Introdução: A associação de uma estatina com ezetimiba é tão eficaz quanto altas doses da mesma estatina na redução do LDL-colesterol. Os efeitos que não dependem dessa redução são chamados de pleiotrópicos, entre os quais podemos citar: melhora da função endotelial, efeitos anti-oxidantes, efeitos anti- inflamatórios, entre outros. Objetivo: comparar a ação de dois esquemas de tratamento que obtêm reduções equivalentes de LDL-colesterol (sinvastatina 80 mg ao dia e associação sinvastatina 10mg/ezetimiba 10 mg ao dia), sobre os efeitos pleiotrópicos: inflamação, função endotelial e oxidação da LDL. Métodos: estudamos 23 pacientes randomizados e na forma de cross-over 2x2. A inflamação foi mensurada através da PCR-us, a função endotelial por meio de ultra-sonografia e a oxidação de LDL pelas dosagens de LDL eletronegativa (LDL-) e do anticorpo anti-LDL-. Resultados: A redução do LDL-colesterol foi similar nos dois grupos (45,27% no grupo sinvastatina/ezetimiba (p<0,001) e 49,05% no grupo sinvastatina (p<0,001), sem diferença entre os tratamentos (p=0,968)). Os dois grupos apresentaram melhora da função endotelial (3,61% no grupo sinvastatina/ezetimiba (p=0,003) e 5,08% no grupo sinvastatina (p<0,001), não houve diferença entre os tratamentos (p=0,291)). Houve melhora nos níveis da PCR-us (redução de -22,8% no grupo sinvastatina/ezetimiba (p=0,004) e de 29,69% no grupo sinvastatina (p=0,01), sem diferenças entre os tratamentos (p=0,380)). Não houve redução significativa da LDL-. Ocorreu aumento na concentração do anticorpo anti-LDL eletronegativa apenas no grupo sinvastatina (p=0,045). Conclusões: as duas formas de tratamento são eficazes na melhora da função endotelial e dos níveis de PCR-us. Somente com o uso da sinvastatina em alta dose houve aumento nos níveis de anticorpos anti-LDL-. / Introduction: The co-administration of a statin with ezetimibe is as effective as high doses of the same statin in the reduction of the LDL-cholesterol. The effects which don´t depend of this reduction are called pleiotropic effects, some among them can be cited: endothelial function improvement, antioxidative and anti-inflammatory effects. Objective: compare the effectiveness of these two different treatments that obtain equivalent reductions of LDLcholesterol (simvastatin 80 mg once a day and co-administration of simvastatin 10 mg once a day and ezetimibe 10 mg once a day), about pleiotropic effects: inflammation, endothelial function and LDL oxidation. Methods: we have studied 23 randomized patients in a 2x2 cross-over study. Inflammation was measured by high-sensitive C reactive protein, endothelial function by echocardiography and LDL oxidation by electronegative LDL and electronegative anti-LDL antibodies levels. Results: the LDL-cholesterol was similar between the two groups (45,27% reduction in the simvastatin/ezetimibe group (p<0,001) and 49,05% reduction in the simvastatin group (p<0,001); no difference between treatments was found (p=0,968). The two groups had improvement in endothelial function (3,61% in the simvastatin/ezetimibe group (p=0,003) and 5,08% in the simvastatin group (p<0,001)), no differences was found between the two groups (p=0,291). High-sensitive C reactive protein had a 22,8% reduction in the simvastatin/ezetimiba group (p=0,004) and 29,69% reduction in the simvastatin group (p=0,01), with no significative difference in any of the two treatments (p=0,380). There was no significative difference in LDL- levels. The anti-LDL- antibodies concentration was increased only in the simvastatin group (p=0,045). Conclusion: the two forms of treatments presented some similar pleiotropic effects - improvement in endothelial function and decreased hs-CRP levels. Only with a high simvastatim dose the anti-LDL- antibodies concentration was increased.

