The tropical warm pool waters surrounding Indonesia are one of the equatorial heat and moisture sources that are considered as a driving force of the global climate system. The climate in Indonesia is dominated by the equatorial monsoon system, and has been linked to El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) events, which often result in severe droughts or floods over Indonesia with profound societal and economic impacts on the populations living in the world's fourth most populated country. The latest IPCC report states that ENSO will remain the dominant mode in the tropical Pacific with global effects in the 21st century and ENSO-related precipitation extremes will intensify. However, no common agreement exists among climate simulation models for projected change in ENSO and the Australian-Indonesian Monsoon. Exploring high-resolution palaeoclimate archives, like tree rings or varved lake sediments, provide insights into the natural climate variability of the past, and thus helps improving and validating simulations of future climate changes. Centennial tree-ring stable isotope records | Within this doctoral thesis the main goal was to explore the potential of tropical tree rings to record climate signals and to use them as palaeoclimate proxies. In detail, stable carbon (δ13C) and oxygen (δ18O) isotopes were extracted from teak trees in order to establish the first well-replicated centennial (AD 1900-2007) stable isotope records for Java, Indonesia. Furthermore, different climatic variables were tested whether they show significant correlation with tree-ring proxies (ring-width, δ13C, δ18O). Moreover, highly resolved intra-annual oxygen isotope data were established to assess the transfer of the seasonal precipitation signal into the tree rings. Finally, the established oxygen isotope record was used to reveal possible correlations with ENSO events. Methodological achievements | A second goal of this thesis was to assess the applicability of novel techniques which facilitate and optimize high-resolution and high-throughput stable isotope analysis of tree rings. Two different UV-laser-based microscopic dissection systems were evaluated as a novel sampling tool for high-resolution stable isotope analysis. Furthermore, an improved procedure of tree-ring dissection from thin cellulose laths for stable isotope analysis was designed. The most important findings of this thesis are: I) The herein presented novel sampling techniques improve stable isotope analyses for tree-ring studies in terms of precision, efficiency and quality. The UV-laser-based microdissection serve as a valuable tool for sampling plant tissue at ultrahigh-resolution and for unprecedented precision. II) A guideline for a modified method of cellulose extraction from wholewood cross-sections and subsequent tree-ring dissection was established. The novel technique optimizes the stable isotope analysis process in two ways: faster and high-throughput cellulose extraction and precise tree-ring separation at annual to high-resolution scale. III) The centennial tree-ring stable isotope records reveal significant correlation with regional precipitation. High-resolution stable oxygen values, furthermore, allow distinguishing between dry and rainy season rainfall. IV) The δ18O record reveals significant correlation with different ENSO flavors and demonstrates the importance of considering ENSO flavors when interpreting palaeoclimatic data in the tropics. The findings of my dissertation show that seasonally resolved δ18O records from Indonesian teak trees are a valuable proxy for multi-centennial reconstructions of regional precipitation variability (monsoon signals) and large-scale ocean-atmosphere phenomena (ENSO) for the Indo-Pacific region. Furthermore, the novel methodological achievements offer many unexplored avenues for multidisciplinary research in high-resolution palaeoclimatology. / Die tropischen Gewässer um Indonesien sind eine der äquatorialen Wärme- und Feuchtigkeitsquellen, die als treibende Kraft des globalen Klimasystems betrachtet werden können. Das Klima in Indonesien ist geprägt durch das