Les macrophages (MΦ), des cellules clefs de la réponse immunitaire peuvent répondre à des contaminants environnementaux comme les particules diesel (DEP), des polluants atmosphériques récemment classés cancérigènes pour l'Homme. Les MΦ sont des cellules hétérogènes et plastiques qui s'activent en fonction de leur microenvironnement soit en MΦ M1 (dits classiquement activés ou pro-inflammatoires) sous l'effet de l'INFγ et du LPS soit en MΦ M2 (dits alternativement activés ou réparateurs) sous l'effet de l'IL-4 et/ou de l'IL-13. Les effets des DEP sur la polarisation M1/M2 des MΦ restent peu documentés. Nous avons dans un premier temps caractérisé l'expression des marqueurs des MΦ différenciés in vitro en présence de M-CSF à partir de monocytes humains et polarisés en sous-type M1 ou M2. Nos principaux résultats montrent que les MΦ différenciés au M-CSF considérés comme des MΦ anti-inflammatoires, sont en réalité capables de s'activer vers un phénotype M1 après une stimulation au LPS/IFNγ. De plus, les marqueurs mis en évidence au cours de ce travail ont permis d'évaluer l'impact d'extraits organiques de DEP (DEPe) sur la polarisation des MΦ et plus généralement sur leur physiologie. Les DEPe altèrent l'expression de certains marqueurs M1 et M2 des MΦ, sans toutefois provoquer d'inhibition globale des processus de polarisation M1 et M2 ou de transition d'un phénotype vers un autre. Cette altération du phénotype est associée à une diminution de la réponse inflammatoire LPS-dépendante dans les MΦ M1 et des capacités chimiotactiques des MΦ M2. Les DEPe diminuent la sécrétion de certaines cytokines et chimiokines comme l'IL-6, l'IL-12p40 et le CCL18 via l'activation d'AhR et/ou de Nrf2. Parallèlement, nous montrons que les MΦ M1 et M2 exposés aux DEPe sécrètent le platelet deried growth factor B (PDGF-B), un facteur de croissance profibrosant, via l'activation d'AhR en quantité suffisante pour stimuler la prolifération de fibroblastes pulmonaires. Au total, ces travaux démontrent que les DEP possèdent des propriétés immunotoxiques vis-à-vis de la physiologie des macrophages humains polarisés in vitro. Cette immunotoxicité pourrait participer aux effets délétères de ces contaminants environnementaux urbains sur la santé humaine. / Macrophages (MΦ), well-known to play a key role in immune response, also respond to environmental toxic chemicals such as diesel exhaust particles (DEP), an air pollutant recently classified as carcinogenic to humans. MΦ are heterogeneous and plastic cells which activate according to their microenvironment into either an M1 subtype (so called classically activated or pro-inflammatory) under IFNγ and LPS stimulation or an M2 subtype (so called alternatively activated or anti-inflammatory) under IL-4 and/or IL-13 stimulation. However, potential effects of DEPs on M1/M2 MΦ polarization remain poorly documented. First, we characterized the expression marker of in vitro M-CSF-differentiated MΦ from human monocytes and activated into the M1 or M2 subtypes. Our main results show that M-CSF-generated MΦ considered as anti-inflammatory are actually able to switch to an M1 phenotype after IFNγ/LPS stimulation. Furthermore, the markers identified in this study were used to assess the impact of organic extracts of DEP (DEPe) on MΦ polarization and more generally on their physiology. DEPe alter some M1 and M2 markers expressed by polarized MΦ, without causing the overall inhibition of the M1 and M2 polarization process or the switch to a different phenotype. This phenotype alteration is associated with a decrease in the LPS-dependent inflammatory response in M1 MΦ and the chemotactic capacities in M2 MΦ. DEPe decrease the secretion of some cytokines and chemokines such as IL-6, IL-12p40 and CCL18 via AhR and/or Nrf2 activation. At the same time, we show that M1 and M2 MΦ in response to DEPe are able to secrete a sufficient level of a pro-fibrotic growth factor, the platelet derived growth factor B (PDGF-B) via AhR activation, leading to stimulation of lung fibroblast proliferation. Finally, these works show that DEPe have immunotoxic properties with regards to the physiology of human in vitro polarized MΦ. This immunotoxicity may then contribute to the deleterious effects of these urban environmental contaminants on human health.