Diversos estudos epidemiológicos mostram que nutrientes e outros compostos bioativos presentes nos alimentos (CBA) apresentam atividade quimiopreventiva contra o câncer. Assim, destaca-se o estudo dos isoprenóides devido a sua ação promissora tanto na prevenção quanto na terapia do câncer. Todavia, apesar dessas evidências, pouco se sabe a respeito da ação dessas substâncias nos processos de proliferação celular e apoptose in vivo. Assim, 141 ratos Wistar foram tratados durante duas semanas consecutivas com farnesol (grupo FR, 25 mg/100 g de peso corporal) ou óleo de milho (grupo OM; controle, 0,25 mL/100 g de peso corporal) e sacrificados em diferentes momentos após a hepatectomia parcial (HP; 0 h, 30 min, 2 h, 4 h, 8 h, 12 h, 18 h e 24 h). Os parâmetros hepáticos analisados foram a proliferação celular (núcleos marcados para PCNA/mm2), apoptose (corpúsculos apoptóticos [CA\'s] por mm2) e expressão de p65, ciclina D1 (\"western blot\") e HMG-CoA redutase (\"dot-blot\"). Os animais tratados com o isoprenóide, assim como o grupo controle, apresentaram reduzida taxa de proliferação celular até 8h após a cirurgia. No entanto, a partir desse momento, o grupo FR passou a apresentar taxa de proliferação celular inferior ao grupo OM, diferença esta que atingiu significância estatística (p<0,05) 24h após a HP. Com relação a apoptose, animais tratados com FR apresentaram maior número de CA\'s (p<0,05) do que o grupo OM 30 min após a HP. Já em relação à ação do FR em âmbito molecular, houve uma redução de 40% e 50% na expressão de p65 e ciclina D1 30min e 24h após a HP, respectivamente, embora essas diferenças não tenham atingido significância estatística (p>0,05). Além disso, animais tratados com o isoprenóide apresentaram maior (p<0,05) expressão do gene que codifica para HMG-CoA redutase 2 h e 12 h após a cirurgia. Assim, tanto a inibição da proliferação celular quanto a indução de apoptose podem ser reflexo das alterações da expressão hepática dos genes para HMG-CoA redutase, p65 e ciclina D1 por parte do isoprenóide. / Epidemiological data have shown that nutrients and others bioactive compounds in food have chemopreventive activities against cancer. Among these compounds, isoprenoids are suggested either as a chemopreventive or chemotherapy agents. However, despite these evidences, studies focused on the isoprenoids activities on cell proliferation and apoptosis in vivo are rare. Thus, the effect of the 15-carbon isoprenoid farnesol on liver regeneration after partial hepatectomy was evaluated. Wistar rats were treated for two consecutive weeks with farnesol (FR group, 25 mg/100 g body weight) or corn oil (OM group, control, 0,25 mL/100 g body weight) and killed at different time points after partial hepatectomy (HP; 0 h, 30 min, 2 h, 4 h, 8 h, 12 h, 18 h and 24 h). Still, hepatic cell proliferation (PCNA lebeled nuclei), apoptosis (quantification of apoptotic bodies), p65 and cyclin D1 protein expression (western blot) and HMG-CoA reductase mRNA expression (dot blot) were also evaluated. Comparing to OM group, farnesol treatment significantly inhibited (p<0,05) hepatic cell proliferation 24 h after HP. Regarding apoptosis, also compared to controls, farnesol treated rats presented more (p<0,05) apoptotic bodies at 30 min. Besides, there were a suggestion of a higher number of apoptotic bodies 2 and 12 hours after HP in FR group comparing to OM group. According to western blot analysis, comparing to controls, this 15-carbon isoprenoid reduced 40% and 50% p65 and cyclin D1 hepatic protein expression, 30 min and 24 h after partial hepatectomy, respectively, although the differences did not also reach the statistical significance. Furthermore, farnesol treated rats had higher (p<0,05) HMG-CoA reductase mRNA levels than controls 2 h and 12 h after the surgery. Theses data suggest that the alterations on p65, cyclin D1 and HMG¬-CoA reductase gene expression observed in FR group might be associated with the inhibition of cell proliferation and the induction of apoptosis by farnesol.

Submitted by Renata Lopes (renatasil82@gmail.com) on 2017-03-24T14:56:20Z No. of bitstreams: 1 josemarcosgirardi.pdf: 1287766 bytes, checksum: 075ed2df1583d07329df989c3ebc4738 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Adriana Oliveira (adriana.oliveira@ufjf.edu.br) on 2017-03-27T17:36:27Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 josemarcosgirardi.pdf: 1287766 bytes, checksum: 075ed2df1583d07329df989c3ebc4738 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-03-27T17:36:27Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 josemarcosgirardi.pdf: 1287766 bytes, checksum: 075ed2df1583d07329df989c3ebc4738 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011-06-09 / Alterações no remodelamento miocárdico, vascular, inflamatório, proteinúria e inflamação glomerular em ratos deficientes de óxido nítrico (NO), tratados com olmesartana medoxomila (OLM) e/ou rosuvastatina cálcica (ROS) foram estudadas após 28 dias com o objetivo de avaliar o impacto destes fármacos. Veículo (G1), Lnitro-arginina-metil-éster (L-NAME) 30mg/kg/dia (G2), OLM 5mg/kg/dia (G3), ROS 20mg/kg/dia (G4), OLM 0,5mg/kg/dia (G5), ROS 2mg/kg/dia (G6), OLM 0,5+ROS 2mg/kg/dia (G7), OLM 5+ROS 20mg/kg/dia (G8) administrados oralmente a ratos Wistar. Pressão sistólica (PS) mensurada semanalmente. Análises hematológica, bioquímica {colesterol total (CT), triglicérides (Tg), aminotransferases (AMT), fosfatase alcalina (FA), creatinina (Cr), nitrito/nitrato (NOx), Interleucina-6 (IL-6), Fator de Necrose Tumoral-alfa (TNF-α)}, urinária: {relação albumina/creatinina (RACU)}. Cortes de ventrículo esquerdo, aorta, rins (hematoxilina/eosina e Masson), analisados morfometricamente: análise transversa de cardiomiócitos (ATC), relação média e íntima sobre o lúmen arterial (MILA), fibrose perivascular de arteríolas intramiocárdicas (FPAI). Macrófagos glomerulares (MG) analisados por imunohistoquímica. L-NAME elevou a PS, ATC, MILA, FPVAI, IL-6, MG (p < 0,0001), TNFα, RACU, reduziu NOx (p < 0,01). OLM reduziu PS (p < 0,001), TNF-α (p < 0,05), IL6, ATC, MILA, FPVAIM (p < 0,0001), MG (p < 0,01), RACU (G3) (p < 0,05). ROS elevou NOx (G6), reduziu TNF-α, RACU (G4) (p< 0,05), IL-6, ATC, MILA (G4), FPAI (p < 0,0001), MG (p < 0,001). ROS potencializou efeito de OLM sobre a RACU. OLM e ROS exercem efeitos benéficos no remodelamento miocárdico, vascular, inflamatório e renal em ratos deficientes de NO. Efeitos pleiotrópicos de ROS independentes da PS e CT, mediados por suas propriedades antioxidantes / Changes in myocardial remodeling, vascular inflammation, proteinuria, and glomerular inflammation in nitric oxide (NO)-deficient rats, treated with olmesartan medoxomil (OLM) and / or rosuvastatin calcium (ROS) were studied after 28 days in order to assess the impact of these drugs. Vehicle (G1), nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) 30mg/kg/dia (G2), OLM 5mg/kg/day (G3), ROS 20mg/kg/day (G4), OLM 0,5mg/kg/day (G5), ROS 2mg/kg/day (G6), OLM 0.5+ROS 2mg/kg/day (G7), OLM 5+ROS 20mg/kg/day (G8) orally administered to Wistar rats. Systolic pressure (SBP) measured weekly. Haematological, biochemical {total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (Tg), aminotransferase (AMT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), creatinine (Cr), nitrite / nitrate (NOx), Interleukin-6 (IL-6), Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha (TNFα)}, urinary {albumin / creatinine ratio (UACR)}. Cuts from the left ventricle, aorta, kidneys (hematoxylin / eosin and Masson) were morphometrically analyzed: crosssectional area of cardiomyocytes (Acmy), intima-media thickness on the arterial lumen (IMT), perivascular fibrosis of intramyocardial arterioles ratio (PFR). Glomerular macrophages (GM) were analyzed by immunohistochemistry. L-NAME increased the SBP, Acmy, IMT, PFR, IL-6, GM (p <0.0001), TNF-α, UACR reduced NOx (p <0.01). OLM reduced SBP (p <0.001), TNF-α (p <0.05), IL-6, Acmy, IMT, PFR (p <0.0001), GM (p <0.01), UACR (G3) (p <0.05). ROS increased NOx (G6), reduced TNF-α, UACR (G4) (p <0.05), IL-6, Acmy, IMT (G4), PFR (p <0.0001), GM (p <0.001). ROS potentiated the effect of OLM on UACR. OLM and ROS exert beneficial effects on myocardial, vascular, inflammatory and renal remodeling in nitric oxide deficient rats. The pleiotropic effects of ROS were independent of SBP and TC, mediated by its antioxidant properties.

INTRODUÇÃO: Diabetes mellitus tipo 2 (DM2) é um fator de risco isolado para coronariopatia, principalmente quando associado à microalbuminúria (MA). Alterações estruturais e funcionais das lipoproteínas não são totalmente esclarecidas nesse contexto. OBJETIVO: Avaliar, em pacientes DM2, a influência da presença da MA e do tratamento com estatina ou insulina nas transferências para HDL (T) de lípides e no tamanho desta lipoproteína. MÉTODOS: Estudamos 33 pacientes DM2 e 34 controles pareados para idade. Uma nanoemulsão lipídica artificial radiomarcada com 3H-Triglicéride (TG) e 14C-Colesterol Livre (CL) ou 3H-Colesterol Éster (CE) e 14C-Fosfolípide (FL) foi incubada com plasma. A nanoemulsão e as lipoproteínas foram precipitadas, exceto a HDL, que teve sua radioatividade contada. O diâmetro da HDL foi mensurado por método de dispersão da luz. RESULTADOS: A TFL (%) foi maior no grupo com DM2 que no grupo controle (25,2±3,2 e 19,7±3,2 respectivamente; p<0,001), assim como a TCL (%): 9,1±2,7 e 6,3±1,5 respectivamente; p<0,001. O diagnóstico de MA não se associou às mudanças da propriedade de transferência. O uso da insulina associou-se à menor TFL(%): 23,5±2,1 contra 26,1±3,3; p=0,018. Já o uso da estatina associou-se à queda de todas: TCE(%): 3,5±0,9; TFL(%):23,8±2,0; TTG(%): 3,9±0,8; TCL(%):7,4±1,3 quando comparado ao grupo que não usava estatina (TCE(%):5,9±2,4; TFL(%):26,9±3,6; TTG(%):6,4±2,2; TCL(%):11,1±2,6). O tamanho de HDL foi semelhante em qualquer condição analisada. CONCLUSÕES: DM2 aumenta a transferência de lípides de superfície para HDL, enquanto o uso de estatina diminuiu todas as transferências. A presença de MA não se associou às alterações das transferências de lípides / INTRODUCTION: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2) is an isolated risk factor for coronary artery disease, especially when associated to microalbuminuria (MA). Structural and functional alterations of lipoproteins are not well known in this context. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate, in DM2 patients, the influence both of MA and the treatment with statins or insulin on the lipids transfer to HDL (T) and on the size of this lipoprotein. METHODS: We studied 33 DM2 patients and 34 controls paired for age. An artificial lipidic nanoemulsion radio labeled with 3H-Triglyceride (TG) and 14C-Free Cholesterol (FC) or 3H-Cholesterol Ester (CE) and 14C-Phospholipid (PL) was incubated with plasma. The nanoemulsion and the lipoproteins were precipitated, except for HDL, that had its radioactivity measured. The HDL diameter was measured by laser light scattering method. RESULTS: The TPL (%) was greater in the DM2 group then in the control group (25,2±3,2 and 19,7±3,2 respectively; p<0,001), as well as TFC (%): 9,1±2,7 and 6,3±1,5 respectively; p<0,001. The MA did not affect the transfer. Insulinotherapy was associated with less TPL(%): 23,5±2,1 against 26,1±3,3; p=0,018, and the statin therapy with less transfer of all lipids: TCE(%): 3,5±0,9; TPL(%):23,8±2,0; TTG(%): 3,9±0,8; TFC(%):7,4±1,3 when compared to the group that did not use statin: TCE(%):5,9±2,4; TPL(%):26,9±3,6; TTG(%):6,4±2,2; TFC(%):11,1±2,6. The HDL size was about the same under all the circumstances analyzed. CONCLUSIONS: DM2 is associated with greater transfer of superficial lipids to HDL, while the statin usage was associated with a smaller transfer of all lipids. The MA diagnosis was not associated with any change in lipids transfer

Background: Genome-wide association studies (GWAs) have identified almost one hundred genetic loci associated with variances in human blood lipid phenotypes including very low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, total cholesterol and triglycerides. Nevertheless the revealed loci only explain a small fraction of heritability and therefore a subtile phenotype of cholesterol homoestasis was examined in our study for the very first time. Methods and Results: Using a multi-stage approach of a GWA, firstly, a genome-wide analysis (Affymetrix 500K GeneChip) for serum lanosterol and serum total cholesterol using LC-MS/MS was conducted in 1495 participants of the KORA-S3/F3 cohort with subsequent replication in two additional independent samples of the the KORA-S3/F3 cohort (n = 1157) and CARLA cohort (n = 1760). Two genetic variants, SNP rs7703051 and rs17562686, in the HMGCR locus were significantly associated with serum lanosterol and showed similar effects of elevated serum lanosterol for each minor allele (combined n = 4412: p = 1,4 x 10-10, +7,1% and p = 4,3 x 10-6, +7,8%). Furthermore, rs7703051 showed a nominal statistical significance to serum cholesterol (p = 0,04). A combined analysis of both SNPs demonstrated that observed associations of rs17562686 can be partly explained by LD with rs7703051 being the primary polymorphism in that study. Nevertheless, rs17562686 shows consistent independent effects on serum lanosterol, thus being associated to a lipid phenotype for the very first time. The following SNP-fine mapping of the HMGCR locus was carried out in the CARLA cohort with subsequent validation in the LE-Heart cohort (n = 1895). The recently published SNP rs3846662 being in tight LD with rs7703051 could be associated with variances of serum lanosterol in both cohorts and functional in vivo studies of gen expression using qRT-PCR assays demonstrated a highly significant association of higher expression of alternatively spliced HMGCR mRNA lacking exon 13 with homozygosity for the rs3846662 major allele in 51 human liver samples (p < 0,01) and 958 human PBMCs (p = 2,1 x 10-7). The overall HMGCR gen expression was not affected. Further investigation of in vivo HMG-CoA reductase enzyme activity in both human samples (n = 48 and n = 55) using anionic exchange column chromatography and scintillation counting of [3-14C]-HMG-CoA and [5-3H]-mevalonolacton did not show any significant results. In addition there was not any association in the LE-Heart cohort between these SNPs and the development of CAD. Finally, rs7703051 could be replicated for already published total cholesterol (combined n = 4412) and rs3846662 for LDL-cholesterol (LE-Heart n = 1895). Since fine mapping in CARLA showed several SNPs throughout the HMGCR locus being in LD with rs17562686 we performed a DNA sequencing of the extended 5´-HMGCR promotor region in six human liver samples. A unknown SNP was discovered in the promotor but could not be associated with any of the examined phenotypes mentioned above. The minor allele of SNP rs5909 situated next to the stop codon and being in high LD with rs17562686 was associated with elevated serum lanosterol and slightly reduced HMGCR gen expression, but further studies including the above mentioned as well as measurement of 3’-UTR transcript lengths using qRT-PCR assays did not produce significant results. Conclusion: The phenotype serum lanosterol could be associated with genetic polymorphisms (e.g. rs7703051) in the HMGCR locus. Therefore already published associations of HMGCR with total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol can be explained by variances of cholesterol homeostasis. The SNP rs17562686 could be associated with a phenotype of human blood lipids for the very first time. Subsequent gen expression analyses demonstrated a highly significant association of rs3846662 with variant patterns of HMGCR alternative splicing. A significant effect of alternatively spliced protein on enzyme activity and a association of these SNPs with CAD could not be shown.

