INTRODUÇÃO: A falência intestinal constitui uma grave entidade patológica. Uma das opções para estes casos complexos, como a síndrome de Gardner e a dismotilidade intestinal, é o transplante multivisceral modificado (TxMvm). A literatura científica ainda carece de um modelo experimental animal para o TxMvm, além do estudo de seus efeitos hemodinâmico e metabólico. A análise foi feita em dois dos três tipos de TxMvm: na evisceração maior e no modelo de preservação esplênica. Essas técnicas levam a grandes modificações anatômicas e hemodinâmicas que, somadas ao processo de evisceração esplâncnica, contribuem para redução da pré-carga e consequentemente do débito cardíaco (DC). O objetivo geral é descrever um modelo de evisceração das duas técnicas utilizadas no TxMvm em porco. O específico é descrever e comparar as alterações hemodinâmicas e metabólicas sistêmicas e regionais da evisceração abdominal nestas duas técnicas. MÉTODO: Foram utilizados 14 suínos (Landrace), pesando de 28 a 30 kg, que foram anestesiados, submetidos à ventilação mecânica e monitorizados hemodinamicamente. Os animais foram divididos aleatoriamente em dois grupos: grupo 1 (n=8), submetido à evisceração completa dos órgãos intra-abdominais, com exceção do fígado, e grupo 2 (n=6), submetidos à mesma evisceração com preservação esplênica. As variáveis hemodinâmicas foram obtidas através de cateter na aorta torácica e um cateter de Swan-Ganz. A avaliação da perfusão esplâncnica foi realizada com cateteres posicionados nas veias porta e hepática, e através de fluxômetro ultra-sônico. A oferta, o consumo e as taxas de extração sistêmica, hepática e esplâncnica de oxigênio foram calculados por meio de fórmulas padrão. Amostras de histologia hepática para avaliação mitocondrial, de apoptose e de imunohistoquímica foram colhidas durante todo o protocolo experimental, assim como sangue para análises gasométrica e bioquímica. RESULTADOS: Embora não tenha havido diferença significativa entre os grupos na análise transversal, na longitudinal a DO2 apresentou diferença significativa no grupo 1 a partir do T120, e no grupo 2, a partir do T60. Houve queda sustentada do consumo de oxigênio (VO2) em ambos os grupos. A extração de oxigênio hepático (TEO2 hep) também decaiu, mas com recuperação em T180 no grupo 2, enquanto no grupo 1, o VO2 hepático apresenta queda significativa. A variável S4 apresenta alteração significativa ao fim do estudo. Não houve diferença quanto às análises histológicas e imunohistoquímica. CONCLUSÃO: O modelo descrito nesta tese foi efetivo em observar as alterações hemodinâmicas, metabólicas e histopatológicas da evisceração em ambas as técnicas do TxMvm. A evisceracão abdominal foi associada a alterações hemodinâmicas sistêmicas e regionais significativas. Apesar da redução do DC, os marcadores metabólicos e bioquímicos de lesão hepática permaneceram inalterados ao final do estudo / INTRODUCTION: Intestinal failure is a very severe pathology consequence of some diseases such as Gardner\'s syndrome and intestinal motility disorder. There are some treatment options, one of them is the modified multivisceral transplantation (TxMvm). There is no description in scientific literature about an experimental animal model for TxMvm and the study of its hemodynamic and metabolic effects. This assignment was done in two of the three types of TxMvm: in major evisceration and in splenic preservation model. These techniques lead to major anatomical and hemodynamic modifications that, together with the splanchnic evisceration process, contribute to reduction in preload and consequently cardiac output (CO). The general objective is to describe a model of evisceration of two techniques used in TxMvm in pork. The specific objective is to describe and compare the hemodynamic and systemic and regional metabolic changes of abdominal evisceration in these two techniques. METHOD: Fourteen pigs (Landrace) weighing 28 to 30 kg were used, which were anesthetized, submitted to mechanical ventilation and monitored hemodynamically. The animals were randomly assigned to two groups: group 1 (n = 8), submitted to complete evisceration of intra-abdominal organs, with the exception of liver, and group 2 (n = 6), submitted to the same evisceration with splenic preservation. Systemic and regional hemodynamics were evaluated using Swan-Ganz, ultrasonic flowprobes, and arterial catheters. Serial blood samples were collected for blood gas, electrolyte and serum chemistry analysis. Systemic, hepatic and splanchnic O2-derived variables were also calculated. Liver histological samples for mitochondrial evaluation, apoptosis and immunohistochemistry were collected throughout the experimental protocol. RESULTS: Although there was no significant difference