Duas enzimas têm-se destacado como possíveis marcadores biológicos periféricos na esquizofrenia: a fosfolipase A2 (PLA2) e a glicogênio sintase quinase-3 beta (GSK-3B). Essas moléculas exercem importante influência na arquitetura e plasticidade celulares, na regulação de vias metabólicas comuns (metabolismo de fosfolípides e via Wnt), em fatores de transcrição, na regulação de genes e na sobrevivência celular. Tais aspectos tornam pertinentes as investigações a respeito da possível participação dessas enzimas na fisiopatologia da esquizofrenia. Foi verificada a atividade de subtipos de PLA2 (método radioenzimático: iPLA2, cPLA2 e sPLA2) e os níveis de GSK-3B total (GSK-3Bt) e fosforilada [p(Ser9)-GSK-3B] (ELISA) em plaquetas de pacientes com esquizofrenia inicialmente livres de tratamento medicamentoso com média de 5 anos de doença (D+5a) (n=10), aos quais foi prescrita a olanzapina. Foi avaliado também um grupo de pacientes livres de tratamento medicamentoso com menos de 6 meses de sintomas psicóticos (D-6m) (n=6) aos quais foi posteriormente prescrito o haloperidol. Esses pacientes foram comparados com um grupo controle (n = 20) e avaliados longitudinalmente após o tratamento descrito por 8 semanas. Um grupo de 40 pacientes com esquizofrenia (tempo médio da doença: 17 anos) com pelo menos 6 meses de tratamento com antipsicótico (clozapina, olanzapina ou haloperidol) foi ainda avaliado. Os sintomas clínicos foram avaliados por meio da Escala de Avaliação das Síndromes Positiva e Negativa (PANSS). Quando comparado com o grupo controle, os pacientes D+5a apresentaram aumento da atividade de iPLA2 (p<0,01) e os pacientes D-6m apresentaram aumento da atividade de sPLA2 (p<0,05). Na avaliação longitudinal, somente a olanzapina diminuiu a atividade de iPLA2, cPLA2 e sPLA2 (p<0,01). Quando comparada a atividade dos subtipos de PLA2 entre os pacientes medicados a pelo menos 6 meses e o grupo controle, não foram observadas diferenças significativas. Quando comparado com o grupo controle, os pacientes D+5a apresentaram diminuição dos níveis de GSK-3Bt e p(Ser9)-GSK-3B (p<0,05). Na avaliação longitudinal, foi observado que somente a olanzapina aumentou os níveis de GSK-3Bt e p(Ser9)-GSK-3B (p < 0,01). Quando comparados os níveis de GSK-3Bt e p(Ser9)-GSK-3B entre os pacientes medicados a pelo menos 6 meses e o grupo controle não foram observadas diferenças significativas. Para os pacientes medicados a pelo menos 6 meses foram observadas correlações entre a sub-escala negativa da PANSS e os níveis de p(Ser9)-GSK-3B (r=,53, p<0,001). Sugere-se que a medicação module PLA2 e GSK-3B, independente do antipsicótico utilizado. Esses resultados apontam para uma futura aplicação dessas enzimas na verificação de adesão ao tratamento e estabilização do quadro clínico / The enzymes phospholipases A2 (PLA2) and glycogen synthase kinase-3 beta (GSK-3B) are thought to play a role in schizophrenia by influencing cellular architecture and plasticity, common signaling pathways (phospholipids metabolism and Wnt pathway), gene transcription, regulation factors and apoptosis. These aspects motivated the investigation of both these enzymes in schizophrenia. The activities of PLA2 subtypes (iPLA2, cPLA2 and sPLA2 by radio enzymatic method) and the levels of total GSK-3B and phosphorylated GSK-3B [p(Ser9)-GSK-3B] (by immune enzyme assay) were performed in platelets of drug free patients with schizophrenia for average 5 years of disease (D+5y) (n=10), who was lately prescribed with olanzapine and in drug naïve patients with less than 6 months of psychotic symptoms (D-6m) who was lately prescribed with haloperidol. These patients were compared to a control group (n=20) and were longitudinally evaluated after 8 weeks of monotherapy treatment with the prescribed antipsychotic. These enzymes were also investigated in a group of 40 patients with schizophrenia (mean duration of disease: 17 years) who were at least 6 months treated with antipsychotic (clozapine; olanzapine or haloperidol). Psychopathology was assessed with the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS). Patients D+5y presented higher iPLA2 activity than control group (p < 0.01) and patients D-6m presented higher sPLA2 activity than control group (p < 0.05). On longitudinal evaluation, only olanzapine decreased iPLA2, cPLA2 and sPLA2 activities (p < 0.01). In the long-term medicated patients group compared to the control group, no differences regarding PLA2 subtype activity were found. Patients D+5y presented lower GSK-3Bt and p(Ser9)-GSK-3B levels than control group (p<0.05). On longitudinal evaluation, only olanzapine increased GSK-3Bt and p(Ser9)-GSK-3B levels (p < 0.01). In the long-term medicated patients group compared to the control group, no differences regarding GSK-3B levels were found. For long-term medicated patients, it was observed correlation between p(Ser9)-GSK-3B and the PANSS negative syndrome subscale score (r = .53, p < 0.001). It was suggested that antipsychotic treatment modulated PLA2 and GSK-3B, in spite of the drug used. The results pointed to a future use of these enzymes to verify drug treatment compliance and clinical stabilization

