Neutrophils are significant players in both acute and chronic inflammatory conditions, and function in infectious and autoimmune ailments. MicroRNAs regulate homeostasis in health and disease by fine tuning the expression of a network of genes through post transcriptional regulation. Many microRNAs are expressed in restricted tissues, regulated by physiological conditions such as stress and disease, and are emerging as mediators for intercellular communication that shape the tissue environments. MicroRNA profiles have been recently utilized as biomarkers for diagnosis and prognostic purposes for their stability in plasma and significant correlation with the disease progress. In addition, several microRNAs are in clinical trials for infectious diseases, cardiovascular disorders and cancer. As for neutrophil biology, microRNAs that regulate hematopoiesis and neutrophil development are well known. However, only a few microRNAs are characterized in the context of neutrophil migration and activation by loss of function studies either in mice or in cell culture. In this work we characterize the role of total microRNA regulation on neutrophil function through whole body and neutrophil specific Dicer1 knockout, and identify a microRNA regulator of neutrophil motility. MiR-722 downregulates the transcript level of rac2 through binding to a seed match in the rac2 3'UTR. Furthermore, miR-722 over-expressing larvae display improved outcomes in both sterile and bacterial systemic models. Finally, the miR-722 mimics protect zebrafish from lethal LPS challenge, providing evidence and mechanism of an anti-inflammatory microRNA that restrains detrimental systemic inflammation. We further investigated the role of the inflammatory response in an ischemia-reperfusion model. Extensive future work is required, especially in animal models, to illustrate the pivotal and complex microRNA mediated regulatory network in neutrophils, which is expected to provide the foundation for highly selective microRNA based therapy to control neutrophil behavior in infection and inflammatory disorders.

O hepatoblastoma é uma neoplasia embrionária hepática que ocorre na faixa pediátrica, rara, sendo bastante heterogênea devido aos seus diferentes componentes epiteliais e mesenquimais. Pouco ainda se sabe a respeito de sua patogênese. Utilizando um microscópio de captura a laser foram dissecadas áreas de componente epitelial do hepatoblastoma e áreas de tecido hepático adjacente não acometido. Destas amostras obtidas de pacientes não submetidos ao tratamento prévio, foram extraídos RNA e confeccionados cDNA microarrays, para análise comparativa da expressão gênica, seguida de validação por método imunohistoquímico de alguns genes selecionados. Comparando neoplasia e tecido hepático em duas amostras criopreservadas foram identificados 70 genes diferencialmente expressos, sendo 19 hiperexpressos e 51 hipoexpressos no tumor. A maioria dos genes encontrados foi mapeada nos cromossomos 1 e 2. Dos genes selecionados para validação por método imuno-histoquímico, destacaram-se o receptor de Insulina e o TFE3 (genes hipoexpressos no cDNA microarray). A imunomarcação para o receptor de insulina foi positiva tanto no tecido hepático não acometido quanto no componente epitelial fetal do hepatoblastoma , mas foi consistentemente negativa nas amostras de componente embrionário (9/9). A imunomarcação para o TFE3 foi positiva no tecido hepático não acometido, e nos componentes epitelial fetal e embrionário, em proporção variável das células com expressão mais intensa no componente embrionário. As reações imuno-histoquímicas para os outros genes selecionados não permitiram interpretação conclusiva. A alta proporção dos genes diferencialmente expressos localizados nos cromossomos 1 e 2 reflete os achados citogenéticos relatados na literatura relacionada ao hepatoblastoma . Achados de imunoexpressão de proteínas relacionadas aos genes TFE3 e receptor de insulina no tecido hepático e nos diferentes componentes do hepatoblastoma são inéditos e sugerem participação da via sinalizadora da insulina na patogênese destes tumores / Hepatoblastoma is a rare tumor, and little is known about its pathogenesis and genetic alterations. Using a laser capture microdissection microscope we sampled areas of epithelial component of hepatoblastoma prior chemotherapy and their normal liver counterpart in order to perform the comparative gene expression analysis followed by the validation of selected genes by immunohistochemistry. Comparing tumor and non-diseased liver in two frozen samples, 70 differentially expressed genes were found, 19 overexpressed and 51 underexpressed in the tumor. Most of the genes were located at chromosomes 1 and 2. Of the genes selected for validation by immunohistochemistry, the most interesting findings came from Insulin receptor and TFE3 (both underexpressed genes). Insulin receptor was positive in non diseased liver and in the fetal component of the Hepatoblastoma but was consistently negative in the embryonal component (9/9 cases). The TFE3 staining was positive in the normal liver and fetal and embryonal components of the tumor in variable proportion of the cells, more marked in the embryonal component. The higher proportion of genes located at chromosomes 1 and 2 corroborates the cytogenetics findings reported in the literature related to Hepatoblastoma . The immunohistochemistry findings of different expression of insulin receptor in the fetal and embryonal components of Hepatoblastoma and the positivity of TFE3 in normal liver and in the tumors epithelial components deserves further investigation regarding the role of these genes to the pathogenesis of Hepatoblastoma

