Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biotecnologia e Biociências, Florianópolis, 2017. / Made available in DSpace on 2018-01-23T03:19:39Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 351723.pdf: 4050541 bytes, checksum: a231870e6bd57a030795ca43703aafb3 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017 / A proteína ISG15 é o produto de um gene estimulado por interferons (IFN) do tipo I. Além de um papel de proteína semelhante à ubiquitina, ela é frequentemente descrita na literatura interagindo com o sistema imune, sendo capaz de regular proteínas que participam de vias de sinalização importantes como a JAK1, ERK1, STAT1 e RIG-I. ISG15 é também importante na resposta a infecções virais. Além dessas atividades intracelulares, ISG15 é secretada sendo capaz de induzir quimiotaxia em neutrófilos, estimular a proliferação de células NK, estimular a atividade citotóxica de monócitos e induzir a produção de IFN? por linfócitos T e células NK. Os mecanismos responsáveis pela capacidade de ISG15 de ativar células e genes imunes são pouco conhecidos, diante disso, buscou-se investigar o papel de citocina dessa proteína e seus potenciais mecanismos de ação. Nessa tese, foi observado que ISG15 é capaz de induzir a produção de IL-10 em monócitos primários de forma dose-dependente. Além disso, utilizando dados de transcriptoma, foi observada uma correlação significativa entre células mielóides, ISG15 e IL-10 e entre células linfóides e IFN?, essa última, corroborando estudos anteriores. Também com o auxílio dos bancos de dados, foi observado que a produção de IL-10 induzida por ISG15 está associada a MAPKs e PI3K em indivíduos saudáveis. Esse dado foi demonstrado com experimentos in vitro. Além disso, demonstrou-se que o eixo ISG15/IL-10 está amplificado em lesões causadas por M. leprae, mas ausente em indivíduos com tuberculose ativa embora ISG15 per se esteja fortemente correlacionada à inflamação e gravidade dessa patogenia. Por último, com a finalidade de identificar um possível receptor de ISG15, ensaios de purificação por afinidade em tandem foram realizados utilizando ISG15 fusionada aos motivos STREP e FLAG e proteínas de membranas de leucócitos totais. A precipitação permitiu identificar alvos de ISG15 já descritos na literatura além de proteínas de membrana que podem atuar como possíveis receptores, porém outros estudos precisam ser realizados para avaliar um potencial mecanismo de sinalização desencadeado por essa ligação. Em conclusão, esse estudo determina a produção de IL-10 como uma nova atividade biológica para ISG15, propõe essa proteína como um marcador de gravidade da para infecções por micobactérias e sugere alvos de ISG15 presentes na superfície de leucócitos humanos que podem atuar como potenciais receptores dessa proteína. / Abstract : In humans, interferon stimulated gene (ISG) 15 deficiency may lead to inflammatory interferonpathies and mycobacterial disease, which has been previously linked to its extracellular cytokine-like activity. Here, a novel role for secreted ISG15 as IL-10 inducer, unique to human primary monocytes, is demonstrated. Moreover, a significant correlation of ISG15-induced monocyte/IL-10 and lymphoid/IFN? expression, which was associated with p38 MAPK and PI3K signalling in healthy volunteers, was found employing targeted in vitro and ex vivo system analysis of novel and established human transcriptomic datasets. In human mycobacterial infections, the ISG15/IL10 axis was amplified in leprosy, whereas ISG15 strongly correlated to inflammation and disease severity in active tuberculosis (TB). The specificity and MAPK/PI3K-dependence of ISG15-induced monocyte IL-10 production was confirmed in vitro using CRISPR/Cas9 knockout and pharmacological inhibitors. In this study, we have also attempted to identify a potential receptor using tandem affinity purification assays with ISG15 fused to STREP-FLAG motifs and membrane proteins from total leukocytes. This assay led to the identification of potential ISG15 receptors but other studies must be carried out to evaluate a signalling mechanism potentially triggered by this binding. In conclusion, this study determines the production of IL-10 as a new biological activity for ISG15, proposes this protein as a marker of severity of mycobacterial infections and suggests new ISG15 targets present on the surface of human leukocytes that can act as potential receptors.