Il a été montré que les fonctions et la prolongation de la survie cellulaire des neutrophiles humains par les médiateurs de l'inflammation tendent à diminuer avec le vieillissement. Les protéines tyrosines phosphatase (PTPs), comme SHP-1, sont un des mécanismes qui permettent de moduler à la baisse et de terminer ces fonctions inflammatoires qui sont modulées par l'action des cytokines. Nous avons étudié le rôle des PTPs dans l'altération due au vieillissement des fonctions des neutrophiles humains. L'utilisation d'un inhibiteur pharmacologique des PTPs a suggéré une dérégulation de l'activité phosphatasique avec le vieillissement. Cette dérégulation était confirmée aussi dans le cas de l'apoptose mesurée après 18 heures d'incubation. L'activité phosphatasique de SHP-1 purifiée par immunoprécipitation de neutrophiles de sujets jeunes ou âgés stimulés par le GM-CSF est altérée de façon significative après une minute de stimulation chez les sujets âgés. Dans les sujets jeunes SHP-1 est déplacée des radeaux lipidiques après 1 minute de stimulation par le GM-CSF alors que chez les sujets âgés, SHP-1 est présente à tous les temps de stimulation utilisés. Des immunoblots faits avec des anticorps anti-phosphotyrosine et anti-phosphosérine ont montré une augmentation de la phosphorylation en sérine dans les neutrophiles des sujets jeunes après une stimulation au GM-CSF alors que ce n'était pas le cas chez les sujets âgés. Nous avons aussi trouvé des altérations dans l'activation et le recrutement aux radeaux lipidiques de la Src kinase Lyn chez les neutrophiles des sujets âgés. De plus, nous avons démontré que SHP-1 est continuellement recrutée à Lyn chez les sujets âgés alors que cette interaction, qui est observée dans des cellules non stimulées chez les sujets jeunes, est défaite par la stimulation au GM-CSF. En conclusion, les altérations observées dans la modulation de l'activité de SHP-1 par le GM-CSF dans les radeaux lipidiques sont un des facteurs qui contribuent à la diminution des effets du GM-CSF sur les neutrophiles humains avec le vieillissement.

The formation of the mRNP complex is a critical component of translational regulation and mRNA decay. Both the 5 ' and 3 ' UTRs of CSF-1 mRNA are involved in post-transcriptional regulation. In CSF-1 mRNA, a small hairpin loop structure is predicted to form at the extreme 5 ' end (2-21 nt) of the 5 ' UTR. Nucleolin binds the hairpin loop structure in the 5 ' UTR of CSF-1 mRNA and enhances translation, while removal of this hairpin loop nucleolin binding element dramatically represses translation. Thus in CSF-1 mRNA, the hairpin loop nucleolin binding element is critical for translational regulation. In addition, nucleolin interacts with the 3 ' UTR of CSF-1 mRNA and facilitates the miRISC formation which results in poly (A) tail shortening. The overexpression of nucleolin increases the association of CSF-1 mRNA containing short poly (A)(n), <= 26, with polyribosomes. Nucleolin both forms an mRNP complex with the eIF4G and CSF-1 mRNA, and is co-localized with the eIF4G in the cytoplasm further supporting nucleolin's role in translational regulation. The distinct foci formation of nucleolin in the cytoplasm of ovarian and breast cancer cells implicates the translational promoting role of nucleolin in these cancers.