Une part prépondérante de la régulation au niveau transcriptionnel passe par la modulation du taux d’initiation de la transcription. Chez les bactéries,l’initiation de la transcription implique la reconnaissance par le facteur sigma de l’ANR polymérase d’un motif de séquence particulier localisé approximativement10 bp en amont du site d’initiation de la transcription(TSS). Elle est modulée par la fixation de facteurs de transcription qui reconnaissent d’autres motifs à proximité. La technologie RNA-Seq donne accès au répertoire des TSS et des unités de transcriptions et offre donc des perspectives renouvelées pour s’attaquer au problème de l’identification des motifs de fixation des facteurs de transcription. Ce travail de thèse a visé à évaluer les outils existants et à développer de nouvelles méthodes pour la prédiction des sites de fixation des facteurs de transcription en combinant l’information des profils d’expression et des positions des TSS. Plusieurs approches fondées sur les modèles de matrices poids-position (PWM) vont être explorées pour étendre le modèle de mélange classiquement utilisé en relâchant l’hypothèse selon laquelle les motifs correspondants aux différents sites de fixations apparaissent indépendamment dans les différentes régions promotrices. Dans les nouveaux modèles, nous prendrons explicitement en compte une probabilité supérieure d’apparition d’un même motif dans des promoteurs dont les profils d’activité sont similaires. Une attention particulière sera aussi portée à la position du motif par rapport au TSS et au site de fixation du facteur sigma. En parallèle des développements méthodologiques nous travaillerons aussi sur l’utilisation de ces approches pour reconstruire le réseau des régulations transcriptionnelles chez L. monocytogenes en s’appuyant sur les données de la littérature et du projet List MAPS. Enfin,nous envisageons d’utiliser l’information sur le réseau de régulation pour étudier un point particulier qui serait pertinent. / This PhD project takes place in List MAPS, a Horizon 2020-funded Marie Curie Actions InnovativeTraining Network (ITN) with the goal of understandingof the ecology of Listeria monocytogenesthrough the combination of high throughput Epigenetics, Deep sequencing of transcripts, Proteomics, Bioinformatics, Mathematics and Microbiology. Acentralobjective of the ITN is to decipher the mechanismsunderlying adaptation and virulence of L. monocytogenes“from farm to fork”.This PhD project (subproject9) aims to tackle the task of transcription regulatorynetwork construction. A significant part of regulationat the transcriptional level is achieved by modulationof transcription initiation rate. In bacteria, transcriptioninitiation relies on recognition of particular sequencemotif by a Sigma-factor approximately 10 bpupstream of the transcription start site (TSS) and ismodulated by the binding of transcription factors recognizingother sequence motifs located nearby. RNASeqtranscriptomics provides direct information on therepertoire of TSSs and transcription units and therebyoffers renewed perspectives to address the problemof transcription factor binding sites identification. Thegoal of this PhD project is to assess existing toolsand to develop new methods for prediction of TF bindingsites by combining expression profiles and preciseinformation on the location of the TSSs. Severalapproaches based on position weight matrix (PWM)models will be investigated to extend the classicalmixture model by relaxing the hypothesis that motifscorresponding to different TF binding sites occur independentlybetween TSS regions.In the new model,we will explicitly account for the increased probabilityof occurrence of a same motif in two promoters whentheir profiles of activity across conditions are similar. A particular attention will also be paid to the positionof the motif with respect to the TSS and the sigmafactor binding site. In parallel to the methodologicaldevelopments we will also work on the use of theseapproaches to build the transcription regulatory networkof L. monocytogenes based on data form theliterature and from the List MAPS project. Finally, wewish to use the information on the regulatory networkto tackle a particular point relevant for the List MAPSproject using a dedicated model.

