Orientadores: Silvana Pereira Barros, Decio dos Santos Pinto Junior / Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Odontologia de Piracicaba / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-09T16:03:06Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Vaz_SoniaAndradeSilveira_D.pdf: 1101467 bytes, checksum: b3ab61ba8bad61148a6ab70c57bece91 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2006 / Resumo: Muitas pesquisas a respeito do paratormônio (PTH) têm demonstrado que o efeito anabólico (neoformativo) desse peptídeo sobre o tecido ósseo, quando administrado de um modo intermitente, resulta na indução de nódulos de mineralização em cultura de osteoblastos, deposição óssea e aumento da resistência a fraturas em todo o esqueleto. Frente a esses possíveis benefícios, o PTH foi aprovado recentemente pela US Food & Drug Administration (FDA) com o nome genérico de Teriparatide e com o nome comercial de Forteo® (Lilly) que já está sendo comercializado para o tratamento da osteoporose, mas, no entanto ainda vem suscitando grande interesse na comunidade científica, uma vez que o seu complexo mecanismo de ação não está totalmente esclarecido. Relatos científicos indicam que parte do anabolismo do PTH se deve a diferenciação e proliferação dos osteoblastos, aumentando significativamente o número destas células, e parte a um efeito inibidor da apoptose nos osteoblastos. O presente estudo investigou in vitro a capacidade anti-apoptótica do hPTH(1-34) em osteoblastos induzidos à apoptose pelo TNF-a, elegendo como modelo de estudo o cultivo de osteoblastos de calvária de rato. As células foram cultivadas em MEM- a, suplementado com SFB, ácido ascórbico, ß-glicerofosfato e gentamicina, e foram divididas em grupos experimentais que receberam tratamentos diferentes. No grupo I, as células foram induzidas à apoptose, recebendo tratamento com o TNF-a; no grupo II, as células não foram induzidas à apoptose e receberam tratamento intermitente com o hPTH(1-34); no grupo III, as células foram induzidas à apoptose e receberam tratamento com o hPTH(1-34); e no grupo IV, as células não foram induzidas à apoptose e não receberam tratamento com o PTH (controle). Para a detecção da apoptose foram empregados os métodos de exclusão por marcação com o corante azul de Trypan (câmara de Neubauer) e a citometria de fluxo (FACSCalibur). Os resultados obtidos foram submetidos à análise estatística que demonstrou que o tratamento intermitente com o PTH inibiu a apoptose em torno de 60% nos osteoblastos induzidos pelo TNF-a, aumentando, desta forma, o número de osteoblastos / Abstract: It is still not clear why sustained elevation of parathyroid hormone (PTH) stimulates bone resorption, whereas intermittent administration stimulates bone formation. Intermittent PTH administration was recently approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration as the first form of osteoporosis therapy that increases bone mass de novo, reverses the bone deficit, providing a proof-of-principle that osteoblast-targeted (anabolic) agents can effectively reduce osteoporotic fractures. Considering indications that attenuation of osteoblast apoptosis by daily injections of PTH in mice should account for the increased number of osteoblasts and, thereby, the increased bone formation produced by this treatment regimen, in the present study we aimed to investigate the anti-apoptotic ability of hPTH (1-34) in cultured osteoblastic cells through induction by TNF-a in association with PTH anabolic treatment using a calvariaderived osteoblastic cell line. Cells were cultured in MEM-a, supplemented with FBS, ascorbic acid, ß-glycerphosphate and gentamicin, and were divided