Thymic epithelial cells (TECs) are indispensable for the development of T cells in the thymus. Two subtypes of TECs exist in the thymus, medullary mTECs and cortical cTECs. Both mTECs and cTECs originate from endodermal thymic epithelial progenitor cells (TEPCs) in the embryo, but how the differentiation of TEPCs is regulated is not well understood. The aims of this thesis were to establish the role of Notch signalling in TEPC differentiation, and how it interacts with known regulators such as FOXN1 and the NFκB pathway. Gene expression data showed that Notch is active in TEPCs and exhibits a correlation with the mTEC lineage. Loss of Notch function led to a significant reduction in the number of mTECs in the thymus, and this can be attributed to aberrant mTEC specification. Furthermore, the duration of Notch activity in determining mTEC number appears limited to the early phase of organogenesis, and precedes RANK/NFκB mediated mTEC proliferation. Gain of Notch function resulted in a considerable shift to a primitive, TEPC-like phenotype, and subsequently a latent increase in mTEC frequency. Finally, transcriptomic and functional analyses pointed to a cross-repressive mechanism between Notch and FOXN1 in TEPCs. Taken together, these results identified Notch as a novel regulator of mTEC specification, likely through maintaining the potency of fetal TEPCs, a prerequisite for mTEC lineage commitment.

The human thyroid epithelial cell HTori-3 has been transformed with doses of either chronic and acute x-rays or strontium beta particles. Models of the past have relied upon animal cell systems to mimic in vitro carcinogenesis. The HTori-3 system hoped to overcome the limitations associated with these types of models by using a human thyroid cell line immortalised with the SV40 virus. HTori-3 human thyroid epithelial cells were irradiated in vitro, passaged and then transplanted into nude mice. Tumours that grew over a 2-6 month period were excised and re-established in culture. Samples were stored and all tumours were taken for histological examination. Chromosome spreads confirmed the human nature of all tumours. Following exposure to acute x-rays in the range of 0.25-2.0 Gy 13 tumours were observed in 25 recipients. Following 0.25-2.0 Gy of chronic x-rays 10 tumours from 25 recipients were observed. From a single 2 Gy exposure of strontium beta particles 3 primary tumours from 5 recipients were observed. The largest of these was re-transplanted in nude mice resulting in 100% incidence. All tumours were classified as undifferentiated anaplastic carcinomas. A small number of tumours were observed in the control cell lines, these may be the result of a general instability found with the partial transformed parental cell line. All 2Gy tumours and those previously established from this laboratory after alpha or gamma radiation were used to test for the presence of the delayed lethal death phenotype. A number of cell and molecular endpoints were used. These included plating efficiency, cell adherence, micronucleus formation and p53 status. In all incidences, the reproductive viability of irradiated cells was below that of non- irradiated cells at up to 4 weeks post-irradiation. The HTori-3 cell line and the techniques used to study the delayed effects of radiation may be applicable to other cell systems and may be a useful model to study the long-term effects of radiation induced genomic instability.

Myo-[3H]-inositol accumulation in cultured bovine lens epithelial cells (BLECs) occurred by both high- and low affinity, Nat-dependent transport sites. High ambient glucose significantly inhibited myo-[ 3 H]-inositol uptake; the co-administration of sorbinil, an aldose reductase inhibitor, prevented the inhibitory effect on the low affinity transport site. A glucose-sensitive process for myo-[3 H]-inositol uptake on the high-affinity transport site was uncovered by Lineweaver-Burk analysis. Dixon plot analysis confirmed that the effect of glucose was due to competitive inhibition of the high-affinity myo-inositol transport site while the effect of sorbitol was due to competitive inhibition of the low-affinity myo-inositol transport site.

No description available.

Serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) has been shown to activate carbohydrate metabolism in adult female Ascaris suum. Serotonin may be either absorbed directly from the environment or synthesized de novo from the absorbed L-tryptophan in adult female A. suum. The enzymes necessary for the synthesis of 5-HT have been identified in both intestine and muscle tissues. The serotonin absorbed from the environment is obtained either from the host's gastrointestinal contents or from the 5-HT producing bacteria in the intestine of A. suum. Numerous 5-HT producing bacteria were identified in the intestinal microflora. The physiological contributions of 5-HT producing bacteria to the 5-HT level, turnover and binding sites in the intestinal tissue of A. suum were investigated.