This thesis focuses on how small to medium-sized management consultancies internationalise, as this is an under-researched area. Investigation focuses on identifying the factors that facilitate international market success for these small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), the challenges they encounter, and how those challenges have been overcome. The relevance of SME internationalisation theories is explored for SME management consultancies in the UK. The study is exploratory, phenomenological and framed within an interpretive research paradigm. Primary data was gathered qualitatively using multiple (9) case studies, collected principally through semi-structured interviews. This empirical research, one of the first to focus solely on SME management consultancies, finds the owner/founders as the key driver of internationalisation. Their past experience enables an international outlook and brings established networks to firm formation. The findings highlight the relevance of intangible resources: the firms’ skills, competencies and networking capabilities, as integral to successful internationalisation. Additional key critical success factors are niche market specialisation, firm reputation, firm location, ability for service provision modification and the role of technology. There are observed firm size-related differences in the challenges these firms face, with smaller-sized firms being more vulnerable to challenges from the external environment, including the 2008 financial crisis. Firms are able to overcome these challenges with the help of their networks. Other challenges stem from the firm’s service provision: difficulty in finding skilled staff and communication with clients. The findings suggest applicability for other knowledge-intensive firms. The research contributes to closing the gap in literature on how firms successfully provide services internationally and in so doing advances theoretical understanding of SME service internationalisation. This theory-building research demonstrates partial relevance of Stage Theory, Networking Theory, and Born Global Theory, but overall the resource-based view was found as the most relevant to understanding the internationalisation process of SME management consultancies. This sets a foundation for further research on the internationalisation process of other knowledge-intensive firms.

Desenvolveram-se métodos bioanalíticos para determinação de anfotericina B e fluconazol em apenas 200 L de plasma e líquor (LCR) através da cromatografia líquida de alta eficiência (CLAE UV-VIS). A anfotericina B foi determinada através de CLAE-VIS utilizando p-nitrofenol como padrão interno, após purificação das matrizes biológicas com acetonitrila, seguida da análise em coluna Nova Pak C18 (150 x 3,9mm, 4 micron) e fase móvel constituída por tampão acetato 0,1M pH 5,0 e acetonitrila (50:50,v/v) 0,5mL/min em 385nm; o tempo de corrida foi 15 min. Através da validação o método mostrou-se robusto com 0,2-25,0 &#181;g/mL(linearidade, r2 0,9999), LD 0,1 &#181;g/mL, precisão (5,4% e 6,9%), exatidão expressa através do erro sistemático (3,3% e 2,2%): intra e interdias). Os estudos de estabilidade evidenciaram 1,0% para o erro sistemático e 3% de precisão na bandeja (tempo e condição de análise por 24 h), e os ciclos de congelamento evidenciaram boa estabilidade uma vez que todos os ensaios foram realizados em Laboratório de luz amarela. O fluconazol foi determinado através de CLAE-UV utilizando carbamazepina como padrão interno, após purificação das matrizes biológicas pela extração líquido-líquido com diclorometano em meio alcalino, seguido da análise em coluna Nova Pak C18 (150 x 3,9mm, 4 micron) e fase móvel constituída por água UP e acetonitrila (70:30,v/v) 0,5mL/min em 210nm; o tempo de corrida foi 15 min. O método mostrou-se robusto com 0,2-250 &#181;g/mL(linearidade, r2 0,9998), LD 