Mémoire numérisé par la Direction des bibliothèques de l'Université de Montréal.

Malignant Mesothelioma (MM) is a fatal disease with a low median survival between 8 to 12 months after diagnosis. MM has a long latency period (10-60 years), is causally related to asbestos exposure, and is refractory to all available modes of therapy. Despite the causal association between asbestos exposure and MM however, the mechanisms by which asbestos induces this deadly disease remain unclear. Chronic inflammation due to the presence of asbestos fibers is believed to play an important role in all aspects of MM pathogenesis, from development to progression and resistance. Chronic inflammation has been shown to promote dysregulated wound repair, fibrosis and epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT). One of the inflammatory pathways that asbestos activates is the inflammasome (a multiprotein scaffold that assembles in response to various stimuli to facilitate the activation of caspase-1), which has been implicated in several chronic inflammatory diseases and disorders. The nucleotide binding oligomerization domain (NOD) - like receptor containing a pyrin domain 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome, both as a whole or via its components [NLRP3, apoptosis related speck-like protein containing a CARD (caspase activating and recruitment domain) (ASC) and caspase-1] as well as its products, IL-1β and IL-18, has been implicated in the development of EMT during chronic inflammation. Asbestos fibers, especially the amphiboles, are non-biodegradable and thus persist in tissues of the body for years after exposure. In mesothelial cells, the squamous epithelial-like cells that line the serosal cavities of the body, from which MM originates, asbestos chronically activates the NLRP3 inflammasome. Asbestos also activates the NLRP3 inflammasome in human macrophages that can lead to the establishment of a chronic inflammation environment. We therefore hypothesized that asbestos dependent regulation of the inflammasome played a role in mesothelial to fibroblastic transition to facilitate eventual neoplastic transformation of the mesothelial cells. Using in vitro models, siRNA knockdown approaches as well as in vivo models of asbestos exposure utilizing inflammasome component knockout mice, we demonstrate that asbestos-induced reactive oxygen species generation modulates the redox state of the endogenous antioxidant, thioredoxin, causing its dissociation from thioredoxin interacting protein to promote activation of the inflammasome. We also show that the inflammasome plays a role in asbestos-induced mesothelial to fibroblastic transition (MFT) (a form of EMT occurring in the mesothelial cells) both in vitro and in vivo with a requirement for caspase-1 in vivo to promote thickening of the submesothelium. Through our studies, we have identified tissue factor pathway inhibitor 2 (TFPI2) and fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2) as molecules that are upregulated in response to asbestos exposure with potential roles in the progression of asbestos-induced MFT. There is a dearth of diagnostic biomarkers that enable early detection of MM, thus with further studies these two molecules could be explored as biomarkers of asbestos exposure/disease progression. TFPI2 levels were downregulated in response to blockage of IL-1β signaling and thus could be harnessed as a potential marker for therapy efficiency with further studies.

This dissertation elucidates several independent molecular mechanisms that function in astrocytes and glial tumor cells, and suggest that developmental and inflammatory signals may contribute to the development of brain tumors. First, we analyzed the mechanism of TIMP-1 activation in astrocytes and glioblastoma cells. TIMP-1 expression is activated by IL-1, which is the major neuroinflammatory cytokine, via simultaneous activation of IKK/NF-kB and MEK3/6/p38/ATF-2 pathways in primary human astrocytes. In contrast to astrocytes, TIMP-1 is expressed at lower levels in glioblastomas, and is not regulated by IL-1 due to either dysfunctional IKK/NF-kB or MEK3/6/p38/ATF-2 activation. Thus, we propose a novel mechanism of TIMP-1 regulation, which ensures an increased supply of the inhibitor after tissue injury to limit the ECM degradation. This mechanism does not operate in gliomas, and may in part explain the increased invasiveness of glioma cells.Inflammation has been associated with the development of several cancers, including glioblastoma multiforme. However, it has not been linked to other brain tumors. Here we show for the first time that inflammation is associated with oligodendroglioma tumors as pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as OSM, IL-6, MCP1, MIP1α, and MIP1β and inflammatory markers, such as ACT and COX-2, were expressed at higher levels in oligodendroglioma samples. In addition, cytokine-induced STAT3 signaling, but not NF-kB, is highly activated in the oligodendroglioma patients. Moreover, OSM promotes oligodendroglioma cell proliferation in vitro, and this effect is mediated through STAT3. In summary, oligodendroglioma tumors secrete and respond to inflammatory mediators, with OSM being the major cytokine that activates STAT3 to promote the growth of tumor cells, and express ACT and COX-2 as a hallmark of ongoing inflammation. Since STAT3 promotes the growth of oligodendroglioma, as well as glioblastoma cells, and also regulates gliogenesis, we studied molecular mechanisms of this process in an in vitro differentiation model. We turn our attention to the NFI family of transcription factors since they have recently emerged as novel regulators of the development of vertebral neocortex. We developed a stem cell-neural progenitor-astrocyte differentiation model, in which the generated astrocytes were characterized by proper morphology, increased glutamate uptake, and expression of early and late astrocyte markers. Moreover, we found that NFI-X and NFI-C but not NFI-A or NFI-B, control the expression of GFAP and SPARCL1, the markers of terminal differentiation of astrocytes.In summary, the three mechanisms of gene regulation we studied, provided new insights into astrocyte biology, with the important implications for understanding the basis leading to the development and progression of brain tumors.

