Botropasina (Bt) é uma toxina isolada do veneno da serpente Bothrops jararaca, associada a processos inflamatórios. Neste contexto da inflamação como fator desencadeante da angiogênese, verificamos se a botropasina, uma metaloproteinase isolada do veneno da serpente Bothrops jararaca, poderia modular diretamente as transições fenotípicas do processo angiogênico. O objetivo deste trabalho foi caracterizar os efeitos da Botropasina, domínios DC e peptídeos sintéticos derivados dos domínios DC (Ca II, Ca III e HCR), sobre os eventos da angiogênese como proliferação, migração, secreção de gelatinases, tubulogênese, e os mecanismos moleculares envolvidos no sistema in vitro nas células endoteliais HUVEC-CS. Nossos resultados mostram que tanto as proteínas Bt e DC, e o peptídeo HCR induzem os eventos angiogênicos de proliferação, migração, secreção de MPPs e formação de túbulos em matrigel, e estes são dependentes da dose. Os peptídeos Ca II e Ca III não induziram todas as características próprias da angiogênese. A migração observada tanto nos ensaios 2D, 3D, assim como na expressão do DLL4 e as fibras de estresse do citoesqueleto, sugerem que o tratamento com botropasina e o peptídeo HCR induzem o fenótipo migratório - tip cells nas células endoteliais. A ativação da via de sinalização de Erk via integrinas, seria o mecanismo de sinalização das proteínas Bt e DC, enquanto o peptídeo linear HCR teria um mecanismo de interação direta com receptores intracelulares. O tratamento com a Bt estimula a fosforilação das proteínas Akt, Fak e p38, envolvidas na migração, sobrevida e estresse celular, mas sem alterações na morfologia. A presença de proteínas inflamatórias como vimentina e calistatina nas formas secretada, indica que os tratamentos com as proteínas Bt e DC induzem uma resposta inflamatória nas células endotelias, promovendo os eventos da angiogênese, enquanto o peptídeo HCR se mostra como altamente mitogênico e sem efeitos inflamatórios. / Botrophasin (Bt) is a metalloproteinase isolated from Bothrops jararaca snake venom, an associated with inflammatory processes. In the context of inflammation as a triggering factor of angiogenesis, we tested if botropasin, could directly modulate the phenotypic transitions of the angiogenic process. The objective of this work was to characterize the effects of Botropasin, DC domains and synthetic peptides derived from the DC domains (Ca II, Ca III and HCR), on the events of angiogenesis such as proliferation, migration, gelatinases secretion, tubulogenesis, and molecular mechanisms involved in the in vitro system in HUVEC-CS endothelial cells. Our results show that both Bt, DC proteins, and the HCR peptide induce the angiogenic events of proliferation, migration, MPP secretion and matrigel tubule formation, and these are dose dependent. Ca II and Ca III peptides did not induce all the angiogenesis characteristics. The migration observed in both the 2D and 3D assays, as well as in the expression of DLL4 and cytoskeletal stress fibers, suggests that treatment with bothropasin and the HCR peptide induce the migratory phenotype - tip cells in the endothelial cells. Activation of the Erk signaling pathway via integrins would be the signaling mechanism for Bt and DC proteins, whereas the linear peptide HCR would have a mechanism of direct interaction with intracellular receptors. Treatment with Bt stimulates the phosphorylation of Akt, Fak and p38 proteins, involved in migration, survival and cell stress, but without changes in morphology. The presence of inflammatory proteins such as secreted vimentin and kallistatin indicates that the treatments with Bt and DC proteins induce an inflammatory response in the endothelial cells, promoting the angiogenesis events, whereas the HCR peptide shows to be highly mitogenic and without inflammatory effects.

O glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) é uma neoplasia do sistema nervoso central (SNC), caracterizada por uma elevada capacidade proliferativa e migratória. O desenvolvimento do tumor provoca uma remodelação da matriz extracelular (MEC) que facilita a migração tumoral. Eicosanóides são moléculas lipídicas importantes na carcinogênese e a sua síntese está correlacionada com o grau de desenvolvimento do tumor. As prostaglandinas são eicosanóides envolvidas na estimulação da angiogênese, na adesão celular e proliferação celular. Este estudo tem por objetivo avaliar in vitro o efeito da PGE2 na expressão moléculas da MEC e das moléculas de adesão envolvidas na migração, em células U87MG e U251MG. As células U251MG e U87MG foram tratadas com PGE2 (10µM) e Ibuprofeno (25µM), por um período 48hs. As proteínas da MEC foram analisadas por RT-qPCR após o tratamento. Foram realizadas reações de imunohistoquímica para as moléculas da MEC. As alterações foram encontradas na expressão de laminina, fibronectina, colágeno tipo IV e as integrinas αv , α3 e α5 para células U87MG . Observamos imunomarcação nas linhas celulares para colágeno tipo IV, laminina e fibronectina. Concluímos que o tratamento com IBU e PGE2, afeta a expressão gênica de moléculas de MEC. / Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM) is a neoplasm of the central nervous system (CNS), characterized by a high proliferative and migratory capacity. Tumor development leads to extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling and facilitating the migration of these cells. Eicosanoids are important lipid molecules in carcinogenesis, and their synthesis often correlates with the degree of tumor development. Prostaglandins are eicosanoids involved in the stimulation of angiogenesis, cell adhesion and cell proliferation. This study is aimed to evaluate the expression of several ECM molecules involved in migration after altering the concentration of prostaglandins, using human glioma cell lines as an in vitro model. The cell lines U87MG and U251MG were treated with PGE2 (10µM) and Ibuprofen (25µM), for a predetermined period of 48hs. Proteins involved in extracellular matrix were analyzed by RT-qPCR after treatment in vitro. Immunohistochemical reactions were also performed for the ECM molecules. Changes were found in the expression of laminin, fibronectin, type IV collagen and αv, α3 and α5 integrins in cells U87MG. We observed immunostaining in cell lines to type IV collagen, laminin and fibronectin. In conclusion, Ibuprofen and PGE2, affects gene expression of ECM molecules.

O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar os efeitos da glicose elevada sobre células do ligamento periodontal humano, e esclarecer o papel de microRNAs (miRNAs) nas alterações observadas. As células foram obtidas de dentes pré-molares de crianças/adolescentes e divididas em grupos: controle (5 mM de glicose) e glicose elevada (30 mM de glicose), mantidos por 7 dias. A glicose reduziu a adesão celular, reduziu o espraiamento e inibiu a migração celular, com redução da velocidade e direcionalidade. A glicose não alterou a proliferação celular, mas aumentou a morte por apoptose e a expressão de caspase 3. A expressão de miRNAs 29a e 29ax não foi modulada pela glicose, enquanto a de miRNAs 221 e 222 mostrou-se reduzida. A inibição de miR-221 e miR-222 reduziu a migração e aumentou a morte celular, enquanto a superexpressão destes dois miRs aumentou a migração celular e reduziu a morte por apoptose. Em conclusão, células do ligamento periodontal humano são sensíveis à elevada concentração de glicose em funções como migração e sobrevivência. / The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of high glucose on human periodontal ligament cells, and to clarify the role of microRNAs (miRNAs) in these effects. The cells were obtained from children / adolescents premolar teeth and divided into groups: control (5 mM glucose) and high glucose (30 mM glucose), maintained for 7 days. Glucose reduced cell adhesion, reduced spreading and inhibited cell migration, with reduced speed and directionality. Glucose did not alter cell proliferation, but increased death by apoptosis and caspase 3 expression. Expression of 29a and 29ax miRNAs was not modulated by glucose, whereas miRNAs 221 and 222 were reduced. Inhibition of miR-221 and miR-222 reduced migration and increased cell death, while overexpression of these two miRs increased cell migration and reduced death by apoptosis. In conclusion, cells of the human periodontal ligament are sensitive to high glucose concentration in functions such as migration and survival.