Australisch-Indonesische Monsunsystem. Weiterhin besteht eine Verknüpfung mit El Niño-Southern Oszillation (ENSO) Ereignissen, die oft zu schweren Dürren oder Überschwemmungen in der Region mit tiefgreifenden gesellschaftlichen und wirtschaftlichen Folgen führen. Der neueste IPCC-Bericht legt dar, dass ENSO auch in den nächsten 100 Jahren das vorherrschende Klimaphänomen im tropischen Pazifik bleiben wird. Ferner wird davon ausgegangen, dass sich die ENSO-bezogenen Niederschlagsextrema intensivieren werden. Wenig Übereinstimmung herrscht jedoch bislang zwischen den Klimasimulationsmodellen in Bezug auf die voraussichtlichen Veränderungen von ENSO und dem Australisch-Indonesischen Monsunsystem. Hochaufgelöste Paläoklima-Archive, wie z.B. Jahrringe oder warvierte Seesedimente, geben Auskunft über die natürliche Klimavariabilität der Vergangenheit und können somit dazu beitragen, die Computersimulationen der künftigen Klimaentwicklung zu verbessern und zu validieren. Hundertjährige stabile Jahrring-Isotopenchronologien | Das Hauptziel dieser Doktorarbeit war es, dass Potenzial von tropischen Jahrringen zur Aufzeichnung von Klimasignalen herauszustellen und deren Evaluierung als Paläoklimaproxys. Im Detail wurden stabile Kohlenstoff- (δ13C) und Sauerstoff- (δ18O) Isotopenverhältnisse in Teakbäumen analysiert, und die ersten gut replizierten hundertjährigen (AD 1900-2007) stabilen Isotopenchronologien aus Java (Indonesien) erstellt. Dabei wurden verschiedene klimatische Einflussgrößen getestet, ob diese signifikante Korrelationen mit den Jahrringparametern aufzeigen. Weiterhin wurden hochaufgelöste intra-annuelle Sauerstoffisotopenzeitreihen erstellt, um den Transfer des saisonalen Niederschlagssignals in den jeweiligen Jahrring zu bemessen. Die ermittelte Sauerstoff-Isotopenchronologie wurde anschließend auf mögliche ENSO Signale hin untersucht. Methodische Errungenschaften | Ein zweites Ziel dieser Arbeit war es neue Verfahren zur Analyse stabiler Isotope in Baumjahrringen zu entwickeln und zu optimieren. Zwei verschiedene UV-Lasermikrodissektions-Systeme wurden getestet als neues präzises Präparationswerkzeug für stabile Isotopenstudien. Darüber hinaus wurde eine verbesserte Methode für die Probenaufbereitung stabiler Isotopenmessungen anhand von Zellulose-Dünnschnitten entwickelt. Die wichtigsten Ergebnisse dieser Doktorarbeit sind: I) Die hier vorgestellten neuartigen Techniken zu Probenvorbereitung verbessern die Analyse stabiler Isotope für Jahrringstudien in Hinsicht auf Präzision, Effizienz und Qualität. Es wurde gezeigt, dass die UV-Lasermikrodissektion eine wertvolle Technik ist, um die Beprobung von Pflanzengewebe in höchster Auflösung und beispielloser Präzision durchzuführen. II) Es ist gelungen, einen Leitfaden für ein modifiziertes Verfahren der Zelluloseextraktion an Gesamtholz-Dünnschnitten und der anschließenden Jahrringaufbereitung zu erstellen. Diese neuartige Methode optimiert die Analyse stabiler Isotopenzeitreihen in zweierlei Hinsicht: schnellere und effiziente Zelluloseextraktion und präzise Trennung der Jahrringsequenzen in inter-annueller bis intra-annuelle Auflösung. III) Die hundertjährigen stabilen Jahrring-Isotopenchronologien weisen signifikante Korrelationen mit dem regionalen Niederschlag auf. In den hochaufgelösten stabilen Sauerstoffisotopenwerten spiegelt sich deutlich das Niederschlagssignal der Trocken- und der Regenzeit wieder. IV) Die stabile Sauerstoffisotopenzeitreihe zeigt signifikante Korrelationen mit verschiedenen ENSO Phasen. Dies betont, dass die verschiedenen ENSO Phasen bei der Interpretation von tropischen Paläodaten zu berücksichtigen sind. Die Ergebnisse der Dissertation zeigen, dass saisonal aufgelöste stabile Sauerstoffisotopenchronologien von indonesischen Teakbäumen ein geeigneter Proxy für mehrhundertjährige Rekonstruktionen der regionalen Niederschlagsvariabilität (Monsun-Signale) und großräumiger Ozean-Atmosphären-Systeme (ENSO) für den Indopazifik ist. Darüber hinaus bieten die neuartigen methodischen Errungenschaften viele neue Ansätze für multidisziplinäre hochaufgelöste Studien in der paläoklimatologischen Forschung.