Inflammation is the response of the body to injury or threats. Immune cells such as macrophages have a crucial role in controlling and regulating this process. The potent pro-inflammatory cytokines interleukin (IL)-1beta and IL-18 are synthesized by macrophages as inactive precursors which activation follows a unique mechanism involving the activation of caspase-1 by assembly of a macromolecular complex called the inflammasome. However, the assembly of the inflammasome is a double-edged sword. Although inflammasome activation is necessary for a normal inflammatory response, its malfunction can trigger and contribute to inflammatory disorders such as gout, arthritis or cryopirin-associated periodic syndromes (CAPS). The fine regulation of this mechanism and the cell death associated with it is key for the outcome of the inflammatory process. In this thesis we tackle three aspects of the mechanisms and consequences of inflammasome activation. First we studied the role of the deubiquitinases USP7 and USP47 in inflammasome activation. We showed how USP7 and USP47 activity is increased upon danger signals and how that is necessary for the assembly of the inflammasome. We also pointed how their inhibition dampens the deubiquitination of ASC using a BRET2 assay. Second we examined how the activity of IL-18 is controlled by the release of IL-18BP during inflammasome activation. We showed how IL-18BP release increased upon membrane permeabilization and pyroptosis. This release happens in other types of lytic cell (necrosis and necroptosis) death but not in apoptosis. Finally, we showed that this IL-18BP acute release dampens IL-18 signalling and IFN gamma production by PBMCs. These results demonstrate a novel mechanism by which lytic cell death could dampen IL-18-driven inflammation and highlights a key role for IL-18BP in inflammasome related diseases. Finally we studied the role of inflammasome in lung epithelial cells as a model to investigate lung infections. We found that lung epithelial cells lack NLRP3 inflammasome activity and components, but express caspase-4 and caspase-8 which could have a role in the release of IL-1 family of cytokines. To conclude we showed how lung epithelial release IL-18 upon Aspergillus fumigatus infection. Overall, this thesis enhances our understanding of the mechanisms that control IL-1beta and IL-18 activity by regulating inflammasome activation and by understanding the consequences of its activation.

