Orientador: Fernanda C. Landim Alvarenga / Banca: Maria Denise Lopes / Banca: Mayra Elena Ortiz D'Avila Assumpção / Resumo: O objetivo deste estudo foi aprimorar os protocolos de produção in vitro de embriões e de ativação partenogenética visando o isolamento e o cultivo de células tronco embrionárias felinas. Os CCOs-I foram obtidos a partir de ovários de gatas adultas e maturados in vitro. No experimento I, os CCOS foram fecundados e os embriões cultivados nos meios SOFaa e FOC. Foram comparadas as taxas de clivagem e a produção de blastocistos. A análise estatística foi realizada por meio da análise de variância e a viabilidade embrionária foi avaliada por sondas fluorescentes (Hoechst e iodeto de propídio). Não houve diferenças significativas entre os meios de cultivo, os quais apresentaram taxas de clivagem de 50,5±9,47 e 63,75±5,9 (P>0,05) e de produção de blastocistos em relação ao total de oócitos fecundados de 18±5,07 e 33,2±3,71 (P>0,05) para FOC e SOF respectivamente. No experimento II, os CCOs maturos foram submetidos a três diferentes protocolos de ativação partenogenética: 1-ionomicina associada ao cicloheximide; 2-ionomicina associada ao roscovitine e 3-ionomicina associada ao estrôncio, os quais foram comparados entre si e ao controle quanto às taxas de ativação, clivagem e desenvolvimento embrionário, sendo cultivados em SOFaa por 72 horas após a ativação. Para tais avaliações, oócitos e embriões foram corados com Hoechst 33342 e examinados em microscópio invertido. Como análise estatística foi utilizado o teste qui-quadrado. Não houve diferença significativa entre os tratamentos quanto à taxa de oócitos ativados (69,9%, 76,6% e 64,6%, para tratamento 1, 2 e 3 respectivamente) (P>0,05) nem quanto às taxas de clivagem (46,6%, 46,73% e 32,32%, para tratamento 1, 2 e 3 respectivamente) (P>0,05), mas sim entre estes e o controle (36% e 12%, respectivamente, para taxa de oócitos ativados e taxas de clivagem) (P<0,05). Quanto ao desenvolvimento... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: The objective of this study was to improve the existent protocols for in vitro embryos production and parthenogenetic activation in cats, aiming the isolation and culture of feline embryonic stem cells. COCs-I were collected from adult queens's ovaries and matured in vitro. In the experiment I, COCs were fertilized and embryos cultured in two culture media, SOFaa and FOC. In both media the cleavage rate and blastocysts production were compared. Fluorescents probes (Hoechst and propidium iodide) were utilized to estimate embryo viability. The statistical analysis was realized through the ANOVA. No statistical difference was observed between culture media. The cleavage rates considering the total number of fertilized oocytes were 50.5±9.47 and 63.75±5.9 (P>0.05) for FOC and SOF medium respectively. Similarly, the blastocysts production rates were 18±5.07 and 33.2±3.71 (P>0.05) for FOC and SOF, respectively. In experiment II matured COCs were submitted to three parthenogenetic activation protocols: 1- ionomycin associated to cycloheximide; 2 - ionomycin associated to roscovitine; 3 - ionomycin associated to strontium. The treatments were compared among themselves and among them and the control concerning chromatin decondensation, cleavage and embryo development rates. The parthenogenetic embryos were then cultured in SOFaa during 72 hours. To estimate chromatin status and number of nuclei, oocytes and embryos were stained with Hoechst 33342 and examined under an inverted fluorescent microscope. As statistical analyses chi-square test was utilized. No statistical difference was observed among treatments concerning activated oocytes rates (69.9%, 76.6% e 64.6%, respectively, for treatment 1, 2 and 3) (P>0.05) neither cleavage rates (46.6%, 46.73% e 32.32%, respectively, for treatment 1, treatment 1, 2, 3) (P>0.05). However, statistical difference was observed among treatments and... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Mestre

Asthma is a major public health epidemic that presents a heavy burden on those who suffer from the disease. Little is currently understood about the genetic signature that distinguishes one type of asthma from another. Recently, the single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs968567 was found to have a high degree of association in asthmatic patients (Sharma et al., 2014). This particular SNP is in the promoter region of the FADS2 gene that synthesizes the enzyme delta-6-desaturase (D6D). D6D mediates the formation of pro-inflammatory factors that lead to exacerbation of asthmatic symptoms. We engineered a novel, customized CRISPR-Cas9 construct to induce the SNP rs968567 in the HUES9 human embryonic stem cell (hESC) line. Our results show success in generating the custom CRISPR-Cas9 construct for use in stem cells, while efficiency in expressing the desired mutation in our cell line is currently being optimized. Disease modeling in the genomic era of medicine provides an opportunity for the development of personalized medical treatment. Future projects aim to differentiate stem cell lines edited with our CRISPR-Cas9 construct to lung progenitor cells to study the cellular phenotype of this mutation in context of asthma pathogenesis.

