Introdução: A disfunção erétil (DE) é definida como a incapacidade de alcançar ou manter a ereção do pênis para um desempenho sexual satisfatório, contribuindo significativamente para a baixa qualidade de vida e morbidade psicossocial masculina. A endotelina-1 (ET-1), um potente peptídeo vasoconstritor que promove contração lenta e sustentada em células de músculo liso vascular, possui grande importância na fisiopatologia da DE. Diversos estudos mostram que o aumento da expressão de mediadores inflamatórios está intimamente ligado ao desenvolvimento da DE. O inflamassoma é um complexo multiprotéico do sistema imune inato que atua através da ativação da caspase-1 e resulta na maturação de citocinas pró- inflamatórias, tais como interleucina- IL (IL-l?). O receptor NLRP3 faz parte do inflamassoma e sua ativação leva a clivagem de caspase-1 e consequente secreção de IL-1?. A ET-1, também possui papel importante na inflamação crônica vascular, mediando a liberação de citocinas pró-inflamatórias. No entanto, ainda é desconhecido se a ação pró- inflamatória da ET-1 em células de músculo liso é mediada pela ativação da via do inflamassoma. Hipótese: A ET-1 ativa o NLRP3 em células do músculo liso do corpo cavernoso (CMLCC), promovendo alterações na reatividade do corpo cavernoso (CC). Objetivo: Avaliar o papel da endotelina-1 na ativação do NLRP3 em CMLCC de camundongos. Métodos: CMLCC de camundongos C578BL/6 (WT) e NLRP3-/- foram cultivadas em meio de cultura DMEM acrescido de soro fetal bovino (SFB), 10%, foram pré- incubadas com endotelina-1 nas concentrações de 10-9, 10-8 e 10-7 M, em presença de LPS ou veículo. Avaliamos o efeito da deleção do NLRP3 sobre a reatividade do CC (contratilidade e relaxamento mediante estímulos por campo elétrico e/ou farmacológico). Após, avaliamos o efeito da ET-1 na ativação do NLRP3, nas alterações sobre a reatividade do CC de camundongos WT, e se estas persistiriam nos camundongos NLRP3-/- e caspase1/11-/- . Resultados: As células apresentaram-se fluorescentes para marcação para ?-actina e não para Von Willebrand, caracterizando assim que não houve contaminação com células endoteliais. A incubação com a ET-1 10-7 M por 24 h na presença de LPS ou veículo aumentou a atividade da caspase-1 em CMLCC de camundongos WT e este efeito não ocorreu nas CMLCC de camundongos NLRP3-/-. Não se observou diferença com relação à massa corporal ou massa dos órgãos entre os animais WT e NLRP3-/-. O CC de animais NLRP3-/- apresenta prejuízo para o relaxamento mediado por nitroprussiato de sódio (NPS) quando comparado com as tiras de CC de camundongos WT. A incubação com ET-1 10-7 M por 4 horas promove aumento na contração para fenilefrina (PE) e prejuízo no relaxamento induzido por nitroprussiato de sódio (NPS), e o mesmo efeito não é observado nas tiras de CC de camundongos NLRP3-/- e caspase1/11-/-. Conclusão: O NLRP3 contribui para o aumento na contração e prejuízo no relaxamento produzido pela ET-1 em CC de camundongos, possivelmente através da ativação da caspase-1 / Introduction: Erectile dysfunction (ED) is defined as the inability to achieve or maintain penile erection to perform sexual intercourse, it contributes significantly to the low quality of life and male psychosocial morbidity. Endothelin-1 (ET-1), a potent vasoconstrictor peptide that promotes slow and sustained contraction of vascular smooth muscle cells, has great importance in the pathophysiology of ED. Several studies show that increased expression of inflammatory mediators is closely linked to the development of ED. The inflammasome is a multiproteic complex of the innate immune system that acts through activation of caspase-1, which leads to maturation of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin-1 beta (IL-l?). The activation of NLRP3 receptor, part of the inflammasome, leads to caspase-1 cleavage and subsequent secretion of IL-1?. ET-1 also plays an important role in chronic vascular inflammation by mediating the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines. However, it is still unknown whether pro-inflammatory actions of ET-1 on smooth muscle cells is mediated by the activation of the inflammasome. Hypothesis: ET-1 activates NLRP3 in smooth muscle cells of the corpora cavernosa (SMCCC), promoting changes in corpus cavernosum (CC) reactivity. Objective: To evaluate the role of endothelin-1 in the activation of the NLRP3 in SMCCC of mice. Methods: SMCCC of C57BL/6 (WT) and NLRP3-/- mice were grown in DMEM culture medium supplemented with bovine fetal serum (FBS) 10%, pre-incubated with endothelin-1 at concentrations of 10-9, 10- 8 and 10-7M, in the presence of LPS or vehicle. We evaluated the effect of the NLRP3 deletion on the reactivity of the CC (contractility and relaxation by electric field and/or pharmacological stimulation). After that, we evaluated the ET-1 effect on activation NLRP3, changes on the reactivity of the CC of WT, and if these alterations would persist NLRP3-/- and caspase1/11-/- mice. Results: The cells presented fluorescent labeling to ?