between the groups in the transversal analysis, in the longitudinal one, DO2 (oxygen delivery) presented a significant difference in group 1 from T120, and in group 2, from T60. There was a sustained decrease in oxygen consumption (VO2) in both groups. Hepatic oxygen extraction (TEO2 hep) also declined, but recovered in T180 in group 2, whereas in group 1, hepatic VO2 presented a significant decrease. Variable S4 presented a significant change at the end of the study. There was no difference regarding histological and immunohistochemical analyzes. CONCLUSION: The model described in this thesis was effective in observing the hemodynamic, metabolic and histopathological changes of evisceration in both TxMvm techniques. Abdominal evisceration was associated with significant systemic and regional hemodynamic changes. Despite the reduction in CO, the metabolic and biochemical markers of liver injury remained unchanged at the end of the study

A research report submitted to the Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Occupational Therapy. Johannesburg, 2013 / This study determined outcomes for motor developmental delay in infants, 12-14 months, diagnosed with HIE II and III, at Chris Hani Baragwanath Academic Hospital. Twenty nine infants diagnosed with HIE II and nine infants diagnosed with HIE III were assessed using the Peabody Development Motor Scale- 2, at their corrected age. Demographic, antenatal and perinatal factors similar to those in other studies were found for this sample. Infants with HIE III had significantly more developmental delay (p=0.01) than infants with HIE II. Fifty two percent of infants with HIE II had no delay while a 100% of infants with HIE III presented with disability. A greater percentage of infants had delay in fine motor skills. Infants with severe and moderate disabilities were receiving intervention whereas those mild disabilities were often missed in screening clinics. It is vital to ensure these infants are assessed and followed up to remediate difficulties as soon as they arise.

Objectives: Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is a widely used method for treatment of hematological disorders and some other diseases. However, sometimes a suitable donor of hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) is not found for a patient. Because HSC have been described as cells with low proliferative and metabolic activity, their tolerance to the lack of oxygen or metabolic substrates may be assumed. In this study, we explored cadaveric bone marrow as an alternative source of HSC for HSCT, using a mouse experimental model. In addition, the effect of in vitro metabolic inhibition and short-term in vitro storage (1 - 4 days) on functional properties of mouse HSC was investigated. Methods: C57Bl/6 mice (wild-type or p53-/- ) were used in the experiments. To explore cadaveric HSC, bone marrow (BM) was left in intact femurs at 37řC, 20řC and 4řC under the conditions of ischemia. The bone marrow cells were harvested after defined time periods ranging 0 - 48 hours. For metabolic inhibition, the electron transport chain inhibitor potassium cyanide (KCN) and inhibitor of glycolysis 2-deoxy-D-glucose (2-DG) were used in vitro. To determine the impact of ischemia, metabolic inhibition, or in vitro storage on transplantability of HSC, the competitive repopulation assay using Ly5.1/Ly5.2 congenic model...

IN ENGLISH The ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury, which is a consequence of myocardial infarction, represents a major cause of death worldwide. One of the most effective cardioprotective interventions increasing the resistance of hearts to the I/R injury is the adaptation to a chronic hypoxia (CH). However, the molecular mechanisms of CH are still not well understood. The most important factors responsible for the I/R injury are reactive oxygen species (ROS) produced by complexes I and III within the mitochondrial electron transport chain. Potential candidates maintaining ROS at a low level are mitochondrial creatine kinase (mtCK) and two hexokinase isoforms (HK1 and HK2). These enzymes highly support the mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation by increasing the availability of ADP for complex V of the respiratory chain. In addition, the HK binding to mitochondria inhibits binding of the pro- apoptotic protein BAX, thereby protecting cardiac cells against apoptosis. Besides the mitochondrial CK isoform, there are two cytosolic CK (CKM and CKB) present in cardiomyocytes that help to maintain energy homeostasis. Based on the known anatomical and physiological differences between the left (LV) and the right (RV) ventricles, the first study focused on the comparing ventricles in terms of the energy...

