Η πλειοτροπίνη (PTN) αποτελεί έναν αυξητικό παράγοντα με ποικίλες δράσεις και σημαντικό ρόλο στην ανάπτυξη όγκων και την αγγειογένεση. Διάφοροι υποδοχείς αλληλεπιδρούν με την ΡΤΝ και διαμεσολαβούν τις βιολογικές της δράσεις, όπως η Ν-συνδεκάνη, ο ALK (κινάση αναπλαστικού λεμφώματος) και ο RPTPβ/ζ (υποδοχέας με δράση φωσφατάσης τυροσίνης β/ζ). Η ερευνητική μας ομάδα έχει δείξει σε προηγούμενη μελέτη ότι η ικανότητα της PTN να επάγει κυτταρική μετανάστευση εξαρτάται από το σχηματισμό ενός λειτουργικού συμπλόκου που αποτελείται από τον RPTPβ/ζ και την ιντεγκρίνη ανβ3. Η πολυ-λειτουργική πρωτεΐνη νουκλεολίνη (NCL), η οποία υπερεκφράζεται στην επιφάνεια ενεργοποιημένων ενδοθηλιακών και καρκινικών κυττάρων και διαμεσολαβεί τις διεγερτικές δράσεις διαφόρων αγγειογενετικών παραγόντων, έχει επίσης προταθεί ως υποδοχέας χαμηλής συγγένειας για την ΡΤΝ, με άγνωστες όμως λειτουργίες. Στην παρούσα μελέτη δείξαμε, με τη χρήση μεθόδων ανοσοκατακρήμνισης-ανοσοαποτυπώματος, διπλού ανοσοφθορισμού και προσδιορισμού αλληλεπίδρασης λόγω εγγύτητας, ότι η PTN αλληλεπιδρά άμεσα με τη NCL. Η αλληλεπίδραση αυτή περιλαμβάνει πρόσδεση της αμινοτελικής περιοχής της ΡΤΝ (αμινοξέα: 16-24) στην κεντρική περιοχή της NCL (αμινοξέα: 308-645). Μείωση της έκφρασης της NCL με siRNA ή λειτουργική αναστολή της μεμβρανικής NCL από το πεπτίδιο 5(KPR)TASP ανέστειλε πλήρως την επαγόμενη από ΡΤΝ μετανάστευση ενδοθηλιακών κυττάρων. Με αφετηρία την παρατήρηση ότι ο εντοπισμός της NCL στην κυτταρική επιφάνεια ανιχνεύθηκε μόνο σε κύτταρα που εκφράζουν την ανβ3, και πραγματοποιώντας πειράματα ανοσοφθορισμού και βιοχημικές μελέτες σε κύτταρα με γενετικά τροποποιημένη έκφραση των υπό μελέτη μορίων, δείξαμε ότι ο εντοπισμός της NCL στην πλασματική μεμβράνη εξαρτάται από τη φωσφορυλίωση της β3 στην τυροσίνη 773 μέσω ενεργοποίησης του RPTPβ/ζ και της c-src. Καθοδικά της ανβ3, η PI3K συμμετέχει σε αυτή τη δράση. Ο VEGF165 που επίσης επάγει το μεμβρανικό εντοπισμό της NCL, δρα μέσω δέσμευσης στον RPTPβ/ζ και ενεργοποίησης του σηματοδοτικού μονοπατιού RPTPβ/ζ/c-src/ανβ3. Η περιοχή δέσμευσης στους υποδοχείς VEGFR-1 και VEGFR-2 ή η περιοχή δέσμευσης στην ηπαρίνη στο μόριο του VEGF165 δεν εμπλέκονται στον επαγόμενο από VEGF165 εντοπισμό της NCL στην κυτταρική μεμβράνη. Εκτός από την PI3K, στη δράση του VEGF165 καθοδικά της ανβ3 εμπλέκεται και η κινάση p38, η ενεργοποίηση της οποίας είναι ανεξάρτητη από τον RPTPβ/ζ και τη φωσφορυλίωση της β3 στις τυροσίνες 773 ή 785, και φαίνεται να ανήκει σε μονοπάτι που ενεργοποιείται παράλληλα και που παραμένει αδιευκρίνιστο. Μηχανιστικά, η NCL βρέθηκε να αλληλεπιδρά άμεσα με την ανβ3, τον RPTPβ/ζ, τον VEGF165 και τον VEGFR-2, αλλά επηρεάζει τον ενδοκυτταρικό εντοπισμό μόνο του RPTPβ/ζ και της PTN. Θετική συσχέτιση παρατηρήθηκε ως προς την έκφραση της μεμβρανικής NCL και της ανβ3 σε μικροσυστοιχίες ιστών προερχόμενων από ανθρώπινα γλοιοβλαστώματα. Τέλος, βρέθηκε ότι το μονοκλωνικό αντίσωμα anti-C23 και τα πεπτίδια που στοχεύουν τη μεμβρανική NCL, 5(KPR)TASP, ΗΒ-19 και Nucant 6L, ανέστειλλαν σημαντικά τη μετανάστευση κυττάρων που εκφράζουν ανβ3, ενώ είχαν μικρή ή καθόλου δράση στη μετανάστευση κυττάρων που δεν εκφράζουν ανβ3 ή υπερεκφράζουν μετάλλαγμα της β3 με αντικατάσταση της κυτταροπλασματικής τυροσίνης 773 σε φαινυλαλανίνη. Συνολικά, από τα αποτελέσματα της παρούσας διατριβής προκύπτει ότι η έκφραση της ανβ3 και η φωσφορυλίωση της β3 στην τυροσίνη 773 καθορίζουν τον εντοπισμό της NCL στην κυτταρική επιφάνεια, καθοδικά του σηματοδοτικού μονοπατιού RPTPβ/ζ/c-src που