Made available in DSpace on 2015-07-22T20:49:33Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2010-07-28 / A resposta inflamatória é modulada durante a sepse e a regulação positiva ou negativa da atividade celular depende das células e funções avaliadas. IFN-γ e IL-17 são citocinas características das subpopulações de linfócitos Th1 e Th17, respectivamente, e desempenham papel importante na resposta imune, ligando a imunidade inata e adaptativa. Objetivo: Avaliar a presença das células Th1 e Th17 em pacientes sépticos na admissão do estudo (D0) comparado-a com sadios e após 7 dias (D7) de seguimento. Casuística e Métodos: Foram incluídos 59 pacientes sépticos no D0, dos quais 31 tiveram amostras colhidas no D7, e 30 indivíduos sadios. As células mononucleares do sangue periférico foram separadas e congeladas em nitrogênio líquido. Após descongelamento e ajuste da concentração para 1x106 células/mL, as células foram estimuladas ou não com PMA/ionomicina e mantidas por 30 minutos em estufa a 37ºC a 5% CO2. Foi acrescentado brefeldina A e incubadas por mais 15 horas. Em seguida, foi feita marcação de superfície para a identificação dos linfócitos TCD4 (CD3+CD8-). As células foram permeabilizadas e marcadas para detecção de IL-17A e IFN-γ intracelular. As amostras foram lidas em citômetro FACSCanto e analisadas no programa FlowJo. Resultados: A produção basal de IFN-γ e IL-17A foi maior nos pacientes comparado aos sadios (P=0,002 e P<0,001, respectivamente). Após estímulo, a produção de IL-17A foi maior nos pacientes (P=0,027) enquanto a de IFN-γ foi superior nos sadios (P=0,001). Ao comparar os diferentes estadios da sepse, foi observado aumento na produção de IFN-γ após estímulo com PMA/ionomicina nos pacientes em choque séptico em relação aos pacientes em sepse grave (P=0,039). A produção de IFN-γ basal e após estímulo mostrou-se aumentada no D7 em relação ao D0 (P=0,007 e P=0,018, respectivamente). Em contraste, a produção de IL-17 após estímulo foi maior no D0 comparado ao D7 (P=0,003), mas não foi encontrada diferença significativa na condição basal. Nos pacientes que evoluíram a óbito, as amostras do D0 apresentaram menor produção constitutiva de IFN-γ em relação ao D7 (P=0,023), mas após estímulo não foi encontrada diferença. Nos pacientes que sobreviveram, não houve diferença na condição basal e após estímulo com PMA/ionomicina. A produção de IL-17, após estímulo foi maior na amostra D0 em relação ao D7 (P=0,006) nos pacientes que sobreviveram, já na condição basal não houve diferença. Os pacientes que evoluíram a óbito não apresentaram diferença na condição basal e após estímulo com PMA/ionomicina. Conclusão: Os resultados basais com maior produção de citocinas nos sépticos refletem o grau de inflamação característico da sepse. Observamos uma dicotomia entre as respostas Th1 e Th17 após PMA/ionomicina nos pacientes sépticos, com aumento da população Th17 e diminuição da Th1 em relação aos sadios. Aumento da população Th1 no D7 foi relacionado com mortalidade, enquanto diminuição da população Th17 foi relacionada com sobrevida, indicando que a persistência ou exacerbação das respostas Th1 e Th17 podem ser deletérias. Estes achados sugerem regulação da resposta inflamatória na sepse das populações Th1 e Th17. / The inflammatory response is modulated during sepsis and up or down regulation of cell activity depends on cells and functions evaluated. IFN-g and IL-17 are cytokines characteristics of lymphocyte subsets Th1 and Th17, respectively, and play an important role in immune response, linking innate and adaptative immunity. Objective: To evaluate the presence of Th1 and Th17 cells in septic patients at admission of the study (D0) compared it with healthy volunteers and after 7 days (D7) follow-up. Material and Methods: We included 59 septic patients on D0, of which 31 had samples collected on D7, and 30 healthy individuals. The peripheral blood mononuclear cells were separated and frozen in liquid nitrogen. After thawing and adjust the concentration to 1x106 cells/mL, cells were stimulated or not with PMA/ionomycin for 30 minutes and maintained at 37oC 5% CO2. Brefeldin A was added and cells were incubated for another 15 hours. Then cells were surface stained for identification of TCD4 lymphocytes (CD3+CD8-). Cells were permeabilized and stained for detection of IL-17A and IFN-g intracellular. The samples were read in FACSCanto cytometer and analyzed with FlowJo program. Results: The basal production of IFN-g and IL-17A was higher in patients compared to healthy volunteers (P=0,002 e P<0,001, respectively). After stimulation, the production