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A poluição contribui para o agravamento da asma, principalmente em indivíduos susceptíveis. Achados prévios do grupo mostram que a exposição de camundongos neonatos, à 1,2-naftoquinona (1,2-NQ), um contaminante do material particulado eliminado do diesel (PED), aumentou a susceptibilidade à asma na idade adulta. Dados recentes mostram que as PEDs aumentam a expressão de receptores do tipo Toll (TLR) no pulmão de roedores, sugerindo que poluentes podem atuar como ligantes dos TLRs. Os objetivos deste estudo incluíram: 1) investigar o papel do TLR4 e os mecanismos de sinalização envolvidos na maior susceptibilidade à asma; 2) avaliar o perfil de células do sistema imunológico envolvidas na resposta inata/adaptativa. Demonstramos, que a exacerbação da asma em camundongos expostos precocemente à 1,2-NQ é modulada pela via de sinalização intracelular TLR4-MyD88. Conclui-se que contato de camundongos neonatos com a 1,2-NQ interfere na maturação e função de células do sistema imunológico, afeta a resposta adaptativa e, assim, promove o aumento da inflamatória alérgica. / Air pollution is a public health problem worldwide, related to the worsening of asthma, mainly in susceptible individual. Ours previous data showed that early-life exposure to the 1,2-naphthoquinone (1,2-NQ), one of those air contaminants adsorbed on diesel exhaust particles (DEP), increased the susceptibility to asthma at adulthood. Recent studies have been shown that DEP are able to increase Toll like receptors (TLR) mRNA expression of in the lungs of rodents, suggesting that environmental pollutants can act as TLRs ligands. This study aimed: 1) to investigate the role of TLR4 and the mechanisms involved in increased susceptibility to allergic inflammation; 2) evaluate immune cells population involved in innate/adaptive response. We demonstrate that aggravation of asthma in mice early exposed to 1,2-NQ is modulated by TLR4-MyD88 intracellular signaling pathway. We concluded that the short contact of individuals susceptible with 1,2-NQ interfere with immune cells maturation and function, which affect the adaptive response and thus promoted increase of asthma.

This thesis is concerned with phytoestrogenic isoflavones, which are a group of plant-derived compounds that can be consumed in the diet or as over-the-counter preparations for self-medication, and have been associated with a wide range of health benefits. However, unlike the extract of St John's wort and grapefruit juice, little is known about the potential for phytoestrogenic isoflavones to be involved in pharmacokinetic interactions. This thesis describes a series of experiments that investigate that potential by assessing the effects of the isoflavones on intestinal P-glycoprotein-mediated transport, hepatic metabolism, and hepatic cell membrane transport of conventional drugs.

This thesis is concerned with phytoestrogenic isoflavones, which are a group of plant-derived compounds that can be consumed in the diet or as over-the-counter preparations for self-medication, and have been associated with a wide range of health benefits. However, unlike the extract of St John's wort and grapefruit juice, little is known about the potential for phytoestrogenic isoflavones to be involved in pharmacokinetic interactions. This thesis describes a series of experiments that investigate that potential by assessing the effects of the isoflavones on intestinal P-glycoprotein-mediated transport, hepatic metabolism, and hepatic cell membrane transport of conventional drugs.

A poluição contribui para o agravamento da asma, principalmente em indivíduos susceptíveis. Achados prévios do grupo mostram que a exposição de camundongos neonatos, à 1,2-naftoquinona (1,2-NQ), um contaminante do material particulado eliminado do diesel (PED), aumentou a susceptibilidade à asma na idade adulta. Dados recentes mostram que as PEDs aumentam a expressão de receptores do tipo Toll (TLR) no pulmão de roedores, sugerindo que poluentes podem atuar como ligantes dos TLRs. Os objetivos deste estudo incluíram: 1) investigar o papel do TLR4 e os mecanismos de sinalização envolvidos na maior susceptibilidade à asma; 2) avaliar o perfil de células do sistema imunológico envolvidas na resposta inata/adaptativa. Demonstramos, que a exacerbação da asma em camundongos expostos precocemente à 1,2-NQ é modulada pela via de sinalização intracelular TLR4-MyD88. Conclui-se que contato de camundongos neonatos com a 1,2-NQ interfere na maturação e função de células do sistema imunológico, afeta a resposta adaptativa e, assim, promove o aumento da inflamatória alérgica. / Air pollution is a public health problem worldwide, related to the worsening of asthma, mainly in susceptible individual. Ours previous data showed that early-life exposure to the 1,2-naphthoquinone (1,2-NQ), one of those air contaminants adsorbed on diesel exhaust particles (DEP), increased the susceptibility to asthma at adulthood. Recent studies have been shown that DEP are able to increase Toll like receptors (TLR) mRNA expression of in the lungs of rodents, suggesting that environmental pollutants can act as TLRs ligands. This study aimed: 1) to investigate the role of TLR4 and the mechanisms involved in increased susceptibility to allergic inflammation; 2) evaluate immune cells population involved in innate/adaptive response. We demonstrate that aggravation of asthma in mice early exposed to 1,2-NQ is modulated by TLR4-MyD88 intracellular signaling pathway. We concluded that the short contact of individuals susceptible with 1,2-NQ interfere with immune cells maturation and function, which affect the adaptive response and thus promoted increase of asthma.