συμμετέχει στην κυτταρική μετανάστευση που επάγεται τόσο από την ΡΤΝ, όσο και από τον VEGF165. Επίσης, φαίνεται ότι η έκφραση της ανβ3 θα μπορούσε να χρησιμοποιηθεί ως βιοδείκτης για τη χρήση ανταγωνιστών της μεμβρανικής NCL ως αντικαρκινικών παραγόντων. / Pleiotrophin (PTN) is a growth factor that plays a significant role on tumor growth and angiogenesis. Several receptors interact with PTN and mediate its biological actions, such as N-syndecan, anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) and receptor protein tyrosine phosphatase beta/zeta (RPTPβ/ζ). Our group has previously shown that the ability of PTN to stimulate migratory responses depends on the formation of a functional complex consisting of RPTPβ/ζ and integrin ανβ3. The multifunctional protein nucleolin (NCL), which is over-expressed on the surface of activated endothelial and tumor cells and mediates the stimulatory actions of several angiogenic factors, has been also suggested as a low affinity receptor for PTN, however with unknown functions. In the present study, by using immunoprecipitation/Western blot analyses, double immunofluorescence and proximity ligation assays, we showed that PTN directly interacts with NCL. This interaction involves binding of the amino-terminal domain of PTN (amino acids: 16-24) to the central domain of NCL (amino acids: 308-645). Down-regulation of NCL by siRNA or blockage of cell surface NCL by its ligand 5(KPR)TASP completely abolished PTN-induced endothelial cell migration. Based on the observation that cell surface NCL localization was detected only in cells expressing ανβ3 and by performing immunofluorescence and biochemical studies in cells with genetically altered expression of the studied molecules, we demonstrated that cell surface NCL localization depends on the phosphorylation of β3 at Tyr773 through RPTPβ/ζ and c-src activation. Down-stream of ανβ3, PI3K activity is required for cell surface NCL localization. VEGF165 that also induces cell surface NCL localization acts through binding to RPTPβ/ζ and activation of the RPTPβ/ζ/c-src/ανβ3 signaling pathway. The receptor or the heparin binding sites on the VEGF165 molecule do not seem to be involved in this VEGF165 action. Apart from PI3K, in VEGF165-induced cell surface NCL localization, p38 that lays down-stream of ανβ3, is also involved. Activation of p38 is independent of RPTPβ/ζ and β3 Tyr773 or Tyr785 phosphorylation, and seems to belong to a parallel signaling pathway that remains unclear. Mechanistically, NCL was found to directly interact with ανβ3, RPTPβ/ζ, VEGF165 and VEGFR-2, but only affects the intracellular localization of RPTPβ/ζ and PTN. Positive correlation of cell surface NCL and ανβ3 expression was observed in human glioblastoma tissue arrays. Finally, the monoclonal antibody anti-C23 and the peptides targeting cell surface NCL, 5(KPR)TASP, HB-19 and Nucant 6L, significantly inhibited migration of cells expressing ανβ3 in the presence of serum, while they had a minor or no effect on cells lacking ανβ3 or over-expressing mutant β3 with replacement of cytoplasmic tyrosine 773 to phenylalanine. Collectively, these data suggest that ανβ3 expression and β3 phosphorylation at Tyr773 downstream of the RPTPβ/ζ/c-src signaling cascade determines the cell surface localization of NCL, which is required for cell migration induced by both PTN and VEGF165. Moreover, expression of ανβ3 could be used as a biomarker for the use of cell surface NCL antagonists as anticancer agents.