No description available.

INTRODUÇÃO: Recentemente, a classificação molecular do câncer gástrico (CG) emergiu como opção promissora para definir subgrupos prognósticos, distinguir o comportamento biológico, além de permitir a identificação de potenciais alvos terapêuticos para drogas específicas. Por meio de técnicas moleculares, o CG foi dividido em 4 subtipos: instabilidade de microssatélites (MSI), vírus Epstein-Barr (EBV)-positivo, genomicamente estável (GS) e instabilidade cromossômica (CIN). Os custos associados à complexidade técnica das metodologias moleculares são ainda um obstáculo para sua implantação na prática de rotina. OBJETIVOS: Determinar os grupos da classificação molecular por meio da expressão proteica de marcadores associados a cada subtipo. Comparar as diferentes classificações moleculares existentes e propor um novo modelo. MÉTODOS: Foram avaliados, retrospectivamente, 287 pacientes com CG submetidos à gastrectomia-D2 curativa, por meio da construção de tissue microarray. A expressão das proteínas de reparo do DNA, E-caderina e p53 foram avaliadas por imuno-histoquímica (IH), determinando os grupos MSI, GS e CIN, respectivamente. O EBV foi detectado por hibridização in situ (ISH). RESULTADOS: Após avaliação histopatológica, 179 (62,4%) pacientes foram classificados como CIN, 58 (20,2%) MSI, 30 (10,5%) EBV e 20 (7%) como GS. Os subtipos associaram-se com características distintas, tais como: gênero masculino (EBV, p=0.101); idade avançada (MSI, p=0,017), menor relação neutrófilo-linfócito (CIN, p=0,029), gastrectomia total (EBV, p < 0,001), localização distal (MSI, p=0,004), Laurén difuso (GS, p < 0,001), e estádio avançado (GS, p=0,014). O subtipo MSI apresentou melhor sobrevida livre de doença (SLD) (82,8%), seguido pelo EBV e CIN (ambos com 70%) e GS (50%) (p=0.005). A sobrevida global (SG) foi maior nos tumores MSI (75,9%), seguido pelo EBV (73,3%), CIN (65.4%) e GS (45%, mediana de 25 meses) (p=0.007). Em análise multivariada, gastrectomia total, pT, pN e os subtipos tumorais foram fatores significativos associados à SLD (MSI p=0,012; EBV p=0,037; CIN p=0,018; GS referência). Do mesmo modo, o tipo de cirurgia, pT, e os subtipos tumorais foram fatores independentes associados a SG (MSI p=0,010; EBV p=0,006; CIN p=0,025; GS referência). Com base no risco de recidiva dos pacientes do estudo, nova classificação, que inclui 5 subtipos, foi proposta. Evidenciou-se que a classificação por risco e cluster tiveram melhor acurácia para identificar recidivas e óbitos respectivamente. CONCLUSÃO: A análise IH/ISH foi capaz de determinar subtipos de CG com características clinicopatológicas e prognósticos distintos, reproduzindo os subtipos obtidos pela classificação molecular / BACKGROUND: Recently, the molecular classification of gastric cancer (CG) emerged as a promising option to define prognostic subgroups, to distinguish biological behavior, and to identify potential therapeutic targets for specific drugs. Through molecular techniques, GC was divided into 4 subtypes: microsatellite instability (MSI), Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) positive, genomically stable (GS) and chromosomal instability (CIN). The costs associated with the technical complexity of the molecular methodologies are still an obstacle to its implementation in routine practice. OBJECTIVES: To determine molecular classification groups by means of protein expression of markers associated with each subtype. To compare the different existing molecular classifications and propose a new model. METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated 287 CG patients submitted to curative D2-gastrectomy through the construction of tissue microarray. Expression of the DNA repair proteins, E-cadherin and p53 were evaluated by immunohistochemistry (IH), determining the MSI, GS and CIN subtypes, respectively. EBV was detected by in situ hybridization (ISH). RESULTS: After the histopathological evaluation, 179 (62.4%) patients were classified as CIN, 58 (20.2%) MSI, 30 (10.5%) EBV and 20 GS (7%) as GS. The subtypes presented associations with distinct characteristics, such as: male gender (EBV, p=0.101); advanced