Le carcinome médullaire de la thyroïde (CMT) est une tumeur neuroendocrine rare, se développant à partir des cellules sécrétant la calcitonine. Cette tumeur survient dans un contexte familial dans un tiers des cas. Toutes les formes germinales et près de 40% des formes sporadiques sont causées par une mutation ponctuelle activatrice de l’oncogène RET, codant pour un récepteur membranaire à activité tyrosine kinase. Les événements oncogéniques à l’origine des formes sporadiques non mutées RET restent mal définis, à l’exception de mutations activatrices des oncogènes RAS découvertes récemment.Le pronostic péjoratif du CMT est essentiellement lié à un envahissement ganglionnaire précoce. A ce titre, la chirurgie initiale est souvent insuffisante et les formes métastatiques ont longtemps été considérées en impasse thérapeutique. L’avènement récent des inhibiteurs séléctifs de tyrosine kinases (ITK) a apporté un nouvel élan à la prise en charge des tumeurs réfractaires, certains d’entre eux incluant dans leur spectre d’action le récepteur RET. Mais l’optimisation de ces traitements requiert une connaissance préalable des mécanismes moléculaires sous-jacents au développement tumoral.Dans ce contexte et en nous appuyant sur une collection importante de prélèvements humains, nous avons cherché à approfondir la decription du ‘paysage génomique’ du CMT.Dans un premier temps, nous avons évalué les anomalies structurales ponctuelles et chromosomiques présentées par les CMT. Nous avons montré, par optimisation de méthodes de séquençage, que les mutations des gènes RET et RAS interviennent dans plus de 96% des cas et que ces évènements sont mutuellement exclusifs. Ces mutations permettent de distinguer plusieurs groupes d’agressivité et de réponse aux traitements par ITK. Nous avons également observé - par technique d’hybridation génomique comparative - des anomalies de grande ampleur récurrentes dans cette pathologie : les délétions du bras court du chromosome 1 et des chromosomes entiers 4 et 22 apparaissent comme étant des évènements précoces et indépendants de la tumorigenèse du CMT.Dans un second temps, nous avons déterminé - par approche de type biopuce - les profils d’expression de microARN dans les CMT. Certains de ces régulateurs post-transcriptionnels majeurs semblent liés au caractère invasif de la tumeur, et notamment les miR-21, miR-199 et miR-129. Nous avons également démontré le potentiel d’utilisation des microARN miR-21 et miR-199 en tant que biomarqueurs circulants du CMT. L’impact fonctionnel des formes précurseurs mir-21 et mir-129 a ensuite été évalué par transfection dans les modèles cellulaires TT et MZ-CRC1.Les observations ainsi obtenues offrent de nombreuses perspectives d’études. Elles permettent la définition de marqueurs tissulaires distinguant a priori les tumeurs métastatiques et/ou réfractaires aux thérapies. Enfin, elles mettent en lumière de nouvelles pistes pour la découverte de cibles thérapeutiques additionnelles dans cette pathologie. / Medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) is a rare neuroendocrine tumor, arising from calcitonin-secreting cells. This cancer occurs in a family context in a third of cases. All inherited forms and nearly 40% of sporadic forms are caused by activating point-mutations in the RET oncogene, coding for a tyrosine-kinase receptor. Other oncogenic events causing sporadic cases remain unclear, but activating mutations of RAS oncogenes have been discovered recently.Prognosis of MTC is essentially linked to early lymph node occurrence. Initial surgery of metastatic forms is often insufficient and patients are considered in therapeutic dead-end. The recent advent of selective tyrosine-kinase inhibitors (TKIs) has brought a new impetus to the management of refractory tumors, some of them targeting the RET receptor. Optimization of these treatments require improving knowledge of the underlying molecular mechanisms of tumor development.In this context and helped by a large collection of human specimens, we have sought to deepen the description of genomic landscape of MTC.At first, we evaluated the structural and chromosomal abnormalities presented by MTC. We showed, by optimizing sequencing methods, that RET and RAS mutations are involved in over 96% of the cases, these events are mutually exclusives. These mutations can distinguish several groups of aggressiveness and of response to TKI treatments. We also observed, by comparative genomic hybridization techniques, recurrent abnormalities such as deletion of the short arm of chromosome 1 and loss of entire chromosomes 4 and 22. These losses appear to be early events of tumorigenesis MTC.In a second step, we determined - by a microarray approach – the microRNA expression profile of MTC. Some of these post-transcriptional regulators seem related to tumor invasiveness, such as miR-21, miR-199 and miR-129. We demonstrated the potential of microRNAs miR-21 and miR-199 as circulating diagnosis biomarkers of MTC. The functional impact of the precursor forms mir-21 and mir-129 was then evaluated by transfection in TT and MZ- CRC1 cellular models.Observations obtained pave the way for a lot of new potential studies. They allow the definition of tissue biomarkers distinguishing metastatic forms or refractory patients. Finally, they highlight new pathways for the discovery of additional therapeutic targets in this disease.

