La voie de signalisation du récepteur des androgènes (RA) est la principale cible thérapeutique des cancers de la prostate métastatiques. Toutefois, l'émergence de variants constitutivement actifs du RA dépourvus de leur partie C-terminale conduit à une résistance au traitement. Pendant ma thèse, j'ai montré que les variants du RA induisent une transition épithélio-mésenchymateuse (EMT) partielle, un phénomène observé lors de la progression tumorale. J'ai ensuite étudié les mécanismes conduisant à cette expression différentielle de marqueurs de l’EMT en me focalisant sur la N-cadhérine (CDH2). Le RA entier (AR-FL) et les variants du RA interagissent tous les deux au niveau des éléments de réponse aux androgènes dans l'intron1 de CDH2. Cependant, une augmentation du niveau d’acétylation des histones est observée uniquement avec les variants du RA. Mes données nous mène à un modèle où l'AR-FL réprimerait l'expression de CDH2 alors que les variants du RA induiraient son expression. / Androgen receptor (AR) pathway is the main therapeutic target for metastatic prostate cancer (Pca).However, the expression of AR variants lacking the carboxy-terminal end lowers therapy efficacy. During myphD, I showed that AR variants induce a partial epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), a phenomenon observed during tumor progression. To understand the mode of action of AR variants, I explored the mechanisms leading to this differential expression of EMT markers focusing my research on N-cadherin(CDH2). While both the full length AR (AR-FL) and AR variants could interact with androgen response elements present in intron 1 of CDH2, I highlighted that they had opposite effects concerning histone modifications. Indeed, increased histone acetylation in this genomic region was observed only in the presence of AR variants. My data lead us to propose a model in which AR-FL represses CDH2 gene, while AR variants favor its expression.

Les réseaux de transport d’électricité multi-terminaux à courant continu se révèlent être la solution adéquate pour une intégration massive d’énergie renouvelable dans les réseaux alternatifs existants. En effet, les réseaux en courant continu sont capables de transmettre de manière efficace des niveaux de puissance élevés sur de très longues distances par rapport aux réseaux alternatifs car, à partir d'une certaine puissance à transmettre, il existe une distance limite à partir de laquelle la transmission d’énergie en courant alternatif perd sa compétitivité face à la transmission en courant continu. L'un des principaux défis liés au développement de ces réseaux de transport d’électricité à courant continu ou Supergrid, concerne leur protection contre des défauts de type court-circuit sur des liaisons en courant continu. . Dans ce travail de thèse, un nouveau concept de stratégie de protection des réseaux en courant continu à haute tension en cas de défaut court-circuit est proposé. La stratégie repose sur une philosophie de protection ayant comme priorité la suppression du courant de défaut avant l’isolation de la liaison en défaut. Elle est basée sur l’utilisation de disjoncteurs mécaniques à courant continu sans avoir recours à des limiteurs de courant de défaut. Une séquence de protection primaire ainsi que deux séquences de sauvegarde en cas de défaillance de disjoncteurs ont été développées, testées et validées à l’aide de simulations de transitoires électromagnétiques et de simulations temps-réel. En outre, les algorithmes des relais de protection ont été implémentés avec l'aide de l’outil d’analyse fonctionnelle descendante SADT (Structured Analysis and Design System). Cette thèse a été effectuée dans le cadre du SuperGrid Institute, une plate-forme de recherche collaborative visant à développer des technologies pour les futurs réseaux de transport d'électricité et regroupant l'expertise d'industries telles que GE Grid Solutions et les laboratoires de recherche publique comme le laboratoire de génie électrique de Grenoble (G2Elab). / Multi-terminal High Voltage Direct Current (MTDC) grids,have been proven to be an adequate solution for massive integration of renewable energy power to existing High Voltage Alternating Current (HVAC) grids. Indeed, HVDC grids are capable of transmitting efficiently high level of power over very long distances compared to HVAC grids since, from a certain power to be transmitted, there is a limited distance from which the AC power transmission loses its efficiency and becomes very costly compared to DC power transmission. One of the main challenges related to the development of theses multi-terminal HVDC grids, or Supergrids, concerns their protection against DC short-circuit faults. In this thesis, a new concept of protection strategy for MTDC grids in case of permanent short-circuit fault on a DC cable has been proposed. The strategy is based on the non-selective fault clearing philosophy where the priority is given to the suppression of the fault current before isolating the faulty transmission line. The strategy is based on mechanical DC breakers and no fault current limiting devices are used. A primary protection sequence as well as two back-up sequences in case of breakers operation failure have been developed, tested and validated through Electromagnetic Transient (EMT) and Real-Time (RT) simulations. Also, algorithms to be implemented on protective relays have been designed with the help of the Structured Analysis and Design System (SADT). This PhD thesis has been performed in the frame of the SuperGrid Institute, a collaborative research platform aiming to develop technologies for the future electricity transmission network and bringing together the expertise of industries such as GE grid solutions and public research laboratories as the Grenoble Electrical Engineering Laboratory (G2Elab).

