Orientador: Maria Julia Marques / Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Biologia / Made available in DSpace on 2018-09-11T21:17:52Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Taniguti_AnaPaulaTiemi_D.pdf: 2092152 bytes, checksum: 12213bebdeb4e5920c800ccf1d164d9a (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011 / Resumo: O camundongo mdx é o animal mais utilizado como modelo da distrofia muscular de Duchenne (DMD), diferindo dos humanos doentes por apresentar ciclos de regeneração muscular e reduzida fibrose. Este trabalho tem como objetivos: 1. desenvolver protocolo experimental para promover fibrose muscular através de exercício de corrida em esteira e 2. verificar se a suramina inibe a fibrose induzida experimentalmente. A suramina tem efeito anti-fibrótico, sendo um potencial agente farmacológico para tratamento da DMD visando sucesso de terapias celulares. Foram utilizados camundongos mdx (n=42) e C57BL/10 (n=11) com seis meses de idade. Os camundongos mdx foram divididos em quatro grupos experimentais: grupo sedentário e tratado com salina (n=11), grupo sedentário e tratado com suramina (n=11), grupo exercitado e tratado com salina (n=10) e grupo exercitado e tratado com suramina (n=10). Os animais foram submetidos à corrida em esteira diariamente e o tratamento com suramina (60mg/kg) foi realizado em dias alternados, via intra-peritoneal. Após sete semanas, os animais foram sacrificados e o músculo tibial anterior, bíceps braquial, diafragma e coração coletados e congelados para análise histológica e protéica por western blot. O plasma sanguíneo foi submetido à análise de creatina-quinase. A força de tração dos membros anteriores foi medida no início e no final do protocolo experimental utilizando-se Grip Strength Meter e o músculo diafragma submetido ao estudo in vitro para verificar a força de contração. Verificamos que o protocolo de corrida em esteira foi adequado para induzir a fibrose e inibir a regeneração nos músculos da pata dos camundongos mdx. O aumento da área de fibrose foi acompanhado pelo aumento dos níveis de TGF-?1, aumento de creatina-quinase e diminuição da força de tração. O tratamento com suramina diminuiu a fibrose nos músculos exercitados e acelerou o processo de regeneração. Adicionalmente, observamos que a suramina reduziu o número de fibras marcadas com azul de Evans, diminuiu os níveis da CK e impediu a perda da força de tração bem como a força de contração do músculo diafragma. Concluímos que o protocolo de corrida em esteira foi eficaz na indução de fibrose nos músculos tibial anterior e bíceps braquial. O efeito anti-fibrótico da suramina torna-a droga potencialmente útil para a terapia farmacológica da DMD / Abstract: The mdx mouse is commonly used as a model to study Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) however shows cycles of muscle regeneration and reduced fibrosis. The purposes of this study were (1) to induce muscle fibrosis through eccentric running exercise in mdx mice and (2) to verify the effects of suramin on muscle fibrosis. Six-month-old mdx (n=42) and control (C57BL/10, n=11) mice were used. Mdx mice were divided in four groups: sedentary and saline-treated (n=11); sedentary and suramintreated (n=11); exercised and saline-treated (n=10) and exercised and suramin-treated (n=10). The mdx mice belonging to the exercised groups were placed on treadmill to run daily, for seven weeks. Suramin was injected at a dose of 60mg/kg i.p. on alternate days. At the end of the experimental protocol, the mice were sacrificed and the tibialis anterior, biceps brachii, diaphragm and heart muscles were dissected, frozen in liquid nitrogen and used to histological and western blot analysis. Blood was obtained to determine creatine-kinase (CK) levels. The forelimb force was measured by an adapted Grip Strength Meter. Force of contraction of diaphragm in vitro was verified. Our results showed that the experimental protocol was adequate to induce muscle fibrosis in mdx mice. The occurrence of fibrosis was accompanied by elevated levels of TGF- ?1 and serum CK and decreased forelimb force. Suramin reduced muscle fibrosis, decreased the number of muscle fibers stained with Evans blue, reduced serum CK levels and prevented the loss of muscle force in exercised mdx and diaphragm strips in vitro. We concluded that the downhill running protocol was effective for inducing fibrosis in tibialis anterior and biceps brachii muscles of mdx mice. Suramin seems to be a potential useful therapeutic alternative for DMD treatment / Doutorado / Anatomia / Doutor em Biologia Celular e Estrutural

