L’évolution des populations occidentales s’accompagne d’une augmentation de la sédentarité et des maladies métaboliques qui accroissent les problèmes de santé. Ces évolutions ont des répercussions sur le muscle squelettique qui voit sa capacité à produire de l’énergie aérobie diminuer. Néanmoins, le muscle squelettique est très plastique et les capacités oxydatives musculaires s’améliorent rapidement par l'activité physique. Les mitochondries sont des éléments majeurs des capacités oxydatives musculaires et la compréhension des mécanismes moléculaires qui régissent la biogenèse et la fonction mitochondriale est nécessaire pour prescrire au mieux l’activité physique.L’exercice intermittent semble être de plus en plus utilisé dans la pratique. Plusieurs arguments sont mis en avant pour préconiser cette modalité : 1) le temps passé à haute consommation d’oxygène, 2) la haute intensité et 3) les perturbations métaboliques induites par les variations d’intensité au cours de l’exercice. Cependant, l’influence des perturbations métaboliques sur les capacités oxydatives musculaires n’a pas encore été clairement démontrée. L’objet des mes travaux de thèse s’est donc focalisé sur ces perturbations métaboliques et leurs effets sur les voies de signalisation impliquées dans la biogenèse mitochondriale. Afin de caractériser l’implication des perturbations métaboliques dans la stimulation des voies de signalisation de la biogenèse mitochondriale, nous avons comparé l’influence d’exercices aigus sur ces voies de signalisation. Deux protocoles nous ont permis d’investiguer l’influence des variations métaboliques. Le premier a consisté, lors d’un exercice de intermittent, à identifier la durée du cycle induisant les plus grandes perturbations métaboliques et à caractériser les effets de la modalité d’exercice sur un exercice de 30 minutes de pédalage à 70%WRpic. Le second protocole visait à déterminer l’influence de la répétition des perturbations métaboliques sur les voies de signalisation régulant la biogenèse mitochondriale.Afin d’identifier la durée de cycle produisant le plus de variations métaboliques, nous avons analysé l’évolution de la consommation d’oxygène et quantifié les variations métaboliques. Pour cela nous avons utilisé trois paramètres : 1) un paramètre quantitatif, 2) un paramètre qualitatif et 3) un index associant les paramètres quantitatif et qualitatif. La comparaison de trois durées de cycle différentes (30s d’effort:30s de récupération passive ; 60s:60s et 120s:120s) nous a permis de mettre en évidence que la modalité 60s:60s est celle qui induit le plus de variations métaboliques et cela pour une dépense énergétique identique pour les trois modalités.Notre seconde étude a consisté à comparer 30 minutes de pédalage à 70%WRpic sous deux modalités différentes : continue (1 bloc de 30min) et intermittente (30 bloc de 1min entrecoupés de 1min). La répétition de phase d’exercice et de repos lors de l’exercice intermittent créée plus de perturbation du métabolisme et entraîne une phosphorylation supérieure de l'AMPK, CaMKII et p38 MAPK. Ces kinases sont situées en amont de PGC-1α, un important régulateur de la biogenèse mitochondriale dans le muscle squelettique. Ces résultats mettent donc en évidence un effet spécifique des perturbations métaboliques sur les voies de signalisation contrôlant la biogenèse mitochondriale.Ces travaux ouvrent de nouvelles perspectives sur les méthodes de réentraînement de personnes sédentaires ou atteintes de pathologie chronique. Les futurs travaux viseront à confirmer nos résultats lors d’interventions chroniques et d’explorer ces effets chez différentes populations. / Western life evolution is associated with an increase in sedentary behaviours and metabolic diseases leading to health alteration. This evolution affects the skeletal muscle, which is characterized by a decrease in its ability to produce aerobic energy. However, skeletal muscle is a highly malleable tissue, capable of considerable metabolic adaptations in response to physical activity. Mitochondria produce the aerobic energy within the skeletal muscle. Understanding the molecular mechanisms that regulate mitochondrial biogenesis and its function is necessary to improve physical activity prescription.The intermittent exercise is currently used in rehabilitation programs. Several arguments are put forward to utilizing this method: 1) the time spent at high oxygen consumption, 2) the high intensity of exercise and 3) the metabolic disturbances induced by variations of intensity during exercise. However, the influence of metabolic disturbances on muscle oxidative capacity has not been clearly demonstrated. The purpose of my thesis work has therefore focused on these metabolic perturbations and their effects on signalling pathways involved in mitochondrial