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Bethoxazin is a broad spectrum industrial biocide with commercial applications as a material preservative; however its mechanism of action has not been investigated. In this study, the chemical reactivity of bethoxazin towards biologically important nucleophiles was assessed with UV-Vis spectroscopy. Bethoxazin reacted with molecules containing free sulfhydryl groups such as glutathione and human serum albumin but not with amino, acetate or phenol containing compounds. Bethoxazin was shown to potently inhibit the growth of the K562 human cancer cell line with an IC50 value in the micromolar range. The sulfydryl fluorescent label ThioGlo-1 was used to investigate the biological effects of bethoxazin in K562 cells and explore its mechanism of action. Bethoxazin inhibited the formation of covalent adducts in K562 cells between the free sulfhydryl group of biomolecules and ThioGlo-1, implying that bethoxazin reacts with molecules containing free sulfhydryl groups. Likewise, when glutathione was depleted in K562 cells, by buthionine sulfoximine, high concentrations of bethoxazin were able to inhibit the formation of covalent adducts between sulfhydryl biomolecules and ThioGlo-1. The growth inhibition assay (MTS) was used to investigate the effect of continuous bethoxazin treatment versus wash out in K562 cells. The MTS assay revealed a reduction in the potency of bethoxazin due to the wash out effect, suggesting that the growth inhibition effects of bethoxazin are likely not due to glutathione depletion. A two-colour flow cytometry analysis of bethoxazin treated K562 cells for eight hours demonstrated that bethoxazin provokes necrosis induced cell death in K562 cells. Taken together, these experimental results demonstrate that the reaction of bethoxazin with proteins containing an accessible sulfhydryl group is more likely to be the mechanism of action of the cell growth inhibition effects rather than glutathione depletion.

Liu, Kan. / "November, 2010"--Abstract. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2011. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 116-129). / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Abstract also in Chinese.

Submitted by Daniele Amaral (daniee_ni@hotmail.com) on 2016-10-06T19:17:32Z No. of bitstreams: 1 DissCPP.pdf: 3587784 bytes, checksum: 38e18e70b6c78d140d46b17a57600689 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Marina Freitas (marinapf@ufscar.br) on 2016-10-21T13:32:45Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 DissCPP.pdf: 3587784 bytes, checksum: 38e18e70b6c78d140d46b17a57600689 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Marina Freitas (marinapf@ufscar.br) on 2016-10-21T13:33:00Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 DissCPP.pdf: 3587784 bytes, checksum: 38e18e70b6c78d140d46b17a57600689 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-10-21T13:33:10Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 DissCPP.pdf: 3587784 bytes, checksum: 38e18e70b6c78d140d46b17a57600689 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015-10-14 / Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) / Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are products naturally generated by the cell metabolism and at low levels play an important physiological role in intracellular regulation, whereas in excess can cause damage to cells. To combat this damage, cells present a complex defense mechanism including different enzymes which act as antioxidants. Among these enzymes, and especially in cells such as erythrocytes, which are exposed to high levels of molecular oxygen, the Peroxiredoxins (Prxs), stand out for the abundance and great reactivity with its substrates. In this cell type, when occurs hemolytic diseases such as sickle cell anemia and beta thalassemia, increased production of ROS and consequently oxidative damage are observed, greatly aggravating the clinical picture of patients affected by these diseases. In these diseases, the PRDX2 appears to be a major line of antioxidant defense, as it is the third most present protein in the cytosol of the erythrocyte. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the role of PRDX2 in differentiated K562 cells for the expression of erythroid characteristics, through gene silencing using shRNA_PRDX2. It was possible to obtain a 70% of the PRDX2 expression inhibition, which caused a decrease in the proliferation, cell viability and interaction, showing the importance of PRDX2 in oxidative protection on this cell type. In order to evaluate the modulation of antioxidant system in these cells, we also analyzed the pattern of gene and protein expression of all other PRDXs beyond the gene expression of other antioxidant enzymes during the process of differentiation. We found that inhibition of PRDX2 expression adversely affects the expression of PRDX5 and causes increased expression of their biological reducing agents, which increase the recycling PRDX2, compensating for their lack the cell. These data are not get described in the literature and additional analysis is needed to better understand this interaction beyond the molecular mechanisms involved in the expression of related enzymes in protection against ROS. Understanding these mechanisms seems important to work with a better insight of the pathophysiology of hemolytic diseases by identifying possible targets to assist in the management and can mitigate the effects of the disease in these patients. / Espécies reativas de oxigênio (EROs) são produtos gerados naturalmente pelo metabolismo celular e em baixos níveis fisiológicos desempenham importante papel na regulação intracelular, enquanto que em excesso podem causar diversos danos às células. Para combater esses danos, as células apresentam um complexo mecanismo de defesa incluindo diferentes enzimas que atuam como antioxidantes. Dentre estas enzimas e, principalmente em células como os eritrócitos, que são expostas a altos teores de oxigênio molecular, as Peroxirredoxinas (Prxs), se destacam pela abundância e grande reatividade com os seus substratos. Neste tipo celular, quando ocorrem doenças hemolíticas como a anemia falciforme e a beta talassemia, uma maior produção de EROs e consequentemente de danos oxidativos são observados, agravando sobremaneira o quadro clínico dos pacientes acometidos por estas doenças. Nessas doenças, a PRDX2 aparenta ser uma importante linha de defesa antioxidante, já que é a terceira proteína mais presente no citosol do eritrócito. Diante disso, esse trabalho teve como objetivo a avaliação do papel de PRDX2 em células K562 diferenciadas para a expressão de características eritróides, através do silenciamento gênico de PRDX2 utilizando shRNA. Foi possível a obtenção de uma inibição de 70% da expressão de PRDX2, a qual causou diminuição na proliferação, viabilidade e interação celular, mostrando a importância da PRDX2 na proteção oxidativa nesse tipo celular. Com o objetivo de avaliar a modulação do sistema antioxidante nestas células, analisamos também, o padrão de expressão gênica e proteica de todas as outras PRDXs além da expressão gênica de outras enzimas antioxidantes durante o processo de diferenciação. Verificamos que a inibição da expressão de PRDX2 afeta negativamente a expressão de PRDX5 e causa o aumento da expressão de seus redutores biológicos, o que aumentaria a reciclagem de PRDX2 compensando sua falta na célula. Esse dado é inédito na literatura e análises adicionais são necessárias para melhor compreender essa interação além dos mecanismos moleculares envolvidos na expressão de enzimas relacionadas na proteção contra EROS. A compreensão destes mecanismos parece importante para colaborar com o melhor entendimento da fisiopatologia de doenças hemolíticas, identificando possíveis alvos que auxiliem no manejo e que possam amenizar os efeitos da doença desses pacientes.