A literatura relata que o veneno de Crotalus durissus terrificus (VCdt) ou suas toxinas isoladas modulam a resposta inflamatória. A crotoxina (CTX) é a principal toxina do VCdt, representando aproximadamente 65% do conteúdo do veneno bruto. Dando continuidade aos estudos que evidenciam o efeito modulador do VCdt sobre a inflamação, foi demonstrado que o VCdt apresenta um efeito anti-inflamatório prolongado sobre a resposta inflamatória induzida pela carragenina (Cg), em camundongos. Esse estudo mostrou que uma única dose de VCdt, administrada pela via subcutânea, 7 ou 21 dias antes da injeção de Cg inibe, respectivamente, o desenvolvimento do edema de pata e a migração celular para a cavidade peritoneal, induzidos por este agente inflamatório. Este efeito anti-inflamatório também foi observado após a instalação da resposta inflamatória (Nunes et al., 2007). Além disso, foi demonstrado também que a CTX, é a toxina responsável por este efeito anti-inflamatório prolongado. Ainda, dados recentes mostram que os receptores para peptídeo formil, tais como lipoxina/anexina, mediadores com potente ação anti-inflamatória, estão envolvidos no efeito da CTX. Em continuidade a essa linha de investigação, este trabalho teve por objetivo caracterizar o efeito da CTX sobre a expressão de mediadores pró-inflamatórios e de moléculas de adesão envolvidas na resposta inflamatória induzida pela Cg. em camundongos. Além de avaliar também o efeito desta toxina sobre a translocação da subunidade p65 do NF-κB para o núcleo celular. Para tanto, foi, investigado o efeito de uma única dose de CTX (44 μg/kg) sobre: a expressão de P-selectina, ICAM-1, PECAM-1 e Mac-1; sobre a secreção de TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, PGE2, e LTB4 e sobre a expressão de iNOS e p65. Cabe destacar ainda que, um inibidor da síntese de glicocorticoides (Mifepristone), bem como um antagonista de receptor para glicocorticoides (Metirapona) foram administrados antes do tratamento da CTX, para avaliar também a participação de glicocorticoides endógenos no efeito anti-inflamatório da CTX. A administração subcutânea de uma única dose de CTX produziu: 1- diminuição da secreção de TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6; 2- diminuição da expressão de P-selectina e ICAM-1 e 3- diminuição da expressão de p65. Por outro lado, a CTX não alterou os níveis de PGE2, e LTB4, como também não alterou a expressão de iNOS e Mac-1. Além disso, nossos resultados sugerem que os glicocorticóides endógenos não interferem no efeito anti-inflamatório da CTX, uma vez que o pré-tratamento com Mifepristone ou Metirapona não alteraram o efeito inibitório desta toxina sobre a migração celular. Em conjunto, os resultados caracterizam o efeito anti-inflamatório da CTX sobre a migração celular induzida pela Cg e sugerem que esta toxina pode inibir a expressão de importantes substâncias pró-inflamatórias envolvidas na resposta inflamatória pela Cg ao inibir a ativação do fator de transcrição, NF-κB, uma vez que este fator favorece a transcrição de vários genes, cujas proteínas são importantes no desenvolvimento da resposta inflamatória. Esses resultados contribuem para a elucidação dos mecanismos envolvidos na ação modulatória da CTX sobre a resposta inflamatória / The literature shows that Crotalus durissus terrificus snake venom (CdtV) or their toxins isolated modulate the inflammatory response. The crotoxin (CTX) is the main toxin of CdtV, representing approximately 65% of the content of the crude venom. It was demonstrated that CdtV presents a long-lasting anti-inflammatory effect induced by carrageenan (Cg) in mice. This study showed that a single dose of CdtV inhibits respectively, the development of paw edema and cell migration to the peritoneal cavity induced by this inflammatory agent. This anti-inflammatory effect was also observed after installation of the inflammatory response (Nunes et al., 2007). Furthermore, it was also demonstrated that CTX is responsible for this long-lasting anti-inflammatory effect. Still, recent data show that the formil peptide receptors, such as lipoxin/anexin, mediators with potent anti-inflammatory action, are involved in the effect of CTX. The aim of this study is characterize the effect of CTX on the expression of proinflammatory mediators and adhesion molecules involved in the inflammatory response induced by Cg in mice and also evaluate the effect of the toxin on translocation of the p65 subunit of NF-κB to the nucleus. Therefore, it was investigated the effect