biogenesis. In order to characterize the influence of metabolic disturbances on the signalling pathways involved in mitochondrial biogenesis, we compared the influence of acute exercises. We realized two protocols to investigate the influence of metabolic disturbances. The first study compared three intermittent exercises in order to identify the optimal duty-cycle duration to induce the biggest metabolic disturbances and to compare metabolic responses of intermittent and continuous exercise performed at 70%WRpic. The second protocol evaluated the influence of the repetition of metabolic disturbances on signalling pathways involved in mitochondrial biogenesis.In order to identify the duty-cycle duration producing more metabolic fluctuations, we analysed the changes of oxygen consumption and quantified metabolic variations. We used three parameters: 1) a quantitative parameter, 2) a qualitative parameter, and 3) an index combining quantitative and qualitative parameters. Comparison of three different duty-cycle durations (30s work:30s passive recovery; 60s:60s, and 120s:120s) revealed that the 60s:60s modality induces more metabolic fluctuations for a same energy expenditure.Our second study compared 30 minutes of pedalling at 70%WRpic realized by two different modalities: continuous (30min 1 block) and intermittent (30 1min block interspersed by 1min of passive recovery). Repetition of transitions from rest to exercise during the intermittent exercise creates higher metabolic disturbances and leads to a higher phosphorylation of AMPK, p38 MAPK and CaMKII. These kinases are upstream of PGC-1α, an important regulator of mitochondrial biogenesis in skeletal muscle. All together, these results demonstrate that metabolic disturbances are involved in mitochondrial signalling pathways activation.This work opens up new perspectives on exercise training prescription for sedentary or chronic pathology people. Future work will aim to confirm our results in chronic interventions and explore these effects in different populations.

L’adénomyose est une pathologie chronique bénigne de l’utérus caractérisée par une infiltration du myomètre par du tissu endométrial composé de glandes et de stroma avec une hypertrophie et une hyperplasie des cellules musculaires lisses adjacentes. Cette maladie fréquente de la femme en âge de procréer cause des symptômes invalidants comme des dysménorrhées, des saignements utérins anormaux et une infertilité. L’adénomyose utérine est souvent associée à d’autres pathologies gynécologiques bénignes œstrogéno-dépendantes comme les léiomyomes utérins et l’endométriose. Les options thérapeutiques médicamenteuses sont purement symptomatiques et non-curatives et l’adénomyose reste une cause majeure d’hystérectomie. Les mécanismes physiopathologiques qui aboutissent au développement de l’adénomyose sont probablement multifactoriels et ne sont que partiellement compris actuellement. Selon la théorie la plus communément admise, l’adénomyose trouve son origine dans la couche basale de l’endomètre avec une invagination de cellules entre les faisceaux musculaires et/ou le long de vaisseaux lymphatiques. De multiples facteurs pourraient être impliqués dans l’initiation de cette invasion, notamment une résistance à l’action de la progestérone, une production intra-lésionnelle d’œstrogènes par activation de l’aromatase, des anomalies myométriales prédisposant à l’invasion, des lésions tissulaires induites par la grossesse, l’accouchement, le dyspéristaltisme utérin ou iatrogènes et des anomalies de l’endomètre le prédisposant à l’invasion. Dans un premier temps nous détaillons, dans un article de revue, les traitements médicamenteux actuellement utilisés pour traiter les symptômes causés par l’adénomyose et discutons les mécanismes physiopathologiques qui pourraient être la cible de nouveaux traitements médicamenteux. Ensuite, nous exposons les résultats de l’étude in vitro des voies de signalisation cellulaires des mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) et phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase/Akt/mammalian target of rapamycin (PI3K/mTOR/Akt) dans les cellules musculaires lisses utérines issues de femmes avec de l’adénomyose et de témoins sans adénomyose. Nous montrons une augmentation de la prolifération des cellules myométriales avec une activation in vitro de la voie MAPK/ERK chez les femmes avec de l’adénomyose en comparaison avec les témoins. L’activation de la voie PI3K/mTOR/Akt n’est pas significativement différente. La production de dérivés réactifs de l’oxygène et leurs voies de détoxification ne sont pas différentes dans les cellules myométriales de femmes avec de l’adénomyose et celles de témoins, ce qui suggère une activation de la voie des MAPK/ERK indépendante des dérivés réactifs de l’oxygène. Nos résultats