As glândulas salivares são glândulas exócrinas que vertem seus produtos para cavidade oral. As principais glândulas são as parótidas, sublinguais e submandibulares sendo elas as responsáveis pela contribuição do maior volume de saliva durante o processo de secreção que, assim como todas as atividades que nosso corpo exerce, também dependem de energia. A secreção salivar consome glicose e mobiliza o glicogênio para adquirir energia, e este processo pode sofrer influencia de alguns fatores dentre eles o estado diabético e o ritmo circadiano. O diabetes altera todo o metabolismo de carboidratos e diminui o fluxo salivar. Já o ritmo circadiano promove uma alteração fisiológica no fluxo e composição da saliva de acordo com o horário do dia. Desta forma o objetivo deste trabalho foi em um primeiro momento observar o comportamento da concentração de glicogênio em glândulas parótidas e submandibulares de ratos com diferentes idades e condições alimentares em um determinado período do dia. Em um segundo momento observar as alterações que ocorrem na concentração de glicogênio em ratos diabéticos durante o dia. Na primeira fase do estudo foram utilizados ratos saudáveis com 21, 30 e 60 dias de vida, divididos em grupos alimentado e alimentados com restrição. No grupo com restrição de alimento os animais ficaram restritos a alimentação noturna (19 7 horas) desde 2 dias antes do sacrifício. Na segunda fase do estudo, com ratos diabéticos, foram utilizados animais com 60 dias de vida e a indução do diabetes foi realizada através de uma injeção intraperitoneal de estreptozotocina (65 mg/Kg p.c.). 30 dias após a indução os animais foram sacrificados. Em todos os grupos o sacrifício foi realizado nos seguintes horários - 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17 e 19 horas. As glândulas submandibulares e parótidas foram removidas imediatamente para posterior análise da concentração de glicogênio. Os dados foram analisados estatisticamente pelos testes ANOVA e o teste de Tukey (p<0.05). Os resultados obtidos com os animais normais mostra uma variação da concentração de glicogênio durante o período analisado nas duas glândulas, sendo mais evidente quando os ratos não foram submetidos a restrição de alimento. Nesta condição a variação da concentração de glicogênio em glândulas parótidas pouco alterou independente da idade. Nos animais diabéticos observamos um acúmulo de glicogênio nas glândulas parótidas e uma diminuição da concentração de glicogênio em submandibulares. Durante o período analisado também houve pouca variação da concentração de glicogênio, assim como nos animais não diabéticos, sendo evidente a menor interferência do ritmo circadiano no estado diabético. Esse estudo nos mostrou que o ritmo circadiano interfere na concentração de glicogênio das glândulas salivares parótidas e submandibulares de ratos durante o período analisado e que a restrição de alimento durante o dia alterou a concentração de glicogênio principalmente nas glândulas parótidas. Observamos também que no estado diabético ocorre um acúmulo do glicogênio em glândulas parótidas e uma diminuição nas glândulas submandibulares. / The secretory process is very important for oral health. The majors salivary glands (parotid, submandibular and sublingual) are the most important for secretion of saliva, for this activity the glands needs energy and a common way obtain is using glucose from the mobilization of glycogen during the fast period. Because of the importance of glycogen in this process, this study aimed to analyze the behavior of glycogen concentration during the day (7 to 19 hours) in parotid, and submandibular glands of rats. In the first moment the study was made with health male rats in different ages (21, 30 and 60 days old), divided in a group with free access to food and other group fed only during the night (19 to 7 hours). The second part of the study was made using diabetic male rats to search for alterations caused by this disease in glycogen concentration. All animals were killed during the day in different hours (7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17,19 hours), their glands were removed and clamped between aluminium plates pre-cooled in dry ice. The frozen glands were then stored at -80oC until analysis of glycogen concentration. The statistical analyses was made using