ABSTRACT The morphological premalignant changes in prostate epithelium such as high grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (HGPIN) precede invasive prostate cancer (PC) by several decades. The overall aim of this project was to identify patterns of gene expression in HGPIN and early PC which increase our understanding of the early biology of PC and identify genes and pathways that correlate with an aggressive phenotype. A comprehensive tissue cohort of premalignant prostate lesions was collected in a tissue microarray (TMA) platform that was utilised for high-throughput validation of target genes. Using this unique resource, the expression of the tumour suppressor gene PTEN was assessed using immunohistochemistry in an initial candidate gene approach based on mouse models implicating PTEN in carcinogenesis. No significant difference in expression of PTEN was detected in premalignant and benign epithelium. A transcript profiling approach was undertaken by integrating laser capture microdissection, linear RNA amplification and oligonucleotide microarrays to perform a screen of matched patient samples of normal, HGPIN and PC cells. The expression patterns of two genes encoding secreted proteins, neuropeptide Y (NPY) and macrophage inhibitory cytokine (MIC-1) were validated using immunohistochemistry on TMAs representing the progression model of early PC. Increased expression of these proteins in PC was confirmed to occur early in the disease process and altered expression of NPY and MIC-1 was associated with worse clinical outcome. Further analysis of global gene expression patterns using a structured network knowledge base identified a notable aberration in the expression of extracellular matrix and extracellular matrix associated proteins in HGPIN and provided novel evidence for the role of this class of molecules in the development of PC. In summary, contrary to current dogma based on work in animal models, altered PTEN expression is unlikely to represent an important event in the development of malignancy in the human prostate. In contrast, the expression patterns and prognostic value of NPY and MIC-1 in HGPIN support their further evaluation as biomarkers for the development and progression of PC. The aberrant expression of genes and networks of genes detected in HGPIN will assist in further identification of biological pathways which may be targeted in therapeutic strategies against the development and progression of PC.

ABSTRACT The morphological premalignant changes in prostate epithelium such as high grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (HGPIN) precede invasive prostate cancer (PC) by several decades. The overall aim of this project was to identify patterns of gene expression in HGPIN and early PC which increase our understanding of the early biology of PC and identify genes and pathways that correlate with an aggressive phenotype. A comprehensive tissue cohort of premalignant prostate lesions was collected in a tissue microarray (TMA) platform that was utilised for high-throughput validation of target genes. Using this unique resource, the expression of the tumour suppressor gene PTEN was assessed using immunohistochemistry in an initial candidate gene approach based on mouse models implicating PTEN in carcinogenesis. No significant difference in expression of PTEN was detected in premalignant and benign epithelium. A transcript profiling approach was undertaken by integrating laser capture microdissection, linear RNA amplification and oligonucleotide microarrays to perform a screen of matched patient samples of normal, HGPIN and PC cells. The expression patterns of two genes encoding secreted proteins, neuropeptide Y (NPY) and macrophage inhibitory cytokine (MIC-1) were validated using immunohistochemistry on TMAs representing the progression model of early PC. Increased expression of these proteins in PC was confirmed to occur early in the disease process and altered expression of NPY and MIC-1 was associated with worse clinical outcome. Further analysis of global gene expression patterns using a structured network knowledge base identified a notable aberration in the expression of extracellular matrix and extracellular matrix associated proteins in HGPIN and provided novel evidence for the role of this class of molecules in the development of PC. In summary, contrary to current dogma based on work in animal models, altered PTEN expression is unlikely to represent an important event in the development of malignancy in the human prostate. In contrast, the expression patterns and prognostic value of NPY and MIC-1 in HGPIN support their further evaluation as biomarkers for the development and progression of PC. The aberrant expression of genes and networks of genes detected in HGPIN will assist in further identification of biological pathways which may be targeted in therapeutic strategies against the development and progression of PC.