montrent que des inhibiteurs des protéines kinases et le rapanalogue temsirolimus contrôlent la prolifération des cellules myométriales in vitro, ce qui suggère une implication des voies de signalisation MAPK/ERK et PI3K/mTOR/Akt dans la prolifération des cellules musculaires lisses dans l’adénomyose et les léiomyomes. Finalement, nous avons étudié l’ostéopontine comme biomarqueur sérique dans une cohorte de femmes en âge de procréer opérées pour des pathologies gynécologiques bénignes. La présence d’endométriose a été déterminée chirurgicalement et les lésions endométriosiques ont été confirmées histologiquement et classées en lésions superficielles, endométriomes ou lésions invasives profondes. La présence d’adénomyose a été déterminée par imagerie par résonance magnétique préopératoire et deux types d’adénomyose ont été caractérisés : l’adénomyose diffuse, l’adénomyose focale avec ou sans lésions diffuses associées. L’ostéopontine sérique est diminuée en cas d’adénomyose focale et de lésions d’endométriose profonde en comparaison avec des témoins sains et augmentée dans l’endométriose superficielle en comparaison avec l’endométriose profonde. (...) / Adenomyosis is chronic benign uterine disease characterized by myometrial infiltration by endometrial tissue – both glands and stroma – with hypertrophy and hyperplasia of surrounding smooth muscle cells. This frequent disease occurring in reproductive age women causes invalidating symptoms such as dysmenorrhoea, abnormal uterine bleeding and infertility. Adenomyosis is frequently associated with other estrogen-dependant gynaecologic diseases such as uterine leiomyomas and endometriosis. Medical treatments are non-curative and act purely by alleviating symptoms and adenomyosis remains a major cause of hysterectomy. Physiopathological mechanisms underlying the disease are probably multifactorial and currently not fully elucidated. According to the most widely accepted theory adenomyosis originates from the basal layer of the endometrium which invaginates between smooth muscle cell bundles and/or along lymphatic vessels. Multiple factors could be implicated in triggering this invasion, amongst others resistance to progesterone, intra-lesional production of estrogens through aromatase activation, myometrial anomalies predisposing to invasion, tissue lesions induced by pregnancy, labour, uterine dysperistaltism or iatrogenic and endometrial anomalies predisposing to invasion. First, in a clinical review article, we detail current medical therapies used to alleviate adenomyosis-associated symptoms and discuss physiopathological mechanisms that could be targets for novel medical treatments. We then describe an in vitro study on the activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) and phosphatidylinositol three kinase/mammalian target of rapamycin/Akt (PI3K/mTOR/Akt) signalling pathways in uterine smooth muscle cells derived from women with adenomyosis and from adenomyosis-free controls. We show an increased proliferation of uterine smooth muscle cells related to the in vitro activation of the MAPK/ERK pathway in women with adenomyosis compared to controls. The activation of PI3K/mTOR/Akt was not significantly different. The production of reactive oxygen species and their detoxification enzymes were not different in uterine smooth muscle cells of women with adenomyosis compared to controls suggesting a reactive oxygen species independent activation of the MAPK/ERK pathway. Our results also show that inhibitors of protein kinases and the rapanalogue temsirolimus control the in vitro proliferation of uterine smooth muscle cells suggesting an implication of both MAPK/ERK and PI3K/mTOR/Akt in the proliferation of uterine smooth muscle cells in adenomyosis and leiomyomas. Finally, we studied osteopontin as a serum biomarker in a cohort of reproductive-age women undergoing surgery for benign gynaecological conditions. The presence of endometriosis was determined surgically and endometriosis lesions were confirmed histologically and classified into superficial lesions, endometriomas and deep infiltrating lesions. The presence of adenomyosis was determined by magnetic resonance imaging before surgery and women were classified according to two types of adenomyosis: diffuse adenomyosis, focal adenomyosis with or without associated diffuse lesions. Osteopontin levels were decreased in case of focal adenomyosis and deep infiltrating endometriosis compared to disease-free women and increased in superficial endometriosis compared to deep infiltrating endometriosis. Osteopontin, a secreted glycoprotein implicated in inflammation and in tumor-metastasis, is not a biomarker of disease severity in endometriosis and adenomyosis but could reflect events implicated in peritoneal dissemination of endometriosis lesions.

