The effects of peptides derived from β-lactoglobulin and α-lactalbumin on metabolic syndrome were studied. α-lactalbumin and β-lactoglobulin were hydrolyzed with trypsin, alcalase, flavourzyme, or a combination of alcalase and flavourzyme and fractionated. Angiotensin coverting enzyme inhibition of the < 1 kDa fraction of alcalase hydrolyzed β-lactoglobulin was 95 %. Antioxidant activity of the < 1 kDa fraction of β-lactoglobulin hydrolyzed with a combination of alcalase and flavourzyme was 18 %. Stimulated adipocytes incubated with the < 1 kDa fraction of β-lactoglobulin hydrolyzed with either trypsin or alcalase produced 30 pg/mL of interleukin 6. Adiponectin and glucose transporter type 4 secretions increased 1.1 and 0.86 fold respectively during incubation with the < 1 kDa fraction of β-lactoglobulin hydrolyzed with a combination of alcalase and flavourzyme. Results indicate that β-lactoglobulin peptides formed with alcalase and a combination of alcalase and flavourzyme influence markers associated with metabolic syndrome and may be useful as functional foods or nutraceuticals.

Heat shock protein (HSP)27 is traditionally described as an intracellular chaperone and signaling molecule, but growing evidence suggests it is released from immune cells where it plays an anti-inflammatory role during atherogenesis. Previously, the O’Brien lab found that overexpression of HSP27 led to augmented HSP27 serum levels in female apolipoprotein E knockout (ApoE-/-) mice, attenuated atherogenesis, and inhibited macrophage foam cell formation via physical binding with scavenger receptor (SR)-A. However, the precise mechanism of atheroprotection remained elusive. This thesis sought to ascertain the mechanism(s) by which HSP27 prevents foam cell formation, and determine if SR-A, a key receptor involved in the uptake of lipid into macrophages, plays an important role in HSP27-mediated atheroprotection. Pre-treatment of human macrophages with recombinant HSP27 (rHSP27) inhibited acytelated low density lipoprotein (acLDL) binding and uptake independent from receptor competition effect. Reduction in uptake was associated with attenuation of expression of SR-A mRNA, total protein, and cell surface expression. To explore the signaling mechanism by which HSP27 modulated SR-A expression it was hypothesized that nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kB), a major regulator of many atherosclerosis gene programs, is altered by extracellular HSP27. Indeed, rHSP27 markedly activated NF-kB signaling in macrophages. Using an inhibitor of NF-kBsignaling there was an attenuation of rHSP27-induced inhibition of SR-A gene and protein expression, as well as lipid uptake, suggesting that SR-A expression is regulated by NF-kB activation. Lastly, to investigate if SR-A is required for HSP27-mediated atheroprotection in vivo, ApoE-/- and ApoE-/-SR-A-/- mice fed a high fat diet were treated with rHSP25, the mouse orthologue of HSP27, or PBS for 3 weeks. While rHSP25 therapy equally reduced serum cholesterol levels in the mouse cohorts, aortic atherogenesis, assessed using en face and sinus cross-sectional analyses, was attenuated in ApoE-/- mice but not ApoE-/-SR-A-/- mice. In conclusion, rHSP27 inhibits foam cell formation by downregulating SR-A expression. This effect may be associated with NF-kB activation. Reductions in atherosclerotic burden by rHSP27 require SR-A, and are independent of changes in serum cholesterol levels, highlighting the importance of macrophage lipid uptake in atherogenesis. Results presented in this thesis demonstrate that SR-A is a major target for HSP27 atheroprotection in the vessel wall, and provide an impetus for further studies that investigate the potential therapeutic value of HSP27.