age (MSI, p=0.017), Laurén diffuse type (GS, p < 0.001), lower neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (CIN, p=0.029), total gastrectomy (EBV, p < 0.001), distal location (MSI, p=0.004), and advanced stage (GS, p=0.014). The MSI subtype presented better disease-free survival (DFS) (82.8%), followed by the EBV and CIN subtypes (both with 70%) and GS (50%) (p=0.005). Overall survival (OS) was higher in MSI tumors (75.9%), followed by EBV (73.3%), CIN (65.4%) and GS (45%, median of 25 months) (p=0.007). In multivariate analysis, total gastrectomy, tumor invasion, lymph node metastasis, and tumor subtypes were significant factors associated with SLD (MSI p=0.012, EBV p=0.037, CIN p=0.018, GS reference). Likewise, type of surgery, pT, and tumor subtypes were independent factors associated with OS (p=0.010, p=0.010, EBV p=0.006, CIN p=0.025, GS reference). Based on the risk of recurrence, a new classification including 5 subtypes was proposed. It was evidenced that the risk classification and cluster had better accuracy to identify recurrences and deaths respectively. CONCLUSION: The IH / ISH analysis was able to determine CG groups with clinicopathological characteristics and distinct prognoses, reproducing the subtypes obtained by the molecular classification

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:22:21Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2008-08-19Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T19:07:44Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 oliveira_lhb_me_arafcf.pdf: 553720 bytes, checksum: b0f8f04b07802f8bf467e43259c87fba (MD5) / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP) / A maior expressão de alvos transcricionais e componentes da via NFkB é uma característica distintiva das células-tronco hematopoéticas (CTH) CD34+ de sangue de cordão umbilical (SCU) comparadas às CTH CD34+ de medula óssea (MO) e pode estar relacionada com o estado mais primitivo das CTH dos neonatos. No entanto, as células CD34+ são um grupo heterogêneo de célulastronco (CT) e progenitoras em diferentes estágios de maturação e diferenças na composição celular entre MO e SCU poderiam contribuir para os resultados mencionados. Estudos recentes têm identificado o marcador de superfície CD133, como um marcador de CT mais primitivas, expresso em uma subpopulação de células CD34bright, com um sugestivo potencial de hemangioblasto. Com o objetivo de caracterizar a composição celular de MO e SCU e identificar mecanismos moleculares envolvidos com a maior primitividade das células CD133+, propusemos avaliar o perfis imunofenotípico (quanto à expressão de CD34 e CD133) por citometria de fluxo e de expressão gênica de células CD34+ e células CD133+ selecionadas imunomagneticamente, de ambas as fontes, pelas técnicas de microarray e PCR em tempo real. Nossos resultados revelaram que enquanto a maioria das células CD133+ são CD34+, independente da fonte, as células CD34+ de SCU possuem uma porcentagem significativamente maior de células CD133+ do que às células CD34+ de MO. A análise de clusterização revelou que as células CD133+ de MO se agrupam com as células de SCU (CD34+ e CD133+), enquanto as CD34+ de MO aparecem como um grupo distinto. A comparação dos perfis de expressão gênica entre as células CD133+ e as células CD34+, revelou a hiper-expressão... / A higher expression of transcription targets and components of the NF-kB pathway is a distinctive feature of umbilical cord blood (UCB) CD34+ hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) when compared to bone marrow (BM) CD34+ HSC and this could be related to the more primitive state of the newborn’s HSC. However, CD34+ cells represent a heterogeneous group of cells composed by stem and progenitors cells in different developmental stages, and differences in cellular composition between both sources could contribute for these finding. The surface marker CD133 has been identified as a very primitive marker, expressed in a subpopulation of CD34bright, with a proposal hemangioblast potential. Thus, in attempt to better characterize the cellular composition of UCB and BM and to identify molecular mechanisms related