Submitted by Ana Damasceno (ana.damasceno@unipampa.edu.br) on 2017-05-09T18:30:20Z No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 1232 bytes, checksum: 66e71c371cc565284e70f40736c94386 (MD5) Ação de Senecio brasiliensis (spreng) Less sobre a taxa de eclosão e modulação de marcadores de toxicidade em larvas de Drosophila Melanogaster.pdf: 2537151 bytes, checksum: c5213c1eaff7c1ecdeaf706e6ced1e1a (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-05-09T18:30:20Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 1232 bytes, checksum: 66e71c371cc565284e70f40736c94386 (MD5) Ação de Senecio brasiliensis (spreng) Less sobre a taxa de eclosão e modulação de marcadores de toxicidade em larvas de Drosophila Melanogaster.pdf: 2537151 bytes, checksum: c5213c1eaff7c1ecdeaf706e6ced1e1a (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-03-02 / O Brasil apresenta uma rica biodiversidade, sendo que muitas das espécies aqui encontradas tem servido como fonte de compostos com propriedades únicas tanto na medicina como na área biotecnológica. Muitos destes compostos são sintetizados a partir do metabolismo secundário vegetal e nas plantas atuam como atrativos ou mecanismos de defesa. Pesquisas relacionadas com os potenciais das plantas são necessárias para um melhor entendimento das propriedades biológicas que apresentam. Senecio brasiliensis (Spreng) Less., é uma espécie vegetal conhecida popularmente como “maria mole”, presente em pastagens da região Sul do país, sendo suas folhas consumidas pelos animais e capaz de causar hepatotoxicidade. Tal toxicidade se deve ao seu metabolismo secundário, responsável pela síntese de metabólitos tóxicos, principalmente os alcaloides pirrolizidínicos. A espécie é utilizada popularmente para fins medicinais, e possui demonstrada ação tóxica em insetos. Em vista de sua toxicidade e potencial biotecnológico, um estudo mais completo de sua ação se faz necessário. Neste trabalho avaliou-se o efeito biológico da exposição do extrato hidroalcoólico das folhas de Senecio brasiliensis (EHSB) no modelo experimental de Drosophila melanogaster. A análise do perfil fitoquímico do EHSB demonstrou a presença de ácidos fenólicos e flavonoides, e atividade antioxidante in vitro através dos ensaios de ABTS, DPPH, fenóis totais e FRAP. Em ensaios in vivo, EHSB não causou mortalidade de moscas na fase adulta, entretanto a taxa de eclosão foi significativamente diminuída quando as moscas desenvolveram-se em meio de cultura contendo 1 mg/mL de EHSB. Nas larvas do terceiro ínstar observaram-se diminuição da viabilidade celular, aumento da atividade das enzimas antioxidantes GST e SOD, EROs, e diminuição da CAT e aumento da razão GSH/GSSG. Houve aumento na expressão dos genes Nrf2, TrxR, CAT, Drice e Dilp6, e diminuição da fosforilação de proteínas quinases JNK1/2, ERK2 e p38MAPK e AKT, além de um aumento na clivagem de PARP, em paralelo com aumento da atividade de caspase 3/7. Também observou-se uma diminuição nos níveis de glicose, glicogênio e triglicerídeos. O aumento da expressão gênica de Nrf2, da atividade das enzimas GST e SOD e razão GSH/GSSG servem como um indicativo de um estado de estresse oxidativo ocasionado pelo EHSB e atuação da defesa antioxidante das larvas. A diminuição nos níveis de glicose, glicogênio e triglicerídeos pode indicar uma diminuição na reserva