Orientador: Humberto Santo Neto / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Biologia / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-13T16:30:29Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Barbin_IsabelCristinaChagas_M.pdf: 1008389 bytes, checksum: 5452120032625931602b36f22c3e2986 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2009 / Resumo: A Distrofia Muscular de Duchenne (DMD) é uma miopatia caracterizada pela ausência de distrofina, uma proteína estrutural da membrana plasmática. A ausência da distrofina faz com que a fibra muscular esquelética e cardíaca sofram alterações funcionais seguida de necrose. Com o avançar da idade cerca de 40% dos pacientes desenvolvem cardiomiopatia devido à progressiva fibrose miocárdica (FM) e vão a óbito por esta razão. Portanto, tratamento que impeça a progressão da FM é de importância em pacientes com DMD. O camundongo mdx, modelo animal da distrofia, também apresenta progressiva FM e por isso tem servido de modelo experimental para a cardiomiopatia na DMD. Parte da FM em camundongos mdx tem sido atribuída à deficiência em óxido nítrico. Desta forma, terapias baseadas na administração exógena de óxido nítrico têm sido aventadas e a L-arginina, substrato para óxido nítrico sintase tem se revelado uma candidata para tal. Esse trabalho tem como objetivo avaliar o efeito da administração de longo tempo da L-arginina sobre a progressão da FM em camundongos mdx. Os animais foram tratados com L-arginina durante 60 semanas. Os corações foram retirados e preparados para avaliação histomorfométrica da FM através de coloração com tricrômico de Masson. Lâminas coradas com hematoxilina e eosina (H&E) serviram para observação histológica e quantificação da densidade de células inflamatórias. Corações de camundongos mdx de mesma idade que aqueles tratados com L-arginina serviram como controle. Nossos resultados mostram que a área média de FM nos camundongos que receberam L-Arginina não foi diferente (p> 0,05) da dos camundongos do grupo controle (29.5 ± 2.5 % para controle vs 31.4 ± 2 % para L-arginina). De outro lado, a densidade de células inflamatórias foi significativamente inferior nos camundongos que receberam L-arginina comparados ao controle (169.3 ± 6.7 células/mm2 no controle vs 102 ± 6 células/mm2 em L-arginina). Baseado nisto, conclui-se que a administração por longo tempo de L-arginina não é capaz de prevenir a FM sugerindo que o uso da L-arginina pode não ser eficaz na prevenção da FM em DMD. Durante a realização do trabalho verificou-se que a administração de Larginina aumenta a já conhecida susceptibilidade dos camundongos mdx desenvolverem tumores. Cerca de 40% dos camundongos mdx que receberam L-arginina por longo tempo apresentaram tumores cuja análise histopatológica, incluindo-se a expressão de MyoD revela serem rabdomiossarcomas. Uma análise mais detalhada mostra que a maioria deles é do tipo embrionário e um do tipo alveolar. Esses resultados são importantes uma vez que esse protocolo poderá ser empregado para indução desse tipo de câncer e consequentemente servir como modelo experimental para o mesmo. / Abstract: The Duchenne Muscle Dystrophy (DMD) is a myopathy characterized by dystrophin absence, which is a structural protein of the plasma membrane. The dystrophin absence leads to functional alterations followed by necrosis in the skeletal and cardiac muscle fiber. As the patients grow older, about 40% of them develop cardiomyopathy due to progressive myocardial fibrosis (MF), and eventually die because of this. Therefore, a treatment that avoids the MF progression is very important to DMD patients. The mouse mdx, animal model of dystrophy, also presents progressive FM and thus, has been used as an experimental model for cardiomyopathy in DMD. The MF in mice mdx has been partially attributed to the deficiency of nitric oxide. This way, therapies based on the exogenous administration of nitric oxide have been quoted and the L-arginine, which is a substrate of the synthase nitric, has been revealed to be a strong candidate to these therapies. The aim of this current project is evaluating the effect of long-term administration of L-arginine on the progression of MF in mice mdx. The animals were treated with L-arginine for 60 weeks. The hearts were taken out and prepared for histomorphometric evaluation of the myocardial fibrosis through the colouring with Masson's trichrome. Slides stained with hematoxilin and eosin (H&E) were