Background and aims: Treatment of acute fulminant liver damage arising as a result of various origins (ischemia-reperfusion injury, toxic shock, an infectious cause or cholestasis) still remains a major clinical problem. We currently do not have available clinically proven, pharmacologically effective and universal compound for the treatment of acute liver injury. The main aim of my research work was, therefore, to test the potential hepatoprotective effect of selected cytoprotective drugs and try to find out or suggest their mechanism of action, which we have examined in the systems for the intracellular gaseous signaling molecules NO and CO, where the key enzymes for their formation are NOS / HO respectively. My PhD study had two main directions: 1) Experimental study of the relationship between HO / CO and NOS / NO systems in the environment of hepatotoxic substances on isolated primary rat hepatocytes and in rat model, 2) Evaluation of ameliorative effect of selected substances in the hepatotoxicity models and to test the relationship of this effect on changes in some parameters of cytotoxicity / cytoprotection, antioxidant parameters, gene expression of mRNA for selected genes and histological changes in the state of cells / tissues / organs. Methods: We measured urea, bilirubin and liver...

This thesis focuses on the importance of the heme catabolic pathway in chronic hepatitis C (HCV). The aim is mainly to investigate, whether expresion/activity of key enzymes of the heme catabolic pathway, heme oxygenase (HMOX) and biliverdin reductase (BLVRA) in the liver and blood (study A) or promoter variations of HMOX1 and UDP- glucuronosyltransferase (UGT1A1) (study B) may be associated with the progression of fibrosis and may also predict antiviral treatment outcome in patients chronically infected with HCV. We set up a new sensitive method to quantify HMOX activity by reduction gas chromatography. We developed and extensively validated RealTime PCR assay for HMOX and BLVRA expression in the liver and peripheral blood leucocytes (PBL). The (GT)n and (TA)n dinucleotide variations in HMOX1 and UGT1A1 gene promoters, respectively, were determined by fragment analysis. No association was detected between either expression of HMOX/BLVRA or the HMOX1/ UGT1A1 promoter variants and the individual histological stages of liver disease in the HCV positive patients. A marked difference in BLVRA expression in PBL between the sustained responders (SVR) and patients with treatment failure (NVR) was detected before antiviral treatment and during the follow-up. Our data suggests, that BLVRA basal expression...

O hipertireoidismo é uma patologia epidemiologicamente importante, que afeta o sistema cardiovascular de forma proeminente. O estado hipertireoideo pode afetar o metabolismo basal, consumo de O2 celular, sistema renina angiotensina, assim como, estimular a produção de espécies ativas de oxigênio. Estas alterações produzem consequências morfológicas, funcionais, bioquímicas e moleculares no tecido cardíaco. A hipertrofia cardíaca, decorrente do hipertireoidismo, instala-se devido a uma série de eventos que sinalizam à proliferação e sobrevivência celular, envolvendo as espécies ativas de oxigênio, a ativação do sistema renina angiotensina cardíaco e o sistema nervoso autonômico. Neste estudo, bloqueamos o receptor AT1 da angiotensina II para avaliarmos a influência do sistema renina angiotensina cardíaco sobre o desenvolvimento da hipertrofia cardíaca, a participação do balanço autonômico sobre o coração e o papel das espécies ativas de oxigênio neste processo, em modelo experimental de hipertireoidismo. Para isto, foram utilizados ratos Wistar machos, pesando cerca de 220g, divididos em 4 grupos experimentais: Controle (C), Losartan (L) (10 mg/Kg de peso corporal/dia, 28 dias, sonda intragástrica) , T4 (12mg/L água de beber, 28 dias), e T4+L. Foram avaliados a massa cardíaca, análise espectral do balanço simpato-vagal, a expressão protéica do receptor AT1 da Angiotensina II e da gp91phox, peróxido de hidrogênio (H2O2), Nrf-2 e Heme-oxigenase-1 (HO-1) no tecido cardíaco. A hipertrofia cardíaca e o desequilíbrio autonômico induzidos pelo hipertireoidismo foram atenuados no grupo T4+L. Os