0,1&#181;g/mL, com boa recuperação absoluta (98%) e relativa (100%), precisão 0,5%/1,3%, exatidão expressa através do erro sistemático (1,2%). Evidenciou-se ótima estabilidade para os extratos em bandeja (tempo e condição de análise por 24 h), na longa duração (20&#176; C, 9 meses) e através dos ciclos de congelamento. Investigaram-se 21 pacientes adultos de ambos os sexos portadores de meningite criptocócica com AIDS após internação emergencial em terapia de alta dose com anfotericina B (1mg/Kg) e fluonazol (400 mg, 12/12 horas) durante 12 semanas. O monitoramento das concentrações de anfotericina B e fluconazol no plasma e no LCR forneceram as razões que permitiram estimar a penetração dos antifúngicos no SNC. Obtiveram-se concentrações de anfotericina B, médias (IC95%): 2,30 (0,02-5,08) &#181;g/mL no plasma e 0,30 (0,19-0,36) &#181;g/mL no LCR. As concentrações do fluconazol, médias (IC95%) foram: 31,7 (20,1-43,3) &#181;g/mL no plasma e 19,4 (11,1-27,7) &#181;g/mL no LCR. Com base nos resultados obtidos conclui-se que a penetração da anfotericina B foi insuficiente (10-27%), enquanto que a do fluconazol mostrou-se adequada com valores médios (IC95%) de 67 (47-87) %. / Analytical methods were developed to determine amphotericin B and fluconazole in only 200 L of plasma and in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) by liquid chromatography (HPLC UVVIS). Amphotericin B was determined by HPLC - VIS using p-nitrophenol as internal standard, after the purification of biological matrices using acetonitrile, followed by chromatographic analysis in a Nova Pak C18 column (150 x 3.9mm, 4 micron) and mobile phase consisting of acetate buffer 0.1M pH 5.0 plus acetonitrile (50:50,v/v) 0.5mL/min at 385nm; the run time required was 15 min. Bioanalytical method validated showed robustness, 0.2-25,0&#181;g/mL (linearity, r2 0.9999), DL 0.1&#181;g/mL, precision (5.4%/6.0%), accuracy expressed as systematic error (3.3%/2.2%). The stability was investigated, error systematic was 1% for the vials on the rack (time and conditions of drug analysis, 24h). Thawing cycles showed good stability after three freezing-thawing cycles. All procedures were performed under yellow light at room temperature. Fluconazole was determined by HPLC - UV using carbamazepine as internal standard, after the purification of biological matrices using liquid-liquid extraction in alkaline medium, followed by chromatographic analysis in a Nova Pak C18 column (150 x 3.9mm, 4 micron) and mobile phase consisting of purified water plus acetonitrile (70:30,v/v) 0.5mL/min at 210nm; the run time required was 15 min. Bioanalytical method validated showed robustness, 0.2-250 &#181;g/mL(linearity, r2 0.9998), DL 0.1&#181;g/mL. Absolute recovery was 98% and relative recovery was 100%, intra/interday precision were 0,5/-1,3%; accuracy expressed as systematic error were 1.2%/1.2%.and relative recovery was 100%. Good stability for the vials on the rack (time and conditions of drug analysis, 24h) and long term stability (at 20o C for 9 months) were demonstrated. Also thawing cycles showed good stability after three freezing-thawing cycles. Twenty one adult patients of both sex were investigated. Inpatients with meningitis by Cryptococcus neoformans with AIDS were under high dose therapy with amphotericin B 1mg/Kg plus fluonazole 400 mg, every 12h during 12 weeks. Therapeutic monitoring of amphotericin B and fluconazole in plasma and in CSF showed ratios that indicate the penetration of antifungal drugs into CNS. Mean (CI95%) data were for amphotericin B 2.30 (0.02-5.08 ) &#181;g/mL in plasma and 0.30 (0.19-0.36) &#181;g/mL in CSF. Fluconazole showed 31.7 (20.1-43.3) &#181;g/mL in plasma and 19.4 (11.1-27.7) &#181;g/mL in CSF. Based on data obtained we conclude that the penetration of amphotericin B was poor (10-27%) while fluconazole was adequate 67% (47-87%), mean (CI95%).