L’ischémie/reperfusion (I/R) induit des lésions impliquées dans la physiopathologie de la transplantation cardiaque où elles contribuent à augmenter le rejet de greffe. Le stress induit par l’ischémie entraîne la libération d’ATP conduisant à l’activation de récepteurs purinergiques (P2R) dont l’expression est établie au niveau cardiaque et immunitaire. L’objectif de ce travail a été d’explorer l’effet de la signalisation P2R sur le phénotype des cellules dendritiques (DCs) et la réponse des cardiomyocytes (CM) à l’I/R. Nous avons montré que la récepteur P2Y11 (P2Y11R) avait une action immunomodulatrice sur les DCs en diminuant la sécrétion d’IL-6 et IL-12 et en inhibant la polarisation de la réponse adaptative vers Th1. Le post-conditionnement pharmacologique ciblant P2Y11R a apporté une protection efficace sur les CM en limitant le stress oxydant et en activant la PKCe connue pour inhiber l’ouverture du mPTP. Les effets protecteurs et immunomodulateurs de P2Y11R se sont confirmés in vivo en diminuant le rejet allogénique dans un modèle murin de transplantation cardiaque hétérotopique. Nos résultats suggèrent que P2Y11R pourrait être une cible thérapeutique apportant des effets bénéfiques en transplantation cardiaque. / Ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injuries are involved in the pathophysiology of heart transplantation where they will increase graft rejection. Ischemia generates cellular stress leading to ATP release in the extracellular medium that may activate purinergic receptors (P2R) expressed by cardiomyocytes and immune cells. Therefore, these receptors may play important regulatory roles. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of P2R signaling on dendritic cells phenotype (DCs) and cardiomyocyte (CM) response to I/R. We showed that P2Y11 receptor (P2Y11R) exhibited an immunomodulatory role in DCs by decreasing release of IL-6 and IL-12 and inhibiting polarization of the adaptive response towards Th1. Pharmacological post-conditioning targeting P2Y11R provided effective protection to CM by limiting oxidative stress and activating PKCe known to inhibit the opening of the mPTP. The protective and immunomodulatory effects of P2Y11R stimulation were confirmed in vivo by the decrease of allogeneic acute rejection in a murine model of heterotopic heart transplantation. In conclusion, our results strongly suggest that P2Y11R may be a promising therapeutic target providing beneficial effects in cardiac transplantation.

Stroke is the third leading cause of mortality in the United States, and so far, no clinical interventions have been proved truly effective in stroke treatment. Stroke my result in hypoxia, glutamate release and oxidative stress, etc. The purpose of this dissertation study is to evaluate the neuroprotective effects of four drugs (taurine, G-CSF sulindac and DETC-MeSO) on PC12 cell line or primary cortical neuronal cell culture, and to understand the protective mechanisms underlying in three stroke-related models : hypoxia, excessive glutamtate and oxidative stress. In the first part of this dissertation, we studied the neuroprotection of taurine against oxidative stress induced by H2O2 in PC12 cells. Our results show that extracellular taurine exerts a neuroprotective function by restoring the expression of Bcl-2 and downregulation of the three Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER) stress markers : GRP78, Bim and CHOP/GADD153, suggesting that ER stress can be provoked by oxidative stress and can be suppressed by taurine. In the second part, glutamate excitotoxicity-induced ER stress was studied with dose and time as variables in primary cortical neurons. The results demonstrate that glutamate excitotoxicity leads to the activation of three ER stress pathways (PERK, ATF6 and IRE1) by initiating PERK first, ATF6 second and IRE1 pathway last. The third part of this dissertation studied the robust and beneficial protection of taurine in cortical neurons under hypoxia/reoxygenation or glutamate toxicity condition. We found that taurine suppresses the up-regulation of GRP778, Bim, caspase-12 and GADD153/CHOP induced by excessive glutamate or hypoxia/reoxygenation, suggesting that taurine may exert a protective function against hypoxia/regeneration by reducing the ER stress. / Moreover, taurine can down-regulate the ratio of cleaved ATF6 and full length ATF6, and p-IRE1 expresssion, indicating that taurine inhibits the ER stress induced by hypoxia/reoxygenation or glutamate through suppressing ATF6 and IRE1 pathways. In the fourth part, the synergistic benefits of the combination of taurine and G-CSF, and the neuroprotective effects of G-CSF, sulindac or DETC-MeSO are studied in cortical neurons. Our results show that G-CSF, sulindac or DETC-MeSO can highly increase the neuron visibility by inhibiting ER stress induced by hypoxia/reoxygenation or glutamate toxicity. Furthermore, we proved that G-CSF or sulindac can significantly inhibit the activation of ATF6 or IRE1 pathway stimulated by hypoxia/reoxygenation, and DETC-MeSO can suppress the activation of both PERK and IRE1 pathways in primary neuron cultures. These findings provide promising and rational strategies for stroke therapy. / by Chunliu Pan. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2012. / Includes bibliography. / Electronic reproduction. Boca Raton, Fla., 2012. Mode of access: World Wide Web.