The effects of 1,25(OH)2D3, PTH and 25(OH)D3 on phosphate or calcium uptake were studied in cultured, adherent chick enterocytes over a period of 10 min after hormone addition. Time course studies of cells treated with 130 pM 1,25(OH)2D3 showed an increase in 32P uptake as early as 3 min. Similar studies with 65 pM bPTH(l1-34) resulted in an increase in 45Ca uptake only if the cells had been cultured in serum. (OH)D3, which is not firmly established as an active metabolite of vitamin D, was shown to increase 45Ca uptake within 5 min at a 100 nM concentration. Analyses of signal transduction events involving each hormone were undertaken using PKC and PKA inhibitors, chelerythrine and Rp-cAMP, respectively. In the presence of PKC inhibitor and 1,25(OH)2D3 elevated 32P levels were apparent; however, further investigations involving efflux studies showed PKC inhibition of 32P extrusion in the presence or absence of hormone. On the other hand, suppression of the PKA pathway stimulated an increase in 1,25(OH)2D3-mediated 32P uptake. Preincubation of enterocytes with Ab099 against a putative membrane receptor for 1,25(OH)2D3 abolished steroid-stimulated 32P uptake. While PKC inhibition had no effect on 45Ca uptake in enterocytes exposed to 65 pM bPTH(1-34) in serum, pretreatment with PKA inhibitor resulted in 45Ca levels relatively close to basal levels. Cells pretreated with PKC inhibitor and exposed to 25(OH)D3 demonstrated no changes in 45Ca levels, whereas inhibition of PKA induced decreased 45Ca levels after 10 min of incubation. In equivalent time course studies of membrane trafficking using confocal microscopy, potential vectorial transport initiated by each hormone was analyzed with agonist alone or in the presence of PKC and PKA inhibitors. In addition 1,25(OH)2D3 was tested in the presence of Ab099 against its putative membrane receptor. Visualization of these experiments using the endocytotic marker dye, FM 1-43, demonstrated that hormone-mediated membrane trafficking is rapid enough to contribute to ion transport. These results also suggest that vectorial vesicular transport mechanisms were involved to some extent in response to each hormone. Moreover, the pattern for membrane trafficking was different for each agonist. These combined results indicate that adherent chick enterocytes demonstrate hormone-mediated uptake that occurs more rapidly than cells in suspension or in perfusion studies. This research supports previous studies that identify 25(OH)D3 as an active vitamin D metabolite. The PKA signal transduction pathway is a possible mechanism for PTH- and 25(OH)D3-mediated increases in 45Ca. In addition, a central role for the basal lateral membrane receptor protein, 1,25(OH)2D3MARRS-bp, in 1,25(OH)2D3-mediated 32P uptake is supported. Confocal imaging suggests that the transport mechanism for phosphate or calcium ions in the presence of these hormones involves vesicular carriers.

No description available.

Thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP), an epithelial-derived cytokine, has a critical role in the development of allergic inflammatory responses and have been implicated in type 2 allergic disease, including asthma, allergic rhinitis, and atopic dermatitis. Genetic polymorphisms in the TSLP gene are among the most commonly cited variants associated with asthma and allergic disease, however, the functional effects of these polymorphism are not fully understood. The objective of this study was to investigate the role of a TSLP polymorphism in the Th2 inflammatory responses of the nasal epithelium, as well as in responding to nasal allergen provocation and intranasal corticosteroid treatment. We cultured nasal epithelial cells from allergic asthmatic subjects and examined cytokine and chemokine secretions and gene expression profiles in response to polyinosinic:polycytidylic acid treatment. To explore the functional consequences of the rs1837253 polymorphism we analyzed the two TSLP gene isoforms, as they have shown dichotomous effects, however, no associations were found between rs1837253 genotype and the expression of TSLP and gene isoforms. We did not find any associations of TSLP or cytokine production between genotypes, or in relation to response to nasal allergen challenge or corticosteroid treatment. Exploration of local and systemic effects of the rs1837253 SNP did not show any differences in response to INCS treatment in vitro or ex vivo. We did demonstrate that nasal epithelial cell-derived factors are capable of stimulating eosinophil/basophil colony forming units in the absence and presence of exogenous IL-3. Overall, the results indicate a role of the nasal epithelium in driving eosinophil/basophil differentiation and highlight the complexity of gene-environment interactions and the mechanisms of asthma and allergic inflammation. / Thesis / Master of Science (MSc)