Introdução: O câncer de próstata (CaP) é o tumor sólido mais diagnosticado no homem atualmente, e a sexta ocorrência mais frequente de casos novos de neoplasia maligna no mundo, sendo a segunda causa de óbito por câncer. O câncer de bexiga (CaB) é a segunda neoplasia maligna mais comum e a segunda em causa de óbito entre os tumores genito-urinários. Mundialmente o CaB é responsável por aproximadamente 386.000 novos casos e 150.000 óbitos por ano. O conhecimento das alterações em processos celulares envolvidos na sua carcinogênese nos permite melhor compreensão da patogênese dessas neoplasias, subsidiando, assim, mais efetivamente, o planejamento de estratégias de prevenção, diagnóstico e tratamento. Micro RNA (miRNA) são pequenas sequências não codificantes de RNA que possuem grande papel no controle da expressão dos genes, inibindo a tradução da proteína ou promovendo a degradação do RNA mensageiro (RNAm). Os miRNA estão envolvidos em vários processos celulares fisiológicos e patológicos, incluindo o câncer, onde podem atuar como oncogenes (oncomiR) ou como supressores de tumor (tsmiR). Previamente demonstramos que níveis elevados de miR-100 estão relacionados a recidiva bioquímica pós-prostatectomia radical enquanto no carcinoma urotelial de bexiga de baixo grau ocorre subexpressão desse miRNA. Objetivo: O estudo pretende analisar o papel do miR-100 na regulação de seus supostos genes alvo SMARCA5, THAP2, BAZ2A, mTOR e FGFR3 em linhagens de CaB e CaP e sua relação com a proliferação, apoptose e ploidia de DNA Material e Métodos: As linhagens de CaB (RT4 e T24) e CaP (DU145 e PC3) foram transfectadas com pré-miR-100, antimiR-100 e seus respectivos controles negativos utilizando lipossomas. Após a transfecção o nível de expressão de RNAm e proteína dos genes alvos foi analisado pelas técnicas da cadeia da polimerase quantitativa em tempo real (qRT-PCR) e western blotting respectivamente. A proliferação celular, apoptose e instabilidade cromossômica foram analisadas por citometria de fluxo. Resultados: A transfecção de pré-miR 100, reduziu de modo significativo a expressão de RNAm dos genes mTOR(p=0,006), SMARCA5 (p=0,007) e BAZ2A (p=0,03) na linhagem RT4, mTOR (p=0,02) e SMARCA5 (p=0,01) na linhagem T24, mTOR (p=0,025), THAP2 (p=0,04), SMARCA5 (p=0,001) e BAZ2A (p=0,005) na linhagem DU145 e mTOR (p=0,01) na linhagem PC3. Quanto a expressão proteica houve diminuição global da expressão de todas as proteínas varável de 22,5% a 69% nas quatro linhagens estudadas. Na linhagem T24 miR-100 promoveu um aumento na proliferação e o antimiR-100 induziu a apoptose demonstrando o papel oncogênico desse miR no câncer de bexiga de alto grau. Na linhagem PC3, do mesmo modo, a exposição ao antimiR-100 promoveu um aumento de células em apoptose. Conclusões: Demonstramos que miR-100 controla a expressão gênica e proteica de seus genes alvos nas linhagens de CaP e CaB. Os genes mTOR e FGFR3 são proto-oncogenes envolvidos com o desenvolvimento e progressão de neoplasias, enquanto os genes BAZ2A, SMARCA5 e THAP2 estão relacionados a regulação da transcrição, estabilidade genômica e indução da apoptose. Desse modo podemos admitir que miR-100 tem um papel contraditório no câncer, podendo se comportar como um oncomiR ou como um tsmiR, o que o classificaria como um miRNA \"contexto dependente\". Demonstramos porém que miR-100 tem um papel oncogênico na linhagem T24 de carcinoma urotelial de alto grau de bexiga promovendo um aumento na proliferação e inibição da apoptose. Na linhagem PC3 também o papel oncogênico de miR-100 pode estar relacionado a inibição da apoptose. Dada a variação de ação dos miRNA nos diversos tecidos e estágios tumorais, a determinação do seu papel nos diversos tumores é fundamental pois existe a possibilidade de