used for histological observation and quantification of the density of inflamatory cells. Hearts of mice mdx at the same age of those ones treated with L-arginine were used as control. Our results show that the average area of MF in mice which received L-arginine wasn't different (p>0,05) from the area of the control group (29,5 ± 2,5% for the control vs 31,4 ± 2% for the L-arginine). On the other hand, the density of inflamatory cells was significantly smaller in mice which received L-arginine compared to the control (169.3 ± 6.7 cells/mm² in the control vs 102 ± 6 cells/mm² in L-arginine). Based on this, we can conclude that the long-term administration of L-arginine is not enough to prevent the MF, suggesting that the use of L-arginine may not be effective to prevent the MF in DMD. During the research achievement, we could verify that the L-arginine administration increases the already known susceptibility of mice mdx of developing tumors. About 40% of the mice mdx which received L-arginine for a long time presented tumors whose histopathological analysis, including the MyoD expression, reveals them to be rhabdomyosarcomas. A further analysis reveals that most of them is the embrionic kind and one is the alveolar kind. These results are important since this protocol can be used to induce this kind of cancer and consequently serve as an experimental model for it. / Mestrado / Anatomia / Mestre em Biologia Celular e Estrutural

Orientador: Maria Julia Marques / Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Biologia / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-19T19:42:06Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Machado_RafaelVentura_D.pdf: 18399994 bytes, checksum: 2db06c9364e5b215f2cf4f91753c4d19 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011 / Resumo: Na distrofia muscular de Duchenne e no camundongo mdx a proteína distrofina está ausente ou é expressa de forma não funcional. Com isso, o complexo distrofina-glicoproteínas se desorganiza, a fibra muscular se torna frágil durante os ciclos de contração e relaxamento muscular, as concentrações intracelulares de cálcio e radicais livres se elevam, resultando em necrose da célula. A inflamação mediada por células do sistema imunológico e citocinas pró-inflamatórias, como o TNF-alfa, é um evento importante diretamente relacionado com a progressão da doença. O ácido eicosapentaenóico (EPA) é um ácido graxo poli-insaturado ômega-3 que promove benefícios em doenças inflamatórias em humanos. No presente trabalho analisamos os efeitos do EPA no estágio inicial da distrofinopatia do camundongo mdx. Camundongos mdx com 14 dias de idade receberam 300 mg/kg/dia de EPA por 16 dias. Os grupos controle mdx e C57BL10 receberam óleo mineral. EPA diminuiu a mionecrose, os níveis séricos da enzima creatinoquinase e o TNF-alfa em músculos esqueléticos distróficos. Sugere-se que o EPA tenha utilidade terapêutica nas distrofinopatias / Abstract: In Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) and in the mdx murine model of DMD, lack of dystrophin leads to myonecrosis and cardiorespiratory failure. The intense inflammatory reaction, mediated by immune cells and TNF-alpha, contributes to the progressive myonecrosis. The eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) is an omega-3 fatty acid that shows beneficial effects in inflammatory diseases. In the present study, we examined the effects of EPA on the early stages of dystrophy in mdx mice. Mdx mice (14 days old) received EPA at 300 mg/kg EPA for 16 days, while the control mdx mice and C57BL10 received vehicle. EPA treatment decreased creatine kinase and TNF-alpha levels and reduced myonecrosis. The present results support further studies with EPA as a potential therapy for dystrophinopathies / Doutorado / Anatomia / Doutor em Biologia Celular e Estrutural

Orientador: Maria Julia Marques / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Biologia / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-20T01:04:16Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Mauricio_AdrianaFogagnolo_M.pdf: 1763243 bytes, checksum: bb94a0eae96254b7325735da6a1f32c7 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012 / Resumo: Na Distrofia Muscular de Duchenne (DMD) e no camundongo mdx, modelo experimental da DMD, a ausência de distrofina promove instabilidade do sarcolema e degeneração muscular progressiva. O processo inflamatório que se instala contribui de forma significativa para a fisiopatologia da doença, sendo que antiinflamatórios esteroides são