-actin, but not for Von Willebrand factor, characterizing absence of endothelial cells contamination. The incubation with 10-7 M ET-1 for 24 h in the presence of LPS or vehicle increased caspase-1 activity in SMCCC from WT, but not from NLRP3-/- mice. No difference was observed in body mass or weight of the organs between WT and NLRP3-/- animals. The CC from NLRP3-/- animals displayed impaired relaxation mediated by sodium nitroprusside (SNP) when compared to WT CC. The incubation with ET-1 10-7 M for 4 hours promoted an increase in the contraction to phenylephrine (PE) and reduced relaxation induced by sodium nitroprusside (SNP). The same effect was not observed in CC strips from NLRP3-/- and caspase1/11-/- mice. Conclusion: NLRP3 contributes to the increase in contraction and impaired relaxation produced by ET-1 in mice CC, possibly by activation of caspase-1

La mort cellulaire programmée ou apoptose est un mécanisme conservé chez les eucaryotes multicellulaires qui contribue au développement embryonnaire et à l'homéostasie cellulaire des organismes. Dans les cellules vivantes, l'activité des protéases qui exécutent le programme de mort cellulaire, les caspases, est contrôlée par des signaux de survie provenant de l'environnement cellulaire. Les caspases initiatrices de l'apoptose régulée par l'environnement, la caspase 9 et la caspase 8 sont activées respectivement par l'apoptosome et par les récepteurs de mort. Les signaux environnementaux, parmi lesquels le contact avec la matrice extracellulaire ou la présence de facteurs de croissance, activent des voies de signalisation contrôlant la machinerie de mort cellulaire. La voie des MAPK1/3 est une voie de signalisation contrôlée par le proto-oncogènes Ras et comportant les kinases Raf, MEK1/2 et MAPK1/3 (ERK2/1 ou p42/p44). La voie des MAPK1/3, qui est impliquée dans la prolifération et la différentiation cellulaire, joue un rôle essentiel dans la survie cellulaire. L'objectif de cette thèse a été de caractériser les mécanismes moléculaires impliqués dans le contrôle de la mort cellulaire par la voie des MAPK1/3. Ce travail est basé sur l'utilisation d'une forme active et inductible de la kinase Raf-1 (DRaf-1:ER) dont l'activation forte et prolongée correspond à une induction pathologique de la voie des MAPK1/3. Nous avons montré que, selon le type cellulaire, l'activation de deltaRaf-1:ER favorise la survie ou la mort cellulaire. Dans les cellules fibroblastiques CCL39, l'activation de deltaRaf-1:ER protège de la mort cellulaire mitochondriale induite par la privation en sérum du milieu de culture. Dans ces conditions, nous avons montré que la stimulation de Raf-1 :ER bloque l'activation de la caspase-9 mais n'empêche pas la délocalisation du cytochrome c, la multimérisation d'APAF1 ni le recrutement de la procaspase 9 dans l'apoptosome. Ce mécanisme post mitochondrial de protection contre la mort cellulaire dépend de la néo-synthèse des protéines et nécessite une activité continue de la kinase MEK. A l'inverse, dans les cellules HEK 293 issues de rein embryonnaire et présentant des caractéristiques neuronales, nous avons montré que l'activation soutenue de la voie des MAPK1/3 par DRaf1-ER induit une mort cellulaire massive. Celle-ci est caractérisée par l'activation des caspases et la fragmentation de l'ADN. La mort cellulaire est détectée plus de 24 heures après l'activation de Raf1-ER, elle est maximale à 48h. L'induction de la mort cellulaire ne requière la synthèse protéique que durant la phase précoce d'activation mais nécessite l'activité continue du module MEK/MAPK. La mort cellulaire résulte de l'activation de la caspase 8 et n'implique pas la voie mitochondriale, elle est caractérisée par une vacuolisation importante du cytoplasme des cellules qui l'apparente à une forme particulière d'apoptose. L'inactivation des fonctions du récepteur fas et de son adaptateur FADD indique que le processus