of IL-17A was higher in patients (P=0,027) while the IFN-g was higher in healthy (P=0,001). An increase IFN-g production after stimulation with PMA/ionomycin was found in patients with septic shock compared to severe sepsis (P=0,039). The baseline production of IFN-g and after PMA/Ionomycin stimulation was found to be increased in D7 in relation to D0 (P=0,007 e P=0,018, respectively). In contrast, the production of IL-17 after stimulation was higher in D0 compared to D7 (P=0,003). In patients who died, the D0 samples showed lower constitutive IFN-g production compared to D7 (P=0,023), but after a stimulus, no difference was found. In patients who survived, there was no difference at baseline and after stimulation with PMA/ionomycin. The IL-17 production, after stimulation, was higher in D0 sample compared to D7 (P=0,006) in patients who survived. No difference between D0 and D7 was found in patients who survived. Conclusion: The results with higher basal detection of IFN-g and IL-17 producing cells in septic patients reflect the degree of inflammation characteristic of sepsis. A dichotomy between Th1 and Th17 responses after PMA/ionomycin stimulation was found in septic patients, with increased Th17 population and decreased Th1 compared to healthy individuals. A higher proportion of Th1 in D7 was observed in patients who died; while a decrease of Th17 population was observed in patients who survived, indicating that the persistence or higher Th1 and Th17 responses may be deleterious. These findings suggest regulation of the inflammatory response in sepsis of Th1 and Th17 populations. / TEDE / BV UNIFESP: Teses e dissertações

Orientadores: Leonilda Maria Barbosa Santos, Ilma Aparecida Paschoal / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Biologia / Made available in DSpace on 2018-07-22T08:08:39Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Castro_AnaliaZuleikade_M.pdf: 5313468 bytes, checksum: 7ab49045ee18e55595dcf9f1515981c3 (MD5) Previous issue date: 1997 / Mestrado / Imunologia / Mestre em Ciências Biológicas

Orientador : Helena Zerlotti Wolf Grotto / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-01T18:25:25Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Salome_MarinaAparecida_M.pdf: 4312758 bytes, checksum: 5d8108405d675cee92e679899ea4e5d8 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2002 / Resumo: Pacientes infectados pelo HIV apresentam diversas alterações hematológicas, relacionadas principalmente às citopenias. Dentre elas, a mais freqüente é a anemia caracterizada, na maior parte dos casos, como anemia de doença crônica (ADC), cuja etiologia é multifatorial. O objetivo deste trabalho foi estudar diversos aspectos relacionados à hematopoiese em pacientes com aids, e através dessa análise inicial, selecionamos um grupo com ADC para avaliar a associação entre os aspectos hematológicos, alterações do metabolismo do ferro e a associação com níveis de IFN-g. Parâmetros relacionados com o metabolismo de Fe, tais como Fe sérico, ferritina sérica (FS), receptores solúveis de transferrina (sTfR) e parâmetros relacionados com a hematopoiese, tais como eritropoietina (EPO), hemoglobina (Hb), reticulócitos (RTC), plaquetas (PLT) e línfócitos foram correlacionados com IFN-g e os resultados foram comparados com um grupo de 42 pacientes HIV positivo não anêmicos. Foram realizados os testes para investigação do diagnóstico sorológico, avaliação do perfil hepático, perfil hematológico, estudo do metabolismo do ferro, determinação de IFN-g e dosagem de EPO com a finalidade de determinar a gravidade da doença e a resposta da medula óssea. Os nossos resultados mostraram a freqüência das alterações hematológicas, principalmente as citopenias, nos pacientes HIV positivo estudados. A maioria dos pacientes com anemia apresentaram morfologia normocítica-normocrômica e característica laboratorial de ADC. Além da série vermelha, observamos outras anormalidades hematológicas em relação às contagens de plaquetas, leucócitos, linfócitos, neutrófilos e RTC nos 111 pacientes estudados. Observamos, também, concentrações de FS elevados em pacientes com ADC e dosagens de sTfR normal ou levemente elevados em ambos os grupos. Não houve correlação entre IFN-g e FS e entre determinações de IFN-g e sTfR. Baixos valores de CD4/CD8 foram obtidos nos pacientes com ADC e uma correlação inversa foi observada entre IFN-g e CD4/CD8 nos grupos com e sem anemia. As contagens de RTC e as concentrações de EPO foram similares em ambos os grupos e as porcentagens de RTC imaturos estavam elevadas em pacientes anêmicos, indicando uma aparente tentativa da resposta medular para compensar o aumento da demanda. De acordo com os nossos dados não foi possível confirmar a associação entre o IFN-g e os distúrbios no metabolismo do Fe na ADC, mas nossos resultados reforçam o importante papel do IFN-g na gravidade da doença e a proeminente deterioração do sistema imunológico nos pacientes HIV positivo com ADC. Pudemos, ainda, constatar a dificuldade de se estabelecer o diagnóstico laboratorial da causa da anemia nesses pacientes / Abstract: Not informed / Mestrado / Ciencias Biomedicas / Mestre em Ciências Médicas

