This investigation focused on the mRNA expression of drug metabolising Cytochromes P-450 (CYP) and UDP-glucuronosyltransferases (UGT) and the transport protein P-glycoprotein (Pgp) in the small intestine of humans and rats. The mRNA expression of the investigated genes in the human small intestine (duodenum) varies between individuals giving each one of us personal profile. In general, the most dominant forms are Pgp, CYPs 2C9, 2D6, 3A4, and UGTs 1A1, 1A10, 2B7. However, which of these is the highest expressed one varies between individuals. The correlation in expression between some CYP forms and UGT forms respectively is relatively high, which indicates that they have some regulatory mechanisms in common. It was also shown that the mRNA expression of both CYPs and UGTs may be affected by endogenous and exogenous factors. Sex and ethnic background, affected the mRNA expression of CYP2A6 and 2E1 respectively. Commonly used drugs such as acetylsalicylicacid (ASA) and omeprazole (omep) affect CYP2A6, CYP2E1 (ASA) and CYP3A4, UGT1A4 (omep). The expression of UGT1A4 is also affected by smoking. All these factors are commonly used and can therefore lead to important drug-drug interactions. It was also shown that the human small intestinal CYP mRNA expression pattern differs from that found in the rat. The rat CYP expression is rather constant between the different individuals, and the main rat intestinal forms are CYP1A1, CYP2C, CYP2D6 and CYP3A1. The expression is the same for females and males and no difference can be seen between the different segments of the rat small intestine. As metabolic studies have often been done with rat liver we compared the mRNA expression in the two organs. We found that the mRNA expression of 1A1 was absent in the liver and that the CYP2B1, CYP2Cs, CYP2D1 and Pgp all had a stronger mRNA expression in the small intestine compared to the liver. It is therefore important to realise that results from metabolic studies on liver may not be directly extrapolated to the small intestine. Artemisinin is an orally used drug in multidrug treatment of malaria in Southeast Asia. It has been suggested that artemisinin can induce drug metabolism and therefore be involved in drug-drug interactions. This study shows that artemisinin induces mainly the CYP2B via nuclear receptor CAR.

Der Wnt/β-catenin Signalweg reguliert zusammen mit anderen Signalkaskaden die Embryogenese sowie auch die Homöostase und die Proliferation der Stammzellen im adulten Organismus. Mutationen in Komponenten dieses Signaltransduktionsweges führen zu einer aberranten Aktivierung von β-catenin und wurden in vielen verschieden Krebsarten einschließlich Darmkrebs beobachtet. Die transkriptionelle Akivität von β-catenin wird von verschiedenen nukleären Kofaktoren beeinflusst. Hierzu zählen insbesondere die Proteine der Pygopus Familie, die in Drosophila eine essentielle Rolle im kanonischen Wnt-Signalweg spielen, in Vertebraten allerdings vielmehr Kontext abhängig agieren. Insbesondere Pygo2 ist hierbei vermutlich auch an der malignen Transformation verschiedener Zelltypen mit anschließender Ausbildung von Tumoren beteiligt. Auch wenn bereits gezeigt werden konnte, dass Pygo2 in Darmtumoren überexprimiert wird, ist bisher unbekannt, ob es tatsächlich eine Rolle bei der Entstehung von intestinalen Tumoren spielt. Anhand von genetischen Experimenten in der Maus zeigt diese Arbeit zum ersten Mal in vivo, dass Pygo2 für die normale Homöostase des Darms nicht essentiell ist, aber an der Ausbildung von Darmtumoren, welche durch eine Stabilisierung von β-catenin induziert werden, beteiligt ist. Weder im embryonalen noch im adulten Darm beeinflusste der konditionale Villin-Cre bedingte Knock-out von Pygo2 in epithelialen Zellen die normale embryonale Entwicklung oder die Homöostase im adulten Darm. Auch für die Regulation von Zielgenen des Wnt/β-catenin Signalweges unter physiologischen Bedingungen scheint Pygo2 funktionell redundant zu sein. Im Gegensatz dazu verhinderte der Verlust von Pygo2 die Entstehung von β-catenin induzierten intestinalen Tumoren und normalisierte die damit verbundene Hyperproliferation sowie die erhöhte Expression von Wnt/β-catenin Zielgenen und intestinalen Stammzellmarkern. Überraschenderweise konnte die Ausbildungen von Adenomen in ApcMin/+ Mäusen durch Deletion von Pygo2 nicht verhindert werden. Der Vergleich beider Mausmodelle ergab eine erhöhte Expression von BCL9-2 in den Adenomen der ApcMin/+ Mäuse aber nicht in den Hyperplasien, die durch aktiviertes β-catenin induziert wurden. Dies könnte darauf hinweisen, dass in Apc mutierten epithelialen Zellen BCL9-2 für die Tumorprogression verantwortlich ist. Weiterhin konnte gezeigt werden, dass sowohl der knock-down von Pygo2 als auch von BCL9-2 in human Kolonkarzinomzellen die Proliferation reduzierte. Anhand von immunohistochemischen Analysen des Phosphorylierungsstatus von ERK1/2, einem „downstream“ Effektor von K-ras, konnten außerdem pERK1/2 positive Zellen in den intestinalen Adenomen von ApcMin/+ Mäusen, nicht aber in hyperproliferierenden Zellen mit stabilisierten β-catenin nachgewiesen werden. Zusammenfassend weisen die Ergebnisse dieser Arbeit daraufhin, dass die Funktion von Pygo2 im Darm Kontext abhängig ist. Während in normalen epithelialen Zellen des Darms Pygo2 offensichtlich funktionell redundant ist, scheint es für die Ausbildung von intestinalen Tumoren, welche durch dereguliertes Wnt/β-catenin induziert werden, essentiell zu sein. Daher könnte Pygo2 ein idealer Angriffspunkt für die zielgerichtete Therapie von Darmtumoren mit β-catenin Mutation sein.