Mammalian cell types and tissues have diverse functional roles within an organism but can be derived by the differentiation of the embryonic stem cells (ESCs). ESCs are pluripotent cells with self-renewal properties. During development subsets of genes in ESCs are activated or silenced for manifestation of the cell type specific function. Gene expression changes occur transiently in early developmental stages, through signals received and executed by a variety of transcription factors (TFs), regulatory elements (promoters, enhancers) and epigenetic modifications of chromatin. Post-translational modifications of the histone tails are regulated by chromatin modifiers and transform the chromatin architecture. Polycomb (PcG) and Trithorax (TrxG) group proteins are the most commonly studied histone modifiers. They were first discovered as repressors (H3K27me3) and activators (H3K4me3) respectively of Homeobox (Hox) genes in Drosophila and they are conserved in mammals. Bivalent chromatin is defined as the simultaneous presence of silencing (H3K27me3) and activating (H3K4me3) histone marks and was first discovered as a feature of many developmental gene promoters of ESCs. Bivalent promoters are thought to be in a ‘poised’ state for later activation or repression during differentiation due to the presence of the two counter-acting histone modifications and a pausing variant of RNA polymerase II (RNAPII) accompanied with intermediate-low levels of expression. By integrative analysis of publicly available ChIP sequencing (ChIP-seq) datasets in murine and human ESCs, we predicted 3,659 and 4,979 high–confidence (HC) bivalent promoters in mouse and human ESCs respectively. Using a peak-based method, we acquire a set of bivalent promoters with high enrichment for developmental regulators. Over 85% of Polycomb targets were bivalent and their expression was particularly sensitive to TF perturbation. Moreover, murine HC bivalent promoters were occupied by both Polycomb repressive component classes (PRC1 and PRC2) and grouped into four distinct clusters with different biological functions. HC bivalent and active promoters were CpG rich while H3K27me3-only promoters lacked CpG islands. Binding enrichment of distinct sets of regulators distinguished bivalent from active promoters and a ‘TCCCC’ sequence motif was specifically enriched in bivalent promoters. Using the recent technology of single cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) we focused on gene expression heterogeneity and how it may affect the output of differentiation. We collected single cell gene expression profiles for 32 human and 39 murine ESCs and studied the correlation between diverse characteristics such as network connectivity and coefficient of variation (CV) across single cells. We further characterized properties unique to genes with high CV. Highly expressed genes tended to have a low CV and were enriched for cell cycle genes. In contrast, High CV genes were co-expressed with other High CV genes, were enriched for bivalent promoters and showed enrichment for response to DNA damage and DNA repair. Bivalent promoters in ESCs grouped in four distinct classes of variable biological functions according to Polycomb occupancy and three RNAPII variants. To study the dynamics of epigenetic and transcription control at promoters during development, we collected ChIPseq data for two chromatin modifications (H3K4me3 and H3K27me3) and RNAPII (8WG16 antibody) as well as expression data (RNA-seq) across 8 cell types (ESCs and seven committed cell types) in mouse. Hierarchical clustering of 22,179 unique gene promoters across cell types, showed that H3K4me3 peaks are in agreement with the expression data while H3K27me3 and RNAPII peaks were not highly consistent with the hierarchical tree of gene expression. Unsupervised clustering of ChIP-seq and RNA-seq profiles has resulted in 31 distinct profiles, which were subsequently narrowed down to nine major profile groups across cell types. TF enrichment at individual clusters using ChIP sequencing data did not fully agree with the classification of 8 major profile groups. Considering all the above results, three major epigenetic profiles (active, bivalent and latent) seem to be conserved across the species and cell types in our study. These states could recapitulate only a fraction of the transcriptional information - adding other chromatin marks could enrich it - since they are seemingly unaffected by their respective expression profiles. H3K27me3 only state has low CpG density and shows stronger signatures at differentiated cell types. Transcriptional control is tighter in active than bivalent promoters and the different occupancy levels of PcG subunits and RNAPII can be reflected at the expression variance of bivalent genes, where a fraction of them are involved in developmental functions while others are more tissue-specific. Last, there is a striking similarity in the pausing patterns of RNAPII in the progenitor cell types, which suggests that RNAPII pausing is correlated with the developmental potential of the cell type. Finally, this analysis will serve as a resource for future studies to further understand transcriptional regulation during development.