A hidrocefalia é uma doença ocasionada pelo distúrbio na formação, circulação ou absorção do líquido cefalorraquidiano (líquor) que acarreta na elevação da pressão intracraniana. O tratamento mais usual para a disfunção é a derivação ventrículo-peritoneal (DVP) responsável pela drenagem do líquor do ventrículo até o abdômen do paciente, através do implante de um cateter ventricular, uma válvula neurológica e um cateter peritoneal. Desse modo, o presente estudo apresenta o conceito de uma nova válvula neurológica com um mecanismo inovador para alteração da pressão de funcionamento, com um menor custo produtivo e de possível aceitação pelo Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS). A norma ISO 7197 forneceu as diretrizes atendidas no desenvolvimento da válvula neurológica ajustável e as informações para a construção das bancadas de testes, utilizadas para a realização dos ensaios hidrodinâmicos no protótipo do dispositivo valvular. Foram pesquisados os biomateriais empregados na fabricação de válvulas neurológicas comerciais, para a proposição dos materiais necessários para a construção da válvula ajustável por acionamento mecânico proposta. O aparato utilizado nos testes hidrodinâmicos apresentou incertezas experimentais, que não comprometem os resultados e a avaliação do desempenho in vitro do dispositivo testado. O protótipo da válvula resistiu aos testes de vazamento e de refluxo de fluido. As pressões de abertura e de fechamento apresentaram-se adequadas para o início e a interrupção do escoamento na DVP. Também foi obtido o comportamento do diferencial de pressão, em função da vazão, para as quatro classes de funcionamento disponíveis no protótipo testado. A avaliação hidrodinâmica do protótipo da válvula ajustável por acionamento mecânico apresenta resultados satisfatórios no controle da drenagem de líquor, frente a todos os ensaios hidrodinâmicos realizados. / Hydrocephalus is a disease caused by disturbance in formation, circulation or absorption of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) which causes high intracranial pressure. The most common treatment for the dysfunction is the ventricle-peritoneal shunt responsible for drainage of cerebrospinal fluid from the patient\'s ventricle to the abdomen, through the implant of a ventricular catheter, a neurological valve and a peritoneal catheter. Thus, the present study introduces the concept of a new valve with an innovative mechanism to change the working pressure, with a lower cost of production and possible acceptance by the Brazilian Health System. ISO 7197 provided the guidelines met in the development of adjustable neurological valve and the information for the construction of testing rigs, used for hydrodynamic testing on the valve device prototype. Biomaterials used in manufacturing commercial neurological valves have been researched for proposition of materials needed for the proposed adjustable neurological valve by mechanical drive. The apparatus used in hydrodynamic tests presented experimental uncertainties, which do not compromise the results and evaluation of in vitro performance of the device tested. The prototype of the valve withstood the leak and the fluid backflow testing. The opening and closing pressures were suitable for the beginning and the interruption of the flow in the ventricle-peritoneal shunt. It was also obtained the behavior of the pressure differential, due to the flow, for the four classes of operation available in the prototype tested. Hydrodynamic evaluation of the prototype of the adjustable valve by mechanical drive shows satisfactory results in the control of CSF drain, dealing with all hydrodynamic tests carried out.

L’apparition de la technique CellSearch® a permis d’obtenir la sensibilité et la spécificité suffisantes et de détecter les CTCs en ciblant les marqueurs spécifiques dans le sang périphérique. Elle permet la numération et l’étude morphologique des CTCs qui est largement utilisée et validée. Nous décrivons une adaptation de la méthode CellSearch® pour détecter les cellules tumorale chez les LM (métastases leptoméningées) patients atteints de cancers du sein, du poumon et mélanomes, qui semble atteindre une sensibilité améliorée en comparaison avec la cytologie conventionnelle. Nous présentons également un cas clinique pour la détection de cellules tumorales dans l’ascite et du sang chez un patient avec le cancer de l’oesophage métastatique. De plus, la détection des cellules tumorales dans le redon chez les patients subis une chirurgie de la tête et du cou a été également réalisée. En utilisant cette méthode, les résultats sont non seulement quatitatifs, mais aussi quantitatifs avec des images numériques de chaque cellule, et des résultats séquentiels ont été étudiés chez certains patients atteints de cancer du sein, de cancer du poumon et de mélanome. Les données ont montré des changements dynamiques des nombres de cellules tumorales détectées dans le LCR, mais leurs corrélations avec la réponse au traitement ou la progression de la maladie ont besoin des études supplémentaires plus contrôlées avec une grande cohorte de patients. La mise en évidence de cette application serait importante en clinique pour le diagnostic, le pronostic et le traitement des patients atteints de cancer avec des métastases aux niveaux du SNC, du péritoine / The introduction of CellSearch® technology allows to give sufficient sensitivity and specificity and to detect CTCs targeting specific markers in peripheral