níveis de H2O2, Nrf-2, gp91phox e HO-1 foram elevados no grupo T4, e significativamente reduzidos no grupo T4+L, quando comparados ao grupo Controle. A expressão protéica do receptor AT1 esteve elevada nos dois grupos hipertireoideos. Os resultados obtidos sugerem que o bloqueio do receptor AT1 promove importante impacto sobre o balanço simpato-vagal e a hipertrofia cardíaca, no hipertireoidismo, sendo as espécies ativas de oxigênio e o sistema Nrf-2/HO-1 possíveis mediadores destas alterações. / Hyperthyroidism is an epidemiologic relevant pathology, which substantially affects the cardiovascular system. The hyperthyroid state may affect basal metabolism, O2 cell consumption, renin-angiotensin system, and increase reactive oxygen species production. Those alterations produce morphological, biochemical, functional and molecular consequences in cardiac tissue. Hyperthyroidism induced cardiac hypertrophy develops due to a set of events, which signals cell survival and proliferation, including reactive oxygen species, cardiac rennin-angiotensin system, and autonomic nervous system. In the present study, the role of cardiac renin-angiotensin system on development of hyperthyroidism induced cardiac hypertrophy, and the involvement of autonomic nervous system and reactive oxygen species, were assessed trough blockade of angiotensin II receptor AT1. For that, were used male Wistar rats, weighting about 220g, divided in 4 experimental groups,: Control (C), Losartan (L) (10mg/Kg body weight/day, 28 days, intragastric probe), T4 (12mg/L L-thyroxin in drinking water, 28 days), and T4+L. Cardiac mass, spectral analysis (autonomic balance), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), and myocardial protein expression of angiotensin II receptor (AT1), NADPH oxidase, Nrf-2, and heme-oxygenase-1 (HO-1), were quantified. Cardiac hypertrophy and autonomic umbalance induced by thyroid hormones were attenuated in the T4+losartan group. The H2O2, as well as Nrf-2, gp91phox, AT1 and HO-1 immunocontent were elevated in T4 group. All these effects were attenuated by losartan, except AT1 levels. The overall results suggest that blockade of AT1 receptor lead to relevant impact on autonomic balance and cardiac hypertrophy, being ROS and Nrf-2/ HO-1 system possible mediators in this alterations in experimental hyperthyroidism.

O hipertireoidismo é uma patologia epidemiologicamente importante, que afeta o sistema cardiovascular de forma proeminente. O estado hipertireoideo pode afetar o metabolismo basal, consumo de O2 celular, sistema renina angiotensina, assim como, estimular a produção de espécies ativas de oxigênio. Estas alterações produzem consequências morfológicas, funcionais, bioquímicas e moleculares no tecido cardíaco. A hipertrofia cardíaca, decorrente do hipertireoidismo, instala-se devido a uma série de eventos que sinalizam à proliferação e sobrevivência celular, envolvendo as espécies ativas de oxigênio, a ativação do sistema renina angiotensina cardíaco e o sistema nervoso autonômico. Neste estudo, bloqueamos o receptor AT1 da angiotensina II para avaliarmos a influência do sistema renina angiotensina cardíaco sobre o desenvolvimento da hipertrofia cardíaca, a participação do balanço autonômico sobre o coração e o papel das espécies ativas de oxigênio neste processo, em modelo experimental de hipertireoidismo. Para isto, foram utilizados ratos Wistar machos, pesando cerca de 220g, divididos em 4 grupos experimentais: Controle (C), Losartan (L) (10 mg/Kg de peso corporal/dia, 28 dias, sonda intragástrica) , T4 (12mg/L água de beber, 28 dias), e T4+L. Foram avaliados a massa cardíaca, análise espectral do balanço simpato-vagal, a expressão protéica do receptor AT1 da Angiotensina II e da gp91phox, peróxido de hidrogênio (H2O2), Nrf-2 e Heme-oxigenase-1 (HO-1) no tecido cardíaco. A hipertrofia cardíaca e o desequilíbrio autonômico induzidos pelo hipertireoidismo foram atenuados no grupo T4+L. Os níveis de H2O2, Nrf-2, gp91phox e HO-1 foram elevados no grupo T4, e significativamente reduzidos no grupo T4+L, quando comparados ao grupo Controle. A expressão protéica do receptor AT1 esteve elevada nos dois grupos hipertireoideos. Os resultados obtidos sugerem que o bloqueio do receptor