The FK506-binding proteins (FKBPs) are a class of peptidyl-prolyl isomerase enzyme (PPIs) that catalyze the cis-trans inter-conversion of peptidyl-prolyl bonds in proteins. This non-covalent post-translational modification is a reversible mechanism to modulate protein structure and function. PPIs have been implicated in a wide variety of processes from protein folding to signal transduction. Despite these enzymes being ubiquitous, the substrates and functions of most PPIs have yet to be described. FKBP25 is a nuclear FKBP that has been shown to associate with transcription factors and chromatin modifying enzymes, however its functions and substrates remain largely unresolved. FKBP25 is the human ortholog of S. cerevisiae Fpr4, which has been shown to regulate the chromatin landscape by two distinct mechanisms: 1. Acting as a histone chaperone at ribosomal DNA, and 2. Isomerizing histone prolines. Based on these observations, I hypothesized FKBP25 regulates chromatin and/or ribosome biogenesis through isomerization of histone prolines and a discrete collection of substrate proteins. While small molecule inhibitors exist for FKBPs, applying them to dissect the specific function(s) of any given FKBP is confounded by the fact that multiple FKBPs are found in each organism, and several are inhibited by these molecules. In Chapter 2, I biochemically and structurally characterize a set of FKBP25 loss-of-function mutants, yielding a toolset capable of distinguishing between catalytic and non-catalytic functions. These reagents provide the tools necessary to analyze potential substrates of FKBP25 identified in my research going forward. In Chapter 3, I present the first unbiased proteomic screen of FKBP25 associated proteins and show that it interacts with a large number of ribosomal proteins, ribosomal processing factors and a smaller subset of chromatin proteins. I focus on the interaction between FKBP25 and nucleolin, a multi-functional nucleolar protein, and show that FKBP25 interacts with nucleolin and the pre-60s ribosomal subunit in an RNA dependent fashion. In Chapter 4, I gain insight into the role of FKBP25 in ribosome biology, and demonstratex that FKBP25 regulates RNA binding activity of nucleolin, however this does not appear to involve cis-trans prolyl isomerization. Collectively, my work establishes FKBP25 as the first human FKBP to be implicated in the maturation of the pre-60S ribosomal subunit in the nucleus. My data supports a model whereby FKBP25 associates with the assembling large ribosomal subunit, where it is likely to chaperone protein-RNA interactions. / Graduate

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(ENGLISH) Background: The investigation of the immunosuppression usage in cardiovascular surgery and interventional cardiology is, at present, concentrated on three main topics: 1) influence on intimal hyperplasia of coronary and peripheral vascular reconstructions 2) influence on rejection of allogeneic vascular grafts and 3) influence on intimal hyperplasia of coronary arteries after endovascular interventions. Modern immunosuppressive drug FK506 (Tacrolimus) could have a positive effect for these indications. In experimental study, FK506 inhibited rejection of arterial allografts and also inhibited intimal hyperplasia in percutaneous coronary interventions. Aims: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of systemic tacrolimus treatment on the process of arterialisation of allogeneic and syngeneic venous grafts in a rat vein-to-artery implantation model. Material and Methods: Lewis (LEW) rats were used as recipients of syngeneic (Lewis) or allogeneic (Brown-Norway; BN) iliolumbar veins which were implanted into abdominal aorta. Recipients were divided into six groups. In groups A, E and F were animals after syngeneic (LEW to LEW) and in groups B, C and D were animals after allogeneic (BN to LEW) transplantations. Animals in the groups C and F had daily intramuscular injections of...

