Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Wisconsin--Madison, 1940. / Typescript. Includes abstract and vita. eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 205-210).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Virginia Commonwealth University, 2007. / Prepared for: Dept. of Microbiology and Immunology Bibliography: leaves 134-154.

Thesis--Göteborg. / Extra t.p. with thesis statement inserted. Includes bibliographical references (p. 27-34).

Thesis--Göteborg. / Extra t.p. with thesis statement inserted. Includes bibliographical references (p. 27-34).

This research investigated the relationship between exercise training and cathepsin B expression in the 3xTg-AD murine model of Alzheimer’s disease. 3xTg-AD mice were assigned to control (Tg, n=10), aerobic training (Tg+AT, n=10), or resistance training (Tg+RT, n=10). RotaRod peak latency and grip strength were assessed as preand post-measurements. Skeletal muscle was collected after training and analyzed for cathepsin B protein. Tg+RT showed greater grip strength than Tg and Tg+AT at posttesting (p ≤ 0.05). Only Tg+AT showed an improvement in RotaRod peak latency (p ≤ 0.05). Gastrocnemius weight was greater in Tg+RT compared to Tg (p ≤ 0.05), and no differences were observed in cathepsin B or procathepsin B expression (p > 0.05). This data suggests that cathepsin B was not induced by either mode of exercise training, however, physical function and muscle mass were improved, therefore inclusion of both training modalities may address peripheral comorbidities in Alzheimer’s disease. / Includes bibliography. / Thesis (M.S.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2018. / FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection

Highly antiretroviral therapies (HAART) have been implemented to slow the progression of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Although these new advances in the medications for HIV-positive patients have contributed in longer life expectancy, comorbidities, such as cardiovascular disease, still cause higher number of deaths among HIV-positive patients than in the regular population. Because of the intrinsic inflammation caused by the HIV virus, atherogenesis is more likely to occur and is driven by infected macrophages. These macrophages are known to secrete cathepsins, but infection causes the macrophages not to perform their function properly as an immune agent. I hypothesize that antiretroviral drugs play an important role in arterial remodeling by affecting cells within the artery and causing an alteration of cathepsin activity, leading to an increased risk of atherosclerosis in HIV patients. To test this hypothesis, we incubated THP-1 monocytes with antiretroviral drugs efavirenz and tenofovir individually to observe any changes in cathepsin activity. These lysates were analyzed through multiplex cathepsin zymography and quantified through densitometry. We found that our hypothesis held true for efavirenz and tenofovir in THP-1 monocytes, which caused decreased cathepsin K activity compared to vehicle controls. Still, stimulation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) with efavirenz and tenofovir caused differential effects. Together, our data suggest that the HAART interaction with monocytes that are physiologically relevant to our system possibly contributes to the advancement of atherogenesis in HIV+ patients.

Diss. (sammanfattning) Stockholm : Karol. inst., 2004. / Härtill 5 uppsatser.

Orientador: Joni Augusto Cirelli / Resumo: As cisteíno-peptidases e as citocinas desempenham um papel importante no inicio e progressão dos processos imuno-inflamatórios, dentre estes, a doença periodontal. As fitocistatinas são cistatinas derivadas das plantas, inibidoras naturais das cisteíno- peptidases. Entre elas a Citrus CPI-2, derivada da laranja e a Cane CPI-4, derivada da cana-de-açúcar tem sido recentemente investigadas. O estudo das mesmas pode levar a novas terapias para o controle da doença periodontal, bem como outras doenças imuno- inflamatórias. O objetivo do presente estudo foi avaliar o efeito inibitório das fitocistatinas (Cane CPI-4 e Citrus CPI-2) sobre mediadores da inflamação. Em estudo in vitro, foi avaliado o efeito da atividade inibitória das fitocistatinas sobre a expressão gênica (RT-PCR em tempo real) das catepsinas B e K e citocinas pró-inflamatórias (IL- 1β, IL-6 e TNF-α) em células de linhagem macrofágica de camundongos (RAW 264.7), após 12 e 24h de estímulo com Porphyromonas gingivalis inativada por calor. Em estudo in vivo, foi avaliada a ação de diferentes concentrações das fitocistatinas sobre a produção de TNF- a por células sanguíneas de ratos submetidos à injeção de LPS de E.coli . Todos os animais foram submetidos à implementação de cânulas na veia femoral para à injeção de LPS de E.coli e na artéria femoral para a extração de sangue em 6 diferentes tempos (de 30 a 180 minutos) após o estimulo com LPS de E.coli (IV, 100 Ug/Kg). A quan... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: The cysteine proteinases and the cytokines play an important role in the initiation and progression of immune-inflammatory processes such as periodontal disease. The phytocystatins are cystatins derived from plants and they are natural inhibitors of cysteine proteinases. Among them, the Citrus CPI-2 derived from orange and Cane CPI- 4 derived from sugar cane have been investigated. The study of them may lead to new therapies for the control of periodontal disease and other immune inflammatory diseases. The overall objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of phytocystatins CaneCPI- 4 and CitrusCPI-2 on mediators of inflammation. The aim of the in vitro study was to assess the inhibitory activity of phytocystatins on gene expression (RT-PCR) of cathepsins B and K and pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL- 1β and IL-6 and TNF-α) in murine macrophage cells (RAW 264.7) after 12 and 24 hours of stimulation with heatinactivated bacteria Porphyromonas gingivalis. The aim of the in vivo study was to assess the inhibitory activity of both phytocystatins in the production of TNF-α by blood cells of rats submitted by an injection of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) of E.coli. All animals were subjected to the implementation of cannulas to femoral artery and vein for blood collection at 6 different time points (from 30 to 180 minutes) after LPS stimulus (IV, 100 ug/kg). Quantification of TNF-α was performed by ELISA. According to the results of the in vitro study, Citrus CPI-2 showed a signifi... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Mestre

Sickle cell disease is a genetic disorder that affects 100,000 Americans and millions more worldwide. Although the sickle mutation affects one protein, which is only expressed in a single cell type, it has profound detrimental effects on nearly every organ system in the body. Young children with sickle cell disease have an 11\% chance of suffering a major stroke event by the age of 16, and a 35\% chance of developing ÒsilentÓ strokes that often result in significant learning and mental disabilities. Clinical investigations suggest that stroke development in people with sickle cell disease results from luminal narrowing of the carotid and cerebral arteries due to excess matrix deposition and fragmentation of the elastic lamina; however, the underlying cellular mechanisms that initiate arterial remodeling in sickle cell disease remain relatively unknown. Cathepsins K and V are members of the cysteine family of proteases and represent two of the most potent elastases yet identified in humans. Furthermore, the role of Cathepsins has been well established in other cardiovascular remodeling diseases, such as atherosclerosis. Due to the compelling histological similarities between vasculopathy in sickle cell disease and atherosclerosis, we tested the hypothesis that the unique inflammatory milieu, in conjunction with the biomechanical vascular environment of sickle cell disease upregulates cathepsin K and V activity in large artery endothelial cells, ultimately leading to arterial remodeling and stroke. Currently, there are few therapeutic options for the prevention of stroke in sickle cell disease; those that do exist carry significant health risks and side effects. Together, this body of work has generated a more mechanistic understanding of how the sickle milieu stimulates the endothelium to initiate arterial remodeling, which has enabled us to identify important pathways (JNK, NF$\kappa$B) downstream of inflammatory and biomechanical stimuli and validate new therapeutic targets within the JNK pathway to establish preclinical proof of efficacy for the prevention of arterial remodeling in sickle cell disease.

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