in experimental groups that received different treatments. In group I, cells were induced to apoptosis, receiveing treatment with TNF-a; in group II, cells were not induced to apoptosis and received intermittent treatment with hPTH(1-34); in group III, cells were induced to apoptosis and received intermittent treatment with hPTH(1-34); and in group IV, cells were not induced to apoptosis and didn¿t receive intermittent treatment with hPTH(1-34) (control). For determination of cell death, two methods were used: staining with Trypan Blue and flow cytometry. The results were statistically analyzed and demonstrated that intermittent treatment with hPTH(1-34) was able to inhibit apoptosis induction by 60%, thereby increasing osteoblast number even in the presence of TNF-a / Doutorado / Histologia e Embriologia / Doutor em Biologia Buco-Dental

Orientadores: Anibal Eugenio Vercesi, Roger Frigerio Castilho / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Ciencias Medicas / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-10T16:53:40Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Oliveira_KiviaAparecidaPontesde_M.pdf: 1348299 bytes, checksum: 60cf5041b7c98ff265e1fd5399cfef64 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2008 / Resumo: As estatinas são inibidores da 3-hidroxi-3-metilglutaril CoA (HMG-CoA) redutase usados no tratamento de hipercolesterolemia. Estudos in vitro e in vivo têm demonstrado que as estatinas podem ter efeitos anti-cancerígenos. No presente estudo analisamos os mecanismos de toxicidade de sinvastatina e de lovastatina nas linhagens de câncer de próstata LNCaP e PC-3. Curvas dose-resposta do efeito das estatinas (0,1-100 µM) sobre as células LNCaP e PC-3 mostraram efeitos similares e maior sensibilidade das células PC-3 do que das células LNCaP. Tratamentos de células PC-3 com sinvastatina 10 µM durante 48 h induziu morte principalmente por apoptose, a qual foi associada ao aumento de 3 vezes da [Ca2+]cit. Tanto a apoptose quanto o aumento da [Ca2+]cit foram prevenidos por mevalonato 100 µM presente no meio de cultura. Isso indica que a inibição da HMG-CoA redutase leva à apoptose mediada por Ca2+. Pifitrina-a, inibidor da proteína supressora tumoral p53, não preveniu apoptose em células PC-3 (p53 negativas) nem em células LNCaP (p53 positivas). Isso mostrou que a apoptose de células de câncer de próstata induzida por estatinas é independente de p53. Sinvastatina 60 µM induziu morte de células PC-3 principalmente por necrose, a qual foi associada ao aumento de 3 vezes da [Ca2+]cit e à diminuição da respiração e do potencial de membrana mitocondrial. Tanto a necrose quanto a disfunção mitocondrial foram parcialmente prevenidas pelos compostos ciclosporina A (inibidor da transição de permeabilidade mitocondrial [TPM] e da fosfatase calcineurina), FK506 (inibidor de calcineurina) e boncrecato (inibidor da TPM). O aumento da [Ca2+]cit não foi prevenido por ciclosporina A, FK506 ou boncrecato, porém a complexação de Ca2+ citossólico com BAPTA protegeu as células PC-3 da necrose, sugerindo que o aumento da [Ca2+]cit seja um dos primeiros passos no processo de necrose celular, seguido pela ativação da via de calcineurina. Conclui-se que a apoptose induzida por sinvastatina em células PC-3 seja dependente da via do mevalonato enquanto que a necrose seja dependente da via da calcineurina associada à disfunção mitocondrial / Abstract: Statins are 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl CoA (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitors used in the treatment of hypercholesterolemia. Both in vitro and in vivo studies have demonstrated that statins may have anti-cancer effects. In