La lectine de Helix pomatia (HPA), extraite de la glande à albumine de l'escargot de Bourgogne et spécifique du résidu GalNAc, appartient à une nouvelle famille de lectine dite de type H. Elle est utilisée depuis plus de vingt ans comme marqueur d'adénocarcinomes (notamment du sein, du colon, du poumon) à fort pouvoir métastatique et donc faible pronostic vital. Son utilisation comme outil de routine en oncologie est, cependant, fortement limitée par son impossibilité à la produire sous forme recombinante. Afin de contourner ces difficultés, des protéines homologues ont été recherchées chez d'autres invertébrés. Deux lectines de type H ont été identifiées chez l'amibe Dictyostelium discoideum (discoidines) et une chez le corail Sinularia lochmodes (SLL-2). Les discoidines sont composées de deux domaines distincts, un domaine C-terminal, spécifique des résidus galactosylés et homologue à HPA et un domaine N-terminal, dit domaine discoidine, de fonction inconnue. Ces travaux de thèse portent, dans un premier temps, sur la poursuite de la caractérisation structurale de la discoidine 1 puis sur la production du domaine N-terminal de la discoidine 2 afin de confirmer la fonction lectine supposée. Dans un second temps, des expériences de microscopie confocale ont montrés que les discoidines ne possédaient pas la capacité d'HPA dans la discrimination des cellules métastatiques par rapport aux non métastatiques. La construction, par mutagenèse, d'une protéine chimérique entre la discoidine 2, très facilement produite dans E. coli, et HPA a alors été entreprise, le but étant de lui apporter la même spécificité qu'HPA. Enfin, la protéine SSL-2 a été clonée et de nombreux essais d'expression sous forme soluble et de purification ont été réalisés en vue de sa caractérisation biochimique et structurale pour sa possibilité d'utilisation comme marqueurs en histopathologie / The lectin of Helix pomatia (HPA), extracted from the albumin gland of the Roman snail and specific for the residue GalNAc, belongs to a new H type lectin family. It is used for twenty years as marker for metastatic adenocarcinoma (in particular breast, colon, lung) associated with poor life prognostic. Nevertheless, its use as routine tool in oncology is highly limited because of its incapability to produce it in a recombinant form. To avoid these difficulties, homologous proteins were searched in others invertebrates. Two H type lectins have been identified in the amiboe Dictyostelium discoideum (discoidins) and one in the coral Sinularia lochmodes (SLL-2). Discoidins are composed of two distinct domains, a C-terminal domain, specific for galactosylated residues and homologuous to HPA and an N-terminal domain, called discoidin domain, with unknown function. This thesis is focused, in a first time, on the continuation of structural characterization of discoidin 1 and on the production of the N-terminal domain of discoidin 2 to confirm the supposed lectin function. In a second time, confocal microscopy experiments showed that discoidins was not able to discriminate metastatic cancer cells to non metastatic ones, as HPA does. The construction, by mutagenesis, of a chimeric protein between discoidin 2, easily produced in E. coli, and HPA, began. The purpose was to give the same specificity as HPA. Last, SLL-2 was cloned and numerous expression assays, in a soluble form, and purification was tried to characterize the protein biochemistrycally and structurally. The aim was to test it as marker in histopathology.

Trichobilharzia regenti is a nasal avian schistosome which has during the initial phase of infection an affinity to the nervous system. Larvae migrate through the central nervous system to the nasal mucosa of waterfowl, where they mature and reproduce. Until now this infection phase has been described only marginally. Adults are located in the nasal mucosa approximately from 13th to 24th day post infection. During this life phase, they migrate through the vascularized connective tissue and lay eggs, the presence of which has been detected in the tissue only. Maturation and hatching of miracidia occur in the tissue (unlike human schistosomes). The parasite causes inflammation, and the tissue is infiltrated with immune cells. Lymphocytes, granulocytes, macrophages, plasma cells and giant multi-nuclear cells were described by histological methods. The thesis is focused on a more detailed description of cellular immune response and histopathological changes of the tissue by means of histological stains, and antibody/lectin probes. The flukes were observed more frequently in the blood vessel lumen, together with a higher number of immune cells compared to the healthy duck. Infiltration by a high number of lymphocytes occurred in the tissue, the macrophages were frequently observed in clusters around the...

