<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Barefoot running is growing in popularity as runners seek strategies to avoid running-related injuries (RRIs). A new theoretical perspective suggests that the improved cutaneous sensation during barefoot running results in a less injurious running style characterized by increased cadence, landing on the forefoot and more knee flexion. The mechanisms by which the barefoot running style may have an effect on RRIs are not well understood.</p> <p><strong>Purpose: </strong>Explore the new theoretical perspective on RRIs that supports the barefoot running style and investigate the effects of modified cutaneous sensation on the adaptation to and retention of the barefoot running style.</p> <p><strong>Methods: </strong>First, a scoping review was performed to identify implicit theory underlying both traditional shod and barefoot running research and practice. Second, a feasibility study investigated altered cutaneous sensation as a proposed mechanism by which a person learns and retains the skill of barefoot running. Sixteen participants ran shod on a treadmill then were randomized to receive one of four cutaneous sensation treatments. They then ran barefoot for the first time and 48 hours later. Changes in the cadences, foot angles and knee angles means and variations across runs and treatment groups were used to quantify learning and retention.</p> <p><strong>Results:</strong> The scoping review provided evidence that improved plantar cutaneous sensation, such as when one runs barefoot, could reduce the risk of RRIs. In the feasibility study, our findings suggest that barefoot compared to shod running increased plantar cutaneous sensory thresholds, and increased mean cadence and mean foot angle. Improved retention of the barefoot running style was shown in the treatment group with anaesthetic cream on their legs.</p> <p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>Plantar cutaneous sensation is proposed as an important factor when exploring the etiology of RRIs. This knowledge may influence an individual’s risk of experiencing a running-related injury.</p> / Master of Science Rehabilitation Science (MSc)

No / Neuroimmune dysregulation characterizes atopic disease, but its nature and clinical impact remain ill-defined. Induced by stress, the neurotrophin nerve growth factor (NGF) may worsen cutaneous inflammation. We therefore studied the role of NGF in the cutaneous stress response in a mouse model for atopic dermatitis–like allergic dermatitis (AlD). Combining several methods, we found that stress increased cutaneous but not serum or hypothalamic NGF in telogen mice. Microarray analysis showed increased mRNAs of inflammatory and growth factors associated with NGF in the skin. In stress-worsened AlD, NGF-neutralizing antibodies markedly reduced epidermal thickening together with NGF, neurotrophin receptor (tyrosine kinase A and p75 neurotrophin receptor), and transforming growth factor-β expression by keratinocytes but did not alter transepidermal water loss. Moreover, NGF expression by mast cells was reduced; this corresponded to reduced cutaneous tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) mRNA levels but not to changes in mast cell degranulation or in the T helper type 1 (Th1)/Th2 cytokine balance. Also, eosinophils expressed TNF receptor type 2, and we observed reduced eosinophil infiltration after treatment with NGF-neutralizing antibodies. We thus conclude that NGF acts as a local stress mediator in perceived stress and allergy and that increased NGF message contributes to worsening of cutaneous inflammation mainly by enhancing epidermal hyperplasia, pro-allergic cytokine induction, and allergy-characteristic cellular infiltration.