The degree of chromatin compaction plays a fundamental role in controlling the accessibility of DNA to the transcription machinery as well as other DNA-dependent biological pathways. The mammalian HP1 (Heterochromatin protein 1) protein family consists of three members: HP1α, β and γ. Each paralogue regulates formation and maintenance of heterochromatin by binding to the repressive chromatin marks H3K9me2/3 with their chromodomains (CDs). Despite high sequence conservation, each HP1 paralogue possesses specific functions, which are likely to be cell type specific. The aim of my thesis was to find novel functions for HP1γ in mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs) and breast cancer cells. Mass spectrometry analysis identified citrullination of residues R38 and R39 within the CD of HP1γ. I show that these residues are citrullinated by peptidyl arginine deiminase 4 (PADI4) in vitro and in vivo. Mutations in HP1γ (R38/9A), designed to mimic the loss of charge accompanied with citrullination, affect HP1γ’s binding to H3K9me3 peptides and reduce its residence time on chromatin in differentiated mESCs, indicating a role for citrullination in regulating HP1γ binding to chromatin during differentiation. Furthermore, I studied the phenotype of HP1γ depletion in two human breast cancer models and found that HP1γ is essential for cell proliferation and viability of cancer, but not of normal epithelial cells. I performed whole transcriptome analysis in breast cancer cells depleted of HP1γ and cross-referenced it with its genomic localisation, which identified increased expression of interferon/antiviral defense genes and activation of pro-apoptotic pathways. Whilst genes involved in these pathways were not directly bound by HP1γ, this analysis also identified HP1γ as a novel regulator of zinc finger (ZNF) genes. In summary, I identified novel post-translational modifications in HP1γ and characterised them in mESCs. I further demonstrated a role for HP1γ regulating breast cancer cell viability and identified HP1γ as a novel regulator of ZNF genes. My findings highlight HP1γ as a potential target for breast cancer therapy.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:27:15Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2009-07-03Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T20:16:19Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 rascado_ts_me_botfmvz.pdf: 550386 bytes, checksum: 2b1967d2846b363e04547e6d5a1ff2fb (MD5) / Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) / O objetivo deste estudo foi aprimorar os protocolos de produção in vitro de embriões e de ativação partenogenética visando o isolamento e o cultivo de células tronco embrionárias felinas. Os CCOs-I foram obtidos a partir de ovários de gatas adultas e maturados in vitro. No experimento I, os CCOS foram fecundados e os embriões cultivados nos meios SOFaa e FOC. Foram comparadas as taxas de clivagem e a produção de blastocistos. A análise estatística foi realizada por meio da análise de variância e a viabilidade embrionária foi avaliada por sondas fluorescentes (Hoechst e iodeto de propídio). Não houve diferenças significativas entre os meios de cultivo, os quais apresentaram taxas de clivagem de 50,5±9,47 e 63,75±5,9 (P>0,05) e de produção de blastocistos em relação ao total de oócitos fecundados de 18±5,07 e 33,2±3,71 (P>0,05) para FOC e SOF respectivamente. No experimento II, os CCOs maturos foram submetidos a três diferentes protocolos de ativação partenogenética: 1-ionomicina associada ao cicloheximide; 2-ionomicina associada ao roscovitine e 3-ionomicina associada ao estrôncio, os quais foram comparados entre si e ao controle quanto às taxas de ativação, clivagem e desenvolvimento embrionário, sendo cultivados em SOFaa por 72 horas após a ativação. Para tais avaliações, oócitos e embriões foram corados com Hoechst 33342 e examinados em microscópio invertido. Como análise estatística foi utilizado o teste qui-quadrado. Não houve diferença significativa entre os tratamentos quanto à taxa de oócitos ativados (69,9%, 76,6% e 64,6%, para tratamento 1, 2 e 3 respectivamente) (P>0,05) nem