Lors de l'inflammation chronique, les cellules immunitaires, dont les lymphocytes Th17 (LTh17), migrent au niveau du site inflammatoire et interagissent avec les cellules mésenchymateuses locales. Dans deux contextes inflammatoires, la polyarthrite rhumatoïde (PR) et le psoriasis (Pso), le but de ce travail a été d'étudier le rôle de ces interactions cellulaires sur la production de cytokines pro-inflammatoires, et principalement l'IL-17, et d'identifier les mécanismes impliqués.L'utilisation d'un système de co-culture entre cellules mésenchymateuses (synoviocytes PR ou fibroblastes de peau Pso) et cellules mononuclées du sang périphérique mimant la situation in vivo, a permis d'étudier l'effet de ces interactions. Le contact cellulaire suffisait à l'induction de la sécrétion d'IL-6, d'IL-8 ou d'IL-1ß. En revanche, la forte sécrétion d'IL-17 nécessitait le contact cellulaire mais également l'activation du TCR. L'inhibition de la podoplanine (pdpn), molécule d'interaction exprimée par différents types cellulaires (cellules mésenchymateuses mais également LTh17), diminuait significativement la production d'IL-17. Toutefois, cette inhibition n'était pas totale, c'est pourquoi une étude en collaboration est en cours afin d'identifier d'autres molécules impliquées.Cette étude a donc montré que les interactions entre cellules mésenchymateuses et cellules immunitaires jouent un rôle majeur dans la sécrétion de cytokines pro-inflammatoires, notamment dans la forte production d'IL-17. La podoplanine semble largement impliquée dans ce mécanisme, ce qui en fait une cible thérapeutique potentielle pour bloquer l'activité Th17 lors de l'inflammation chronique / During chronic inflammation, immune cells, including Th17 lymphocytes, migrate to the inflammatory site and interact with the local mesenchymal cells. In two inflammatory contexts, rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and psoriasis (Pso), the aim of this work was to study the effect of cellular interactions on pro-inflammatory cytokine production, with a focus on IL-17, and to identify the involved mechanisms. Using a co-culture system between mesenchymal cells (RA synoviocytes or Pso skin fibroblasts) and peripheral blood mononuclear cells mimicking the in vivo situation, allowed studying the effect of these cell interactions. The cell contact alone was sufficient to induce IL-6, IL-8 and IL-1ß secretion. On the contrary, the heightened IL-17 production required the cell contact and the TCR activation. The inhibition of the podoplanin (pdpn), interaction molecule expressed by different cell types (including mesenchymal cells but also Th17 lymphocytes), decreased significantly the IL-17 production. Nevertheless, this inhibition was only partial, which leads to a collaboration in order to identify other involved molecules. In conclusion, this study showed that cell interactions between mesenchymal cells and immune cells play a major role in the pro-inflammatory cytokine production, leading to a heightened IL-17 secretion. The podoplanin molecule seems play a crucial role in this mechanism, and thus pdpn could be a potential therapeutic target to block Th17 cell activity during chronic inflammation

O Vírus Respiratório Sincicial Humano (HRSV) é um dos patógenos mais importantes do trato respiratório. Analisamos as interações das proteínas virais nucleoproteína (N), fosfoproteína (P) e matriz (M) em células HEK-293T. N interage com as proteínas celulares Hsp70, PRMT5 e WDR77; P com Hsp70 e Tropomiosina; e M com Nucleofosmina e Tropomiosina. Cada gene celular foi co-expresso em bactérias com um gene viral possibilitando a co-precipitação das proteínas. Analisamos a interação entre Hsp70 e N ou P, confirmando sua ocorrência em bactérias. Com um conjunto de proteínas mutantes, definimos que as interações são através dos amino terminais de N e P, ou do carboxi terminal de P, e do domínio amino terminal de Hsp70. Superexpressão de Hsp70 por transfecção provocou efeito de estímulo sobre a replicação de HRSV. Imunizações em camundongos com vacinas de DNA para N e P mostraram a indução de resposta celular e humoral. Ensaios de desafio resultaram em redução da carga viral após imunização com N, indicando potencial para sua aplicação em formulação vacinal. / Human respiratory syncytial virus (HRSV) is one of the most important pathogens of the respiratory tract. We analyzed the interactions of viral nucleoprotein (N), phosphoprotein (P) and matrix (M) in HEK-293T. N interacts with the cellular proteins Hsp70, PRMT5 and WDR77; P interacts with Hsp70 and Tropomyosin; and M with Nucleophosmin and Tropomyosin. Each cellular gene was co-expressed with a viral gene in bacteria allowing co-precipitation of proteins. Hsp70 co-expression with N or P proteins confirmed that these interactions also occur in bacteria. Using a set of mutants we found that the N and P amino terminus, P carboxy terminus, and Hsp70 amino terminal domain participate in the interactions. The overexpression of Hsp70 by transfection resulted in stimulation of HRSV replication. Mice immunization with N and P showed that DNA vaccines were capable of inducing humoral and cellular response. In challenge assays it was possible to detect significant virus titer reduction in animals immunized with N, indicating its potential for a vaccine formulation.

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