Statins, common cholesterol control drugs, are appreciated to have promising anticancer activity through inhibition of the mevalonate pathway. Several lines of evidence suggest that certain tumours are susceptible to statins, but the underlying molecular features arbitrating this sensitivity remain unknown. We hypothesize that (i) not all statins will behave equivalently in the context of anticancer therapy, and (ii) a molecularly-defined subset of tumours are intrinsically sensitive to statins. My objectives have therefore been to further our understanding of functional differences between statins influencing their anticancer effects, and to investigate molecular features associated with statin sensitivity in breast cancer. Specifically, this thesis addresses two aims: (i) to characterize differential interactions between four statins and the xenobiotic transporter P-glycoprotein (P-gp; also known as ABCB1), and (ii) to identify molecular features associated with fluvastatin and lovastatin sensitivity in breast tumour cell lines. We first characterized the interactions of statins with P-gp in vitro and in multidrug-resistant (MDR) tumour cells. While lovastatin could directly bind to P-gp and modulate MDR, no significant interactions were observed with fluvastatin. Fluvastatin may therefore be appropriate for use in unselected patients, to avoid adverse drug interactions with coadministered P-gp substrate chemotherapeutics. Fluvastatin has also shown promise in breast cancer treatment, where molecular features predictive of statin sensitivity would be particularly valuable. A panel of 19 immortalized breast cell lines was therefore characterized for sensitivity to fluvastatin and lovastatin. Relatively statin-sensitive cells underwent apoptosis upon statin treatment, and were more likely to have an estrogen receptor alpha (ERα)-negative, basal-like phenotype. By mining available baseline gene expression data, a candidate 10-gene signature predictive of fluvastatin sensitivity was also generated. Taken together, this research provides insight into molecular markers of statin sensitivity that may facilitate fast-tracking of these drugs to clinical trials in subsets of cancer patients most likely to respond.

The perception is that inborn errors of metabolism (IEM) are rare, but the reality is that more than 600 lEMs are now recognized. The organic aciduria, 3-methylcrotonyl-CoA carboxylase (MCC) deficiency arises when 3-methylcrotonyl-Coenzyme A (CoA) carboxylase that participates in the fourth step of the leucine catabolism is defective. Tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) based screening programmes in North America, Europe and Australia, showed that MCC deficiency is the most frequent organic aciduria detected, with an average frequency of 1:50 000. Therefore MCC deficiency is considered an emerging disease in these regions. The incidence of MCC deficiency in the Republic of South Africa (RSA) is not yet known. However, one 48 year old male Caucasian individual (HGS) was diagnosed suffering from mild MCC deficiency, since elevated levels of 3-hydroxyisovaleric acid, 3- hydroxyisovalerylcarnitine, 3-methylcrotonylglycine was present in his urine. Several groups are currently working on various aspects of this emerging disease with the focus on the molecular characterisation of MCC deficiency. In the RSA no molecular based diagnostic method which complements MS/MS screening programmes have yet been implemented. Therefore, the aim of this study was to implement the necessary techniques for the molecular characterisation of MCC deficiency, the determination of the sequence of the open reading frame (ORF) of mccA and mccB subunits to determine which mutation(s) are present in the South African MCC deficient patient. For the implementation of the molecular characterisation, a two-pronged approached was used to characterize MCC of a MCC non-deficient individual (CFC). This approach included the reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) amplification of the ORFs of the associated genes [mccA (19 exons) and mccB (17 exons] and the PCR amplification of selected (genomic deoxyribonucleic acid (gDNA) regions (exons mccA8, mccA11 , mccB5, mccB6 and mccB5-intron 5-6 exon 6 (mccB5-6) which have been found to have mutations associated with MCC deficiency in Caucasians. The sequence analyses produced surprising results of the amplified ORFs (CFCmccA and CFCmccB) of the MCC non-deficient individual CFC. A non-synonymous single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) (1391C→A, H464P) associated with MCC deficiency (Gallardo et al., 2001) was identified in the CFCmccA subunit. Another SNP (1368G→A, A456A) recently listed in GenBank was observed in the amplified CFCmccB ORF. No significant novel variations or described mutations were identified in the amplified genomic regions mccA8, mccA11 ,mccB5, mccB6 and mccB5-6. The implemented molecular approach was used to characterise MCC of our MCC deficient patient (HGS). The patient did not have any mutation in the four selected exons mccA8, mccA11, mccB5, mccB6 or the genomic region mccB5-6. The RT-PCR amplification of both ORFs (HGSmccA and HGSmccB) resulted in multiple amplicons. Gel extracted amplicons of the expected size were sequenced. Of the 36 exons, 34 exons were sequenced. This includes all 19 exons of HGSmccA and 15 of 17 exons of HGSmccB (exons 1-6 and exons 9-17). The non-synonymous SNP (1391C→A, H464P) detected in CFCmccA (MCC non-deficient individual), seems to be present in the HGSmccA subunit of the MCC deficient individual, HGS. The HGSmccB amplicons could not be entirely sequenced. However, the region exon 1-6 and 9-17 was sequenced but no described or novel mutations were identified. The lack of sequence data of region exon 7-8 led to an incomplete molecular characterisation of the MCC deficiency in HGS. In conclusion, the basic methods and techniques for the molecular characterisation of MCC deficient patients have been implemented locally. A few additional sequencing primers need to be designed to cover mccB7 and mccB8 as well as the entire coding and non-coding strands of each MCC gene (mccA and mccB). The primers for RT-PCR of both mccA and mccB need to be further refined to ensure better specificity. / Thesis (M.Sc. (Biochemistry))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2007.

