Introduction: Tobacco dependence is a chronic disorder that carries the risk of relapse at any time point during abstinence. It is a major health issue in the world and current pharmacotherapies have had limited efficacy. Therefore, development and validation of novel treatments are required. Objective: Investigate the novel neutral cannabinoid-1 receptor antagonist AM4113 on nicotine (main psychoactive ingredient in tobacco)-taking behaviour in animals. Methods: Using the nicotine intravenous- and food control- self administration paradigms, we tested the acute and chronic (10-days) effects of AM4113 on nicotine- and food-taking behaviour. Results: Acute AM4113 treatments (1-, 3-, 10-mg/kg) reduced nicotine self administration. Chronic AM4113 administration (10mg/kg) produced a sustained reduction of nicotine-taking behaviour during the course of the treatment. In the similar food control self administration experiments, AM4113 overall produced no effect. Conclusion: AM4113 can attenuate nicotine-taking behaviour and its effect is sustained under chronic treatment.

Introduction: Tobacco dependence is a chronic disorder that carries the risk of relapse at any time point during abstinence. It is a major health issue in the world and current pharmacotherapies have had limited efficacy. Therefore, development and validation of novel treatments are required. Objective: Investigate the novel neutral cannabinoid-1 receptor antagonist AM4113 on nicotine (main psychoactive ingredient in tobacco)-taking behaviour in animals. Methods: Using the nicotine intravenous- and food control- self administration paradigms, we tested the acute and chronic (10-days) effects of AM4113 on nicotine- and food-taking behaviour. Results: Acute AM4113 treatments (1-, 3-, 10-mg/kg) reduced nicotine self administration. Chronic AM4113 administration (10mg/kg) produced a sustained reduction of nicotine-taking behaviour during the course of the treatment. In the similar food control self administration experiments, AM4113 overall produced no effect. Conclusion: AM4113 can attenuate nicotine-taking behaviour and its effect is sustained under chronic treatment.

The inability to tan properly after sun exposure strongly correlates with increased incidence of skin cancer. The melanocortin 1 receptor (MC1R) is a transmembrane Gs-coupled cell surface receptor found on epidermal melanocytes that transmits pro-survival and pro-differentiation signals mediated by the second messenger cAMP. Humans carrying loss-of-function polymorphisms in MC1R signaling exhibit higher incidences of skin cancers including melanoma. This study focused on the physiologic effects of topical application of forskolin, an adenylate cyclase activator, in extension (Mc1re/e) K14-SCF animals, which model the fair-skinned UV-sensitive human. Twice daily application of the drug promoted accelerated pigmentation, increased skin darkening due to epidermal deposition of melanin pigment, and induced epidermal melanin, which protected the skin against UV injury as judged by “minimal erythematous dose” (MED). Moreover, MC1R signaling regulated the expression of antioxidant enzymes at the transcriptional level. The human melanoma cell line A375, known to harbor a loss-of-function signaling mutation in MC1R, was used to determine effects of cAMP stimulation on the expression of antioxidant enzymes. We observed increases in expression of genes that control the biosynthesis and regulation of glutathione including the transcription factor nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2 (Nrf2), glutathione peroxidase, GPX, and glutathione reductase GSR. In addition, there is an increase in manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) at the protein level. There was accumulation of MnSOD in the mitochondria after pharmacologic induction of cAMP with forskolin. Addition of the oxidative agent H2O2 enhanced the expression of MnSOD at the protein level as early as one hour after MC1R stimulation. Oxygen consumption rate on mitochondria was measured using Seahorse analysis; pharmacologic activation of MC1R/cAMP signaling did not affect mitochondrial metabolism. In addition, topical application of a crude extract of Solidago inhibited UV-induced inflammation in K14-SCF mice. Several UV-induced cytokines, including TNF-α, were down-regulated at the transcriptional level after topical application of Solidago extract. Together, these results indicate that MC1R signaling protects melanocytes from UV damage by regulating antioxidant enzyme expression and suggest that pharmacologic cAMP induction may be a useful preventive mechanism against UV-mediated skin sunburn and oxidative injury.