(ENGLISH) Background: The investigation of the immunosuppression usage in cardiovascular surgery and interventional cardiology is, at present, concentrated on three main topics: 1) influence on intimal hyperplasia of coronary and peripheral vascular reconstructions 2) influence on rejection of allogeneic vascular grafts and 3) influence on intimal hyperplasia of coronary arteries after endovascular interventions. Modern immunosuppressive drug FK506 (Tacrolimus) could have a positive effect for these indications. In experimental study, FK506 inhibited rejection of arterial allografts and also inhibited intimal hyperplasia in percutaneous coronary interventions. Aims: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of systemic tacrolimus treatment on the process of arterialisation of allogeneic and syngeneic venous grafts in a rat vein-to-artery implantation model. Material and Methods: Lewis (LEW) rats were used as recipients of syngeneic (Lewis) or allogeneic (Brown-Norway; BN) iliolumbar veins which were implanted into abdominal aorta. Recipients were divided into six groups. In groups A, E and F were animals after syngeneic (LEW to LEW) and in groups B, C and D were animals after allogeneic (BN to LEW) transplantations. Animals in the groups C and F had daily intramuscular injections of...

La miastenia gravis es una enfermedad autoinmune mediada por anticuerpos anti-receptor de acetilcolina del músculo esquelético. Su tratamiento incluye: La timectomia y la inmunosupresión con los corticoides, la azatioprina y la ciclosporina. Estos inmunosupresores son efectivos, pero el manejo de los pacientes con miastenia gravis generalizada refractaria y con efectos adversos secundarios al tratamiento prolongado con corticoides continúa sin solución. Tacrolimus (FK506) es un macrólido parecido a la ciclosporina y con potente efecto inmunosupresor. Basados en prometedores resultados iniciales con este fármaco, hemos iniciado dos trabajos prospectivos tratando con tacrolimus a un grupo de pacientes afectos de miastenia gravis refractaria, en que no es posible reducir la dosis de prednisona y/o presentan importantes efectos secundarios a la prednisona y/o ciclosporina. El primer estudio corresponde a un grupo de 15 pacientes, 2 fueron excluidos, uno por no cumplir los criterios de inclusión y el otro por decisión propia, los 13 incluidos completaron el estudio, todos timectomizados y afectos de miastenia gravis refractaria al tratamiento con prednisona y ciclosporina, que han sido tratados con tacrolimus (FK506) durante 12 meses a dosis de 0.1 mg/Kg de peso/día repartidos en dos tomas y ajustando la dosis en función de los niveles plasmáticos de este fármaco, para alcanzar concentraciones entre 7 y 8 ng/mL. La dosis de prednisona se ha reducido progresivamente hasta retirarla. Los títulos de los anticuerpos anti-receptor de acetilcolina y la escala del grado de severidad de la miastenia gravis se han reducido de manera significativa y la fuerza muscular ha aumentado en un 37%. Todos los pacientes presentaron remisión farmacológica, 11 asintomáticos y 2 con discreta ptosis palpebral. Tacrolimus fue bien tolerado y puede ser una alternativa en enfermos miastenicos que no responden a los inmunosupresores convencionales. El segundo trabajo corresponde a un grupo de 86 pacientes con 7 excluidos, 3 por no acudir a las visitas y 4 por decisión propia, de los 79 pacientes incluidos, timectomizados y con dependencia de la prednisona y ciclosporina que han recibido tacrolimus durante una media de 2.5 ± 0.8 años. La prednisona se ha retirado en todos los enfermos excepto dos. Los títulos de anticuerpos anti-receptor de acetilcolina y la escala de severidad de la enfermedad se han reducido de manera significativa y la fuerza muscular ha mejorado en un 39%. Estos dos estudios representan el núcleo de esta tesis doctoral y las conclusiones son: 1) El tratamiento con tacrolimus, ha permitido suspender la ciclosporina y una reducción progresiva de la prednisona hasta poder retirarla de forma total en el 98% de los casos, con la consiguiente reducción del 63.2% de los efectos secundarios a estos dos fármacos.2) Se ha observado un aumento de la fuerza muscular del 39% con el uso del tacrolimus. Esto ha permitido mejorar la calidad de vida de estos pacientes a nivel social, laboral y familiar.3) Los niveles de anticuerpos anti-receptor de acetilcolina han experimentado una reducción del 86.14% con la utilización del FK506. 