Typescript (Photocopy) / Bibliography: leaves 170-198. / xx, 198 leaves, 1 leaf of col. plates : ill. ; 30 cm. / Title page, contents and abstract only. The complete thesis in print form is available from the University Library. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Adelaide, Dept. of Medicine, 1991

Bibliography: leaves 175-203. / xxix, 203 leaves, [14] leaves of plates : ill. (some col.) ; 30 cm. / Title page, contents and abstract only. The complete thesis in print form is available from the University Library. / Investigates whether cytokines influence the development of the embryo prior to implantation. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Adelaide, Depts. of Obstetrics and Gynaecology and Microbiology and Immunology, 1993

The host immune response to parasitic helminths is usually characterized by a Th2 phenotype. As the Jagged/Notch pathway has been implicated in driving Th2 development, it was hypothesized that host macrophages and dendritic cells (DCs) could detect helminth products and mount an appropriate response via this pathway. Schistosoma mansoni soluble egg antigen (SEA) rapidly up-regulated expression of the Notch ligand, Jagged 1, in both mouse and human macrophages, as well as in conventional mouse DCs. Other factors associated with Th cell development, including the Th1-promoting factor IL-12 p40, as well as another potential Th2-promoting factor, interleukin (IL)-33, were not transcriptionally responsive to SEA in these same cell types, thus indicating the selectivity of the response. Inducible gene expression was modified by the presence of the macrophage growth factor colony-stimulating factor (CSF)-1, which inhibited Jagged 1 induction by SEA and lipopolysaccharide (LPS), but enhanced LPS-induced IL-12p40 expression. Despite the observation that SEA upregulated Jagged 1 in both macrophages and DCs, only SEA-pulsed DCs promoted IL-4 production upon T-cell activation, suggesting that Jagged 1 induction alone is insufficient for instructing Th2 development. A recombinant form of the extracellular region of Jagged 1 did, however, enhance IFN-γ production in splenocytes, thus implying that the rapid induction of Jagged 1 in macrophages and DCs can regulate T cell responses. A potential role for SEA-induced Jagged 1 in autocrine responses in macrophages was also investigated through studies with recombinant extracellular Jagged 1, as well as ectopic expression of Jagged 1 in macrophages. A comparison of the responses initiated in macrophages by SEA and the bacterial endotoxin lipopolysaccharide (LPS) revealed common activation of extracellular signal regulated kinase-1/2 (ERK-1/2) and p38 phosphorylation. However, only LPS triggered IκB degradation, phosphorylation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) and phosphorylation of Tyr701 of signal transducer and activator of transcription 1 (STAT1). SEA robustly activated signalling in HEK293 cells expressing either Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) or TLR4/MD2, as well as variably in cells expressing TLR3. Jagged 1 upregulation by SEA was not abrogated in TLR4 knockout macrophages, in contrast to the LPS response. Pharmacological inhibition of the ERK-1/2 pathway impaired both SEA- and LPS-inducible Jagged 1 expression in macrophages. In conclusion, the data within this thesis suggests that Jagged 1 is an ERK-dependent target of TLR signalling that has a macrophage-specific function in the response to SEA.

Diss. (sammanfattning) Umeå : Univ., 2008. / Härtill 4 uppsatser.

Thesis (Ph.D. in Toxicology) -- University of Colorado Denver, 2008. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 224-253). Free to UCD Anschutz Medical Campus. Online version available via ProQuest Digital Dissertations;

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Missouri--Columbia, 2005. / "May 2005." Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 139-157). Also issued on the Internet.