the present study we analyzed the mechanisms of simvastatin and lovastatina toxicity to the human prostate cancer cell lines LNCaP and PC-3. Dose-response curves of statins (0.1-100 µM) effects upon LNCaP and PC-3 cells showed similar effects and higher sensitivity of PC-3 than LNCaP cells. Treatments of PC-3 cells with 10 µM simvastatin during 48 h induced death mainly by apoptosis, which was associated with a 3-fold increase in [Ca2+]cyt. Both apoptosis and [Ca2+]cyt increase were prevented by 100 µM mevalonate present in the culture medium. This indicates that the inhibition of HMG-CoA reductase is followed by Ca2+ mediated apoptosis. Pifithrin-a, an inhibitor of tumor suppressor p53 protein, did not prevented apoptosis either in PC-3 (p53 negative) or LNCaP (p53 positive) cells. This showed that apoptosis of prostate cancer cells induced by statins is p53 independent. At 60 µM, simvastatin induced death in PC-3 cells mainly by necrosis, which was associated with a 3-fold increase in PC-3 [Ca2+]cyt, and decrease in both respiration and mitochondrial membrane potential. Both necrosis and mitochondrial dysfunction were partially prevented by the compounds cyclosporine A (mitochondrial permeability transition [MPT] and calcineurin inhibitor), FK506 (calcineurin inhibitor), and bongkrekic acid (MPT inhibitor). Increase in [Ca2+]cyt was not prevented by cyclosporine A, FK506 or bongkrekic acid, but chelation of [Ca2+]cyt with BAPTA protected PC-3 cells from necrosis, suggesting rise in [Ca2+]cyt is one of the first steps in the process of cell necrosis and is followed by activation of the calcineurin pathway. We may conclude that simvastatin-induced apoptosis in PC-3 cells is dependent on the mevalonate pathway whereas necrosis is dependent on the calcineurin pathway associated with mitochondrial dysfunction / Mestrado / Biologia Estrutural, Celular, Molecular e do Desenvolvimento / Mestre em Fisiopatologia Médica

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento CientÃfico e TecnolÃgico / Venenos de Bothrops consistem em uma mistura complexa de substÃncias ativas, principalmente peptÃdeos e proteÃnas, capazes de interferir com muitos processos fisiolÃgicos. Serpentes do gÃnero Bothrops sÃo responsÃveis por mais de 20 mil acidentes por ano no Brasil, que totalizam 90% de todos os acidentes ofÃdicos registrados. A Bothrops leucurus à uma serpente peÃonhenta importante que habita a regiÃo nordeste do Brasil. Os efeitos biolÃgicos devido ao envenenamento tÃm perfil semelhante ao observado em outras Bothrops, ou seja, a atividade coagulante, hemorrÃgica, fibrinolÃtica e insuficiÃncia renal in vivo. O objetivo deste estudo foi investigar os efeitos do veneno de Bothrops leucurus no sistema de perfusÃo renal e em culturas de cÃlulas tubulares renais do tipo MDCK (Madin-Darby Canine kidney). Rins isolados de ratos Wistar pesando 250 a 300g (n = 5) foram perfundidos com Krebs-Henseleit contendo 6% de albumina sÃrica bovina previamente dialisadas por 120 minutos. Os efeitos do veneno de Bothrops leucurus (VBl) (10μg/mL) foram estudados sobre o Ritmo de FiltraÃÃo Glomerular (RFG), Fluxo UrinÃrio (FU), PressÃo de PerfusÃo (PP), ResistÃncia Vascular Renal (RVR), Percentual de Transporte Tubular de SÃdio (%TNa+), de PotÃssio (%TK+) e de Cloreto (%TCl-). O veneno de B. leucurus (10 μg / mL) reduziu a PP aos 90 e 120 min e o FU aos 60 e 90 min. O ritmo de filtraÃÃo glomerular diminuiu aos 60 e 90 min. A resistÃncia vascular renal diminuiu aos 120 min. Observou-se tambÃm uma diminuiÃÃo no percentual de transporte tubular de sÃdio (% TNA+) aos 120 min e de cloreto (% TCL-) aos 60 e 90 min. CÃlulas MDCK foram cultivadas em garrafas plÃsticas a 