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No. of bitstreams: 1 TeseCFY.pdf: 5114033 bytes, checksum: 6922d93e7dda82cee55aa69273fa7013 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-10-24 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / Triportheus genus (Characiformes, Triportheidae) presents a particular scenario 1 in fishes, with a ZZ/ZW sex chromosomes system for all species until now investigated. The Z chromosome is metacentric and the largest one of the karyotype, remaining morphologically conserved in all species. In contrast, the W chromosome differs in shape and size among species, from almost identical to markedly reduced in size in relation to the Z, with a clear heterochromatin accumulation associated with its differentiation process. This scenario in Triportheus, along with a well defined phylogeny for this group, provided an excellent opportunity to investigate the evolutionary events associated with the sex chromosomes differentiation, a matter of increasing interest to evolutionary biology in recent years. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the origin and differentiation of sex chromosomes in eight Triportheus species, using diverse conventional and molecular cytogenetics tools, such as C-banding, chromosomal mapping of rDNAs and several other repetitive DNA sequences, comparat ive genomic hybridization (CGH), microdissection of Z and W chromosomes and whole chromosome painting (WCP). The preferential accumulation of repetitive DNAs on the W chromosome highlighted the predominant participation of these sequences in the differentiation of this chromosome. Notably, the differential accumulation of microsatellites, and a hybridization pattern with no direct correlation to the ancestry of the W chromosome, put in evidence the particular evolutionary processes that shaped the sex-specific chromosome among species. The chromosomal mapping of 5S and 18S rDNAs and U2 DNAsn highlighted a very particular scenario in the distribution of these multigene families in Triportheus. Indeed, the variability in number of the rDNA sites on the autosomes, as well as the syntenic "status" of these three multigene families, showed their intense dynamism in the karyotype evolution, revealing a much more complex organization of these genes than previously supposed for closely related species. In addition, the occurrence of U2 DNAsn on the W chromosome of T. albus appears as an evolutionary novelty, while the occurrence of 18S rDNA in the Wq terminal region of all species pointed to a conserved condition for the genus, as well as a peculiarity in the evolutionary process of the W chromosome. Noteworthy, the use of WCP, and especially CGH experiments, put in evidence sequences which are shared by both Z and W chromosomes and sequences that are unique to each one. Thus, the Wq terminal region stood out with a high concentration of female specific sequences, in coincidence with the location of the 18S rDNA genes, allowing inferences about the origin of these cistrons on the sex-specific chromosome. Our data also showed that the ZZ/ZW system had, in fact, a common origin in Triportheus, considering the homologies found in chromosomal paintings using the Z and W probes. Triportheus auritus is the direct representative of the first lineage to differentiate in the genus and WCP experiments, using the Z chromosome probe of this species, have showed how this chromosome is notably conserved in all investigated species. On the other hand, the W chromosome showed variable patterns of homology among species, highlighting the molecular divergence emerged along its evolutionary history. In conclusion, the results obtained in this study allowed to certify the common origin of the ZZ/ZW sex system in Triportheus and to evaluate the intra- and inter-specific genomic homologies and differences between the sex pair, resulting in significant advances in the knowledge of the origin and differentiation of the sex chromosomes among lower vertebrates. / O gênero Triportheus (Characiformes, Triportheidae) apresenta um cenário 1 incomum entre os peixes, com a ocorrência de um sistema de cromossomos sexuais ZZ/ZW para todas as espécies já investigadas. O cromossomo Z é metacêntrico e o maior do cariótipo, permanecendo morfologicamente conservado em todas as espécies. Contrariamente, o cromossomo W apresenta formas variáveis e tamanhos distintos entre as espécies, podendo apresentar tamanho quase idêntico ao do cromossomo Z até acentuadamente reduzido em relação a ele, com um nítido acúmulo de heterocromatina associado ao processo de diferenciação desse cromossomo. Este cenário em Triportheus, juntamente com a filogenia