energética necessária para fases posteriores ao desenvolvimento larval, como para a eclosão em indivíduo alado, podendo isto ser ocasionado pela inibição da fosforilação de proteínas de transdução de sinal envolvidas neste processo pela diminuição do ATP. Dessa forma, nossos resultados demonstram a toxicidade do HESB e sua capacidade em induzir marcadores de estresse oxidativo e apoptose celular, prejudicando o desenvolvimento de larvas de D. melanogaster e processo de eclosão de moscas adultas. / Brazil has a high biodiversity, and many species found here are source of compounds with unique medicinal and biotechnological properties. These compounds are synthetized by plants secondary metabolism and can act as attractive or defensive to other species. Thus, studies with plant species are necessary to knowledge about their biologial properties. Senecio brasiliensis (Spreng) Less., is a native species popularly known as “maria mole” and is found in pastures of the south region of the country, its leaves serving as food to animals and are able to cause hepatotoxicity due to its secondary metabolism, responsible for the synthesis of toxic metabolites, such as pirrolizidinic alkaloids. In spite of its documented toxicity, this plant is used by Brazilian folk with medicinal purposes. In this study, we have evaluated the biological effects to hydroalcoholic extract of leaves of S. brasiliensis (HESB) exposure in Drosophila melanogaster experimental model. The fruit fly D. melanogaster is an advantageous alternative model useful for the screening of natural substances. Phytochemical constitution of HESB showed the presence of phenolic acids and flavonoids but when comparing with other species, it presented a lower in vitro antioxidant activity by ABTS, DPPH, FRAP assays. Survival and locomotor activity of adult flies was unaltered by extract. Nevertheless, we have observed a significant decreasing in eclosion rate of flies, since its embryonic period at 1 mg/mL concentration of HESB. Biochemical and molecular parameters revealed significant changes in third instar larvae of D. melanogaster exposed to 1 mg/mL of HESB such as decreased cell viability, stimulation of the activity of antioxidant enzymes SOD and GST, decreasing of CAT, and increasing in GSH/GSSG ratio. The mRNA expression of Nrf2, TrxR, CAT, Drice and Dilp6 were also significantly up-regulated. Decreasing in the phosphorylation of JNK1/2, ERK2, p38MAPK and AKT protein kinases were verified. Apoptotic cell death was inducted by extract. This fact was attested PARP cleavage, in parallel with increasing of caspases 3/7 activity. The increased expression of Nrf2, augmented activity of GST and SOD enzymes activities, and GSH/GSSG ratio in parallel with induction of ROS formation, is an indicative of a state of oxidative stress caused by the HESB and the action of the antioxidant defense of the larvae. It was also observed a decreasing in glucose, glycogen and triglycerides levels indicating a diminution in the energetic reserve required for later stages of larval development, such as for eclosion of winged individuals. Therefore, our results demonstrated of the HESB toxicity and its capacity to induce of cell stress markers and of apoptotic cell death impairing thus the development of D. melanogaster larvae and eclosion process of adult flies.

