Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Alabama at Birmingham, 2007. / Title from PDF title page (viewed on Sept. 16, 2009). Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Alabama at Birmingham, 2007. / Title from PDF title page (viewed on Sept. 16, 2009). Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington, 2005. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 92-100).

Bien que la description qualitative et phénoménologique de la migration cellulaire soient décrites de façon minutieuse dans son approche holistique, des mécanismes de base et connus depuis longtemps n’ont pas encore été explorés quantitativement avec une approche "bottom-up". Un de ces exemples est le comportement migratoire en deux dimensions des lym- phocytes T effecteurs humains. Alors que leur comportement in vivo est déjà connu depuis longtemps et décrit qualitativement, une approche quantitative in vitro offre de nombreuses perspectives. Les interactions des intégrines LFA-1 et VLA-4 avec leurs ligands respectifs ICAM-1 et VCAM-1 ont déjà été étudiées et sont les principales molécules impliquées dans la migration des lymphocytes T effecteurs. Du fait de leur importance dans l’organisation de la mobilité, ces deux protéines sont les principaux objets d’étude de cette thèse. La majorité des travaux précédents ont été réalisés en observant les lymphocytes T dans des tissus vi- vants dont la composition et la densité des molécules d’adhésion ne peuvent ni être déterminées ni contrôlées de façon précise. Nous avons developpés des substrats artifi- ciels permettant d’imiter et de contrôler ces caractéristiques adhésives afin d’examiner et de relier les propriétés physiques des cellules tels que la vitesse ou l’index de mi- gration orientée, avec une réponse cellulaire donnée ainsi que d’associer un type de mouvement avec des interactions intégrines-ligands spécifiques. Pour aller plus loin, nous avons à nouveau analysé la conformation des intégrines puis l’avons modulé pour altérer leur affinité et changer les propriétés précédemment décrites. / The ability of T-lymphocytes to migrate to sites of inflammation towards all different types of tissues based on the interplay between biochemical and mechanical signaling is unique among human cells and underlines the importance of their complex motility apparatus relying on multiple stimuli. A crucial part within the leukocyte adhesion cascade is the firm attachment of the immune cell to the inner wall of the blood vessel and the subsequent migration along its surface until crossing the endothelial cell barrier. These migrational steps are guided not only by the shear stress to which the cell is exposed to by the flow of blood, but also by expression of adhesion molecules, the most important among them are ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 and their integrin counterparts LFA-1 and VLA-4, expressed by the immune cell. These proteins are crucial not only in a mechanically anchoring sense, but they also play a part in an intracellular signaling process leading to a change in migrational direction, overall cell affinity and phenotype. Few is known about how all components shape the movement behaviour on a quantitative level, raising questions about hierarchy, affinity and density of the involved proteins. Besides enhancing the general knowledge of the mechanisms of T-cell migration, the role of ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 in various diseases makes this study a promising endeavour. The approach taken in this thesis is to dissect and recompose the important adhesion molecules on a laminal flow chamber to link the cell’s response to them to specific movement properties and answer the questions addressed above.

Masters of Science / Background: Infection with HIV results in gradual loss of immunologic functions, especially those mediated by CD4+T helper cells with consequent impairment of the immune response leading to severe manifestations of periodontal disease. The lower the CD4+T lymphocyte cell count or the higher the level of immunosuppression, the higher the incidence of periodontal disease in those patients will be. Putative periodontopathic bacteria namely Porphyromonas gingivalis, Treponema denticola and Tannerella forsythia, commonly referred to as "red complex", and many other bacterial species have been implicated in the initiation and progression of periodontal disease. Objective: The present study tests the association between different CD4+T lymphocyte levels and "red complex" pathogens using BANA, in HIV-positive patients with chronic inflammatory periodontal disease (CIPD). Methods: 120 HIV-positive patients from the infectious disease clinic at Tygerberg hospital participated in the study with a mean age of 33.3 years. The CD4+T lymphocyte counts were obtained from patient's medical records. The six Ramjford teeth were used for evaluating periodontal clinical parameters such as plaque index, gingival index, periodontal probing depth and clinical attachment loss. Subgingival plaque samples were collected and analyzed by the enzymatic BANA test for the detection of the "red complex". Results: The CD4+T lymphocyte mean level was 293.43cells/mm3. Statistically significant associations were found between CD4+T cell counts and probing depth (p= 0.0434) and clinical attachment loss (p= 0.0268). Significant associations were found between BANA with all the clinical indices (p= <0.05). However no association was found between CD4+T cell counts and BANA. Conclusion: HIV-positive patients show a high prevalence of "red complex" pathogens subgingivally. Immunosuppression seems to favour the colonization of these species, resulting in periodontal disease manifestations.