No description available.

The innate immune system is the first line of defence against viral infections. Conventionally, innate immune activation begins with the detection of foreign nucleic acids by pattern recognition receptors (PRRs), which triggers a signalling cascade that culminates in the production of interferon (IFN) and other inflammatory cytokines and chemokines. Over the past few years, a number of studies have shown that IFN innate immune responses can also be triggered by stressors, such as membrane perturbations, cytoskeletal perturbations, oxidative stress, and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress 1–3. One way that some viruses provoke such stress responses is through membrane and cytoskeletal distortions during enveloped virus particle entry. In some cases, the glycoproteins responsible for virus particle entry can also trigger cell-cell fusion. The potential of cell-cell fusion to induce stress-based IFN responses analogous to those triggered by virus-cell fusion has not been addressed until very recently. To investigate if and how cell-cell fusion may induce antiviral mechanisms and IFN responses we used the reptilian reovirus p14 fusion associated small transmembrane (FAST) protein as a model of cell-cell fusion. We found that p14-mediated cell fusion led to the production of low level IFN and upregulation of interferon stimulated genes (ISGs) in a stimulator of interferon genes (STING) and interferon regulatory factor 3 (IRF3) dependent manner. We also observed that multinucleated cells experienced extensive DNA-damage that led to the accumulation of cytosolic DNA in the form of micronuclei. Micronuclei can be detected by cytosolic DNA PRRs like cyclic GMP-AMP synthase (cGAS) and signal IFN production through the cGAS-STING signalling axis. Additionally, early syncytia formation restricted replication of vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV), herpes simplex virus-1 (HSV), and vaccinia virus (VSV) in an IFN and IRF3 independent, and STING dependent manner, suggesting involvement of either a novel antiviral mechanism or suppression of virus replication and spread by biological changes in syncytial cells, such as cell cycle arrest. This study highlights a key role of DNA sensing pathways in the immune response to cell fusion associated stress and points out the importance of fusion kinetics in the selective advantage of syncytial viruses. Understanding the potential of syncytial cells to induce IFN responses and influence viral replication at a mechanistic level is beneficial to the design of improved oncolytic immunotherapy. / Thesis / Master of Science (MSc) / Viruses and their hosts continuously fight each other for survival. The host tries to protect itself from the virus by activating various features of its immune system, while the virus tries to block and evade detection by the immune system. One way that some viruses attempt to bypass the immune system and enhance spread involves expressing proteins that can merge together infected cells with neighboring uninfected cells. Cell-cell fusion disrupts the balanced environment within the cell, which is a form of stress that may activate immune responses. This work investigates if and how host cells may activate the immune system to respond and protect themselves from the cell merging activity of select viruses. We found that the stress associated with existing as a large, fused cell caused DNA damage and fragmentation. These DNA fragments could stimulate key immune sensors and initiate immune responses. We also observed an impaired ability of viruses to infect fused cells, but this restriction was not associated with typical immune responses, suggesting that some other biological change in fused cells created an environment that is not suitable for viral spread. Further investigation is required to fully understand this phenomenon; however, this study highlights some protective mechanisms of the host immune system in response to the stress of viral fusion protein induced cell-cell fusion.