5) Con el tacrolimus, a dosis de 0.1mg/kg./día y durante más de tres años, no hemos observado la aparición de recidivas en los casos de timomas invasivos.6) El tratamiento con tacrolimus mejora los resultados, con remisión completa del 5.1% y remisión farmacológica del 87.3 % sin provocar efectos secundarios importantes y con buena tolerancia en la mayoría de los pacientes.7) No se ha evidenciado diferencias en la respuesta terapéutica al tacrolimus en los pacientes con o sin timoma.8) Los resultados nos permiten apuntar al tacrolimus como un inmunosupresor a tener muy en cuenta en el tratamiento de la miastenia gravis. / Myasthenia gravis is an autoimmune disease caused usually by antibodies against the acetylcholine receptor of skeletal muscle. Its current treatment includes thymectomy as an early consideration, and several immunosuppressive agents, such as corticosteroids, azathioprine and cyclosporine. Although immunosuppressive regimens are very effective, important issues related to the management of patients with generalized uncontrollable myasthenic symptoms or serious side effects of long-term steroid treatment remained unanswered. Tacrolimus (FK506) is a macrolide molecule of the same immunosuppressant class as cyclosporine and has a potent immunosuppressive. Successful treatment of myasthenia gravis with tacrolimus has been recently reported in patients with intractable myasthenia. Based on these encouraging initial results we started two prospective studies to evaluate the efficacy of Tacrolimus in myasthenic patients with residual myasthenia gravis in whom it was not possible to reduce the doses of prednisone and/or due to the occurrence of important side effects of cyclosporine and/or side effects of prednisone.A first study consisted of 15 patients, 2 were excluded. In one patient, inclusion criteria were not met at baseline assessment and another patient through his own decision. Therefore, 13 patients completed the study. All with myasthenia gravis, unresponsive to prednisone and cyclosporine after thymectomy, received FK506 (tacrolimus) for 12 months, at starting doses of 0.1 mg/kg per day b.i.d. and then adjusted to achieve plasma concentrations between 7 and 8 ng/mL. The doses of prednisone were progressively reduced and finally discontinued. Anti-acetylcholine antibodies and myasthenia gravis score for disease severity decreased significantly and muscular strength increased by 37%. All patients achieved pharmacological remission, 11 were asymptomatic and two had minimal weakness of eyelid closure. Tacrolimus was well tolerated and appears a suitable approach after unsuccessful treatment with conventional immunosuppressants in patients with disabling myasthenia.A second prospective study consisted of 86 patients, seven were excluded due to failure to attend control visits (n=4) and voluntary decision to quit (n=3). Of the seventy-nine patients with cyclosporine- and prednisone dependent myasthenia gravis (MG) after thymectomy received tacrolimus for a mean of 2.5 ± 0.8 years. Prednisone was withdrawn in all but two patients. Anti-acetylcholine antibodies and MG score for disease severity decreased significantly and muscular strength increased by 39%. Those two studies represent the nucleus of this Doctoral Thesis and the conclusions are: 1) The treatment with tacrolimus permitted withdrawn cyclosporine and the dose of prednisone were reduced and finally withdrawn in 98% of patients and the adverse effects related to both drugs was decreased in 63.2%.2) We observed an improvement of muscular strength with an increase of 39% using tacrolimus. All patients resumed full activities of daily living. 3) Anti-acetylcholine antibodies also decreased significantly in 86.14% using FK506.4) Tacrolimus for more than three years, at starting doses of 0.1 mg/kg per day, we don't observe relapse en cases with invasive thymoma.5) Tacrolimus improve results; complete stable remission was achieved in 5.1% of patients and pharmacologic remission in 87.3% without an important side effect and was well tolerated by all patients.6) The clinical response of patient with thymic hyperplasia and patients with thymoma was similar.7) The present results add evidence to the benefits of including tacrolimus in the therapeutic armamentarium of myasthenia gravis.