Os Hormônios Tiroideanos (HT) representam um fenótipo de cardioproteção e influenciam no estado trófico do tecido cardíaco através de diversos mecanismos, dentre eles a modulação dos componentes do Sistema Renina Angiotensina- a Angiotensina II e seus receptores (AT1 e AT2). Este estudo teve como objetivos avaliar o papel do receptor AT2 na cardioproteção induzida pelo HT e a participação da proteína quinase ativada por AMP (AMPK) nesse processo. O modelo de isquemia e reperfusão (I/R) foi desenvolvido em corações de ratos submetidos ao hipertiroidismo experimental na presença ou ausêcia do antagonista do receptor AT2 (PD123319), utilizando-se o aparto de Langendorff. Os resultados mostraram que o HT exerce efeito cardioprotetor com aumento na expressão protéica do receptor AT2 e da AMPK fosforilada, que foi prevenido com a administração do PD, seguido de piora da função cardíaca. Estes dados sugerem que parte da cardioproteção induzida pelo HT é mediada pelo receptor AT2, e que a AMPK também está envolvida proteção do miocárdio após injúria por I/R. / Thyroid Hormones (TH) is a phenotype of cardioprotection and may influence the trophic state of cardiac tissue through several mechanisms, including the modulation of the components of renin-angiotensin system - angiotensin II and its receptors (AT1 and AT2). The present study aimed to evaluate the role of AT2 receptor in cardioprotection mediated by the TH and the involvement of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) in this context. A model of Ischemia and Reperfusion (I/R) was performed in isolated hearts of rats subjected to experimental hyperthyroidism, in the presence or absence of the AT2 receptor antagonist (PD123319), using the Langendorff system. The results showed that TH exerts cardioprotective effect with increased levels of AT2 and phosphorylated AMP protein expression, which was prevented by the administration of PD, with a loss in cardiac function. These data suggest that part of the TH-induced cardioprotection is mediated by the AT2 receptor with the involvement of AMPK in protection of the myocardium after I/R injury.

Bancos de tumores foram criados para organizar a coleta, arm azenamento e distribuição de amostras biológicas de pacientes oncológicos, favorecendo seu uso nas pesquis as sobre o cân cer. Amostras ade quadas devem ter RNA, DNA e proteínas de boa qualidade. RNA de boa qualidade deve estar íntegro e puro e DNA deve ter boa c oncentração e pur eza. Basea do em norm as in ternacionais, f oi elaborado e implantado um abrangente sistema de controle de qualidade no banco de tumores do Hospital de Câncer de Barretos, que para fins de estudo foi dividido em banco pré-controle de qu alidade (den ominado b anco pré) e em ban co pós- controle de qualidade (denominado banco pós). Objetivando comparar a qualidade das amostras n os dois bancos, atra vés d a extração d e R NA total e d e DNA (utilizando-se homogeneizador de tecidos e Kits), selecionou-se de forma aleatória 200 a mostras tumorais, distribuídas ig ualitariamente entre mama, co lorreto, estômago, pulmão e tireóide, sendo 100 do banco pré e 100 do banco pós. Para se avaliar a influência do tempo de isquemia fria (tempo entre a excisão do e spécime cirúrgico e o congelamento rápido da amostra armazenada) na qualidade do RNA total de amostras tumorais do banco pós, foram coletadas 200 amostras tumorais, distribuídas igualitariamente entre mama, co lorreto, estômago, pulmão e ti reóide, de 100 doadores diferentes, metade com o tempo de isquemia fria (TIF) de até 30 minutos e a o utra metade do mesmo espécime com TIF de 45 minutos. Extraiu-se RNA total dessas amostras (com maceração manual e Trizol) e comparou-se a sua qualidade, através do núm ero de i ntegridade do RNA (RIN), dentr o dos d ois intervalos de tempo e nas diferentes top ografias. Ao c omparar-se amostras com RIN acima de 7 (consideradas ideais para experimentos de microarray), do banco pré e do b anco pó s, for am enc ontrados 73 (73%) no p rimeiro e 87 (87%) no segundo (p=0,013). Ao comparar-se o intervalo de TIF de até 30 minutos com o de 45 minutos, encontrou-se