Nous avons déjà démontré que les probiotiques réduisaient l'apoptose observée dans le système limbique après un infarctus du myocarde (IM), suggérant un rôle anti-dépresseur potentiel des probiotiques. Cette étude a été conçue pour déterminer si les probiotiques pouvaient atténuer le comportement dépressif observé après un infarctus du myocarde. Un autre objectif visait à démontrer qu’une altération de la barrière intestinale pourrait avoir lieu lors d’un IM et que les probiotiques pourraient empêcher cette altération de la perméabilité intestinale. Méthodes: Des rats mâles Sprague-Dawley ont reçu des probiotiques (1 milliard de cellules bactériennes vivantes de Lactobacillus helveticus R0052 et Bifidobacterium longum R0175) ou le véhicule tous les jours en dilution dans leur eau, débutant 1 semaine avant l'induction d'une ischémie myocardique. Un infarctus a ensuite été induit chez la moitié des rats, par l'occlusion de l'artère coronaire antérieure gauche (40 minutes) suivie d'une reperfusion. Les rats témoins, l'autre moitié de la cohorte, ont été soumis à la même procédure sans occlusion coronarienne. Une semaine après l'infarctus, les animaux ont été resoumis au traitement préalable jusqu'au moment du sacrifice. Le comportement dépressif a été évalué par trois tests soit: l'interaction sociale, le test de nage forcée et le test d'évitement passif. Résultats: Les résultats obtenus indiquent qu'en absence d'infarctus, les probiotiques n'ont pas d'effet significatif. Toutefois, en dépit de taille similaire IM, des rats traités avec des probiotiques, ont démontré davantage d'interactions sociales et une meilleure performance dans le test de nage forcée et d'évitement passif, comparativement à des rats du groupe IM sans probiotique (p<0,05). Conclusion: Les probiotiques atténuent le comportement dépressif observé après infarctus du myocarde par un mécanisme qui pourrait impliquer l'intégrité des intestins. / We have already shown that probiotics reduce apoptosis in the limbic system after a myocardial infarct, suggesting a potential anti-depressive role of probiotics. This study was conceived to determine if probiotics could lessen the depressive behaviour observed after a myocardial infarction (MI). We tested the hypothesis that probiotics achieve their central effects through changes in the intestinal barrier. Methods: Male Sprague-Dawley rats received probiotics (1 billion live bacteria of Lactobacillus helveticus R0052 and Bifidobacterium longum R0175) or placebo every day dissolved in drinking water , beginning one week before induction of myocardial ischemia. An infarct has been induced on half of the cohort, by the occlusion left anterior coronary artery (40 minutes) followed by reperfusion. The other half was subjected to the same procedure without coronary occlusion. One week after the infarction, the animals received probiotic treatment until sacrifice after 2 weeks. The depressive behaviour was evaluated by three tests: social interaction, forced swim and foot shock. Results: The obtained results indicate that in the absence of infarction, probiotics have no significant effect. Even though they are of the same MI gravity, the rats treated with the probiotics have shown more social interaction and have a better performance in the forced swim and foot shock tests compared to the untreated MI rats (p<0,05). Conclusion: Probiotics diminish the depressive behaviour observed after a myocardial infarction by a mechanism which could implicate the integrity of the intestine barrier.