Les métastases sont la principale cause de décès chez les patients atteints d’un cancer. Lors du développement métastatique, les cellules tumorales disséminées (CTD) doivent franchir certaines étapes clés avant de coloniser des organes distants de la tumeur primaire. Notre hypothèse est que la TNC pourrait jouer différents rôles dans la migration des cellules cancéreuses et par conséquent dans le développement métastatique. Considérant l’actine comme un réservoir de facteurs de croissance, la TNC pourrait induire la TEM ainsi que la survie et l’extravasation des cellules tumorales. Cependant, des cellules cancéreuses individualisées localement pourraient répondre à la TNC en initiant des changements rapides menant à un phénotype migratoire de type amiboïde. L’objectif de cette thèse a été d’étudier comment la TNC stimule le développement métastatique dans le cancer du sein au niveau cellulaire et moléculaire en utilisant des modèles tumoraux et cellulaires. / A high TNC expression correlates with lung metastagenicity and was shown to promote experimental lung metastasis, but the underlying mechanisms are poorly understood. The results of my thesis have provided insight into the roles of TNC in metastasis suggesting that TNC contributes to extravasation by impacting on survival, endothelialization, EMT and migration. Moreover, I have identified TGF-β signaling and integrin α9β1 as important pathway and molecule, respectively to be employed by TNC. Whether both molecule/pathway play a similar role in the investigated models of breast cancer, osteosarcoma and glioblastoma remains to be seen.

No description available.

Krüppel-like factor 2 (KLF2) is expressed in endothelial cells in the developing heart, particularly in areas of high shear stress, such as the atrioventricular (AV) canal. KLF2 ablation leads to myocardial thinning, high output cardiac failure and death by mouse embryonic day 14.5 (E14.5) in a mixed genetic background. This work identifies an earlier and more fundamental role for KLF2 in mouse cardiac development in FVB/N mice. FVB/N KLF2-/- embryos die earlier, by E11.5. E9.5 FVB/N KLF2-/- hearts have multiple, disorganized cell layers lining the AV cushions, the primordia of the AV valves, rather than the normal single layer. By E10.5, traditional and endothelial-specific FVB/N KLF2-/- AV cushions are hypocellular, suggesting that the cells accumulating at the AV canal have a defect in endothelial to mesenchymal transformation (EMT). E10.5 FVB/N KLF2-/- hearts have reduced glycosaminoglycans in the cardiac jelly, correlating with the reduced EMT. However, the number of mesenchymal cells migrating from FVB/N KLF2-/- AV explants into a collagen matrix is reduced considerably compared to wild-type, suggesting that the EMT defect is not due solely to abnormal cardiac jelly. Echocardiography of E10.5 FVB/N KLF2-/- embryos indicates that they have abnormal heart function compared to wild-type. E10.5 C57BL/6 KLF2-/- hearts have largely normal AV cushions. However, E10.5 FVB/N and C57BL/6 KLF2-/- embryos have a delay in the formation of the atrial septum that is not observed in a defined mixed background. KLF2 ablation results in reduced Sox9, UDP-glucose dehydrogenase (UGDH), Gata4 and Tbx5 mRNA in FVB/N AV canals. KLF2 binds to the Gata4, Tbx5 and UGDH promoters in chromatin immunoprecipitation assays, indicating that KLF2 could directly regulate these genes. Thus KLF2 plays a role in EMT, through its regulation of important cardiovascular genes. E10.5 FVB/N KLF2-/- embryos show gaps in the endothelial lining at the dorsal aorta and a number of blood cells localized outside the aorta suggesting either hemorrhaging or inability of the hematopoietic progenitors to reach the aortic endothelium and enter circulation. This is not observed in KLF2-/- embryos in a mixed genetic background. In conclusion, KLF2-/- cardiovascular phenotypes are genetic background-dependent. KLF4 is another member of the Krüppel-like transcription factor family phylogenetically close to KLF2. It is known to play an important role in vascular regulation. Our studies show that in vascular development KLF4 plays a complementary role to KLF2, indicated by cranial hemorrhaging in E9.5 KLF2-/-KLF4-/- embryos in an undefined mixed background. This phenotype is absent in either of the single knockouts. The role of KLF2 and KLF4 in vascular development has not been studied as much as adult vascular regulation. This study begins to define the roles of these two transcription factors in development of blood vessels. Congenital heart and valve defects are a common cause of infant mortality. KLF2 has never been studied in this context. Thus this work is important for a better understanding of the biology of valve development.

