O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar se a infusão de angiotensina II (ANG II) modulava a expressão do receptor B1 (RB1) de cininas em aorta (AO),arteríolas mesentéricas (AM) de ratos Wistar e também verificar a influência do RB1 na pressão arterial e reatividade desses vasos sanguíneos através do agonista de RB1, DABK. Os ratos receberam por 28 dias infusão de ANG II ou de ANG II e antagonista de RB1. O DABK induziu relaxamento dependente de endotélio e NO em anéis de AO de ratos ANG II. A infusão de ANG II causou hipertensão arterial, aumento da expressão de RNAm de RB1 em AO e AM, da expressão protéica de RB1 em AO e disfunção endotelial caracterizada por diminuída resposta á acetilcolina (ACH).O antagonista de B1R não interferiu no desenvolvimento de hipertensão e na disfunção endotelial causada, mas aumentou a sensibilidade da AO à ACH e a expressão de NO Sintase nos ratos ANG II. Esses resultados nos permitem sugerir que a ANG II e cininas podem atuar sinergicamente no desenvolvimento das alterações vasculares observadas nesse modelo de hipertensão arterial. / The aim of the present study was to evaluate whether the angiotensin II (ANG II) infusion modulates the kinin B1 receptor (B1R) mRNA, protein expression in aorta (AO) and mesenteric arterioles (MA) in Wistar rats. It was also verified the role of RB1 in the control of blood pressure and vascular reactivity using DABK a B1R agonist Rats were infused either with ANG II (400ng/Kg/min) or ANG II plus RB1antagonist(350ng/Kg/min) during 28 days.DABK induced endothelium-NO dependent relaxation in AO of ANG II rats. ANG II infusion caused hypertension, increased RB1 mRNA expression in AO and MA, protein expression in AO and caused endothelial dysfunction, characterized as a decreased maximal response to acetylcholine (ACH). The B1R antagonist did not interfere in the development of hypertension and endothelium dysfunction caused by ANG II, however, increased the sensitivity to ACH and NO synthase expression in AO of ANG II rats. Altogether, we may suggest that ANG II and kinins can act synergistically in the development of vascular changes in this model of hypertension.

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / Gout, or gouty arthritis, has been associated of a range of comorbidities as hypertension and kidney diseases. Some studies have indicated that certain antihypertensive drugs, such as angiotensin I-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEi), increase the risk of gout. Notably, ACEi block the metabolism of several peptides, in particular bradykinin hydrolysis. Bradykinin is also a substrate for kininase I, which forms des-Arg-kinin B1R agonists. Therefore, ACE inhibition can activate the B1R pathway. Moreover, ACEi are allosteric enhancers of kinin receptors and B1R are linked to inflammatory cardiovascular diseases. However, despite the body of evidence demonstrating a clear contribution of the kinin system to the pathogenesis of some arthritic conditions, the role of the kinin B1 receptor in monosodium urate (MSU) crystals crystal-induced gout is currently unknown, especially in respect to ACEi. Thus, the aim of the present study was to verify the role of the bradykinin B1 receptors and the effect of ACEi on acute gout induced by MSU crystals in rodents. Painful (overt pain and allodynia) and inflammatory parameters (joint edema, leukocyte trafficking, interleukin-1β levels) of acute gout attacks were assessed several hours after intra-articular (IA) injection of MSU (1.25 or 0.5 mg/articulation) in the ankle of rats or mice, respectively. The role of B1R was investigated by pharmacological antagonism or gene deletion. In addition, B1R immunoreactivity on ankle tissue and sensory neurons, kininase I activity and des-Arg9-bradykinin