respectivamente 63 (64,3%) e 3 6 (36%) amostras com RNA total intacto, 11 (11,2%) e 17 (17 %) com RNA tot al parcialmente degradado e 24 (24, 5%) e 47 (47%) com RNA t otal degradado (p<0,001). Amostras tireoidianas e colorretais f oram mais sensíveis ao a umento d o T IF (p=0,006 e p=0,03, respectivamente), e as de estômago e pulmão menos sensíveis (p=0,919 e p=0,384, resp ectivamente). Ao comparar-se a s 200 amostras dos dois ban cos, constatou-se que a grande maioria apresentava boa qualidade, porém o banco pós se destacou ao avaliar-se o número de amostras ideais para estudos de microarray, por provável interferência d o TIF, ainda não controlado no banco pr é. Constatou-se também que algumas amostras do banco pré, armazenadas há mais de ci nco anos em freezer a -80ºC, apresentaram excelente qualidade. O presente estudo também mostrou que o TIF é muito importante para a preservação da qualidade do RNA total, por isso, deve-se sempre respeitar o tempo máximo de 30 minutos. Ainda se observou que a de gradação do RNA é tecido dependente e qu e amostras processadas com homogeneizador de tecidos e extraídas com RNeas y Mini Kit apresentaram melhor q ualidade do RNA, qu e as macer adas manualmente e extraídas com Trizol / Tumor banks were created to or ganize the collection, storage and d istribution of biological samples of cancer pa tients, favoring it\'s use in cancer rese arches. Appropriate samples should have good quality of RNA, DNA and p roteins. RNA of good quality should be intact and pure and DNA should have good concentration and pu rity. Ba sed on international sta ndards, we elabo rated and imp lanted an comprehensive s ystem of qu ality control in the tu mor bank of Ba rretos Cancer Hospital, w hich was divided for st udy purposes i n pre bank quality control (denominated pre bank) and post bank qu ality control (denominated post bank). Aiming to compare the quality of the samples in two banks, through the extraction of total RNA and DNA (b y tissue homogenizer and Kits), we se lected 200 tumor samples in a random way, distributed equally among breast, colorectal, stomach, lung and thyroid, being 100 of the pre-bank and 100 of the post bank. To evaluate the influence o f cold ischem ia time (time b etween t he ex cision o f the su rgical specimen and the fast freezing of the stored sample) in the quality of total of RNA tumor sa mples of th e po st bank , we collected 2 00 t umor s amples, distrib uted equally among breast, colorectal, stom ach, lung and th yroid, fro m 100 different donors, half with the cold ischemia time (CIT) up to 30 minutes and the other ha lf of the sam e specimen with CIT exact ly 45 minutes. We ex tracted total RNA of these samples (with manual maceration and T rizol) and c ompared their qu ality, through the RNA integri ty number (RIN), ins ide tw o intervals of time a nd in different topographies. Comparing samples with RIN above 7 (considered ideals for microarray experiments), of the pre bank and of the post bank, we found 73 (73%) in the first and 87 (87%) in the second (p=0,013). Comparing the interval of CIT up to 30 m inutes with the ex actly 45 minutes, we found respectively 63 (64,3%) and 36 (36%) samples with total RNA intact, 11 (11,2%) and 17 (17%) with total RNA partially degraded and 24 (2 4,5%) and 47 (47%) wit h total RNA de graded (p<0,001). Thyroid and colorectal samples were more sensitive to the increase of CIT (p =0,006 and p=0,03, respectively), a nd s tomach and lun g samples less sensitive (p=0,919 and p=0,384, respectively). C omparing the 200 samples from the two b anks, we v erified that the great ma jority had good qu ality; however the post bank stood out the evaluating number of the id eal samples for m icroarray studies, for probable interference of CIT, still n o controlled in the pre bank. We also verified that some samples of the pre bank, stored more than 5 years in freezer at -80 ºC presented e xcellent qu ality. T he stu dy still sho wed that CIT is ver y important to preserve the quality of total RNA, for that, we sh ould always respect the maximum time of 30 minutes. We still observed that the degradation of RNA is tissue dependent and that samples processed with tissue homogenizer and extracted using RNeasy Mini Kit showed better quality of RNA that macerated manually and extracted with Trizol