This dissertation represents efforts to determine the functional consequences acquired by vascular smooth muscle cells (SMC) in response to CD40 ligation by activated CD154+ T cells, and to elucidate components of the signaling pathway(s) activated in response to CD40 signaling in both monocytes and SMC. To study the consequences of CD40 stimulation, primary human monocytes and aortic SMC were treated with plasma membranes purified from CD154 + , CD4+ T cells. The results presented in this dissertation demonstrate that SMC, like monocytes/macrophages, are capable of interacting with T cells in a manner that results in reciprocal activation events. SMC were shown to present antigen to, and activate T cells. In turn T cell stimulus resulted in the activation of proinflammatory function in SMC initiated through the CD154:CD40 interaction. CD40 stimulation of SMC resulted in the production of the chemokines interleukin 8 (IL-8) and macrophage chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1), and the upregulation of intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM). Examination of the intracellular signaling pathways activated through CD40 signaling revealed the involvement of MAPKs in the pathway leading to induction of proinflammatory activity. Evaluation of CD40 signaling in monocytes demonstrated the activation of the MAPK family members ERK1/2, but not the MAPK family members p38 or c-jun-N-terminal kinase (JNK). In contrast, CD40 signaling in SMC was shown to result in ERK1/2 and p38 activation, and both of these kinases were shown to play a critical role in the induction of chemokine synthesis. An examination of the ability of anti-inflammatory cytokines to modulate CD40 signaling in monocytes and SMC demonstrated that the anti-inflammatory cytokines IL-4 and IL-10 abrogate CD40-mediated induction of inflammatory cytokine production by monocytes. This inhibition was shown to be a result of a negative influence of IL-4 and IL-10 on CD40 mediated ERK1/2, activation in monocytes. However, IL-4 and IL-10 did not inhibit SMC proinflammatory responses indicating a difference in the intracellular responses to these cytokines by the two cell types. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)

La maturation méiotique des vertébrés diffère de la mitose par plusieurs aspects. J'ai étudié deux de ces particularités. 1) En méiose I, les chromosomes homologues sont ségrégés, en mitose, les chromatides sœurs sont séparées. En mitose, un mécanisme de contrôle bloque la cellule en métaphase en inhibant l'APC/C tant que tous les chromosomes ne sont pas correctement alignés sur le fuseau. En méiose I, des résultats contradictoires existent selon les espèces quant à l'existence d'un mécanisme de contrôle de ce type. J'ai montré que l'activité séparase (activité indirectement régulée par l'APC/C) est requise pour effectuer la transition métaphase/anaphase en méiose I, suggérant qu'un mécanisme de contrôle de ce type est requis chez la souris, organisme proche de l'homme. 2) A l'issue de la maturation méiotique, l'ovocyte reste bloqué en métaphase de méiose II en attendant la fécondation, alors que la mitose s'achève toujours. Ce blocage est dû à l'activité CSF et requiert la voie Mos/.../MAPK. J'ai montré que DOC1R, un nouveau substrat des MAPK, contrôle l'organisation des microtubules au cours de l'arrêt CSF. Ces résultats font évoluer la vision de l'arrêt CSF qui était considéré comme une voie linéaire aboutissant à la stabilisation du MPF. L'arrêt CSF est une voie non linéaire contrôlant aussi la morphologie de l'ovocyte.