La ligne latérale postérieure embryonnaire du poisson-zèbre est composée d'un ensemble d'organes sensoriels, appelés neuromastes, qui permet au poisson de détecter les mouvements de l'eau. Le primordium qui génère la ligne latérale postérieure embryonnaire migre de la tête vers l'extrémité de la queue le long d'une piste de cellules sécrétrices de SDF-1, et dépose des groupes de cellules précurseurs des neuromastes. Cette migration dépend de la présence de CXCR4, le récepteur de SDF-1, dans la région en tête du primordium et de la présence du second récepteur de SDF-1, CXCR7, dans la région en queue du primordium. L'objectif de ma thèse est d'identifier des régulateurs de l'expression de cxcr4b au sein du primordium. Nous avons montré que l'inactivation du récepteur des strogènes ESR1 induit l'expression ectopique de cxcr4b dans les cellules de queue du primordium alors que sa surexpression induit une réduction du domaine d'expression de cxcr4b, suggérant que ESR1 agit comme un répresseur de cxcr4b. Cette découverte expliquerait pourquoi les strogènes diminuent la capacité métastatique des cellules du cancer du sein strogéno-dépendants. L'inactivation de ESR1 conduit aussi à l'extinction de l'expression de cxcr7b dans les cellules de queue du primordium, cet effet étant toutefois indirect et induit par la signalisation ectopique SDF-1/CXCR4 dans ces cellules. L'inactivation et la surexpression de ESR1 provoquent toutes deux une migration défectueuse du primordium, confirmant l'importance de ce récepteur dans le contrôle de la migration dépendante de SDF-1. Nous avons aussi montré qu'un effecteur majeur de la signalisation Wnt canonique, LEF-1, contribue au contrôle de l'expression de cxcr4b et de cxcr7b dans les cellules en tête du primordium. Nous montrons que la prolifération cellulaire, qui assure une taille constante du primordium en dépit des dépositions successives de cellules, est réduite en absence de LEF-1, et que cela conduit à une ligne latérale postérieure incomplète. / The zebrafish embryonic posterior lateral line is componed by a set sense organs, called neuromasts, allowing the fish to detect the water movements. The primordium that generates the embryonic posterior lateral line of zebrafish migrates from the head to the tip of the tail along a trail of SDF-1-producing cells, and deposits cell groups that will become the neuromasts. This migration critically depends on the presence of the SDF-1 receptor CXCR4 in the leading region of the primordium and on the presence of a second SDF1 receptor, CXCR7, in the trailing region of the primordium. The aim of my thesis is to identify regulators of the cxcr4b expression within the primordium. Here we show that inactivation of the estrogen receptor ESR1 results in ectopic expression of cxcr4b throughout the primordium, whereas ESR1 overexpression results in a reciprocal reduction in the domain of cxcr4b expression, suggesting that ESR1 acts as a repressor of cxcr4b. This finding could explain why estrogens significantly decrease the metastatic ability of ESR-positive breast cancer cells. ESR1 inactivation alsoleads to extinction of cxcr7b expression in the trailing cells of the migrating primordium; this effect is indirect, however, and due to the down-regulation of cxcr7b by ectopic SDF-1/CXCR4 signaling in the trailing region. Both ESR1 inactivation and overexpression result in aborted migration, confirming the importance of this receptor in the control of SDF-1-dependent migration. We also showed that a major effector of the canonical Wnt signaling, LEF-1, contributes to the control of both cxcr4b and cxcr7b expression in the leading cells of the primordium. We show that cell proliferation, which ensures constant primordium size in spite of sucessive rounds of cell deposition, is reduced upon lef1 inactivation, leading in a truncated posterior lateral line.