blood. The enumeration and morphological study of CTCs are widely used and validated. We described an adaptation of the CellSearch® method to detect tumor cells in LM (leptomeningeal metastases) patients with breast cancer, lung cancer and melanoma, which appeared to achieve an improved sensitivity in comparison with conventional cytology. We also presented a case report for the detection of tumor cells in the ascites and blood of a patient with metastatic oesophageal cancer. Furthermore, the detection of tumor cells in aspirative drains after neck dissectionin from the patients undergoing surgery for head and neck cancer was also performed. Using this method, the results were not only quatitative but also quantitative with digital images of each cell, and sequential results were studied in some patients with breast cancer, lung cancer and melanoma. The data showed dynamic changes of the numbers of tumor cells detected in CSF, but their correlation with the response to treatment or disease progression need additional more controlled studies with a large cohort of patients. The application would be important for the clinical diagnosis, prognosis and treatment of cancer patients with CNS metastases and peritoneal metastases

A meningite bacteriana continua sendo um problema de saúde pública no Brasil, estudá-la em todos seus aspectos faz com que as chances de intervenções possam ser descobertas a fim de diminuir seus altos índices de mortalidade e sequelas dentre as pessoas acometidas. O presente trabalho teve por finalidade caracterizar o perfil etiológico da meningite bacteriana no estado do Tocantins, no período de 2010 a 2017, através de um estudo retrospectivo, transversal, de natureza quantitativa, realizado a partir de dados provenientes do Laboratório Central de Saúde Pública do Estado do Tocantins (LACEN-TO), em relação à realização de culturas de líquido cefalorraquidiano (LCR) para o diagnóstico laboratorial de meningite bacteriana. Este estudo constatou que foram realizadas 2041 culturas de LCR e um baixo crescimento microbiológico dentre elas. O grupo bacteriano com maior crescimento dentre as culturas positivas foram o Staphylococcus coagulase negativos (SCN), principalmente o S. epidermides. Dentre as bactérias de importância a saúde pública, a de maior incidência foi Streptococcus pneumoniae (sorotipo 3 e 19A), acometendo principalmente indivíduos do sexo masculino e as faixas etárias abaixo de 60 anos, não havendo distinção considerável entre crianças, adolescentes e adultos, seguido de Neisseria meningitides (sorogrupo C) e Haemophilus influenzae (sorotipo b); a maioria dos sorotipos de S. pneumoniae apresentaram susceptibilidade aos antimicrobianos, exceto sorotipo 19A, que apresentou multirresistência. Assim, o principal agente etiológico da meningite bacteriana no estado do Tocantins, de importância a saúde pública, no período estudado foi o Streptococcus pneumoniae, porém devido à baixa positividade de culturas e isolamento desses agentes, é necessário que haja melhorias no diagnóstico laboratorial dessa doença desde o ato da punção, para minimizar o crescimento de bactérias da microbiota, à liberação de resultados, inclusive introdução de novas tecnologias, como a reação em cadeia da polimerase (PCR), que poderá diminuir o tempo de resposta do resultado e aumentar o conhecimento da etiologia deste agravo, devido sofrer menos influência em relação a qualidade de amostra e tempo de processamento. / The bacterial meningitis is still a public health problem in Brazil, studying it in all its aspects causes that the chances of interventions can be discovered in order to reduce their high mortality rates and sequelae among people affected. The present study aimed to characterize the etiological profile of bacterial meningitis in the state of Tocantins, from 2010 to 2017, through a retrospective cross-sectional study of a quantitative nature, based on data from the Central Laboratory of Public Health of the State of Tocantins (LACEN-TO), in relation to cerebrospinal fluid cultures (CSF) for the laboratory diagnosis of bacterial meningitis. This study found that 2041 cultures of CSF and low microbiological growth were performed among them. The bacterial group with the highest growth among the positive cultures were coagulase negative Staphylococcus (SCN), mainly S. epidermides. Among the bacteria of public health importance, Streptococcus pneumoniae (serotype 3 and 19A) was the most prevalent, affecting mainly male individuals and the age groups below 60 years, with no significant distinction among children, adolescents and adults, followed Neisseria meningitides (serogroup C) and Haemophilus influenzae (serotype b); the majority of serotypes of S. pneumoniae showed antimicrobial susceptibility, except for serotype 19A, which presented multiresistance. Thus, the main etiological agent of bacterial meningitis in the State of Tocantins, of importance to public health, during the period studied was Streptococcus pneumoniae, but due to the low positivity of cultures and isolation of these agents, it is necessary to have improvements in the laboratory diagnosis of this disease since the puncture act to minimize the growth of bacteria in the microbiota, the release of results, including introduction of new technologies, such as polymerase chain reaction (PCR), which may decrease the response time of the result and increase knowledge of the etiology of this less influence on sample quality and processing time.