ANOVA test and Tukey (p<0,5). In the group of health rats we observed a variation of the glycogen concentration during the period analyzed in both glands, but it became more evident when the animals had free access to food. When they were fed during the night the variation of the glycogen concentration in parotid glands were not so evident. The results with diabetics rats showed a higher accumulation of glycogen in parotid glands and a lower concentration of glycogen in submandibular glands. In this period we could not see the variation of glycogen that happen in health rats. This study showed that circadian rhythm modify the concentration of glycogen in parotid and submandibular glands in health rats and the restriction of food made alterations in glycogen concentration of parotid glands. In diabetic rats was possible to see a higher concentration of glycogen in parotid and lower concentration in submandibular gland compared with health rats.

O Sagui-de tufo-branco (Callithrix jacchus) vem sendo utilizado como modelo experimental em inúmeras pesquisas. Entretanto, características anatômicas e fisiológicas dessa espécie são pouco conhecidas. O propósito do estudo foi avaliar microscopicamente o fígado de Callithrix jacchus criados em cativeiro. Neste estudo utilizou 31 saguis-do-tufo-branco do Centro de Primatas da Alemanha. Após a eutanásia, os fígados foram resfriados, dissecados, mensurados e rocessados por meio de técnicas histológicas. As colorações Hematoxilina e Eosina, Picrossírius, Fucsina Ácida, Gordon & Sweet´s e o Ácido Periódico de Schiff (PAS) foram usadas para observar respectivamente o arranjo do parênquima hepático, colágeno, reticulina e glicogênio. As mensurações foram organizadas em grupos conforme o sexo, a idade e o exame. A idade dos animais foi de 4,3&plusmn;2,4 anos. A massa corpórea foi de 427&plusmn;66g, com diferença significativa nos grupos exames. A massa do fígado foi 25,6&plusmn;13,1g. O fígado de Callithrix jacchus apresenta lóbulos hepáticos pouco definidos. Os hepatócitos apresentaram-se poliédricos, mono ou binucleados. O colágeno estava nos capilares sinusóides, no espaço porta-hepático e na veia centrolobular, com valor de 6,59&plusmn;3,66% (Picrossirius) e 5,89&plusmn;3,37% (Fucsina Ácida). A reticulina mostrouse presente principalmente nos capilares sinusóides, com valor de 18,86&plusmn;6,47%. O glicogênio estava distribuído ao longo do lóbulo hepático e com concentrações próximas à veia centrolobular, com valor de 23,92&plusmn;7,72%. A alimentação e hábitos em cativeiro podem interferir no aumento de massa e no desenvolvimento de doenças. O parênquima hepático de Callithrix jacchus não apresentou grandes alterações nos diferentes grupos formados, além de se assemelhar a de outras espécies, o que reforça o uso dessa espécie como modelo experimental. / The marmoset-white stuff (Callithrix jacchus) has been used as an experimental model in many studies. However, anatomical and physiological characteristics of this species are poorly known. The purpose of this study was to evaluate microscopically the liver of captive Callithrix jacchus. Thirty one Callithrix jacchus from Primate Center in Germany were studied. After euthanasia, livers were cooled, dissected, measured and processed by histological techniques. The hematoxylin and eosin staining, Picrosirius, Acid Fuchsin, Gordon & Sweet\'s and periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) were used respectively to observe the arrangement of the hepatic parenchyma, collagen, reticulin and glycogen. The data collected were organized into groups according to sex, age and examination. The average age of the animals was 4.3&plusmn;2.4 years. The average body weight was 427&plusmn;66g, with a significant difference in the groups exams. The average mass of the liver was 25.6&plusmn;13.1g. Despite Callithrix jacchus presented liver lobe, it was not well defined. Morphologically the hepatocytes were polyhedral, mono or binucleate. The collagen was in the sinusoidal capillaries in the portal space and the hepatic central vein, with a value of 6.59&plusmn;3.66% (Picrosirius) and 5.89&plusmn;3.37% (Acid Fuchsin). The reticulin was present mainly in the capillary sinusoids, with a concentration of 18.86&plusmn;6.47%. The glycogen was distributed throughout the liver lobule and near the central vein, with a value of 23.92&plusmn;7.72%. The feeding habits can interfere with the increase in mass and in the occurrence of disease on captive animals. The hepatic parenchyma of Callithrix jacchus showed no major changes in the different groups of this study. Additionally the hepatic parenchyma of Callithrix jacchus resembles other species, which reinforces the use of this species as an experimental model.