Les protéines DOCK180 et ELMO coopèrent ensemble biochimiquement et génétiquement afin d’activer la GTPase Rac1 lors de plusieurs évènements biologiques. Toutefois, le rôle que jouent ces protéines dans la signalisation par Rac est encore mal compris. Nous émettons l’hypothèse que Dock180 agit comme activateur de Rac, alors que ELMO est requis pour l’intégration de la signalisation de Rac plutôt que son activation per se. Nous postulons que ELMO agit comme signal de localisation intracellulaire afin de restreindre de façon spatio-temporelle la signalisation de Rac en aval de Dock180, et/ou que ELMO agit comme protéine d’échafaudage entre Rac et ses effecteurs pour amplifier la migration cellulaire. Dans l’objectif nº 1, nous démontrons que le domaine PH atypique de ELMO1 est le site d’interaction principal entre cette protéine et DOCK180. De plus, nous démontrons que la liaison entre ELMO et DOCK180 n’est pas nécessaire pour l’activation de Rac, mais est plutôt essentielle pour faciliter la réorganisation du cytosquelette induite par l’activation de Rac en aval de Dock180. Ces résultats impliquent que ELMO pourrait jouer des rôles additionnels dans la signalisation par Rac. Dans l’objectif nº 2, nous avons découvert l’existence d’une homologie structurelle entre ELMO et un module d’autorégulation de la formine Dia1, et avons identifié trois nouveaux domaines dans la protéine ELMO : les domaines RBD, EID et EAD. De façon analogue à Dia1, nous avons découvert que ELMO à l’état basal est autoinhibé grâce à des intéractions intramoléculaires. Nous proposons que l’état d’activation des protéines ELMO est régulé de façon similaire aux formines de la famille Dia, c’est-à-dire grâce à des interactions avec d’autres protéines. Dans l’objectif nº 3, nous identifions un domaine RBD polyvalent chez ELMO. Ce domaine possède une double spécificité pour les GTPases de la famille Rho et Arf. Nous avons découvert que Arl4A agit comme signal de recrutement membranaire pour le module ELMO/DOCK180/Rac. Nos résultats nous permettent de supposer que d’autres GTPases pourraient être impliquées dans l’activation et la localisation de cette voie de signalisation. Nous concluons qu’à l’état basal, ELMO et DOCK180 forment un complexe dans lequel ELMO est dans sa conformation autoinhibée. Bien que le mécanisme d’activation de ELMO ne soit pas encore bien compris, nous avons découvert que, lorsqu’il y a stimulation cellulaire, certaines GTPases liées au GTP peuvent intéragir avec le domaine RBD de ELMO pour relâcher les contacts intramoléculaires et/ou localiser le complexe à la membrane. Ainsi, les GTPases peuvent servir d’ancrage au complexe ELMO/DOCK180 pour assurer une regulation spatiotemporelle adequate de l’activation et de la signalisation de Rac. / DOCK180 and ELMO cooperate biochemically and genetically to activate Rac in several biological events. However, the role of these proteins in Rac signaling is still poorly understood. We hypothesize that DOCK180 functions as a RacGEF, with ELMO binding to DOCK180 being required for integration of proper Rac signaling rather than Rac activation per se. We postulate that ELMO acts as a subcellular targeting signal for spatio-temporal restriction of DOCK180-mediated Rac signaling and/or as a scaffold for Rac effectors to enforce cell migration. In Aim #1, we elucidate that the atypical ELMO1 PH is the major DOCK180 binding site. We demonstrate that the binding of ELMO1 to DOCK180 is not necessary for Rac GTP-loading, but is instead required to facilitate Rac-GTP induced cytoskeletal changes following DOCK180 activation. These results imply additional roles for ELMO in mediating Rac signaling. In Aim #2, we reveal structural homology between ELMO and an autoregulatory module in the formin, Dia1, and identify three novel domains in ELMOs: the RBD, EID and EAD. Analogous to Dia1, we uncovered that ELMO is autoinhibited via intramolecular interactions at basal state. We propose that the activation state of ELMO proteins is regulated, much like in Dia-family formins, via interaction with other proteins. Aim #3 identifies a polyvalent RBD in ELMO with dual specificity for Rho and Arf family GTPases. We found Arl4A as a novel membrane recruitment signal for the ELMO/DOCK180/Rac module. Our results may have broad implications in the activation and localization of this pathway by additional GTPases. We conclude that, at basal levels, ELMO/DOCK180 is complexed, with ELMO in an autoinhibited state in the cytosol. Through cell stimulation, certain GTPases will be activated that now bind the ELMO RBD and alleviate the intramolecular contacts. In this way, the GTPase anchors the activated ELMO/DOCK180 module in place for proper spatio-temporal regulation of Rac activation and signaling.

Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is one of the leading causes of death and disability among young adults and has been a significant field in medical research over the past decades. Intensive studies focusing on how to repair tissue damage resulting from head injuries have discovered that the central nervous system (CNS) retains a regenerative capacity throughout life due to the persistent presence of neural stem/progenitor cells (NS/NPCs) in the neurogenic regions. In the normal brain, cells generated in the subventricular zone (SVZ) migrate along the rostral migratory stream (RMS) to the olfactory bulb and cells in the subgranular zone (SGZ) migrate laterally into the granule cell layer of the dentate gyrus. Directed movement of these NS/NPCs is controlled by a variety of factors, and among them the chemoattractant SDF-1 is of particular importance. Studies have identified that the chemokine SDF-1α and its receptor CXCR4 play an important role in guiding cell migration in many types of cells including NS/NPCs. The current study tested if SDF-1 could be delivered through alginate to attract and guide migration of NS/NPCs and its progeny both in vitro and in vivo. Using a Boyden chamber migration assay, we found SDF-1α either added directly in the medium or incorporated into alginate threads was capable of influencing migration of cultured NS/NPCs in a dose-dependent manner. In the in vivo study, when injected directly into the cerebral cortex, SDF-1  showed limited capability in inducing neuroblasts migration off the normal tract to the site of SDF-1 injection. When SDF-1 was delivered via alginate thread to the focal injury site at 2 days post TBI, significantly increased number of migrating neuroblasts derived from the SVZ was observed around the injury site. Increased expression of SDF-1 receptor CXCR4 was observed in the NS/NPCs in the SVZ and around the injury site following TBI. These data suggest that bioactive SDF-1α can be delivered via alginate thread and exogenous delivery of SDF-1α and its interaction with receptor CXCR4 mediates migration of newly generated neurons from the SVZ to the site of injury following TBI. Collectively, our study indicates that SDF-1α could be utilized as a guidance cue for tissue repair following brain injury.