Immunotherapy has emerged as a current and future paradigm of cancer treatment, which utilizes the body’s immune system to eradicate cancer. Natural Killer (NK) cells as part of the innate immune system have immense potential in their anti-tumor cytotoxic activities and host cell surveillance properties. NK cells comprise approximately five to fifteen percent of peripheral blood lymphocytes and can be proliferated in vitro using recently developed methods with co-cultures with feeder cells (derived from engineered tumor cells) or plasma membrane (PM) particles, produced from the fore mentioned feeder cells, in combination with soluble cytokines. For efficient growth and maintenance of these NK cells, Interleukin-2 (IL-2) is utilized. IL-2 in solution, through receptor mediated signaling, stimulates proliferation of T-cells and NK cells. NK cells have lower responsiveness to IL-2 and consequently require a larger systemic dose to stimulate them as opposed to competing cell populations that have higher expression of receptors for IL-2, such as T-cells, which can have the effect of lower effective stimulation of NK cell growth. Such difference in the stimulatory capability of IL-2 toward NK cells and the short circulation lifetime of soluble IL-2 require higher dosages of soluble IL-2 for effective in vivo NK cell proliferation for therapeutic application against cancer, but is toxic. Therefore establishing another form of IL-2 delivery that improves its specific targeting to NK cells would be beneficial and may be crucial for novel therapeutic improvement. The Copik Laboratory has made an IL-2 fusion protein construct having a membrane anchor for expression of membrane-bound IL-2 on K562-41bbl-21 cells (K562-IL21). K562-IL21 cells are selectively recognized by NK cells and stimulate their proliferation and cytotoxicity. Hence, a K562-IL21 membrane–bound IL-2 form should be targeted to NK cells with IL-2 delivery. K562-IL21-2 cells were then used to prepare PM21-2 particles which have the potential to provide NK cell targeted, long-lived form of IL-2 for use as an injectable drug for in vivo adjuvant stimulation of NK cells. The presence of IL-2 on the in the PM21-2 particle product was verified by Western blot, and ELISA. Particle preparations from the modified K562 cells should possess characteristics that allow them to possibly replace soluble IL-2 and more specifically increase the numbers or anti-tumor activity of NK cell populations. The effect of PM21-2 particles was studied in in vitro culture based experiments, which tested the effectiveness the PM21-2 particles to induce selective NK cells expansion as compared to PM21 particles in the presence or absence of soluble IL-2.

Οι αυτοαναπαραγόμενοι επισωματικοί φορείς γονιδιακής μεταφοράς αποτελούν πολλά υποσχόμενους φορείς γονιδιακής θεραπείας. Στην παρούσα εργασία δημιουργήθηκε ο φορέας Zif-VP64-EP2 στα πλαίσια των μελετών γονιδιακής θεραπείας για τις αιμοσφαιρινοπάθειες. Πρόκειται για ένα κυκλικό πλασμίδιο, που φέρει το γονίδιο ενός τεχνητού μεταγραφικού παράγοντα της γ-σφαιρίνης του Zif-VP64 υπό την επενέργεια του ισχυρού υποκινητή pSFFV καθώς και τo γονίδιο της eGFP με το S/MAR στοιχείο από την περιοχή 5’ του γονιδίου της ανθρώπινης ιντερφερόνης β υπό την επενέργεια του υποκινητή pCMV. Διαπιστώθηκε ότι το Zif-VP64-EP2 μεσολαβεί γονιδιακή μεταφορά σε διαμολυσμένα κύτταρα της ανθρώπινης κυτταρικής σειράς Κ562. Η μακράς διάρκειας διαμολυσμένη καλλιέργεια (3 μήνες) καταδεικνύει ότι το όχημα είναι λειτουργικό και διατηρείται ως επισωματικό σε Κ562 κύτταρα διαμολυσμένα κύτταρα με το Zif-VP64- ΕΡ2. / Self-replicating episomal vectors for gene transfer are a new and very promising experimental approach to gene therapy. In this study, it was created the vector Zif-VP64-EP2, within the context of developing self-replicating episomal vectors for the gene therapy of hemoglobinopathies. Zif-VP64-EP2 is a circular plasmid which includes the gene of an artificial transcription factor for gamma globin: Zif-VP64 under the control of pSFFV promoter and the gene of eGFP with the S/MAR element from the region 5’ of the human interferon β gene under the control of pCMV promoter. It was established that Zif-VP64-EP2 was retained within the transfected Κ562 hematopoietic progenitor cell. Its episomal situation for a long time (3 months) and its normal expression in K562 human cells constitutes a proof of the utility of Zif-VP64- ΕΡ2 system in gene therapy applications.