Immunoglobulin (Ig) proteins, also known as antibodies, are important molecules with great variability in their amino acid sequences. Aberrantly overproduced monoclonal Ig light chain (LC) proteins may aggregate into a β-sheet featured structure, and deposit in the extracellular space; this pathologic process, called primary amyloidosis or Ig LC amyloidosis (AL) causes problems to multiple organs during the course of the disease. Post-translational modifications (PTMs), which remain to be explored, are likely an important factor affecting the formation of AL fibrils. In addition, therapeutic monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) are widely employed because of their high specificity and low side effects. Using plants as the expression platform is commercially attractive although this approach has been hampered by low protein expression yield and undesired glycosylation patterns. The investigations detailed in this dissertation focus on the analyses of Ig proteins derived from several human and plant sources. A method combining 2D SDS-PAGE separation and mass spectrometry (MS) analysis was used for de novo sequencing of Ig in a fat biopsy for which the corresponding DNA was unavailable, and for characterizing the LC proteins found in autopsied kidney, serum and urine samples from patients with AL amyloidosis whose LC-DNA was sequenced. The PTMs of each LC were extensively characterized with different enzymes and various tandem MS techniques including collision-induced dissociation (CID), higher-energy collisional dissociation (HCD) and electron transfer dissociation (ECD). PTMs observed include truncations, mono-/di-chlorination of the tyrosine residues and a nitrile group formed from the primary amine on lysine side chains. All these may play critical roles in the fibrillogenesis and/or the disease pathogenesis. Experimental evidence supports the hypothesis that the proteolytic processing of amyloidogenic LCs occurs after deposition in the organ. Characterization of a plant-derived HSV8 mAb was accomplished using high-performance liquid chromatography separation and gel display followed by various MS methods. Three N-terminal and one C-terminal truncations were found. The N-glycan moiety attached to the heavy chain was also analyzed. The MS method established helps to elucidate important structural information on therapeutic mAbs in complex mixtures, potentially contributing to optimization of plant systems that may produce more stable mAbs.

Platelets play a vital role in processes of hemostasis and thrombosis under physiological and pathological conditions. Following vascular damage, platelets will accumulate and stably adhere to exposed subendothelial matrixes. The binding of platelet surface receptor Glycoprotein VI (GPVI) to exposed collagen initiates a signaling cascade, which culminates in platelet activation. Stimulation of GPVI pathways results in the generation of thromboxane and causes the platelets to secrete their granule contents. This generated thromboxane as well as constituents released from dense granules such as ADP, and serotonin, play an essential role in potentiating the platelet response through activation of other surface receptor mediated pathways. Importantly, downstream of all these separate pathways, kinases become activated and play a crucial role in phosphorylating their substrates to elicit critical cellular responses. Previously published studies have established the importance for myosin kinase in its role for phosphorylating the myosin light chain (MLC) downstream of ADP receptors. These studies have shown MLC phosphorylation occurs rapidly and is essential for shape change following the stimulation of ADP receptors. Technological advances in antibody development have resulted in the generation of commercially available phospho-specific antibodies for MLC phosphorylated on either threonine (Thr) 18 or serine (Ser) 19. These antibodies allowed us to revisit these prior studies and address whether phosphorylation on MLC (Ser) 19 would elicit one response while phosphorylation on (Thr) 18 may result in another functional response. Our result show, that MLC is phosphorylated rapidly on (Ser) 19 and plays an important role in shape change downstream of Gq pathways, while MLC (Thr) 18 phosphorylation occurs at a slower rate downstream of G12/13 pathways and contributes to platelet dense granule secretion. Protein kinase C's (PKC) are serine/threonine kinase, which become activated following the stimulation of many of the platelet surface receptors. PKCs are classified into three groups, classical (α, βI, βII, γ), novel (δ, ε, η, θ), and atypical (ζ, ι, λ, μ) based on their cofactor requirements for activation. The classical PKCs, which require diacylglycerol and calcium for their activation were investigated using the specific inhibitor Go6976. Much to our surprise, we demonstrated that downstream of GPVI pathways, Go6976 caused non-selective inhibition of Spleen tyrosine kinase (Syk) activity. This inhibition of Syk activity resulted in a concentration-dependent reduction in phosphorylation of downstream molecules Lat and PLCγ2 as well as platelet aggregation and secretion. Stimulation of surface receptors GPVI, CLEC-2, GPIb, and FcRIIa, all lead to the activation of tyrosine kinase pathways. The role for Syk in these pathways is essential and in the absence of its activity these pathways are completely shut down. We inadvertently discovered dextran sulfate (DxS) actives platelets. Our results show that DxS activates a Src-dependent pathway which does not utilize surface receptors GPVI, CLEC-2, GPIb, or FcRIIa. Platelets pretreated with Syk inhibitors OXSI-2 or Go6976 failed to cause αIIbβ3 activation in response to convulxin, however, platelets activated with DxS under the same conditions retained the ability to activate αIIbβ3. In response to DxS, platelet aggregation, intracellular calcium mobilization, and αIIbβ3 activation were significantly inhibited in platelets pre-treated with PI-3K inhibitors. Taken together these results for the first time establish a novel tyrosine kinase pathway in platelets that cause fibrinogen receptor activation in a PI-3K dependent manner without a role for Syk. In conclusion, we have evaluated the role of myosin light chain kinase, Syk, and PI-3 kinase downstream of platelet receptor-mediated pathways. We have examined the phosphorylation status of several of their effector molecules and have correlated these events with their functional responses in platelets. Here we have highlighted several roles for platelet kinases and their relative importance in regulating platelet functional outcomes. / Physiology