quanto às taxas de clivagem (46,6%, 46,73% e 32,32%, para tratamento 1, 2 e 3 respectivamente) (P>0,05), mas sim entre estes e o controle (36% e 12%, respectivamente, para taxa de oócitos ativados e taxas de clivagem) (P<0,05). Quanto ao desenvolvimento... / The objective of this study was to improve the existent protocols for in vitro embryos production and parthenogenetic activation in cats, aiming the isolation and culture of feline embryonic stem cells. COCs-I were collected from adult queens´s ovaries and matured in vitro. In the experiment I, COCs were fertilized and embryos cultured in two culture media, SOFaa and FOC. In both media the cleavage rate and blastocysts production were compared. Fluorescents probes (Hoechst and propidium iodide) were utilized to estimate embryo viability. The statistical analysis was realized through the ANOVA. No statistical difference was observed between culture media. The cleavage rates considering the total number of fertilized oocytes were 50.5±9.47 and 63.75±5.9 (P>0.05) for FOC and SOF medium respectively. Similarly, the blastocysts production rates were 18±5.07 and 33.2±3.71 (P>0.05) for FOC and SOF, respectively. In experiment II matured COCs were submitted to three parthenogenetic activation protocols: 1- ionomycin associated to cycloheximide; 2 – ionomycin associated to roscovitine; 3 – ionomycin associated to strontium. The treatments were compared among themselves and among them and the control concerning chromatin decondensation, cleavage and embryo development rates. The parthenogenetic embryos were then cultured in SOFaa during 72 hours. To estimate chromatin status and number of nuclei, oocytes and embryos were stained with Hoechst 33342 and examined under an inverted fluorescent microscope. As statistical analyses chi-square test was utilized. No statistical difference was observed among treatments concerning activated oocytes rates (69.9%, 76.6% e 64.6%, respectively, for treatment 1, 2 and 3) (P>0.05) neither cleavage rates (46.6%, 46.73% e 32.32%, respectively, for treatment 1, treatment 1, 2, 3) (P>0.05). However, statistical difference was observed among treatments and... (Complete abstract click electronic access below)

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:23:00Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2012-07-13Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T20:29:35Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 guastali_md_me_botib.pdf: 527945 bytes, checksum: 8c4f9ed48c450ce2b601751b6f0633db (MD5) / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) / Células tronco embrionárias (CTE) são caracterizadas pelas capacidades de auto-renovação e diferenciação. No entanto, os mecanismos moleculares que regulam estes dois processos são mal compreendidos. CTE de camundongos foram originalmente isoladas a partir da massa celular interna (MCI) de blastocistos produzidos in vitro e in vivo e mantidas em cultura sem perda da pluripotência, originando tecidos das três camadas germinativas. Há profundo interesse em conhecer os processos envolvidos na proliferação e diferenciação das células embrionárias contribuindo, no futuro, para engenharia de tecidos e clonagem terapêutica. Objetivos: Comparar o potencial gerador de CTE de embriões bovinos produzidos in vitro em meio contendo alta e baixa concentração de soro, assim como avaliar a manutenção da pluripotência das células em cultivo através da ação de dois fatores, a LIF e o bFGF, utilizados isoladamente ou em conjunto, no cultivo in vitro de CTEbov. Foram utilizados blastocistos bovinos com 9 dias de desenvolvimento in vitro para remoção da massa celular interna (MCI) e posterior cultivo das mesmas em placas tratadas com monocamada de fibroblastos bloqueados. As colônias celulares semelhantes a células-tronco foram analisadas através da identificação da expressão in sito dos fatores de indiferenciação Oct-4, Nanog, SSEA-1, SSEA-3, SSEA-4, TRA-1- 60, TRA-1-81. Os blastocistos bovinos com 9 dias de idade também foram submetidos à marcação imunocitoquímica. Adicionalmente foi avaliado o potencial de diferenciação in vitro das