<p>Upon activation mast cells release numerous proinflammatory mediators. With this feature, mast cells play an important role in host defense against pathogens, and are involved in tissue remodeling and wound healing. However, in cases of excessive inflammation the effects of mast cells are detrimental. This is observed in allergy, asthma, rheumatoid arthritis, atherosclerosis, certain types of heart failure, and in several other chronic destructive inflammations. Mast cell numbers are typically increased at inflammatory sites. There they act both directly, as effector cells, and in a regulatory manner, secreting agents that recruit and activate other immune cells.</p><p>The studies presented here investigated mechanisms regulating mast cell numbers at sites of inflammation, focusing on cell migration and regulation of survival/apoptosis. We report that SCF-induced mast cell migration requires p38 MAP kinase activity. Moreover, we found that SCF-mediated mast cell survival is regulated through downregulation of the proapoptotic Bcl-2 family member Bim, as well as through phoshorylation of Bim. SCF seems to control Bim protein levels via FOXO transcription factors, and to induce phosphorylation of Bim via the Mek/Erk and the PI3-kinase/Akt signaling pathways. Furthermore, mast cell death triggered by deprivation of SCF and/or IL-3 involves the Bim protein, as demonstrated using <i>bim</i>-/- mast cells. Additional studies revealed that IgE-receptor activation, which occurs in allergy, promotes both prosurvival and proapoptotic signaling events. This includes upregulation of Bim and the prosurvival Bcl-X_L and A1, as well as phosphorylation of Akt, FOXO factors, GSK-3β, IκB-α, Bad, and Bim. The simultaneous stimulation of prosurvival and proapoptotic signaling events could be a way to fine-tune the fate of mast cells after IgE-receptor activation and degranulation.</p><p>The new insights about mechanisms involved in mast cell migration and regulation of survival/apoptosis might prove useful for future efforts to design new drugs to be used for mast cell-associated diseases.</p>

<p>Integrins are transmembrane glycoproteins primarily mediating interactions of cells with the extracellular matrix. Each receptor is a complex of one α- and one β-subunit with affinity for a diverse set of ligands. A prerequisite for ligand binding, and subsequent events, is the activation of integrins by cytoplasmic signals that confer a large conformational change to the extracellular domain.</p><p>In this thesis, the role of a cytoplasmic threonine-cluster, conserved in several β subunits, in β1-integrin activation was investigated. Phosphorylation of these residues is postulated to regulate β2 and β3 integrin affinity for ligands, but it has not been shown so far to occur for β1. Residue T788, but not T789, was established as a site of critical importance for inside-out activation of β1 integrins by mutagenesis to alanine. In contrast to β1-T788A, a phospho-mimicking mutation, β1-T788D, expressed the conformation sensitive 9EG7-epitope and mediated normal cell adhesion. In addition, the T788D mutation did not interfere with binding of the talin head domain, an interaction important for integrin activation. Thus, phosphorylation of T788 in integrin β1 was concluded to be compatible with inside-out receptor activation, in line with β2 and β3 integrin regulation. </p><p>Focal adhesion kinase (FAK) is activated after integrin ligation and is, together with Src, one of the central players in integrin-mediated events. Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) is thought to be activated by binding to FAK. However, a novel, major β1-integrin signalling pathway to activate PI3K was identified, which is FAK- and Src-independent.</p><p>Growth factor induced stimulation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (Erk) is largely dependent on signals from integrin mediated adhesion to pass checkpoints downstream of Ras. The mechanisms by which β1-integrins mediate Erk-activation were characterized by pin-pointing what phosphorylation sites on the mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases and their effector proteins were FAK-dependent. The results indicated that β1 integrins can promote Erk activation by FAK-dependent mechanisms at the levels of both cRaf and Mek, and in addition, a FAK-independent checkpoint at the level of Mek activation.</p>

Upon activation mast cells release numerous proinflammatory mediators. With this feature, mast cells play an important role in host defense against pathogens, and are involved in tissue remodeling and wound healing. However, in cases of excessive inflammation the effects of mast cells are detrimental. This is observed in allergy, asthma, rheumatoid arthritis, atherosclerosis, certain types of heart failure, and in several other chronic destructive inflammations. Mast cell numbers are typically increased at inflammatory sites. There they act both directly, as effector cells, and in a regulatory manner, secreting agents that recruit and activate other immune cells. The studies presented here investigated mechanisms regulating mast cell numbers at sites of inflammation, focusing on cell migration and regulation of survival/apoptosis. We report that SCF-induced mast cell migration requires p38 MAP kinase activity. Moreover, we found that SCF-mediated mast cell survival is regulated through downregulation of the proapoptotic Bcl-2 family member Bim, as well as through phoshorylation of Bim. SCF seems to control Bim protein levels via FOXO transcription factors, and to induce phosphorylation of Bim via the Mek/Erk and the PI3-kinase/Akt signaling pathways. Furthermore, mast cell death triggered by deprivation of SCF and/or IL-3 involves the Bim protein, as demonstrated using bim-/- mast cells. Additional studies revealed that IgE-receptor activation, which occurs in allergy, promotes both prosurvival and proapoptotic signaling events. This includes upregulation of Bim and the prosurvival Bcl-XL and A1, as well as phosphorylation of Akt, FOXO factors, GSK-3β, IκB-α, Bad, and Bim. The simultaneous stimulation of prosurvival and proapoptotic signaling events could be a way to fine-tune the fate of mast cells after IgE-receptor activation and degranulation. The new insights about mechanisms involved in mast cell migration and regulation of survival/apoptosis might prove useful for future efforts to design new drugs to be used for mast cell-associated diseases.