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / Fish use carbohydrates less efficiently than proteins for energy production. Even so, the use of such source in the diet may reduce the catabolism of proteins and lipids for energy purposes. The objective of this study was to evaluate growth, metabolism and digestibility of nutrients with different proportions of amylose:amylopectin and thermal processing of starch in the diet of jundiá (Rhamdia quelen). Two completely randomized experiments were conducted, where jundiás were reared in water re-use system consisting of 12 units of 280L and 6 conical units of 200L (digestibility). In the first experiment three diets were tested for 60 days varying in proportions of amylose:amylopectin: P26:74 = 26% amylose and 74% amylopectin, P16:84 = 16% amylase and 84% amylopectin and P0:100 = 0% amylose and 100% amylopectin. The variation of amylose content of the diets did not affect growth, yield, body composition of fish or starch digestibility. For the biochemical variables, less quantity of amylose (P0:100) provided greater mobilization of triglycerides, decrease in the deposition of liver glycogen and increase in metabolism of amino acids and lactate in muscle, indicating gluconeogenesis. The glycemic response of fish was stable (linear, r2 = 0.67) with more amylose (P26:74). Starch with more amylopectin presented quadractly effect P16:84 (r2 = 0.76) and P0:100 (r2 = 0.93). In the second experiment, in a 2X2 factorial arrangement, diets were evaluated with two proportions of amylose:amylopectin and two physic starch forms, raw and gelatinization starch. The fish (14.3±0.6 g) were fed twice a day (4% body weight/day). The proportion of amylose:amylopectin did not affect the growth of jundiá, however, the gelatinization of the starch decreased growth, a higher hepatosomatic and lipid index in body composition of fish. The digestibility of the dry matter and starch was higher with starch gelatinized in the diet. Greater amount of amylopectin and the effect of gelatinization increased serum triglyceride levels. In liver tissues, higher levels of amylose and the process of gelatinization caused greater deposition of glycogen and amino acids. In conclusion, the proportion of amylose:amylopectin is not i change the digestibility of starch and the growth of jundiá, but the increase in amylose provided lower lipid mobilization and stable glycemic levels. The gelatinization of the starch decreased growth and increased the starch digestibility and deposition of body lipids. / Os peixes utilizam carboidratos menos eficientemente do que proteínas para produção de energia. Mesmo assim, a utilização dessa fonte na alimentação pode reduzir o catabolismo de proteínas e lipídeos para fins energéticos. O objetivo do trabalho foi avaliar o crescimento, metabolismo e digestibilidade dos nutrientes com diferentes proporções de amilose:amilopectina e o processamento térmico do amido na dieta de jundiás (Rhamdia quelen). Para isso foram conduzidos dois experimentos delineados inteiramente ao acaso, onde jundiás foram criados em sistema com recirculação de água constituído de doze tanques de 280L e seis tanques de formato cônico de 200L (digestibilidade). No primeiro experimento foram testadas por 60 dias três dietas variando nas proporções de amilose:amilopectina: P26:74=com 26% de amilose e 74% de amilopectina, P16:84=com 16% de amilose e 84% de amilopectina e P0:100=com 0% de amilose e 100% de amilopectina. A variação do teor de amilose das dietas não afetou o crescimento, rendimentos e composição corporais dos peixes, bem como a digestibilidade do amido. Para as variáveis bioquímicas, menor quantidade de amilose (P0:100) proporcionou maior