synovial levels were also measured. Similar tools were used to investigate the effects of ACEi on low dose of MSU (0.0125 mg/articulation)-induced inflammation. Bouth, bradykinin B1R antagonism or gene deletion largely reduced all painful and inflammatory signs of gout. Furthermore, MSU increased not only the B1R expression in articular tissues, but also the content of the B1 agonist des-Arg9-bradykinin and the activity of the B1 agonist-forming enzyme kininase I. Finally, low dose of MSU crystals (which did not induced inflammation in control animals) was capable of causing signs of acute gout attacks in ACEi-treated animals, which was B1R-dependent. Concluding, bradykinin B1R activation contributes to acute gouty attacks, including the ones facilitated by ACEi. Thus, B1R is a potential therapeutic target for treatment and prophylaxis of gout, especially in patients taking ACEi. / A gota, ou artrite gotosa, está associada à ocorrência de diversas comorbidades como doenças renais e cardiovasculares. Alguns dos fármacos utilizados para o tratamento destas comorbidades podem ainda precipitar ataques agudos de gota. Um exemplo são os inibidores da enzima cininase II ou enzima conversora de angiotensina (iECA). Muitos dos efeitos cardioprotetores dos iECA são mediados pelos receptores B1 para cininas. Além disso, a inibição da ECA é capaz de bloquear a hidrólise da bradicinina, que por sua vez é também um substrato para a formação do agonista do receptor B1, des-Arg9-bradicinina, pela ação da enzima cininase I. Apesar dos estudos demonstrando o envolvimento do sistema das cininas na gota e do papel do receptor B1 na iniciação e manutenção da inflamação, não se conhece a relação do receptor B1 com a gota, especialmente durante a inibição da ECA. Assim, o presente estudo tem por objetivo verificar o papel do receptor B1 para cininas durante o ataque agudo de gota induzido por cristais de urato monossódico (MSU) em roedores, incluindo aqueles tratados com iECA. Para isso, a dor (alodínia ao toque e comportamento doloroso espontâneo) e alguns parâmetros inflamatórios (edema articular, concentração de proteínas, infiltração leucocitária, avaliação da cinética de leucócitos e níveis de interleucina-1β) causados pelo ataque agudo de gota foram avaliados em diferentes tempos após a injeção intra-articular (IA) de uma alta dose de MSU no tornozelo de roedores. O papel do receptor B1 foi investigado através de seu antagonismo farmacológico, pela utilização de roedores com deleção gênica do receptor e pela inibição da enzima cininase I. Ainda, a expressão do receptor B1 no tecido do tornozelo e neurônios sensoriais, atividade da enzima cininase I e os níveis de des-Arg9-bradicinina foram analisados no fluido sinovial dos roedores submetidos ao modelo de gota. Ferramentas semelhantes foram utilizadas para a investigação do envolvimento dos receptores B1 na inflamação causadas pela inibição da ECA em animais submetidos a injeção IA de uma baixa dose de MSU, que não apresentava efeito per se. Tanto o uso de antagonistas do receptor B1, como sua deleção gênica, foram capazes de reduzir a inflamação neste modelo de gota. Além disso, o MSU causou um aumento na expressão de receptores B1 na articulação, e também um aumento dos níveis do agonista B1, des-Arg9-bradicinina e da atividade da enzima cininase I. Por último, a baixa dose de MSU foi capaz de causar um ataque agudo de gota em animais pré-tratados com iECA, por um mecanismo que envolve a ativação de receptores B1. Concluímos que a ativação do receptor B1 contribui para o desenvolvimento do ataque agudo de gota, incluindo aqueles que são precipitados pelo tratamento com iECA. Assim, o B1 apresenta um potencial terapêutico para o tratamento e profilaxia da gota, especialmente em indivíduos que fazem uso de iECA.