37ÂC em atmosfera de 5% de CO2, com meio RPMI 1640 suplementado com soro bovino fetal a 10%. O tratamento com VBl causou diminuiÃÃo da viabilidade celular atà na menor concentraÃÃo testada com um IC50 de 1,25 μg /mL. Citometria de fluxo com anexina V e iodeto de propÃdio mostrou que a morte celular ocorreu predominantemente por necrose de forma concentraÃÃo dependente. Quando a apoptose foi analisada atravÃs da coloraÃÃo nuclear, foi observado aumento significativo na porcentagem de morte celular, VBl nas concentraÃÃes de 2,5 e 1,5 μg/mL induziu 6,8% e 5,8% de apoptose apÃs 24 horas de tratamento, respectivamente. O tratamento com VBl (1,25 μg/mL) levou a despolarizaÃÃo significativa do potencial de membrana mitocondrial. Nas menores concentraÃÃes avaliadas, verificamos aumento de expressÃo de genes envolvidos na morte celular por apoptose. O Ãon Ca2+ participa da sinalizaÃÃo da morte celular induzida pelo veneno de B. leucurus. Esses resultados demonstram que o veneno de B. leucurus alterou todos os parÃmetros renais avaliados na perfusÃo de rim isolado e foi citotÃxico para cultura de cÃlulas MDCK. / Bothrops venoms consist of complex mixture of active substances, mainly peptides and proteins, which interfere with many physiologic processes. Bothrops species are responsible for more than 20,000 accidents per year in Brazilâ90% of all recorded snakebites. The Bothrops leucurus is an important venomous snake that inhabits the northeast of Brazil. The biological effects due envenomation have similar profile to that observed in other Bothrops, ie coagulant activity, hemorrhagic, fibrinolytic, and renal failure in vivo. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of the Bothrops leucurus venom in the renal perfusion system and in cultured renal tubular cells of the type MDCK (MadinâDarby Canine kidney). Isolated kidneys from Wistar rats weighing 250 to 300g (n=5) were perfused with Krebs-Henseleit solution containing 6% of bovine serum albumin previously dialyzed for 120 minutes. The effects of Bothrops leucurus venom (VBl) (10μg/mL) were studied on the Perfusion Pressure (PP), Renal Vascular Resistance (RVR), Urinary Flow (UF), Glomerular Filtration Rate (GFR) Percentage of Sodium (%TNa+), Potassium (%TK+) and Chloride (%TCl-) Tubular Transport. B. leucurus venom (10 μg/mL) reduction the PP at 90 and 120 min and UF at 60 and 90 min. The glomerular filtration rate decreased at 60 and 90 min. The renal vascular resistance decreased at 120 min. It was also observed a decrease on percentual tubular transport of sodium (%TNa+) at 120 min and of chloride (%TCl-) at 60 and 90 min. MDCK cells were grown in plastic flasks at 37 C in a humidified atmosphere of 5% CO2 â air, with RPMI 1640 medium supplemented with 10% fetal calf serum. The treatment with VBl caused decrease in cell viability to the lowest concentration tested with an CI50 of 1.25 μg/mL. Flow cytometry with annexin V and propidium iodide showed that cell death occurred predominantly by necrosis. When apoptosis was analyzed by nuclear staining, it was observed significant increase in the percentage of cell death, VBl 2,5 μg/mL induced 6,8% apoptosis and VBl 1,25 μg/mL caused 5,8% of apoptosis after 24 h of treatment. VBl treatment (1,25 μg/mL) led to significant depolarization of the mitochondrial membrane potential. We found increased expression of genes involved in cell death by apoptosis in the lower concentrations tested. The ion Ca2+ signaling participates in cell death induced by the venom of B. leucurus. These results demonstrate that the venom of B. leucurus altered all the renal parameters assessed in isolated kidney perfusion and was cytotoxic to MDCK cell culture.