Integrins are transmembrane glycoproteins primarily mediating interactions of cells with the extracellular matrix. Each receptor is a complex of one α- and one β-subunit with affinity for a diverse set of ligands. A prerequisite for ligand binding, and subsequent events, is the activation of integrins by cytoplasmic signals that confer a large conformational change to the extracellular domain. In this thesis, the role of a cytoplasmic threonine-cluster, conserved in several β subunits, in β1-integrin activation was investigated. Phosphorylation of these residues is postulated to regulate β2 and β3 integrin affinity for ligands, but it has not been shown so far to occur for β1. Residue T788, but not T789, was established as a site of critical importance for inside-out activation of β1 integrins by mutagenesis to alanine. In contrast to β1-T788A, a phospho-mimicking mutation, β1-T788D, expressed the conformation sensitive 9EG7-epitope and mediated normal cell adhesion. In addition, the T788D mutation did not interfere with binding of the talin head domain, an interaction important for integrin activation. Thus, phosphorylation of T788 in integrin β1 was concluded to be compatible with inside-out receptor activation, in line with β2 and β3 integrin regulation. Focal adhesion kinase (FAK) is activated after integrin ligation and is, together with Src, one of the central players in integrin-mediated events. Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) is thought to be activated by binding to FAK. However, a novel, major β1-integrin signalling pathway to activate PI3K was identified, which is FAK- and Src-independent. Growth factor induced stimulation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (Erk) is largely dependent on signals from integrin mediated adhesion to pass checkpoints downstream of Ras. The mechanisms by which β1-integrins mediate Erk-activation were characterized by pin-pointing what phosphorylation sites on the mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases and their effector proteins were FAK-dependent. The results indicated that β1 integrins can promote Erk activation by FAK-dependent mechanisms at the levels of both cRaf and Mek, and in addition, a FAK-independent checkpoint at the level of Mek activation.

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder which is histopathologically characterised by amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles. Amyloid plaques consist of the amyloid β-peptide (Aβ) that can form aggregates in the brain. Aβ is generated from the amyloid precursor protein (APP) through proteolytic cleavage. APP belongs to a conserved protein family that also includes the two paralogues, APP-like proteins 1 and 2 (APLP1 and APLP2). Despite the immense amount of research on APP, motivated by its implication in AD, the function of this protein family has not yet been determined. In this thesis, we have studied the expression and proteolytic processing of the APP protein family. Our results are consistent with previous findings that suggest a role for APP during neuronal development. Treatment of cells with retinoic acid (RA) resulted in increased synthesis. In addition, we observed that RA treatment shifted the processing of APP from the amyloidogenic to the non-amyloidogenic pathway. The proteins in the APP family have been hard to distinguish both with respect to function and proteolytic processing. However, for development of new drugs with APP processing enzymes as targets this is of great importance. Our studies suggest similarities, but also differences in the mechanism regulating the processing of the different paralogues. We found that brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) had different impact on the members of the APP family. Most interestingly, we also found that the mechanism behind the increased processing in response to IGF-1 was not identical between the homologous proteins. In summary, our results indicate that in terms of regulation APLP1 and APLP2 differ more from each other than from APP. Our studies open up the possibility of finding means to selectively block Aβ production without interfering with the processing and function of the paralogous proteins.