Submitted by Ana Maria Fiscina Sampaio (fiscina@bahia.fiocruz.br) on 2012-08-01T21:22:36Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Nivea Farias Luz Papel da proteína hemeoxigenase....pdf: 1624634 bytes, checksum: 6f830105c144bc3c799743a490e5a511 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2012-08-01T21:22:36Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Nivea Farias Luz Papel da proteína hemeoxigenase....pdf: 1624634 bytes, checksum: 6f830105c144bc3c799743a490e5a511 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011 / Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Centro de Pesquisas Gonçalo Moniz. Salvador, Bahia, Brasil / A leishmaniose visceral (LV) apresenta ampla distribuição geográfica e é fatal caso não seja tratada. As manifestações hematológicas são constantes na LV e em casos não tratados os pacientes evoluem à óbito por sangramento maciço ou anemia grave. Neste cenário, mecanismos ligados à hemólise, metabolismo do heme e atividade da enzima heme oxigenase podem estar envolvidos na imunopatogênese da LV, no entanto essa perspectiva ainda não foi explorada. A heme oxigenase (HO) tem importantes propriedades regulatórias e está envolvida em processos fisiológicos e patofisiológicos como citoproteção e inflamação. Apesar de sua sugestiva participação no contexto da infecção por Leishmania, uma rápida pesquisa no PubMed com as palavras heme oxigenase e Leishmania remete a somente três trabalhos até a presente data. Nesse projeto testaremos a hipótese de que a ativação da enzima heme oxigenase-1 (HO-1) favorece a infecção por Leishmania (L) chagasi, principal agente etiológico da LV humana no Brasil. Nossas observações nesse trabalho indicam que a enzima HO-1 é induzida em macrófagos durante a infecção por L. chagasi e que a indução farmacológica da HO-1, pela CoPP aumenta a carga parasitária de macrófagos infectados por L. chagasi e reduz a produção de mediadores pró-inflamatórios frente à estimulação por LPS, tais como TNF, NO, PGE2, MCP-1, IL-1β e IL-6. Além disso, a HO-1 favorece um ambiente anti-inflamatório onde prevalece a presença de IL-10 sobre a de TNF. Macrófagos derivados de medula óssea de camundongos deficientes no gene HO-1 tem menor carga parasitária, quando infectados por L. chagasi em comparação aos macrófagos de camundongos selvagens. Esses achados indicam um potencial deletério para a HO-1 na infecção por L. chagasi, bem como sugerem possíveis mecanismos envolvidos na imunopatogênese da LV. / Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a widespread disease and is fatal if left untreated. Hematological manifestations are common in VL and untreated patients evolve to death from massive bleeding and severe anemia. In this scenario, mechanisms related to hemolysis, heme metabolism and enzyme activity of heme oxygenase may be involved in the immunopathogenesis of VL. But that panorama has not been explored. Heme oxygenase (HO) has important regulatory properties and is involved in patho-physiological processes such as cytoprotection and inflammation. Despite HO participation in the context of Leishmania infection is suggestive, a quick search on PubMed with the words heme oxygenase and Leishmania refers to only three papers to date. This project will test the hypothesis that heme oxygenase- 1 (HO-1) activation favors Leishmania (L) chagasi, the main etiology agent of human VL in Brazil. Our observations indicate that HO-1 is induced in macrophages during L. chagasi infection and pharmacological induction of HO-1 by CoPP increases parasite load of infected macrophages and results in inhibition of TNF- α, IL-1β, IL-6, MCP-1, PGE2 and Nitrite levels upon LPS stimulation and simultaneously induced a higher IL-10/TNF-α ratio in peritoneal macrophages contributing to the anti inflammatory pathway that favors L. chagasi replication. Beyond this, we observed that bone marrow derived macrophages knockout to HO-1 gene have a significant low parasite load when infected by L. chagasi than their wild type counterparts. In summary, our findings suggest that this enzyme can play a deleterious role in VL and clarify one of the immunoregulatory mechanisms involved in VL.