Uveal melanoma (UM) is the most common primary cancer of the eye and its prognosis is strongly influenced by the occurrence of metastases, which are both rapidly developing and mostly fatal. The most frequent driver mutations occur in a small number of genes including GNAQ, GNA11, BAP1, CYSLTR2 and SF3B1. Due to a lack of suitable animal models, the mechanism through which mutations in these genes cause or cooperate in UM initiation and progression is still largely unknown. We aimed at generating transgenic strains expressing the human mutant proteins in zebrafish uveal melanocytes, using the kita promoter. We used the binary Gal4/UAS system to express the mutant genes mentioned above. Moreover, we performed xenotransplantation experiments with uveal melanoma human and zebrafish cell lines in optically-clear, immunocompromised, zebrafish larvae. Transplanted fish developed melanoma near the site of transplantation in two weeks and showed metastatic growth within one month of age. This approach could be used for short-term assays in larvae, and be further developed for long-term uveal melanoma studies. In parallel, we performed a chemical screen using a transgenic model previously generated in our laboratory, where oncogenic RAS is expressed under the kita promoter. As adults transgenic kita:RAS develop cutaneous melanoma with high frequency and uveal melanoma with a much lower percentage. Larvae showed an increased number of melanocytes already at 3 days post fertilization (dpf) as the earliest evidence of abnormal melanocyte growth. Using this model we performed a chemical screen based on automated detection of a reduction of melanocytes number caused by any of the 1280 FDA or EMA approved drugs of the Prestwick library. The analysis showed that 55 molecules were able to reduce by 60% or more the number of melanocytes per embryo. We identified clotrimazole, as the best candidate. The molecule is an azole derivative acting on the energetic metabolism of melanoma cells. We further tested two compounds for each of the 5 pharmacological classes, and a farnesyltransferase inhibitor (lonafarnib), that inhibits an essential post-translational modification of HRAS and suppresses the hyperpigmentation phenotype. Combinations of clotrimazole and lonafarnib showed the most promising results in zebrafish embryos, allowing a dose reduction of both drugs. We performed validation of these observations in the metastatic human melanoma cell line A375M, and in normal human epithelial melanocytes (NHEM) as control cells, in order to investigate the mechanism of action of clotrimazole in blocking the proliferation of transformed melanocytes. Viability assay and analysis of energy metabolism in clotrimazole treated cells show that this drug specifically affects melanoma cells in vitro and transformed melanocytes in vivo, having no effects on NHEM or wild type larvae. Similar effects were observed with another hit of the antifungal class, miconazole. Furthermore, we show that the effects of clotrimazole are mediated by the inhibition of hexokinase activity and suggest further testing of clotrimazole in combinatorial treatments. In conclusion, this thesis investigated different possibilities of modeling the rare cancer uveal melanoma in zebrafish, using both transgenic and transplantation approaches, and developed a pipeline for a high-throughput, semi-automated chemical screen in a zebrafish melanoma that identified clotrimazole and miconazole as targeting a metabolic vulnerability in melanoma cells.

A caracterização de sequências codificadoras presentes nas vizinhanças do gene META 1 permitiu a identificação de alguns genes expressos preferencialmente em estágios infectivos de L. (L.) amazonensis. Um dos genes presentes é regulado de forma distinta, observando-se maior abundância do RNA em formas amastigotas. Este gene foi denominado LaLRR17 por codificar uma proteína contendo em sua região central 6 repetições ricas em leucina (LRR). As LRR são motivos presentes em diversas famílias de proteínas e são responsáveis pela formação de uma estrutura capaz de estabelecer interações protéicas. A região central da proteína LRR17 apresentou similaridade com a porção carboxi-terminal da proteína NOD 3 humana. A proteína LRR17 foi localizada no citosol de macrófagos infectados com L. (L.) amazonensis. Para caracterizar a função da proteína LRR17 foram obtidas linhagens de L. (L.) amazonensis expressoras do gene LmjLRR17. Essas linhagens mutantes foram mais infectivas em macrófagos in vitro quando comparadas com a linhagem selvagem. Avaliamos também o papel das proteínas NOD 1 e NOD 2 na infecção por L. (L.) amazonensis e L. (L.) major para estabelecer a possível relação da proteína LRR17 na interação com essas vias de defesa celular do macrófago. / The characterization of coding sequences in the vicinity of the META 1 gene allowed the identification of some genes preferentially expressed in L. (L.) amazonensis infective stages. One of the identified transcripts presents a distinct pattern of expression with higher levels of mRNA in amastigotes. This gene was named LaLRR17 since it encodes a 72 kDa protein with 6 leucine-rich repeats (LRR) in its central region. Leucine-rich repeats (LRR) are present in several families of proteins and are responsible for the formation of a structure capable of establishing protein interactions. The central region of the LRR17 protein showed similarity with the carboxyl-terminal portion of the NOD 3 human protein. The LaLRR17 protein is secreted to the cytoplasm of L. (L.) amazonensis-infected macrophages. To characterize the function of the LRR17 protein we obtained strains of L. (L.) amazonensis expressing the LmjLRR17 gene. These mutant strains were more infective to macrophages in vitro when compared with the wild type strain. We also evaluated the role of NOD 1 and NOD 2 proteins in infections with L. (L.) amazonensis and L. (L.) major to investigate a possible role of the LRR17 protein in the interaction with these defense pathways in macrophages.