of a single dose of CTX (44 μg/kg) on: P-selectin, ICAM-1, PECAM-1 and Mac-1 expression; TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, PGE2 and LTB4 secretion and, on iNOS and p65 expression. It should be noted that a synthesis of glucocorticoids inhibitor (Mifepristone) and a glucocorticoid antagonist receptor (Metyrapone) were administrated before CTX treatment to evaluate the involvement of endogenous glucocorticoids in the anti-inflammatory effect of CTX. Our results show that a single dose of CTX produced: reduction of TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 secretion; reduction of P-selectin and ICAM-1 expression and reduction of p65 expression. Moreover, CTX did not alter levels of PGE2 and LTB4 secretion and did not alter iNOS and Mac-1 expression. Furthermore, our results suggest that endogenous glucocorticoids do not interfere with anti-inflammatory effect of CTX, since that pre-treatment with Mifepristone and Metyrapone did not alter the inhibitory effect of this toxin on cell migration induced by Cg and suggest that this toxin can inhibit the expression of important proinflammatory substances involved in the inflammatory response induced by Cg to inhibit the NF-κB activation, since this factor promotes the transcription of several genes whose proteins are important in the development inflammatory response. These results contribute to the elucidation of the mechanisms involved in the modulatory action of CTX on the inflammatory response

Les protéoglycanes (PGs) jouent un rôle important dans de multiples processus cellulaires tels que la prolifération, la différenciation et la migration cellulaires. Les PGs sont constitués d’une protéine porteuse sur laquelle sont fixées de façon covalente des chaînes hétéropolyssacharidiques de glycosaminoglycanes (GAGs). L’initiation de la biosynthèse des GAGs sur les PGs implique une glycosyltransférase, la ß1,3-galactosyltransférase 6 (ß3GalT6) qui catalyse l’addition d’un résidu galactose sur un disaccharide accepteur (Gal-Xyl) fixé au niveau de motifs d’ancrage des GAGs sur la protéine porteuse du PG. Des mutations de la ß3GalT6 ont été récemment associées à une forme pléiotropique du syndrome d’Ehlers-Danlos (SED), un groupe hétérogène de maladies génétiques rares touchant les constituants matriciels des tissus conjonctifs. L’implication de la ß3GalT6 dans la pathogénie du SED n’est cependant pas encore connue à ce jour, point qui sera exploré au cours de ce travail de thèse. Nous avons montré que la mutation du gène B3GALT6 conduit à une diminution de la biosynthèse des GAGs matriciels et membranaires, associée à une réduction de la capacité migratoire des fibroblastes de derme humain issus de patients atteints de SED par rapport aux fibroblastes contrôle, non porteurs de l’altération génétique. Une étude “gain et perte de fonction” a montré que l’extinction du gène B3GALT6 dans des fibroblastes contrôle impacte la biosynthèse des GAGs. De façon complémentaire, la restauration de l’expression de la ß3GalT6 dans les fibroblastes des patients a eu pour conséquences une augmentation du taux de synthèse des GAGs matriciels et membranaires, associée à une augmentation significative de la capacité de migration des cellules équivalente à celle des cellules non déficientes. Les résultats obtenus nous permettent de mieux comprendre le rôle de la ß3GalT6 dans la pathogénie du SED. Ces travaux ciblant la ß3GalT6 peuvent ouvrir la perspective de proposer des stratégies thérapeutiques visant à s’opposer à la perte d’anabolisme des GAGs et au défaut de migration observés dans le SED. / Proteoglycans (PGs) play important roles in many physiological processes, including cell proliferation, differentiation and migration. PGs are composed of linear heteropolysaccharide chains, called glycosaminoglycans (GAGs), which are covalently attached to a core protein through a tetrasaccharide linkage. The addition of the third residue (galactose) of the linkage is catalyzed by ß1,3-galactosyltransferase 6 (ß3GalT6), a key glycosyltransferase in GAG initiation. Recently, mutations of ß3GalT6 have been associated to Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS), a group of rare and severe genetic connective tissue disorders. However, the role of ß3GalT6 defects in EDS pathogeny remains unknown. In my thesis, we showed that ß3GalT6 defective dermal fibroblasts of affected patients exhibited a marked reduction in GAG anabolism associated to a significant delay in wound closure compared to control cells. The ß3GalT6 gain- and loss-of-function studies demonstrated that B3GALT6 gene deletion in control fibroblasts affects the synthesis of GAGs chains. Interestingly, GAG anabolism and cell migration were restored when ß3GalT6 is overexpressed in patient fibroblasts, which could be the starting point to the development of therapeutic strategies against the loss of GAG synthesis and defect of cell migration observed in EDS. This work provides a better understanding of the crucial role of ß3GalT6 in EDS pathogeny