Protein coding genes are comprised of protein-coding exons and non-protein-coding introns. The process of splicing involves removal of the introns and joining of the exons to form a mature messenger RNA, which subsequently undergoes translation into polypeptide. The spliceosome is a large, RNA/protein assembly of five small nuclear RNAs as well as over 300 proteins, which catalyzes intron removal and exon ligation. The selection of specific exons for inclusion in the mature messenger RNA is spatio-temporally regulated and results in production of an enormous diversity of polypeptides from a single gene locus. This phenomenon, known as alternative splicing, is regulated, in part, by protein splicing factors, which target the spliceosome to exon/intron boundaries. The first part of my dissertation (Chapters II and III) focuses on the discovery and characterization of the 45 kilodalton FK506 binding protein (FKBP45), which I discovered in the silk moth, Bombyx mori, as a U1 small nuclear RNA binding protein. This protein family binds the immunosuppressants FK506 and rapamycin and contains peptidyl-prolyl cis-trans isomerase activity, which converts polypeptides from cis to trans about a proline residue. This is the first time that an FKBP has been identified in the spliceosome. The second section of my dissertation (Chapters IV, V, VI and VII) is an investigation of the potential role of small nuclear RNA sequence variants in the control of splicing. I identified 46 copies of small nuclear RNAs in the 6X whole genome shotgun of the Bombyx mori p50T strain. These variants may play a role in differential binding of specific proteins that mediate alternative splicing. Along these lines, further investigation of U2 snRNA sequence variants in Bombyx mori demonstrated that some U2 snRNAs preferentially assemble into high molecular weight spliceosomal complexes over others. Expression of snRNA variants may represent another mechanism by which the cell is able to fine tune the splicing process.

No description available.

The amino acid proline is unique – within a polypeptide chain, proline adopts either a cis or trans peptide bond conformation while all other amino acids are sterically bound primarily in the trans configuration. In proteins, the isomeric state of a single proline can have dramatic consequences on structure and function. Consequently, cis-trans interconversion confers both barrier and opportunity – on one hand, isomerization is a rate limiting step in de novo protein folding and on the other can be utilized as a post-translational regulatory switch. Peptidyl-prolyl isomerases (PPIs) are a ubiquitous superfamily that catalyzes the interconversion between conformers. Although pervasive, the functions and substrates of most PPIs are unknown. The two largest subfamilies, FKBPs and cyclophilins, are the intracellular receptors of clinically relevant immunosuppressant drugs that also show promise in the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders and cancer. Therefore, narrowing the knowledge gap has significant potential to benefit human health. FKBP25 is a high-affinity binder of the PPI inhibitor rapamycin and is one of few nuclear-localized isomerases. While it has been shown to bind DNA and associate with chromatin, its function has remained largely uncharacterized. I hypothesized that FKBP25 targets prolines in nuclear proteins to regulate chromatin-templated processes. To explore this, I performed high-throughput transcriptomic and proteomic studies followed by detailed molecular characterizations of FKBP25’s function. Here, I discover that FKBP25 is a multifunctional protein required for the maintenance of genomic stability. In Chapter 2, I characterize the unique N-terminal Basic Tilted Helical Bundle (BTHB) domain of FKBP25 as a novel dsRNA binding module that recruits FKBP25’s prolyl isomerase activity to pre-ribosomal particles in the nucleolus. In Chapter 3, I show for the first time that FKBP25 associates with the mitotic spindle apparatus and acts to stabilize the microtubule cytoskeleton. In this chapter, I also present evidence that this function influences the stress response, cell cycle, and chromosomal stability. Additionally, I characterize the regulation of FKBP25’s localization and nucleic acid binding activity throughout the cell cycle. Finally, in Chapter 4, I uncover a role for FKBP25 in the repair of DNA double-stranded breaks. Importantly, this function requires FKBP25’s catalytic activity, identifying for the first time a functional requirement for cis-trans prolyl isomerization by FKBP25. Collectively, this work identifies FBKP25 as a multifunctional protein that is required for the maintenance of genomic stability. The knowledge gained contributes to the exploration of PPIs as important drug targets. / Graduate