AT1 promove importante impacto sobre o balanço simpato-vagal e a hipertrofia cardíaca, no hipertireoidismo, sendo as espécies ativas de oxigênio e o sistema Nrf-2/HO-1 possíveis mediadores destas alterações. / Hyperthyroidism is an epidemiologic relevant pathology, which substantially affects the cardiovascular system. The hyperthyroid state may affect basal metabolism, O2 cell consumption, renin-angiotensin system, and increase reactive oxygen species production. Those alterations produce morphological, biochemical, functional and molecular consequences in cardiac tissue. Hyperthyroidism induced cardiac hypertrophy develops due to a set of events, which signals cell survival and proliferation, including reactive oxygen species, cardiac rennin-angiotensin system, and autonomic nervous system. In the present study, the role of cardiac renin-angiotensin system on development of hyperthyroidism induced cardiac hypertrophy, and the involvement of autonomic nervous system and reactive oxygen species, were assessed trough blockade of angiotensin II receptor AT1. For that, were used male Wistar rats, weighting about 220g, divided in 4 experimental groups,: Control (C), Losartan (L) (10mg/Kg body weight/day, 28 days, intragastric probe), T4 (12mg/L L-thyroxin in drinking water, 28 days), and T4+L. Cardiac mass, spectral analysis (autonomic balance), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), and myocardial protein expression of angiotensin II receptor (AT1), NADPH oxidase, Nrf-2, and heme-oxygenase-1 (HO-1), were quantified. Cardiac hypertrophy and autonomic umbalance induced by thyroid hormones were attenuated in the T4+losartan group. The H2O2, as well as Nrf-2, gp91phox, AT1 and HO-1 immunocontent were elevated in T4 group. All these effects were attenuated by losartan, except AT1 levels. The overall results suggest that blockade of AT1 receptor lead to relevant impact on autonomic balance and cardiac hypertrophy, being ROS and Nrf-2/ HO-1 system possible mediators in this alterations in experimental hyperthyroidism.

L’intoxication tabagique, source d’oxydants, est un facteur de risque important de développement de l’emphysème pulmonaire et du pneumothorax spontané primitif. Les macrophages alvéolaires contribuent pour une large part à l’inflammation pulmonaire au cours de ces pathologies en produisant des métalloprotéases et des espèces réactives de l’oxygène à l’origine du déséquilibre des balances protéase/anti-protéase et oxydant/antioxydant. L'hème oxygénase-1 (HO-1), exprimée principalement par les macrophages, est une enzyme clé des défenses anti-oxydantes pulmonaires. Nous avons initialement étudié l’expression et la localisation cellulaire de l’HO-1 et de ses régulateurs potentiels (Nrf2, Keap1, Bach1 et HIF-1a) dans les macrophages alvéolaires au cours de l’emphysème pulmonaire post-tabagique et du pneumothorax spontané primitif. Les voies de régulation de l’expression de ces protéines ont été analysées in vitro sur des macrophages dérivés de la lignée THP-1 exposés ou non au condensat de fumée de cigarette et à l’hypoxieréoxygénation visant à mimer une partie des effets de l’atélectasie-réexpansion observée lors de la prise en charge thérapeutique des pneumothorax récidivants. Les travaux présentés dans cette thèse nous ont permis de mettre en évidence une altération de l’expression de la voie Nrf2/Keap1-Bach1 associée à une diminution de l’expression des enzymes anti-oxydantes, dont l’HO-1, dans les macrophages alvéolaires au cours de l’emphysème pulmonaire sévère post-tabagique, malgré un stress oxydant important. In vitro, ces altérations pourraient être liées à une activation spécifique des MAPKinases ERK1/2 et JNK par le condensat de fumée de cigarette. Nous avons également montré que la stimulation du système de l’HO-1 était probablement orchestrée par la voie du facteur HIF-1a, et non par celle de Nrf2, dans les macrophages alvéolaires au cours du pneumothorax spontané primitif récidivant du sujet fumeur. Ces résultats pourraient contribuer à une meilleure connaissance de la physiopathologie de l’emphysème pulmonaire et permettre d’envisager de nouvelles approches thérapeutiques basées sur la préservation et/ou la restauration de l’équilibre