já bem definida para este grupo, possibilitou uma oportunidade excelente para a investigação de eventos evolutivos associados aos cromossomos sexuais, aspecto este que vem despertando interesse crescente na biologia evolutiva nos últimos anos. Assim sendo, a proposta deste estudo foi investigar a origem e a diferenciação dos cromossomos sexuais em oito espécies de Triportheus, usando ferramentas diversificadas da citogenética convencional e molecular, como o bandamento-C, mapeamento cromossômico de DNAr e diversas outras classes de DNAs repetitivos, hibridização genômica comparativa (CGH), microdissecção dos cromossomos Z e W e pintura cromossômica total (WCP). O acúmulo preferencial de várias sequências de DNAs repetitivos no cromossomo W possibilitou destacar a participação preponderante deste componente do genoma na diferenciação do cromossomo sexo18 específico. Notadamente, o acúmulo diferencial de microssatélites colocou em evidência processos evolut ivos específicos do cromossomo W entre as espécies, bem como um padrão acumulativo que não apresenta correlação direta com a ancestralidade deste cromossomo. O mapeamento cromossômico do DNAr 5S e 18S e do DNAsn U2 evidenciou um cenário bastante particular na distribuição dessas famílias multigênicas em Triportheus. A variabilidade em relação ao número de sítios de DNAr nos autossomos, assim como o “status” sintênico dessas três famílias, evidenciaram o dinamismo evolutivo desses genes mesmo entre espécies proximamente relacionadas. Além disso, a ocorrência de DNAsn U2 no cromossomo W de T. albus evidenciou uma novidade evolutiva, enquanto a ocorrência de DNAr 18S na região Wq terminal confirmou uma condição conservada no gênero, assim como uma peculiaridade do processo evolut ivo do cromossomo W, visto que todas as espécies analisadas até o momento são portadoras dessas sequências. O emprego de WCP, e principalmente de CGH, possibilitou demonstrar a localização de sequências que são compartilhadas pelos cromossomos Z e W, bem como de sequências que são exclusivas de cada um deles. Assim, a região Wq terminal se destacou por apresentar uma grande concentração de sequências específicas de fêmeas, em coincidência com a localização do cluster de DNAr 18S, possibilitando inferências sobre a origem destes cístrons no cromossomo sexo-específico. Nossos dados também demonstraram que o sistema ZZ/ZW teve, de fato, uma origem comum em Triportheus, considerando as homologias encontradas nos mapeamentos cromossômicos com sondas dos cromossomos sexuais Z e W. Triportheus auritus é a espécie representante direta da primeira linhagem a se diferenciar no gênero e experimentos de WCP, utilizando a sonda do cromossomo Z desta espécie, mostrou que este cromossomo se encontra notavelmente conservado em todas as espécies investigadas. Por outro lado, o cromossomo W apresentou padrões variáveis de homologia entre as espécies, destacando divergências moleculares diferencialmente moldadas ao longo da sua história evolutiva. Em conclusão, os resultados obtidos no presente estudo possibilitaram atestar a origem comum do sistema ZZ/ZW em Triportheus, bem como avaliar divergências e similaridades genômicas intra- e interespecíficas quanto ao par sexual, obtendo-se avanços significativos no conhecimento da origem e diferenciação dos cromossomos sexuais entre os vertebrados inferiores. / CAPES: 11744/13–8

Acute leukemias (AL) comprise a heterogeneous group of hematologic malignancies, and individual patient responses to treatment can be difficult to predict. Monitoring of minimal residual disease (MRD) is thus very important and holds great potential for improving treatment strategies. Common MRD targets include immunoglobulin heavy chain or T-cell receptor gene rearrangements, recurrent cytogenetic abnormalities and mutations in important hematological genes. Whereas in the majority of adult acute lymphoblastic leukemia patients a suitable MRD target can be identified, in adult acute myeloid leukemia patients well-characterized targets are found in only half of cases. The identification of new specific molecular markers of leukemic blasts for MRD assessment, particularly in AML patients, is therefore highly desirable. Our aim was to develop a flexible strategy for mapping of cytogenetically identified unique clone-specific abnormalities down to the single nucleotide level and, based on the sequence, design a specific real-time PCR assay for MRD assessment in AL patients without any previously described MRD marker. Using a combination of cytogenetic (chromosome banding, chromosome microdissection), molecular cytogenetic (mFISH, mBAND) and molecular biological (next- generation sequencing, long-range...