The effects of rat fibroblast interferon and a retinoid (Ro 10-9359) on the transformed state were investigated using normal rat kidney (NRK) fibroblasts and its derived cell lines, B77-NRK, transformed by temperature-sensitive mutants of Rous sarcoma virus.

Die Erforschung viraler Proteine ist wichtig, um virale Infektionen besser verstehen und damit therapieren zu können. Die Aufklärung der DUB-Funktion auf dem viralen Herpesprotein pUL36 ermöglicht ein besseres Verständnis des Infektionshergangs und könnte zur Entwicklung eines Enzyminhibitors führen, der nur an diesem Enzym ansetzt, nachdem es sich von den zellulären DUBs unterscheidet (Kattenhorn et al., 2005). In dieser Arbeit konnten die vorherigen Daten, die eine stärkere Hemmung der DUB- Mutante unter Interferoneinfluss zeigten, in unterschiedlichen Assay-Designs bestätigt werden. Auch Versuche mit einem anderen Herpes simplex Virus Strang, bestätigten die vorherigen Daten. Die Ergebnisse zeigen, dass die DUB-Funktion für HSV-1 wichtig ist für die virale Evasion der zellulären Immunantwort. Die genaue Funktion der DUB in der Infektion ist jedoch unklar. Aufgrund der vorbestehenden Datenlage erschien am wahrscheinlichsten, dass die DUB-Funktion vor Eindringen des Herpes Simplex Virus in den Zellkern zum Tragen kommt, womit es nach Abnahme des Interferons nicht zu einer viralen Reaktivierung käme. Deshalb wurden Untersuchungen unternommen, um eine mögliche Reaktivierung nach Abnahme des Interferons näher zu untersuchen. Hierfür wurden zwei verschiedene Experimente entwickelt. Einmal wurde das Interferon direkt nach Infektion und einmal 3 Tage nach Infektion (3dpi) abgenommen. Die Ergebnisse zeigten beide eine stärkere Hemmung der DUB-HSV-1-Mutante unter Interferoneinfluss. Bei Abnahme des Interferons direkt nach Infektion lag bei Wildtyp und Mutante ein leichter Anstieg der Plaquezahlen vor, wobei dieser Effekt von der Dosis des Interferons abhängig war. Eine hohe Interferondosis begünstigte bei beiden eine stärkere Hemmung, allerdings bei beiden auch eine leichte Erhöhung der Plaquezahl nach Abnahme. Bei einer niedrigen Dosis konnte nur eine stärkere Hemmung der DUB-Mutante, jedoch keine Reaktivierung bei Wildtyp und Mutante nach Abnahme des Interferons gezeigt werden. Bei Abnahme drei Tage nach Infektion zeigte sich sowohl bei dem Wildtyp-Virus als auch der DUB- Mutante kein Anstieg in den Plaquezahlen. Es sind, nachdem Deubiquitinierung nicht nur eine Rolle in der Verhinderung des proteosomalen Abbaus von in die Zelle eingedrungenem Virus spielt, sondern auch der Zellregulation, mehrere Szenarien denkbar, die diesen Phänotyp erklären könnten. Die DUB-Funktion könnte zwar den proteosomalen Abbau durch Deubiqutinierung und damit Verhinderung der Markierung des Virus zum zellulären Abbau verhindern. Allerdings könnten sich durch einen langsameren Transport aus der Zelle oder in den Nucleus auch weniger Plaques bei der Mutante als wie beim Wildtyp unter Interferoneinfluss bilden, nachdem das Virus dann leichter Ziel antiviraler Proteine werden könnte. Oder die DUB-Funktion spielt eine Rolle beim Eintritt in den Kern durch Modifikationen anderer Proteine. Virengenome könnten auch durch eine fehlende DUB-Funktion reprimiert werden oder die Zelle durch Apoptose absterben. Interessanterweise konnte keine Hemmung der DUB-Mutante in Interferon behandelten U-2 OS Zellen gezeigt werden, von denen ein Defekt im STING- vermittelten Signalweg bekannt ist. Vielleicht zeigt dies, dass das STING-Protein an dem gezeigten DUB-Phänotyp beteiligt ist. Nachgewiesen ist außerdem bereits eine Funktion des