Yang, Ling. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2011. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 222-244). / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / Acknowledgements --- p.i / Awards and Presentations --- p.ii / Abstract in English --- p.iii / Abstract in Chinese --- p.vii / Table of Contents --- p.x / List of Tables --- p.xv / List of Figures --- p.xvii / List of Abbreviations --- p.xx / Chapter CHAPTER 1 --- INTRODUCTION --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1 --- Gliomas --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1.1 --- Oligodendroglial tumors (OTs) --- p.3 / Chapter 1.1.2 --- Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) --- p.3 / Chapter 1.1.3 --- Molecular pathology of gliomas --- p.4 / Chapter 1.1.3.1 --- Genetic alterations in OTs --- p.4 / Chapter 1.1.3.2 --- Prognostic and predictive factors in OTs --- p.7 / Chapter 1.1.3.3 --- Genetic alterations in GBM --- p.8 / Chapter 1.1.3.4 --- Prognostic and predictive factors in GBM --- p.10 / Chapter 1.2 --- microRNA(miRNA) --- p.13 / Chapter 1.2.1 --- miRNA biogenesis and function --- p.13 / Chapter 1.2.2 --- miRNA involvement in cancer --- p.17 / Chapter 1.2.2.1 --- Dysregulation of miRNAs in human malignancies --- p.17 / Chapter 1.2.2.2 --- Function and potential application of miRNAs --- p.17 / Chapter 1.2.3 --- Role of miRNAs in glioma --- p.19 / Chapter 1.2.3.1 --- miRNAs in OTs --- p.19 / Chapter 1.2.3.2 --- miRNAs in GBM --- p.20 / Chapter 1.3 --- miR-137 --- p.30 / Chapter 1.3.1 --- Biology of miR-137 --- p.30 / Chapter 1.3.2 --- Role of miR-137 in carcinogenesis --- p.33 / Chapter 1.3.2.1 --- Deregulation of miR-137 in cancer --- p.33 / Chapter 1.3.2.2 --- Regulation of miR-137 expression in cancer --- p.33 / Chapter 1.3.2.3 --- Biological functions of miR-137 in cancer --- p.37 / Chapter 1.3.3 --- Role of miR-137 in differentiation and neurogenesis --- p.39 / Chapter CHAPTER 2 --- AIMS OF STUDY --- p.43 / Chapter CHARPTER 3 --- MATERIALS AND METHODS --- p.45 / Chapter 3.1 --- Tumor samples --- p.45 / Chapter 3.2 --- Cell lines and culture conditions --- p.48 / Chapter 3.3 --- Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) --- p.49 / Chapter 3.4 --- Cell transfection --- p.52 / Chapter 3.4.1 --- Transfection of oligonucleotides --- p.52 / Chapter 3.4.1.1 --- Oligonucleotide preparation --- p.52 / Chapter 3.4.1.2 --- Optimization of transfection condition --- p.52 / Chapter 3.4.2 --- Cotransfection of plasmids and miRNA mimic --- p.53 / Chapter 3.4.2.1 --- Optimization of transfection condition --- p.53 / Chapter 3.4.2.2 --- Procedure of transfection --- p.54 / Chapter 3.5 --- Quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) --- p.55 / Chapter 3.5.1 --- RNA extraction from frozen tissues and cell lines --- p.55 / Chapter 3.5.2 --- qRT-PCR for miR-137 --- p.56 / Chapter 3.5.3 --- qRT-PCR for CSE1L and ERBB4 transcripts --- p.57 / Chapter 3.6 --- 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine (5-aza-dC) and Trichostatin A (TSA) treatment --- p.61 / Chapter 3.7 --- Western blotting --- p.62 / Chapter 3.7.1 --- Preparation of cell lysate --- p.62 / Chapter 3.7.2 --- Measurement of protein concentration --- p.62 / Chapter 3.7.3 --- Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) --- p.63 / Chapter 3.7.4 --- Electroblotting of proteins --- p.67 / Chapter 3.7.5 --- Immunoblotting --- p.67 / Chapter 3.8 --- Dual-luciferase reporter assay --- p.70 / Chapter 3.8.1 --- Construction of reporter