La ténascine-X (TNX) est une glycoprotéine de la matrice extracellulaire. Son expression est fortement réprimée dans de nombreux cancers et l’invasion tumorale est accrue chez des souris TNX-/-. La TNX apparaît donc comme un répresseur potentiel du développement des tumeurs. L’objectif de notre travail est d’étudier cet effet présumé et d’en comprendre les mécanismes, en analysant in vitro le rôle de la TNX sur la croissance et la migration de cellules de fibrosarcome HT-1080 dans des modèles de culture bi- et surtout tridimensionnels, plus représentatifs de l’environnement cellulaire in vivo. Nos résultats montrent que la TNX inhibe la croissance des cellules tumorales, sans induire de mort apoptotique ou nécrotique. Des observations par microscopie confocale ont montré que la présence de TNX réduit l’étalement des cellules ainsi que leur efficacité de migration. Nous avons pu mettre en évidence que la TNX provoque un ralentissement de la migration des cellules tumorales ainsi qu’une diminution de la directionnalité de leurs trajectoires. L’observation de la protéolyse du collagène de type I par les cellules en migration montre qu’elle est inhibée en présence de TNX. Par ailleurs, la TNX réduit l’expression et l’activation des MMP 2, MMP-9, et MT1 MMP. Certaines voies de signalisation associées ont été étudiées : la TNX inhibe la phosphorylation de FAK sur sa tyrosine 397, ainsi que l’activation des GTPases RhoA et Rac, sans affecter celle de Cdc42. Par une régulation fine de ces molécules, qui sont impliquées dans le contrôle de la croissance et de la migration cellulaire, la TNX se caractérise comme un inhibiteur extracellulaire de l’invasion tumorale / Tenascin-X (TNX) is involved not only in the organisation of the extracellular matrix architecture but also in the regulation of cell behaviour. This matrix glycoprotein is down-regulated in many tumor types, while tumor invasion is promoted in TNX-deficient mice. In order to decipher the mechanisms by which TNX modulates tumor cell growth and migration, we compared the behaviour of HT1080 fibrosarcoma cells in conventionnal 2D culture model or embedded in 3D collagen gels, both containing or not recombinant TNX. Some experimentations have permit us to demonstrate that TNX inhibits tumor cells growth, without inducing apoptotic or necrotic cell death. Laser confocal microscopy observations demonstrated that the presence of TNX reduces cell spreading and migration efficency. Moreover, video time-lapse analysis showed that TNX reduces both velocity and directionnality of cell migration. This result is partly due to a decrease of pericellular proteolysis, as observed in situ using FITC-collagen-containing gels. Besides, we showed that TNX led to a decrease of MMP 2, MMP-9, MT1 MMP expression and activity. Then, we determined that both FAK phosphorylation on tyrosine 397 and activation of Rac1/2/3 and RhoA small GTPases were inhibited in TNX conditions. An inactivation of these small GTPases of the Rho family is known to deregulate cell cycle and highly decrease tumor cell spreading and migration efficiency in 3D environment. Taken together, these results indicate that TNX is an extracellular inhibitor of cell invasion, which acts by downregulating the main signalling pathways responsible for cell growth and motility in 3D-collagen gels

Os peptídeos INKKI e YPVQPFTE foram isolados a partir da hidrólise da b-caseína bovina e correspondem às seqüências 26-30 e 114-121 respectivamente. A atividade proliferativa foi avaliada em culturas primárias de linfócitos T. A atividade antitumoral in vitro foi realizada em culturas de B16F10. Foi utilizado grupo com 40 camundongos da linhagem C57BL/6J para avaliar a atividade antitumoral. Nossos resultados mostraram que o peptídeo INKKI apresentou resposta proliferativa semelhante ao mitógeno comercial PHA. O peptídeo YPVEPFTE mostrou ter ação proliferativa maior do que a apresentada pelo mitógeno comercial PHA. O peptídeo INKKI mostrou ação quimiotáxica. O tratamento in vitro mostrou que somente o pentapeptídeo INKKI induz seletiva atividade citotóxica para as células de melanoma. Os animais portadores de tumores dorsais apresentaram significativa inibição da capacidade de crescimento e a metastatização. Conclui-se que os peptídeos apresentam ação significativa tanto nos experimentos in vitro como in vivo sugerindo um possível papel fisiológico. / Peptides INKKI and YPVQPFTE were isolated from the bovine b-casein after hydrolysis corresponding to the 23-30 and 114-121 sequence, respectively. Evaluation of the proliferative activity in primary cultures of lymphocytes. The activity antitumor in vitro was accomplished culture of was studied. Groups with 40 C57BL/6J lines mice had been used to evaluate the antitumoral activity. Our results showed that peptide presented similar proliferative response to the PHA commercial mitogen. The peptide YPVEPFTE showed to have proliferative action larger than presented by the commercial mitogen. The peptide INKKI showed in the chemotactic action. The treatment in vitro had shows that the peptide INKKI induces selective citotoxicity. The bearing animals of dorsal tumors had presented significant inhibition of the capacity of growth and the spread of methastasis. Thus, the peptides casein present significant action in in vitro and in vivo experiments, suggesting a possible physiologic role.