amplamente utilizados para a terapia da DMD. Entretanto, em decorrência da sua ação pouco efetiva e dos efeitos colaterais outras drogas são investigadas com o objetivo de substituir o uso dos corticoides. Em estudo prévio, demonstramos que o ácido eicosapentaenoico, em uma forma altamente purificada, atenuou a mionecrose em músculos esqueléticos de camundongos mdx durante os estágios iniciais da doença. No presente trabalho, verificamos se diferentes formas de ácidos graxos disponíveis comercialmente para o consumo humano (cápsulas de ômega-3 e sementes de linhaça) também teriam efeito protetor nos músculos distróficos, principalmente nos estágios tardios da doença, em que há comprometimento do músculo cardíaco. Animais mdx jovens (14 dias de idade) receberam ômega-3 diariamente, durante 16 dias, via gavagem. Animais mdx idosos (8 meses de idade) receberam sementes de linhaça durante 5 meses. Animais controle mdx, jovens e idosos, receberam óleo mineral e nenhum complemento alimentar, respectivamente. Nos animais jovens, o ômega-3 melhorou a distrofinopatia, reduzindo a mionecrose e o processo inflamatório no músculo mais afetado, o diafragma. Nos animais idosos, a linhaça resultou em melhora da distrofinopatia no diafragma. Entretanto, a fibrose cardíaca, que caracteriza morfologicamente a cardiomiopatia dos animais idosos mdx, não foi alterada pela linhaça, provavelmente devido a diferenças de metabolismo de ácidos graxos entre os músculos esquelético e cardíaco. Sugere-se que ácidos graxos ômega-3, em formulações disponibilizadas comercialmente para uso humano, são potencialmente úteis para o tratamento das distrofinopatias dos músculos estriados esqueléticos, nos estágios inicial e tardio da doença / Abstract: In Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) and in the mdx mice model of DMD, absence of dystrophin promotes instability of the sarcolemma and progressive muscle degeneration. The inflammatory process contributes significantly to the pathophysiology of the disease. Anti-inflammatory steroids are widely used for DMD therapy. However, due to its ineffective action and their side effects, other drugs are investigated in order to replace the use of corticosteroids. Previously, we have demonstrated that eicosapentaenoic acid in a highly purified form inhibit myonecrosis in skeletal muscles of mdx mice during the early stages of the disease. In the present study, we have verified whether different forms of commercially available fatty acids for human (capsules of omega-3 and flaxseed) would also have a protective effect in dystrophic muscles, especially in the later stages of the disease, when cardiac muscle is also affected. Young mdx mice (14 days old) received omega-3 daily for 16 days via gavage. Older mdx mice (8 months old) received flaxseed for 5 months. mdx control group, young and old, received mineral oil and no food supplement, respectively. In young mice, omega-3 inhibits the dystrophinopathy, reducing myonecrosis and inflammatory process in the most affected muscle, the diaphragm. In aged animals, flaxseed resulted in improvement of dystrophinopathy only in the diaphragm. In the dystrophic heart, flaxseed did not inhibit fibrosis, which is a feature of cardiomyopathy in older mdx mice. Possibly, differences in fatty acid metabolism between skeletal and cardiac muscles may explain these differential results. It is concluded that omega-3 fatty acids commercially available for human use are potentially useful for the treatment of skeletal muscle dystrophinopathy, during early and late stages of the disease / Mestrado / Anatomia / Mestre em Biologia Celular e Estrutural

Orientador: Maria Julia Marques / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-20T07:19:08Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Moreira_DrielendeOliveira_M.pdf: 2075338 bytes, checksum: 00bb5917e4f176b73c58453340cb3a5e (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012 / Resumo: A Distrofia muscular de Duchenne (DMD) é uma doença caracterizada pela fraqueza muscular progressiva que leva à insuficiência respiratória e cardíaca, resultando em morte por volta dos 30 anos de idade. No camundongo mdx, modelo experimental da DMD, os músculos diafragma e cardíaco são severamente afetados apresentando fibrose semelhante à observada na patologia humana. O objetivo deste trabalho foi investigar os efeitos do tratamento a longo prazo com suramina, uma droga anti-fibrótica, nos músculos diafragma e cardíaco de camundongos mdx idosos. Camundongos mdx (n=20; 8 meses de