Une meilleure compréhension des mécanismes moléculaires impliqués dans la malignité des lymphome B diffus à grande cellules (LBDGC) et dans leur résistance aux traitements devraient permettre de développer de nouvelles opportunités thérapeutiques innovantes et d’envisager dans un futur proche de nouveaux agents de thérapie ciblée. Jusqu’à ce jour, le traitement standard se solde encore par un échec chez un nombre significatif de patients. Les rechutes post traitement et les cas réfractaires restent le défi majeur pour améliorer le taux de survie global. Plusieurs méchanismes ont été décrits comme responsables de ces échecs, dont, pour une grande part, le dysfonctionnement de la machinerie apoptotique. Dès lors, des stratégies thérapeutiques activant des voies non-apoptotiques plus sélectivement dans les cellules malignes sont absolument nécessaires. La Thymoquinone (TQ), un principe actif isolé de la plante médicinale Nigell a Sativa, a démontré des propiétés anticancéreuses in vitro ainsi que dans des modèles animaux, en agissant via plusieurs mécanismes incluant principalement des effets antiprolifératifs et pro-apoptotiques. Malgré les nombreuses investigations, les mécanismes de destruction cellulaire sous-jacents à l’effet anti-cancéreux de la TQ restent ambigus et peu élucidés, notament sur les voies de mort cellulaire non-apoptotiques. L’objectif de notre travail vise l’évaluation de la sélectivité de la TQ vis-à-vis des lignées cellulaires de lymphomes B diffus à grandes cellules (LBDGC), et l’élucidation des méchanismes critiques responsables de la destruction cellulaire. Dans une première partie, nous avons démontré la capacité de la TQ à produire un effet cytotoxique plus prononcé dans des lignées cellulaires lymphomateuses (LBDGC) par rapport aux cellules normales provenant de donneurs sains. Le profil de sélectivité de la TQ s’est avéré intéressant par rapport aux agents de chimiothérapie conventionnelle dans le LBDGC. A l’échelle moléculaire, on a mis en évidence l’implication de voies de mort cellulaire non-apoptotiques, en supplément des voies apoptotiques, dans l’effet cytotoxique de la TQ dans la plupart des lignées étudiées. Nos investigations ont d’abord révélé un effet pro-apoptotique vraisemblablement sous-jacent à l’effet génotoxique de la TQ. L’importance de cette modalité de mort cellulaire dans l’effet cytotoxique de la TQ est toutefois limitée aux lignées les moins sensibles. Nos observations ont révélé la capacité de la TQ à activer la voix mitochondriale des caspases suite à la libération du cytochrome c. La mort cellulaire produite par la TQ n’est toutefois pas freinée par l’inhibition des caspases, et nos investigations ont également exclu l’implication des voies apoptotiques caspases-indépendantes. Paradoxalement, ces investigations ont montré le rôle critique des voies de mort cellulaire non-apoptotiques, en particulier dans les lignées sensibles à l’effet de la TQ. En étudiant l'origine de cette voie alternative de mort cellulaire, on a constaté que la TQ provoque le dysfonctionnement réticulaire qui se manifeste par l’activation des voies de transduction UPR et se produit de façon plus significative dans les lignées sensibles. En effet, dans cette dernière catégorie nos investigations ont démontré que la TQ produit un effet important par l’augmentation du calcium cytosolique principalement via la dépletion de celui-ci à partir des compartiments réticulaires. En accord avec ces observations, nous avons demontré que l’augmentation du calcium cytosolique joue un rôle critique, plus particulièrement dans l’effet non-apoptotique de la TQ opérant principalement dans les lignées fort sensibles aux effets de la TQ. Afin de mieux caractériser les mécanismes de susceptibilité et de résistance des lignées LBDGC, la deuxième partie de ce travail a été consacrée à l’évaluation de l'implication de l’histone déacétylase SIRT1 ( silent information regulator 1) dans la sensibilité des lignées aux effets de la TQ. SIRT1 intervient notament dans la résistance au stress oxydatif et à l’apoptose. SIRT1 serait également protectrice contre les dommages à l'ADN. Rappelons que l’expression de SIRT1 est considérée comme un facteur de