I characterized several potential glycoproteins in salivary gland extracts from unfed and partially fed females of ticks Ixodes ricinus using enzyme deglycosylation and lectin labeling. Affinity-based (chromatografic) analysis was applied for isolations of glycoproteins with specificity for GNA (mannose), HPA (N-acetylgalactosamine) and MAA II (sialic acid) lectins. GNA specific 120 kDa glycoprotein was isolated from partially fed females and is modified with N-linked glycans containing {$\alpha$}1,3-mannose. Mass spectrometry analyses confirmed the presence carboxypeptidase M in elution fraction gain with GNA affinity chromatography. GNA specific proteins were purified from unfed female salivary gland extracts. MS analyses identified them as proteins similar to arylsulfatase B and cytoskeletal Sojo protein. Proteins (85 and 56 kDa) isolated with HPA affinity chromatography were characterized as Trappin 12, which is a host protein. MAA II lectin was used for labelling and isolation of 100 kDa protein. N-terminal sequence of the MAA II specific protein predicted similarity with a host protein, Siglec 1. Fucose in salivary gland extract was detected with the labelling of AAA, AAL, UEA I and LTL lectins. Results showed that salivary gland extracts contain {$\alpha$}1,2-; {$\alpha$}1,3- and {$\alpha$}1,6- N-linked fucose and O-linked fucose probably as well. GNA specific proteins were detected in partially fed salivary glands acini type II and III using electron transmission microscopy. Fucose was detected on gut and salivary gland structures using fucose-specific lectin AAL.