Evidências clínicas e experimentais mostram que a isquemia e reperfusão intestinal (I/R-intestinal) induz lesão pulmonar aguda (LPA) que, em casos mais graves, pode evoluir para a síndrome do desconforto respiratório agudo (SDRA). A LPA se caracteriza pela liberação de amplo espectro de mediadores inflamatórios, infiltração de neutrófilos e aumento de permeabilidade vascular. Sabe-se que mediadores inflamatórios gerados no local da I/R-intestinal são transportados pelo sistema linfático mesentérico e, ao atingirem o pulmão, contribuem para a LPA. A enzima heme oxigenase 1 (HO-1), exerce importante função na homeostasia celular, devido à sua ação catabólica sobre o grupo heme das hemoproteínas, gerando como subprodutos ferro, biliverdina e monóxido de carbono. Esses subprodutos possuem ação antiinflamatória, antioxidante e antiapoptótica. Todavia, o papel da HO-1 no controle da LPA causada pela I/R-intestinal ainda não está totalmente esclarecido. No presente estudo investigamos a expressão da HO-1 e o efeito de sua indução sobre as repercussões pulmonares decorrentes da I/R-intestinal. Para tanto, ratos machos Wistar (220-250 g) foram submetidos a 45 min de isquemia intestinal pela obstrução da artéria mesentérica superior e a 2 h de reperfusão. O grupo controle consistiu de animais falsamente operados (Sham). Ainda, a indução da HO-1 foi realizada pelo tratamento dos animais com o composto Hemin (10 mg/kg) 48 e 24 h antes da indução da I/R-intestinal. A I/R-intestinal aumentou a atividade pulmonar da mieloperoxidase (MPO) e o extravasamento do corante azul de Evans (AE) no pulmão. Os níveis de IL-1<font face=\"Symbol\">b elevaram no explante pulmonar (24 h) enquanto os de IL-10 foram reduzidos após a I/R-intestinal. Ainda, a I/R-intestinal diminui a expressão pulmonar da SOD-1 e promoveu aumento da expressão da iNOS. Os resultados obtidos revelam que a I/R-intestinal por si só não induziu a expressão gênica da enzima HO-1, porém o tratamento dos animais com Hemin elevou a sua expressão, a qual foi acompanhada pela redução da atividade pulmonar de MPO e do extravasamento do corante AE. Os elevados níveis pulmonares de IL-1<font face=\"Symbol\">b foram reduzidos pelo tratamento dos animais com o Hemin e houve elevação da IL-10 e VEGF no mesmo tecidos. A indução da HO-1 preveniu o aumento dos níveis de IL-1<font face=\"Symbol\">b e IL-10 e promoveu aumento dos níveis de VEGF na linfa dos animais. Com respeito ao sistema antioxidante, nossos dados indicaram que a indução da HO-1, parece estar relacionada com a elevação da expressão de SOD-1, SOD-2 e redução da expressão de iNOS. Concluindo, os dados obtidos permitem sugerir que a indução prévia da expressão de HO-1 controla a magnitude da lesão pulmonar causada pela I/R-intestinal por mecanismos envolvendo o aumento da atividade de parcela do sistema antioxidante e regulação do balanço entre a geração de citocinas antiinflamatórias e pró-inflamatórias no pulmão. / Clinical and experimental evidences have reported that intestinal ischemia and reperfusion (I/R-intestinal) induces acute lung injury (ALI), which in severe cases can progress to acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). The ALI is characterized by the release of a broad spectrum of inflammatory mediators, neutrophil infiltration and increased vascular permeability. It is known that inflammatory mediators generated at the site of I/R-intestinal are transported by the mesenteric lymphatic system and, on reaching the lung, contribute to the ALI. The enzyme heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1) plays an important role in cellular homeostasis, due to its catabolic action on heme group of hemoproteins, forming as by-products such as iron, biliverdin and carbon monoxide. It is known that these by-products have anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and antiapoptotic actions. However, the role of HO-1 in the control