to the more primitive characteristics of CD133+ cells, we proposed to evaluate the immunophenotypic profile (expression of CD34 and CD133) by flow-cytometry and the gene expression profiles of immunomagnetically selected CD34+ and CD133+ cells, from both sources, by microarray and Real time PCR. Our results highlighted that, while almost all CD133+ cells are CD34+ independently of the evaluated source, the UCB CD34+ cells showed a significantly higher proportion of CD133 expression, compared to BM CD34+ cells. After obtaining the expression profiles from distinct HSC pooled samples generated by microarrays, cluster analysis showed that BM CD133+ cells preferentially grouped with UCB cells (CD34+ and CD133+) instead of BM CD34+ cells, which appeared as a very distinct profile The comparison between CD133+ and CD34+ samples revealed the over-expression of 47 transcriptional factors (TF) in CD133+ cells, many of them well-known and related... (Complete abstract click electronic access below)

L'infertilité affecte environ 15% des couples et l'étiologie est masculine dans la moitié des cas.Cette thèse étudie trois facteurs de l'infertilité masculine et se divise en deux parties décrites ci-dessous. Dans la première partie,l'équipement chromosomique et la fragmentation de I'ADN spermatique dans les gamètes d'hommes infertiles ont été étudiés par la technique FISH et TUNEL. Chez 4 patients présentant une mosaïque gonosomique, un taux élevé de gamètes aneuploïdes et de fragmentation de I'ADN spermatique a été observé. Concernant les l3 patients ayant une anomalie chromosomique de structure, l'équipement chromosomique et l'état de I'ADN spermatique ont été analysés dans chaque gamète. Les résultats montrent que les gamètes chromosomiquement déséquilibrés ont un ADN plus fragmenté que ceux dont l'équipement chromosomique est normal ou équilibré. Dans la deuxième partie, la mise au point d'une technique d'étude du transcriptome dans les spermatozoïdes a été faite sur des échantillons de sperme frais et congelé. La combinaison d'un gradient de densités discontinues et d'une lyse des cellules somatiques permet d'éliminer complètement des cellules somatiques en récupérant le maximum possible de spermatozoïdes dans le sperme. Le kit NucleoSpin RNA XS (Macherey Nagel) est plus adapté pour I'extraction d'ARN spermatiques que le kit d'extraction d'ARN de chez Qiagen. La pureté des ARN spermatiques est vérifiée par RT-PCR et le Bioanalyzer 2700. Ces deux méthodes donnent des résultats similaires et concordants. L'analyse de microarray montre que les spermatozoïdes frais ne partagent pas le même profil d'expression génétique que les spermatozoïdes congelés. / Infertility affects about 15% of couples with male factor found in half of the cases. This Ph.D thesisinvestigates three causes of male infertility including chromosomal abnormality, genetic disorderand factors related to alterations in sperm DNA quality. The thesis is organized into two parts.In the first part, the chromosomal equipment and sperm DNA fragmentation in gametes of infertilemen were assessed by FISH and TUNEL. On the one hand, a high rate of aneuploid gametes andsperm DNA fragmentation were observed in four patients with gonosomal mosaicism. On the otherhand, analysis of chromosomal equipment and sperm nuclear DNA in each gamete from 13 patientswith structural chromosome abnormalities showed that unbalanced gametes have more fragmentedDNA than normal or balanced ones.In the second part, a technique for analysing the transcriptome in spermatozoa was developed onfresh and frozen semen. In fact, the combination of a discontinuous density gradient and a somaticcell lysis solution makes it possible to completely eliminate somatic cells and to recover as manysperms in the semen as possible. The XS NucleoSpin RNA kit (Macherey Nagel) was found to bemore suitable for RNA extraction than the RNA extraction kit from Qiagen. The purity of sperm RNA was verified by both RT-PCR and the Bíoanalyzer 2100. These two methods have yieldedsimilar and consistent results. The microarray analysis showed that fresh sperms do not share thesame gene expression profile than frozen ones.