Selon une étude précédente, une limitation à l'efficacité anticancéreuse du 5-Fluorouracile (5-FU) repose sur la sécrétion d'IL-1β par des cellules myéloïdes immunosuppressives (MDSC). La libération d'IL-1β mature provient de l'activation de NLRP3 induite par le 5- FU et de l’augmentation de l’activité de la caspase-1 dans les MDSC, qui favorise la reprise de la croissance tumorale chez des souris traitées avec 5-FU. L'acide docosahexaénoïque (DHA) appartient à la famille des acides gras oméga-3 et possède des propriétés anticancéreuses et anti-inflammatoires qui pourraient améliorer la chimiothérapie à base de 5-FU. Dans ces travaux, nous démontrons que le DHA inhibe la sécrétion d'IL 1β induite par le 5 FU dans une lignée cellulaire de MDSC (MSC-2). Chez des souris porteuses de tumeurs traitées par 5 FU, nous avons montré qu'un régime alimentaire enrichi en DHA réduit la concentration d'IL 1β circulante et la récidive tumorale après une injection de 5 FU. Le traitement par 5 FU conduit à l'activation de JNK dans les MDSC et l'inhibiteur de JNK SP600125 diminue la sécrétion d’IL-1β. De plus, le DHA est capable de contrecarrer l'activation de JNK induite par 5-FU dans les MDSC, entraînant la chute de la libération de l’IL 1β. De plus, nous avons montré que la supplémentation en DHA dans les MDSC exposées au 5 FU diminuait l’activité de la caspase-1 ainsi que la modification des interactions entre NLRP3 et la caspase-1, ASC ou β-arrestine-2. De manière inattendue, la régulation de l'activité de la caspase-1 par le DHA était indépendante de JNK, ce qui suggère que le DHA pourrait contrôler la sécrétion de l’IL 1β par le biais de l'inflammasome NLRP3 et de la voie JNK. Enfin, nous avons trouvé une corrélation négative entre la teneur en DHA dans le plasma et l'induction du niveau d'IL 1β ou de la caspase-1 dans le sang de patients traités par chimiothérapie à base de 5-FU.L’ensemble de ces données fournissent de nouvelles informations sur la régulation de la sécrétion de l’IL-1β par le DHA et son bénéfice potentiel dans la chimiothérapie à base de 5-FU. / A limitation to 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) anti-cancer efficacy relies on the secretion of IL-1β by myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSC) according to a previous pre-clinical report. The release of mature IL-1β originates from 5 FU mediated NLRP3 activation with increased caspase-1 activity in MDSC and sustains tumor growth recovery in 5 FU treated mice. Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) belongs to omega-3 fatty acid family and harbors both anti cancer and anti inflammatory properties which might could improve 5 FU chemotherapy. Here, we demonstrate that DHA inhibits 5 FU induced IL 1β secretion produced by a MDSC cell line (MSC-2). In tumor-bearing mice treated with 5 FU, we showed that a DHA enriched diet reduces circulating IL 1β concentration and tumor recurrence after 5 FU injection. 5 FU treatment led to JNK activation in MDSC and JNK inhibitor SP600125 decreased IL 1β secretion. Moreover, DHA was able to counteract 5 FU mediated JNK activation in MDSC leading to the drop of IL 1β release. In addition, we showed that DHA supplementation in 5 FU exposed MDSC decreases caspase-1 activity along with a modification of the interactions between NLRP3 and caspase-1, ASC or β arrestin-2. Unexpectedly, the regulation of caspase-1 activity by DHA was independent of JNK which suggests that DHA could control IL 1β secretion through both NLRP3 inflammasome and JNK pathway. Interestingly, we found a negative correlation between DHA content in plasma and the induction of circulating IL 1β level or caspase-1 activity in patients treated with 5 FU based chemotherapy.Together, these data provide new insights on the regulation of IL 1β secretion by DHA and its potential benefit in 5-FU based chemotherapy.

El trasplantament d'illots pancreàtics és una teràpia emergent per la curació de la diabetis mellitus. Una de les limitacions radica en la baixa disponibilitat d'òrgans i l'elevada demanda existent, que queda agreujada amb l'elevat nombre d'illots que són necessaris per restablir la normoglucèmia del pacient. Estudis recents del nostre grup, han mostrat que en els primers dies després del trasplantament hi ha un augment de l'expressió d'IL-1beta en els empelts d'illots.La hipòtesi de treball és que la citocina proinflamatòria, IL-1, està implicada en la fallada del trasplantament. Designant la sobreexpressió d'IL-1Ra com l'estratègia a seguir per millorar el pronòstic del trasplantament singènic d'illots pancreàtics. Per tant, l'objectiu general de l'estudi va ser determinar si la sobreexpressió d'IL-1Ra en els illots pancreàtics protegeix les cèl·lules beta pancreàtiques dels efectes deleteris d'IL-1 en els illots i millora el pronòstic del trasplantament.L'estudi dels