idade) receberam injeções intraperitoneais de suramina (60 mg/kg), durante 3 meses. Controles mdx (n=20; 8 meses) e C57BL/10 (n=18; 8 meses) foram injetados com solução salina. Os camundongos da linhagem C57BL/10 expressam distrofina e são utilizados como controle da linhagem mdx. A suramina diminuiu os níveis de CK e atenuou a perda da força muscular. No músculo diafragma, a suramina reduziu a área de fibrose e a mionecrose. No músculo cardíaco, houve redução da fibrose, da inflamação e melhora significativa de parâmetros funcionais cardíacos (amplitude das ondas P, Q, R e S do eletrocardiograma). Sugere-se que a suramina possa ser potencialmente útil nas distrofinopatias, atenuando a miopatia nos músculos mais afetados, o coração e o diafragma, nos estágios tardios da doença / Abstract: Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a disease characterized by progressive muscle weakness leading to respiratory and cardiac failure, resulting in death around 30 years of age. In the mdx mice model of DMD, diaphragm and cardiac muscles are severely affected in the later stages of the disease, showing intense fibrosis similar to that observed in human pathology. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of long-term treatment with suramin, an anti-fibrotic agent, in the diaphragm and cardiac muscles of the mdx mice. Mdx mice (n=20; 8 months of age) received intraperitoneal injections of suramin (60 mg/kg) for 3 months. Mdx controls (n=20; 8 months) and C57BL/10 (n=18; 8 months old) were injected with saline. C57BL/10 mice express dystrophin and are the control strain for the mdx mice. Suramin decreased CK levels and reduced the loss of muscle strength. Suramin reduced fibrosis and myonecrosis in diaphragm. In the cardiac muscle, suramin decreased fibrosis, inflammation and improved cardiac functional parameters (P, Q, R and S waves of the electrocardiogram). It is suggested that suramin may be a potential therapy for distrophinopaties, attenuating the dystrophic phenotype of the most affected cardiac and diaphragm muscles of the mdx mice, during later stages of the disease / Mestrado / Anatomia / Mestre em Biologia Celular e Estrutural

La dystrophie musculaire de Duchenne (DMD) entraine une perte progressive de la force musculaire. L'objectif de ce présent travail est d'étudier la sensibilité d'une méthode acoustique échographique (50 MHz) et d'une méthode résonante (25 kHz) aux changements de propriétés des tissus musculaires de souris mdx modèles. Les paramètres mesurés sont l'atténuation ultrasonore pour la méthode échographique et le module complexe de cisaillement pour la méthode résonante. Dans ce manuscrit nous exposons le développement de ces deux méthodes adaptées à l'étude de deux tissus musculaires de souris : le diaphragme et la peau. La méthode échographique a permis de quantifier les changements de propriétés biologiques du diaphragme en fonction du pourcentage de zone non musculaire sur des souris âgées de 3 mois à 24 mois. La méthode résonante, génère un champ de pression dans le tissu induisant un cisaillement dans le tissu. Cette méthode a permis d'estimer des différences de propriétés mécaniques sur le diaphragme et sur la peau entre les tissus sains et tissu pathologiques. Les résultats obtenus autorisent à penser que le développement de la méthode résonante pour des applications in vivo chez l'Homme atteint de DMD est possible. / The muscular dystrophy of Duchenne (DMD) lead a progressive loss of the muscular strength. The objective of this present work is to study the sensibility of an ultrasound acoustic method (50 MHz) and a résonant method (25 kHz) to the changes of properties of muscle tissues of mdx mice models. The mesured parameters are the ultrasound attenuation for the echographic method and the complexe shear modulus for the résonant method.In this manuscript we explain the development of these two methods adapted to the study of two muscular tissues of mouse: the diaphragm and the skin. The ultrasound method allowed to quantify the changes of biological properties of the diaphragm according to the percentage of non muscular area on 3-month-old mice in 24 months. The résonant acoustic method, generates a field pressure in the tissue leading a shearing tissue. This method allowed to estimate différences of mechanical properties on the diaphragm and on the skin between healthy tissues and pathological tissues. We think the obtained results authorize the development of the resonant method for in vivo applications to human touched by DMD.