of ALI caused by I/R-intestinal is not yet fully understood. In the present study we investigated the expression of HO-1 and the effects of its induction on pulmonary complications resulting from I/R-intestinal. So, male Wistar rats (220-250 g) were subjected to 45 min of intestinal ischemia by occlusion of the superior mesenteric artery and 2 h of reperfusion. The control group consisted of animals falsely operated (Sham). Still, the induction of HO-1 was performed by treating animals with the compound Hemin (10 mg/kg) 48 and 24 h before the induction of I/R-intestinal. The I/R-intestinal increased the pulmonary activity of the myeloperoxidase (MPO) and the extravasation of Evans blue dye (EB) in the lung. Levels of IL-1<font face=\"Symbol\">b increased in lung explant (24 h) while the IL-10 were reduced after I/R-intestinal. Further, the I/R-intestinal reduces pulmonary expression of SOD-1 and promoted the increase of iNOS expression. The results indicate that the I/R-intestinal alone did not induce gene expression of HO-1 enzyme, but the treatment of animals with Hemin increased its expression which was accompanied by reduction of pulmonary activity of MPO and extravasation of the dye EB. The high pulmonary levels of IL-1 were reduced by treatment of animals with Hemin and there was an increase of IL-10 and VEGF in the same tissue. The Induction of HO-1 prevented the increased levels of IL-<font face=\"Symbol\">b 1 and IL-10 and promoted increasing of the VEGF levels in the animals lymph. With respect to the antioxidant system, our data indicate that induction of HO-1, seems to be related to the elevation of expression of SOD-1, SOD-2 and reduction of iNOS expression. In conclusion, our data may suggest that prior induction of HO-1 expression controls the magnitude of lung injury caused by I/R-intestinal by mechanisms involving increased activity of a portion of the antioxidant system and regulation of the balance between generation anti-inflammatory cytokines and pro-inflammatory in the lung.

O estudo dos efeitos do estresse em modelos animais contribui para investigar os mecanismos de sinalização envolvidos nas enfermidades humanas. O projeto foi dividido em duas partes. Primeiramente investigou-se o efeito do estresse crônico imprevisível (ECI) na evolução clínica da encefalomielite autoimune experimental (EAE) e as concentrações circulantes de corticosterona (CORT). O ECI agravou os sinais clínicos da EAE em ratos, mas as concentrações plasmáticas de CORT durante o desenvolvimento da doença pareceram depender unicamente do desafio imunológico. Posteriormente investigaram-se os mediadores inflamatórios e o estresse oxidativo em diversas áreas do SNC de ratos submetidos à isquemia e reperfusão mesentérica. Foram observadas alterações distintas, conforme o tecido analisado, na expressão gênica de NOS e COX, atividade da NOS Ca2+-dep e da arginase e no conteúdo de TBARS. Conclui-se que, nas primeiras horas de reperfusão intestinal, as estruturas analisadas reagem diferentemente ao estresse oxidativo. / The study of stress effects in different animal models help to clarify signalization mechanisms involved in human diseases. The present project was divided in two parts. Firstly, we investigated the effects of chronic unpredictable stress (CUS) on the course of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) and circulating corticosterone (CORT) concentrations. CUS aggravated the clinical signs of the disease in Lewis rats. However, plasma CORT during the development of clinical signs seemed to be solely dependent on the immunological challenge. Secondly, we investigated the oxidative and defense mechanisms in several CNS regions of rats submitted to an intestinal ischemia-reperfusion model. There were distinct results, as tissue analysis, in genic expression of NOS and COX, calcium-dependent nitric oxide synthase and arginase activities and TBARs content. Based on these results, we concluded that, at least during the first two hours of intestinal reperfusion, CNS lesions may be efficiently prevented by defense mechanisms able to modulate the oxidative injury.