The melanocortin-1 receptor (MC1R) is a G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR) expressed on the surface of the melanocyte. MC1R activation after UV exposure results in the production of the dark eumelanin pigment and the tanning process in humans, providing protection from UV induced DNA damage. MC1R activation has also recently been linked to DNA repair. The MC1R gene is highly polymorphic in Caucasian populations with a number of MC1R variant alleles associated with red hair, fair skin, poor tanning and increased risk of melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancer. These MC1R variant receptors were thought to be loss of function, however the type of defect and the extent of the loss of function for individual variants was relatively unknown before the commencement of this PhD project. Many GPCR mutant proteins are intracellularly retained, resulting in a loss of signalling ability. To determine if this was the case for MC1R variant receptors, the localisation of the wild type and variant MC1R protein was investigated using immunofluorescence and radio-ligand binding on transfected melanocytic cells as well as primary melanocyte strains. For the first time, several MC1R variants including V60L, R151C, I155T, R160W and R163Q, were shown to have reduced cell surface expression compared to wild type MC1R. cAMP assays were used to determine the signalling ability of activated wild type and variant MC1R, importantly, variant receptors with reduced cell surface expression showed corresponding impairment in cAMP signalling. In contrast, the R142H and D294H variants, which have normal cell surface expression but significantly impaired cAMP signalling, are thought to have a defect in G-protein coupling. Some MC1R variants were found to have dominant negative activity on the wild type receptor in co-expression studies, this result may explain the MC1R heterozygote effect on human pigmentation phenotypes. This dominant negative effect resulted in either reduced wild type cell surface expression or reduced G-protein coupling and may be mediated by receptor dimerisation. In order to validate the in vitro studies, comparison of variant receptor characteristics with skin and hair colour data of individuals both homozygous and heterozygous for MC1R variant alleles was performed. This revealed parallels between variant MC1R cell surface expression, functional ability, dominant negative activity and the strength of the effects of variant alleles on human pigmentation. From the in vitro functional studies, it was clear that most variant receptors retained some signaling ability, although the relative abilities varied. An important unanswered question in the literature was whether the phenotype of carriers of the high penetrance MC1R variant alleles was actually representative of complete loss of function for MC1R. Due to the rarity of MC1R null alleles they had only previously been found in the heterozygous state, however we described the phenotype of one individual compound heterozygous for two frameshift mutations resulting in an individual unable to produce any functional MC1R protein. Phenotypic analysis indicated that red hair and fair skin is found in the absence of MC1R. Finally, preliminary studies using low temperature, chemical or pharmacological chaperones indicated that the cell surface expression of some MC1R variants could be rescued in cell transfection experiments. This resulted in a restoration of signaling ability after stimulation with agonist. These studies into the localization and function of MC1R variants have contributed to a greater understanding of the molecular mechanism underlying the association of MC1R with skin cancer risk phenotypes, and may lead to future drug based therapies that are able to rescue the function of MC1R variants that are intracellularly retained.