Le récepteur neurokinine 1 (NK1R) est impliqué dans la régulation des réponses immunitaires innées et adaptatives. Cependant, les mécanismes par lesquels le NK1R modulerait ces réponses ne sont pas connus. Chez les cellules T, les voies de la calcineurine et de la mTOR constituent les cibles d’immunosuppresseurs, comme la cyclosporine A (CsA), le tacrolimus et la rapamycine. Ainsi, nous avons voulu déterminer si le NK1R pourrait agir sur ces voies et si le blocage pharmacologique du NK1R avec des antagonistes sélectifs, pourrait augmenter l’action de ces immunosuppresseurs sur l’activation des cellules T. Tout d’abord, nos résultats ont montré que les cellules Jurkat (celules T humaines) exprimaient à la fois le gène du NK1R et de son ligand (les endokinines). Ceci suggère l'existence d'une régulation autocrine tachykinergique de la fonction des cellules T. Cette hypothèse est appuyée par nos données, où nous avons observé que le blocage du NK1R avec des antagonistes spécifiques (L-733,060 et L-703,606) chez les cellules Jurkat, inhibe la production d'IL-2 et diminue l'activation du NFAT (substrat de la calcineurine). De façon intéressante, nous avons montré un effet de combinaison entre les antagonistes du NK1R et les inhibiteurs de la calcineurine (CsA et tacrolimus) sur la production d’IL-2 et l’activation du NFAT. En revanche, le blocage du NK1R n'a pas d'effet inhibiteur sur l’activation de la mTOR et la p70S6K, mais réduit la phosphorylation de S6R (Ser235/236) et Akt (Ser473). Enfin, nous n’avons observé aucun effet de combinaison avec la rapamycine et l’antagoniste NK1R sur l’activation de mTOR et de sa voie de signalisation. L’ensemble de nos résultats, démontrent la présence d'un nouveau mécanisme de régulation de NFAT impliquant le système tachykinergique NK1R/endokinines chez les cellules T. Par conséquent, nous suggérons que la combinaison des antagonistes NK1R avec les inhibiteurs de la calcineurine pourrait être une alternative thérapeutique intéressante afin de réduire les doses de CsA et le FK506 dans les protocoles de prévention de rejet de greffes. / There are increasing evidences for a role of the neurokinin 1 receptor (NK1R) in the regulation of innate and adaptive immune systems. However, whether NK1R regulates calcineurin/nuclear factor of activated T cell (NFAT) and mTOR pathways in T cells is unknown. These signalling pathways being targets of the immunosuppressive drugs cyclosporine A (CsA), FK506 and rapamycin respectively. We also examined whether pharmacological blockade of NK1R may be combined to those immunosuppressors to repress T cell activation. In this article, we first show that Jurkat T cells express both genes for NK1R and its ligands endokinins which suggests the existence of an autocrine tachykinergic regulation of T cells function. This hypothesis is supported by our data showing that blockade of this receptor with specific NK1R antagonists inhibits IL-2 production in Jurkat T cells which is associated with the reduction of NFAT activation. Interestingly, we show interplay between NK1R antagonists and calcineurin inhibitors to repress IL-2 production and NFAT activation. In contrast, blockade of NK1R has no inhibitory effect on mTOR and p70S6K activation but reduce S6R (Ser235/236) and Akt (Ser473) phosphorylation. However, combining rapamycin with NK1R antagonist has no enhancing effect on rapamycin-reduced mTOR activation and its signalling pathway. Our findings provide the evidence of a novel mechanism of regulation of NFAT activation-induced IL-2 production in T cells involving the tachykinergic system NK1R/endokinins. These observations may offer new application for NK1R antagonists in transplantation immunotherapy in combination with immunosuppressors.

No description available.