Pancreatic islet beta cell failure causes type 2 diabetes in humans. To identify transcriptomic changes in type 2 diabetic islets, the Innovative Medicines Initiative for Diabetes: Improving beta-cell function and identification of diagnostic biomarkers for treatment monitoring in Diabetes (IMIDIA) consortium (www.imidia.org) established a comprehensive, unique multicentre biobank of human islets and pancreas tissues from organ donors and metabolically phenotyped pancreatectomised patients (PPP).

Acute leukemias (AL) comprise a heterogeneous group of hematologic malignancies, and individual patient responses to treatment can be difficult to predict. Monitoring of minimal residual disease (MRD) is thus very important and holds great potential for improving treatment strategies. Common MRD targets include immunoglobulin heavy chain or T-cell receptor gene rearrangements, recurrent cytogenetic abnormalities and mutations in important hematological genes. Whereas in the majority of adult acute lymphoblastic leukemia patients a suitable MRD target can be identified, in adult acute myeloid leukemia patients well-characterized targets are found in only half of cases. The identification of new specific molecular markers of leukemic blasts for MRD assessment, particularly in AML patients, is therefore highly desirable. Our aim was to develop a flexible strategy for mapping of cytogenetically identified unique clone-specific abnormalities down to the single nucleotide level and, based on the sequence, design a specific real-time PCR assay for MRD assessment in AL patients without any previously described MRD marker. Using a combination of cytogenetic (chromosome banding, chromosome microdissection), molecular cytogenetic (mFISH, mBAND) and molecular biological (next- generation sequencing, long-range...

Obwohl B-Zellen in der Pathogenese der Rheumatoide Arthritis (RA) eine wichtige Rolle spielen, ist über ihre Aktivierung und Differenzierung im Synovialgewebe (SG) nicht viel bekannt. Ein Merkmal von RA ist das Auftreten von Autoantikörpern (auto-AK). Trotz dessen sind bisher kaum Daten über den Einfluss des SG auf die auto-AK-Produktion und die Frequenz autoreaktiver synovialer B-Zellen bekannt. Diese Arbeit beschäftigt sich mit der Charakterisierung der synovialen B-Zell-Antwort und der Spezifität synovialer B-Lymphozyten. Dazu wurden B- und Plasmazellen (PC) aus dem Synovialgewebe von RA-Patienten mittels Mikrodissektion und Durchflusszytometrie isoliert und ihr Immunglobulin(Ig)-Repertoire bestimmt. Die Analyse der VH-Gene zeigte, dass sowohl naive als auch Gedächtnis-B-Zellen in das SG einwandern können. Ein Vergleich der VDJ-Rearrangements aus B-Zellen und PC belegte, dass hauptsächlich Gedächtnis-B-Zellen Antigen-abhängig aktiviert werden, klonal expandieren und zu PC differenzieren. Dabei können aktivierte B-Zellen ihre Ig-Klasse wechseln. Im Gegensatz dazu wurden nur rudimentäre Anzeichen somatischer Hypermutation nachgewiesen. Um die Spezifität synovialer B-Lymphozyten zu ermitteln, wurden rekombinante AK aus synovialen B-Zellen und PC generiert. Der Polyreaktivitätstest zeigte, dass naive B-Zellen aus dem SG einen hohen Anteil polyreaktiver Zellen besitzen. Im Gegensatz dazu ist die Frequenz von autoreaktiven Gedächtnis-B-Zellen und PC gegenüber naiven B-Zellen erhöht. Daneben konnten auch spezifische AK gegen bakterielle Antigene (insbesondere gegen Parodontitis-auslösende Bakterien) und gegen das Auto-Ag MCV identifiziert werden. Eine Affinitätsmessung des MCV-spezifischen Auto-AK zeigte, dass im SG sezernierte Auto-AK eine sehr hohe Affinität erreichen können. Die hier gewonnenen Daten verdeutlichen, dass B-Lymphozyten entscheidend an der Aufrechterhaltung oder gar Entstehung von RA beteiligt sind / Although B cells have an important impact on the pathogenesis of Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) still surprisingly little is known about their activation and differentiation within the inflamed synovial tissue (ST). A hallmark of RA is the presence of auto-antibodies (auto-Ab). However, still little is known about the frequency of self reactive synovial lymphocytes and it is unclear to which extent the inflamed ST contributes to auto-Ab production. These thesis deals with the characterization of the synovial B cell response and the specificity of synovial B lymphocytes. B and plasma cells (PC) from RA patients were isolated either by Laser Capture Microdissection or by FACS and their immunoglobulin(Ig)-repertoire was determined. The analysis of the VH-genes revealed that both naïve and memory B cells can immigrate the ST. A comparison of VDJ-rearrangements of B cells and PC showed that in ST without ectopic germinal centres mainly memory B cells become activated, expand clonally and differentiate into PC. During this process B cells can switch their Ig-class but do only hypermutate slightly. To determine the specificity of synovial B lymphocytes, recombinant Ab from synovial B cells and PC were generated. The polyreactivity assay showed that particularly naïve B cells were polyreactive. In contrast, the frequency of autoreactive memory B cells and PC was much higher than that of naïve B cells. In addition, Ab specific for bacterial antigens (especially for periodontal bacterias) and for the autoantigen MCV were identified. The affinity measurement of the MCV-specific autoantibody revealed that auto-Ab secreted in the ST can exhibit very high affinities. The data presented here show that B cells seem to play an important role in the maintenance and possibly the development of RA.