efectes d'IL-1beta i de la sobreexpressió d'IL-1Ra in vitro es va realitzar amb un cultiu primari d'illots de rata que van ser exposats durant 48h a 5.5 o 22.2 mM de glucosa en presència o absència de 50U/ml d'IL-1beta. I la inserció del gen exogen a les cèl·lules dels illots es va fer utilitzant un adenovirus V recombinant.La proliferació de les cèl·lules beta (determinada per incorporació de BrdU) va disminuir dràsticament quan es van exposar els illots a 50 U/ml d'IL-1beta, tant a 5.5 mM com a 22.2 mM de glucosa. Aquest efecte d'IL-1beta va quedar completament abolit per la sobreexpressió d'IL-1Ra en els illots que havien estat infectats amb l'adenovirus que codificava per l'antagonista, a les dues concentracions de glucosa utilitzades.L'apoptosi de les cèl·lules beta (determinada per immunohistoquímica mitjançant la tècnica del TUNEL i per citometria de flux, marcant les cèl·lules amb anexina V i iodur de propidi) estava significativament augmentada en els illots exposats a IL-1beta, però no en els illots que sobreexpressaven IL-1Ra.L'estudi dels efectes de la sobreexpressió d'IL-1Ra en els illots trasplantats es va realitzar utilitzant un model de trasplantament singènic. Grups de 500 illots control (no infectats) o que sobreexpressaven IL-1Ra van ser trasplantats sota la càpsula renal de rates Lewis diabètiques. 500 illots són una massa beta clarament insuficient per restablir la normoglucèmia, així doncs els animals d'ambdós grups es van mantenir hiperglucèmics durant tot l'estudi. Els empelts es van recuperar després de 3, 10 i 28 dies del trasplantament i es van processar per fer estudis histològics.La sobreexpressió d'IL-1Ra en els illots trasplantats va fer augmentar significativament la proliferació de les cèl·lules beta dels empelts de 3, 10 i 28 dies i va protegir parcialment les cèl·lules beta de l'increment d'apoptosi detectat després del trasplantament, tant a curt com a llarg termini. L'àrea individual de les cèl·lules beta estava augmentada de manera similar tant en els empelts d'illots control com en els illots que sobreexpressaven IL-1Ra als 10 i 28 dies d'evolució. Finalment, la sobreexpressió d'IL-1Ra resultà en una recuperació de la massa beta inicialment trasplantada.Per tal d'estudiar si els efectes beneficiosos de la sobreexpressió d'IL-1Ra aconseguien reduir el nombre d'illots necessaris per restablir la normoglucèmia, es va trasplantar una massa beta marginal (800 illots) d'illots control i Ad-IL-1Ra a animals diabètics. El 100% dels animals trasplantats amb illots Ad-IL-1Ra eren normoglucèmics després de 14 dies del trasplantament i només un 40% dels animals trasplantats amb illots control assoliren l'euglucèmia en aquest dia.En aquest treball es mostra que la citocina proinflamatòria IL-1beta indueix clarament apoptosi a les cèl·lules beta dels illots de rata en cultiu i inhibeix dràsticament la replicació d'aquestes cèl·lules. La sobreexpressió d'IL-1Ra protegeix les cèl·lules beta dels efectes deleteris d'aquesta citocina i amplifica la resposta replicativa de les cèl·lules beta exposades a concentracions altes de glucosa. La sobreexpressió d'IL-1Ra en els illots augmenta la replicació de les cèl·lules beta trasplantades, les protegeix de l'apoptosi induïda després del trasplantament, i preserva la massa beta inicialment trasplantada. Els efectes beneficiosos de la sobreexpressió d'IL-1Ra observats en els illots trasplantats permeten reduir el nombre d'illots necessaris per restablir la normoglucèmia dels animals diabètics.Aquests resultats suggereixen que la IL-1 juga un paper important en l'evolució dels empelts d'illots, ja que el seu bloqueig implica una millora dels illots trasplantats. / BACKGROUND AND AIMS: IL-1beta could contribute to the dramatic beta cell loss that takes place after islet transplantation. It is known that exposure to sustained hyperglycemia has a deleterious effect on transplanted islets. Moreover, it has been recently reported that IL-1beta expression is increased in islets exposed to high glucose levels. IL-1Ra is a naturally occurring inhibitor of IL-1 action and its overexpression protects pancreatic islets from the deleterious effects of IL-1â on beta cell replication, apoptosis and function. The aim of this study was to determine whether viral gene transfer of the IL-1Ra gene into rat islets ex vivo could have a beneficial effect on beta cell replication and mass of transplanted islets.METHODS:Lewis rat islets were infected for 2h with 6.25 × 106 pfu of Ad-IL-1Ra and streptozotocin-diabetic Lewis rats were transplanted with 500 Ad-IL-1Ra infected islets (Ad-IL-1Ra group) or 500 uninfected islets (control group) under the kidney capsule. Grafts were removed 3 (n = 12), 10 (n = 12) and 28 (n = 12) days after transplantation and beta cell replication, apoptosis and mass were determined.RESULTS:500 islets is an insufficient