L'infection par le virus de l'hépatite C (VHC) demeure une cause majeure de cirrhose et de carcinome hépatocellulaire. Compte tenu d'une efficacité encore insuffisante des thérapies actuelles (55% de succès en moyenne), le développement de nouvelles stratégies antivirales reste une priorité. Dans ce contexte, nos travaux ont porté sur l'évaluation de nouveaux variants de l'interféron alpha dans un modèle de réplicon VHC. Nous avons pu identifier un variant, GEA007.1 qui présente une activité anti-VHC supérieure à celle de l'IFN alpha-2b utilisé en clinique associé à une plus grande efficacité de transduction du signal. Nous avons également évalué une approche antisens avec des molécules de type Peptide Nucleic Acids (PNA) et montré qu'elle permettait d'inhiber la traduction in vitro du VHC par blocage de la région interne d'entrée du ribosome (IRES), de manière plus efficace et spécifique qu'une approche antisens avec des molécules de premières générations. Une telle stratégie se justifie par la conservation de la cible qui pourrait se révéler utile avec l'utilisation prochaine des anti-protéases et anti-polymérases du VHC et le risque inhérent d'apparition de résistances au traitement. L'ensemble de ces résultats montre que l'amélioration de la bithérapie actuelle est possible et que de nouvelles approches thérapeutiques fonctionnent.

<p>This study shows that herbs can be effectively screened for potiential bio-activity using in vitro methods. Further studies will be needed to better explore Artemisia afra&rsquo / s effect on immunoregulation, particularly long term effects of the herb on the immune system and its effect on other disease states.</p>

The interferon (IFN) response is a crucial component of cellular innate immunity, vital for controlling virus infections. Dysregulation of the IFN response however can lead to serious medical conditions including autoimmune disorders. Modulators of IFN induction and signalling could be used to treat these diseases and as tools to further understand the IFN response and viral infections. We have developed cell-based assays to identify modulators of IFN induction and signalling, based on A549 cell lines where a GFP gene is under the control of the IFN-β promoter (A549/pr(IFN-β).GFP) and the ISRE containing MxA promoter (A549/pr(ISRE).GFP) respectively. The assays were optimized, miniaturized and validated as suitable for HTS by achieving Z' Factor scores >0.6. A diversity screen of 15,667 compounds using the IFN induction reporter assay identified 2 hit compounds (StA-IFN-1 and StA-IFN-4) that were validated as specifically inhibiting IFNβ induction. Characterisation of these molecules demonstrated that StA-IFN-4 potently acts at, or upstream, of IRF3 phosphorylation. We successfully expanded this HTS platform to target viral interferon antagonists acting upon IFN-signalling. An additional assay was developed where the A549/pr(ISRE).GFP.RBV-P reporter cell line constitutively expresses the Rabies virus phosphoprotein. A compound inhibiting viral protein function will restore GFP expression. The assay was successfully optimized for HTS and used in an in-house screen. We further expanded this assay by placing the expression of RBV-P under the control of an inducible promoter. This demonstrates a convenient approach for assay development and potentiates the targeting of a variety of viral IFN antagonists for the identification of compounds with the potential to develop a novel class of antiviral drugs.

Introduction: Bone is a highly active tissue throughout life and is a subject to constant remodelling. Main cells responsible for continuous resorption and de novo synthesis of bone matrix are osteoclast, osteoblasts and osteocytes. Osteoclasts are the only known type of cells able to resorb bone. These cells are formed by fusion of precursor cells in bone marrow or peripheral blood in a process called osteoclastogenesis. Formation of osteoclasts may be of importance concerning chronic inflammatory diseases that are linked with higher risk of developing osteoporosis during lifespan. Celiac disease is one of those diseases, which is characterized by destruction of intestinal mucosa after ingestion of gluten by susceptible individuals followed by induction of chronic inflammation. In this work, we focused on the potential role of osteoclastogenesis in the development of osteoporosis in patients with celiac disease and we studied roles of selected inflammatory agents (TNF-α, IL-6, IFN-γ a cfDNA) with supposed or hypothesised effects on osteoclastogenesis. Material & Methods: We obtained plasma and serum samples from newly diagnosed patients with celiac disease, patients on gluten free diet and healthy controls and analysed concentrations of cfDNA and inflammatory cytokines TNF-α, IL-6 and IFN-γ in...