Evidências sobre a presença do sistema renina-angiotensina (SRA) na medula óssea e a possível participação da enzima conversora de angiotensina-I (ECA) na regulação hematopoética tem despertado o interesse da comunidade científica. Como a ECA também é um componente chave do sistema calicreína-cininas (SCC), é possível que elementos deste sistema, possam estar envolvidos no controle hematopoético. Assim, avaliamos a participação da ECA na regulação hematopoética de animais não modificados (WT) e nocautes dos receptores B1 de cininas (KOB1). Para isso, utilizamos técnicas de cultura de células de medula óssea, a saber: os ensaios clonogênicos em soft-ágar para granulócitos e macrófagos (CFU-GM) e o sistema de cultura líquida de longa duração (CLLD). Os resultados mostraram a presença da ECA em células das CLLD e indicaram a participação da enzima na proliferação de progenitores hematopoéticos possivelmente através do controle dos níveis de AcSDKP, pois o tratamento com o tetrapeptídeo e com captopril, reduziu significativamente o número CFU-GM in vitro e in vivo. Quando adicionado às CLLD, o AcSDKP foi capaz de aumentar significativamente a expressão do mRNA da ECA, sugerindo que seus níveis possam controlar a expressão gênica desta enzima. Em relação aos animais KOB1, os resultados mostraram maior atividade da ECA, acompanhado de aumento não significativo da expressão gênica e protéica da enzima. O tratamento das CLLD de animais WT com agonistas de receptores de cininas, não alterou a expressão gênica e a atividade da ECA. Assim, nossos dados sugerem que a ECA participa da regulação hematopoética neste modelo. No entanto, novos estudos serão necessários para a elucidação dos mecanismos envolvidos na expressão e/ou controle da atividade da ECA pelos receptores de cininas. / Evidences on the presence of the renin angiotensin system in the bone marrow and the possible participation of the angiotensin-I converting enzyme (ACE) in the hematopoietic regulation have aroused interest of the scientific community. As the ACE also is a common element of the kallikrein-kinin system (KKS), it is possible that elements of KKS, can be involved in the hematopoietic control. Thus, we evaluated the participation of the ACE on the hematopoietic regulation of wild-type (WT) and kinin receptor B1 knockout mice (KOB1). For this, we use techniques of bone marrow cell culture, to know the clonogenic assays for granulocyte-macrophage (GM-CFU) and the long term bone marrow cultures (LTBMC). The results shown the presence of the ACE in cells from LTBMC and its possible participation on hematopoietic proliferation through the control of AcSDKP levels, therefore the treatment with AcSDKP and captopril, decreased significantly the GM-CFU number in vitro and in vivo. When added to the LTBMC, the AcSDKP increase significantly the expression of ACE mRNA, suggesting that its levels could control the gene expression of this enzyme. In relation to KOB1 mice, the results shown increase of the ACE activity and not significant increase of the gene and protein expression of the enzyme. The treatment of the LTBMC of WT mice with kinins receptors agonists, did not modify the gene expression and the ACE activity. Thus, our data suggesting that ACE participate of the hematopoietic regulation in this model. However, new studies will be necessary to understand the involved mechanisms in the expression and/or control of ACE activity by kinins receptors.

Inflammatory processes in, or in close vicinity of, the skeleton often lead to loss of bone tissue. Different cytokines have been shown to be involved as stimulators of inflammatory induced osteoclastic bone resorption. During inflammatory processes also the kallikrein-kinin system is activated, leading to production of kinins that can cause pain, vasodilation and increased permeability of vessels. Kinins can also induce bone resorption in vitro. All cytokines and kinins that stimulate bone resorption stimulate in parallell prostaglandin synthesis, and prostaglandins, per se, have also been shown to induce bone resorption. The aim of this project was to increase the knowledge about the mechanisms involved in the interactions between different inflammatory mediators (i.e. kinins, cytokines and prostaglandins) suggested to be involved in the pathogenesis of inflammatory bone resorbing diseases. Human osteoblasts (MG-63) are equipped with both kinin B1 and B2 receptors linked to prostaglandin release and the stimulation of prostaglandin release are likely mediated via separate molecular mechanisms (Paper I). Activation of B1 or B2 receptors causes synergistic stimulation of PGE2 synthesis induced by either interleukin-1b (IL-1b) or tumour necrosis factor-a (TNF-a) (Paper II). The molecular mechanism involves increased expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and results in synergistic potentiation of receptor activator of NF-kB ligand (RANKL) protein expression. The synergistic interaction is dependent on the activation of NF-kB and the mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) p38 and JNK (Paper II). The synergistic increase in RANKL expression might be an explanation why kinins potentiate IL-1b induced bone resorption, a mechanism likely to be important in inflammation induced bone resorption in diseases such as periodontal disease and rheumatoid arthritis. The synergism between kinins and IL-1b or TNF-a might also be dependent on regulation of kinin receptors, since both IL-1b and TNF-a markedly upregulated B1 and B2 receptors, both at the mRNA level and protein level (Paper III). This upregulation is not further potentiated by the kinins, and different kinin receptor agonists do not regulate the receptors for IL-1b or TNF-a, in MG-63 cells. No other cytokines known to stimulate bone resorption regulates the expressions of B1 and B2 receptors. The IL-1b- or TNF-a-induced enhancements of B1 and B2 receptor expressions involve activation of NF-kB and MAPK. The enhancement of kinin receptors may also be an important mechanism in the synergistic interactions between the two pro-inflammatory cytokines and kinins (paper III). IL-4 and IL-13 are two cytokines that have been shown to inhibit bone resorption. We have shown that COX-2 and both B1 and B2 receptors are down-regulated by IL-4 and IL-13, via a ‘signal transducer and activator of transcription6’ (STAT6) dependent pathway, which might be an important regulatory mechanism in inflammation induced bone resorption (paper IV). In conclusion, the mechanisms behind the synergistic potentiation of prostaglandin formation and increased bone resorption caused by co-stimulation with kinins and IL-1b or TNF-a seem to involve both potentiation of COX-2 and subsequently increased levels of RANKL, as well as upregulation of B1 and B2 kinin receptors. Interestingly, IL-4 and IL-13 decreased the expressions of COX-2 and both B1 and B2 receptors. These events might be important in the regulation of inflammation induced bone resorption in diseases such as periodontitis and rheumatoid arthritis.

Made available in DSpace on 2015-07-22T20:50:00Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2006-06-28. Added 1 bitstream(s) on 2015-08-11T03:25:41Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 Publico-091.pdf: 651136 bytes, checksum: 35401eae81afb55be34c6f47a332e47e (MD5) / Objetivo: Estudar o efeito da obesidade na regulação do sistema calicreína-cininas por meio da expressão dos receptores B1 e B2 de cininas em humanos e camundongos, e as alterações na síntese e funcionalidade dos receptores em tecidos murinos. Métodos: Foram coletados tecido adiposo branco humano e diferentes tecidos de camundongo. Desses tecidos foi extraído o RNA e analisada a expressão dos receptores de cinina por meio da reação em cadeia da polimerase em tempo real. Tecidos como estômago e aorta de camundongos ob/ob e selvagens foram utilizados para extração de proteínas e estudos fisiológicos. Por Western Blotting estudou-se a quantidade de receptor produzida nos animais. O fundus de estômago e aorta abdominal foram utilizados para se obter registros de contrações isométricas para determinação da potência e eficácia dos agonistas em camundongos obesos e magros. Foram aplicadas doses crescentes cumulativas dos agonistas peptídicos dos receptores B1 e B2, bradicinina e des-Arg9-bradicinina. Resultados: Nos experimentos de PCR em tempo real, a expressão gênica dos receptores B1 e B2 de cininas foi mostrada alterada em alguns tecidos dos animais deficientes na produção do hormônio leptina em relação ao controle. Nos tecidos: adiposo branco, aorta, fígado, hipotálamo e estômago, a expressão do receptor B1 apresentou-se aumentada, porém em tecido cardíaco e tecido adiposo marrom, essa estava diminuída. O receptor B2 teve expressão diminuída em tecido adiposo branco e hipotálamo. Nos demais tecidos estudados não houve alteração da expressão do receptor B2. Em humanos, esses receptores apresentaram-se alterados em indivíduos obesos. O estudo foi realizado em tecido adiposo humano de duas regiões de depósito diferentes, visceral e subcutâneo. Foi observada diferença na expressão do mesmo tecido, porém de regiões distintas. Nos tecidos dos camundongos obesos a resposta aos agonistas dos receptores B1 e B2, bradicinina e des-Arg9-bradicinina, respectivamente, foi mostrada diminuida. Em fundus de estômago foi observada diminuição significativa na resposta ao agonista BK em animais obesos e tratados com dieta hiperlipídica. Tais efeitos podem ser devido às conseqüências do aumento excessivo de peso, como inflamação crônica apresentada nesses animais, ou