Enzyms bei der zweiten Umhüllung der Kapside bei Pseudorabiesvirus (Möhl, 2011). Weitere Untersuchungen unter Einsatz bspw. von Immunfluoreszenz, Proteasominhibitoren oder weiteren Zelllinien wie Saos-2, sind nötig, um die genaue Funktion zu klären. / The study of viral proteins is important to better understand and thus treat viral infections. Elucidation of DUB function on the viral herpes protein pUL36 provides a better understanding of the infection process and could lead to the development of an enzyme inhibitor that targets only this enzyme after it is different from cellular DUBs (Kattenhorn et al., 2005). In this work, previous data showing greater inhibition of the DUB- mutant under interferon influence were confirmed in different assay designs. Also, experiments with a different herpes simplex virus strand, confirmed the previous data. The results indicate that DUB function for HSV-1 is important for viral evasion of the cellular immune response. However, the exact function of DUB in infection is unclear. Based on the preexisting data, it seemed most likely that DUB function would come into play before herpes simplex virus enters the nucleus, which would mean that viral reactivation would not occur after interferon depletion. Therefore, studies were undertaken to further investigate a possible reactivation after decrease of interferon. Two different experiments were developed for this purpose. Once the interferon was withdrawn immediately after infection and once 3 days after infection (3dpi). The results both showed a stronger inhibition of the DUB-HSV-1 mutant under interferon influence. When interferon was decreased immediately after infection, a slight increase in plaque counts was present in both wild type and mutant, although this effect was dependent on the dose of interferon. A high dose of interferon promoted greater inhibition in both, but also a slight increase in plaque numbers after decrease in both. A low dose showed only greater inhibition of the DUB mutant but no reactivation in wild type and mutant after decrease of interferon. When decreased three days after infection, there was no increase in plaque counts for either the wild-type virus or the DUB- mutant. Given that deubiquitination plays a role not only in preventing proteosomal degradation of virus that has entered the cell but also in cell regulation, several scenarios are conceivable that could explain this phenotype. To be sure, DUB function could prevent proteosomal degradation by deubiqutinating and thereby preventing the virus from being labeled for cellular degradation. However, slower transport out of the cell or into the nucleus could also result in fewer plaques forming in the mutant than in the wild type under interferon influence, after which the virus could more easily become a target of antiviral proteins. Alternatively, DUB function may play a role in entry into the nucleus through modifications of other proteins. Viral genomes could also be repressed by a lack of DUB function or the cell could die by apoptosis. Interestingly, no inhibition of the DUB mutant was shown in interferon-treated U-2 OS cells, which are known to have a defect in the STING-mediated signaling pathway. Perhaps this indicates that the STING protein is involved in the DUB phenotype shown. Furthermore, a function of the enzyme in the second envelope of capsids in pseudorabies virus has already been demonstrated (Möhl, 2011). Further studies using e.g. immunofluorescence, proteasome inhibitors or additional cell lines such as Saos-2, are necessary to clarify the exact function.