Le bon fonctionnement des réseaux neuronaux dépend des interactions entre les neurones et les cellules gliales. Alors que de nombreux efforts ont été faits pour comprendre les interactions entre les neurones, moins est connu sur la nature des interactions entre les cellules gliales ; ceci est due à la complexité du système nerveux des vertébrés, qui comprend plus de cellules gliales que de neurones. Cependant, le système nerveux de la drosophile à un rapport neurones-cellules gliales faible, ce qui fait de cet animal simple un modèle idéal pour évaluer ce concept. J’ai utilisé des approches génétiques à résolution cellulaire pour disséquer les mécanismes cellulaires et moléculaires de la migration collective des cellules gliales in vivo. En résumé, mes données révèlent les bases du mécanisme contrôlant la migration cellulaire collective : 1) les cellules du front de migration interagissent entre elles en amont et en aval et 2) N-cad est nécessaire pour une migration optimal de la glie. / The functionality of the complex neural network depends on the interactions between neurons and glia. While many efforts have been made to understand the neuron-neuron interactions, less is known about those amongst glial cells. Due to the complexity of the vertebrate nervous system, which comprises manifold more glia than neurons, it is hard to tackle the role of glia-glia interactions. The nervous system of Drosophila, however, has a lower glia-neuron ratio, which makes this simple animal an ideal model. I use genetic approaches at cellular resolution to dissect the cellular and molecular mechanisms of glial collective migration in vivo. In Sum, I have shown some basic mechanism controlling collective cell migration: 1) cells at the front of the collective interact with each other through anterograde and retrograde bidirectional interaction. 2) N-cad appears necessary for timely movement of glial community.

Avaliamos os efeitos da glicose elevada (HG, 25 mM) sobre a expressão do microRNA miR-31 em fibroblastos dérmicos obtidos de ratos normoglicêmicos e hiperglicêmicos (30 dias após indução do Diabetes Mellitus com estreptozotocina) e em linhagem de fibroblastos NIH-3T3, cultivadas em baixa concentração de glicose (5 mM) ou HG durante 3 dias. O papel do estresse oxidativo foi avaliado com a adição do antioxidante N-acetil cisteína (NAC) ao meio. A expressão de miR-31 foi estudada por RT-PCR e o comportamento migratório foi avaliado por vídeos. A expressão de miR-31 aumentou 3 vezes em fibroblastos de ratos hiperglicêmicos, enquanto em NIH-3T3 a HG aumentou a expressão de miR-31 em 50 %. Nestas células, o NAC preveniu a elevação de miR-31 e alguns dos efeitos da HG sobre a migração celular. A expressão exógena de miR-31 reproduziu parcialmente o fenótipo de células expostas à HG. Conclusão: HG aumenta a expressão de miR-31 em fibroblastos, contribuindo para a migração deficiente destas células no Diabetes Mellitus. / We evaluated the effects of high glucose (HG, 25 mM) on the expression of microRNA miR-31 in dermal fibroblasts obtained from normoglycemic and hyperglycemic rats (30 days after Diabetes Mellitus induction with streptozotocin) and NIH-3T3 fibroblasts, cultured under low glucose concentration (5 mM) or HG for 3 days. The role of oxidative stress was evaluated with the addition of the antioxidant N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) in the medium. The expression of miR-31 was studied by RT-PCR and cell migration was assessed by videos. The expression of miR-31 increased 3-fold in fibroblasts derived from hyperglycemic rats, and in NIH-3T3 cells HG increased miR-31 expression by 50%. In these cells, NAC prevented the elevation of miR-31 and some of the deleterious effects of HG on cell migration. Exogenous expression of miR-31 partially reproduced the phenotype of cells exposed to HG. Conclusion: HG increases the expression of miR-31 in fibroblasts, contributing to the impairment of migration of these cells observed in Diabetes Mellitus.