A caracterização de sequências codificadoras presentes nas vizinhanças do gene META 1 permitiu a identificação de alguns genes expressos preferencialmente em estágios infectivos de L. (L.) amazonensis. Um dos genes presentes é regulado de forma distinta, observando-se maior abundância do RNA em formas amastigotas. Este gene foi denominado LaLRR17 por codificar uma proteína contendo em sua região central 6 repetições ricas em leucina (LRR). As LRR são motivos presentes em diversas famílias de proteínas e são responsáveis pela formação de uma estrutura capaz de estabelecer interações protéicas. A região central da proteína LRR17 apresentou similaridade com a porção carboxi-terminal da proteína NOD 3 humana. A proteína LRR17 foi localizada no citosol de macrófagos infectados com L. (L.) amazonensis. Para caracterizar a função da proteína LRR17 foram obtidas linhagens de L. (L.) amazonensis expressoras do gene LmjLRR17. Essas linhagens mutantes foram mais infectivas em macrófagos in vitro quando comparadas com a linhagem selvagem. Avaliamos também o papel das proteínas NOD 1 e NOD 2 na infecção por L. (L.) amazonensis e L. (L.) major para estabelecer a possível relação da proteína LRR17 na interação com essas vias de defesa celular do macrófago. / The characterization of coding sequences in the vicinity of the META 1 gene allowed the identification of some genes preferentially expressed in L. (L.) amazonensis infective stages. One of the identified transcripts presents a distinct pattern of expression with higher levels of mRNA in amastigotes. This gene was named LaLRR17 since it encodes a 72 kDa protein with 6 leucine-rich repeats (LRR) in its central region. Leucine-rich repeats (LRR) are present in several families of proteins and are responsible for the formation of a structure capable of establishing protein interactions. The central region of the LRR17 protein showed similarity with the carboxyl-terminal portion of the NOD 3 human protein. The LaLRR17 protein is secreted to the cytoplasm of L. (L.) amazonensis-infected macrophages. To characterize the function of the LRR17 protein we obtained strains of L. (L.) amazonensis expressing the LmjLRR17 gene. These mutant strains were more infective to macrophages in vitro when compared with the wild type strain. We also evaluated the role of NOD 1 and NOD 2 proteins in infections with L. (L.) amazonensis and L. (L.) major to investigate a possible role of the LRR17 protein in the interaction with these defense pathways in macrophages.

Submitted by Luciana Ferreira (lucgeral@gmail.com) on 2017-12-06T14:11:10Z No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertação - Ana Carolina Naves de Castro Rocha - 2017.pdf: 1758790 bytes, checksum: 97bce7148c03e60203e44acbb4531226 (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Luciana Ferreira (lucgeral@gmail.com) on 2017-12-06T14:11:41Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertação - Ana Carolina Naves de Castro Rocha - 2017.pdf: 1758790 bytes, checksum: 97bce7148c03e60203e44acbb4531226 (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-12-06T14:11:41Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertação - Ana Carolina Naves de Castro Rocha - 2017.pdf: 1758790 bytes, checksum: 97bce7148c03e60203e44acbb4531226 (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-08-17 / Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune, systemic, chronic inflammatory disease. The ACR (American College of Rheumatology) considers 4 skin findings as attributes for classifying SLE, while the Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics (SLICC) has added new cutaneous lesions as classification criteria. The purpose of the present study is to quantify cutaneous lesions in SLE and associate them with other disease elements (demographics, ANA antibodies, extracutaneous lesions and disease activity) in patients treated at a renowned reference hospital in Brazil’s center-west region. Methods: Patients diagnosed with SLE in the HC/FMUFG unit were selected, and 97 of them were enrolled. A clinical consultation, along with medical records, provided collected data. SLEDAI score was used for measuring disease activity. The skin findings were categorized in groups according to the SLICC´s critera. Association and descriptive analysis of the qualitative variables were used, using absolute (n) and relative (%) frequencies. Results: Subjects were 86 females and 11 males of mixed ethnicities. Among LE specific lesions, malar rash was predominant, accounting for 33 patients (32.98%). Photosensitivity was found in 30.92% of patients, equivalent of Subacute Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus (SCLE), discoid lesions in 9.27%, whilst lupus panniculitis comprised 3.9%. Hypertrophic and chilblain lupus represented both 2.06%. We found 72.16% patients with active disease and 81.4% with positive ANA. Conclusions: At least one skin lesion was present in 60,8% of the patients. In this Brazilian population, malar rash remains the main presentation of skin lesions in SLE, followed by SCLE and photosensitivity. We found no important association among skin lesions and SLEDAI score, ethnicity, age or gender. ANA antibodies was associated with alopecia (both cicatricial and non-cicatricial). Further studies are necessary in order to establish precise disease activity correlation and guided prognosis through skin findings. A deeper understanding of cutaneous lesions in SLE may provide a better disease management. / O Lúpus Eritematoso Sistêmico (LES) é uma doença inflamatória crônica, autoimune. Cerca de 80% dos pacientes apresentam lesão cutânea. O American College of Rheumatology (ACR) atribui às lesões cutâneas quatro de seus 11 critérios de classificação, enquanto o Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics (SLICC) inclui mais lesões cutâneas em sua classificação. A proposta do presente estudo é descrever e quantificar as lesões cutâneas no LES e associá-las a fatores demográficos e clínico-sorológicos, como: Fator Antinuclear (FAN), atividade da doença (segundo o SLEDAI), manifestações extra-cutâneas. Metodologia: 97 pacientes acima de 18 anos, diagnosticados com LES, fizeram parte deste estudo. Dados foram obtidos da consulta, juntamente com prontuários. As lesões descritas foram agrupadas conforme os critérios SLICC, para as associações. Uma análise descritiva e associações das variáveis foi utilizada, a partir de frequências absoluta (n) e relativa (%). Resultados: Foram analisados 86 indivíduos do gênero feminino, e 11 do masculino, de diferentes etnias. O eritema malar foi a lesão predominante (32,98%). A fotossensibilidade foi encontrada em 30,92%, assim como o Lúpus Eritematoso Cutâneo Subagudo (LECS), e o lúpus discoide em 9,27%. A paniculite ocorreu em 3,9% dos casos. O lúpus hipertrófico e o lúpus pérnio ocorreram em 2,06% dos pacientes. Houve 72,16% de pacientes com doença ativa e 81,4% com FAN positivo. Não foram encontradas associações entre as lesões cutâneas e fatores demográficos, tampouco com atividade da doença ou manifestações clínicas principais. Conclusão: Dentre os pacientes estudados, 60,8% apresentavam ao menos uma lesão cutânea. Apenas a alopecia (todos os tipos) se associou ao gênero feminino. Não houve relevância nas comparações com nenhum outro dado demográfico. Não houve associação da presença do FAN com as lesões cutâneas. Não houve relevância na comparação de lesões cutâneas com outras manifestações, inclusive atividade da doença. São necessários novos estudos para se estabelecer relações entre as lesões cutâneas, atividade da doença, e previsão prognóstica. A compreensão das lesões cutâneas no LES pode trazer luz para uma melhor conduta terapêutica na doenç