Mémoire numérisé par la Division de la gestion de documents et des archives de l'Université de Montréal

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington, 2007. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 128-140).

Diss. (sammanfattning) Stockholm : Karol. inst. / Härtill 5 uppsatser.

Diss. (sammanfattning) Umeå : Umeå universitet, 2009. / Härtill 4 uppsatser.

Resumo: Foram avaliados parâmetros fisiológicos e imunológicos de matrizes de corte vacinadas ou não contra o vírus da bronquite infecciosa das galinhas (VBIG), submetidas a diferentes períodos de jejum após a eclosão, seguido de alimentação até a terceira semana de vida. No Capítulo 2, encontram-se os resultados do desempenho zootécnico e o desenvolvimento de órgãos gastrintestinais. No Capítulo 3, estão descritos os resultados de parâmetros hematológicos e bioquímicos. O Capítulo 4 apresenta as cinéticas de decaimento dos anticorpos maternos e os perfis cinéticos da reposta imune humoral nos compartimentos local e sistêmico. A vacina contra a BIG influenciou parâmetros de desempenho, de morfometria intestinal, o hematócrito, parâmetros bioquímicos, percentuais de heterófilos e linfócitos e induziu a resposta imune humoral na secreção lacrimal. O jejum pós-eclosão prolongado seguido de alimentação influenciou negativamente o desempenho, o desenvolvimento das vísceras gastrintestinais, as variáveis bioquímicas, imunológicas e a maioria das variáveis hematológicas. Os dados indicam que períodos de jejum pós-eclosão superiores a 48 h devem ser evitados, pois ao afetar negativamente parâmetros hematológicos, intestinais e imunológicos, podem comprometer o crescimento das matrizes e inferir negativamente sobre sua resposta imune. No entanto, o jejum moderado pode favorecer a resposta imune vacinal / Abstract: Immunological and physiological parameters were evaluated in broiler breeder vaccinated or not against infectious bronchitis virus (IBV), submitted to different periods of fasting post-hatching, followed by feed until the third week of life. In Chapter 2, are the results of zootechnical performance and development of gastrointestinal organs. The Chapter 3 describes the results of hematological and biochemical parameters of blood. Chapter 4 presents the kinetics of decay of maternal antibodies and the kinetic profiles of humoral immune response in local and systemic compartments. The IBV vaccine influenced parameters of performance, intestinal morphology, hematocrit, biochemical parameters, percentage of heterophils and lymphocytes, and induced humoral immune response in tear secretion. Prolonged fasting post-hatching, followed by feeding, negatively affected the performance, the development of gastrointestinal organs, biochemical variables, immunological and the most of hematological variables. The data indicate that periods of fasting post-hatching over 48 h should be avoided as they adversely affect the hematological, gastrointestinal and immunologic, may compromise the growth of broiler breeder and infer a negative effect on their immune response. However, moderate fasting can promote the immune response vaccine / Orientador: Renato Luís Furlan / Coorientador: Hélio José Montassier / Banca: Ricardo de Albuquerque / Banca: Vera Maria Barbosa de Moraes / Mestre

