expression des ARNm du système BMP-4,analysée par RT-PCR en temps réel, ne varie pas au cours du cycle oestrien ou in vitro quelque soit le temps d’incubation (6h-48h) et le traitement (GnRH, oestradiol, activine) des cellules hypophysaires.Afin de déterminer si les cellules hypophysaires ovines sécrètent des BMPs, des milieux conditionnés(MC) hypophysaires ont été soumis à un test d’activité biologique reposant sur des cellules embryonnaires transfectées avec un élément de réponse BMPs couplé au gène rapporteur luciférase.Aucun effet des MC n’a été observé sur l’activité luciférase comparé au milieu non conditionnésuggérant l’absence ou la très faible activité BMP des MC, et cela quelque soit le temps d’incubation(6h-48h) et le traitement (GnRH, oestradiol, activine) des cellules hypophysaires. Toutefois, nous détectons une activité inhibitrice de BMPs qui est augmentée par la GnRH et l’oestradiol suggérant l’implication d’inhibiteurs de BMPs dans la régulation de la production de FSH. En conclusion,l’ensemble de nos résultats n’est pas en faveur d’un rôle de BMP-4 hypophysaire dans la synthèse de FSH chez l’adulte. Un rôle des BMPs au niveau hypophysaire via la voie endocrine peut s’envisager puisque nous avons mis en évidence une bioactivité de type BMP dans le sérum ovin. Les inhibiteurs BMPs produits par l’hypophyse, qui restent à identifier, pourraient moduler la biodisponibilité des BMPs atteignant l’hypophyse par la voie sanguine. / BMPs inhibit FSH synthesis and release in ewe. The detection of BMP mRNAs in the pituitary as well as the colocalisation of the two types of BMP receptors on gonadotrope cells suggest that these BMPs can exert paracrine/autocrine actions on FSH production. The aim of this thesis work was to determine the importance of pituitary BMPs in the regulation of FSH production in the ewe. We showed that the level of mRNAs for BMP-4 system, analyzed by real-time RT-PCR, did not vary across the oestrous cycle or in vitro whatever the incubation period (6h-48h) and the treatment (GnRH, oestradiol, activin) of pituitary cells. By using a bioactivity test based on embryonic mesenchymal cells transfected with an expression construct containing a BMP-responsive element fused to firefly luciferase reporter gene,we detected no BMP activity within conditioned media from pituitary cells whatever the incubation period (6h-48h) and the treatment (GnRH, oestradiol, activin) of the pituitary cells. However, we detected a BMP inhibitory activity which is increased by GnRH and oestradiol suggesting the implication of BMP inhibitor(s) in FSH regulation. In conclusion, the results are not in favor of a role for pituitary BMP-4 in the regulation of FSH synthesis in adult ewe. An endocrine action of BMPs at pituitary level can be evoked since BMP bioactivity was detected within ovine serum. BMP inhibitors that remain to be identified can modulate the bioavailability of BMPs reaching the pituitary by the blood way.

Estudos preliminares visando a identificação de possíveis agentes virais associados à síndrome multissistêmica do definhamento dos suínos (SMDS) revelaram uma possível associação inversa entre a presença de TTSuV1 e a ocorrência da SMDS. Com base neste achado, foi formulada a hipótese de que o TTSuV1 poderia ser capaz de inibir a multiplicação do PCV2, impedindo assim o desenvolvimento da SMDS. Buscando esclarecer esta questão, seria necessário desenvolver um sistema eficiente de replicação para este vírus, até o presente ainda não disponível. Em vista disso, foi desenvolvido um método de detecção de infecções por TTSuV em cultivos celulares para a avaliação de possíveis linhagens a serem potencialmente utilizadas para isolamento e multiplicação destes vírus. Genomas de TTSuVs foram detectados em células de linhagem de origem suína e não suína assim como em um dos lotes de tripsina. Os soros utilizados como suplemento para o meio de cultivo não apresentaram genomas de TTSuV. Desta forma, o lote de tripsina contaminado pode ser considerado uma importante fonte de contaminação, principalmente em células de origem não suína. Com o objetivo de avaliar uma possível associação entre os TTSuVs e a ocorrência da SMDS, a frequência de detecção e quantificação de genomas de TTSuV1 e TTSuV2 em tecidos e soros de suínos com e sem SMDS foram determinadas. A análise feita nos diferentes tecidos de suínos revelou uma aparente correlação inversa entre a presença do genoma de TTSuV1 e a ocorrência da SMDS. Quanto ao TTSuV2 em tecidos de suínos com e sem a SMDS, nenhuma diferença estatística foi observada. A distribuição do genoma de TTSuV1 e TTSuV2 nos diferentes tecidos examinados não revelou um órgão alvo específico. A frequência de detecção e a carga viral de TTSuV1 e 2 nas amostras de soro de suínos com e sem a SMDS não apresentaram diferença significativa. No entanto, a carga viral de TTSuV2 foi mais alta do que a carga viral de TTSuV1 nos soros de todos os grupos de animais estudados. Estes resultados indicam uma alta frequência de detecção de ambas as espécies de TTSuV em amostras de tecidos e soros de suínos com e sem a SMDS. / Preliminary studies aiming the identification of possible viral agents associated with the postweaning multisystemic wasting syndrome (PMWS) revealed a possible negative association between TTSuV1 and occurrence of PMWS. Based on this finding was hypothesized that TTSuV1 might be able to inhibit the PCV2 multiplication, preventing the development of PMWS. To better clarify this, would be require an efficient system of replication for this virus, which has not been reported in the literature. In view of this, a method for detection of TTSuV infections in cell culture was developed to assess possible cell lineages to be potentially used for virus isolation and multiplication. TTSuV genomes were detected in cell lineages of porcine and nonporcine origin as well as a batch of trypsin. Sera used as media supplement was not found to contain TTSuV genomes. Thus, the contaminated batch of trypsin can be considered an important source of contamination, especially in cells of non-porcine origin. In order to evaluate a possible association between the TTSuVs and the occurrence of PMWS, the frequency of detection and quantification of TTSuV1 and TTSuV2 genomes in tissues and sera from pigs with and without PMWS were determined. The analysis in the different tissues of pigs reveal an apparent inverse correlation between the frequency of detection of TTSuV1 genomes and the occurrence of PMWS. Regarding TTSuV2 in tissues of PMWS and non-PMWS-affected animals no significant differences was observed. The distribution of TTSuV1 and TTSuV2 genomes in tissues did not reveal any particular target organ. The frequency of detection and viral load of TTSuV1 and TTSuV2 in sera samples were no significant statistically among animals PMWS-affected and healthy pig. The mean of TTSuV2 viral load was significantly highest than TTSuV1 in sera of all groups studied. These results indicate a high frequency of detection of both TTSuV species in tissues and sera samples from PMWS-affected and healthy pig.