Orientador: Dimas Tadeu Covas / Banca: Dimas Tadeu Covas / Banca: Rodrigo Alexandre Panepucci / Banca: Haroldo Wilson Moreira / Resumo: A maior expressão de alvos transcricionais e componentes da via NFkB é uma característica distintiva das células-tronco hematopoéticas (CTH) CD34+ de sangue de cordão umbilical (SCU) comparadas às CTH CD34+ de medula óssea (MO) e pode estar relacionada com o estado mais primitivo das CTH dos neonatos. No entanto, as células CD34+ são um grupo heterogêneo de célulastronco (CT) e progenitoras em diferentes estágios de maturação e diferenças na composição celular entre MO e SCU poderiam contribuir para os resultados mencionados. Estudos recentes têm identificado o marcador de superfície CD133, como um marcador de CT mais primitivas, expresso em uma subpopulação de células CD34bright, com um sugestivo potencial de hemangioblasto. Com o objetivo de caracterizar a composição celular de MO e SCU e identificar mecanismos moleculares envolvidos com a maior primitividade das células CD133+, propusemos avaliar o perfis imunofenotípico (quanto à expressão de CD34 e CD133) por citometria de fluxo e de expressão gênica de células CD34+ e células CD133+ selecionadas imunomagneticamente, de ambas as fontes, pelas técnicas de microarray e PCR em tempo real. Nossos resultados revelaram que enquanto a maioria das células CD133+ são CD34+, independente da fonte, as células CD34+ de SCU possuem uma porcentagem significativamente maior de células CD133+ do que às células CD34+ de MO. A análise de clusterização revelou que as células CD133+ de MO se agrupam com as células de SCU (CD34+ e CD133+), enquanto as CD34+ de MO aparecem como um grupo distinto. A comparação dos perfis de expressão gênica entre as células CD133+ e as células CD34+, revelou a hiper-expressão... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: A higher expression of transcription targets and components of the NF-kB pathway is a distinctive feature of umbilical cord blood (UCB) CD34+ hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) when compared to bone marrow (BM) CD34+ HSC and this could be related to the more primitive state of the newborn's HSC. However, CD34+ cells represent a heterogeneous group of cells composed by stem and progenitors cells in different developmental stages, and differences in cellular composition between both sources could contribute for these finding. The surface marker CD133 has been identified as a very primitive marker, expressed in a subpopulation of CD34bright, with a proposal hemangioblast potential. Thus, in attempt to better characterize the cellular composition of UCB and BM and to identify molecular mechanisms related to the more primitive characteristics of CD133+ cells, we proposed to evaluate the immunophenotypic profile (expression of CD34 and CD133) by flow-cytometry and the gene expression profiles of immunomagnetically selected CD34+ and CD133+ cells, from both sources, by microarray and Real time PCR. Our results highlighted that, while almost all CD133+ cells are CD34+ independently of the evaluated source, the UCB CD34+ cells showed a significantly higher proportion of CD133 expression, compared to BM CD34+ cells. After obtaining the expression profiles from distinct HSC pooled samples generated by microarrays, cluster analysis showed that BM CD133+ cells preferentially grouped with UCB cells (CD34+ and CD133+) instead of BM CD34+ cells, which appeared as a very distinct profile The comparison between CD133+ and CD34+ samples revealed the over-expression of 47 transcriptional factors (TF) in CD133+ cells, many of them well-known and related... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Mestre