Next, the influences on the migration of neural crest cell from the microenvironment of the hindgut through which the neural crest cells migrate were studied. An organ culture system was established to recombine different gut segments together at E11.5 for gut culture in order to trace the migration of neural crest cells from the midgut of the +/+ or Dom/+ embryo to the hindgut of the same or different genotypes. At E11.5, the midgut of both +/+ and Dom/+ embryos had already been fully colonized by neural crest cells, thus an explanted midgut segment (donor midgut) could serve as the source of the neural crest cells, while the caudal half of the hindgut (recipient hindgut) acted as the recipient of the neural crest cells from the donor midgut segment because at this stage, the caudal half of the hindgut was completely devoid of neural crest cells. After three days of culture, when a segment of midgut from the +/+ embryo was used as the donor of migratory vagal neural crest-derived cells and combined with an aneural segment of the hindgut (segment without neural crest-derived cells) from Dom/+ or Dom/Dom embryos, neural crest-derived cells from the midgut segment successfully crossed the combination junction and migrated normally along the hindgut segment to reach its caudal end within a normal developmental time frame. However, the migration of neural crest-derived donor cells from the Dom/+ midgut segment was abnormal in the recipient hindgut with a genotype of +/+, Dom/+ or Dom/Dom as evidenced by the retarded rostrocaudal progression of the vagal neural crest-derived cells and the reduced number of migratory cells in the recipient hindgut segment. These results thus indicate that the migration of the vagal neural crest-derived cells is minimally influenced by the migratory environment of the hindgut of the Dom embryo, and that the neural crest cells themselves may be defective in migration leading to the retarded migration in the hindgut of Dom mouse embryos. / The vagal neural crest cells originating from the region of the neural tube adjacent to somites 1 to 7 migrate along defined pathways to the gastrointestinal tract and then colonize the gut to give rise to the majority of neurons and glia of the enteric nervous system. Mutation of Sox10 in the Dominant megacolon (Dom) mouse, which is an animal model of Hirschsprung's disease, leads to aganglionosis (absence of ganglia) in varying lengths of the hindgut. To investigate the underlying cellular mechanism of aganglionosis, the migration of vagal neural crest cells from the neural tube to the gut (pre-enteric migration) in Dom mouse embryos at E8.5 was firstly traced with extrinsic cell markers, such as wheat germ agglutinin gold conjugates (WGA-Au) or fluorescent dye DiI. After the vagal neural crest cells entered the gut at E9.5, their migration was then followed by the examination of the expression of specific markers for undifferentiated neural crest cells with immunohistochemical staining. It was found that, although vagal neural crest cells in embryos of the three genotypes examined migrated along similar pre-enteric pathways at a similar migratory rate, the numbers of neural crest cells in embryos heterozygous (Dom/+) and homozygous (Dom/Dom) for the Sox10 mutation were significantly reduced when compared with the number of neural crest cells in wild-type (+/+) embryos. After vagal neural crest had entered the gut and from E10.5 onwards, no neural crest-derived cells were found in the gut of Dom/Dom embryos, and the migration of neural crest cells along the Dom/+ gut was significantly retarded from E12.5 onwards as compared with the migration in stage-matched +/+ embryos. / To further trace the cause of defective migration of neural crest cells in the Dom embryo, the proliferation and survival of neural crest cells were investigated with BrdU labeling and TUNEL assay. It was found that, although there was no obvious difference in the proliferating ability of vagal neural crest cells in embryos of all the three Dom genotypes studied during the pre-enteric migration and the migration in the gut, more apoptotic neural crest cells were found along the pre-enteric migratory pathway of Dom/Dom embryos than Dom/+ and +/+ embryos. Therefore, the decreased surviving ability, but possibly not the reduced proliferating ability, of neural crest cells during their pre-enteric migration may be partly responsible for aganglionosis in the hindgut of the Dom mouse. / Wang Liang. / "June 2006." / Adviser: W. Y. Chan. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 68-03, Section: B, page: 1380. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2006. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 287-307). / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Electronic reproduction. [Ann Arbor, MI] : ProQuest Information and Learning, [200-] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / School code: 1307.