Nrf2/Keap1-Bach1. Nos travaux suggèrent également que la physiopathologie du pneumothorax spontané primitif est différente chez les patients fumeurs et non fumeurs. Le pneumothorax du sujet fumeur est associé à un stress oxydant pulmonaire et à une induction de l’HO-1 probablement orchestrée par HIF-1a. Ces résultats, confirmés in vitro, mettent en évidence une interaction potentielle entre le stress oxydant et l’hypoxie-réoxygénation / Chronic cigarette smoking, a source of oxidants, is an important risk factor for lung emphysema and primary spontaneous pneumothorax development. Alveolar macrophages are mainly involved in lung inflammation observed in these pathologies through the production of metalloproteases and reactive oxygen species resulting to protease/anti-protease and oxidant/anti-oxidant imbalances. Heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), mainly expressed in macrophages, is a key enzyme in pulmonary anti-oxidant defences. Therefore, the first aim of our studies was to investigate the expression and cellular localisation of HO-1 and its potential regulators (Nrf2, Keap1, Bach1 and HIF-1a) in alveolar macrophages from smoking related lung emphysema and primary spontaneous pneumothorax. Regulation pathways involved in expression of these proteins were assessed in vitro in macrophage cell line THP-1 exposed or not to cigarette smoke condensate and with or without hypoxia-reoxygenation mimicking parts of events induced by atelectasia-reexpansion during recurrent pneumothorax constitution and treatment. In these studies, we showed an altered expression of Nrf2/Keap1- Bach1 pathway associated with a reduced expression of anti-oxidants enzymes, like HO-1, in alveolar macrophages from smoking related lung emphysema patients, despite an important oxidative stress. These alterations might be related to cigarette smoke condensate activated ERK1/2 and JNK MAPKinases as observed in THP-1 cells. Furthermore, we showed that HO- 1 system induction was mediated by HIF-1a instead of Nrf2 pathway in alveolar macrophages from smoking related recurrent primary spontaneous pneumothorax. These findings may contribute to a better knowledge of the pathophysiology of lung emphysema and could provide new therapeutic approaches based on preservation and/or restoration of Nrf2/Keap1-Bach1 equilibrium. Our results also suggest that the pathophysiology of primary spontaneous pneumothorax could be different in smokers and non smokers. Spontaneous pneumothorax in smokers is associated with lung oxidative stress and the orchestrated induction of HO-1 probably via HIF-1a. These results provide a new link between oxidative stress and hypoxia/reoxygenation

Many neurodegenerative diseases are characterized by the accumulation of misfolded proteins that often share common morphological and biochemical features, and can similarly co-localize with several other proteins, including various chaperone proteins. Chaperone proteins, like heat shock protein 27 (HSP27), heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1) and clusterin, have been implicated as potent modulators of misfolded proteins, thus may play important roles in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases. The present study aims to investigate their roles in the pathogenesis of Frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD), Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD), and Motor neuron disease (MND) by determining their distribution and amount via immunohistochemical staining and western blotting in diseased and control subjects.There were distinct patterns of HSP27 and clusterin immunostaining in different brain regions. For HSP27, patients with AD and FTLD were in general more severely affected than were patients with MND and control subjects. For clusterin, patients with AD and FTLD were more severely affected than control subjects where neurons and glial cells were concerned, while patients with AD and control subjects were more severely affected than those with FTLD where diffuse and cored plaques were concerned. However, there were no obvious differences in the pattern of HO-1 immunostaining in various brain regions in patients with AD or FTLD relative to control subjects. Moreover, there