The subplate layer of the cerebral cortex is comprised of a heterogeneous population of cells and contains some of the earliest-generated neurons. Subplate plays a fundamental role in cortical development. In the embryonic brain, subplate cells contribute to the guidance and areal targeting of corticofugal and thalamic axons. At later stages, these cells are involved in the maturation and plasticity of the cortical circuitry and the establishment of functional modules. In my thesis, I aimed to further characterize the embryonic murine subplate by establishing a gene expression profile of this population at embryonic day 15.5 (E15.5) using laser capture microdissection combined with microarrays. I found over 250 transcripts with presumed higher expression in the subplate at E15.5. Using quantitative RT-PCR, in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry, I have confirmed specific expression in the E15.5 subplate for 13 selected genes which have not been previously associated with this compartment. In the reeler mutant, the expression pattern of a majority of these genes was shifted in accordance with the altered position of subplate cells. These genes belong to several functional groups and likely contribute to the maturation and electrophysiological properties of subplate cells and to axonal growth and guidance. The roles of two selected genes - cadherin 10 (Cdh10) and Unc5 homologue c (Unc5c) - were explored in more detail. Preliminary results suggest an involvement of Cdh10 in subplate layer organization while Unc5c could mediate the waiting period of subplate corticothalamic axons in the internal capsule. Finally, I compared the expression of a selection of subplate-specific genes (subplate markers) between mouse and rat and found some surprising species differences. Confirmed subplate markers were used to monitor subplate injury in a rat model of preterm hypoxiaischemia and it appeared that deep cortical layers including subplate showed an increased vulnerability over upper layers. Further characterization of subplate-specific genes will allow us to broaden our understanding of molecular mechanisms underlying subplate properties and functions in normal and pathological development.