Leishmania (Leishmania) amazonenses está associada à leishmaniose cutânea difusa (DCL) e localizada (LCL). LCL se apresenta como uma lesão única com cura espontânea e DCL apresenta nódulos não ulcerativos que se espalham pela pele. Até o momento não se conhecem os fatores que influenciam na apresentação destas manifestações. A virulência do parasito tem sido associada com a capacidade de sobreviver no macrófago ativado. CD200 é uma glicoproteína reguladora que ativa o CD200R, gerando a inibição da resposta próinflamatória do macrófago. Recentemente foi demonstrado que no processo de infecção por L. (L.) amazonenses, há indução de CD200 no começo da infecção, aumentando a supervivência do parasito. O objetivo principal foi determinar a associação da expressão de CD200 na infecção de macrófagos com isolados de L. (L.) amazonenses associados à LCL ou DCL. Observamos que o aumento da expressão da proteína nos tempos avançados de infecção está relacionado com um aumento na infectividade dos isolados e um maior número de parasitos por célula infectada. / Leishmania (Leishmania) amazonenses is one of the etiologic agents of two forms of leishmaniasis: diffuse (DCL) and localized (LCL) cutaneous leishmaniasis. LCL is presents a unique ulcerated lesion and DCL multiple non-ulcerative nodules. Until now, it is not well known which factors influence the development of LCL or DCL. The parasites virulence has been associated with the ability to survive inside the activated macrophage. CD200 is a glycoprotein that interacts with CD200R inhibiting the proinflammatory response of the cell. Recently it was revealed during the infection process in macrophages L. (L.) amazonenses enhances CD200 expression in the early stages of infection resulting in the intracellular survival of amastigotes. The aim of this study was to determine the association between the induction of CD200 during infection with L. (L.) amazonenses isolates associated with LCL or DCL. An increase in CD200 expression was noteworthy in the late stages of infection, which was also related to a higher infectivity rate of L. (L.) amazonenses isolates.