Hypertension is a major health problem worldwide. In 1999-2000, 29% or 3.6 million Australians aged 25 yrs and over had high blood pressure (> 140 / 90 mmHg) or were on medication for the condition. It is estimated that about one billion of the world’s population has hypertension and that this will increase to 1.56 billion by 2025. Although antihypertensive drugs have been relatively successful in attenuating elevated blood pressure (BP) and in reducing adverse outcomes, control of BP depends on continuation of therapy. Drugs may have undesirable side effects which diminish compliance and BP may be resistant to treatment. Gene transfer approaches may potentially provide a tool to control BP. RNA interference (RNAi) is a new tool for the study of gene function, producing specific down regulation of protein expression. I tested the hypothesis that angiotensin II type 1 receptor (AT1R) inhibition using RNAi technology would result in sustained reduction of blood pressure in the spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR). To enable in vivo gene delivery into animal models of hypertension, I have developed small interfering RNA (siRNA) inhibition of AT1R mRNA delivered in a DNA plasmid (pPlasRi-AT1R). Transfection of the recombinant plasmid into a mammanlian cell line resulted in strong expression of the transgenes and a significant reduction in the level of AT1R expression. pPlasRi-AT1R plasmid DNA was intravenously injected into adult spontaneously hypertensive rats at 1.5mg/kg. Telemetric blood pressure transducers were implanted into eight month old male SHR for long-term recording of blood pressure. Twenty-four hour intra-arterial blood pressure was measured weekly. After a 2 week control period animals were injected via the tail vein with AT1R DNA plasmid (n=6), control plasmid containing green fluorescent protein (GFP, n=6) or saline (NaCl, n=6)) and followed for 8 weeks. Additional animals were treated with the DNA plasmid or saline and euthanized at 0, 1, 2, 4, 6 and 8 weeks for determination of tissue AT1R expression using RT-PCR. Aims: (i) To develop an accurate radio-telemetry BP recording method in the SHR, (ii) To design rational siRNA sequences and select of methods for effective silencing in vitro, (iii) To measure the expression of DNA delivered RNAi-AT1R plasmid in vitro and in vivo, and (iv) To determine the in vivo effect of systemic delivery of DNA AT1R plasmid on BP. Methods: Continuous 24 h arterial BP was recorded by radio-telemetry using Maclab hardware and a transducer fixed in the abdominal aorta connected to a transmitter in the abdominal cavity. Data was analyzed using software specifically written for the project. Reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to detect AT1R transcripts in various tissues following in vivo AT1R gene delivery. BP was monitored weekly for 8 weeks following 1.5 mg DNA delivered RNAi -AT1R plasmid delivery into 8-month-old SHR by tail vein injection. SHR injected with DNA enhanced green fluorescent protein (eGFP) plasmid or saline served as controls. Results: Weekly 24 h BP was successfully recorded for up to 10 weeks. Following transfection with DNA delivered RNAi -AT1R plasmid in vitro, expression of AT1R in transfected cells was determined by western blot, immunofluorescence and flow cytometry. Furthermore, RT-PCR was employed to confirm the AT1R mRNA levels. Following systemic delivery of RNAi-AT1R plasmid into middle-aged SHR, in animals injected with RNAi plasmid control blood pressure (150 +/- 1mmHg) was reduced 1week after injection (145 +/- 0.5 mm Hg, p<0.05) with maximal reduction 4 weeks after injection (127 +/- 1 mmHg, p<0.01). Blood pressure returned to control level by 8 weeks. There was no change in blood pressure in GFP plasmid or saline injected animals. Tissue expression of AT1R in heart, lung, kidney and liver was reduced following AT1R plasmid injection and was associated with reduction in pressure (r=0.99, p<0.05 for each tissue). There were no significant adverse clinical or biochemical effects. AT1R silencing resulted in significant blood pressure reduction in 8 month old male SHR for approximately 2 months. There was a significant decrease in endogenous AT1R gene expression in tissues as determined by RT-PCR. The results suggest that the systemic delivery of siRNA against AT1R mRNA by DNA-based plasmid vector may have potential for gene therapy of hypertension and that further studies with the plasmid packaged into a recombinant DNA vector for a long-lasting siRNA effect are warranted. RNAi technology with inhibition of AT1R offers a potential new