Au stade de carcinome in situ, la tumeur mammaire peut être retirée chirurgicalement. mais, à des stades plus avancés, les cellules tumorales peuvent subir une transition épithélio-mésenchymateuse, devenir invasive et chimioresistante. Les produits naturels représentent la majorité de nos médicaments et La biodiversité marine, dont les micro-organismes, est à l'origine de plusieurs médicaments sur le marché, en oncologie. Notre stratégie consiste en la caractérisation de molécules extraites de 70 souches fongiques associées aux algues brunes. Les extraits bruts et les molécules sont selectionnées sur leur capacité à inhiber la prolifération et la migration des cellules tumorales. Un test de viabilité a mis en évidence un extrait issu d'une souche de Paradendryphiella arenaria, très actif sur la lignée épithéliale MCF7 (IC50 de 0.37 µg / mL) et la lignée invasive MCF7-Sh-WISP2 (0.19 µg /mL). La purification de son extrait a permis l'isolement de la hyalodendrine, très cytotoxique (IC50 de 0.07 µg / mL sur les mcf7 et 0.046 µg / mL sur les MCF7-Sh-WISP2), ainsi qu'un nouveau dérivé de pentanorlanostane et du methoxycarbonyl methyl cholate. L'étude du mécanisme d'action de la hyalodendrine a montre des modifications des protéines p53, HSP60, HSP70 et PRAS40. Parallèlement, un test de migration des cellules MCF7-Sh-WISP2 simplifié en plaque 96 puits, a identifié un extrait brut très actif mais non cytotoxique, de Penicillium echinatum. Les molecules de l'extrait one été etudiee de manière déréplicative par élaboration d'un réseau moléculaire. L'ensemble de ces résultats ont montré le fort potentiel thérapeutique de champignons marins par leurs activités anti-metastatiques. / At the in situ carcinoma stage, the breast tumor can be surgically removed. But at later stages, tumor cells can undergo an epithalial-mesenchymal transition, become invasive and chemoresistant. Natural products represent the vast majority of our drugs on the market, especially in oncotherapy. Our experimental strategy consists in isolating and characterizing molecules extracted from 70 fungal strains associated to brown algae. Crude extracts and molecules are then selected for their capacity to inhibit cancer cell proliferation and migration. A first viability assay highlited a crude extract derived from the fungus Paradendryphiella arenaria, very active against the epithelial cancer cell line MCF7 (IC50 of 0.37 µg / mL) and its invasive counterpart MCF7-Sh-WISP2 (0.19 µg / mL). The purification of its extract allowed the isolation of the very cytotoxic hyalodendrin (IC50 of 0.07 µg / mL on MCF7 and 0.046 µg / mL on MCF7-Sh-WISP2), as well as a new pentanorlanostan derivative and the methoxycarbonyl methyl cholate. The mechansim of action of the hyalodendrin revealed p53, HSP60, HSP70 and PRAS40 protein modifications. In parallel, a simplified 96 well plate migration assay let identify a very active but non cytotoxic crude extract, from Penicillium echinatum. The molecules of this extract were studied by dereplication using a molecular network. Together, these results showed the strong therapeutic potential of marine fungi trhough their anti-metastatic activities.

No description available.

Squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (HNSCC) is an extremely common and devastating disease with a bleak prognosis. Despite intensive research, survival rates have not improved over the past 30 years principally due to untreatable recurrent/metastasising disease. Feline oral squamous cell carcinoma (FOSCC) is an equally common disease in cats with an even less favourable prognosis than humans. Human and feline squamous cell carcinomas share similar etiopathogenesis, molecular markers, tumour biology and treatment thus making FOSCC an excellent model for HNSCC. Epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT), under the direction microRNAs (miRNAs/mirs) could be a key driver in oncogenic transformation and chemoresistance. The aim of this study was to induce resistance to characterise the EMT/resistance phenotype and to investigate whether common miRNA-mediated pathways are present in HNSCC and FOSCC that drive this phenomenon. We used epidermal growth factor (EGFR)-inhibitor gefitinib to induce resistance in HNSCC and FOSCC and investigated the associated EMT-related molecular changes. In vitro and in vivo invasive and migratory properties of both species were explored to determine whether resistance and/or EMT status conferred a functional advantage. We determined the miRNA expression pattern during acquisition of resistance to gefitinib in both species by next generation sequencing and screened candidate miRNAs as potential therapeutics. We found that gefitinib-resistance produced a previously unrecognised biphasic response that consisted of two distinct phenotypes, a highly invasive mesenchymal phenotype during early resistance, and a more epithelial phenotype associated with established resistance. The biphasic nature of this transition may prove critical in establishing effective therapeutic targets and the timing of treatment to overcome resistance or in preventing local invasion or metastatic spread of squamous cell carcinoma. We found that the major anti-apoptotic PI3K/AKT pathway was activated in transitioning and resistant cells of both species as demonstrated upregulation of AKT, pAKT and c-FLIP together with inactivation of PTEN by phosphorylation. This indicates that avoidance of apoptosis may be a major pathway in resistance that could be targeted therapeutically. We showed that three miRNAs were differentially expressed in both gefitinib-resistant human and feline cell lines: miR-107 was downregulated, and miR-551b and miR-574 were upregulated. These microRNAs provide potential therapeutic targets in the fight against drug resistance in head and neck cancer although much further research needs to be conducted to elucidate the complex network of interactions that may be affected by targeting these powerful regulatory molecules.

La sénescence induite par l'oncogène, ou OIS (Oncogene-Induced Senescence), est un mécanisme permettant d'empêcher la prolifération anarchique des cellules lors du stress oncogénique. Lors de la tumorigenèse, ce processus est inhibé par l'inactivation des gènes suppresseurs de tumeurs pour permettre la prolifération et la transformation cellulaire. L'OIS est un processus conservé dans les cellules primaires, cependant, nous l'avons observé dans des cellules transformées à la suite de l'expression de H-RasV12. Nous avons étudié les acteurs de cette réponse dans une lignée d'adénome colorectal ayant déjà inactivé les suppresseurs de tumeurs p16Ink4a et p53. Nous avons observé que l'oncogène Ras induisait l'expression de p21Waf1 et conduisait à la mise en place de la sénescence. Dans ces conditions, nous avons vu que p21Waf1 inhibait la transcription des gènes du cycle cellulaire Cdc25A et Plk1 pour permettre l'arrêt de la prolifération. Au cours de ce travail nous avons remarqué que certaines cellules échappaient à cet arrêt. Par l'étude de la présence de SAHF (Senescence- Associated Heterochromatine Foci), nous avons observé que ces cellules ne présentaient plus ce phénotype caractéristique de la sénescence, mais des marqueurs de cellules mésenchymateuses, et que certaines d'entre elles avaient subi une dédifférenciation. Les résultats que nous avons obtenus indiquent que lors de l'expression de l'oncogène Ras, certaines cellules échappent à l'OIS et que cet échappement est associé à une EMT (Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition) et à l'émergence de cellules dédifférenciées. L'EMT contribuerait à l'échappement des cellules à l'arrêt du cycle cellulaire.

Activities of the DEAD box (Asp-Glu-Ala-Asp) family of proteins- including RNA-dependent ATPase and RNA helicase- function in all organisms to sculpt RNA-RNA duplex and RNA-protein complexes, ensuring that necessary rearrangements are rapidly and properly resolved during genetic information processing. Identified as a prototypic member of the DEAD box family and documented as an ATPase and RNA helicase, p68 plays essential and diverse functions in the control of gene expression ranging from pre-mRNA/rRNA processing and mRNA decay/stability to transcriptional activation and initiation. Despite the early implied roles in organ maturation and tumor progression, the functional contributions of p68 to growth/differentiation regulation and cancer development remain undefined. Here, we show c-Abl-dependent phosphorylation of p68 markedly associates with abnormal cell growth and cancer development. Importantly, we characterize an unanticipated signaling module through which p68 functionally contributes to Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition (EMT) and cell proliferation. p68, which appears to be phosphorylated by c-Abl at tyrosine 593, consequently promotes an EMT through its ability to recruit â-catenin into cell nucleus via a canonic Wnt/â-catenin axis independent way; accordingly, phosphor-p68 (phosphorylated at tyrosine 593 residue) also stimulates tumor cell growth, which requires the ATPase activity of the protein. These findings define a potential mechanism whereby phosphor-p68 recruits â-catenin into cell nucleus in ATP hydrolysis driven fashion and cooperatively regulates transcriptional programs that control an EMT. The dissertation thus demonstrates a tight coordination between DEAD box RNA helicase and cancer development.