plasmids --- p.70 / Chapter 3.8.1.1 --- Experimental outline --- p.70 / Chapter 3.8.1.2 --- PCR Amplification of MREs --- p.70 / Chapter 3.8.1.3 --- TA cloning --- p.71 / Chapter 3.8.1.4 --- Transformation --- p.72 / Chapter 3.8.1.5 --- Blue/white screening and validation of recombinants --- p.72 / Chapter 3.8.1.6 --- Subcloning of 3'UTR fragments into pMIR-reproter vector --- p.73 / Chapter 3.8.2 --- Site-directed mutagenesis --- p.74 / Chapter 3.8.3 --- Plasmid and miRNA mimic cotransfection --- p.76 / Chapter 3.8.4 --- Determination of luciferase activity --- p.76 / Chapter 3.9 --- Functional assays : --- p.79 / Chapter 3.9.1 --- Cell growth and proliferation assay --- p.79 / Chapter 3.9.1.1 --- "3-(4，5-Dimethyl thiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay" --- p.79 / Chapter 3.9.1.2 --- Cell counting --- p.80 / Chapter 3.9.1.3 --- 5-Bromo-2'-deoxyuridine (BrdU) incorporation assay --- p.80 / Chapter 3.9.2 --- Apoptosis assay --- p.82 / Chapter 3.9.3 --- Anchorage-independent growth assay --- p.82 / Chapter 3.9.4 --- Wound healing assay --- p.83 / Chapter 3.9.5 --- Matrigel invasion assay --- p.84 / Chapter 3.9.6 --- Cell differentiation assay --- p.85 / Chapter 3.10 --- Immunohistochemical analysis --- p.86 / Chapter 3.10.1 --- H&E staining --- p.86 / Chapter 3.10.2 --- Detection of Ki-67 expression --- p.87 / Chapter 3.10.3 --- Detection of CSE1L expression --- p.87 / Chapter 3.10.4 --- Scoring methods --- p.88 / Chapter 3.11 --- Bioinformatic analysis --- p.90 / Chapter 3.12 --- Statistical analysis --- p.92 / Chapter CHAPTER 4 --- RESULTS --- p.93 / Chapter 4.1 --- Expression of miR-137 in glioma cells and clinical significance --- p.93 / Chapter 4.1.1 --- Description of 36 OT samples --- p.93 / Chapter 4.1.2 --- miR-137 level in oligodendroglial tumors and glioma cells --- p.102 / Chapter 4.1.3 --- "Association of miR-137 expression with clinicopathological features, lp/19q status and Ki-67 expression" --- p.104 / Chapter 4.2 --- miR-137 levels in glioma cells after demethylation treatment --- p.113 / Chapter 4.3 --- Biological effects of miR-137 overexpression in glioma cells --- p.118 / Chapter 4.3.1 --- Cell growth --- p.118 / Chapter 4.3.1.1 --- Cell viability --- p.118 / Chapter 4.3.1.2 --- Cell number --- p.123 / Chapter 4.3.1.3 --- Cell cycle analysis : --- p.127 / Chapter 4.3.2 --- Anchorage-independent cell growth --- p.130 / Chapter 4.3.3 --- Cell apoptosis --- p.134 / Chapter 4.3.4 --- Cell motility --- p.136 / Chapter 4.3.5 --- Cell differentiation : --- p.142 / Chapter 4.4 --- Identification of miR-137 targets --- p.144 / Chapter 4.4.1 --- In silico prediction of potential miR-137 targets --- p.144 / Chapter 4.4.2 --- Experimental validation of miR-137 targets by dual-luciferase reporter assay --- p.147 / Chapter 4.4.3 --- "Expression of miR-137 candidate targets, CSE1L and ERBB4 in glioma cells" --- p.152 / Chapter 4.4.4 --- Effects of miR-137 on CSE1L transcript and protein levels --- p.154 / Chapter 4.5 --- Expression of CSE1L in OTs --- p.156 / Chapter 4.5.1 --- CSE1L expression in OTs by qRT-PCR and IHC --- p.156 / Chapter 4.5.2 --- Correlation of CSE1L expression with clinicopathological features --- p.165 / Chapter 4.6 --- Effects of CSE1L knockdown in glioma cells --- p.168 / Chapter 4.6.1 --- Cell growth --- p.170 / Chapter 4.6.1.1 --- Cell viability --- p.170 / Chapter 4.6.1.2 --- Cell number --- p.173 / Chapter 4.6.1.3 --- Cell cycle analysis --- p.176 / Chapter 4.6.2 --- Anchorage-independent cell growth --- p.179 / Chapter 4.6.3 --- Cell apoptosis --- p.182 / Chapter 4.6.4 --- Cell motility --- p.184 / Chapter CHAPTER 5 --- DISCUSSION --- p.190 / Chapter 5.1 --- Expression of miR-137 transcript level in OTs and glioma cell lines --- p.190 / Chapter 5.2 --- Association of miR-137 expression with OT clinical and molecular parameters --- p.192 / Chapter 5.3 --- Prognostic significance of clinical features and miR-137 expression in OTs --- p.194 / Chapter 5.4 --- Inactivation mechanisms of miR-137 in glioma --- p.196 / Chapter 5.5 --- Biological effects of miR-137 overexpression in glioma cells --- p.198 / Chapter 5.6 --- CSE1L is a novel miR-137 target in glioma --- p.200 / Chapter 5.7 --- Expression of CSE1L in glioma --- p.203 / Chapter 5.8 --- Intracellular distribution of CSElL in OTs --- p.206 / Chapter 5.9 --- Correlation of CSE1L expression with clinicopathological and molecular features in OTs --- p.208 / Chapter 5.10 --- CSE1L mediates effects of miR-137 in glioma cells --- p.210 / Chapter 5.11 --- Biological roles of CSE1L in glioma cells 226}0Ø. --- p.212 / Chapter 5.11.1 --- CSE1L in glioma cell proliferation --- p.212 / Chapter 5.11.2 --- CSE1L in glioma cell apoptosis --- p.213 / Chapter 5.11.3 --- CSE1L in glioma cell invasion --- p.215 / Chapter CHAPTER 6 --- CONCLUSIONS --- p.216 / Chapter CHAPTER 7 --- FUTURE STUDIES --- p.219 / Chapter 7.1 --- Expression Molecular mechanisms for miR-137 inactivation in glioma --- p.219 / Chapter 7.2 --- Identification of more miR-137 targets in glioma --- p.219 / Chapter 7.3 --- Role of miR-137 and CSE1L in drug-induced apoptosis in glioma --- p.220 / Chapter 7.4 --- Deciphering dysregulated and clinical relevant miRNAs in glioma --- p.220 / Chapter 7.5 --- Effects of miR-137 in vivo and the therapeutic potential in glioma treatment --- p.221 / REFERENCES --- p.222

FundaÃÃo Cearense de Apoio ao Desenvolvimento Cientifico e TecnolÃgico / CoordenaÃÃo de AperfeiÃoamento de Pessoal de NÃvel Superior / Lectinas sÃo proteÃnas que pertencem a um grupo heterogÃneo de molÃculas com capacidade de ligaÃÃo especÃfica e reversÃvel a carboidratos. Desde sua descoberta, as lectinas se tornaram importantes ferramentas para a investigaÃÃo de fenÃmenos como a adesÃo, a migraÃÃo e a proliferaÃÃo celular, em condiÃÃes normais e patolÃgicas. Durante o processo de diferenciaÃÃo, cÃlulas tumorais apresentam vÃrios graus de modificaÃÃo na expressÃo de glicoproteÃnas de membrana. Neste aspecto, a investigaÃÃo da estrutura da membrana tumoral pode ser compreendida como um mÃtodo sensÃvel e especÃfico de diagnÃstico. Portanto, o reconhecimento de marcadores capazes de identificar e quantificar estas caracterÃsticas, pode ser usado como ferramenta de diagnÃstico. Neste trabalho propomos um modelo experimental para detectar marcadores de membrana de tumores primÃrios do Sistema Nervoso Central usando lectinas vegetais (Con A e Con Br) acopladas à cromÃforos. Amostras de tumores foram obtidas de pacientes que tinham diagnÃstico clÃnico e radiolÃgico de tumores do Sistema Nervoso Central, apÃs cirurgias realizadas no ServiÃo de Neurologia da Santa Casa de MisericÃrdia de Sobral. As amostras foram processadas e investigadas com tÃcnicas imunohistoquÃmicas, usando lectinas vegetais acopladas à fluoresceÃna, e microscopia de fluorescÃncia. Os resultados mostraram que meningiomas e gliomas apresentaram um padrÃo diferente de interaÃÃo com Con Br-FITC e Con A-FITC quando comparados ao controle (BSA/FITC). Estes dados sugerem que as