mobilização de triglicerídeos séricos, diminuição na deposição de glicogênio hepático e aumento no metabolismo de aminoácidos e lactato no músculo, indicando gliconeogênese. A resposta glicêmica dos peixes foi estável (linear, r2=0,67) com mais amilose (P26:74). Amido com mais amilopectina apresentou efeito quadrático P16:84 (r2=0,76) e no P0:100 (r2=0,93). No segundo experimento, em arranjo fatorial 2X2, foram avaliadas dietas com duas proporções de amilose:amilopectina e duas formas físicas do amido, cru e gelatinizado Os jundiás (14,3±0,6g) foram alimentados duas vezes por dia (4% peso vivo/dia). A proporção de amilose:amilopectina não afetou o crescimento dos jundiás, já a gelatinização do amido causou diminuição no crescimento, maior índice hepatossomático e de lipídeos na composição corporal dos peixes. A digestibilidade da matéria seca e do amido foi maior com amido gelatinizado na ração. Maior quantidade de amilopectina e o efeito da gelatinização do amido aumentaram os triglicerídeos séricos. No tecido hepático, maiores níveis de amilose e o processo de gelatinização do amido causaram maior deposição de glicogênio e aminoácidos. Como conclusão, a proporção de amilose:amilopectina não causa alterações na digestibilidade do amido e no crescimento do jundiá, mas o aumento da amilose proporciona menor mobilização lipídica e glicemia estável. A gelatinização do amido diminuiu o crescimento, aumentou a digestibilidade do amido e causou maior deposição de lipídeos corporais.

Chlamydia trachomatis est une bactérie intracellulaire obligatoire pathogène pour l'homme, qui se développe dans un compartiment appelé inclusion. La membrane de l'inclusion constitue une protection contre les défenses de l'hôte, mais limite l'accès aux nutriments. Un élément essentiel pour C. trachomatis est le glucose. Son polymère, le glycogène, est abondant dans le lumen de l'inclusion. Ce travail a eu pour objectif de reconstituer le flux de glucose dans des cellules infectées et d'expliquer l'accumulation du glycogène. En résumé, notre travail démontre que l'accumulation de glycogène dans la lumière de l'inclusion est le résultat de deux processus, l'import de glycogène " brut " de l'hôte par invagination de la membrane de l'inclusion, et la synthèse de novo de glycogène dans le lumen de l'inclusion. Ce dernier implique l'import d'UDP-glucose par un transporteur de la cellule hôte qui est recruté dans la membrane de l'inclusion, et la sécrétion d'enzymes bactériennes dans le lumen de l'inclusion. Ces mécanismes permettent aux bactéries de stocker des molécules énergétique, inaccessibles à l'hôte. / The human pathogen Chlamydia trachomatis is an obligate intracellular bacterium, which develops in a parasitophorous compartment called inclusion. The inclusion membrane serves as a barrier to host defense mechanisms, but limits access to nutrients. One essential nutrient for C. trachomatis is glucose, and its polymer, glycogen, is highly abundant in the inclusion lumen. This work aimed to reconstitute the glucose flow in C. trachomatis infected cells and to understand the mechanisms for glycogen accumulation. In summary, our work demonstrates that glycogen storage in C. trachomatis inclusions is the result of two different strategies, bulk acquisition of host glycogen through invagination of the inclusion membrane, and de novo synthesis of glycogen within the inclusion lumen. The latter mechanism implicates the import of host UDP-glucose through a host transporter that is recruited to the inclusion membrane, and the secretion of bacterial glycogen enzymes into the inclusion lumen. These processes allow the bacteria to build an energy store within the inclusion lumen, out of reach for the host.