mauvais pronostic pour les patients atteints de LBDGC. En focalisant nos investigations sur les lignées résistantes aux traitementx standard et moins sensibles à la TQ, nous avons démontré l'effet protecteur de SIRT1 vis-à-vis de l'effet pro-apoptotique et génotoxique de la TQ. En résumé, la capacité de la TQ à déclencher des modalités de mort cellulaire non apoptotiques pourrait constituer une stratégie prometteuse pour surmonter les mécanismes anti-apoptotiques responsables en partie de l’échec du traitement standard. Tenant compte du rôle critique de l’effet génotoxique dans le traitement des LBDGC, notre travail suggère que l'inhibition de SIRT1 pourrait être une stratégie préventive pour surmonter la résistance native ou acquise. D’autre part, nos résultats contribuent à une compréhension plus précise des mécanismes critiques responsables de l’effet cytotoxique de la TQ. Nos travaux pourraient d’autre part permettre l’étude de combinaisons innovantes de médicaments incluant la TQ in vivo. / Doctorat en Sciences biomédicales et pharmaceutiques (Médecine) / info:eu-repo/semantics/nonPublished

Abstract Failure to maintain an appropriate balance between cell death and proliferation is partly due to derangements in the regulation of apoptosis. In this work, apoptosis and the expression of apoptosis regulating proteins were studied by 3' - end labeling of fragmented apoptotic DNA (TUNEL) and immunohistochemistry in a set of 147 tissue samples consisting of 44 biopsies of normal and dysplastic bronchial epithelium, and 103 non-small cell lung carcinomas. The quantity of apoptotic cells and bodies, apoptotic index (AI%), is defined as a percentage of apoptotic cells in the entire tumor cell population. Changes in the apoptotic activity were already seen in the metaplasia-dysplasia-carcinoma sequence of the lung, where the AI% increased gradually until moderate epithelial dysplasia but started to decrease after that. Thus, the AI% for invasive NSCLC (1.20 for squamous cell carcinoma and 1.24 for adenocarcinoma) was slightly lower than in premalignant bronchial epithelium (mean 1.50), but clearly higher than in normal tissue (0.20 for normal bronchial epithelium and 0.24 for lung interstitial cells). 53% of SQCCs and 50% of ACs showed p53 positive nuclei indicative of mutated p53 protein. The immunostaining of bcl-2, bax and mcl-1 revealed diffuse, cytoplasmic staining and was present in most tissues studied. No statistically significant associations between the extent of apoptosis and the expression of p53, bcl-2, bax, or mcl-1 could be found, although . The immunostaining for caspases 3, 6 and 8 was restricted to the tumor areas, reflecting increased apoptotic activity in them. The AI% was significantly higher in NSCLCs in which the single-cell staining pattern for caspase-8 was dominant (P = 0.017), whereas the expression of caspases 3 and 6 had no association with apoptosis. The number of apoptotic cells was significantly higher in NSCLC tumors with a high number of CD3+ and CD8+ T-lymphocytes (P = 0.01) and B-cells (P = 0.05). By multivariate analysis, enhanced apoptosis in NSCLC showed a 1.9-fold risk (95% CI 1.04–3.60; P = 0.04) and p53 positivity a 2.3-fold risk (95% CI 1.30–4.10; P = 0.005) for a shortened survival. Both factors appeared as independent prognostic variables. Apoptosis is clearly enhanced in premalignant and malignant lung tissue in comparison with normal tissue. Furthermore, the expression of the apoptosis-regulating genes is different in tumor tissue from that in normal tissue, and some of the changes in their expression can be seen even in the premalignant lesions of the bronchial epithelium. The expression of caspases seen only in tumor tissue implies the activation of the apoptotic mechanisms and, thus, the lowered treshold of tumor cells to undergo apoptosis. Even in the advanced stages of the disease, the immune defense is effective and the cytotoxic action of activated CD8+ T-cells clearly involves apoptosis. Based on these results it is concluded that alterations in the apoptotic activity and changes in the expression of apoptosis-regulating genes are associated with malignant transformation and growth in lung tissue.