lectinas vegetais estudadas podem ser ferramentas Ãteis na identificaÃÃo de marcadores de membrana em tumores primÃrios do Sistema Nervoso Central. / Lectins are proteins that belong to a heterogeneous group of molecules capable of binding specifically and reversibly to carbohydrates. Since its discovery, lectins have become important tools for investigating phenomena such as adhesion, migration and cell proliferation in normal and pathological conditions. In the process of differentiation, tumor cells display different degrees of modification in the expression of membrane glycoproteins. In this respect, the investigation of membrane structure tumor can be understood as a sensitive and specific method of diagnosis. Therefore, the recognition of markers capable of identifying and quantifying these characteristics can be used as diagnostic tool. In this paper we propose an experimental model to detect markers of the membrane of primary tumors of the central nervous system using plant lectins (Con A and Con Br) attached to the chromophores. Tumor samples were obtained from patients who had clinical and radiological diagnosis of tumors of the central nervous system after surgeries performed at the Department of Neurology, Santa Casa de Misericordia de Sobral. The samples were processed and investigated with immunohistochemical techniques, using plant lectins coupled to fluorescein, and fluorescence microscopy. The results showed that meningiomas and gliomas showed a different pattern for interaction with Con Br-FITC and Con A-FITC compared to control (BSA / FITC). These data suggest that the studied plant lectins can be useful tools in identifying membrane markers in primary tumors of the central nervous system.

Measles virus (MV) causes an acute childhood disease, associated in certain cases with the infection of the central nervous system (CNS). MV induces a profound immunosuppression, resulting in high infant mortality. The major cellular receptor for MV is CD150, which binds MV hemagglutinin (MV-H). As dendritic cell (DC) dysfunction is considered to be essential for the MV immunopathogenesis, we analyzed consequences of MV-H interaction with DCs. We developed an experimental model allowing us to analyze the direct CD150-MV-H interaction in the absence of infectious context. This interaction caused the downregulation of surface expression of CD80, CD83, CD86 and HLA-DR molecules and inhibition of IL-12 production in DCs. DCs also failed to activate T cell proliferation. The CD150-MV-H interaction in DCs and B cells decreased the phosphorylation of JNK1/2, but not ERK1/2 kinases, after subsequent CD150 ligation with anti-CD150 antibodies. Moreover, MV-H by itself induced Akt phosphorylation via CD150 in DCs and B cells. Engagement of CD150 by MV-H in mice transgenic for human CD150 decreased the inflammatory reaction, contact hypersensitivity response, confirming the immunosuppressive effect of CD150-MV-H interaction in vivo. Furthermore, our studies revealed the CD150 expression in CNS tumors and identified the novel CD150 isoform, containing an additional 83bp exon expressed in lymphoid cells, DCs and CNS tumors. Although its isoforms remain intracellular in tumor cells, CD150 may represent a new marker for human brain tumors. Novel mechanism of CD150-induced immunosuppression and new CD150 isoform identified in these studies shed new light on its immunoregulatory role and CD150 isoform diversity and open perspectives for their clinical applications.