Orientadores: Carlos Eduardo Steiner, Claudia Vianna Maurer Morelli / Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-19T22:10:07Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Scherrer_DanielZanetti_D.pdf: 3629453 bytes, checksum: 18c59f0316e08a663d1352236ede8f6e (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012 / Resumo: Cutis laxa autossômica tipo II (CLAR tipo II) é um distúrbio raro do tecido conectivo em que a pele perde sua firmeza, cedendo excessivamente e conferindo ao indivíduo um aspecto envelhecido. Sugere-se que CLAR tipo II seja a mesma entidade descrita como "síndrome da pele enrugada" e gerodermia osteodisplástica. Tal confusão quanto à nomenclatura é, em parte, causada pelo conhecimento limitado de suas bases biológicas. O presente estudo visou analisar três famílias não aparentadas com quadro típico de CLAR tipo II para mutações nos genes ATP6V0A2, SCYL1BP1 e PYCR1. Nenhuma mutação foi identificada nos genes ATP6V0A2 e SCYL1BP1. Por outro lado, a triagem de mutações por sequenciamento direto do DNA no gene PYCR1, que desempenha um papel crítico na biossíntese de prolina, revelou duas novas variantes (p.Q10X e p.A241V), com efeito patogênico predito por análises de bioinformática. Em complementação, foi determinado o perfil de expressão gênica em tecido de pele e fibroblasto a partir de dois indivíduos com CLAR tipo II pela investigação de microarranjos, identificando os genes e as vias metabólicas possivelmente alteradas em tal condição, com a finalidade de entender os mecanismos subjacentes a este tipo de cutis laxa. Foi utilizado o Human Genome U133 Plus 2.0 array (Affymetrix¿), e analisados por meio dos pacotes Affy e RankProd do BioConductor. O perfil transcricional apresentado por pele fresca pela análise de microarranjos nos indivíduos com CLAR tipo II detectou 542 genes diferencialmente expressos em comparação com controles saudáveis pareados por sexo, idade e topografia anatômica. A análise de enriquecimento das categorias de ontologia gênica, utilizando o programa DAVID, incluiu a diferenciação e desenvolvimento epidérmico, ectodérmico e de queratinócitos. As vias de sinalização mais ativadas analisadas por software Ingenuity foram relacionadas a doenças e condições dermatológicas, além de "câncer, desenvolvimento e função do tecido conjuntivo, esquelético e muscular", bem como o metabolismo lipídico. Este é o primeiro estudo utilizando investigação de microarranjos na doença CLAR tipo II. Os resultados incluíram duas novas alterações genéticas (p.Q10X e p.A241V), além de fornecer uma visão completa das vias celulares diferencialmente expressas em tal condição. Desta forma, estes resultados contribuem para uma melhor compreensão da CLAR tipo II quanto aos mecanismos moleculares e nosologia / Abstract: Autosomal recessive cutis laxa, type 2 (ARCL2), is a rare disorder of connective tissue in which the skin sags excessively, giving to the individual an aged aspect. It has been suggested that ARCL2 is the same entity described under the denominations of wrinkly skin syndrome and gerodermia osteodysplastica. Such confusion is caused, in part, due to limited knowledge of its molecular basis. In the present study three unrelated families with ARCL2 were analyzed for mutations in ATP6V0A2, SCYL1BP1, and PYCR1. No causative mutations were identified in ATP6V0A2 and SCYL1BP1. However, screening for mutations in PYCR1 revealed two new variant (p.Q10X and p.A241V) by direct DNA sequencing, with predicted pathogenic effect on bioinformatic analysis. In complementation, in order to shed some light into the molecular mechanisms underlying this type of cutis laxa, gene expression profile in skin tissue and fibroblast were studied in two patients with ARCL2 using microarray investigation. This study was performed using the Human Genome U133 Plus 2.0 array (Affymetrix¿), and analyzed using Affy and RankProd packages from Bioconductor. Transcriptional profiling in skin tissue by microarray analysis from ARCL2 patients detected 542 differentially expressed genes compared to healthy controls matched by gender, age, and anatomic region. The top enriched gene ontology categories analyzed by DAVID included the differentiation and development