Abstract Reindeer antler was studied for its possible use as a bone implant material. A molecular biological study showed that antler contains a growth factor promoting bone formation. Ectopic bone formation assay showed that antler is not an equally effective inducer as allogenic material. Ectopic bone formation assay was optimised for biocompatibility studies of orthopaedic NiTi implants. Ti-6Al-4V and stainless steel were used as reference materials. The assay showed differences in bone mineral densities, with superior qualities in NiTi. The rate of endochondral ossification varied between the implants, NiTi ossicles had larger cartilage and bone areas than ossicles of the two other materials. The cytocompatibility of NiTi was studied with three different methods. Cell viability, cell adhesion and TGF-β1 concentration were assessed in ROS-17/2.8 cell cultures. Cells grown on NiTi had better viability than cells grown on pure nickel or stainless steel. Cell attachment on the materials was studied with paxillin staining of focal contacts. The number of focal contacts was clearly higher in cells grown on NiTi than in cells grown on pure titanium, pure nickel or stainless steel. TGF-β1 concentration was measured with ELISA. The results showed that there was only some minor variation between NiTi, pure titanium and stainless steel. Nickel showed a lower TGF-β1 concentration. Taken together, these results suggest that NiTi is well tolerated by ROS-17/2.8 cells. The cytocompatibility of stainless steel is not so good as that of NiTi. The same tests were used to study the effects of the surface roughness of the implant on cytocompatibility. Three different surface roughness grades were compared in cell cultures on NiTi and titanium alloy discs. Titanium alloy was subjected to two different heat treatments, to compare the effects of the treatments on cytocompatibility. The studies showed that NiTi had a lesser impact on cell viability and attachment than titanium alloy. Further, rough NiTi was found to be a better tolerated surface than the others. In this study, heat treatment of titanium alloy at +850° C did not interfere with cell viability or attachment, as did the +1050° C treatment of the alloy. On the contrary, TGF-β1 concentrations decreased on the +850° C treated alloy and were approximately same on the +1050° C treated alloy and on NiTi.

While the genetics of retinoblastoma and the implications of the retinoblastoma susceptibility gene, RB1, are well described, there is still scarce evidence to suggest why RB1 acts in such a cell-type specific manner. Using the murine cortex as a model, we examined the effects of RB1 deletion of cycling neural progenitors and post-mitotic neurons, in order to ascertain cell-type specific functions in the central nervous system. Using the previously identified cell-cycle independent role for Rb in tangential migration, we validated Rb/E2f regulation of neogenin and implicated it in this process. In quiescent cortical neurons, we identified a pivotal role for Rb in neuronal survival. Unlike in cycling progenitors, in post-mitotic neurons Rb specifically represses the expression of cell-cycle associated genes in an E2f-dependent manner. Finally, in cortical neurons in the absence of Rb, we observe an activation of chromatin at E2f associated promoters. To determine the role of direct interaction between Rb and chromatin modifying enzymes, we utilized an acute LXCXE-binding deficient mutant paradigm. We report that the LXCXE binding motif is dispensable in establishment and maintenance of cortical neuron quiescence and survival. The activation state of E2f-responsive promoters appears to be dependent on E2f-activity and not simply Rb-mediated repression. Taken as a whole, this thesis serves to support the hypothesis that Rb plays a diverse role in different cell-types by regulation of unique gene targets and regulatory mechanisms. Characterizing specific cancer-initiating populations and understanding the specific function of Rb will help in the treatment of many cancers resulting from RB1 mutation or mutation within the Rb/E2f pathway.