d'activation de la caspase 8 est indépendant de la voie des récepteurs de mort. L'ensemble de ces travaux apporte des connaissances nouvelles sur le contrôle de la mort cellulaire par la voie Raf/MAPK1/3. Nous avons montré que la voie de signalisation peut, selon le contexte cellulaire, favoriser la survie cellulaire ou induire la mort. Dans les deux cas, le contrôle de la mort cellulaire dépend à la fois de la synthèse protéique et de mécanismes post-traductionnels. Les mécanismes moléculaires affectés par l'activation prolongée des MAPK1/3 seraient impliqués aussi bien dans la résistance des cellules tumorales aux traitements proapoptotiques que dans le développement des maladies neurodégénératives.

<p>Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease with an incidence of 1.5-2.7/100000 people/year. Today there is no cure for the disease and only symptomatic treatments are available. ALS progresses rapidly and only 50% of the patients are alive three years after the symptom debut. In ALS, the upper and lower motor neurons undergo degeneration in a process resembling apoptosis. This leads to muscle atrophy and paralysis. The causes of neuronal death are however unknown. In this thesis we have studied transgenic mice carrying human mutant superoxide dismutase, as a model for familial ALS. These mice develop ALS-like symptoms after four months of age with degeneration of the motor neurons. Our results show an involvement of endoplasmic reticulum stress, caspase-12, -9, -3 and procaspase-7 in the ALS mice spinal cord. Overexpression of the antiapoptotic protein XIAP in spinal cord neurons inhibited the activation of caspase-12 and reduced caspase-3 and calpain activity. Calpastatin, the regulator of calpain activity, was kept intact in the ALS-XIAP mice. These mice showed a 12% increase in the mean survival suggesting a beneficial effect of XIAP in ALS. The reason for the ultimate cell death of motor neurons in the ALS-XIAP mice may be due to the activation of additional cell death pathways. Thus, we observed that lysosomal proteases particularly, cathepsinB, -D, and -L were activated in the ALS mice spinal cord together with a less marked upregulation of the inhibitors, cystatinB and -C. We also found activation of astrocytes and microglial cells in the spinal cord of ALS mice indicating their involvement in the disease. The results show that both caspase-dependent and -independent pathways are activated during neuronal degeneration in the ALS spinal cord. The results obtained may help to identify novel drug targets for future treatments of ALS.</p>

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease with an incidence of 1.5-2.7/100000 people/year. Today there is no cure for the disease and only symptomatic treatments are available. ALS progresses rapidly and only 50% of the patients are alive three years after the symptom debut. In ALS, the upper and lower motor neurons undergo degeneration in a process resembling apoptosis. This leads to muscle atrophy and paralysis. The causes of neuronal death are however unknown. In this thesis we have studied transgenic mice carrying human mutant superoxide dismutase, as a model for familial ALS. These mice develop ALS-like symptoms after four months of age with degeneration of the motor neurons. Our results show an involvement of endoplasmic reticulum stress, caspase-12, -9, -3 and procaspase-7 in the ALS mice spinal cord. Overexpression of the antiapoptotic protein XIAP in spinal cord neurons inhibited the activation of caspase-12 and reduced caspase-3 and calpain activity. Calpastatin, the regulator of calpain activity, was kept intact in the ALS-XIAP mice. These mice showed a 12% increase in the mean survival suggesting a beneficial effect of XIAP in ALS. The reason for the ultimate cell death of motor neurons in the ALS-XIAP mice may be due to the activation of additional cell death pathways. Thus, we observed that lysosomal proteases particularly, cathepsinB, -D, and -L were activated in the ALS mice spinal cord together with a less marked upregulation of the inhibitors, cystatinB and -C. We also found activation of astrocytes and microglial cells in the spinal cord of ALS mice indicating their involvement in the disease. The results show that both caspase-dependent and -independent pathways are activated during neuronal degeneration in the ALS spinal cord. The results obtained may help to identify novel drug targets for future treatments of ALS.