utiliza-los como marcadores diagnóstico, prognóstico e como alvos para terapias moleculares / Introduction: Prostate cancer (PC) is the most commonly diagnosed solid tumor in men today, and the sixth most frequent occurrence of new cases of malignancy in the world, being the second cause of death by cancer in men. Bladder cancer (BC) is the second most common malignancy and the second cause of death among genitourinary tumors. Globally BC is responsible for approximately 386.000 new cases and 150.000 deaths per year. The knowledge of cellular processes involved in carcinogenesis allows us to better understand the etiology and pathogenesis of these neoplasms, supporting thus more effectively, planning strategies for prevention and treatment. Micro RNAs (miRNA) are small non-coding RNA sequences that have a large role in the control of gene expression by inhibiting protein translation or promoting the degradation of messenger RNA (RNAm). The miRNA are currently involved in various physiological and pathological cellular processes, including cancer where they can act as oncogenes (oncomiR) or tumor suppressors (tsmiR). Previously we demonstrated that high levels of miR-100 are associated with biochemical recurrence after radical prostatectomy while in low-grade bladder urothelial carcinoma it is persistently underexpressed. Objective: The study aims to examine the role of miR-100 in the regulation of its supposed target genes SMARCA5, THAP2, BAZ2A, mTOR and FGFR3 in BC and PC cell lines and its relationship with proliferation, apoptosis and chromosomal instability. Material and Methods: The BC (RT4 and T24) and PC cell lines (DU145 and PC3) were transfected with pre-miR-100, antimiR-100 and their respective controls using liposomes. After transfection RNAm and protein levels of its supposed target genes were analyzed by quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and western blotting. Cell proliferation, apoptosis and DNA ploidy were analyzed by flow cytometry. Results: After transfection of pre-miR 100, there was a significant reduction in the RNAm expression of mTOR (p=0.006), SMARCA5 (p=0.007) and BAZ2A (p=0.03) in RT4, mTOR (p=0.02) and SMARCA5 (p=0.01) in T24, mTOR (p=0.025), THAP2 (p=0.04), SMARCA5 (p=0.001) and BAZ2A (p=0.005) in DU145 and mTOR (p=0.01) in PC3. There was a reduction in the expression of all proteins, variable from 22.5% to 69% in all cell lines. In T24 miR-100 promoted an increase in cell proliferation and antimiR-100 promoted apoptosis characterizing miR-100 as an oncomiR in this cell line representative of a right grade urothelial carcinoma. Also in PC3 antimiR-100 promoted an increase in apoptosis. Conclusions: We have shown that miR-100 controls the expression of gene and protein of its supposed target genes in PC and BC cell lines. mTOR and FGFR3 are proto-oncogenes related to the tumor development and progression, while BAZ2A, SMARCA5 and THAP2 are related to the DNA transcription regulation, chromossomic stability and apoptosis induction. We can conclude that miR-100 has a contradictory role in cancer, behaving as an oncomir or tsmiR depending the type and stage of a specific neoplasia, classifying it as a \"context depending\" miRNA. In T24 cell line however miR-100 acts as an oncomiR increasing cell proliferation and inhibiting apoptosis. In PC3 cell line miR-100 also acts as an oncomiR inhibiting apoptosis. Due to the variation of roles of miRNAs in different tissues and stage of tumors, the characterization of their role in neoplasm is very important because of the possibility to use them as diagnostic or prognostic markers, even as targets for the development of new drugs