Introdução: A doação de plaquetas por aférese é um método de coleta que vem aumentando em relevância. Sabe-se que esta técnica apresenta inúmeras vantagens em comparação à doação de sangue total. Observamos que há uma preocupação na qualidade dos hemocomponentes enviados ao paciente, no entanto, não se observam muitas pesquisas em busca do cuidado com o doador. Órgãos como o Food and Drug Administration (FDA) já publicaram normas mais restritivas em relação à doação de plaquetas por aférese, pois pesquisas apontaram uma diminuição de algumas células e proteínas do sistema imunológico em doadores de repetição. Objetivos: Analisar doadores de plaquetas de repetição quanto a parâmetros hematimétricos e quantificação de subpopulações linfocitárias comparando-os com um grupo controle composto por doadores de sangue total que não doam há no mínimo um ano ou doando pela primeira vez e, ainda avaliar se a frequência de doações, o tempo de procedimento e o número de plaquetas doadas influenciam na contagem de leucócitos totais e nas subpopulações de linfócitos. Metodologia: Foram analisados 88 indivíduos em um estudo caso-controle, sendo que o grupo controle (CO) incluído foi de doadores de sangue total que haviam doado pela primeira vez ou haviam doado sangue total há mais de um ano. Os casos (CA) incluídos foram os doadores de repetição de plaquetaférese (quatro ou mais doações no último ano). O pareamento foi feito por sexo e idade. As amostras de sangue periférico foram coletadas em tubos contendo EDTA e analisadas em até 6 horas por citometria de fluxo, através da utilização de anticorpos monoclonais anti-CD3, CD4, CD8, HLADR, CD19 e CD56. Resultados: Foram avaliados 44 pares de doadores (caso vs controle). Destes, 81,8% eram homens, a média de idade dos grupos foi de 46 ±13 anos nos casos e 47 ±11 nos controles. Comparando os dois grupos, observou-se diferença estatisticamente significativa (p<0,05) na média de quantificação de leucócitos absolutos CA= 6476,6/μL vs CO=7115,4/μL (p=0,017), na média de linfócitos absolutos CA= 1862,6/μL vs CO= 2239,2/μL (p=0,007) e nos marcadores: CD3+/CD8+ (absoluto) CA= 437/μL vs CO= 597/μL (p=0,01), CD3+/CD4+(%) CA= 47,3/μL vs CO= 42,77/μL (p=0,007). Conclusões: Neste estudo foi possível observar que há uma diminuição em algumas células linfoides dos doadores de repetição em relação aos doadores convencionais, no entanto essa diferença não tem relevância clínica, demonstrando que os intervalos de doações que estes doadores estão sendo submetidos é adequado. A contagem de plaquetas dos doadores de repetição se mantiveram no decorrer do ano, este dado nos auxilia para mantermos um banco de dados de doadores de repetição com uma quantificação de plaquetas adequada, podendo ser convocado sem risco de ser bloqueado por contagem inferior ao preconizado. / Introduction: The donation of platelets by apheresis as a collection method has lately grown in relevance. This technique presents several advantages when compared to total blood donation. We understand there is a concern about the quality of the hemocomponents that are administered to the patients; however, there are not many researches concerned with caring for the donor. Entities such as the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have published more restricting regulations regarding the donation of platelets by apheresis, since researches indicate a decrease in some cells and proteins present in the immunological systems of repeat donors. Objectives: To analyze repeat donors of platelets with regards to hematimetric parameters and quantification of lymphocyte sub-populations by comparing them with a control group consisting of total blood donors that have not donated blood for the past year at least or that are donating for the first time. Additionally, to evaluate if the frequency of donations, the duration of the procedure, and the donated platelet counts influence in the total leukocyte counts and in the sub-populations of lymphocytes. Methodology: We analyzed 88 individuals in a control case study. The control group (CG) consisted of total blood donors in their first donation or that had donated for the last time more than a year before. The cases (CA) included were the repeat donors by platelet apheresis (four or more donations in the past year). We matched the individuals by gender and age. Peripheral blood samples were collected in tubes containing EDTA and