Submitted by Caroline Xavier (caroline.xavier@pucrs.br) on 2017-05-26T17:50:16Z No. of bitstreams: 1 TES_MARIANE_ROTTA_PARCIAL.pdf: 2374056 bytes, checksum: 0b798c90ce9ab78e6edbfeb524d79d97 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-05-26T17:50:17Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 TES_MARIANE_ROTTA_PARCIAL.pdf: 2374056 bytes, checksum: 0b798c90ce9ab78e6edbfeb524d79d97 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-12-19 / Conselho Nacional de Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento Cient?fico e Tecnol?gico - CNPq / The cellular milieu is a complex and crowded aqueous solution. It is thus expected that this large concentration of macromolecules causes deviations from solution ideality. To mimic the intracellular environment, crowding effects are commonly studied in vitro using crowding agents. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of macromolecular synthetic crowding agents on the apparent steady-state kinetic parameters (Km, kcat, and kcat/Km) for the chemical reaction catalyzed by 2-trans-enoyl-ACP (CoA) from Mycobacterium tuberculosis (InhA). The results showed that ficoll 70, ficoll 400, and dextran 70 had negligible effects on InhA activity in the range of concentrations used. On the other hand, a complex effect was observed for PEG 6000. Sucrose, which was employed in control experiments, decreased both the kcat/Km values for NADH and kcat for 2-trans-dodecenoyl-CoA (DD-CoA) substrate in a concentration-dependent manner. Molecular dynamics results suggest that InhA adopts a more compact conformer in sucrose solution, which likely accounts for the steady-state kinetic results. The presence of crowding agents appears to alter the relative abundance of different conformers of InhA in solution. The effects of the crowding agents on the energy (Ea and E?), enthalpy (?H#), entropy (?S#), and Gibbs free energy (?G#) of activation were determined. The ?G# values for all crowding agents tested were similar to dilute buffer, suggesting that excluded volume effects did not facilitate stable activated ES# complex formation. Nonlinear Arrhenius plot for PEG 6000 suggests that "soft" interactions may play a role in macromolecular crowding effects. / O meio intracelular ? uma solu??o aquosa complexa, pois ? preenchida por diversos tipos de macromol?culas. Espera-se que essa grande concentra??o de macromol?culas resulte em um comportamento n?o ideal para a solu??o. Para mimetizar o ambiente intracelular, os efeitos do da ocupa??o macromolecular s?o comumente estudados in vitro utilizando agentes de crowding. O objetivo central do presente estudo ? avaliar os poss?veis efeitos de agentes de crowding macromolecular sint?ticos nos par?metros cin?ticos aparentes de estado-estacion?rio (Km, kcat e kcat/Km) para a rea??o qu?mica catalisada pela 2-trans-enoil-ACP(CoA) redutase de Mycobacterium tuberculosis (InhA). Os resultados mostraram que ficoll 70, ficoll 400 e dextran 70 t?m efeitos negligenci?veis na atividade da InhA na faixa de concentra??o utilizada. Por outro lado, um complexo efeito foi observado na presen?a do PEG 6000. A sacarose, que foi utilizada como controle nos experimentos, reduziu os valores de kcat/Km para o NADH e kcat para o 2-trans-dodecenoil-CoA de uma maneira concentra??o-dependente. Os resultados de din?mica molecular sugerem que a InhA adota uma forma mais compacta na presen?a de sacarose, o que provavelmente tem efeitos nos resultados de cin?tica de estado-estacion?rio. A presen?a dos agentes de crowding parece alterar a abund?ncia relativa dos diferentes conf?rmeros da InhA em solu??o. Os efeitos do crowding macromolecular na energia (Ea e E?), entalpia (?H#), entropia (?S#) e energia livre de Gibbs de ativa??o (?G#) foram determinados. Os valores de ?G# para todos os agentes de crowding testados foram similares ao tamp?o Pipes 100 mM, sugerindo que os efeitos do volume exclu?do n?o facilitam a forma??o do complexo ativado est?vel ES#. A n?o linearidade do gr?fico de Arrhenius para o PEG 6000 sugere que intera??es ?brandas? possam atuar nos efeitos do crowding macromolecular.