A síndrome de Bloom (SB) é uma síndrome de instabilidade cromossômica rara, transmitida por herança autossômica recessiva. Caracteriza-se por deficiência de crescimento pré e pós-natal, microcefalia, hipoplasia malar, eritema telangiectásico em face e comprometimento do sistema imunológico, entre outras manifestações clínicas. Os pacientes com SB apresentam predisposição aumentada para o desenvolvimento de neoplasias em idade precoce, sendo esta, a principal causa de óbito. Ao estudo citogenético observa-se aumento de quebras cromossômicas espontâneas e trocas entre cromátides irmãs (TCI), que são utilizadas como marcador diagnóstico para a SB. Além disso, a literatura mostra que a maioria dos pacientes também apresenta mutações no gene BLM, que estão relacionadas a defeitos no mecanismo de reparo do DNA. No entanto, os mecanismos fisiopatológicos não são completamente compreendidos. Nesse sentido estudamos o transcriptoma de duas pacientes portadoras da síndrome de Bloom e de três controles utilizando a metodologia RNA-seq (Illumina, Inc., San Diego, CA). A análise de expressão diferencial revelou 216 genes diferencialmente expressos relacionados a vias relacionadas à resposta imune como replicação negativa da regulação da replicação do genoma viral, regulação positiva da proliferação de células B, via de sinalização mediada por interferon gama, ativação de células B, resposta a vírus, resposta imune adaptativa e processo efetor imune, e nenhuma diferença da expressão em genes de reparo de DNA. Concomitantemente, observamos a hiperexpressão do gene BLM para ambas as pacientes, contribuindo para a desestabilização de genes envolvidos em vias imunológicas, fenômeno também observado em alguns tumores. Dessa forma, sugerimos que a combinação de defeitos de proliferação linfocitária e defeitos de sinalização celular somados a outros, como perda celular e expressão alterada do gene BLM, podem contribuir diretamente para as principais características observadas na síndrome de Bloom, como a deficiência de crescimento e o elevado risco de câncer. Futuramente, o estudo do transcriptoma, aplicado a outros portadores da SB e outras síndromes de instabilidade, possibilitará uma análise mais acurada das interações gênicas relevantes para a desestabilização do genoma / Bloom Syndrome (BS) is a rare chromosome instability syndrome, with recessive autosomal inheritance. The main clinical manifestations are pre and postnatal growth deficiency, microcephaly, malar hypoplasia, telangiectasic facial erythema and compromised immune system, among others. Patients with BS present increased risk to the development of neoplasias at an early age, which is the main cause of death. Cytogenetic test is used as a diagnostic marker for BS since the patient\'s cells present increase in spontaneous chromosomal breaks and sister chromatid exchange (SCE). In addition, the literature reveals that most patients also present mutations in the BLM gene, which are related to defects in the DNA repair mechanism; however, it is still not completely understood. In this sense, we studied the transcriptome of two patients with Bloom\'s syndrome and three controls using the RNA-seq methodology (Illumina, Inc., San Diego, CA). Differential expression analysis revealed 216 differentially expressed genes related to immunological pathways such as: negative replication of the regulation of the viral genome replication, positive regulation of B cells proliferation, gama-interferon mediated signalization pathway, B cells activation, virus response, adaptive immune response and immune effector process, and absence of difference of DNA repair genes expression. At the same time, we observed the hyperexpression of the BLM gene for both patients contributing for the destabilization of genes involved in immunological pathways, a phenomenon also observed in some tumors. Thus, we suggest that the combination of lymphoid proliferation defects and cell signaling defects added to others such as cell loss and altered expression of the BLM gene may contribute directly to the main characteristics observed in Bloom\'s syndrome, such as growth failure and high risk of cancer. In the future, the study of the transcriptome applied to other BS carriers and other instability syndromes, will allow a more accurate analysis of the relevant gene interactions to the destabilization of the genome