CTEbov para linhagens celulares de origem endodermal, mesodermal e ectodermal. Em média, 525 embriões de cada um dos dois grupos (2,5% e 10% de soro fetal bovino, respectivamente) foram selecionados para o isolamento da MCI. Foram utilizados 300 blastocistos iniciais... / Embryonic stem cells (ESC) are characterized by their capacity for selfrenewal and differentiation. However, the molecular mechanisms which regulate these two processes are poorly understood. ESC of mice were originally isolated from the inner cell mass (ICM) of blastocysts in vitro and in vivo and maintained in culture without loss of pluripotency, yielding three germ layers of tissue. There is keen interest in learning about the processes involved in proliferation and differentiation of embryonic cells contribute in the future, tissue engineering and therapeutic cloning. To compare the potential generator ESC of bovine embryos produced in vitro in medium containing high and low concentrations of serum, as well as evaluating the maintenance of pluripotency of the cells in culture through the action of two factors, the LIF and bFGF, used singly or together, in vitro cultivation of ESCbov. We used bovine blastocysts to nine days of in vitro development to remove the inner cell mass (ICM) and further cultivation of the same plates treated with fibroblast monolayer blocked. The cell colonies similar to stem cells were analyzed by in situ identification of the expression of differentiation factors Oct-4, Nanog, SSEA-1, SSEA-3, SSEA-4, TRA-1-60, TRA-1-81 . The bovine blastocysts with 9 days of age were also subjected to immunocytochemical labeling. Additionally it was evaluated the potential of differentiation in vitro of cell lines to ESCbov endodermal origin, mesodermal and ectodermal. The average 525 embryos from each of the two groups (2.5% and 10% fetal bovine serum, respectively) were selected for isolation of the ICM. Early blastocysts were used 300, 160 expanded blastocysts and 45 hatched blastocysts per group. However, only expanded blastocysts adhered to the monolayer of fibroblasts and developed into colonies similar to... (Complete abstract click electronic access below)

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:29:15Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2013-07-29Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T20:59:31Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 monteiro_ba_me_botfmvz.pdf: 1690076 bytes, checksum: 2290265393e1a80a119df41bc5967502 (MD5) / Células-tronco embrionárias (CTEs) são células pluripotentes derivadas da massa celular interna, obtidas de blastocistos pré-implantados. Devido à sua pluripotência podem se diferenciar nos derivados das três camadas germinativas, endoderma, ectoderma e mesoderma, tanto in vitro como in vivo. O objetivo deste trabalho foi isolar e cultivar células da MCI de blastocistos equinos frescos e refrigerados, e caracterizar o cultivo destas células por meio da expressão dos marcadores Oct-4, SSEA-1, SSEA-3, SSEA-4, TRA-1-60 e TRA-1-81. Para tal foram utilizadas 10 éguas, das quais foram obtidos 40 embriões, divididos em dois grupos, sendo o Grupo 1 de embriões frescos, totalizando 26 embriões, e o Grupo 2 de embriões refrigerados, totalizando 14 embriões. No grupo 1 de embriões frescos, 73,1% das MCIs aderiram à monocamada dois dias após o cultivo, 65,4% mantiveram-se aderidas 4 dias após o cultivo, 19,2% foram submetidas à primeira passagem e nenhuma foi submetida à segunda passagem. Já no Grupo 2 de embriões refrigerados, 85,7% das MCIs aderiram á monocamada 2 dias após o cultivo, 85,7% das células permaneceram aderidas à monocamada 4 dias após o cultivo, 21,4% foram submetidas à primeira passagem, e 7,1% à segunda passagem. As colônias de CTEs equinas obtidas de embriões frescos foram marcadas com os anticorpos Oct-4, SSSEA-1, SSEA-4, TRA-1-60 e TRA-1-81. Já as colônias de CTEs obtidas de embriões refrigerados foram marcadas com os anticorpos Oct-4, SSEA-1, SSEA-3 e SSEA-4. As células da MCI quando isoladas dos blastocistos equinos frescos e refrigerados, foram capazes de formar colônias semelhantes à colônias de