Cell death is an imperative mechanism for the development, homeostasis and survival of an organism. Various forms of cell death have been documented and recent reports indicate that the mode of cell death elicited can have a profound influence on the development and perpetuation of inflammation. Apoptosis is the predominant, programmed pathway of cell death, which ensures physiological elimination of unwanted cells. On the other hand, another cell death pathway described as programmed necrosis (necroptosis), has recently been revealed. The induction of necroptosis and its impact in host biology is not clear. Herein I have evaluated the mechanisms of necroptosis in macrophages, an important cell type of the immune system. My experiments indicate that type I interferon (IFN-I) signaling through transcription factors STAT1, STAT2 and IRF9, collectively described as the ISGF3 complex, is indispensable for necroptosis of macrophages. Furthermore, my results indicate that IFN-I signaling promotes the sustained phosphorylation of receptor interacting protein kinase 3 (Rip3), a key protein required for the execution of necroptosis. My findings also reveal that dynamin-dependent endocytosis following IFNβ stimulation and caspase inhibition is necessary for the induction of necroptosis. The results presented in this thesis provide new insights into the molecular mechanisms of necroptosis and therefore contribute to a deeper understanding of multiple inflammatory pathologies.

Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium (ST) is an intracellular bacterium that resides within the phagosome of infected cells. ST is the causative agent of gastroenteritis in humans and typhoid like disease in mice. ST infects epithelial cells and phagocytic cells such as dendritic cells (DCs), which are immune sentinels that have been regarded as the most critical antigen-presenting cell (APC). I evaluated the role of CD8α DCs, a subset of DCs capable of antigen presentation of phagosomal pathogens to activate CD8+ T cells. Furthermore, I assessed the role of key cytokines such as the group of classical anti-viral cytokines known as Interferon-I (IFN-I), on licensing CD8+ T cells. Interestingly, IFN-I signalling was necessary for production of inflammatory cytokines and induction of cell death, which activated CD8+ T cells and clearance of ST. Lastly, I examined the role of key cell death pathways in innate immune protection against ST. In particular, I addressed how signalling pathways in necroptosis and pyroptosis are critical for the production of IL-1beta and IL-18 which mediate immune protection against ST. Determining the mechanisms of which DCs engage innate and adaptive immune responses against phagosomal bacteria is the central question of my study and is addressed by examining critical roles of DC function, inflammation and cell death.

Cell death plays a vital role throughout the immune response, from the onset of inflammation to the elimination of primed T cells. Understanding the regulation of cell death within immune cells is of vital importance to understanding the immune system and developing therapies against various immune-disorders. In this thesis I have investigated the regulation of cell death and its functional role in of the innate and adaptive arms of the immune system. The mechanisms that govern expansion and contraction of antigen stimulated CD8+ T cells are not well understood. In the first section of this thesis, I show that caspase-3 becomes activated in proliferating CD8+ proliferation, yet this does not result in cell death. I used both in vivo and in vitro models to demonstrate that caspase-3 activation is specifically driven by antigen presentation and not inflammation, and that it likely plays a role in promoting T cell proliferation. Next, I present novel data regarding the regulation of a newly identified form of programmed cell death via necrosis, known as necroptosis. I show that the cellular inhibitor of apoptosis (cIAP) proteins act to limit activation of key necroptosis proteins in macrophage cells. Furthermore, I show that necroptosis can be exploited by intracellular bacterial pathogens to escape removal by the immune system. I also demonstrate that necroptosis is highly intertwined with the pathway of inflammation, and the autocrine production of type-I interferon constitutes a vital positive feedback loop in the induction of inflammatory cell death. In the final section of my thesis work, I delve into the specific regulation of Rip1 kinase and demonstrate that in addition to previously demonstrated regulation by caspase-8, cathepsins are also able to cleave Rip1 kinase and limit necroptosis. This thesis presents a wide variety of novel data regarding the regulation of cell death within immune cells. In total, the results reveal a picture of two divergent forms of programmed cell death, apoptosis and necroptosis. Through improving the understanding of the cross-regulation of these two key cell death pathways this work aims to improve the understanding of the immune function.