Le microenvironnement tumoral via les macromolécules matricielles est connu pour jouer un rôle clé dans la réponse des cellules cancéreuses à la chimiothérapie en favorisant leur survie et leur prolifération. L'impact du collagène de type I, protéine matricielle majeure du microenvironnement, a été évalué au niveau des capacités migratoires des cellules tumorales et de leur réponse aux agents anticancéreux, doxorubicine et metformine. Cette approche a étémenée chez des cellules humaines HT1080 hautement invasives au moyen de systèmes de culture par coating 2D ou en matrice 3D. Les effets de modifications post-traductionnelles du collagène comme la carbamylation et de la glycation ont été également étudiées. Les résultats montrent que le collagène 3D inhibe l'activité anti-migratoire de la doxorubicine. Cette protection met en jeuune préservation des niveaux d'activation de FAK et RhoA impliquées dans la formation des fibres de stress d'actine et des plaques d'adhésion focales. Le collagène glyqué 2D et dans une moindre mesure le carbamylé inhibent l'adhésion, la migration des cellules tumorales et désorganisent leur cytosquelette d'actine via des modifications de distribution de la vinculine, de FAK et des intégrines 1. Cet impact de la glycation a été aussi mis en évidence en matrice 3D après modification du processus de glycation. Enfin, la glycation exerce un effet protecteur vis-àvis des capacités anti-prolifératives et anti-migratoires de la doxorubicine et de la metformine. En conclusion, nous mettons en évidence une nouvelle forme de résistance CAM-DR dirigée contre l'activité anti-invasive de médicaments ; cet effet pouvant être généré par une protéine matricielle native ou modifiée lors de situations physiopathologiques associées au cancer. / The tumor microenvironment via the extracellular matrix plays an important role in cancer cell response to chemotherapy by promoting their survival and proliferation. In this work, we studied the impact of collagen type I, a major matrix protein of tumor microenvironment, on the migration capacities of tumor cells and on their response to anticancer drugs such as doxorubicin and metformin. This approach was performed with the highly invasive human cell line HT1080,by means of 2D coating or 3D matrix cell culture systems. The effects of collagen posttranslational modifications such as carbamylation and glycation were also assessed. The results show that the 3D collagen inhibits the anti-migratory effect of doxorubicin. This protection is carried out through the preservation of the activation states of FAK and RhoA, which are involved in the formation of actin stress fibers and focal adhesions. On 2D coating, the glycated collagen and at a lesser extent the carbamylated one decrease the adhesion, the migration oftumor cells and, disorganize the actin cytoskeleton via a modified distribution of vinculine, FAK and beta1 integrins. This impact is also demonstrated by using 3D matrices, after adaptation of the glycation process. In addition, we reported that the glycated collagen protects against the antiproliferative and the anti-migratory effects of doxorubicin and metformin. In conclusion, we highlighted a new form of CAM-DR resistance that targets the drugs anti-invasive activity. This impact could be induced by the native form of matrix proteins or the modified one found inpathological situations which are associated to cancer.