mesmo devido a diabetes tipo II, a qual consiste em uma patologia diretamente relacionada à obesidade, sugerida neste trabalho como fator capaz de alterar a ação do sistema calicreína-cininas em determinados tecidos. Conclusão: Análises de expressão gênica mostraram que a obesidade afeta os receptores de cinina em diversos tecidos de camundongo, assim como em humanos. Análises fisiológicas funcionais mostraram diminuição na resposta ao agonista de B1 em animais obesos. Os dados deste trabalho sugerem que a obesidade afeta a modulação do sistema calicreína-cininas em modelo murino e humano. Dessa forma, uma possível interação entre obesidade e sistema calicreína-cininas poderia estar envolvida nesta patologia, assim como ser um fator para desenvolvimento a sindrome metabólica. / Objectives: To study the effect of obesity on the kallikrein-kinin system through the expression of receptors B1 and B2 on humans and mice, and alterations in the synthesis and functionality of the receptor in murine tissues. Methods: white human adipose tissue and different kinds of mice tissues were collected. RNA was extracted and the kinin receptors expression analyzed through a real-time polymerase chain reaction. Tissues and organs such as stomach and aorta were used for protein extraction and physiological studies. By Western Blotting, receptor quantitation was studied. Stomach fungus and abdominal aorta were used to register isometric contractions to determine the potency and effectiveness of the agonists on obese and control mice. Increasing accumulating doses of bradykinin and des-Arg9-bradykinin, B2 and B1 receptors agonists respectively, were applied. Results: In the real-time PCR experiments, the gene expression of the B1 and B2 receptors were altered in some tissues of the animals deficient for leptin, when compared to the control. In the white adipose tissue, aorta, liver, hypothalamus and stomach, the B1 receptor expression was increased, but in cardiac tissues and brown adipose tissue, it was decreased. The expression of B2 receptor was decreased in white adipose tissue and hypothalamus. In the other studied tissues, no changes was detected in the B2 receptor expression. In humans, these receptors were altered in obese individuals. The study was performed in human adipose tissue from two different regions of depots, visceral and subcutaneous. There was a tendency of different expression in the same tissue, but from different areas. In tissues from obese mice the response to the B2 and B1 agonists, bradykinin and des-Arg9-bradykinin, respectively, had a decreasing tendency. A significant decrease was observed in stomach fundus in response to the BK agonist. Such effects can be due to the increased weight and its consequences, such as chronic inflammation or diabetes type II, which is a pathology directly related to obesity. Conclusion: expression and functional analysis show that obesity affects kinin receptors in many different mouse tissues as well as in humans. / TEDE / BV UNIFESP: Teses e dissertações

Evidências sobre a presença do sistema renina-angiotensina (SRA) na medula óssea e a possível participação da enzima conversora de angiotensina-I (ECA) na regulação hematopoética tem despertado o interesse da comunidade científica. Como a ECA também é um componente chave do sistema calicreína-cininas (SCC), é possível que elementos deste sistema, possam estar envolvidos no controle hematopoético. Assim, avaliamos a participação da ECA na regulação hematopoética de animais não modificados (WT) e nocautes dos receptores B1 de cininas (KOB1). Para isso, utilizamos técnicas de cultura de células de medula óssea, a saber: os ensaios clonogênicos em soft-ágar para granulócitos e macrófagos (CFU-GM) e o sistema de cultura líquida de longa duração (CLLD). Os resultados mostraram a presença da ECA em células das CLLD e indicaram a participação da enzima na proliferação de progenitores hematopoéticos possivelmente através do controle dos níveis de AcSDKP, pois o tratamento com o tetrapeptídeo e com captopril, reduziu significativamente o número CFU-GM in vitro e in vivo. Quando adicionado às CLLD, o AcSDKP foi capaz de aumentar significativamente a expressão do mRNA da ECA, sugerindo que seus níveis possam controlar a expressão gênica desta enzima. Em relação aos animais KOB1, os resultados mostraram maior atividade da ECA, acompanhado de aumento não significativo da expressão gênica e protéica da enzima. O tratamento das CLLD de animais WT com agonistas de receptores de cininas, não alterou a expressão gênica e a atividade da ECA. Assim, nossos dados sugerem que a ECA participa da regulação hematopoética neste modelo. No entanto, novos estudos serão necessários para a elucidação dos mecanismos envolvidos na expressão e/ou controle da atividade da ECA pelos