CoordenaÃÃo de AperfeiÃoamento de Pessoal de NÃvel Superior / A insuficiÃncia renal aguda à uma das complicaÃÃes mais freqÃentes nos envenenamentos ofÃdicos. Contudo, a sua patogÃnese permanece obscura. Em nossos estudos foram avaliados os efeitos renais causados pelas miotoxinas purificadas dos venenos das serpentes Bothrops jararacussu (Bthtx I, Lys 49 e Bthtx II, Asp 49) e Bothrops moojeni (BmTx I, Lys 49), assim como pelas lectinas dos venenos de Bothrops moojeni (BmLec) e Bothrops jararacussu (BJcuL). Tentando avaliar o mecanismo envolvido nos efeitos renais das substÃncias acima mencionadas, foram testados os efeitos da indometacina, um bloqueador inespecÃfico de ciclooxigenase. Adicionalmente, foram avaliados os efeitos inibitÃrios do Tezosentan, um bloqueador de receptor de endotelina, nos efeitos renais causados pela miotoxina I da serpente Bothrops moojeni. Para tanto, as miotoxinas, na dosagem de 5Âg/mL, ou as lectinas, na dosagem de 10Âg/mL foram adicionadas 30 minutos depois do inÃcio dos experimentos. Contudo, a indometacina e o tezosentan foram adicionados no sistema de perfusÃo sempre no inÃcio de cada experimento na dosagem de 10Âg/mL. Os efeitos renais foram comparados com um grupo controle, onde os rins foram perfundidos somente com a soluÃÃo de Krebs-Henseleit modificada. Bthtx I, BthtxII e BmLec aumentaram a pressÃo de perfusÃo (C120= 110,28  3,09, Bthtx I120 = 171,20  6,3 *, Bthtx II120 = 175,50  7,20 * e BmLec120 = 152,50  2,10 *), a resistÃncia vascular renal (C120= 5,46  0,54, Bthtx I120= 8,62  0,37 *, Bthtx II120= 8,90  0,36 * e BmLec120= 7,77  0,30*), o fluxo urinÃrio (C120= 0,143  0,008, Bthtx I120= 0,326  0,048*, e Bthtx II120= 0,373  0,085*, BmLec120= 0,085  0,007* ), o ritmo de filtraÃÃo glomerular (C120= 0,678  0,065, Bthtx I120= 0,855  0,133 *, Bthtx II120= 1,224  0,282*, BmLec120=1,037  0,055*) e a excreÃÃo de sÃdio potÃssio e cloreto (ENa+, EK+, ECl-). PorÃm, diminuÃram os percentuais dos transportes tubulares de sÃdio (C120= 79,76  0,56, Bthtx I120= 62,23  4,12*, Bthtx II120= 70,96  2,93* e BmLec60= 77,25  1,36*) e potÃssio (C60= 66,38  3,31, Bthtx I60= 55,79  5,57 *, Bthtx II60= 50,86  6,16* e BmLec60= 59,78  3,49). A indometacina foi capaz de bloquear os efeitos causados pela miotoxina I da B. jararacussu e lectina da B. moojeni, mas reverteu parcialmente os efeitos causados pelas miotoxinas II e lectina da B. jararacussu e miotoxina I da B. moojeni. O tezosentan, por sua vez, bloqueou os efeitos causados pela miotoxina I da B. moojeni. Foi concluÃdo que prostaglandinas estÃo envolvidas nas alteraÃÃes renais promovidas pelas substÃncias isoladas das serpentes B. jararacussu e B. moojeni, enquanto que endotelina seria o principal mediador nas alteraÃÃes renais causadas pela miotoxina I da B. moojeni. / Acute renal failure is one of the most common systemic complications after snakebite. However, its pathogenesis remains obscure. In this study, we evaluated the renal effects of Bothrops jararacussu myotoxins I and II (Bthtx-I Lys 49 and BthtxII, Asp 49), Bothrops moojeni myotoxin I and the lectins from Bothrops moojeni and Bothrops jararacussu. Attempting to investigate the mechanisms involved in the renal effects of the mentioned toxins, we tested indomethacin, an unespecific cyclooxigenase inhibitor. Additionally, tezosentan, an endothelin receptor blocker, was used to evaluate the role of endothelin in the renal effects of Bothrops moojeni myotoxin I. All myotoxins (5 Âg/mL) and lectins (10Âg /mL) were added to the perfusion system 30 min after the beginning of each perfusion. Indomethacin (10Âg/mL) and tezosentan (10 Âg /mL) were always added 30 minutes before the tested substances. The renal effects were compared against a control group, where kidneys were perfused only with the modified Krebs-Henseleit solution. Myotoxins from Bothrops jararacussu and the lectin from Bothrops moojeni increased the perfusion pressure (C120= 110.28  3.09, Bthtx I120= 171.20  6.3 * ,Bthtx II120= 175.50  7.20 * and BmLec120= 152.50  2.10 *), the renal vascular resistance (C120= 5.46  0.54, Bthtx I120= 8.62  0.37 *, Bthtx II120= 8.90  0.36 * and BmLec120= 7.77  0.30*), the urinary flow (C120= 0.143  0.008, Bthtx I120= 0.326  0.048*, and Bthtx II120= 0.373  0.085* ), the glomerular filtration rate (C120= 0.678  0.065, Bthtx I120= 0.855  0.133 *, Bthtx II120= 1.224  0.282* and BmLec120= 1.037  0.055*) and the sodium, potassium and chloride excretion. On the other hand, the same substances decreased the percent of renal tubular transport of sodium (C120= 79.76  0.56, Bthtx I120= 62.23  4.12*, Bthtx II120= 70.96  2.93* and BmLec60= 77.25  1.36*), potassium (C60= 66.38  3.31, Bthtx I60= 55.79  5.57 *, Bthtx II60= 50.86  6.16* and BmLec60= 59.78  3.49*). Indomethacin inhibited the renal effects induced by Bothrops jararacussu myotoxin I and Bothrops moojeni lectin, but partially blocked the effects promoted by myotoxin II and the lectin of Bothrops jararacussu, and the effects of myotoxin I of Bothrops moojeni. Tezosentan inhibited the renal effects induced by B. moojeni myotoxin I. In conclusion, prostaglandins are involved in the renal alterations induced by myotoxins and lectins purified from the snake venoms of Bothrops jararacussu and Bothrops moojeni. In addition, endothelin is the main mediator of the renal alterations promoted by Bothrops moojeni myotoxin I

No description available.

No / Microglial activation and behavioral abnormalities occur before neuronal loss in experimental murine prion disease; the behavioral changes coincide with a reduction in synaptic plasticity. Because synaptic plasticity depends on an intact perineuronal net (PN), a specialized extracellular matrix that surrounds parvalbumin (PV)-positive GABAergic (gamma-aminobutyric acid [GABA]) inhibitory interneurons, we investigated the temporal relationships between microglial activation and loss of PN and PV-positive neurons in ME7 murine prion disease. Anesthetized C57Bl/6J mice received bilateral intracerebral microinjections of ME7-infected or normal brain homogenate into the dorsal hippocampus. Microglial activation, PrP accumulation, the number of PV-positive interneurons, and Wisteria floribunda agglutinin-positive neurons (i.e. those with an intact PN) were assessed in the ventral CA1 and subiculum at 4, 8, 12, 16, and 20 weeks postinjection. Hippocampal areas and total neuron numbers in the ventral CA1 and subiculum were also determined. Loss of PN coincided with early microglial activation and with a reduction in synaptic plasticity. No significant loss of PV-positive interneurons was observed. Our findings suggest that the substrate of the earliest synaptic and behavioral abnormalities in murine prion disease may be inflammatory microglia-mediated degradation of the PN.