paradigm for the management of high blood pressure. Conclusions: Transfection of cells with DNA delivered RNAi -AT1R plasmid resulted in detection of AT1R transcript in transfected cells confirming a silencing effect in vitro. Significant BP reduction was induced in a group of middle-aged SHR following systemic delivery of DNA plasmid incorporating the siRNA against the AT1R gene. This correlated with significant decrease of endogenous AT1R in various tissues which supported the role of the gene therapy approach in producing a reduction in BP. In summary, the thesis lays the foundation for DNA delivered RNAi mediated AT1R gene delivery as a therapeutic strategy for hypertension. Future work should consider the possible benefits of DNA vector driven AT1R shRNA plasmid containing a regulated tissue-selective promoter and explore approaches which might extend the time during which the hypotensive effect is present

Immunological stressors, in the form of clinical and sub-clinical disease are currently controlled using both prophylactic antibiotics in-feed, and therapeutic antibiotic treatment. Respiratory disease, primarily Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae (App) infection, is recognised as a major factor causing reduced productivity in pigs. This thesis reports investigations into the use of novel immunomodulators in particular Interleukin 4 (IL-4) and Interleukin 1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra) as alternatives to antibiotics to treat App infection. Immunological and molecular biological assays were used to investigate and accumulate data. An in vitro study undertaken to find potential anti-inflammatory substances, revealed that Interleukin 8 (IL-8) mRNA production stimulated by PMA or LPS in whole pigs' blood was suppressed by IL-4. IL-1ra also suppressed stimulated IL-8 mRNA production by heat killed App bacteria (KB) in vitro. An acute LPS challenge in pigs in vivo however, showed no variation in illness or weight loss between pigs treated prophylactically with anti-inflammatory substance (IL-4 and IL-1ra) and saline treated pigs. The use of plasmids as a delivery system for anti-inflammatory substance did not show promise since it did not enhance growth or prolong the expression of the substances in the pigs. However, in the chronic App challenge model IL-4 and IL-1ra administered prophylactically in vivo showed an ability to improve growth. The therapeutic administration of IL-4 and IL-1ra to App challenged pigs showed no difference in pigs' growth, regardless of the treatment or control administered. To conclude, IL-4 and IL-1ra showed promise when administered prophylactically and improved growth and abrogated disease under conditions of App challenge. However when IL-4 and IL-1ra where administered therapeutically they did not perform as well. Moreover these compounds have potential as a commercial application to reduce the growth reduction caused by disease such as App.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Virginia, 1999. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 171-256). Also available online through Digital Dissertations.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Cornell University, May, 2007. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references.

Introdução: A presença de anticorpos (Ac) anti-HLA específicos contra o doador representam um potencial risco para o desenvolvimento de rejeição do enxerto pulmonar. Apesar de existirem evidências sobre a importância de anticorpos anti-receptor de tipo 1 da angiotensina II (AT1R) para a sobrevida do enxerto a longo prazo em transplante de rim e coração, não existe qualquer informação da sua frequência e relação com bronquiolite obliterante no transplante de pulmão. Objetivos: Descrever a freqüência e o impacto da presença de Ac anti-AT1R para o desenvolvimento de bronquiolite obliterante (BO) após o transplante pulmonar. Pacientes e Métodos: Foram alocados 50 pacientes com mais de seis meses de transplante, em acompanhamento ambulatorial. Uma alíquota de soro pré-transplante e outra colhida no momento da alocação foram testadas para a presença de Ac anti-HLA e anti-MICA em plataforma Luminex® e anti-AT1R (AT1R) por ELISA,. O acompanhamento médio foi de 78,3 meses. Foram avaliadas as características e desfechos clínicos, bem como o tempo de sobrevida para o desenvolvimento de BO. Os pacientes que nunca desenvolveram anti-AT1R foram comparados com aqueles que tinham o Ac pré-formado ou que o desenvolveram após o transplante. Foi utilizada a curva de sobrevida de Kaplan-Meier, reverse censoring method, log-rank