receptores de cininas. / Evidences on the presence of the renin angiotensin system in the bone marrow and the possible participation of the angiotensin-I converting enzyme (ACE) in the hematopoietic regulation have aroused interest of the scientific community. As the ACE also is a common element of the kallikrein-kinin system (KKS), it is possible that elements of KKS, can be involved in the hematopoietic control. Thus, we evaluated the participation of the ACE on the hematopoietic regulation of wild-type (WT) and kinin receptor B1 knockout mice (KOB1). For this, we use techniques of bone marrow cell culture, to know the clonogenic assays for granulocyte-macrophage (GM-CFU) and the long term bone marrow cultures (LTBMC). The results shown the presence of the ACE in cells from LTBMC and its possible participation on hematopoietic proliferation through the control of AcSDKP levels, therefore the treatment with AcSDKP and captopril, decreased significantly the GM-CFU number in vitro and in vivo. When added to the LTBMC, the AcSDKP increase significantly the expression of ACE mRNA, suggesting that its levels could control the gene expression of this enzyme. In relation to KOB1 mice, the results shown increase of the ACE activity and not significant increase of the gene and protein expression of the enzyme. The treatment of the LTBMC of WT mice with kinins receptors agonists, did not modify the gene expression and the ACE activity. Thus, our data suggesting that ACE participate of the hematopoietic regulation in this model. However, new studies will be necessary to understand the involved mechanisms in the expression and/or control of ACE activity by kinins receptors.

Le syndrome d’embolie de liquide amniotique (SELA) est une complication rare et souvent catastrophique de l’accouchement chez la femme caractérisée classiquement par une hypotension sévère, un arrêt cardiorespiratoire et une coagulation intra-vasculaire disséminée. Malheureusement, sa physiopathologie est encore mal connue. Le rôle des kinines n’a notamment pas été étudié. L’objectif de notre projet était de développer un modèle animal de SELA et d’étudier le rôle éventuel des kinines dans ce syndrome. Douze lapines en fin de gestation ont été incluses dans l’étude. Pour chacune d’entre-elles, le liquide amniotique était aspiré de chaque sac amniotique après une laparotomie. Six lapines recevaient un bolus de liquide amniotique injecté via la veine auriculaire alors que les six autres recevaient un bolus de saline. Parallèlement, les effets in vitro de liquide amniotique sur la coagulation étaient évalués par thrombelastographie (TEG) et comparés aux effets de la saline. L’injection de liquide amniotique n’a pas permis de reproduire les signes cliniques de SELA, n’a pas entrainé la génération de bradykinine, et n’a pas eu d’effet sur le temps de prothrombine, le temps de thromboplastine partielle activée, et l’activité du facteur VIII de. Une thrombocytopénie sévère et transitoire a cependant été notée 5 minutes après l’injection de liquide amniotique. De plus, en additionnant in vitro de liquide amniotique au sang on a observé un tracé de TEG hypercoagulable comparé à celui obtenu avec la saline. Le modèle n’ayant pas pu reproduire le SELA, le rôle des kinines dans ce syndrome reste à déterminer. / Amniotic fluid embolism (AFE) is a rare but catastrophic complication of parturition characterized by severe hypotension, cardiovascular collapse, and massive consumptive coagulopathy. Its pathophysiology remains obscure. In particular, the potential role of bradykinin in hypotension is unknown. The objective of this study was to develop a suitable animal model of AFE and to study the effects of amniotic fluid injection on bradykinin release in this model. Twelve rabbits in late gestation (25 days) were used. For each rabbit, amniotic fluid was collected from foetal amniotic sacs by laparotomy. For six rabbits, the amniotic fluid was then injected as a bolus via the left auricular vein, whereas the six other rabbits received saline (control group). In parallel, the in vitro effects of amniotic fluid on coagulation was assessed by thrombelastography (TEG) and compared to the effects of saline. Injection of amniotic fluid did not reproduce clinical signs of AFE, did not provoke bradykinin generation and had no effect on prothrombin time, the activated partial thromboplastin time, nor Factor VIII activity. However, a significant thrombocytopenia was observed five minutes after amniotic fluid administration. This thrombocytopenia resolved within 60 minutes. In vitro addition of amniotic fluid to blood resulted in accelerated clotting on TEG tracings as compared to the effect of saline. As we were not able to reproduce AFE with our model, the role of kinins in this syndrome remains to be determined.