of keratinocytes, epidermis and ectoderm. Among the most activated signaling pathways analyzed by Ingenuity software were related diseases and dermatological conditions and "cancer, connective tissue development and function, skeletal and muscular systems" as well as lipid metabolism. This is the first study using microarray investigation in the ARCL2 disease. Our results include two new genetic alterations (p.Q10X and p.A241V) and also provide a complete view of cellular pathways differentially expressed in such condition. The present study contributed to a better understanding of ARCL2 molecular mechanisms and nosology of this group / Doutorado / Ciencias Biomedicas / Doutor em Ciências Médicas

Deux tiers des cancers du sein expriment des récepteurs hormonaux ostrogéniques (tumeur ER-positive) et la croissance de ces tumeurs est stimulée par l’estrogène. Des traitements adjuvant avec des anti-estrogènes, tel que le Tamoxifen et les Inhibiteurs de l’Aromatase peuvent améliorer la survie des patientes atteinte de cancer du sein. Toutefois la thérapie hormonale n’est pas efficace dans toutes les tumeurs mammaires ER-positives. Les tumeurs peuvent présenter avec une résistance intrinsèque ou acquise au Tamoxifen. Présentement, c’est impossible de prédire quelle patiente va bénéficier ou non du Tamoxifen. Des études préliminaires du laboratoire de Dr. Mader, ont identifié le niveau d’expression de 20 gènes, qui peuvent prédire la réponse thérapeutique au Tamoxifen (survie sans récidive). Ces marqueurs, identifié en utilisant une analyse bioinformatique de bases de données publiques de profils d’expression des gènes, sont capables de discriminer quelles patientes vont mieux répondre au Tamoxifen. Le but principal de cette étude est de développer un outil de PCR qui peut évaluer le niveau d’expression de ces 20 gènes prédictif et de tester cette signature de 20 gènes dans une étude rétrospective, en utilisant des tumeurs de cancer du sein en bloc de paraffine, de patients avec une histoire médicale connue. Cet outil aurait donc un impact direct dans la pratique clinique. Des traitements futiles pourraient être éviter et l’indentification de tumeurs ER+ avec peu de chance de répondre à un traitement anti-estrogène amélioré. En conséquence, de la recherche plus appropriée pour les tumeurs résistantes au Tamoxifen, pourront se faire. / Two thirds of breast cancers express the estrogen receptor (ER-positive tumours) and estrogens stimulate growth of these tumours. Adjuvant therapy with anti-estrogens such as Tamoxifen and Aromatase Inhibitors has been shown to increase survival in breast cancer patients. This treatment is, however, not successful in all ER-positive tumours. Tumours can present intrinsic or acquired resistance to Tamoxifen. However, it is currently impossible to predict which patient will benefit from Tamoxifen therapy and which will not. Preliminary studies in Dr. Mader’s lab have identified 20 genes whose expression levels in tumours are able to predict the response to Tamoxifen therapy (disease-free survival). These markers, identified using bioinformatics analysis of published gene expression datasets, were able to discriminate patients that would respond best to Tamoxifen from those that did not. The overall purpose of this study is to develop a PCR kit to monitor expression levels of these 20 genes and to test this 20-gene signature in a retrospective study using paraffin-embedded breast cancer tissues of patients with a known medical history. This tool may thus have a direct impact on clinical practice through the development of markers of therapeutic success for treatment with Tamoxifen and possibly Aromatase Inhibitors. Futile treatments would be avoided thus preventing needless side effects, and improved identification of ER+ tumours with a low chance of success to anti-estrogen therapy. This will facilitate research into more appropriate treatments for hormone resistant tumours.