Orientador: Isabel Cristina Boleli / Banca: Silvana Martinez Baraldi Artoni / Banca: Nilce Maria Soares Queiroz Gama / Resumo: O experimento foi realizado com o objetivo de avaliar os pesos corporal (PC), do fígado (PF) e da bursa de Fabrício (PB), o perfil hematológico (eritrograma, leucograma e glicemia), a integridade e o desenvolvimento da mucosa intestinal de pintos de corte de submetidos ao tratamento por exclusão competitiva (EC) antes e após infecção experimental por Salmonella Enteritidis (SE). Foram utilizados 128 pintos, distribuídos num delineamento ao acaso com esquema fatorial 2 x 4 [2 sexos e 4 tratamentos (NI: não infectados com SE; I: infectados com SE; IEC: infectados com SE e tratados com EC 24 h após infecção; ECI: tratados com EC e infectados com SE 24 h após tratamento)]. Os animais foram sacrificados com 1, 3, 5 e 7 dias pós-infecção (dpi) para obtenção do conteúdo cecal (microbiológico), fígado, bursa de Fabrício e fragmentos do intestino delgado. Os dados demonstram que o uso de EC após infecção não evita a colonização cecal por SE, mas que a mesma é evitada quando a EC é realizada antes da infecção. A partir do 7° dpi as aves infectadas apresentaram os menores valores de PC e PB, e não se evidenciou diferenças na glicemia e no PF. As alterações do eritrograma ficaram restritas aos três primeiros dpi e os resultados do leucograma mostraram uma resposta sexo-específica frente à infecção por SE. Em relação à integridade, o presente trabalho mostrou que os vilos do intestino delgado dos pintos de corte apresentam um grande processo de renovação celular ao final da primeira semana de vida e que EC acelera este processo. O desenvolvimento intestinal variou de acordo com o segmento, o sexo, o tratamento e a idade analisada. / Abstract: The present experiment was carried out with the objective to evaluate the weights corporal 0NC), of the liver 0NF) and bursa of Fabrício (WB), the hematology profile (erytrogram, leucogram and glycemia), the integrity and the development of the intestinal mucosa by young chickens submitted to competitive exclusion treatment (CE) before and after experimental infection with Salmonella Enteritidis (SE). 128 young chickens, distributed in completely randomized design in 4 x 2 factorial arrangement [had been used 2 sex and 4 treatments (NI: not infection with SE - Control; I: infection with SE; ICE: infection with SE and treated with CE 24 h after infection; CEI: treated with CE and infection with SE 24 h after treatment)]. The animais had been sacrificed with 1, 3, 5 and 7 days post infection (dpi) for attainment of the cecal content (microbiological), liver, bursa of Fabrício and fragments of the thin intestine. The data demonstrate that the CE use after infection does not prevent the cecal settling for SE, but that the same one is prevented when the CE is carried through before the infection. From 7° dpi the infections birds had presented the lesser values of WC and WB, and it did not prove differences in the glycemia and the WF. The alterations of the erytrogram had been restricted to three first dpi, and the results of the leucogram had shown to a sex-specific reply front to the infection for SE. In relation to the integrity, the present work showed that the vilos of the thin intestine of young chickens present a great process of cellular renewal to the end of the first week of life and that CE speeds up this processo The intestinal development in accordance with varied the segment, the sex, the treatment and the analyzed age. / Mestre

Orientador: Renata de Britto Mari / Resumo: A leishmaniose visceral é considerada a forma clínica mais grave das leishmanioses. É causada pelo parasita da espécie Leishmania chagasi que pode ser transmitida para animais silvestres, animais domésticos e também para o homem e que vem expandindo seu território. A infecção atinge principalmente o baço, o fígado e a medula óssea, porém, a infecção também atinge outros sistemas do organismo, como o trato gastrointestinal (TGI). O TGI é controlado pelo sistema nervoso entérico (SNE) que tem como função controlar o fluxo sanguíneo, relaxamento e contração da musculatura lisa local, agindo de maneira independente do sistema nervoso central, mas mantendo contato através do eixo cérebro-intestinal. Além disso, tem relação com o sistema imunológico, visto que o intestino é considerado o maior órgão imune do corpo. Os neurônios mioentéricos do SNE são responsáveis por toda motilidade do TGI sofrendo alterações sempre que sofrem algum tipo de estresse, como por envelhecimento, dietas e até mesmo doenças. Essas alterações mostram a plasticidade neuronal para que seja mantida sempre a homeostase do intestino. Portanto, visto a importância do SNE para o funcionamento adequado do organismo, o objeivo desse trabalho foi observar como o parasitismo causado por L. chagasi atinge o intestino delgado de hamsters em diferentes períodos, avaliando a plasticidade neuronal ao decorrer da infecção parasitária. Para isso foram utilizados hamsters dourados que foram divididos em grupo controle e ex... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: Visceral leishmaniasis is considered the most severe clinical form of leishmaniasis. It is caused by the parasite of the species Leishmania chagasi that can be transmitted to wild animals, domestic animals and also to the human and, it has been expanding its territory. The infection mainly affects the spleen, liver and bone marrow, but the infection can also affect other systems of the body, such as the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. GI tract is controlled by the enteric nervous system (ENS), whose function is to control blood flow, relaxation and contraction of the local smooth muscle, acting independently of the central nervous system, but maintaining contact through the cerebellar-intestinal axis. In addition, it is related to the immune system, since the intestine is considered the largest immune organ in the body. The myenteric neurons of the ENS are responsible for all the motility of the GI tract undergoing changes whenever they suffer some type of stress, such as by aging, diets and even illnesses. These changes show the neuronal plasticity so that intestinal homeostasis is always maintained. The objective of this work was to observe how the parasitism caused by L. chagasi reaches the small intestine of hamsters in different periods, evaluating the neuronal plasticity during the parasitic infection. For this purpose, golden hamsters were used, which were divided into control and experimental groups. The animals were euthanized after 30, 60 and 90 days of infection and f... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Mestre