A Síndrome de Martin-Bell é uma forma hereditária de retardo mental determinada pela perda da expressão do gene FMR1 que está associado com a expansão da repetição dos tri-nucleotídeos citosina-guanina¬-guanina (CGG). Os indivíduos com um alto grau dessa expansão apresentam o silenciamento da expressão desse gene, com conseqüente alteração no desenvolvimento do sistema nervoso do embrião, causando danos neurológicos irreparáveis. A citogenética é uma metodologia clássica que contribui para o diagnóstico da síndrome em casos sem esclarecimentos, porém sua sensibilidade isoladamente em muitos casos é insuficiente para um diagnóstico positivo mesmo diante de características clínicas evidentes. Na busca de uma alternativa para suprir esta necessidade de definir exatamente as alterações encontradas em cada caso propôs-se a otimização de uma PCR de alta fidelidade no diagnóstico diferencial da Síndrome e simultaneamente comparar com os dados da citogenética clássica. Para tanto, foram coletadas amostras de sangue periférico de 102 pacientes e avaliou-se 100 a 150 metáfases para cada indivíduo pela citogenética clássica e para a PCR duplex. Os resultados demonstram pelo teste de Kruskal-Wallis que a PCR com a citogenética não apresentou diferenças significativas (p>0,05). Porém quando avaliadados pelo índice de Kappa sugere-se que os dois critéiros de diagnósticos devem ser utilizados simultaneamente com caracteristicas clínicas do paciente. A PCR mostrou-se rápida e com custo relativamente menor, sendo portanto, aplicável no auxílio ao aconselhamento genético dos indivíduos e suas famílias, bem como para um acompanhamento psico-pedagógico adequado. / The Martin-Bell Syndrome is a heredity mental retard form determined by the loss of FMR1 gene expression which is associated with the tri-nucleotides cytosine-guanine-guanine (CGG) repetition expansion. The individuals showing a high degree of this expansion present the silencing of this gene expression, with a consequent alteration of the embryo nervous system evolution, causing irreparable neurological damage The cytogenetics is a classical methodology that contributes for diagnosing the syndrome in cases without clarification, thus its sensitivity isolated in many cases is insufficient for a positive diagnosis even in front of evident clinical characteristics. On searching for an alternative to fulfill this need to define the found alterations in each case, an optimization of a high fidelity PCR to Syndrome diagnosis and simultaneously to compare with classical cytogenetics. Peripheral blood samples were collected from 102 patients for evaluating 100 to 150 metaphases evaluation by classical cytogenetics for each sample and to duplex PCR. The results showed by the Kruskal-Wallis test that the PCR with the cytogenetics have not presented significant differences (p>0,05). However, when evaluated by the Kappa index it was suggested that the two diagnosis criteria should be used simultaneously with patient s clinical characteristics. The PCR showed itself quick and with a relatively lower cost , and in this way, applicable in helping genetically counseling individuals and their families, as well as sending them to a more adequate psycho-pedagogical treatment.