Le virus de la rougeole (MV) provoque une maladie sévère chez les enfants qui induit une forte immunosuppression et peut dans certains cas infecter le système nerveux central (SNC). La protéine CD150, principal récepteur cellulaire du virus, permet l’entrée du MV en se liant à l’hémagglutinine (MV-H). L’altération fonctionnelle des cellules dendritiques (DC) étant considérée comme essentielle dans l’immunopathogénèse du MV, nous avons analysé les conséquences de l’interaction de MV-H avec les DC. Nous avons développé un modèle expérimental qui nous permet d’étudier l’interaction directe entre CD150 et MV-H hors contexte infectieux. Nos résultats montrent que cette interaction provoque une diminution de l’expression des molécules de surface CD80, CD83, CD86, et HLA-DR, de la production d’IL-12 par les DC, et de la capacité des DC à stimuler la prolifération des lymphocytes T. L’interaction CD150-MV-H a inhibé la phosphorylation des protéines kinases JNK1/2 dans les DC et les lymphocytes B (LB) induite par la stimulation de CD150 par un anticorps spécifique, mais pas celle des kinases ERK1/2. Par ailleurs MV-H seule induit la phosphorylation d’Akt via CD150 dans les DC et les LB. La liaison de CD150 par MV-H a réduit la réponse inflammatoire chez les souris transgéniques exprimant CD150 humain, ce qui confirme l’effet de l’interaction de CD150 et MV-H in vivo. Nos études ont révélé l’expression de CD150 dans les tumeurs du SNC et l’existence d’une nouvelle isoforme de CD150. Cette isoforme contient un exon supplémentaire de 83 pb et est exprimée dans les cellules lymphoïdes et les DC en plus des tumeurs du SNC. Bien que l’expression de CD150 soit uniquement intracellulaire dans les cellules tumorales, elle peut représenter un nouveau marqueur pour les tumeurs cérébrales humaines. Cette étude apporte un éclairage nouveau sur le rôle immunorégulateur de CD150 et sur la diversité de ses isoformes, et ouvre ainsi de nouvelles perspectives pour leurs applications thérapeutiques. / Measles virus (MV) causes an acute childhood disease, associated in certain cases with the infection of the central nervous system (CNS). MV induces a profound immunosuppression, resulting in high infant mortality. The major cellular receptor for MV is CD150, which binds MV hemagglutinin (MV-H). As dendritic cell (DC) dysfunction is considered to be essential for the MV immunopathogenesis, we analyzed consequences of MV-H interaction with DCs. We developed an experimental model allowing us to analyze the direct CD150-MV-H interaction in the absence of infectious context. This interaction caused the downregulation of surface expression of CD80, CD83, CD86 and HLA-DR molecules and inhibition of IL-12 production in DCs. DCs also failed to activate T cell proliferation. The CD150-MV-H interaction in DCs and B cells decreased the phosphorylation of JNK1/2, but not ERK1/2 kinases, after subsequent CD150 ligation with anti-CD150 antibodies. Moreover, MV-H by itself induced Akt phosphorylation via CD150 in DCs and B cells. Engagement of CD150 by MV-H in mice transgenic for human CD150 decreased the inflammatory reaction, contact hypersensitivity response, confirming the immunosuppressive effect of CD150-MV-H interaction in vivo. Furthermore, our studies revealed the CD150 expression in CNS tumors and identified the novel CD150 isoform, containing an additional 83bp exon expressed in lymphoid cells, DCs and CNS tumors. Although its isoforms remain intracellular in tumor cells, CD150 may represent a new marker for human brain tumors. Novel mechanism of CD150-induced immunosuppression and new CD150 isoform identified in these studies shed new light on its immunoregulatory role and CD150 isoform diversity and open perspectives for their clinical applications.