CTEs. Quando cultivadas sobre monocamada de fibroblastos equinos e inativadas com Mitomicina C, apresentaram crescimento celular e foram capazes de formar colônias de CTEs... / Embryonic stem cells are pluripotent cells, derived from inner cell mass, obtained from pre-implanted blastocysts. Because of their pluripotency, they can differentiate into derivatives of three germ layers, endoderm, ectoderm and mesoderm, both in vitro as in vivo. The aim of this study was to isolate and culture inner cell mass (ICM) cells from fresh and cooled equine blastocysts and characterize stem cells culture obtained from fresh and cooled equine embryos, by the expression of pluripotency markers as Oct-4, SSEA-1, SSEA-3, SSEA-4, TRA-1-60 and TRA-1-81. For this, 10 mares were used, from which were obtained 40 embryos, divided into two different groups, Group 1 from fresh embryos, with a total of 26 embryos, and Group 2 from cooled embryos, with a total of 14 embryos. In Group 1 of fresh equine embryos, 73,1% of ICM adhered to monolayer two days after culture, 65,4% maintained adhered four days after culture, 19,2% were submitted to first passage and none were submitted to second passage. Whereas in the Group 2 of cooled embryos, 85,7% of ICM adhered to monolayer two days after culture, 85,7% maintained adhred to the monolayer 4 days after culture, 21,4% were submitted to first passage and 7,1% to second passage. The equine embryonic like-stem cells obtained from fresh embryos were stained with the antibodies Oct-4, SSEA-1, SSEA-4, TRA-1-60 and TRA-1-81. While the embryonic like-stem cells obtained from cooled embryos were stained with the antibodies Oct-4, SSEA-1, SSEA-3 and SSEA-4. The ICM cells when isolated from fresh and cooled equine blastocysts were capable to form embryonic stem cells-like colonies. When they were cultured under an equine fibroblasts monolayer and inactivated with Mitomycin C, showed cellular development and were able to form colonies. Equine embryonic... (Complete abstract click electronic access below)

Orientador: Fernanda da Cruz Landim / Banca: Cássia Maria Barroso Orlandi / Banca: Ian Martin / Resumo: Células-tronco embrionárias (CTEs) são células pluripotentes derivadas da massa celular interna, obtidas de blastocistos pré-implantados. Devido à sua pluripotência podem se diferenciar nos derivados das três camadas germinativas, endoderma, ectoderma e mesoderma, tanto in vitro como in vivo. O objetivo deste trabalho foi isolar e cultivar células da MCI de blastocistos equinos frescos e refrigerados, e caracterizar o cultivo destas células por meio da expressão dos marcadores Oct-4, SSEA-1, SSEA-3, SSEA-4, TRA-1-60 e TRA-1-81. Para tal foram utilizadas 10 éguas, das quais foram obtidos 40 embriões, divididos em dois grupos, sendo o Grupo 1 de embriões frescos, totalizando 26 embriões, e o Grupo 2 de embriões refrigerados, totalizando 14 embriões. No grupo 1 de embriões frescos, 73,1% das MCIs aderiram à monocamada dois dias após o cultivo, 65,4% mantiveram-se aderidas 4 dias após o cultivo, 19,2% foram submetidas à primeira passagem e nenhuma foi submetida à segunda passagem. Já no Grupo 2 de embriões refrigerados, 85,7% das MCIs aderiram á monocamada 2 dias após o cultivo, 85,7% das células permaneceram aderidas à monocamada 4 dias após o cultivo, 21,4% foram submetidas à primeira passagem, e 7,1% à segunda passagem. As colônias de CTEs equinas obtidas de embriões frescos foram marcadas com os anticorpos Oct-4, SSSEA-1, SSEA-4, TRA-1-60 e TRA-1-81. Já as colônias de CTEs obtidas de embriões refrigerados foram marcadas com os anticorpos Oct-4, SSEA-1, SSEA-3 e SSEA-4. As células da MCI quando isoladas dos blastocistos equinos frescos e refrigerados, foram capazes de formar colônias semelhantes à colônias de CTEs. Quando cultivadas sobre monocamada de fibroblastos equinos e inativadas com Mitomicina C, apresentaram crescimento celular e foram capazes de formar colônias de CTEs... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: Embryonic stem cells are pluripotent cells, derived from inner cell mass, obtained from pre-implanted blastocysts. Because of their pluripotency, they can differentiate into derivatives of three germ layers, endoderm, ectoderm and mesoderm, both in vitro as in vivo. The aim of this study was to isolate and culture inner cell mass (ICM) cells from fresh and cooled equine blastocysts and characterize stem cells culture obtained from fresh and cooled equine embryos, by the expression of pluripotency markers as Oct-4, SSEA-1, SSEA-3, SSEA-4, TRA-1-60 and TRA-1-81. For this, 10 mares were used, from which were obtained 40 embryos, divided into two different groups, Group 1 from fresh embryos, with a total of 26 embryos, and Group 2 from cooled embryos, with a total of 14 embryos. In Group 1 of fresh equine embryos, 73,1% of ICM adhered to monolayer two days after culture, 65,4% maintained adhered four days after culture, 19,2% were submitted to first passage and none were submitted to second passage. Whereas in the Group 2 of cooled embryos, 85,7% of ICM adhered to monolayer two days after culture, 85,7% maintained adhred to the monolayer 4 days after culture, 21,4% were submitted to first passage and 7,1% to second passage. The equine embryonic like-stem cells obtained from fresh embryos were stained with the antibodies Oct-4, SSEA-1, SSEA-4, TRA-1-60 and TRA-1-81. While the embryonic like-stem cells obtained from cooled embryos were stained with the antibodies Oct-4, SSEA-1, SSEA-3 and SSEA-4. The ICM cells when isolated from fresh and cooled equine blastocysts were capable to form embryonic stem cells-like colonies. When they were cultured under an equine fibroblasts monolayer and inactivated with Mitomycin C, showed cellular development and were able to form colonies. Equine embryonic... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Mestre

Orientador: Joaquim Mansano Garcia / Banca: Lígia Veiga Pereira / Banca: Irina Kerkis / Resumo: O estudo dos processos de diferenciação em células tronco embrionárias (CTE) representa uma importante ferramenta para o entendimento das vias moleculares que os regem, apresentando grande aplicação tanto na ciência básica quanto na engenharia de tecidos e medicina regenerativa. Pouco é conhecido sobre as marcas epigenéticas existentes na cromatina destas células, e de que forma a regulação da expressão gênica ocorre no momento da diferenciação. O presente trabalho teve como objetivo o estudo dos efeitos da hiperacetilação das histonas causada pela droga tricostatina A (TSA), uma inibidora das enzimas histona desacetilases, sobre a diferenciação destas células em estádios iniciais e avançados. Para tanto, a hiperacetilação induzida pela droga foi estimada por reações de imunocitoquímica para AcLys9H3. Os efeitos anti-proliferativos da TSA foram mensurados pelo teste de TUNEL e contagem de células. Ainda, foram conduzidos experimentos de diferenciação in vitro de CTE e análise da expressão de proteínas características de linhagens celulares diferenciadas por reações de imunocitoquímica (Oct3/4, nestina, âIII tubulina, desmina e troponina I), em cultivos tratados com TSA em diferentes concentrações e em diferentes momentos. Desta forma, foi estimada a população de tipos celulares oriundos dos folhetos embrionários ectodérmico e mesodérmico, como neurônios, e células musculares, quando foi promovida a hiperacetilação das histonas nas CTE, em diferentes momentos da diferenciação celular in vitro. A TSA induziu apoptose em níveis superiores aos do grupo controle, e retardou/inibiu a divisão celular. Promoveu hiperacetilação dose-dependente nos períodos estudados, e estimulou a diferenciação de precursores mesodérmicos (50nM d5) e ectodérmicos (15nMd0-5 e 50nMd5), cardiomiócitos (50nMd5 e 100nMd13) e neurônios (15nMd0-5, 50nMd5, 100nMd5, 100nMd13). / Abstract: Studies on embryonic stem cells (ESC) differentiation represents an important tool leading to understanding of its molecular pathways, with many applications both on basic research and tissue engineering / regenerative medicine. Little is known about epigenetic marks on ESC chromatin, and how gene expression occurs at differentiation time. The aim of this work was to study effects of histone hiperacetylation, induced by cell