Although women constitute more than half of the estimated 34-40 million people living with HIV/AIDS worldwide, little is known about the early events of HIV-1 infection in the female genital tract (FGT). Genital epithelial cells (GECs) line the FGT and act as intrinsic barriers providing mechanical protection against foreign microbes. GECs are also sentient and are capable of sensing and immunologically responding to various types of pathogens including sexually transmitted infections (STIs). These responses play a central role in preventing disease and also help mobilize both innate and adaptive immune cells against invading threats. While it is well understood that GECs exert important physical and immunological protective roles in the FGT, little is known regarding the role of GECs and GEC inflammatory responses in HIV infection. It is estimated that 40% of all new HIV infections are established each year in the FGT. Our understanding of the early events following HIV transmission in the FGT remains particularly elusive in the context of endogenous or exogenous factors found in the genital microenvironment that may influence susceptibility to HIV-1. Inflammation is known to play a critical role in increasing HIV susceptibility, replication as well as initiating and maintaining chronic immune activation, a hallmark of disease progression. Among the key factors in the FGT that are known to or that could influence inflammation are sexually transmitted co-infections and female sex hormones. The work summarized in this thesis examines how GEC innate immune responses to co-infecting microbes or female sex hormones impact HIV infection and replication in the FGT. Our results show that GEC innate immune response against herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2), a common HIV co-infecting agent, consists of elevated proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines in addition to biologically active interferon-β. Furthermore, our results show that these responses require potent viral HSV-2 replication and that proinflammatory cytokine and chemokine responses are enhanced in the absence of the HSV-2 virus host shutoff protein. Based on this work, we decided to investigate whether GEC inflammatory responses to common STIs played a role in regulating HIV replication in T-cells. We found that HIV co-infecting microbes, specifically HSV-1, HSV-2 and Neisseria gonorrhoeae, directly induced HIV replication in T-cells, and caused primary GECs to upregulate inflammatory responses that indirectly increased HIV replication in T-cells. Next we examined a translational aspect of the aforementioned studies by examining whether blocking inflammatory pathways, using the broad anti-inflammatory compound curcumin, could provide prophylactic or therapeutic protection against HIV. We found that curcumin pre-treatment a) protected the genital epithelial barrier against HIV-1-mediated disruption and inflammation, b) prevented the gp120-mediated upregulation of chemokines by GECs that recruit HIV target cells to the FGT, c) blocked GEC innate inflammatory responses to co-infecting microbes and indirect activation of the HIV promoter in T-cells, d) decreased HIV amplification in chronically infected T-cells and e) blocked HSV-2 viral replication in GECs by a mechanism that likely involves NFκB. Lastly, it has long been speculated that female sex hormones can regulate inflammatory responses, and numerous lines of evidence suggest that they may also regulate susceptibility to HIV-1. Thus, we investigated how female sex hormones and the hormonal contraceptive medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA), used by more than 100 million women worldwide, regulated HIV infection and replication in GECs and whether inflammation played an important role in this regulation. Our results showed that progesterone and in particular MPA increased uptake of HIV-1 and transcytosis, but not replication, across GECs – in the absence of a proinflammatory milieu - and that this enhanced transcytosis resulted in increased infection of HIV target cells. These results demonstrate that sex hormones and co-infection both play an important role in regulating HIV-1 infection and replication in the FGT. Furthermore, our results suggest that anti-inflammatory compounds such as curcumin may offer paradigm shifting prophylactic or therapeutic strategies against HIV-1 infection and future research should investigate its potential benefit in vivo. / Thesis / Doctor of Philosophy (Medical Science)

Accessible in vitro models recapitulating the human airway that are amenable to study whole cannabis smoke exposure are needed for immunological and toxicological studies that inform public health policy as well as medicinal and recreational cannabis use. In the present study, we developed and validated a novel three-dimensional (3D)-printed in vitro exposure system (IVES) that can be directly applied to study the effect of cannabis smoke exposure on primary human bronchial epithelial cells (HBECs). Using commercially available design software and a 3D printer, we designed a four-chamber Transwell insert holder for exposures to whole smoke. COMSOL Multiphysics software was used to model gas distribution, concentration gradients, velocity profile, and shear stress within IVES. Following simulations, primary HBECs cultured at the air–liquid interface on Transwell inserts were exposed to whole cannabis smoke using a modified version of the Foltin puff procedure. Following 24 h, outcome measurements included cell morphology, epithelial barrier function, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels, cytokine expression and gene expression. HBECs exposed to cannabis smoke using IVES showed changes in cell morphology and disruption of barrier function without significant cytotoxicity. Cannabis smoke elevated interleukin-1 (IL-1) family cytokines and elevated CYP1A1 and CYP1B1 expression relative to control. These findings validate IVES to have an effect in HBECs at a molecular level following cannabis smoke exposure. In addition, HBECs stimulated with a viral mimetic, Poly I:C, challenge following cannabis smoke exposure showed a suppression of key antiviral cytokines. The growing legalization of cannabis on a global scale must be paired with research related to potential health impacts on lung exposures. IVES represents an accessible, open-source, exposure system that can be used to model varying types of cannabis smoke exposures with HBECs grown under air–liquid interface culture conditions. / Thesis / Master of Science (MSc) / Despite its recent legalization in Canada, cannabis smoke has been understudied and a lack of evidence exists to inform legislative policies, medicinal and recreational usage. Due to a lack of relevant ways to study cannabis smoke in a lab setting, it is difficult to accumulate literature around its impacts in the lungs. Here, we addressed this gap by engineering and validating a novel model to expose lung cultures to cannabis smoke. In addition, we investigated its impact on the immune response. Our findings suggest exposure to cannabis smoke alters the immune functions of these cells. We also found that in response to a viral mimetic stimulus, cell cultures pre-exposed to cannabis smoke exhibited impaired immune responses. Our novel model to expose cell cultures to cannabis smoke creates a foundation for future researchers to investigate environmental insults, such as cannabis smoke, in the context of respiratory health and infectious disease.