La débitmétrie au laser à effet Doppler (LDF) constitue une méthode prometteuse et non-invasive pour l'étude du débit sanguin local dans l'œil. Cette technique est basée sur un changement de fréquence subi par la lumière lors du mouvement des globules rouges dans les vaisseaux. Une nouvelle sonde LDF a été testée pour sa sensibilité à évaluer la circulation rétinienne/choroïdienne sous des conditions hypercapniques et en présence de diverses substances vasoactives ou suivant la photocoagulation des artères rétiniennes chez le rat. Après dilatation pupillaire, la sonde LDF a été placée en contact avec la cornée de rats anesthésiés et parallèle à l'axe optique. L'hypercapnie a été provoquée par inhalation de CO2 (8% dans de l'air médical), alors que les agents pharmacologiques ont été injectés de façon intravitréenne. La contribution relative à la circulation choroïdienne a été évaluée à la suite de la photocoagulation des artères rétiniennes. Le débit sanguin s'est trouvé significativement augmenté à la suite de l'hypercanie (19%), de l'adénosine (14%) ou du nitroprusside de sodium (16%) comparativement au niveau de base, alors que l'endothéline-1 a provoqué une baisse du débit sanguin (11%). La photocoagulation des artères rétiniennes a significativement diminué le débit sanguin (33%). Des mesures en conditions pathologiques ont ensuite été obtenues après l'injection intravitréenne d'un agoniste sélectif du récepteur B1 (RB1). Ce récepteur des kinines est surexprimé dans la rétine des rats rendus diabétiques avec la streptozotocine (STZ) en réponse à l'hyperglycémie et au stress oxydatif. Les résultats ont montré que le RB1 est surexprimé dans la rétine chez les rats diabétiques-STZ à 4 jours et 6 semaines. À ces moments, le débit sanguin rétinien/choroïdien a été significativement augmenté (15 et 18 %) après l'injection de l'agoniste, suggérant un effet vasodilatateur des RB1 dans l'œil diabétique. Bien que la circulation choroïdienne contribue probablement au signal LDF, les résultats démontrent que le LDF représente une technique efficace et non-invasive pour l'étude de la microcirculation rétinienne in-vivo en continu. Cette méthode peut donc être utilisée pour évaluer de façon répétée les réponses du débit sanguin pendant des modifications métaboliques ou pharmacologiques dans des modèles animaux de maladies oculaires. / Laser Doppler Flowmetry (LDF) is a promising, non-invasive technique to assess local ocular blood flow. This technique is based on a Doppler frequency shift of the backscattered light due to the movement of the red blood cells in the vessels. A new LDF probe was tested for its sensitivity to assess the retinal/choroidal blood flow variations in response to hypercapnia, diverse vasoactive agents and following retinal arteries photocoagulation in the rat. After pupil dilation, a LDF probe was placed in contact to the cornea of anesthetised rats in the optic axis. Hypercapnia was induced by inhalation of CO2 (8% in medical air) while pharmacological agents were injected intravitreously. The relative contribution of the choroidal circulation to the LDF signal was determined after retinal artery occlusion by photocoagulation. Blood flow was significantly increased by hypercapnia (19%), adenosine (14%) and sodium nitroprusside (16%) as compared to baseline values while endothelin-1 decreased blood flow (11%). Photocoagulation of retinal arteries significantly decreased blood flow level (33%). Measurements in pathological conditions were then obtained after intravitreal injections of a B1R agonist. This kinin receptor is overexpressed in the retina of streptozotocin (STZ) diabetic rats in response to hyperglycaemia and oxidative stress. Data showed that B1R was upregulated in the STZ-diabetic retina at 4 days and 6 weeks. At these time points, retinal/choroidal blood flow was significantly increased (15 and 18 %) upon injection of the agonist, suggesting a vasodilatory effect of B1R in the diabetic eye. Although choroidal circulation most likely contributes to the LDF signal in this setting, the results demonstrate that LDF represents a suitable in vivo non-invasive technique to monitor online relative changes of retinal microcirculation. This technique could be used for repeatedly assessing blood flow reactivity to metabolic or pharmacologic challenges in rodent models of ocular diseases.