A Esclerose Lateral Amiotrófica (ELA) é a doença neurodegenerativa do neurônio motor que acomete indivíduos adultos e promove a perda progressiva das funções motoras. A evolução é rápida (2 a 5 anos) e culmina na morte por complicações e falência dos músculos respiratórios. Descrições recentes sugerem a contribuição de tipos celulares não neuronais, particularmente o astrócito e a microglia, para a morte do neurônio motor. O camundongo transgênico SOD1G93A, que carrega a SOD1 humana mutada, foi utilizado neste trabalho. Estudos comportamentais apontaram alterações motoras importantes no animal transgênico a partir de 90 dias de vida e permitiram selecionar, então, as idades pré-sintomáticas de 40 dias e 80 dias para os estudos moleculares. A análise da expressão gênica nos animais transgênicos e selvagens destas duas idades foi realizada por microarray utilizando-se a plataforma que contém o genoma completo do camundongo e detectou 492 e 1105 transcritos diferencialmente expressos nos animais de 40 e 80 dias, respectivamente. Estes resultados foram validados por PCR quantitativa (qPCR). As análises bioinformáticas dos resultados identificaram 17 e 11 vias moleculares super-representadas nas idades de 40 dias e 80 dias, respectivamente. Destas, as vias endocitose, sinapse glutamatérgica, proteólise mediada por ubiquitina, via de sinalização de quimiocina, fosforilação oxidativa, processamento e apresentação de antígeno e junção oclusiva foram comuns a ambas as idades. Ainda, as vias sinapse glutamatérgica e fagossomo foram sugeridas como potencialmente mais importantes em animais transgênicos de 40 dias e 80 dias, respectivamente. Transcritos específicos foram analisados em amostras enriquecidas de células (astrócito, microglia e neurônio motor) microdissecadas a laser do corno anterior da medula espinal dos animais. Os transcritos Cxcr4, Slc1a2 e Ube2i foram avaliados por qPCR nas amostras enriquecidas de astrócitos dos animais de 40 dias, enquanto que Cxcr4 e Slc17a6 foram avaliados nas amostras de neurônios motores dos animais desta idade. Cxcr4 apresentou expressão diminuída nos astrócitos transgênicos e aumentada nos neurônios destes animais. Slc1a2, Ube2i e Slc17a6 estavam aumentados nos tipos celulares estudados nos animais transgênicos. Tap2 e Tuba1a foram avaliados nas amostras enriquecidas de microglias dos animais de 80 dias e mostraram-se aumentados nas amostras dos transgênicos. Finalmente, Akt1 apresentou expressão diminuída nos neurônios motores microdissecados dos animais transgênicos em comparação aos selvagens. Os resultados sugerem que alterações na sinalização glutamatérgica podem exercer papel essencial em fases pré-sintomáticas mais precoces da doença (40 dias), enquanto que em fases pré-clínicas mais próximas ao aparecimento dos sintomas (80 dias), as respostas mais importantes parecem estar relacionadas à neuroimmunomodulação. Dessa forma, este trabalho aponta para novas perspectivas para o estudo da ELA / Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is an adult onset motor neuron neurodegenerative disease that leads to the progressive loss of muscular functions. It is a fast progression disorder (2 to 5 years) culminating in death by respiratory failure. Recent findings suggest that non neuronal cell types, especially astrocytes and microglia, might contribute to the neuronal death. The transgenic mouse SOD1G93A, carring human mutant SOD1, was used in this study. Behavioral studies pointed to the onset of the clinical symptoms occurring at 90 days in the animal model, thus, allowing the selection of the pre-symptomatic ages of 40 and 80 days to the molecular studies. Gene expression analysis of transgenic mice and their non-transgenic littermates at those ages was performed by using a microarray platform containing the whole mouse genome and has detected 492 and 1105 differentially expressed genes at 40 days and 80 days old mice, respectively. These results were validated by quantitative PCR (qPCR). Bioinformatic analysis of the results identified 17 and 11 over-represented molecular pathways at 40 days and 80 days, respectively. Of these, endocytosis, glutamatergic synapse, ubiquitin-mediated proteolysis, chemokine signaling pathway, oxidative phosphorylation, antigen processing and presentation and also tight junction were common to both ages. Furthermore, glutamatergic synapse and fagosome were suggested as potentially more important at 40 and 80 days, respectively. Specific transcripts were analyzed on enriched samples of cells (astrocytes, microglia and motor neuron) obtained by laser microdissection from the ventral horn of mouse spinal cord. The transcripts Cxcr4, Slc1a2 and Ube2i were evaluated by qPCR in enriched samples of astrocytes of the 40 days old mice, and Cxcr4 and Slc17a6 were analyzed in motor neuron samples at this age. Cxcr4 has been found decreased in astrocytes from transgenic mice and increased in the motor neurons of these animals. Slc1a2, Ube2i and Slc17a6 have increased in the cell type in which they were evaluated in the transgenic mice. Tap2 and Tuba1a were evaluated at microglia enriched samples of 80 days old mice and were found to be increased. Finally, Akt1 has decreased in enriched samples of motor neurons from 80 days old mice. The results suggest that glutamatergic signaling might play essential role in early stages of the disease (40 days), while in phases closer to the appearance of the symptoms (80 days), the neuroimmunomodulation takes place. Thus, this study points to new perspectives for ALS study