Made available in DSpace on 2016-05-19T13:08:20Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 205.pdf: 1189300 bytes, checksum: c37aa0ffee9705ba62589fa1555f712c (MD5) license.txt: 1748 bytes, checksum: 8a4605be74aa9ea9d79846c1fba20a33 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014 / Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Centro de Pesquisas Aggeu Magalhães. Recife, PE, Brasil / A infecção pelo vírus da dengue é um problema de saúde pública global que põe em risco cerca de 2,5 bilhões de pessoas no mundo, com uma incidência de 50-100 milhões de casos resultando em cerca de 24.000 mortes por ano. Os mecanismos envolvidos na resposta imune inata atuam imediatamente após o contato do hospedeiro com os antígenos virais, levando à secreção de interferon do tipo I (IFN-I), a principal citocina envolvida na resposta antiviral. Entender como o sistema IFN-I é inibido em células infectadas pelo vírus dengue pode fornecer valiosas informações sobre a patogênese da doença. Propomos neste estudo analisar a inibição da via de sinalização do IFN-I por diferentes cepas isoladas no estado de Pernambuco, assim como o desenvolvimento de um vírus recombinante da dengue expressando a proteína Gaussia luciferase, para estudos futuros de replicação e imunopatogênese. A fim de estudar a via de sinalização do IFN-I, foram selecionadas cepas dos quatro sorotipos de dengue para crescimento, concentração e titulação viral. Foi utilizada a linhagem celular BHK-21-ISRE-Luc-Hygro que expressa o gene firefly luciferase fusionado a um promotor induzido pelo IFN-I (ISRE - Interferon Stimulated Response Element). Observamos que todos os sorotipos em estudo foram capazes de inibir, em diferentes proporções, a resposta ou sinalização do IFN-I. Com o intuito de auxiliar as pesquisas em dengue, desenvolvemos um vírus repórter de dengue expressando o gene repórter da Gaussia luciferase. Células transfectadas com o transcrito in vitro de um dos clones resultou em imunofluorescência positiva, porém não houve recuperação de partículas infectivas. Outros clones deverão ser testados para recuperação de vírus recombinante repórter. Juntos, os dados da caracterização das cepas em estudo e a recuperação de partículas infectivas da construção realizada neste trabalho deverão contribuir para as pesquisas em imunopatogênese, replicação viral e desenvolvimento de antivirais contra o dengue

A terapia endodôntica visa o selamento biológico do complexo sistema apical, contribuindo para isso, as substâncias usadas no tratamento e a resposta imune do paciente. A LILT tem mostrado atividade antiinflamatória, favorecendo o processo reparacional. Sendo assim, este trabalho objetivou analisar o efeito da LILT na atividade secretória de macrófagos, previamente ativados por IFN-? e LPS de E.coli, e estimulados por substâncias liberadas de três tipos de cimentos endodônticos, um a base de óxido de zinco e eugenol, outro a base de hidróxido de cálcio e um terceiro resinoso. A citotoxicidade dessas substâncias foi avaliada usando a técnica de análise do MTT. Macrófagos ativados foram estimulados por essas substâncias ou não (controle) e então, irradiados ou não (controle) e a secreção de proteínas próinflamatórias (interleucina-1 b, fator de necrose tumoral-a e metaloproteinase da matriz-1) foram analisadas pelo teste ELISA. As irradiações foram realizadas com um laser GaAlAs (780 nm, 70 mW, ponta da fibra de 4 mm2, 1.67 seg, 3 J/cm2). Foram usadas duas aplicações de irradiação com intervalo de 6 h. Os dados obtidos foram tratados por Análise de Variância, quando de distribuição normal, ou teste de Friedman, quando de distribuição não normal, com nível de significância de 5 % (p = 0,05). A viabilidade dos controles e células tratados pelos cimentos endodônticos foi similar. Produção de IL-1 b e TNF-a foram observadas. Houve alta produção de MMP-1. Entretanto, sem diferenças estatísticas entre os grupos experimentais. Os grupos irradiados apresentaram resultados similares aos não irradiados. Substâncias liberadas pelos cimentos endodônticos testados não se mostraram citotóxicas nas condições deste experimento. Essas substâncias, bem como a LILT, no parâmetro utilizado, não causam alteração na atividade de secreção de MMP-1, IL-1 b e TNF-a por macrófagos ativados. / The endodontic therapy seeks the dental root canal biological sealing, depending on substances used in this process and patient’s defense immune factors. LILT has shown an anti-inflammatory activity, improving the periapical repair process. This in vitro study aimed to analyze the effect of LILT at the secretory activity of macrophages previously activated by interferon-gamma and lypopolisaccharide from E.coli, and stimulated by substances leached from three endodontic sealers (zinc oxide-eugenol based, resinous and calcium hydroxide-based). Cytotoxicity of these substances was assessed by the MTT test. Activated macrophages were stimulated by the substances or not (control) and then, irradiated or not (control) and the secretion of pro-inflammatory proteins (interleukin-1 b, tumor necrosis factor-a and matrix metalloproteinase-1) was analyzed by ELISA test. The LILT was performed using a GaAlAs laser (780 nm, 70 mW, focal spot of 4.0 mm2, 1.67 sec, 3 J/cm2). Two irradiations with 6 h-intervals were done. The data was compared by either ANOVA test or Friedman’s test. The cell viabilities of controls and cells treated by the sealers were similar. Production of IL -1 b and TNF-a were observed. There was a high production of MMP-1. However, statistical differences were not observed amongst the groups. The irradiated groups presented results similar to those of non irradiated groups. Substances leached from the endodontic sealers are non cytotoxic at these experiments conditions . These substances, as well as the LILT, at the parameter used, were not able to change the secretion of MMP-1, IL-1 b e TNF-a by activated macrophages.