Caspase-3 has demonstrated a non-apoptotic function in several developmental programs including skeletal muscle differentiation, yet the mechanism of action has not been fully elucidated. Under apoptotic conditions Caspase-3 induces DNA fragmentation through activation of CAD. Recent observations have demonstrated CAD activity and the resulting DNA strand breaks are also vital for skeletal muscle differentiation. These breaks are transient in nature, suggesting an active DNA repair program to maintain genomic integrity. The aim of this study was to delineate the DNA repair mechanism coordinated with caspase/CAD mediated DNA damage. It was found that XRCC1 formed punctate nuclear foci early in myoblast differentiation concurrent to the induction of DNA damage. Caspase-3 inhibition caused attenuation of the formation of DNA lesions and XRCC1 foci in differentiating myoblasts. Targeted reduction in XRCC1 expression impaired myoblast differentiation. These results suggest that XRCC1 may play a role in repairing the DNA damage associated with myoblast differentiation.

The influence of genotype (selection), location, and year on antioxidant activity (AOA), total phenolics (TP), total carotenoids (TC), phenolic and carotenoid composition was studied using specialty (colored) potatoes (Solanum tuberosum L.) from the Texas Potato Variety Development Program, grown at two Texas locations (McCook and Dalhart), and in two years (2003 and 2004). Chlorogenic acid, gallic acid, catechin, caffeic acid, and malvidin-3-(p-coumaryl rutinoside)–5-galactoside were the major phenolics, and lutein and violaxanthin were the major carotenoids identified. The AOA, TP, and TC and phenolic composition differed significantly with genotype, location and year. However, genotypic effects were larger than location and year effects. Selection CO112F2-2 was high in all the measured parameters and also stable across locations and years, suggesting that this selection could be used as a parent in breeding varieties with improved health benefits. The AOA, TP and chlorogenic acid content were highly significantly correlated with one another. The effects of whole specialty potato extracts, fractions and individual compounds on LNCaP (androgen-dependent) and PC-3 (androgen-independent) prostate cancer cells were also investigated. Ethanol extract of the selection CO112F2-2 (5 µg chlorogenic acid eq/ml), the anthocyanin fraction (AF; 5 µg chlorogenic acid eq/ml), gallic acid and chaconine showed potent anti-proliferative properties and increased the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p27 levels in LNCaP and PC-3 cells. Induction of apoptosis was cell context dependent and associated with JNK (c-Jun NH2-terminal Kinase) and Erk (extracellular signal regulated kinase) activation. Cell death pathways, induced by potato extract and the AF, were associated with Erk and JNK activation, and these kinases activated caspase-independent apoptosis through nuclear translocation of endonuclease G (endo G) and apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF) in both cell lines. Induction of caspase-dependent apoptosis was also kinase-dependent but was observed only in LNCaP cells. Kinase inhibitors reversed this nuclear translocation of endo G and AIF. This is the first report showing that the cytotoxic activities of potato extract/AF in cancer cells were due to activation of caspase-independent apoptosis.

Cell fate decisions incorporate distinct and overlapping mechanisms. The activity of caspase 3 was initially understood to be a cell death restricted event, however numerous studies have implicated this enzyme in the regulation of both differentiation and proliferation. How the activity of caspase 3 promotes a non-death cell fate remains unclear. Here we examine the role caspase 3 activity plays during skeletal muscle differentiation; in particular we explore the hypothesis that the mechanism of inducing DNA strand breaks during cell death is also a key feature of differentiation, albeit with a distinctly different outcome. We delineate the transient formation of Caspase 3/Caspase activated DNase (CAD) dependent DNA strand breaks during differentiation. The formation of these breaks is essential for differentiation and the regulation of specific genes. In particular expression of the cell cycle inhibitor p21 is related to the formation of a DNA strand break within the gene’s promoter element. Further, we explored the genome wide association of CAD using Chromatin Immunoprecipitation coupled to high through put sequencing (ChIP-seq). This approach identified a potential role for Caspase3/CAD in regulating the expression of Pax7. Here, a CAD directed DNA strand break in the Pax7 gene is correlated with decreased Pax7 expression, an outcome that has been shown to be critical for progress of the myogenic differentiation program. The regulation of Pax7 expression through a CAD induced DNA strand break raises an intriguing connection between this regulation and oncogenic transformation observed in alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma. The putative site of CAD induced DNA strand breaks that promote decreased Pax7 expression during differentiation corresponds to site of chromosomal translocations responsible for Pax7 fusion events in alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma.