treatment with trichostatin A (TSA), an histone deacetylase inhibitor, on both initial and late differentiation. For that, drug-induced hyperacetylation was studied by AcLys9H3 immunocitochemistry. TSA anti-proliferative effects were analysed by TUNEL test and cell counts. Experiments on ESC in vitro differentiation and immunocitochemistry for specific cell types proteins (Oct3/4, nestin, âIII tubulin, desmin and troponin I) were performed, in treated and control groups, at different moments. This analysis showed specific cell types populations derived from embryonic ectodermal and mesodermal, such as neurons and cardiomyocytes, when histone hyperacetylation were induced, on both initial and late diferentiation. Our results showed that TSA induces apoptosis and inhibits cellular proliferation. Also, TSA promoted dose-dependent histone hyperacetylation at studied moments, and stimulated mesodermal (50nM d5) and ectodermal (15nMd0-5 e 50nMd5) precursors, cardiomyocytes (50nMd5 e 100nMd13) and neurons (15nMd0-5, 50nMd5, 100nMd5, 100nMd13) differentiation. / Mestre

O estabelecimento de cultivo de células-tronco embrionárias (ESC) ainda não foi realizado com sucesso. Verificação de marcadores de pluripotência e diferenciação nos três folhetos germinativos são necessárias para validação de uma linhagem celular pluripotente. O objetivo deste estudo foi estabelecer e caracterizar o cultivo de ESC suínas usando Matrigel e comparar a expressão dos marcadores de pluripotência Oct-4, CD9 e &alpha;6-integrina em embriões. Blastocistos in vitro ou in vivo foram submetidos à imunocirurgia para cultura da massa celular interna, fixados para imunocitoquímica ou extração de RNA total para RT-PCR. Nenhuma colônia de ESC foi obtida usando co-cultivo em fibroblastos embrionários murinos (MEF) ou em Matrigel. Expressão de Oct-4, CD9 e &alpha;6-integrina foi detectada por PCR. Os produtos de PCR de CD9 e &alpha;6-integrina tiveram suas sequências nucleotídicas determinadas e comparadas com bases de dados públicas. O produto de CD9 foi idêntico à seqüência do CD9 suíno e o produto de &alpha;66integrina foi similar à humana e eqüina. Reação de Imunocitoquímica revelou a presença de Oct-4 no citoplasma de células da massa celular interna e do trofoblasto. CD9 e &alpha;6-integrina foram observados preferencialmente em células do trofoblasto. Não foi possível comparar a expressão dos marcadores de pluripotência entre ESC e embriões em suínos. Porém, este estudo descreve pela primeira vez a expressão de CD9 e &alpha;6-integrina em blastocistos suínos, os quais podem não estar relacionados com células pluripotentes embrionárias suínas. / Establishment of embryonic stem cell (ESC) culture in pigs has not been achieved. Verification of pluripotency markers and differentiation in the three embryonic layers are necessary for validation of a pluripotent cell line. The objective of this study was to establish and characterize porcine ESC culture using Matrigel and compare the expression of pluripotency markers Oct-4, CD9 and &alpha;6-integrin with embryos. In vitro or in vivo porcine blastocysts were submitted to immunosurgery for culture of inner cell mass, fixation for immunocytochemistry or total RNA extraction for RT-PCR. No ESC colonies were obtained using co-culture on mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEF) or on Matrigel. Expression of Oct-4, CD9 and &alpha;6-integrin was detected by PCR. CD9 and &alpha;6-integrin PCR products had their nucleotide sequence assessed and compared with public nucleotide database. CD9 product was identical to CD9 porcine sequences and &alpha;6-integrin product was similar to human and equine &alpha;6-integrin. Immunocytochemistry revealed Oct-4 expression in cytoplasm of the inner cell mass and trophoblast cells. CD9 and &alpha;6-integrin were observed preferentially on trophoblast cells. It was not possible to compare expression of pluripotency markers between porcine ESC and embryos. However, this study describes for the first time expression of CD9 and &alpha;6-integrin in porcine blastocysts, which may not be related to pluripotent porcine embryonic cells.