Objetivo: analisar o resultado das gestações e pós-natal dos fetos com translucência nucal (TN) aumentada. Método: Duzentos e setenta e cinco fetos com TN aumentada foram avaliados no setor de Medicina Fetal da Clínica Obstétrica do HC-FMUSP, com análise do cariótipo, ultra-sonografia seriada, ecocardiografias fetal e pós-natal e avaliação clinica genética pós-natal. Resultados: 14,2% apresentaram cariótipos alterados e 85,8% normais. A ultra-sonografia morfológica esteve alterada em 73,1% dos casos com cariótipo anormal e em 24,7% dos normais, destes, um terço apresentou malformações estruturais maiores, sendo 35,7% cardíacas. Resultados gestacionais adversos, como abortamento, óbitos intra-útero e neonatal ocorreram em 76,5% dos fetos com anomalias cromossômicas e em 10,2% com cariótipos normais. A avaliação pós-natal foi realizada em 72,7% das crianças, mostrando-se alterada em 14,8% dos casos. A freqüência de criança viva e saudável diminuiu com a medida da TN, que variou de 37,5%, nos casos com cariótipos normais, a 18,8% com cariótipos desconhecidos, quando a TN foi igual ou maior que 4,5 mm. Conclusão: Quanto maior a TN maior o risco de anomalias cromossômicas e, nos casos com cariótipos normais, maior a freqüência de malformações estruturais, em especial defeitos cardíacos, resultados gestacionais adversos e alterações à avaliação pós-natal / The aim of this study was to evaluate pregnancy and postnatal outcomes in fetuses with increased nuchal translucency thickness (NT). Two hundred seventy five fetuses with increased NT were examined with karyotyping analysys, serial ultrasound scans, ecocardiography and postnatal clinical and genetic evaluation at the Fetal Medicine Unit - Departament of Obstetrics - São Paulo University. The karyotype was abnormal in 14.2% of the cases and normal in 85.8%. At the anomaly scan, 73.1% of the abnormal karyotype and 24.7% of the normal fetuses presented structural abnormalities, one third of these were major malformations with 35.7% of cardiac defects. Adverse pregnancy outcome as miscarriages, intrauterine and neonatal deaths occurred in 76.5% of the abnormal karyotype group and in 10.2% of the normal. 72.7% of the infants with normal karyotype had postnatal examination with 14,8% presenting abnormalities. The chances of having a live and healthy child decreased with increased NT thickness. For NT above 4.5mm this varied from 18.8%, for an unknown karyotype result, to 37.5% for a normal karyotype. The chances of abnormal karyotype increased with NT thickness. In addition, when the karyotype was normal, the frequency of fetal malformations, specially heart defects, adverse pregnancy outcome and postnatal abnormalities increased with NT thickness

Objetivo: analisar o resultado das gestações e pós-natal dos fetos com translucência nucal (TN) aumentada. Método: Duzentos e setenta e cinco fetos com TN aumentada foram avaliados no setor de Medicina Fetal da Clínica Obstétrica do HC-FMUSP, com análise do cariótipo, ultra-sonografia seriada, ecocardiografias fetal e pós-natal e avaliação clinica genética pós-natal. Resultados: 14,2% apresentaram cariótipos alterados e 85,8% normais. A ultra-sonografia morfológica esteve alterada em 73,1% dos casos com cariótipo anormal e em 24,7% dos normais, destes, um terço apresentou malformações estruturais maiores, sendo 35,7% cardíacas. Resultados gestacionais adversos, como abortamento, óbitos intra-útero e neonatal ocorreram em 76,5% dos fetos com anomalias cromossômicas e em 10,2% com cariótipos normais. A avaliação pós-natal foi realizada em 72,7% das crianças, mostrando-se alterada em 14,8% dos casos. A freqüência de criança viva e saudável diminuiu com a medida da TN, que variou de 37,5%, nos casos com cariótipos normais, a 18,8% com cariótipos desconhecidos, quando a TN foi igual ou maior que 4,5 mm. Conclusão: Quanto maior a TN maior o risco de anomalias cromossômicas e, nos casos com cariótipos normais, maior a freqüência de malformações estruturais, em especial defeitos cardíacos, resultados gestacionais adversos e alterações à avaliação pós-natal / The aim of this study was to evaluate pregnancy and postnatal outcomes in fetuses with increased nuchal translucency thickness (NT). Two hundred seventy five fetuses with increased NT were examined with karyotyping analysys, serial ultrasound scans, ecocardiography and postnatal clinical and genetic evaluation at the Fetal Medicine Unit - Departament of Obstetrics - São Paulo University. The karyotype was abnormal in 14.2% of the cases and normal in 85.8%. At the anomaly scan, 73.1% of the abnormal karyotype and 24.7% of the normal fetuses presented structural abnormalities, one third of these were major malformations with 35.7% of cardiac defects. Adverse pregnancy outcome as miscarriages, intrauterine and neonatal deaths occurred in 76.5% of the abnormal karyotype group and in 10.2% of the normal. 