Neuronal migration is an essential aspect of nervous system development; improper or incomplete neuronal migration can lead to debilitating disorders. The model organism Caenorhabditis elegans has 302 neurons and is ideal for studying nervous system development. The cytoplasmic adaptor protein, MIG-10, is necessary for the long range anteroposterior migration during embryogenesis of the neurons CAN, ALM, and HSN. Mutations in the mig-10 gene result in incomplete migrations of all three neurons. MIG-10 is a homologue of the vertebrate proteins lamellipodin and RIAM-1, which are involved in directing actin polymerization during axon outgrowth and guidance. RIAM-1 is known to interact with proteins from the Ras GTPase family. The MIG-10 protein has a pleckstrin homology (PH) domain, a Ras-associating (RA) domain, and a proline-rich region. We used a yeast two-hybrid system to investigate which Ras family proteins MIG-10 interacts with. Three isoforms of MIG-10, MIG-10A, MIG-10B, and MIG-10C, as well as the RAPH domain alone, were used as baits. No evidence of interaction was observed for any of the baits used. These results do not reject our hypothesis as the constitutively active Ras clones may need to be used or there may not be a direct interaction between MIG-10 and the Ras family members. We are currently screening a C. elegans cDNA library for interactions with all three isoforms of MIG-10. In the future we plan to investigate how MIG-10 may be involved in the WAVE/SCAR actin nucleation pathway.

3D printing technology is rapidly advancing and is being increasingly used for biological applications. The spatial control of 3D printing makes it especially attractive for fabricating 3D tissues and for studying the role of geometry in biology. We utilized two different types of 3D printing to engineer vascularized tissues with complex vascular architectures, to use engineered vasculature to treat ischemia, and to study directional endothelial cell migration on curved wave topography. To engineer 3D tissues, perfusable vascular networks must be embedded within the tissue to supply nutrients and oxygen to cells. 3D-printed sugar filaments have previously been used as a cytocompatible sacrificial template to rapidly cast vascular networks. We improved upon the 3D-printed sugar method and used it to fabricate complex vascular geometries that were not previously possible, such as a branched channel geometry, with controlled fluid flow through the channels. We also integrated an approach utilizing vascular self-assembly to generate thick tissues with dense, capillary-scale vessel networks. The vascularized tissues fabricated using 3D-printed sugar successfully integrated with a host vasculature upon implantation and restored perfusion in two different animal models of ischemia. Cell migration critical to numerous biological processes can be guided by surface topography. However, fabrication limitations constrain topography studies to geometries that may not adequately mimic physiological environments. Direct Laser Writing (DLW) provides the necessary 3D flexibility and control to create well-defined curved waveforms similar to those found in physiological settings, such as the lumen of blood vessels. We found that endothelial cells migrated fastest along square waves, intermediate along triangular waves, and slowest along sine waves and that directional cell migration on sine waves decreased at longer sinusoid wavelengths. Interestingly, inhibition of Rac1 decreased directional migration on 3D sine waves but not on 2D micropatterned lines, suggesting that cells may utilize different molecular pathways to sense curved topographies. Our study demonstrates that DLW can be employed to investigate directional migration on a wide array of surfaces with curvatures that are unattainable using conventional manufacturing techniques. / 2020-10-22T00:00:00Z