mass to restore normoglycemia and therefore, all animals but one (IL-1Ra group) remained hyperglycemic until the end of the study. Beta cell replication (determined by BrdU incorporation) was significantly increased in Ad-IL-1Ra group on days 3 (0.78 ± 0.23%), 10 (1.15 ± 0.16%) and 28 (1.22 ± 0.2%) after islet transplantation compared to beta cell replication in normal pancreas (0.24 ± 0.04%; p< 0.05). In contrast, in control group, beta cell replication was not increased on day 3 after transplantation (0.41 ± 0.11%), and although it increased on day 10 (0.89 ± 0.18%; p< 0.01) it was reduced again on day 28 (0.59 ± 0.10%) in agreement with previous reports of limited beta cell replication with persistent hyperglycemia. Beta cell apoptosis (determined by TUNEL method) was significantly increased in transplanted islets from both groups compared to pancreas. Although Ad-IL-1Ra group showed lower beta cell apoptotic levels than control group, differences did not reach statistical significance. The initially transplanted â-cell mass (1.34 ± 0.03 mg) was similarly reduced in both control (0.32 ± 0.06 mg) and Ad-IL-1Ra groups (0.45 ± 0.10 mg) (p<0.001) on day 3 after transplantation. In Ad-IL-1Ra islet grafts, beta cell mass increased after 10 (1.04 ± 0.091 mg; p< 0.010) and 28 (0.8 ± 0.24 mg) days of transplantation. In contrast, beta cell mass of control group was also increased on day 10 after transplantation (0.69 ± 0.12 mg), but it dropped again on day 28 (0.41 ± 0.05 mg) paralleling with the evolution of beta cell replication in this group. CONCLUSIONS:Islets overexpressing IL-1Ra showed an increased beta cell replication and a preserved beta cell mass after transplantation, that was maintained even after longterm exposure to hyperglycemia.

<p>Selenium (Se) is an essential trace element and metalloid involved in several key metabolic activities: protection against oxidative damage, regulation of immune and thyroid function, and fertility. Several recent lines of evidence from epidemiology, genetic, and transgenic animal studies suggest that Se may play a protective role in Osteoarthritis (OA). However, the exact protective mechanism of Se is still unclear. </p><p>In this study, we hypothesized that Se exerts its chondroprotective benefit via an anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory effect mediated by specific selenoproteins that neutralize cytokine-induced inflammatory responses in chondrocytes. We established an in vitro system for studying the effect of Se in the chondrosarcoma cell line SW-1353 and in human primary chondrocytes. Selenomethionine (SeMet) induced gene expression and enzyme activity of both antioxidative enzymes glutathione peroxidase (GPX) and thioredoxin reductase (TR) in SW-1353 cells. Our data suggest that Se may be protective against oxidative stress through regulation of the activity of these antioxidative enzymes.</p><p>As IL-1&beta; is one of the primary pro-inflammatory cytokines contributing to the progression in OA, we next investigated the effect of Se on the gene expression induced by physiological doses of IL-1&beta;. SeMet inhibited IL-1&beta; induced catabolic gene expression of matrix metalloproteinase 1 (MMP1) and MMP13 as well as total MMP activity in chondrocytes. Similarly, SeMet inhibited chondrocyte gene expression of IL-1&beta; induced nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase (COX2) with corresponding reductions in nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) production. In addition, SeMet pretreatment attenuated the IL-1&beta; induced activation of p38 MAPK but not the ERK, JNK or NFkB pathways. Taken together, our results suggest that Se inhibits IL-1&beta; induced expression of inflammatory and catabolic genes, partly through inhibition of IL-1&beta; cell signaling. </p><p>Since Se may function through selenoproteins, we evaluated the role of three specific major selenoproteins, GPX1, TR1 and DIO2, in modifying the inflammatory response stimulated by IL-1&beta; in chondrocytes by RNA interference. Based on RNA interference results, DIO2 and TR1 mediated the inhibitory effect of SeMet on IL-1&beta; induced COX2 gene expression, while GPX1 did not show a significant inhibitory effect on Se. Depletion of DIO2 increased the IL-1&beta; induced COX2 gene expression. This suggests that DIO2 may negatively modulate the IL-1&beta; response. Our data also suggest that part of this inhibitory effect of DIO2 could be through regulation of IL-1&beta; gene expression itself. These results highlight a potential new role of DIO2 in modulating the inflammatory response in chondrocytes </p><p>In summary, the result of this study suggests that Se may exert its chondroprotective effect through specific selenoproteins which neutralize oxidative stress and modify the inflammatory response in chondrocytes.</p> / Dissertation