e regressão de Cox (anti-HLA, anti-MICA, infecção por CMV e rejeição aguda). Os resultados foram descritos como risco relativo (RR) e intervalos de confiança (IC) de 95%, sendo significativos os valores de P<0,05. Resultados: A prevalência de anti-AT1R pré-formado foi de 22% e de novo 15,3%. Não se demonstrou associação entre anti-AT1R e anti-HLA pré-formados (P=0,279;1,1[0,8 a 1,7]), com tendência de associação com anti-HLA positivo pós transplante (P=0,063;1,3[0,9 a 1,8]). Cinquenta por cento (4/8) dos receptores por bronquiolite viral tinham anti-AT1R pré-formado, comparados a 16,7% (7/42) dos transplantados por outra patologia (P=0,037; 1,7 [0,8 a 3,4]), sem associação com anti-HLA (P=0,716) e anti-MICA (P=0,659) pré-formados. Nenhum paciente com linfangioliomiomatose (LAM) apresentou anti-AT1R pré ou pós-transplante. O RR para o desenvolvimento de BO comparando-se pacientes com anti-AT1R àqueles que nunca manifestaram o Ac foi de 1,50 (0,72 a 3,14) [P = 0,282]. Conclusão: Há uma tendência mostrando a associação entre a presença de anti-AT1R e o desenvolvimento de BO após o transplante pulmonar. A doença pulmonar de base parece ter implicação no desenvolvimento de anti-AT1R, sendo a que bronquiolite obliterante viral mostra maior risco para seu aparecimento enquanto a LAM risco mínimo. / Introduction: The presence of specific anti-HLA antibodies (Ab) against organ donors represent a potential risk for the development of rejection in lung grafts. There are consistent evidences about the importance of the anti-receptor for angiotensin II type 1 (AT1R) for long-term graft survival in kidney and heart transplantation. However, there is no information about AT1R in lung transplantation and its relationship with bronchiolitis obliterans. Objectives: The aim of this study was to describe the frequency and impact of the presence of anti-Ac AT1R for the development of bronchiolitis obliterans (BO) after lung transplantation. Patients and Methods: We studied fifty patients after six months of transplantation. All patients had an aliquot of pre-transplantation serum and other sample at the time of their selection for the study. The serum was tested for the presence of Ab anti-HLA and anti-MICA in a Luminex platform® and anti-AT1R (AT1R) by ELISA,. The mean followup was 78.3 months. We analyzed the clinical characteristics and outcomes and also survival time for the development of BO. We compared the patients who never developed anti-AT1R with those who had the preformed antibody or developed it after transplantation. We applied the survival curve of Kaplan-Meier, reverse censoring method, log-rank and Cox regression (anti-HLA anti-MICA, CMV infection and acute rejection). The results were described as relative risk (RR) and confidence intervals (CI) of 95%, with significant P values <0.05. Results: The prevalence of preformed anti-AT1R was 22% and 15,3% de novo. There were no association between preformed anti-AT1R and anti-HLA (P = 0.279, 1.1 [0.8 to 1.7]), with a trend of association with positive anti-HLA post transplantation (P = 0.063; 1.3 [0.9 to 1.8]). Fifty percent (4/8) of the receptors for viral bronchiolitis (BOV) had preformed anti-AT1R, compared to 16.7% (7/42) of the all transplanted patientes for other diseases (P = 0.037, 1.7 [0 8 to 3.4]). There were no association with preformed anti-HLA (P = 0.716) and anti-MICA (P = 0.659). No patients with lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM) had anti-AT1R pre-or post-transplant. The relative risk for developing BO when comparing patients with anti-AT1R to those who never expressed antibodies was 1.50 (0.72 to 3.14) [P = 0.282]. Conclusion: There is a trend showing the association between the presence of anti-AT1R and developing BO after lung transplantation. The underlying lung disease seems to have implications in developing anti-AT1R, and viral bronchiolitis obliterans that shows higher risk for onset while LAM minimum risk.