was no association between HSP27, HO-1 and clusterin with disease or histological type, and the ‘classic’ neuropathological changes in FTLD, AD and MND were not immunoreactive to any of these proteins. There were significant correlations between the degrees of HO-1 and clusterin immunostaining in many brain areas for both AD and FTLD cases, and for all cases overall, but none between HSP27 and clusterin or HSP27 and HO-1. Present results suggest an involvement with ongoing cellular stress, misfolded or unfolded protein accumulation or the deficits/failure of other relevant protein quality control systems, in the pathogenesis of these neurodegenerative diseases. Present work may therefore have implications for the further development of ideas concerning the cause or treatment of neurodegenerative diseases where there is aberrant accumulation of misfolded, aggregated protein, and perhaps for conformational diseases in general. However, there are still many issues remain to be elucidated. Further research aimed at understanding the function and mechanisms of the chaperone system, and other protein quality control mechanisms, in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases is still needed.

Background: Treatment of cardiovascular risk factors slows the progression of small abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA). Heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) is a stress- and hemin-induced enzyme providing cytoprotection against oxidative stress when overexpressed. However, nothing is known about the effects of cardiometabolic standard therapies on HO-1 expression in aortic walls in patients with end-stage AAA. Methods: The effects of statins, angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs), calcium channel blockers (CCBs), betablockers, diuretics, acetylsalicylic acid (ASA), and therapeutic anticoagulation on HO-1 mRNA and protein expressions were analyzed in AAA patients using multivariate logistic regression analysis and comparison of monotherapy. Results: Analysis of monotherapy revealed that HO-1 mRNA and protein expressions were higher in patients on diuretics and lower in patients on statin therapy. Tests on combinations of antihypertensive medications demonstrated that ACE inhibitors and diuretics, ARBs and diuretics, and beta-blockers and diuretics were associated with increase in HO-1 mRNA expression. ASA and therapeutic anticoagulation were not linked to HO-1 expression. Conclusion: Diuretics showed the strongest association with HO-1 expression, persisting even in combination with other antihypertensive medications. Hence, changes in aortic HO-1 expression in response to different medical therapies and their effects on vessel wall degeneration should be analyzed in future studies.

Thesis (M.S.)--Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, 2005. / Typescript (photocopy).

Background & Aims: Oxidative stress and apoptosis are proposed mechanisms of cellular injury in studies of xenobiotic hepatotoxicity. The aim of this work is to find early signal markers of drug-induced injury of the liver by focusing on select antioxidant/oxidant and apoptotic genes. As well, to address the relationship between conventional liver dysfunction markers and the measured mRNA and protein expressions in the D-galactosamine/lipopolysaccharide and tert-butylhydroperoxide hepatotoxicity models. Furthermore, potential hepatoprotective capabilities of antioxidant polyphenols quercetin and curcumin were evaluated in relation to its modulation of the oxidative stress and apoptotic parameters in the given xenobiotic hepatotoxicity models. Methods: Biochemical markers testing the hepatic function included aminotransferases (ALT, AST) and bilirubin. Measurements of TBARS and conjugated dienes were used to assess lipoperoxidation. Plasma levels of catalase and reduced glutathione were used as indicators of the oxidative status of the cell. Real time PCR was used to analyse the mRNA expressions of the inducible nitric oxide synthase (NOS-2), heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), superoxide dismutase (SOD-1), glutathione peroxidase (Gpx-1), caspase 3 (Casp3), BH3 interacting domain death agonist (Bid) and Bcl-2...