In this study, we investigated differential activation and the role of two mTOR complexes in cell migration of prostate cancer cells. Specific knock-down of endogenous RAPTOR and RICTOR by siRNA resulted in decreased cell migration in LNCaP, DU145, and PC3 cells indicating that both mTORC1 and mTORC2 are required for cell migration. EGF treatment induced the activation of both mTORC1 and mTORC2 as determined by complex-specific phosphorylation of mTOR protein. Specific knock-down or inhibition of Rac1 activity in PC3 cells blocked EGF-induced activation of mTORC2, but had no effect on mTORC1 activation. Furthermore, the over-expression of constitutively active Rac1 (Rac1Q61L) resulted in significant increase in cell migration and activation of mTORC2 in PC3 cells, but had no effect on mTORC1 activation. Constitutively active Rac1 (Rac1Q61L) in PC3 cells was localized in the plasma membrane and was found to be in a protein complex which contained mTOR and RICTOR proteins, but not RAPTOR. In conclusion, we suggested that EGF-induced activation of Rac1 causes the phosphorylation/activation of mTORC2 via RICTOR, specific regulator of mTORC2 activation in numerous cancer cells. The major role played by mTOR in a wide array of cancers has in the recent decades led to the development of numerous mTOR inhibitors. One of the drawback of these first generation mTOR inhibitors are that m TORC1 activity is inhibited but effect on mTORC2 activity require high dosages and prolonged exposure in different cancer cell types including HeLa, PC3, LNCaP, and A549. High dosage of rapamycin and its associated rapalogs required for mTORC2 inhibition is clinically unsuitable. Studies have shown that the dual mTORC1/C2 inhibitors trigger feedback loops causing metastasis and affect the cell viability of normal tissues in vitro and in vivo. There is a need for specific mTORC1 and mTORC2 inhibitor, which overcome the disadvantages of the previously developed mTOR inhibitors. The Rac1-RICTOR axis suggested in this study could be used as a potential target for the development of mTORC2 inhibitor and lead to a potential therapeutic treatment for aggressive prostate cancer.

Neste estudo avaliou-se os efeitos do diabetes mellitus (DM) sobre dois sistemas: glândula parótida de ratos e células cultivadas in vitro. Foram avaliados respectivamente a composição da matriz extracelular e a migração de células expostas a elevada concentração de glicose. Na parótida observou-se aumento de colágenos III, IV e V, laminina e fibronectina, mediado por TGFb2. Em células isoladas observou-se que a glicose dificultou a polarização celular, reduziu a velocidade e direcionalidade de migração, reduziu a persistência e estabilidade das protrusões celulares e a maturação de adesões. Estas alterações estão relacionadas à ativação da GTPase Rac1, dependente de estresse oxidativo. Este estudo sugere, pela primeira vez, que: 1) a hipofunção salivar pode envolver um espessamento da lâmina basal de capilares e parênquima por mecanismos previamente observados em outros orgãos-alvo de complicações diabéticas e 2) que a glicose exerce um efeito direto sobre a migração celular, fator que pode contribuir para a cicatrização deficiente em indivíduos diabéticos. / In this study we evaluated the effects of DM on two different systems: the rat parotid gland and in vitro cultured cells. Extracellular matrix composition and the migratory behavior of cells exposed to a high glucose concentration (HG) were evaluated, respectively. In the parotid, DM led to an increase in collagens III, IV and V, laminin and fibronectin, through a TGFb2-dependent mechanism. In cultured cells, HG impaired cell polarization, reduced migration velocity and directionality, reduced the persistence and stability of protrusive cellular processes, as well as adhesion maturation. These effects were related to Rac1 GTPase activation, dependent on the oxidative stress promoted by HG. This study suggests, for the first time, that: 1) salivary hypofunction in DM might involve the thickening of capillary and parenchyma basal lamina, through mechanisms already described in other target organs for diabetic complications and 2) that glucose directly impairs cell migration, and this effect may contribute to the chronic wound healing observed in diabetic patients.