Diss. (sammanfattning) Stockholm : Karol. inst., 2005. / Härtill 5 uppsatser.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--West Virginia University, 2008. / Title from document title page. Document formatted into pages; contains viii, 173 p. : ill. (some col.). Vita. Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references.

Le lipopolysaccharide (LPS), un composant de la membrane des bactéries à Gram-négatif, active l’inflammasome non-canonique constitué chez l’homme des caspase-4/5 et chez la souris de la caspase-11 ainsi que de la protéine effectrice GasderminD. Chez l’homme nous ne savons toujours pas si il y a d’autres acteurs impliqués dans cette voie de signalisation. Notre équipe a précédemment démontré que le LPS sous-acylé de Francisella novicida active la caspase-4 humaine mais pas la caspase-11 murine. Cette différence inexpliquée nous a fait émettre l’hypothèse qu’un cofacteur pourrait faciliter la détection du LPS de F. novicida dans les cellules humaines. Afin de tester notre hypothèse, et de manière générale d'identifier de nouvelles protéines impliquées dans cette voie de signalisation, nous avons réalisé un crible CRISPR/Cas9 pan-génomique sur la base de la survie de monocytes humains de la lignée U937 après transfection de LPS. Notre crible a identifié IRF2 comme étant l’unique protéine impliquée en plus de GasderminD et caspase-4. Les monocytes IRF2-/- étaient complètement résistants à la transfection de LPS et affichaient un niveau de caspase-4 très diminué. Nos résultats démontrent qu’IRF2 est le principal régulateur de l’expression de caspase-4 à l’état basal. De manière intéressante, après un traitement par l’interféron ou une différentiation en macrophages IRF2 n’est plus requis pour la pyroptose. A la place IRF1 et IRF2 coopèrent pour réguler le niveau de caspase-4 et donc la sensibilité au LPS dans le cytosol. Nos travaux ont permis d’identifier les mécanismes de régulation de caspase-4 à l’état basal, en présence d’interféron, et dans des macrophages différenciés. Nous avons montré que IRF1/IRF2 sont des régulateurs clés de la détection du LPS cytosolique et donc du choc septique TLR-4 indépendant / Lipopolysaccharide (LPS), a component of Gram-negative bacteria membrane activates the non-canonical inflammasome involving human caspase-4/5 or its murine ortholog caspase-11 and the cell death effector GasderminD. It is still unclear whether other players act in this cascade especially in human cells. Our lab previously demonstrated that the under-acylated LPS from Francisella novicida activates human caspase-4 but not caspase-11. This difference remains unexplained and led us to hypothesize that a co-factor could assist caspase-4 in the sensing of F. novicida LPS in human cells. To test this hypothesis, and in a more general manner identify new proteins involved in this pathway, we performed a genome wide CRISPR/Cas9 screen based on the survival of human U937 monocytes after LPS delivery into the cytosol. Our screen identified interferon regulatory factor 2 (IRF2) as the only protein beside caspase-4 and GasderminD involved in cell death following under-acylated or E. coli LPS transfection. IRF2-/- monocytes were fully resistant to LPS transfection-mediated death and displayed a large reduction in caspase-4 levels. Our results demonstrate that IRF2 is the master transcriptional regulator of caspase-4 at steady state. Interestingly, upon IFN treatment or macrophage differentiation, IRF2 is no longer fully required for pyroptosis. Instead, IRF1 and IRF2 cooperate to regulate caspase-4 level and LPS susceptibility. Our work identified the caspase-4 regulatory network at steady state and during IFN exposure or macrophage differentiation and IRF1/2 as key regulators of the cytosolic detection of LPS, which plays a role in TLR4-independent endotoxic shock