Increasingly, cell-based therapy with autologous progenitor populations, such as endothelial progenitor cells (EPC), are being utilized for treatment of vascular diseases. However, both the number and functional capacity are diminished when cells are derived from patients with established risk factors for coronary artery disease (CAD). Herein, we report that inhibition of glycogen synthase kinase 3 (GSK) can improve both the number and function of endothelial progenitor cells in patients with CAD or diabetes mellitus (DM) leading to greater therapeutic benefit. Specifically, use of various small molecule inhibitors of GSK (GSKi) results in a 4-fold increased number of EPCs. Moreover, GSKi treatment improves the functional profile of EPCs through reductions in apoptosis, improvements in cell adhesion through up-regulation of very-late antigen-4 (VLA-4), and by increasing paracrine efficacy by increasing vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)secretion. Therapeutic improvement was confirmed in vivo by increased reendothelialization(RE) and reductions of neointima (NI) formation achieved when GSKi-treated cells were administered following vascular injury to CD-1 nude mice. Because cell-based therapy is technically challenging, we also tested a strategy of local delivery of GSKi at the site of arterial injury through GSKi-eluting stents. In vitro, GSKi elution increased EPC attachment to stent struts. In vivo, GSKi-eluting stents deployed in rabbit carotid arteries resulted in systemic mobilization of EPCs, improved local RE, and important reductions in in-stent NI formation. Finally, we tested the ability of GSKi to improve EPC-mediated arterial repair in patients with DM. As in patients with CAD, GSKi treatment improved EPC yield and diminished in vitro apoptosis. Utilizing a proteomics approach, we identified Cathepsin B (catB) as a differentially regulated protein necessary for reductions in apoptosis. Indeed, antagonism of catB prevented GSKi improvements in GSKi treated EPC mediated arterial repair in a xenotransplant wire injury model. Thus, our data demonstrates that GSKi treatment results in improvements in EPC number and function in vitro and in vivo resulting in enhanced arterial repair following mechanical injury. Accordingly, GSK antagonism is an effective cell enhancement strategy for autologous cell-based therapy with EPCs from high risk patients such as CAD or DM.

Orientador: Stephen Hyslo / Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Biologia / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-07T09:47:37Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Tarsitano_ChristianeAparecidaBadin_D.pdf: 24957423 bytes, checksum: 94d8809a19e27ce5d2957100482d3d27 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2006 / Resumo: óxido nítrico (NO), um co-produto do metabolismo do aminoácido Larginina para L-citrulina pela NO sintase (NOS), exerce importantes funções no controle do tôno vascular, no processo inflamatório, e na modulação da expressão gênica e atividade enzimática de diversas enzimas, tais como citocromos P-450 e NOS. A inibição crônica da biossíntese de NO por NW-nitro-L-argininemetil éster (L-NAME) leva à hipertensão e produz alterações morfológicas que incluem hipertrofia e remodelamento vascular, efeitos estes que são revertidos por inibidores da enzima conversora de angiotensina I (ECA) e antagonistas dos receptores AT1 de angiotensina 11. O NO exerce papel fundamental na hemodinâmica e função celular do fígado, e pode regular a atividade dos citocromos P450 monooxigenases que são importantes na biotransformação de substâncias endógenas e exógenas. Neste trabalho, examinamos a influência do tratamento com L-NAME sobre a morfologia hepática, o conteúdo de glicogênio, colesterole triglicérides,e a atividadee expressãodas isoformasCYP1A1/2, CYP 281/2, CYP2C11 e CYP2E1de citocromoP450.No tratamentoagudo estudamos também a expressão de duas metaloproteinases de matriz (MMP-2 e MPP-9). Ratos Wistar machos foram tratados com L-NAME (20 mg/rato/dia, administrado na água de beber) por quarto e oito dias (tratamento agudo) e duas, quatro e oito semanas (tratamento crônico) e os fígados foram removidos para análise. A indução enzimática foi realizada tratando-se os ratos com fenobarbital (para induzir CYP2B1/2), p-naphthoflavone (para induzir CYP1A1/2) (80 mg/kg/dia, Lp., 4 d) ou pirazole (200 mg/kg/dia, Lp., 2 d) (para induzir CYP2E1). O tratamento com L-NAME elevou significativamente a pressão sangüínea e esta foi revertida pelo tratamento concomitante com enalapril (25 mg/kg/dia, p.o., inibidor da ECA) ou losartan (30 mg/kg/dia, p.O.,antagonista dos receptores AT1). L-NAME causou hipertrofia vascular em artérias hepáticas, com depósito de colágeno perivascular e fibrose intersticial. Houve também um aumento significativo no conteúdo de glicogênio hepático. Todas