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Le stade pre-B représente un point de contrôle crucial du développement des lymphocytes B dans la moelle osseuse. A ce stade, il y aura formation d'un récepteur intermédiaire nommé pre-BCR. Le pre-BCR est constitué de deux chaines lourdes Igµ et de deux pseudo-chaines légères (SLCs). Chaque SLC est constituée des protéines λ5 et VpreB, qui possèdent des régions « uniques » à leur extrémité N et C-terminale, respectivement. Ces régions uniques sont cruciales pour les fonctions du récepteur. La première partie de mes travaux sur l'étude du domaine λ5-UR nous a permis de proposer un modèle original d'assemblage du pre-BCR et d'apporter les bases structurales du rôle de chaperonne intramoléculaire de λ5-UR. L'activation du récepteur est permis par la formation d'une synapse immunologique. Des interactions entre la galectine-1 et λ5-UR vont permettre la formation d'un treillis d'interactions. L'étude structurale du complexe GAL1/λ5-UR, réalisée dans la seconde partie de ma thèse, a permis de déterminer la structure du complexe. L'interaction GAL1/λ5-UR engendre une modification d'affinité de GAL1 pour le lactose. Ce résultat suggère que l'interaction entre le pre-BCR et la galectine-1 peut influencer l'équilibre des interactions au niveau de la lattice en modulant l'affinité de la galectine-1 pour certains glycans. Dans la troisième partie de mon travail de thèse, des approches de glycomique fonctionnelle et structurale nous a permis l'élaboration d'un mécanisme de formation-dissolution de la synapse pre-B basés sur une modification d'affinité de GAL1 pour certains carbohydrates en présence de λ5-UR. / The pre-B stage represents a critical checkpoint in the development of B cells in the bone marrow. At this stage , there will be formation of a receptor intermediate called pre-BCR . The pre -BCR is composed of two heavy chains Igμ and two surrogate light chains ( SLCs ) . Each SLC consists of two proteins: λ5 and VpreB , which have "unique region" to their N-terminus and C -terminus, respectively. These unique regions are crucial for the functions of the receptor. The first part of my work on the domain λ5-UR has allowed us to propose an original model for assembling the pre -BCR and provide the structural basis of the role of intramolecular chaperone of λ5-UR. Receptor activation is allowed by the formation of an immunological synapse. Interactions between galectin-1 and λ5-UR will allow the formation of a lattice interactions. The structural study of complex GAL1/λ5-UR , conducted in the second part of my thesis, has allowed to determine the structure of the complex. These interactions GAL1/λ5-UR generate a modification of affinity of GAL1 for lactose. This result suggests that the interaction between the pre-BCR and galectin-1 may affect the balance of interactions at the lattice by modulating the affinity for galectin-1 for some glycans. In the third part of my thesis, approaches to structural and functional glycomics has allowed us to develop a mechanism of formation-dissolution of the synapse pre-B based on a modified affinity of GAL1 for certain carbohydrates in presence of λ5-UR.

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We hypothesized that the presence of monoclonal free light chains (FLC) in the serum of patients with monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) is a marker of clonal evolution and a risk factor for progression. Forty-seven patients with MGUS and documented progression to myeloma or related malignancy were compared with 50 age- and gender-matched patients with MGUS and no evidence of progression after 5 or more years of follow-up. The presence of an abnormal kappa/lambda FLC ratio in the serum was associated with a higher risk of MGUS progression (relative risk 2.5; 95% confidence interval: 1.6-4.0; P < 0.001).

Introduction: Waldenström's macroglobulinemia is a hematological neoplasm belonging to the group of monoclonal gammopathies, which includes systemic symptoms and those related to an increase in M paraprotein. Objective: To describe a case of cardiac amyloidosis associated with macroglobulinemia. Clinical case: Male patient who was admitted for asthenia, dysphonia, and who, during his evolution, developed progressive dyspnea, heart failure and pleural effusion. Additionally, echocardiography showed myocardial granular pattern, while pleural biopsy was positive for Congo red staining. Subsequently, he received treatment with bortezomib, dexamethasone and rituximab, with favorable evolution. Conclusions: In this disease, early diagnosis is an important advantage for survival. Therefore, its management is palliative of cardiac manifestations. The present case shows a diagnostic challenge, in which the less frequent etiologies of heart failure must be taken into account. / Revisión por pares

Background: Neuronal plasticity and regeneration in cancer are understudied aspects of cancer research. Studies have shown that neurogenesis and axonogenesis are associated with cancer progression and metastatic potential. Purpose: The purpose of this project was to optimize an immunofluorescence stain to observe nerve development and regeneration in cancer tissue, with the use of antibodies against neurofilament light chain (Nf-L), growth associated protein 43 (gap-43), and doublecortin X (DCX). Material and method: Staining optimization included evaluations of antigen retrieval, tissue permeabilization, antibody dilution, and duration of primary antibody incubation. The analyses were tested on colorectal- and lung cancer tissues. Results: The detection of Nf-L was not successful in any combination of the analyses or on ether tissue. The staining Gap-43 showed the best results using antigen retrieval with pepsin in HCl and primary antibody dilution 1:500 combined with incubation overnight at 4 °C. Staining for DCX needs more evaluation due to non-specific binding in lung cancer tissue. The stain showed the best results with antigen retrieval performed with pepsin in HCl, primary antibody dilution 1:250 combined with 1 hour incubation at room temperature of the primary antibody. Permeabilization has to some degree shown good results in combination with antigen retrieval with pepsin in HCl. Conclusion: A good protocol was established for Gap-43 detection, but the procedures for Nf-L and DCX detections need to be optimized.