A introdução da terapia anti-retroviral de alta potência no tratamento da infecção pelo HIV reduziu significativamente as taxas de morbi-mortalidades relacionadas à imunodeficiência. Entretanto, o tratamento medicamentoso é acompanhado de vários efeitos colaterais, dentre eles, a síndrome da lipodistrofia (SL), caracterizada por alterações morfológicas e metabólicas. Apesar de sua patogenia não estar totalmente esclarecida, é sabido que aumento dos níveis de algumas citocinas inflamatórias estão relacionados com o desenvolvimento da SL. Diversos sítios polimórficos têm sido descritos por influenciarem a transcrição de genes, levando a variações nos níveis de produção de citocinas, como os da região promotora da interleucina-18 (IL-18 -607 C/A e IL-18 -137 C/G) e do gene do interferon gama (IFN- +874 T/A). Diante disso, esse estudo tipificou os polimorfismos da IL-18 e do IFN- em 88 pacientes portadores do HIV com a SL, em 79 portadores do HIV sem a SL, todos sob terapia anti-retroviral e em 133 indivíduos saudáveis, por meio da técnica de reação em cadeia da polimerase com iniciadores de seqüência específica. Este estudo foi aprovado pelo Comitê de Ética em Pesquisa. A presença do alelo -607A e do genótipo -607AA na IL-18 estava significativamente aumentada nos pacientes portadores do HIV com SL quando comparados aos sem a SL, conferindo susceptibilidade ao desenvolvimento da síndrome. De maneira oposta, o alelo -607C e o genótipo -607CC estavam significativamente aumentados em pacientes portadores do HIV sem SL quando comparados aos com a SL, conferindo proteção ao desenvolvimento da síndrome. Os haplótipos -137G/-607A and -137C/-607A, que comportam o alelo -607A, também estavam associados com a susceptibilidade à SL e o haplótipo -137G/-607C estava fortemente associado com proteção contra a SL. Nenhuma diferença significativa na distribuição alélica e genotípica da IL-18 -137 e do IFN- +874 foram observadas entre os grupos de pacientes e o grupo controle. Este é o primeiro estudo que avaliou o polimorfismo da IL-18 e do IFN- na SL e os resultados sugerem que a região promotora da IL-18 está associada com o desenvolvimento da SL em pacientes portadores do HIV. / The introduction of highly active antiretroviral therapy in the treatment of HIV infection significantly reduced the rates of morbidity and mortality related to immunodeficiency. However, the drug treatment is accompanied by various side effects, including the lipodystrophy syndrome (LD), characterized by morphological and metabolic changes. Although its pathogenesis is not totally clear, it is known that increased levels of some inflammatory cytokines are related to the development of LD. Several polymorphic sites have been described by influencing transcription of genes, leading the variations in the levels of cytokine production, such as the promoter region of interleukin-18 (IL-18 -607 C/A and IL-18 -137 C/G) and the interferon gamma gene (IFN- +874 T/A). Thus, this study typifies the polymorphism of the IL-18 and IFN- in 88 HIV-infected patients with LD, in 79 HIV-infected patients without LD, all under antiretroviral therapy and in 133 healthy controls, using the sequence-specific primers-polymerase chain reaction. This study was approved by the Ethics Committee at the place of study. The presence of -607A allele and -607AA genotype in IL-18 gene were significantly increased in HIV patients presenting LD as compared with HIV patients without LD, resulting in susceptibility to the development of LD. Conversely, the -607C allele and -607CC genotype were significantly increased in HIV patients without LD as compared with the HIV patients with LD, offering protection against LD. Haplotypes -137G/-607A and -137C/-607A, carrying the -607A allele, were also associated with susceptibility to LD. The haplotype -137G/-607C was strongly associated with protection against LD. No significant differences in IL-18 -137 and IFN- +874 genotype and allele distribution were observed in patients when compared to a control group. This is the first study evaluating the IL-18 and IFN- polymorphisms in LD and the results suggest that the promoter region of the IL-18 gene is associated with LD development in HIV-infected patients.