腸神經系統(enteric nervous system, ENS)是由大量神經元和神經膠質細胞聚集而成的最複雜的周圍神經系統。這些腸道的神經元和神經膠質細胞來源于迷走神經脊和骶神經脊細胞，在胚胎發育過程中，這些神經脊細胞沿著腸道移動最終占滿整個腸道。儘管神經脊細胞的遷移對於腸道神經系統的形成及功能的正常發揮起到很重要的作用，然而影響神經脊細胞遷移的分子機制的研究卻相對較少。因此找出參與調控神經脊細胞遷移的基因對於更好的瞭解腸道神經脊系統的發育起到非常重要的作用，並且為治療腸道神經系統紊亂所導致的相關疾病提供治療靶點。 / 本研究論文是由兩部份實驗課題所組成來研究影響腸和調控道神經脊細胞遷移及腸道神經系統發育的相關基因。第一部份課題主要研究的是Semaphorin3A (Sema3A)對於骶神經脊細胞遷移的影響。本論文的研究發現Sema3A不僅被腸道內的上皮細胞所表達，腸道兩側的盆神經節周圍的間質細胞也表達Sema3A。同時Sema3A的受體neuropilin-1被骶神經脊細胞所表達。體外培養的實驗表明Sema3A能夠抑制骶神經脊細胞的遷移。另外，當表達Sema3A的腸道末端與骶神經脊細胞共同培養時，骶神經脊細胞的遷移同樣也受到抑制。這些研究結果表明由腸道末端的上皮細胞和腸道外圍的間質細胞所表達的Sema3A共同作用來調控骶神經脊細胞在停滯時期的遷移活動。 / 第二部份的研究課題主要研究的是轉錄因子Sox10以及其靶基因對於迷走神經脊細胞遷移的影響。Dominant megacolon (Dom)是一種攜帶有Sox10突變的巨結腸癥小鼠模型。本研究利用這種小鼠模型來發現突變鼠中可能影響迷走神經脊細胞遷移的基因。從迷走神經脊細胞體外培養發現： 由於Sox10突變，迷走神經脊細胞在體外培養24小時后，細胞遷移延遲，細胞的分化能力被改變，並且細胞死亡增加。利用基因芯片的方法比較了純和變異鼠迷走神經脊細胞和正常鼠迷走神經脊細胞的基因表達的差異。螢光素酶報告基因分析顯示，Sox10可以結合Lama4, Itga4和Gfra2的啟動子并激活它們的表達。 Sox10能與Gfra2啟動子上-116bp到-58bp之間序列的結合誘導Gfra2的表達。在純和變異鼠迷走神經脊細胞中，通過上調Gfra2信使RNA的表達，細胞死亡的數目大大下降，表明Gfra2作為Sox10的靶基因，對迷走神經脊細胞的存亡有著重要作用。 / 綜上所述，我們發現在骶神經脊細胞未進入腸道末端的這段停滯期內，Sema3A對於骶神經脊細胞的遷移起到抑制作用，Sema3A通過其表達在這段停滯期內的時空改變來調控骶神經脊細胞進入腸道。另外我們發現由於Sox10的突變，迷走神經脊細胞表現出非正常的遷移和基因表達的變化。作為Sox10的靶基因，Gfra2對於迷走神經脊細胞的死亡有重要的作用。 / The enteric nervous system (ENS) is the most complex part of the peripheral nervous system which is composed of a vast number of neurons and glial cells. The enteric neurons and glial cells arise from vagal and sacral neural crest cells (NCCs) which migrate along the gastrointestinal tract to colonize the whole gut during the embryonic development. The molecular mechanisms regulating the NCC migration are poorly characterized despite the importance of this migration process in the ENS formation. Therefore, identification and characterization of molecules involved in the modulation of NCC migration are essential to understand the ENS development and could provide potential therapeutic targets for the treatment of human ENS disorders. / The present study was aimed to identify and characterize the molecules involved in modulating the NCC migration during the ENS development, and was divided into two parts. The first part focused on semaphorin3A (Sema3A) signaling, Sema3A was found to be expressed in the hindgut epithelium and also the adjacent regions of pelvic ganglia, while its receptor, neuropilin-1, was expressed by sacral NCCs before sacral NCCs entered the hindgut. Sacral NCC migration and neuronal fiber extension in vitro were retarded in the culture medium containing Sema3A. When a hindgut segment expressing Sema3A was co-cultured with sacral NCCs, sacral NCC migration and neuronal fiber extension were also suppressed by the hindgut segment. These findings provide evidence for the repulsive activity of Sema3A before the entry of sacral NCCs to the hindgut. / The second part focused on the potential target genes of the transcription factor Sox10 which is expressed by migrating NCCs. A naturally occurring mouse mutant Dominant megacolon (Sox10Dom) which expresses a mutant Sox10 was used to identify candidate molecules which may possibly affect the NCC migration. After 24 hours in culture, vagal NCCs from Sox10Dom/Dom embryos showed retarded migration, abnormal cell differentiation and excessive cell death in vitro when compared to Sox10⁺/⁺ vagal NCCs. Results of microarray analyses revealed differentially expressed genes in Sox10Dom/Dom as compared to Sox10⁺/⁺ vagal NCCs after 24 hours in culture. Among these genes, Sox10 was able to bind to the promoter of Itga4, Lama4, and Gfra2 to induce their expression. Sox10 activated Gfra2 promoter by direct binding to the critical region located between -116bp and -58bp upstream of the Gfra2 transcription start site. Finally, re-expression of Gfra2 in Sox10Dom/Dom vagal NCCs resulted in decreased cell death, suggesting that down-regulation of Gfra2 in the mutant mice played an important role in early cell death of vagal NCCs. / In conclusion, before sacral NCCs entered into the hindgut, Sema3A inhibited the sacral NCC migration, and the spatiotemporal change of the Sema3A distribution regulated the entry of sacral NCCs into hindgut. Furthermore, retarded cell migration, abnormal cell differentiation, increased cell death and differential gene expression were found in Sox10Dom/Dom vagal NCCs as compared with those from Sox10⁺/⁺ embryos in vitro. The expression of Gfra2, a potential target gene of Sox10, promoted the cell viability of vagal NCCs. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Wang, Cuifang. / Thesis (Ph.D.) Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2014. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 180-196). / Abstracts also in Chinese. / Wang, Cuifang.