Amyloidogenic neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Parkinson's disease (PD) are an important health issue. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms of the disease-related protein aggregates, that are present in humans, are only understood partially. I have used and developed biophysical methods to study the structural and biological properties of individual aggregates of Amyloid β peptide and α-Synuclein, proteins whose aggregation is associated with the development of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease respectively. I expanded the single aggregate visualisation through enhancement (SAVE) technique, which is a method based on the fluorescent dye Thioflavin T (ThT) that reversibly bind to the aggregates and whose fluorescence increases upon binding. I firstly explored the use of other dyes for these experiments and found that a ThT dimer has higher affinity to α-Synuclein aggregates in vitro. I then applied the SAVE method to the cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) of a cohort of AD patients and control CSF and observed no clear difference in aggregate number. However, these experiments provided insights into how antibodies bind the aggregates in human CSF. I could show, that despite altering the Ca2+ influx into both cells and vesicles, the antibody did not measurably affect the aggregate structure. To study the size specific effects of the Amyloid β 42 (Aβ42) peptide in more detail, I used and optimised gradient ultracentrifugation combined with single aggregate imaging to study the structural properties of the isolated aggregates. This aggregation kinetic independent method allowed me to compare the properties of fluorescently labelled and unlabelled Aβ42 and characterize the size dependent properties of aggregates in a single experiment. Since I could measure the relative concentration of different size aggregates it was also possible to compare the properties of single aggregates of different sizes. I then used biological assays to examine the ability of aggregates to permeabilise membranes resulting in the entry of calcium ions, and their ability to induce TNFα production in microglia cells. Both processes are thought to play key roles in the development of AD. I found that small soluble oligomers are most potent at inducing Ca2+ influx, whereas longer protofilaments are the most potent inducers of TNFα production. My results suggest that the mechanism by which aggregates damage cells changes as aggregation proceeds, as longer aggregates with different structures are formed. Protofilaments with a diameter of 1 nm or less have a structure that could make them particularly potent at causing the signalling of toll-like receptors, providing a molecular basis for their ability to induce TNFα production.