No description available.

Les cellules dendritiques plasmacytoïdes (pDCs) sont considérées comme quantitativement et qualitativement supérieures aux autres types cellulaires pour la synthèse des interférons (IFNs) de type I lors d’une infection virale. Plusieurs observations viennent supporter cette désignation. Tout d’abord, elles expriment un éventail très large des sous-types d’IFN-alpha en comparaison aux autres types cellulaires. Par ailleurs, elles possèdent la capacité de détecter la présence des virus via leurs TLR7 et TLR9, reconnaissant respectivement l’ARN ou l’ADN d’origine virale. Enfin, elles expriment de manière constitutive dans leur cytoplasme le facteur de transcription IRF-7 qui permet une synthèse rapide et robuste des IFNs de type I en réponse à l’infection. <p>Dans un précédent travail, il a été montré que les pDCs néonatales présentent un défaut majeur de synthèse d’IFN-alpha en réponse aux CpG ODNs, ligands du TLR9. Nous avons ensuite étendu notre étude des pDCs néonatales en les stimulant avec le R-848, ligand du TLR7, mais également en présence de virus tels que HCMV et HSV. Dans ces conditions également, la synthèse de l’IFN-alpha est déficiente dans les pDCs du nouveau-né. Nous avons également observé une déficience de production de l’IFN-beta suite à une stimulation via les ligands TLR7 et TLR9, tant au niveau protéique que de l’expression de l’ARN messager. Par ailleurs, la synthèse des cytokines/chimiokines inflammatoires par les pDCs du sang de cordon ainsi que leur maturation, fonctions dépendantes du facteur NF-kappaB, sont également diminuées en comparaison aux pDCs adultes, suite à une stimulation en présence du CpG ODN ou du R-848.<p>L’ensemble de ces données nous a amené à étudier de manière plus précise les voies de signalisation des pDCs néonatales suite à leur activation. Tout d’abord, nous avons observé que les taux d’expression des TLR7 et 9 tout comme le taux basal d’IRF-7 sont équivalents dans les pDCs néonatales et les pDCs adultes. Ensuite, grâce à la technique d’ImageStream (Amnis corporation), nous avons pu quantifier la translocation nucléaire des facteurs de transcription IRF-7 et de NF-kappaB dans les pDCs activées. Nous avons ainsi pu observer que la translocation de NF-kappaB est comparable dans les pDCs adultes et néonatales en réponse aux ligands TLR7 ou TLR9. Par contre, elle est déficiente lors d’une stimulation par HSV. La translocation du facteur IRF-7, quant à elle, est significativement déficiente en réponse au CpG ODN et au virus HSV dans les pDCs néonatales. <p>Nous proposons que le défaut de translocation d’IRF-7 mis en évidence dans les pDCs néonatales pourrait en partie expliquer la déficience de synthèse des IFNs de type I de ces cellules et fournir une base moléculaire à la plus grande susceptibilité du nouveau-né vis-à-vis des infections virales.<p> / Doctorat en Sciences / info:eu-repo/semantics/nonPublished

Magister Scientiae - MSc / This study shows that herbs can be effectively screened for potiential bio-activity using in vitro methods. Further studies will be needed to better explore Artemisia afra&rsquo;s effect on immunoregulation, particularly long term effects of the herb on the immune system and its effect on other disease states. / South Africa