analyzed up until 6 hours later by flow cytometry, through monoclonal antibodies anti-CD3, CD4, CD8, HLADR, CD19, and CD56. Results: 44 pairs of donor were evaluated (case vs control). Among them, 81.8% were men, the average age of the groups was 46 (±13) years in the cases and 47 (±11) in the controls. When comparing the two groups, we observed a statistically significant difference (p<0,05) in the average of the quantification of absolute leukocytes CA= 6476.6/μL vs CG=7115.4/μL (p=0.017), in the average of absolute lymphocytes CA= 1862.6/μL vs CG= 2239.2/μL (p=0.007), and in the markers: CD3+/CD8+ (absolute) CA= 437/μL vs CG= 597/μL (p=0,01), CD3+/CD4+(%) CA= 47.3/μL vs CG= 42.77/μL (p=0.007). Conclusions: We were able to note in this study that there is a significant decrease in some lymphoid cells of repeat donors when compared to conventional donors. This difference, however, is not clinically relevant, which demonstrates that the donation intervals to which the donors are subject are appropriate. Platelet numbers of repeat donors remained the same throughout the year. This piece of data helps us keep a database of repeat donors with an adequate platelet number. These donors can be called for without risking of their being blocked in the screening for a number lower than the recommended.

Introduction Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory demyelinating and neurodegenerative disease affecting the central nervous system. Although research on the diagnosis and treatment of this serious illness has made significant advances, the MS etiology remains unknown. Although there is still much to be found in the MS pathogenetic mechanisms, understanding the mechanisms of immune-mediated damage to the central nervous system (CNS) components of MS allows not only the introduction of new drugs that positively modulate inflammatory inflammation but also the understanding of immune- mediated diseases affecting the CNS in a broader sense. Methods The Ph.D. thesis is a general introduction followed by an annotated set of author's publications on proteomics, lymphocytic population in MS and disability. Study 1: Proteomic analysis of cerebrospinal fluid for relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis and clinically isolated syndrome was conducted to find changes in the low molecular cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) segment and to determine what native peptides and how much they are in cerebrospinal fluid among patients with clinically isolated syndrome (CIS) and relapsing-MS (RR MS) compared to a healthy population. Study 2: Lymphocytes in the treatment with interferon beta-1b targeted individual...

Made available in DSpace on 2015-10-06T13:03:07Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2013-08-23. Added 1 bitstream(s) on 2015-10-06T13:18:56Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 000819087.pdf: 1423284 bytes, checksum: a89857bcef9822e82a34c2b6424c6064 (MD5) / Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) / A leishmaniose visceral é uma doença que causa manifestações clínicas variadas em cães, que podem apresentar desde alterações subclínicas a desordens generalizadas, incluindo alterações neurológicas. Há evidências do comprometimento das barreiras encefálicas, como a presença de infiltrado inflamatório com predomínio de linfócitos T CD3+ no sistema nervoso central. Deste modo, o objetivo deste trabalho foi determinar e comparar os imunofenótipos de linfócitos T no sangue periférico e no liquor e avaliar as lesões encefálicas em cães infectados. Verificou-se que os linfócitos T presentes em maior quantidade no liquor foram os duplos negativos (DN) e os duplos positivos (DP), com predomínio de TCRαβ. Também verificou-se que as células sanguíneas não diferiram das células do liquor em quantidade, o que indica que pode estar havendo um comprometimento da barreira hematoliquórica, permitindo que as células do sangue migrem para o liquor. Ocorreu também o predomínio de infiltrado linfohistioplasmocitário no encéfalo, principalmente em leptomeninges. Porém, não houve correlação entre a inflamação nessa área e as células T. Além disso, a correlação positiva entre a inflamação no subepêndima e as células T DN do liquor indica que essas células chegam no encéfalo também pelos vasos subependimários. Em conjunto, os resultados contribuem para explicar a inflamação observada no encéfalo de cães com leishmaniose, sendo que as células T DN podem ser responsáveis pela progressão neurológica da doença / Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a disease causing several clinical manifestations in dogs, that can present from subclinical to generalized disorders, including neurological disorders. There are evidences of cerebral barriers involvement, such as the presence of inflammatory infiltrate with predominance of CD3+ T cells in the brain of infected dogs. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine and to compare the immunophenotypes of T lymphocytes in the peripheral blood and in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of dogs with VL and evaluate the brain lesions. It was detected that the double negative (DN) and double positive (DP) T cells were present in higher percentage in the CSF, with predominance of TCRαβ. Besides, the amount of blood T cells did not differ from those observed in the CSF, indicating that the blood-CSF barrier may be damaged, allowing the migration of cells from the blood to the CSF. Moreover, inflammatory infiltrate with predominance of lymphohistioplasmacytic cells was observed, mainly in leptomeninges. However, there was no correlation between the intensity of the inflammation in this area and the T cells. Furthermore, the positive correlation between intensity of the inflammation in the subependimal area and DN T cells in the CSF indicates that these cells also may reach the brain through the subependymal vessels. Together, the results contribute to explain the inflammation observed in the brain of dogs with VL, where the DN T cells may contribute to the neurological progression of the disease

Submitted by Viviane Lima da Cunha (viviane@biblioteca.ufpb.br) on 2017-03-30T13:07:06Z No. of bitstreams: 1 arquivototal.pdf: 3105346 bytes, checksum: 743a49eb2c327b5bb4a178343286d03e (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-03-30T13:07:06Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 arquivototal.pdf: 3105346 bytes, checksum: 743a49eb2c327b5bb4a178343286d03e (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-06-16 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES / Ouabain (OUA), a potent Na+/K+ ATPase inhibitor, was identified as an endogenous substance present in human plasma. It was shown that OUA is able to interfere in several aspects of the immune system and inflammation, but the effect of this substance in allergic lung inflammation had not been previously investigated. Lower airways inflammation process is characterized by cell migration and bronchial hyperresponsiveness, as a result of sensitization by protein antigens such as ovalbumin (OVA). Aim: Evaluate the effect of ouabain on the model of allergic pulmonary inflammation induced by OVA. Methods: BALB/c mice (n = 6) were sensitized and challenged with OVA and pretreated intraperitoneally (ip) with OUA (0.56 mg/kg) two days before the sensitization and one hour before them, or dexamethasone (2 mg/kg) subcutaneously 1 hour before to each challenge. Allergic inflammation parameters, such as cell migration, and production of cytokines in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), mucus production and pulmonary histopathologic remodeling, and IgE quantitation were analyzed posteriorly. Results: Ouabain reduced (60%) BALF cells as a reflex of polymorphonuclear leukocyte inhibition and T CD3+ lymphocytes, as well as it reduced the production of Th2 profile cytokines, IL-4 and IL-13. Furthermore, ouabain also reduced histopathologic parameters of inflammation, such as hyperplasia of goblet cells and with consequent mucus decrease, besides it reduced OVA-specific IgE titer. Conclusion: These results suggests that OUA presents anti-inflammatory effect on pulmonary allergic inflammation, modulating Th2 phenotype parameters. / A ouabaína (OUA), um potente inibidor da Na+/K+ ATPase, foi identificada como uma substância endógena presente no plasma humano. Nos últimos anos, foi evidenciado que a OUA é capaz de interferir em diversos aspectos do sistema imunológico e em diferentes modelos de inflamação, porém o seu efeito na inflamação alérgica pulmonar não tinha sido investigado previamente. Processos inflamatórios alérgicos das vias aéreas inferiores são caracterizados por migração celular e hiperresponsividade brônquica, em decorrência da sensibilização por antígenos proteicos como a ovalbumina (OVA). Objetivo: Avaliar o efeito da ouabaína no modelo de inflamação alérgica pulmonar induzida por OVA. Métodos: Camundongos BALB/c fêmeas (n = 6) foram sensibilizados e desafiados com OVA e pré-tratados via intraperitoneal (i.p.) com OUA (0,56 mg/kg) dois dias antes das sensibilizações e uma hora antes destas, ou com dexametasona (2 mg/kg) subcutânea 1 hora antes de cada desafio. Parâmetros da inflamação alérgica, como migração celular e produção de citocinas no fluido do lavado broncoalveolar (BALF), produção de muco e remodelamento histopatológico pulmonar quantificação de IgE sérica, foram analisados posteriormente. Resultados: A ouabaína reduziu em 60% o número total de células presentes no BALF como um reflexo da inibição de leucócitos polimorfonucleares e linfócitos T CD3+, bem como a produção de citocinas do fenótipo Th2, IL-4 e IL-13. Ademais, a ouabaína reduziu os parâmetros inflamatórios histopatológicos, como hiperplasia das células caliciformes com consequente diminuição de muco, além de reduzir o título de OVA-IgE específica. Conclusão: Estes dados sugerem que a OUA apresenta efeito anti-inflamatória no modelo de inflamação alérgica pulmonar, modulando parâmetros do fenótipo Th2.

Resumo: A leishmaniose visceral é uma doença que causa manifestações clínicas variadas em cães, que podem apresentar desde alterações subclínicas a desordens generalizadas, incluindo alterações neurológicas. Há evidências do comprometimento das barreiras encefálicas, como a presença de infiltrado inflamatório com predomínio de linfócitos T CD3+ no sistema nervoso central. Deste modo, o objetivo deste trabalho foi determinar e comparar os imunofenótipos de linfócitos T no sangue periférico e no liquor e avaliar as lesões encefálicas em cães infectados. Verificou-se que os linfócitos T presentes em maior quantidade no liquor foram os duplos negativos (DN) e os duplos positivos (DP), com predomínio de TCRαβ. Também verificou-se que as células sanguíneas não diferiram das células do liquor em quantidade, o que indica que pode estar havendo um comprometimento da barreira hematoliquórica, permitindo que as células do sangue migrem para o liquor. Ocorreu também o predomínio de infiltrado linfohistioplasmocitário no encéfalo, principalmente em leptomeninges. Porém, não houve correlação entre a inflamação nessa área e as células T. Além disso, a correlação positiva entre a inflamação no subepêndima e as células T DN do liquor indica que essas células chegam no encéfalo também pelos vasos subependimários. Em conjunto, os resultados contribuem para explicar a inflamação observada no encéfalo de cães com leishmaniose, sendo que as células T DN podem ser responsáveis pela progressão neurológica da doença / Abstract: Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a disease causing several clinical manifestations in dogs, that can present from subclinical to generalized disorders, including neurological disorders. There are evidences of cerebral barriers involvement, such as the presence of inflammatory infiltrate with predominance of CD3+ T cells in the brain of infected dogs. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine and to compare the immunophenotypes of T lymphocytes in the peripheral blood and in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of dogs with VL and evaluate the brain lesions. It was detected that the double negative (DN) and double positive (DP) T cells were present in higher percentage in the CSF, with predominance of TCRαβ. Besides, the amount of blood T cells did not differ from those observed in the CSF, indicating that the blood-CSF barrier may be damaged, allowing the migration of cells from the blood to the CSF. Moreover, inflammatory infiltrate with predominance of lymphohistioplasmacytic cells was observed, mainly in leptomeninges. However, there was no correlation between the intensity of the inflammation in this area and the T cells. Furthermore, the positive correlation between intensity of the inflammation in the subependimal area and DN T cells in the CSF indicates that these cells also may reach the brain through the subependymal vessels. Together, the results contribute to explain the inflammation observed in the brain of dogs with VL, where the DN T cells may contribute to the neurological progression of the disease / Orientador: Gisele Fabrino Machado / Banca: Valéria Marçal Felix de Lima / Banca: Antonio Carlos Alessi / Mestre