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No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertação - Nadja Pinto Garcia.pdf: 2876829 bytes, checksum: 836b1ac1a926c0202497b6aaef613039 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011-11-24 / CAPES - Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / The mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have regenerative potential by its plasticity and ability to modulate the immune response with immunossupressive effects and secretion of a broadspectrum cytokines. The G-CSF is a potent cell growth factor and has the ability to mobilize SCs into peripheral blood. The aim of this study was to evaluated the influence of different doses of G-CSF on the kinetics at HSC and MSCs mobilization into peripheral blood and the G-CSF effect on the cytokine profile produced by these cells in vitro. We used six groups of 12 female Swiss mice, control group and five doses groups 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 of G-CSF. The HSCs and MSCs mobilized were identified using cell markers performed by flow cytometry. The peripheral blood (PB) and bone marrow (BM) samples were used of each group to obtain the HSCs and MSCs, which were cultivated in vitro. Cytokines were measured in supernatants of PB and BM cultures by Cytometric Bead Array (CBA). The MSCs mobilized peak occurred with 4 doses of G-CSF in BM and 5 doses in PB. The HSC peaked occurred with 2 doses of G-CSF in BM and 4 doses in PB. There was a greater mobilization of MSCs than HSC, but that reason MSC/HSC was even greater in BM. The BM Cultures doses 3, 4 and 5 of G-CSF showed fibroblastoid adherent cells while in the PB cultures it was in cultures doses 2 and 3 doses of G-CSF. There was an increased production of IL-6, TNF-α in early cultivation of the SCs both BM and PB. The IFN-γ was increased in the initial phase, but peaked at the end of cultivation. The IL-2, IL-4, IL-17A and IL-10 cytokines had similar behavior reaching peak concentration in the late stage of cultivation. In the analysis of high frequency of cytokine producers for each dose of G-CSF in vivo, we observed same behavior cytokine in BM and PB cultures. Most of the cytokines produced in both BM and PB cultures of five doses showed significant differences about lower doses of G-CSF. This study suggested a possible influence of G-CSF to mobilize cells, as is known, but also in the production of several inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines and possibly stimulate and modulate the differentiation of MSCs. / As células-tronco mesenquimais (CTM) apresentam potencial regenerativo não somente pela sua plasticidade, mas também pela sua capacidade de modular a resposta imunológica com efeitos imunossupressores e secreção de um largo espectro citocinas. O G-CSF é um potente fator de crescimento celular e tem a capacidade de mobilizar as CTs para o sangue periférico permitindo fácil obtenção destas células. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a influência de diferentes doses de G-CSF na cinética de mobilização das CTHs e CTMs para o sangue periférico e no perfil de citocinas produzidas in vitro por essas células. Foram utilizados 6 grupos com 12 camundongos fêmeas Swiss, grupo controle e 5 grupos de doses 1, 2, 3, 4 e 5 de G-CSF. As CTHs e CTMs mobilizadas foram identificadas por meio de marcadores celulares específicos por citometria de fluxo. As amostras de CTHs e CTMs, de sangue periférico (SP) e medula óssea (MO) foram cultivadas in vitro e as citocinas foram dosadas nos sobrenadantes destas culturas pela técnica de Cytometric Bead Array (CBA). O pico de CTMs mobilizadas ocorreu com 4 doses na MO e com 5 doses de G-CSF no SP. As CTHs atingiram o pico com 2 doses de G-CSF na MO e com 4 doses no SP. Houve uma maior mobilização de CTMs do que CTHs, porém essa razão CTM/CTH ainda foi maior na MO. As culturas de MO das doses 3, 4 e 5 de G-CSF apresentaram células aderentes fibroblastóides, enquanto que foram observadas nas culturas de sangue de 2 e 3 doses de G-CSF. Houve uma maior produção das citocinas IL-6, TNF-α na fase inicial do cultivo das CTs, tanto MO quanto SP. O IFN-γ apresentou-se elevado na fase inicial, porém atingiu um pico no final do cultivo. As citocinas IL-2, IL-4, IL-17A e IL-10 tiveram um comportamento semelhante atingindo pico de concentração na fase tardia do cultivo. Na análise da frequência de altos produtores de citocinas para cada dose administrada de G-CSF in vivo, observou-se um comportamento semellhante das citocinas das culturas de MO e SP. A maioria das citocinas produzidas nas culturas de 5 doses tanto de MO quanto de SP apresentaram diferença significativa com relação a doses inferiores de G-CSF. Esse estudo sugeriu uma possível influência do G-CSF não somente na mobilização, como já é conhecido, mas também na produção de várias citocinas inflamatórias e anti-inflamatótrias, podendo possivelmente atuar no estímulo da diferenciação e modulação das CTMs.