72.7% of the infants with normal karyotype had postnatal examination with 14,8% presenting abnormalities. The chances of having a live and healthy child decreased with increased NT thickness. For NT above 4.5mm this varied from 18.8%, for an unknown karyotype result, to 37.5% for a normal karyotype. The chances of abnormal karyotype increased with NT thickness. In addition, when the karyotype was normal, the frequency of fetal malformations, specially heart defects, adverse pregnancy outcome and postnatal abnormalities increased with NT thickness

O presente trabalho é resultado da colaboração de pesquisadores do Centro de Engenharia Nuclear (CEN) e de pesquisadores do Centro de Biotecnologia (CB), ambos pertencentes ao IPEN, para o desenvolvimento de uma metodologia que visa auxiliar os profissionais citogeneticistas fornecendo uma ferramenta que automatize parte da rotina necessária para a avaliação qualitativa e quantitativa de danos biológicos em termos de aberração cromossômica. A técnica citogenética, sobre a qual esta ferramenta é desenvolvida, é a técnica de aberrações cromossômicas. Nela, são realizadas preparações citológicas de linfócitos de sangue periférico para que metáfases sejam analisadas e fotografadas ao microscópio e, com base na morfologia dos cromossomos, anomalias sejam investigadas. Quando esta tarefa é realizada manualmente, os cromossomos são analisados visualmente um a um pelo profissional citogeneticista, logo, trata-se de um processo minucioso em virtude da variação geral na aparência do cromossomo, do seu tamanho pequeno e do grande número de cromossomos por célula. Para um diagnóstico confiável, é necessário que várias células sejam analisadas, tornando-se uma tarefa repetitiva e demorada. Neste contexto, foi proposto o uso dos mapas auto-organizáveis para o reconhecimento automático de padrões morfológicos referentes às imagens de cromossomos humanos. Para isso, foi desenvolvido um método de extração de características por meio do qual é possível classificar os cromossomos em: dicêntricos, anéis, acrocêntricos, submetacêntricos e metacêntricos, com acerto de 93,4 % em relação ao diagnóstico dado por um profissional citogeneticista. / This work is a joint collaboration between Nuclear Energy Research Institute (IPEN), Nuclear Engineering Center and Biotechnology Center to develop a methodology aiming to assist cytogenetic professionals by providing a tool to automate part of the required routine to perform qualitative and quantitative evaluation of biological damage in terms of chromosomal aberration. The cytogenetic technique upon which this tool was developed, is the chromosome aberrations technique, in which cytological preparations of peripheral blood lymphocyte metaphases are performed to be analyzed and photographed under a microscope in order to investigating chromosomal aberration. Performed manually, the chromosomes are analyzed visually one by one by a cytogenetic professional, so it is a painstaking process due to the great deal of variation in the appearance of each chromosome, their small sizes and not to mention the high density of chromosomes per cell. In order to obtain a reliable diagnosis it is necessary that many cells be analyzed, which makes this a repetitive and time consuming process. In this context, the use of self-organizing maps for the automatic recognition of patterns relating to morphological pictures of human chromosomes has been proposed. For this, we developed a feature extraction method by which is possible to classify chromosomes in: dicentrics, ring-shaped, acrocentric, submetacentric and metacentric with 93.4% accuracy compared to diagnostic given by a professional cytogeneticist.