Embryonic wastage is rampant in cattle during early stages of pregnancy, particularly the first few weeks of gestation, a time recognized for significant remodeling of the embryo. Of particular interest to this laboratory are the first two lineage specification events, trophectoderm (TE) and primitive endoderm (PrE) specification, occurring between days 6 and 8 of gestation. The TE is responsible for uterine attachment and production of interferon-tau (IFNT), the factor of maternal recognition of pregnancy in ruminants. The PrE forms the yolk sac, which provides nutrients to the developing embryo. It is probable that developmental miscues during these differentiation events are responsible for the high rate of pregnancy loss, however, information on these early lineage processes is lacking in ruminants. The objective of the first study was to improve the current methods for detecting IFNT in biological samples. A novel interferon stimulatory response element (ISRE)-reporter assay was created, and provides adequate quantification to measure IFNT. Additionally, it has a shorter completion time than previous bioassays, and does not require the use of a live virus. The second study describes the development of a PrE cell line derived from bovine embryos. The PrE outgrowths can be produced at high rate, and can be maintained in a continuous culture system for about 6 weeks. As a true bovine PrE cell line does not currently exist, these lines hold great potential for the study of early development. Collectively, these studies improve knowledge of bovine embryogenesis, and provide insights that may be used to limit the pregnancy failures occurring in this species. / Master of Science

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:23:35Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2010-03-12Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T18:09:52Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 tanaka_mh_me_arafo.pdf: 647421 bytes, checksum: 7aca1036f8801f2b3143929ea57d6d5c (MD5) / A doença periodontal (DP) em indivíduos com Síndrome de Down (SD) se desenvolve com alta prevalência, precocemente, de modo rápido e generalizado em comparação com indivíduos não-sindrômicos. Foi demonstrado que portadores da SD apresentam resposta imune diminuída em relação aos cromossomicamente normais. O objetivo desta pesquisa foi investigar diferenças nos parâmetros clínicos periodontais e níveis de expressão dos genes Interferon-gama (IFNG), Interferon-gama receptor 1 (IFNGR1), Interferon-gama receptor 2 (IFNGR2), Interferon-alfa (IFNA), Interferon-alfa receptor 1 (IFNAR1), Interferon-alfa receptor 2 (IFNAR2), Janus-quinase 1 (JAK1), Transdutor de sinal e ativador da transcrição 1 (STAT1) e Fator de regulação de interferon 1 (IRF1) em indivíduos com SD que apresentam ou não DP e em indivíduos cromossomicamente normais. Fizeram parte deste estudo 80 indivíduos entre 7 e 57 anos de idade subdivididos em 4 grupos: SD com DP (A); indivíduos com SD sem DP (B); indivíduos não-sindrômicos (Controle) com DP (C) e indivíduos Controle sem DP (D). A expressão gênica foi investigada por meio de quantificação relativa utilizando a técnica da Reação em Cadeia da Polimerase (PCR) em Tempo Real. Para o índice sangramento à sondagem (SS) não houve diferença entre os grupos A e 21 C. A periodontite crônica localizada foi o tipo prevalente tanto entre indivíduos com SD como Controle. Considerando os parâmetros clínicos, não foram encontradas diferenças na periodontite crônica localizada entre os indivíduos com SD e Controle, assim como para a periodontite crônica generalizada. Com relação à análise genética, observou-se que indivíduos dos grupos com SD em relação aos grupos cromossomicamente normais (A+B-C+D) tiveram uma expressão de IFNG semelhante ao observado entre indivíduos do grupo... / Periodontal disease (PD) in individuals with Down Syndrome (DS) has an early, quickly and widespread onset and high prevalence when compared with individuals without the Syndrome. Only poor oral hygiene does not explain the severe periodontal destruction seen in DS patients. It has been shown that DS patients have a weaker immune response than people with normal number of chromosomes. The aim of this study was to investigate differences in periodontal clinical parameters and the expression levels of the genes Interferon-gamma (IFNG), Interferon-gamma receptor 1 (IFNGR1), Interferon-gamma receptor 2 (IFNGR2), interferon-alpha (IFNA), interferon-alpha receptor 1 (IFNAR1), Interferon-alpha receptor 2 (IFNAR2), Janus-kinase 1 (JAK1), Signal transducers and activators of transcription 1 (STAT1) and Interferon regulatory factor 1 (IRF1) in DS patients with and without periodontal disease in comparison with chromossomically normal individuals. A total of 80 individuals aged 7 to 57 years participated in this study and were divided into 4 groups: DS with PD (A); DS without PD (B); individuals without DS (control) with PD (C) and individuals without DS (control) and without PD (D). A quantitative RT-qPCR was used to investigate gene expression. There was no difference between groups A and C regarding the bleeding on probing 25 (BOP) index. The most prevalent type of periodontitis seen in this study was the localized chronic periodontitis, both in individuals with and without DS. Considering the clinical parameters, localized and generalized chronic periodontitis did not differ between individuals with and without DS. Regarding genetic analysis, individuals of the groups with DS in relation to the groups without DS (A+B-C+D) showed an IFNG expression similar to that seen among the individuals of groups control with PD (C-D). However, individuals... (Complete abstract click electronic access below)