As deficiências da 3-hidroxiacil-CoA desidrogenase de cadeia longa (LCHAD) e da proteína trifuncional mitocondrial (MTP) são defeitos hereditários na oxidação de ácidos graxos. Os pacientes apresentam acúmulo de ácidos graxos hidroxilados de cadeia longa (LCHFA), especialmente os ácidos 3- hidroxitetradecanoico (3HTA) e 3-hidroxipalmítico (3HPA), no sangue e outros tecidos. A sintomatologia é bastante variada, incluindo cardiomiopatia severa e sintomas musculares como fraqueza, dor e episódios recorrentes de rabdomiólise, assim como hepatopatia, retinopatia, hipotonia, neuropatia periférica, atraso no desenvolvimento e na fala, podendo levar a morte ainda na infância. Considerando que os mecanismos patogênicos do dano aos tecidos musculares cardíaco e esquelético apresentados por esses pacientes ainda não estão esclarecidos, o presente trabalho teve como objetivo investigar os efeitos in vitro do 3HTA e 3HPA sobre importantes parâmetros da bioenergética mitocondrial, tais como os parâmetros respiratórios estado 3, estado 4, razão de controle respiratório (RCR) e estado desacoplado, bem como o potencial de membrana (ΔΨm), o inchamento, a liberação de citocromo c, a capacidade de retenção de Ca2+ e o conteúdo do NAD(P)H em mitocôndrias isoladas de músculo cardíaco e esquelético de ratos jovens. Inicialmente, observamos que o 3HTA e 3HPA em baixas concentrações (10-30 UM) aumentaram o estado 4 e diminuíram o RCR em mitocôndrias de músculo esquelético, indicando um efeito desacoplador. Quando em concentrações mais elevadas (50-100 UM), esses ácidos graxos diminuíram o estado 4, o estado 3 e o estado desacoplado da respiração mitocondrial, característicos de inibidores metabólicos. Ainda observamos que o 3HPA foi capaz de produzir efeitos semelhantes sobre a respiração mitocondrial em fibras musculares permeabilizadas, validando os resultados obtidos em mitocôndrias isoladas. Além disso, demonstramos que o 3HPA e o 3HTA (30 UM) diminuíram marcadamente o ΔΨm, o conteúdo de NAD(P)H, a capacidade de retenção de Ca2+ e a produção de ATP, além de induzirem inchamento, em mitocôndrias obtidas de ambos os tecidos e suplementadas com Ca2+. Esses efeitos foram prevenidos por ciclosporina A e ADP, assim como pelo rutênio vermelho, indicando o envolvimento do PTP e do Ca2+, respectivamente. O fato de termos verificado que o 3HPA aumentou marcadamente a fluidez das membranas mitocondriais em músculo esquelético indica que esse mecanismo pode estar envolvido no prejuízo da homeostase mitocondrial causado por esses compostos. Finalmente, verificamos que o análogo dicarboxílico do 3HTA, o ácido 3-hidroxitetradecanodioico, que também se acumula nos pacientes, não alterou os parâmetros avaliados, indicando uma ação seletiva para os ácidos monocarboxílicos. Analisando nossos resultados em conjunto, demonstramos que os principais LCHFA acumulados nas deficiências da LCHAD e MTP prejudicam a homeostase mitocondrial em músculo cardíaco e esquelético. Presumimos que esse mecanismo possa explicar, pelo menos em parte, a cardiomiopatia severa, os sintomas e alterações musculares que acometem os pacientes afetados. / Long-chain 3-hydroxy-acyl-CoA dehydrogenase (LCHAD) and mitochondrial trifunctional protein (MTP) deficiencies are inborn errors of fatty acid oxidation. Affected patients present accumulation of long-chain hydroxylated fatty acids (LCHFA), particularly 3-hydroxytetradecanoic (3HTA) and 3-hydroxypalmitic (3HPA) acids, in blood and other tissues. The symptomatology is varied, including severe cardiomyopathy and muscular symptoms such as weakness, muscle pain and recurrent episodes of rhabdomyolysis, as well as hepatopathy, retinopathy, hypotonia, peripheral neuropathy, speech and development delay, leading to premature death. Considering that the pathogenesis of cardiac and skeletal muscle damage presented by the patients are still not established, the aim of the present work was to investigate the in vitro effects of 3HTA and 3HPA on important parameters of mitochondrial bioenergetics, namely the respiratory parameters state 3, state 4, respiratory control ratio (RCR) and uncoupled respiration, as well as mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm), swelling, Ca2+ retention capacity and NAD(P)H redox state in cardiac and skeletal muscle mitochondria isolated from young rats. Initially, we observed that 3HTA and 3HPA at lower concentrations (10-30 UM) increased state 4 and decreased RCR in skeletal muscle mitochondria, indicating an uncoupling effect. At higher concentrations (50-100 UM), these fatty acids decreased state 4, state 3 and uncoupled respiration, suggesting metabolic inhibition. Furthermore, we observed that 3HPA was capable to provoke similar effects on mitochondrial respiration in permeabilized skeletal muscle fibers, validating the results obtained in isolated mitochondria. We also demonstrated that 3HPA and 3HTA (30 UM) strongly decreased the ΔΨm, NAD(P)H