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Estudos preliminares visando a identificação de possíveis agentes virais associados à síndrome multissistêmica do definhamento dos suínos (SMDS) revelaram uma possível associação inversa entre a presença de TTSuV1 e a ocorrência da SMDS. Com base neste achado, foi formulada a hipótese de que o TTSuV1 poderia ser capaz de inibir a multiplicação do PCV2, impedindo assim o desenvolvimento da SMDS. Buscando esclarecer esta questão, seria necessário desenvolver um sistema eficiente de replicação para este vírus, até o presente ainda não disponível. Em vista disso, foi desenvolvido um método de detecção de infecções por TTSuV em cultivos celulares para a avaliação de possíveis linhagens a serem potencialmente utilizadas para isolamento e multiplicação destes vírus. Genomas de TTSuVs foram detectados em células de linhagem de origem suína e não suína assim como em um dos lotes de tripsina. Os soros utilizados como suplemento para o meio de cultivo não apresentaram genomas de TTSuV. Desta forma, o lote de tripsina contaminado pode ser considerado uma importante fonte de contaminação, principalmente em células de origem não suína. Com o objetivo de avaliar uma possível associação entre os TTSuVs e a ocorrência da SMDS, a frequência de detecção e quantificação de genomas de TTSuV1 e TTSuV2 em tecidos e soros de suínos com e sem SMDS foram determinadas. A análise feita nos diferentes tecidos de suínos revelou uma aparente correlação inversa entre a presença do genoma de TTSuV1 e a ocorrência da SMDS. Quanto ao TTSuV2 em tecidos de suínos com e sem a SMDS, nenhuma diferença estatística foi observada. A distribuição do genoma de TTSuV1 e TTSuV2 nos diferentes tecidos examinados não revelou um órgão alvo específico. A frequência de detecção e a carga viral de TTSuV1 e 2 nas amostras de soro de suínos com e sem a SMDS não apresentaram diferença significativa. No entanto, a carga viral de TTSuV2 foi mais alta do que a carga viral de TTSuV1 nos soros de todos os grupos de animais estudados. Estes resultados indicam uma alta frequência de detecção de ambas as espécies de TTSuV em amostras de tecidos e soros de suínos com e sem a SMDS. / Preliminary studies aiming the identification of possible viral agents associated with the postweaning multisystemic wasting syndrome (PMWS) revealed a possible negative association between TTSuV1 and occurrence of PMWS. Based on this finding was hypothesized that TTSuV1 might be able to inhibit the PCV2 multiplication, preventing the development of PMWS. To better clarify this, would be require an efficient system of replication for this virus, which has not been reported in the literature. In view of this, a method for detection of TTSuV infections in cell culture was developed to assess possible cell lineages to be potentially used for virus isolation and multiplication. TTSuV genomes were detected in cell lineages of porcine and nonporcine origin as well as a batch of trypsin. Sera used as media supplement was not found to contain TTSuV genomes. Thus, the contaminated batch of trypsin can be considered an important source of contamination, especially in cells of non-porcine origin. In order to evaluate a possible association between the TTSuVs and the occurrence of PMWS, the frequency of detection and quantification of TTSuV1 and TTSuV2 genomes in tissues and sera from pigs with and without PMWS were determined. The analysis in the different tissues of pigs reveal an apparent inverse correlation between the frequency of detection of TTSuV1 genomes and the occurrence of PMWS. Regarding TTSuV2 in tissues of PMWS and non-PMWS-affected animals no significant differences was observed. The distribution of TTSuV1 and TTSuV2 genomes in tissues did not reveal any particular target organ. The frequency of detection and viral load of TTSuV1 and TTSuV2 in sera samples were no significant statistically among animals PMWS-affected and healthy pig. The mean of TTSuV2 viral load was significantly highest than TTSuV1 in sera of all groups studied. These results indicate a high frequency of detection of both TTSuV species in tissues and sera samples from PMWS-affected and healthy pig.