Ο καρυότυπος του οικιακού ποντικού Mus musculus domesticus είναι τυπικά ακροκεντρικός εντούτοις χαρακτηρίζεται από τη συχνή εμφάνιση Rb συντήξεων σε φυσικούς πληθυσμούς. Εξαιτίας αυτών μειώνεται ο 2n από τον τυπικό 2n=40 έως και σε 2n=22 και προκύπτουν στη φύση Rb φυλές, οι οποίες όταν έχουν κοινή προέλευση δημιουργούν Rb συστήματα. Στόχος της διδακτορικής διατριβής ήταν ο λεπτομερής καθορισμός της περιοχής εξάπλωσής του Rb συστήματος της Δ. Πελοποννήσου, η Rb σύσταση και οι σχέσεις των Rb φυλών του και η σχέση του με τον ακροκεντρικό πληθυσμό που το περιβάλλει. Επίσης, να προσδιοριστεί η φυλογενετική πορεία που ακολουθήθηκε στο Rb σύστημα και η πιθανή ειδογένεση που δρομολογείται σε αυτό. Γι’ αυτόν το λόγο, έγινε κυτταρολογική μελέτη σε 232 άτομα του ποντικού από 40 τοποθεσίες της Ελλάδας με τη χρήση των τεχνικών G – και C – ζώνωσης. Βρέθηκε ότι το Rb σύστημα της Δ. Πελοποννήσου αποτελείται κυρίως από 3 Rb φυλές με 2n=24, 28 και 30 και έχει ως κέντρο εξέλιξης την περιοχή της Πάτρας, από όπου εκτείνεται για τουλάχιστον 55 km προς τα Β.-ΒΑ. και για πάνω από 70 km προς τα Ν. Οι παραπάνω Rb φυλές συνδέονται φυλογενετικά μέσω 5 κοινών Rb συντήξεων και είναι πιθανό στην εξέλιξη του Rb συστήματος να έχουν συμμετάσχει και Αμοιβαίες Ανταλλαγές Ολόκληρων Βραχιόνων (WART). Ενδέχεται η μετάβαση από το Rb σύστημα στον ακροκεντρικό πληθυσμό να γίνεται απότομα, ενώ ειδογενετικές διαδικασίες θα ήταν δυνατό να πραγματοποιηθούν μεταξύ των Rb φυλών με 2n=24 και 2n=28, που χαρακτηρίζονται από μερική ομολογία βραχιόνων. / The karyotype of the house mouse Mus musculus domesticus is typically acrocentric, yet it is characterized by the frequent appearance of Rb fusions in natural populations. Due to them, 2n is reduced from the typical 2n=40 even down to 2n=22 and Rb races are formed in the nature, which when linked through common decent, form Rb systems. The goal of this doctorate thesis was the detailed definition of the distribution area of the Rb system of W. Peloponnese, of the Rb constitution and relationship among its Rb races and of its relationship with the surrounding acrocentric population. Also, to clarify the phylogenetic process that was followed in this Rb system and the possible speciation that is under way. Thus, a karyological study was implemented on 232 individuals of the house mouse from 40 Greek localities, using the G – and C – banding staining techniques. It was found that the Rb system of W. Peloponnese consists mainly of 3 Rb races with 2n=24, 28 and 30 and its centre of evolution must lie in the wider Patras area, from where it extends for at least 55 km to the N-NE and for more than 70 km to the S. The above Rb races are phylogenetically related through 5 Rb fusions they have in common and it is possible that Whole Arm Reciprocal Translocations (WART) have contributed to the evolution of this Rb system. The transition from the Rb system to the surrounding typical acrocentric population may occur abruptly, whereas speciation processes could take place between the Rb races with 2n=24 and 2n=28, which are charaterized by monobrachial homology.

No description available.

No description available.