content, Ca2+ retention capacity and ATP production, besides inducing swelling, in mitochondria obtained from both tissues and supplemented with Ca2+. These effects were prevented by cyclosporin A and ADP, as well as by ruthenium red, indicating the involvement of mitochondrial permeability transition and Ca2+, respectively. The fact that 3HPA strongly increased the mitochondrial membrane fluidity in skeletal muscle indicates that this mechanism may be involved in the mitochondrial bioenergetics impairment caused by these compounds. Finally we verified that the 3HTA dicarboxylic analogue, 3-hydroxytetradecanodioic acid, which also accumulates in the affected patients, did not alter the tested parameters, indicating a selective action of the monocarboxylic acids. Taken together, we demonstrated that the major LCHFA accumulated in LCHAD and MTP deficiencies impair mitochondrial homeostasis in cardiac and skeletal muscle. We presume that these mechanisms may explain, at least in part, the severe cardiomyopathy, symptomatology and muscle alterations characteristics of the patients affected by these disorders.

A atorvastatina é um dos principais fármacos hipolipemiantes da classe das estatinas, sendo atualmente, prescrita mundialmente para a redução de doenças cardiovasculares. Trata-se de um potente inibidor da enzima HMG – CoA redutase, limitando a síntese de colesterol e triglicerídeos. Mesmo sendo comercializada há praticamente 15 anos, os comprimidos revestidos de atorvastatina não estão inclusos em nenhuma farmacopéia ou compendio oficial, tendo somente uma sugestão de condição para o teste de dissolução proposto pelo FDA. Com base na sua classificação biofarmacêutica e por se tratar de um fármaco muito pouco solúvel em água, a atorvastatina torna-se um possível candidato ao desenvolvimento de um método de dissolução baseado em uma correlação in vivo/in vitro. Deste modo, buscou-se desenvolver um método de dissolução associado a dados in vivo para comprimidos de atorvastatina. Avaliou-se a solubilidade do fármaco em diferentes meios, o tipo de aparato e a velocidade de agitação. As condições selecionadas foram: equipamento pá a 50 rpm e 900 mL do meio tampão fosfato de potássio pH 6,0. O método de dissolução foi validado utilizando CLAE e espectrofotometria no UV para quantificação do fármaco dissolvido. As condições de dissolução também foram avaliadas quanto ao seu poder discriminativo, empregando-se comprimidos de dois diferentes lotes pilotos de atorvastatina e do produto referência, apresentando resultado satisfatório. Foi necessário a utilização de um fator de escala de tempo, para associar os valores de fração absorvida e fração dissolvida do fármaco, podendo se construir, então, uma correlação in vivo/ in vitro nível A, com coeficiente de correlação de 0,9840 para o produto referência e 0,9845 para o piloto B. Sendo assim, o teste de dissolução proposto pode ser utilizado como método discriminativo de controle de qualidade para avaliar o perfil de dissolução da atorvastatina comprimido, bem como no desenvolvimento de novas formulações. / Atorvastatin is a major class of lipid-lowering drugs statins, being the most widely prescribed drug in the world to reduce cardiovascular disease. It is a potent inhibitor of HMG - CoA reductase limiting the synthesis of cholesterol and triglycerides. It was approved for use by FDA in 1996 and released in the Brazilian market in 1998. Although marketed for almost 15 years, atorvastatin coated tablet is not included in any compendium official or pharmacopoeia, with only, a condition described by the FDA for the dissolution test. Based on its biopharmaceutical classification and due the very slightly soluble drug in water, atorvastatin becomes a likely candidate for the development of a dissolution test based on in vivo in/vitro correlation. Thus, aimed to develop a dissolution method of atorvastatin tablets associated with in vivo data. The solubility of the drug in different media, the type of apparatus and stirring speed were evaluated. The conditions used were: Equipment paddle at 50 rpm and 900 ml of dissolution medium containing potassium phosphate buffer pH 6.0. The dissolution method was validated using HPLC and UV spectrophotometric for the quantification of the drug dissolved. The dissolution conditions were also evaluated for their discriminative power, using two different pilot batches of atorvastatin tablets and the reference product, presenting satisfactory results. It was necessary to use a scale factor of time, to associated the values of absorbed fraction and dissolved fraction of the drug, which can be built, a correlation in vivo/ in vitro level A, with a correlation coefficient of 0.9840 for the reference product and 0.9845 for the pilot B, respectively. Therefore, the dissolution test proposed can be used as method of discriminating the quality control, and in the development of the new formulations.