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Thesis (M.Sc.), Memorial University of Newfoundland, 1998. / Restricted until June 1999. Bibliography: leaves 85-97.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--West Virginia University, 2008. / Title from document title page. Document formatted into pages; contains ix, 86 p. : ill. (some col.). Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.Sc.)--Memorial University of Newfoundland, 2004. / Bibliography: leaves 130-141.

published_or_final_version / Biochemistry / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

Mammalian skeletal muscle can regenerate after injury and this response is primarily mediated by the satellite cell, a muscle stem cell. Following injury, satellite cells are activated to myoblasts, undergo rapid proliferation, migrate towards the injury site, and subsequently differentiate into myotubes in order to facilitate functional muscle repair. Fibrosis, caused by the secretion of structural extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins such as collagen I and fibronectin, by fibroblasts, impairs complete functional repair of the muscle. In this study, the role of the microenvironment during wound conditions was assessed by analysing the effect of specific extracellular matrix and growth factors on myoblast migration. The role of the Rho/ROCK pathway as a possible mechanism in mediating the effects seen was investigated. In order to analyse wound repair in an in vitro setting, we optimised and improved a wound healing model specifically designed for skeletal muscle repair. To this end we also developed a co-culture assay using primary myoblasts and fibroblasts isolated from the same animal. The studies showed that collagen I and fibronectin both increased myoblast migration in a dose-dependent manner. Decorin displayed opposing effects on cellular movement, significantly increasing collagen I-stimulated, but not fibronectin-stimulated, migration of myoblasts. ROCK inhibitor studies revealed a significant increase in migration on uncoated plates following inhibition with Y-27632 compared to untreated control. When cells were cultured on ECM components (Matrigel, collagen I, or fibronectin), the inhibitory effect of Y-27632 on migration was reduced. Analysis of ROCK and vinculin expression, and localization at the leading front, showed that ROCK inhibition resulted in loosely packed focal adhesion complexes (matrix dependent). A reduced adhesion to the ECM could explain the increased migration rates observed upon inhibition with Y-27632. We also investigated the role of TGF-β and decorin during wound repair, as TGF-β is a known pro-fibrotic agent. TGF-β treatment decreased wound closure rates; however, the addition of decorin with TGF-β significantly increased wound closure. The addition of ECM components, Matrigel and collagen I enhanced the effect seen in response to TGF-β and decorin; however, fibronectin negated this effect, with no increase in migration seen compared to the controls. In conclusion, the importance of extracellular matrix components in regulating myoblast migration and therefore skeletal muscle wound repair was demonstrated. We emphasize that, in order to gain a better understanding of skeletal muscle wound repair, the combination of ECM and growth factors released during wounding need to be utilised in assays which mimic the in vivo environment more closely. / Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2012.

The purpose of this study was to examine the acute and temporal response of CK- MM and FGF-21 to 3-day/wk. different repetition-range, volume-equated resistance training programs over 8-weeks in previously trained males. Sixteen trained, college- aged males were counterbalanced into high (DUP-HR) or low (DUP-LR) repetition groups. Subjects performed the squat and bench press 3x/wk. for 8 weeks. Blood samples were collected at various intervals throughout the study. Trained individuals did not elicit significant acute or chronic changes in CK-MM or FGF-21 following training and the lack of change was present in both groups. Additionally, neither biomarker correlated with changes in 1RM strength. There was a very strong correlation between acute mean (r=0.95) and acute percentage change (r=0.97) increase from pre training to post training in week #1. Additionally, a moderate correlation in percentage change was observed (r=0.59) of both biomarkers from pre training to 48 hours post training in week #2. / Includes bibliography. / Thesis (M.S.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2015 / FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection

生長滯後是包括炎症性腸病在內的炎症疾病引起的併發症。實驗表明，炎症使肝臟對生長激素(GH)的作用變得不敏感或引起生長激素抵抗。生長激素抵抗會引起胰島素生長因子-1 (IGF-I)的表達下降，並且會啟動一系列的代謝反應。多年來的研究證明炎症因子白介素-6 (IL-6)，腫瘤壞死因子 -α (TNF-α)和白介素-1β(IL-1β)參與肝臟生長激素抵抗的病理過程。然而這些炎症因子調控生長激素通路的具體機理尚不清楚。通過用人肝癌細胞系Huh-7和慢性炎症及急性炎症兩種老鼠模型，我們發現: 1) TNF-α和IL-1β抑制生長激素受體(GHR)的表達; 2) IL-6誘導細胞因子信號轉導抑制因子-3 (SOCS3)的高表達; 3) IL-6-SOCS3途徑對GH-IGF-I信號通路的抑制作用依賴于GHR的表達量，當TNF-α及IL-1β升高而使GHR的表達量下降後，IL-6就不再對GH-IGF-I信號通路有抑制作用。以上結果表明IL-6， TNF-α和IL-1β抑制肝臟生長激素信號通路的機制是不一樣的，這些結果或許對臨床上治療青少年中炎症引起的生長激素抵抗疾病有一定的指導意義。 / 成纖維細胞生長因子(FGF) 通過結合和啟動成纖維細胞生長因子受體(FGFR)而參與許多生理過程。FGF19屬於FGF15/19亞家族，這個亞家族還包括FGF21和FGF23。FGF19調節肝臟中膽汁酸的穩態及蛋白和糖原的合成。FGF19通過與FGFR4及共受體β-klotho結合來啟動信號通路。研究表明，TNF-α通過抑制共受體β-klotho的表達來抑制脂肪細胞中的FGF21信號通路。然而IL-6，TNF-α和IL-1β在調節肝臟FGF19信號通路中的作用尚不清楚。我們的體外細胞和體內動物實驗結果表明，IL-1β通過JNK和NF-κB通路抑制肝臟中β-klotho的表達。IL-6與TNF-α不調節Huh-7細胞中β-klotho的表達。 / 綜上所述，IL-6，TNF-α及IL-1β在肝臟生長激素及FGF19通路中起不同的調節作用。 / Growth failure is a major complication of inflammatory diseases including inflammatory bowel disease. Evidence suggests that during inflammation, the liver becomes resistant to growth hormone (GH) actions, leading to downregulation of the anabolic gene IGF-I and the activation of catabolic processes. Decades of studies demonstrated that pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-6, TNF-α and IL-1β are involved in the pathogenesis of hepatic GH resistance. However, the exact mechanisms used by these individual cytokines to regulate GH signaling are not defined. Using Huh-7 human hepatoma cells and mouse models of chronic and acute inflammation, we show that TNF-α and IL-1β but not IL-6 inhibited hepatic GH receptor (GHR) expression, and that IL-6 but not TNF-α and IL-1β stimulated expression of suppressor of cytokine signaling-3 (SOCS3). TNF-α/IL-1β and IL-6 acted primarily at GHR and SOCS3 respectively to inhibit the GH-IGF-I pathway. While TNF-α/IL-1β exerted a tonic inhibition on hepatic GH signaling, IL-6 activity is dependent on the active GH pathway. IL-6 lost its inhibition on the GH-IGF-I pathway when GHR expression was blocked as the inflammation progressed. These results reveal previously undefined distinct mechanisms used by TNF-α/IL-1β and IL-6 to inhibit the hepatic GH pathway. Our results may provide a new guidance for clinical practice in treating pediatric infammation-induced GH resistance. / Fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) play critical roles in many physiological processes by binding to and activating FGF receptor (FGFR) family. FGF19 belongs to FGF15/19 subfamily of FGFs that includes FGF15/19, FGF21 and FGF23. FGF19 has been shown to regulate bile acid homeostasis, and protein and glycogen synthesis in the liver. FGF19 binds FGFR4 and the co-receptor β-klotho to initiate signaling. Studies have shown that proinflammatory cytokines such as TNF-α can impair FGF21 signaling in adipose cells by repressing the expression of β-klotho. However, little is known about the effects of IL-6, TNF-α and IL-1β on regulating hepatic FGF19 signaling. In the present study, we found that IL-1β inhibited β-klotho expression both in vitro and in vivo, and this inhibition required JNK and NF-κB pathways. IL-6 and TNF-α did not inhibit β-klotho expression in Huh-7 cells. / Taken together, our results demonstrate that IL-6, TNF-α and IL-1β play different roles in regulating the GH and FGF-19 pathways in the liver. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Zhao, Yueshui. / Thesis (Ph.D.) Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2013. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 147-182). / Abstracts also in Chinese.

Heparan sulphate proteoglycans (HSPGs) are cell surface/secreted molecules expressed by all cells. HSPGs consist of carbohydrate side-chains attached to a core protein and are involved in regulating key signalling pathways in the developing mammalian brain via sugar-protein interactions. It has been hypothesized, in the ‘heparan sulphate (HS) code hypothesis’, that the specificity for the interaction between the HSPGs and particular signalling pathways is encoded by its HS side-chain. HS has an enormous variety of structures due to postsynthetic modification. Hs2st and Hs6st1 are enzymes involved in generating different HS structures by sulphating the 2-carbon or 6-carbon molecule of the sugar backbone respectively. Fibroblast growth factors (Fgfs) are a family of signalling molecules crucial for forebrain development. Some of its members such as Fgf8 are morphogens which pattern the forebrain via regulated gradient formation while others such as Fgf2 drive neurogenesis and cell proliferation. One of the main molecular consequences of Fgf signalling is activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (Erk) where the activation of Erk then drives developmental events such as neurogenesis or cell migration. Based on previous studies on the HS code hypothesis, we hypothesized that differential sulphation regulates Fgf signalling in a specific manner depending on the HS sulphation pattern. We performed binding assays on Hs2st-/- mice to ascertain the molecular mechanism behind the role of differential sulphation in Erk signalling through Fgf2 in the forebrain. We found that differential sulphation also has an important role to play in regionally targeting Fgf2/Erk signalling through regulating the formation of active signalling complexes. Studying the Fgf8/Erk signalling axis at E14.5 developing mouse corticoseptal boundary (CSB) revealed increased Fgf8 levels and Erk hyperactivation in both Hs2st and Hs6st1 null mutants. The dysregulation of Fgf8/Erk signalling at the CSB also highly correlates with the high expression of Hs2st and Hs6st1 at the CSB. A closer look into the molecular phenotypes of Hs2st-/- and Hs6st1-/- CSB revealed differences between them in which Hs6st1-/- CSB has higher Fgf8 levels compared to Hs2st-/- CSB. To elucidate the mechanisms underlying Hs2st and Hs6st1 role at the CSB, we investigated the formation and interpretation of Fgf8/Erk signalling gradient using Fgf8 bead assays in mice with Hs2st and Hs6st1 loss of function throughout development. We found that differential sulphation has a complex effect on Fgf8 gradient formation and interpretation in the forebrain in which Hs2st acts to stabilise the Fgf8 distribution through regulating Fgf8 levels through time while Hs6st1 acts to stabilise the Fgf8 distribution by maintaining the shape of the Fgf8 gradient through restricting Fgf8 levels during the formation of the Fgf8 distribution. In addition, we found Hs2st and Hs6st1 both function to increase the sensitivity of the CSB to Fgf8 for an Erk response although through different modes of action. Therefore, we conclude that differential HS sulphation plays a specific role in Fgf/Erk signalling depending on the HS sulphation pattern.

Thesis (M.S.)--Brigham Young University. Dept. of Physiology and Developmental Biology, 2006. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 34-36).