FIGUEIREDO, Jozi Godoy. Resposta inflamatória induzida pela lectina de sementes de Dioclea rostrata: mecanismos e mediadores envolvidos. 2007. 93 f. Dissertação (Mestrado em Bioquímica) - Universidade Federal do Ceará, Fortaleza-CE, 2007. / Submitted by Eric Santiago (erichhcl@gmail.com) on 2016-05-30T13:44:19Z No. of bitstreams: 1 2007_dis_jgfigueiredo.pdf: 475156 bytes, checksum: 4a5e95b9694636cdf7236bcad874991c (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by José Jairo Viana de Sousa (jairo@ufc.br) on 2016-07-11T23:42:32Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 2007_dis_jgfigueiredo.pdf: 475156 bytes, checksum: 4a5e95b9694636cdf7236bcad874991c (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-07-11T23:42:32Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 2007_dis_jgfigueiredo.pdf: 475156 bytes, checksum: 4a5e95b9694636cdf7236bcad874991c (MD5) Previous issue date: 2007 / Lectins are proteins possessing a carbohidate moiety that are able to interact with biological systems eliciting a variety of effects. Vegetal lectins have been used as tools in the study of inflammation due to its ability to recognize carbohydrate residues in inflammatory cell membranes by means of its lectin domain. The present work studied the pro-inflammatory effects of the lectin from Dioclea rostrata seeds (Dros), a binder of α-methyl-D-manoside, on neutrophil migration ( NM ) [(in vivo and in vitro)]. The models of peritonitis, paw edema, and subcutaneous air pouch (in vivo), neutrophil chemotaxy and macrophage culture (in vitro) were utilized. It was found that Dros showed a pro-inflammatory activity in all of the above models. The increase in the number of macrophages by the pre-treatment of the animals with thioglycolate potentialized the Dros-induced NM. Also, the depletion of mast cells by the use of the substance 48/80 did not interfere in the lectin-induced NM. The above data suggest the involvement of macrophages but not mast cells in the mechanisms studied. The pre-treatment of the peritoneum with anti-inflammatory drugs like indomethacine, dexamethasone and thalidomide inhibited the NM. Dros induced chemotaxy in vitro and stimulated the synthesis / release of cytokines as TNF-α and IL-1 in addition to IL-10 and this way he/she suggests himself that more detailed studies are accomplished in continuities to this work to verify this lectin can be used in imunosupression models. In the paw edema model the lectin promoted an intense edema and a significant increase in the mieloperoxidase activity (when compared to the control group). The α-methyl-D-manoside reversted the Dros-induced NM and so it seems that Dros triggers the inflammatory response by means of the interaction of its lectin domain with sugars in the macrophage membrane. The present data suggest that Dros could be used as tools in biochemical and pharmacological studies. / Lectinas são proteínas que através de ligações a resíduos de carboidratos podem interagir com sistemas biológicos elicitando uma diversidade de efeitos. As lectinas vegetais têm sido utilizadas como ferramentas no estudo da inflamação devido a sua capacidade de reconhecer resíduos de carboidratos presentes nas membranas das células inflamatórias através de seus domínios lectínicos. Assim, investigou- se neste trabalho o possível efeito pró-inflamatório da lectina de sementes de Dioclea rostrata; ligadora de α-metil-D-manosídeo sobre a migração de neutrófilos (MN) [(in vivo e in vitro)]. Os modelos utilizados foram: peritonite, edema de pata e bolsa de ar subcutânea (in vivo), quimiotaxia de neutrófilos e cultura de macrófagos (in vitro). Foi verificado que a lectina apresentava atividade pró-inflamatória em todos os estudos realizados. O aumento do número de macrófagos através do pré-tratamento dos animais com tioglicolato potencializou a MN induzida por Dros; a depleção de mastócitos através do tratamento com o composto 48/80 não interferiu na MN da lectina. Sendo assim sugeriu-se o envolvimento de macrófagos e desconsiderou-se o de mastócitos. Na modulação farmacológica no modelo de peritonite feita através do pré-tratamento dos animais com drogas anti-inflamatórias, observou-se que indometacina, dexametasona e talidomida inibiram a MN. A lectina induziu quimiotaxia in vitro, estimulou a síntese/liberação de citocinas como TNF-α e IL-1, IL-10, desta maneira sugere-se que estudos mais detalhados sejam realizados em continuidades a este trabalho para verificar se esta lectina pode ser utilizada em modelos de imunosupressão. O α-metil-D-manosídeo reverteu a MN induzida por Dros, desta forma parece que a Dros desencadeia resposta inflamatória através da interação de seus domínios lectínicos com açucares presentes na membrana de macrófagos