La dystrophie musculaire de Duchenne (DMD) est une maladie très sévère, progressive et sans traitement vraiment efficace. Elle est caractérisée par l’absence fonctionnelle de la dystrophine, une protéine essentielle au maintien des muscles squelettiques. La thérapie génique est actuellement envisagée comme approche thérapeutique pour livrer la dystrophine dans les muscles. Les vecteurs adénoviraux de troisième génération (Helper-dependent adenoviral vector, HD) sont des véhicules de transfert génique très prometteurs pour traiter la DMD. Puisque les gènes adénoviraux ont été enlevés complètement du HD, ils sont peu toxiques, faiblement immunogéniques et ils possèdent un espace cargo suffisant pour transporter l’ADN codant complet de la dystrophine. Bien que le HD puisse fournir la dystrophine de façon thérapeutique chez des souris dystrophiques (mdx), l’expression du gène thérapeutique est progressivement perdue plusieurs mois suivant l’injection intramusculaire. Deux stratégies innovantes furent explorées dans cette thèse dans le but de stabiliser l’expression de la dystrophine. La première stratégie vise à l’intégration de l’ADN du HD dans les chromosomes cellulaires, ce qui pourrait le protéger contre son élimination progressive des muscles. Une intégrase site-spécifique issue du phage ΦC31 a été utilisée pour catalyser l’intégration d’un HD transportant un marqueur de sélection. Dans les cellules humaines et les myoblastes murins, l’activité de l’intégrase a été évaluée d’après son efficacité d’intégration (après sélection) et sa spécificité (dans les clones résistants). L’efficacité atteint jusqu’à 0,5 % par cellule et jusqu’à 76 % des événements d’intégration ont été réalisés de façon site-spécifique. Bien que des délétions aient été trouvées aux extrémités du vecteur, 70 % des clones analysés montraient une seule copie du vecteur intégré (le nombre attendu). Seulement une petite augmentation du nombre de brisures double-brin a été mesurée dans les myoblastes exprimant l’intégrase. En conclusion, l’intégration du HD est relativement efficace, spécifique et sécuritaire. Cette méthode est très prometteuse, car la dystrophine peut être livrée dans le muscle avec l’aide du HD et l’intégration de l’ADN du HD pourrait stabiliser son expression in vivo. La deuxième stratégie implique l’utilisation d’un nouveau promoteur musculospécifique (ΔUSEx3) pour réduire la toxicité induite liée à une expression trop étendue de la dystrophine. Dans cette étude, nous avons investigué l’effet du contexte viral sur l’activité du promoteur. Un HD et un vecteur lentiviral (LV) ont été construits avec le promoteur ΔUSEx3 pour contrôler l’expression d’un gène rapporteur. Les résultats démontrent que ΔUSEx3 confère une expression puissante, musculospécifique et stable (via le LV) in vitro. L’injection intramusculaire du HD a conduit à une expression puissante du transgène. Ces résultats contrastent avec ceux du LV, car après l’injection de ce dernier, l’expression était faible. La livraison du HD dans le muscle, mais aussi dans plusieurs organes démontre la musculospécificité de ΔUSEx3. Par conséquent, le contexte du vecteur et l’environnement musculaire modulent tous les deux l’activité de ΔUSEx3. Bien que ΔUSEx3 soit musculospécifique, d’autres études sont requises pour déterminer si le promoteur peut stabiliser l’expression de la dystrophine in vivo. / Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a severe, progressive and orphan disease that is characterized by the absence of the functional muscle protein dystrophin. Gene therapy is currently investigated as a therapeutic approach to deliver dystrophin into muscles. Helper-dependent adenoviral vectors (HD) are promising gene transfer vehicles for gene therapy of DMD. Because HD are devoid of all adenoviral genes, they are weakly toxic, poorly immunogenic and possess sufficient cargo capacity to carry the full-length dystrophin cDNA. Although HD can provide dystrophin therapeutically in dystrophic mice, gene expression decays months after intramuscular injection. Two strategies that both aimed to stabilize dystrophin expression were explored here. The first strategy involved the integration of HD DNA into cellular chromosomes. Stabilizing HD DNA could prevent its elimination from muscles. A site-specific integrase from phage ΦC31 was used to integrate an HD carrying a selection marker in human cells and murine myoblasts. Efficacy of integration (obtained after selection) reached up to 0.5% per cell, and up to 76% of integration events (in clones) were mediated site-specifically. Although some deletions in HD extremities occurred, 70% of clones analyzed showed one integrated copy of HD (as expected). Only a small increase in the number of double-strand breaks was found in myoblasts expressing the integrase. In conclusion, HD integration was relatively efficient, specific and safe. This method could be used to stabilize dystrophin expression in vivo. The second strategy involved using a muscle-specific promoter (ΔUSEx3) to reduce potential toxicity induced by widespread expression of dystrophin. Because ΔUSEx3 would be delivered by HD, we investigated whether or not the viral context could affect ΔUSEx3 activity. We constructed an HD and a lentiviral vector (LV) carrying a reporter gene under its control. Strong, muscle-specific and stable (with LV) expression was obtained in vitro. Intramuscular injection of HD resulted into a powerful transgene expression contrasting with LV, where expression was relatively weak. Delivery of ΔUSEx3 in multiple tissues by HD demonstrated its muscle-specificity. Therefore, both the viral context and the muscular environments modulate ΔUSEx3 activity. Further studies are required to determine whether or not ΔUSEx3 can stabilize dystrophin expression in vivo.