Les histones désacétylases (HDACs) contrôlent l'expression des gènes en modifiant la structure de la chromatine par la désacétylation des histones ou en modulant l'activité transcriptionnelle de facteurs de transcription. L'utilisation d'inhibiteurs ciblant les HDACs, les HDACi, a récemment montré un rôle des HDACs dans l'inflammation. Toutefois, comme les HDACi sont non-spécifiques, il est difficile d'identifier les fonctions spécifiques des différents HDACs. Les rôles des HDACs dans l'épithélium intestinal sont peu connus. Les principaux objectifs de ce travail visaient à déterminer les rôles spécifiques de HDAC1 dans les cellules épithéliales intestinales (CEI) et son implication dans la réponse inflammatoire. L'inhibition de l'expression de HDACI dans les CEI de rat, entraîne une augmentation post-transcriptionnelle de HDAC2, une modification de la morphologie cellulaire, une diminution de la prolifération cellulaire, une diminution de l'activité désacétylase associée au complexe corépresseur Sin3 et une modification de la réponse au HDACi trichostatin A (TSA). De plus, en réponse à l'IL-1[beta], la perte de HDACI diminue l'expression protéique des facteurs de transcription NF-?B et C/EBP[beta] tout en entraînant une prolongation de leur phosphorylation. L'absence de HDAC1 diminue également la phosphorylation et l'expression des MAPKs p38 et JNK, de base ou en réponse à l'IL-1[beta]. Ensuite, l'expression de gènes de réponse inflammatoire en réponse à l'IL-1[beta] a été analysée. Suivant la perte de HDACI, cinq patrons d'expression ont ainsi été obtenus : 1) augmentation des niveaux de base et induits (Hp, Kng 1), 2) réduction des niveaux de base et niveaux induits normaux (Cc12, Cc15, Cc120, Cxcll, C3, iNOS), 3) augmentation des niveaux induits (Cxcl2), 4) réduction des niveaux de base et induits (A2m) et 5) aucune modulation (Lcn2, GAPDH). La sécrétion de cytokines est également perturbée en l'absence de HDAC I : 1) diminution des niveaux de base et augmentation des niveaux induits (Cc12, Cxcl3), 2) diminution des niveaux induits (Cc120, Cxcl5, Cx3c11) et 3) augmentation des niveaux induits (Cxcl2, Timpl). HDACI est aussi impliquée dans le contrôle de la réponse au stress du réticulum endoplasmique puisqu'un délai dans l'induction de la protéine CHOP est observé dans les cellules n'exprimant pas HDACI, en réponse à la tunicamycine. Nos résultats démontrent que HDACI est un régulateur majeur de l'homéostasie épithéliale intestinale, incluant la réponse inflammatoire et le stress du réticulum endoplasmique, et que HDAC1 peut agir autant comme coactivateur ou corépresseur transcriptionnel.

Interleukin-1 alpha (IL-1a) is a powerful inflammatory cytokine that modulates both innate and adaptive immunity. As such, IL-1a is implicated in the development of multiple inflammatory and autoimmune diseases including atherosclerosis, arthritis and cancer. Therefore, understanding the mechanisms that regulate IL-1a activity is extremely important. For many years, pro-IL-1a was considered to be a fully active alarmin. However, we have previously shown that the removal of the pro-domain by calpain, a protease that is activated upon necrosis, significantly increases IL-1a bioactivity. The work presented in this thesis demonstrates that multiple proteases from diverse biological systems cleave and activate IL-1a. We therefore suggest that IL-1a is an important signalling hub that integrates diverse proteolytic danger signals to alert the immune system. In particular we have identified the inflammatory caspase, caspase-5, as a novel and potent activator of IL-1a. We show that caspase-5 directly cleaves pro-IL-1a during the activation of the non-canonical inflammasome by cytosolic LPS, which mimics intracellular bacterial infection. We also demonstrate that caspase-5-cleaved IL-1a mediates the senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP), which drives the deleterious effects of senescent cells in multiple age-related diseases. Therefore, therapeutically targeting caspase-5 may be of interest for pathologies mediated by the non-canonical inflammasome and/or senescent cells. Finally we find that rs17561, a common IL1A polymorphism, reduces active IL-1a release. We find that blood from minor allele homozygotes releases significantly less IL-1a than major allele homozygotes upon LPS stimulation. Therefore, genotyping patients under consideration for anti-IL-1a therapy could predict who would be likely to respond well to the treatment. In conclusion, the work presented in this thesis enhances our understanding of how IL-1a activity is regulated. The identification of both the caspase-5-mediated pathway of IL-1a activation and the defect conferred by the rs17561 SNP could have important clinical implications for the treatment of multiple inflammatory diseases.