De 12 casos de leishmaniose tegumentar (LT) em AIDS, em São Paulo, sete do levantamento retrospectivo (1990 a 2001) e cinco do prospectivo (2001 a 2004), com contato prévio com área endêmica para leishmanioses, 50% eram usuários de drogas injetáveis (1990-2001). Apresentavam média de linfócitos T CD4+ de 77 células/mm3, um era C2 e 11, C3 (classificação de HIV, segundo CDC) e 70% tinha sorologia positiva para leishmanioses. As manifestações de LT em mucosa e pele eram diversificadas: úlcera única ou lesões múltiplas e polimórficas ou disseminadas, incluindo comprometimento genital em 4 casos. Todos receberam tratamento específico para leishmaniose e 50%, HAART. 50% recidivaram e 50% foram a óbito no período, independentemente do uso do HAART / From 12 cases of tegumentary leishmaniasis (TL) in AIDS, from São Paulo, seven from retrospective (1990 a 2001) and five from prospective studies (2001 a 2004), with previous contact with endemic areas for leishmaniasis, 50% were endovenous drug users (1990-2001). Presenting mean 77 CD4+ T cells/mm3, one was C2 and 11 were C3 (HIV classification, according to CDC) and 70% had positive serology for leishmaniasis. Presentation of TL in the skin and mucosa were diversified: single or multiple ulcers and polymorphic or disseminated lesions, including lesions in genital area in 4 cases. All were treated with anti-leishmanial drugs and 50% with HAART. 50% presented relapse and 50% died during follow up period, independently of use of HAART

Leishmania (Leishmania) amazonenses está associada à leishmaniose cutânea difusa (DCL) e localizada (LCL). LCL se apresenta como uma lesão única com cura espontânea e DCL apresenta nódulos não ulcerativos que se espalham pela pele. Até o momento não se conhecem os fatores que influenciam na apresentação destas manifestações. A virulência do parasito tem sido associada com a capacidade de sobreviver no macrófago ativado. CD200 é uma glicoproteína reguladora que ativa o CD200R, gerando a inibição da resposta próinflamatória do macrófago. Recentemente foi demonstrado que no processo de infecção por L. (L.) amazonenses, há indução de CD200 no começo da infecção, aumentando a supervivência do parasito. O objetivo principal foi determinar a associação da expressão de CD200 na infecção de macrófagos com isolados de L. (L.) amazonenses associados à LCL ou DCL. Observamos que o aumento da expressão da proteína nos tempos avançados de infecção está relacionado com um aumento na infectividade dos isolados e um maior número de parasitos por célula infectada. / Leishmania (Leishmania) amazonenses is one of the etiologic agents of two forms of leishmaniasis: diffuse (DCL) and localized (LCL) cutaneous leishmaniasis. LCL is presents a unique ulcerated lesion and DCL multiple non-ulcerative nodules. Until now, it is not well known which factors influence the development of LCL or DCL. The parasites virulence has been associated with the ability to survive inside the activated macrophage. CD200 is a glycoprotein that interacts with CD200R inhibiting the proinflammatory response of the cell. Recently it was revealed during the infection process in macrophages L. (L.) amazonenses enhances CD200 expression in the early stages of infection resulting in the intracellular survival of amastigotes. The aim of this study was to determine the association between the induction of CD200 during infection with L. (L.) amazonenses isolates associated with LCL or DCL. An increase in CD200 expression was noteworthy in the late stages of infection, which was also related to a higher infectivity rate of L. (L.) amazonenses isolates.

De 12 casos de leishmaniose tegumentar (LT) em AIDS, em São Paulo, sete do levantamento retrospectivo (1990 a 2001) e cinco do prospectivo (2001 a 2004), com contato prévio com área endêmica para leishmanioses, 50% eram usuários de drogas injetáveis (1990-2001). Apresentavam média de linfócitos T CD4+ de 77 células/mm3, um era C2 e 11, C3 (classificação de HIV, segundo CDC) e 70% tinha sorologia positiva para leishmanioses. As manifestações de LT em mucosa e pele eram diversificadas: úlcera única ou lesões múltiplas e polimórficas ou disseminadas, incluindo comprometimento genital em 4 casos. Todos receberam tratamento específico para leishmaniose e 50%, HAART. 50% recidivaram e 50% foram a óbito no período, independentemente do uso do HAART / From 12 cases of tegumentary leishmaniasis (TL) in AIDS, from São Paulo, seven from retrospective (1990 a 2001) and five from prospective studies (2001 a 2004), with previous contact with endemic areas for leishmaniasis, 50% were endovenous drug users (1990-2001). Presenting mean 77 CD4+ T cells/mm3, one was C2 and 11 were C3 (HIV classification, according to CDC) and 70% had positive serology for leishmaniasis. Presentation of TL in the skin and mucosa were diversified: single or multiple ulcers and polymorphic or disseminated lesions, including lesions in genital area in 4 cases. All were treated with anti-leishmanial drugs and 50% with HAART. 50% presented relapse and 50% died during follow up period, independently of use of HAART