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

La rétinopathie diabétique est associée à plusieurs changements pathologiques du lit vasculaire rétinien, incluant l’ouverture de la barrière hémato-rétinienne, l’inflammation vasculaire et la modification du débit sanguin. Récemment, il a été proposé que le récepteur B1 des kinines, qui est surexprimé dans la rétine diabétique, puisse être impliqué dans le développement de ces altérations vasculaires. Ainsi, cette thèse présente les effets de traitements pharmacologiques avec des antagonistes du récepteur B1 sur la perfusion rétinienne, la perméabilité vasculaire, l’infiltration des leucocytes (leucostasie), l’expression de médiateurs de l’inflammation et la production d’anion superoxyde dans la rétine du rat rendu diabétique avec la streptozotocine (STZ). Les résultats obtenus montrent que l’application oculaire (10 µl d’une solution à 1%, deux fois par jour pendant 7 jours) de LF22-0542, un antagoniste hydrosoluble du récepteur B1, bloque significativement l’hyperperméabilité vasculaire, la leucostasie, le stress oxydatif et l’expression génique de médiateurs de l’inflammation (B1R, iNOS, COX-2, VEGF-R2, IL-1β et HIF-1α) dans la rétine chez le rat à 2 semaines de diabète. L’administration orale (3 mg/kg) d’un antagoniste non-peptidique et sélectif pour le récepteur B1, le SSR240612, entraîne une diminution du débit sanguin rétinien 4 jours après l’induction du diabète mais n’a aucun effet sur la réduction de la perfusion rétinienne à 6 semaines. Le récepteur B1 joue donc un rôle protecteur au tout début du diabète en assurant le maintien d’un débit sanguin normal dans la rétine; un effet qui n’est toutefois pas maintenu pendant la progression du diabète. Ces données présentent ainsi la dualité du récepteur B1 avec des effets à la fois protecteurs et délétères. Elles suggèrent aussi un rôle important pour le récepteur B1 dans l’inflammation rétinienne et le développement des altérations vasculaires. Le récepteur B1 pourrait donc représenter une nouvelle cible thérapeutique pour le traitement de la rétinopathie diabétique. / Diabetic retinopathy is associated with retinal vascular changes, including blood retinal barrier breakdown, vascular inflammation and blood flow alterations. It has been proposed that kinin B1 receptor, which is upregulated in the diabetic retina, could be involved in the development of these pathological features of diabetic retinopathy. In a rat model of diabetes induced by Streptozotocin (STZ), the effects of kinin B1 receptor antagonists on retinal perfusion, vascular permeability, leukostasis, gene expression of inflammatory mediators and production of superoxide anion in the retina were evaluated. The results show that in 2-week diabetic rats, topical ocular application of the water soluble kinin B1 receptor antagonist LF22-0542 (10 µl of 1% solution, twice per day) for a 7-day period reverses vascular hyperpermeability, leukostasis, oxidative stress and gene expression of inflammatory mediators (B1R, iNOS, COX-2, VEGF-R2, IL-1β and HIF-1α) in the retina. Single oral administration (3 mg/kg) of SSR240612, a selective non-peptide B1 receptor antagonist, induces a decrease of retinal blood flow in 4-day diabetic rats but has no effect on retinal blood flow reduction present at 6 weeks of diabetes. Therefore, B1 receptor has a protective role in early diabetes by preserving a normal blood flow in the retina. These data suggest that B1 receptor exerts protective and adverse effects in the diabetic retina. They also support a key role for B1 receptor in retinal inflammation and the development of vascular alterations. B1 receptor could therefore represent a promising therapeutic target for the treatment of diabetic retinopathy.