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico / The aim of this study was to measure the levels of interferon-gamma (IFN-γ), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin 1 (IL-1) and interleukin 6 (IL-6) in serum of rats experimentally infected with Trypanosoma evansi and to correlate with the hematological parameters. Seventy-six rats (Wistar) were divided into two groups. Group C (control) composed of twenty-eight non-inoculated rats distributed in four subgroups with seven animals each (C3, C5, C10 and C20), which received 0.2 mL saline by intraperitoneally. The group T (infected) formed of forty-eight rats was inoculated intraperitoneally with cryopreserved blood containing 1x106 trypomastigotes per animal. These, eight animals died between 5th -7th days post-infection. The remaining animals were divided into four subgroups with ten animals (T3, T5, T10 and T20) according to parasitemia degree. The blood samples were collected by cardiac puncture at the day 3 (C3, T3), 5 (C5, T5), 10 (C10, T10) and 20 (C20, T20) post infection (pi) to perform the complete blood count and determination of IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-1 and IL-6 levels using an ELISA quantitative sandwich. Immediately after collection the animals were euthanized. The levels of all measured cytokines increased significantly (P < 0.01) in infected animals compared to the controls. T. evansi infection in rats caused an increase in serum IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-1 and IL-6 and this increase was observed during the whole experimental infection. In addition, the increase in the cytokine levels was concomitant and directly correlated with parasitemia and anemia development at the parasitemia peak. These results suggest a synergism between these cytokines contributing to the development of anemia and the regulation of the immune response against the parasite. / O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar os níveis séricos das citocinas pró-inflamatórias interferon-gama (INF-γ), fator de necrose tumoral-alfa (TNF-α), interleucina 1 (IL-1) e interleucina 6 (IL-6) em ratos experimentalmente infectados por Trypanosoma evansi e estabelecer uma correlação com os parâmetros hematológicos. Setenta e seis ratos (Wistar) machos foram divididos em dois grupos experimentais. O Grupo C (controle) foi composto por vinte e oito ratos não inoculados distribuídos em quatro subgrupos com sete animais cada (C3, C5, C10 e C20), que receberam 0,2 mL de solução fisiológica pela via intraperitoneal. O grupo T (infectados) formado por quarenta e oito ratos inoculados intraperitonealmente com sangue criopreservado, contendo 1x106 tripomastigotas de T. evansi por animal. Destes, oito morreram entre o 5º e 7º dia pós-infecção. Os animais restantes foram divididos em quatro subgrupos de dez animais cada (T3, T5, T10 e T20) de acordo com o grau de parasitemia. As amostras de sangue foram coletadas por punção cardíaca, nos dias 3 (C3, T3), 5 (C5, T5), 10 (C10, T10) e 20 (C20,T20) pós-infecção (pi) para a realização do hemograma e determinação dos níveis séricos de INF-γ, TNF-α, IL-1 e IL-6 pela técnica de ELISA tipo sanduíche. Imediatamente após as coletas os animais eram submetidos à eutanásia. Os níveis de citocinas pró-inflamatórias aumentaram significativamente (P<0,01) nos animais infectados em relação ao grupo controle. A infecção por T. evansi em ratos provocou um aumento nos níveis séricos de INF-γ, TNF-α, IL-1, IL-6 e esse aumento foi observado durante toda a infecção experimental. Além disso, o aumento nos níveis de citocinas foi diretamente correlacionado com a parasitemia e o desenvolvimento da anemia. Estes resultados sugerem um sinergismo entre essas citocinas contribuindo para o desenvolvimento da anemia e regulação da resposta imune contra o parasito.