estas alterações foram completamente revertidas por enalapril ou losartan. O tratamento com L-NAME não alterou o conteúdo de colesterol e triglicérides hepáticos, e não afetou as atividades basais e induzidas ou a expressão das isoformas de citocromo P450. O tratamento agudo com LNAME aumentou a expressão de MMP-2 e MMP-9 na parede vascular e em células inflamatórias (Ieucócitos, macrófagos). Esses resultados mostram que o tratamento agudo e crônico com L-NAME produz alterações morfológicas na vasculatura hepática e aumenta o conteúdo hepático de glicogênio, sem porém alterar o metabolismo de lípides ou a atividade e expressão de citocromos P450. A ausência de um efeito sobre os citocromos P450 indica que estas enzimas, não são influenciadas por níveis baixos de NO. Já a capacidade do enalapril e losartan em proteger contra as alterações morfológicas e o aumento de glicogênio indica um papel importante para o sistema renina-angiotensina nestas respostas / Abstract: Nitric oxide (NO), a co-product of the metabolism of L-arginine to L-citrulline by NO synthases (NOS), has an important role in regulating vascular tone, inflammatory responses, and the gene expression and enzymatic activity of various proteins, including cytochrome P450 and NOS. The chronic inhibition of NOS by Nffi-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) produces sustained arterial hypertension and morphological alterations that include arterial wall hypertrophy and vascular remodeling. These changes can be prevented by concomitant treatment with angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors and angiotensin 11 AT1 receptor antagonists. NO is an important modulator in the hepatic vasculature and of hepatic cell function, and may regulate the activity of cytochrome P450 monooxygenases involved in the biotransformation of endogenous and exogeous substances. In this work, we examined the influence of L-NAME on rat liver morphology, hepatic glycogen, cholesterol and triglyceride content, and the activities and expression of the cytochrome P450 isoforms CYP1A1/2, CYP2B1/2, CYP2C11 and CYP2E1. We also examined the expression of two matrix metalloproteinases (MMP-2 and MPP-9) after short-term treament with L-NAME. Male Wistar rats were treated with L-NAME (20 mg/ratlday, administered in the drinking water) for four and eight days (short-term treatment) and two, four and eight weeks (chronic treatment) and the livers were then removed for analysis. Enzymatic induction was produced by treating rats with phenobarbital (to induce CYP2B1/2), ~-naphthoflavone (to induce CYP1A1/2) (80 mg/kg/day each, i.p., 4 d) or pyrazole (200 mg/kg/day, i.p., 2 d) (to induce CYP2E1). Treatment with LNAME significantly elevated the blood pressure and this was reversed by concomitant treatment with enalapril (25 mg/kg/day, p.o., ACE inhibitor) or losartan (30 mg/kg/day, p.o., angiotensin II AT1 receptor antagonist). L-NAME caused vascular hypertrophy in hepatic arteries, with perivascular and interstitial fibrosis involving collagen deposition. There was also a significant increase in the hepatic glycogen content. Ali of these changes were completely reversed by concomitant treatment with enalapril or losartan. L-NAME had no effect on the hepatic cholesterol and triglyceride content, nor did it affect the basal or drug-induced activities and protein expression of the cytochrome P450 isoforms. Short-term treatment with L-NAME enhanced the expression of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in vessel walls and inflammatory cells (mast cells, macrophages). These results show that acute or chronic treatment with L-NAME produces morphological alterations in the hepatic vasculature and increases the hepatic glycogen content without affecting lipid metabolism or the activity or expression of cytochrome P450 isoforms. The lack of effect on cytochrome P450 activities and expression indicates that these enzymes are not significantly influenced by low levels of NO. In contrast, the ability of enalapril and losartan to prevent the morphological alterations and the increase in hepatic glycogen indicates an important role for the renin-antiogensin system in these responses / Doutorado / Histologia / Doutor em Biologia Celular e Estrutural

Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 (GSK3), a serine/threonine kinase initially characterized in the context of glycogen metabolism, has been repeatedly realized as a multitasking protein that can regulate numerous cellular events in both metazoa and protozoa. I recently found GSK3 plays a role in regulating chemotaxis, a guided cell movement in response to an external chemical gradient, in one of the best studied model systems for chemotaxis - Dictyostelium discoideum. It was initially found that comparing to wild type cells, gsk3- cells showed aberrant chemotaxis with a significant decrease in both speed and chemotactic indices. In Dictyostelium, phosphatidylinositol 3,4,5-triphosphate (PIP3) signaling is one of the best characterized pathways that regulate chemotaxis. Molecular analysis uncovered that gsk3- cells suffer from high basal level of PIP3, the product of PI3K. Upon chemoattractant cAMP stimulation, wild type cells displayed a transient increase in the level of PIP3. In contrast, gsk3- cells exhibited neither significant increase nor adaptation. On the other hand, no aberrant dynamic of phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN), which antagonizes PI3K function, was observed. Upon membrane localization of PI3K, PI3K become activated by Ras, which will in turn further facilitate membrane localization of PI3K in an F-Actin dependent manner. The gsk3- cells treated with F-Actin inhibitor Latrunculin-A showed no significant difference in the PIP3 level. I also showed GSK3 affected the phosphorylation level of the localization domain of PI3K1 (PI3K1-LD). PI3K1-LD proteins from gsk3- cells displayed less phosphorylation on serine residues compared to that from wild type cells. When the potential GSK3 phosphorylation sites of PI3K1-LD were substituted with aspartic acids (Phosphomimetic substitution), its membrane localization was suppressed in gsk3- cells. When these serine residues of PI3K1-LD were substituted with alanine, aberrantly high level of membrane localization of the PI3K1-LD was monitored in wild type cells. Wild type, phosphomimetic, and alanine substitution of PI3K1-LD fused with GFP proteins also displayed identical localization behavior as suggested by the cell fraction studies. Lastly, I identified that all three potential GSK3 phosphorylation sites on PI3K1-LD could be phosphorylated in vitro by GSK3.

This study evaluated the changes in body composition, glycogen tissue reserves, visceral organ growth, and small intestine morphology in the young pig. A total of 96 crossbred pigs were euthanized at birth (pre-suckle), days 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 14 postpartum, weaning at day 21, and days 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 14, 28, and 42 post-weaning. Body composition of the pig had increasing dry matter and fat, decreasing ash, calcium and phosphorus, and relatively static protein percentage over the course of the study. Liver and muscle glycogen was greatest at birth. Following birth and weaning there was a distinct decrease in the amount of liver glycogen, while there was only a clear decrease in muscle glycogen at birth. Absolute measures of the visceral organs increased in a variety of manners (linear, quadratic and/or cubic); relative measures of visceral organs responded in different manners to increasing age. In the suckling period, villous height, villous height:crypt depth ratio, and goblet cell count was greater than in the post-weaning period. Crypt depth continued to increase through the entire study. Villi measurements of the middle and distal portion of the small intestine taken via scanning electron microscope, revealed different responses to increasing age, but numerically, villi width increased, villi density, enterocyte width, and microvilli density decreased, and microvilli diameter was relatively static. Villi, on average, increased the absorptive area of the small intestine 18 fold and microvilli increased the surface area on average 400 fold. This study provided a vast amount of biometric information on the development of the young pig from birth to 42 d post weaning.

Cancer is one of the leading cause of death in modern world, so there is an emerging demand for better diagnostic tools and more specific less toxique therapeutics. Nanoparticles offers characteristics that could fullfill such perspectives. They can easily target tumor by ehanced permeation and retention effect (EPR). Nanoparticles can combine more than one imaging properties, so we can say that they are multimodal, some of them could combine diagnostic and therapeutic molecules in one nanoparticle, which is now highly popular topic of nanoparticles for theranostics . The aim of this thesis was to characterize new multimodal glycogen-based nanoparticle. Glycogen is an ideal structure for nanoparticle design. Glycogen is part of natural dendrimers group which are easily to modify. Glycogen's size is suitable for EPR effect. We have evaluated biological characteristics of five different types of modified glycogen. The in vitro experiments were carried on HepG2 cells. We have set time curve of cellular uptake of this glycogen probes, evaluated cytoplasmatic localization and for the first time we have carried MTT assay. Biodistribution studies on CD1-Nude mice were performed by using non-invasive method for measuring in vivo fluorescence. In conlusion we've provided some of the biological characteristics of new...