Speichelglykane können einerseits spezifisch an bakterielle Lektine binden und damit deren Adhäsion an orale Oberflächen vermitteln, andererseits eine Antiadhäsion bedingen. Sie stellen ein Schutzsystem für orale Oberflächen dar. Bei vorhandener Karies bzw. Parodontitis ist die Konzentration bestimmter Glykokonjugate verändert. Ziel dieser Studie war es, die Reaktivität der Glandulae majores bzgl. ihrer Sekretion von Glykanen in Abhängigkeit einer experimentellen Gingivitis zu ermitteln. 14 gesunde Probanden enthielten sich 9 Tage der Mundhygiene. Neben der Erhebung des PBI und QH wurde drüsenspezifisch Speichel gewonnen. Die Konzentrationen an die Lektine PNA, GS1, VVA, SNA und AAA bindender Komponenten und deren drüsenspezifische Sekretionsraten wurden bestimmt. Bei allen Probanden stiegen PBI und QH im Versuchsverlauf signifikant an. Gleiches galt für die Speichelmenge nach Stimulation sowie zum Ende der Kontrollreihe. Die Konzentrationen der verschiedenen Glykane verhielten sich unabhängig von der Speichelmenge und unabhängig voneinander. Meist ergab sich eine erhöhte Glykansekretion spezifisch für das untersuchte Lektin. Neben dem Konzentrationsgefälle der einzelnen Drüsen war auch eine Verschiebung nach erfolgter Stimulation zu beobachten. Da genetische und externe Einflüsse für diese Studie weitgehend ausgeschlossen werden konnten bzw. als konstant einzuordnen waren, darf die Veränderung als Reaktion auf die orale Bakterienbelastung angesehen werden. Der Rückgang bestimmter terminaler Strukturen könnte als Folge der vermehrten Synthese anderer, in Bezug auf die veränderte Bakterienflora effektiverer Speichelbestandteile eingeordnet werden. Basierend auf dem Modell, dass freie Glykane die Adhäsion von Mikroorganismen inhibieren können, ließe sich die gemessene Reaktion der Speicheldrüsensekretion als ein gesteigerter Schutzmechanismus im Sinne einer ´first line of defence´ interpretieren. Dieser könnte z.B. in Bezug auf Prophylaxe und Therapie genutzt werden. / Salivary glycans can bind specificly to bacterial lectins. Consequently, bacterial adhesion to oral surfaces is mediated or inhibited by glycans. It is known that the concentration of certain glycans changes in the presence of caries or periodontitis. Therefore this study examines the reactivity of the major salivary glands with respect to the secretion of glycans as conditioned by an experimentally induced gingivitis. 14 healthy subjects refrained from all oral hygiene measures for 9 days. On 5 days a plaque and bleeding index as well as pure glandula saliva with and without stimulation were obtained. The collected salivary samples were examined for their concentration of certain structures that bind to the lectins ´PNA´, ´GS1´, ´VVA´, ´SNA´ and ´AAA´. All subjects developed a gingivitis as measured by the plaque and bleeding index. Salivary flow increased after stimulation and compared to baseline at the end of the trial. The concentration of glycans was neither related to one of the glands nor to the salivary flow. Besides to the differentials of concentration after stimulation there was no symmetrical development between the concentrations of salivary lectin-specific components compared one lectin to another. Genetic and external influences could be largely excluded or considered to be stable during the trial. Therefore the observed results can be regarded as a reaction to the increased bacterial load. The decrease of certain terminal structures in saliva might be explained by a raised synthesis of other components, which are more effective in defending the body against bacterial adhesion. The observed changes in salivary secretion might be interpreted as a mechanism in order to protect the human organism within the meaning of a ´first line of defence´. This mechanism would be able to respond more quickly than the immune system and might be used in future, for example, for preventive and therapeutical strategies.

No description available.