Orientador: Alexandre Leite Rodrigues de Oliveira / Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Biologia / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-21T17:19:57Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Simoes_GustavoFerreira_D.pdf: 65115196 bytes, checksum: 18f51cababf3e248cceb806b8faef631 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012 / Resumo: Atualmente, muito se sabe sobre o acometimento muscular na DMD, mas poucos estudos estão voltados para os efeitos no Sistema Nervoso Central (SNC), mais especificamente no microambiente do motoneurônio medular. Sabe-se que durante a evolução da doença, o terminal axonal, na junção neuromuscular, entra em um ciclo de denervação (retração) e reinervação (brotamento). A possibilidade de modulação do MHC I se apresenta como uma nova estratégia de influenciar positivamente o processo de plasticidade sináptica após lesões do Sistema Nervoso Periférico (SNP) e SNC. Tal modulação pode ser realizada através da utilização ou desenvolvimento de drogas específicas. O fator estimulador de colônias glanulocitárias (G-CSF) é uma glicoproteína que foi descrita há mais de vinte anos, possui aprovação do ANVISA (Agência Nacional de Vigilância Sanitária) e é comumente utilizada para tratar neutropenia, ou para transplantes de medula óssea. O GCSF possui um efeito neuroprotetor aparentemente multimodal, incluindo-se a atividade anti-apoptóptica em neurônios, regeneração da vascularização, efeito antiinflamatório e estimulação de neurogênese endógena, sendo capaz de atuar efetivamente no processo de regeneração do sistema nervoso. No presente trabalho, foram utilizados camundongos MDX. Os camundongos foram distribuídos em 4 grupos (axotomia + G-CSF; Axotomia; Controle + G-CSF e Controle), com n=10. Incluiu-se para imunoistoquímica o grupo placebo, onde os animais receberam uma dose diária de 200?m, via subcutânea, de glicose a 25%. Nossos resultados indicam que redução de sinapses nos motoneurônios alfamedulares e aumento da astrogliose circunjacente aos neurônios alfa-medulares, seja decorrente da desconexão parcial entre o orgão alvo e o corpo neuronal durante o período de ciclos de degeneração/regeneração muscular que ocorrem a partir das primeiras semanas de vida nos camundongos MDX. Estes ciclos podem repercutir retrogradamente nos corpos celulares dos motoneurônios alfa-medulares, provocando uma série de alterações denominadas cromatólise. A axotomia do nervo isquiático resulta num aumento significativo da expressão de MHC I nas duas linhagens estudadas. Contudo, nos animais MDX, este aumento é menor, comparativamente à linhagem C57BL/10. Quando tratados com G-CSF a expressão de MCH I ficou maior em relação aos grupos não tratados e, isso pode indicar um papel ativo da droga no potencial regenerativo após a lesão. Também podemos sugerir que, apesar dos animais MDX apresentarem uma menor função motora em relação aos animais controle, os resultados indicam que o tratamento com G-CSF é capaz de reduzir os efeitos inflamatórios e atuar positivamente no processo de regeneração nervosa periférica após esmagamento do nervo isquiático / Abstract: Currently, much is known about the muscular involvement in DMD, but few studies have focused on the effects on the central nervous system (CNS), specifically in the microenvironment of spinal motor neurons. It is known that during the course of the disease, the axon terminal at the neuromuscular junction, enters a cycle of denervation (retraction) and reinnervation (sprouting). The possibility of modulation of MHC I presents itself as a new strategy to positively influence the process of synaptic plasticity after injury Peripheral Nervous System (PNS) and CNS. Such modulation may be accomplished through the use or development of special drugs. The granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) is a glycoprotein which was first described more than twenty years, has approval from ANVISA (Agência Nacional de Vigilância Sanitária) and is commonly used to treat neutropenia, or bone marrow transplants. The G-CSF has a multimodal neuroprotective effect l, including the anti-apoptotic activity in neurons, regeneration of vascularization, anti-inflammatory effect and stimulation of endogenous neurogenesis, being able to act effectively in the process of regeneration of the nervous system. In this study, we used MDX mice. The mice were divided into 4 groups (axotomy + G-CSF; axotomy, Control + G-CSF and Control), with n = 10. Included immunohistochemistry to the placebo group, where the animals