Introdução: A presença de anticorpos (Ac) anti-HLA específicos contra o doador representam um potencial risco para o desenvolvimento de rejeição do enxerto pulmonar. Apesar de existirem evidências sobre a importância de anticorpos anti-receptor de tipo 1 da angiotensina II (AT1R) para a sobrevida do enxerto a longo prazo em transplante de rim e coração, não existe qualquer informação da sua frequência e relação com bronquiolite obliterante no transplante de pulmão. Objetivos: Descrever a freqüência e o impacto da presença de Ac anti-AT1R para o desenvolvimento de bronquiolite obliterante (BO) após o transplante pulmonar. Pacientes e Métodos: Foram alocados 50 pacientes com mais de seis meses de transplante, em acompanhamento ambulatorial. Uma alíquota de soro pré-transplante e outra colhida no momento da alocação foram testadas para a presença de Ac anti-HLA e anti-MICA em plataforma Luminex® e anti-AT1R (AT1R) por ELISA,. O acompanhamento médio foi de 78,3 meses. Foram avaliadas as características e desfechos clínicos, bem como o tempo de sobrevida para o desenvolvimento de BO. Os pacientes que nunca desenvolveram anti-AT1R foram comparados com aqueles que tinham o Ac pré-formado ou que o desenvolveram após o transplante. Foi utilizada a curva de sobrevida de Kaplan-Meier, reverse censoring method, log-rank e regressão de Cox (anti-HLA, anti-MICA, infecção por CMV e rejeição aguda). Os resultados foram descritos como risco relativo (RR) e intervalos de confiança (IC) de 95%, sendo significativos os valores de P<0,05. Resultados: A prevalência de anti-AT1R pré-formado foi de 22% e de novo 15,3%. Não se demonstrou associação entre anti-AT1R e anti-HLA pré-formados (P=0,279;1,1[0,8 a 1,7]), com tendência de associação com anti-HLA positivo pós transplante (P=0,063;1,3[0,9 a 1,8]). Cinquenta por cento (4/8) dos receptores por bronquiolite viral tinham anti-AT1R pré-formado, comparados a 16,7% (7/42) dos transplantados por outra patologia (P=0,037; 1,7 [0,8 a 3,4]), sem associação com anti-HLA (P=0,716) e anti-MICA (P=0,659) pré-formados. Nenhum paciente com linfangioliomiomatose (LAM) apresentou anti-AT1R pré ou pós-transplante. O RR para o desenvolvimento de BO comparando-se pacientes com anti-AT1R àqueles que nunca manifestaram o Ac foi de 1,50 (0,72 a 3,14) [P = 0,282]. Conclusão: Há uma tendência mostrando a associação entre a presença de anti-AT1R e o desenvolvimento de BO após o transplante pulmonar. A doença pulmonar de base parece ter implicação no desenvolvimento de anti-AT1R, sendo a que bronquiolite obliterante viral mostra maior risco para seu aparecimento enquanto a LAM risco mínimo. / Introduction: The presence of specific anti-HLA antibodies (Ab) against organ donors represent a potential risk for the development of rejection in lung grafts. There are consistent evidences about the importance of the anti-receptor for angiotensin II type 1 (AT1R) for long-term graft survival in kidney and heart transplantation. However, there is no information about AT1R in lung transplantation and its relationship with bronchiolitis obliterans. Objectives: The aim of this study was to describe the frequency and impact of the presence of anti-Ac AT1R for the development of bronchiolitis obliterans (BO) after lung transplantation. Patients and Methods: We studied fifty patients after six months of transplantation. All patients had an aliquot of pre-transplantation serum and other sample at the time of their selection for the study. The serum was tested for the presence of Ab anti-HLA and anti-MICA in a Luminex platform® and anti-AT1R (AT1R) by ELISA,. The mean followup was 78.3 months. We analyzed the clinical characteristics and outcomes and also survival time for the development of BO. We compared the patients who never developed anti-AT1R with those who had the preformed antibody or developed it after transplantation. We applied the survival curve of Kaplan-Meier, reverse censoring method, log-rank and Cox regression (anti-HLA anti-MICA, CMV infection and acute rejection). The results were described as relative risk (RR) and confidence intervals (CI) of 95%, with significant P values <0.05. Results: The prevalence of preformed anti-AT1R was 22% and 15,3% de novo. There were no association between preformed anti-AT1R and anti-HLA (P = 0.279, 1.1 [0.8 to 1.7]), with a trend of association with positive anti-HLA post transplantation (P = 0.063; 1.3 [0.9 to 1.8]). Fifty percent (4/8) of the receptors for viral bronchiolitis (BOV) had preformed anti-AT1R, compared to 16.7% (7/42) of the all transplanted patientes for other diseases (P = 0.037, 1.7 [0 8 to 3.4]). There were no association with preformed anti-HLA (P = 0.716) and anti-MICA (P = 0.659). No patients with lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM) had anti-AT1R pre-or post-transplant. The relative risk for developing BO when comparing patients with anti-AT1R to those who never expressed antibodies was 1.50 (0.72 to 3.14) [P = 0.282]. Conclusion: There is a trend showing the association between the presence of anti-AT1R and developing BO after lung transplantation. The underlying lung disease seems to have implications in developing anti-AT1R, and viral bronchiolitis obliterans that shows higher risk for onset while LAM minimum risk.