received a daily dose of 200?m, subcutaneously, glucose 25%. Our results indicate that reduction of synapses in the alpha motoneurosn and increased astrogliosis , either due to partial disconnection between the target organ and the neuronal body during the cycles of degeneration /regeneration muscle that occur from first weeks of life in MDX mice. These cycles can pass retrogradely in alpha motoneurons cell bodies, causing a series of changes called chromatolysis. The sciatic nerve axotomy results in a significant increase of MHC I expression in both strains studied. However, in MDX strain, this increase is smaller, compared to C57BL/10. After treatment with G-CSF the expression of MCH I got bigger compared to untreated groups, and this may indicate an active role in the regenerative potential of the drug after injury. Also we suggest that while the animals present MDX a smaller motor function compared to control animals, the results indicate that treatment with G-CSF is capable of reducing the inflammatory effects and act positively on peripheral nerve regeneration process after nerve crush sciatic. Also our results indicate that treatment with G-CSF is able to reduce the inflammatory effects and act positively on peripheral nerve regeneration process after nerve crush sciatic / Doutorado / Anatomia / Doutor em Biologia Celular e Estrutural

Les techniques de criblage actuelles (in vitro et in silico) sont dépendantes des efforts menés en biologie médicinale pour identifier des cibles biologiques pertinentes ; cibles difficiles à définir pour les maladies génétiques dites "perte de fonction". De plus, les composés issus de ces cribles s'avèrent souvent inefficaces et/ou toxiques une fois confrontés à la complexité physiologique d'un organisme entier. Pour contourner ce problème, nous proposons d'utiliser le nématode C. elegans, notamment pour des maladies répondant aux critères suivants : i) physiopathologie complexe et/ou mal comprise excluant le développement à court terme de médicaments sur une base rationnelle, ii) peu d’espoir de thérapie génique/cellulaire à court terme, iii) conservation chez C. elegans du gène relié à la maladie humaine et induisant un phénotype exploitable une fois inactivé. Nous démontrons ici que ce petit nématode permet de tester, à moindre coût, un grand nombre de composés chimiques tout en conservant la complexité physiologique d'un animal entier. De plus, la souplesse génétique de cet animal permet d'apporter rapidement des informations sur le mode d'action des composés identifiés. Ainsi, en plus du but initial visant à identifier des molécules bioactives à intérêt thérapeutique, cette approche peut permettre de dégager de nouvelles cibles moléculaires utiles pour l'industrie chimique, et cruciales pour la recherche de traitements contre les maladies perte de fonction. Finalement, nous présentons comment mettre en place une telle stratégie, notamment pour la myopathie de Duchenne, l'amyotrophie spinale et le syndrome de Schwartz-Jampel. Enfin, nous présentons les résultats obtenus lors des différentes campagnes de criblage, les validations des molécules les plus prometteuses et les travaux effectués pour tenter de comprendre leur mode d'action chez le nématode. / Current high-throughput screening methods for drug discovery rely on the existence of targets. Moreover, most of the hits generated during screenings turn out to be invalid after further testing in animal models. To by-pass these limitations, efforts are now being made to screen chemical libraries on whole animals. One of the most commonly used animal model in biology is the murine model Mus musculus. However, its cost limits its use in large-scale therapeutic screening. In contrast, the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans is gaining momentum as screening chemical tool. This tiny worm combines genetic amenability, low cost, and culture conditions that are compatible with large-scale screens. Its main advantage is to allow high-throughput screening in a whole-animal context. Moreover, its use is not dependent on the prior identification of a target and permits the selection of compounds with an improved safety profile. Here, we introduce this approach with the Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, the Spinal Muscular Dystrophy and the Schwartz-Jampel syndrome. We present the methodology used with each model to screen up to 7,000 compounds and the results of these screening campaigns. We further present the validation of our best hits and try to understand their mechanism of action.