Un dysfonctionnement du métabolisme cérébral est observé au décours d'un traumatisme crânien (TC). L’œdème cérébral et l’hypoxie cérébrale post-traumatiques sont des acteurs principaux de l’apparition des lésions ischémiques secondaires responsables en partie de la défaillance énergétique. Cette hypoxie tissulaire résulte de troubles macrocirculatoires, de troubles de la microcirculation et/ou de troubles de la diffusion de l’oxygène des capillaires sanguins aux tissus. La baisse de la consommation en oxygène est également liée à une dysfonction mitochondriale post traumatique de la chaine respiratoire. Ces phénomènes ischémiques ou hypoxiques aboutissent ainsi à une élévation de lactate endogène en condition anaérobie. Cependant, l'élévation de lactate endogène post traumatique est liée majoritairement à une crise métabolique conduisant à une hyperglycolyse en dehors de tout phénomène hypoxique ou ischémique. L'objectif de notre étude était donc d’étudier l'œdème cérébral, l'oxygénation cérébrale, la défaillance mitochondriale post traumatique et le métabolisme cérébral dans un modèle expérimental de traumatisme crânien diffus par impact accélération chez l'animal. Nous avons étudié les effets de différents neuroprotecteurs sur le métabolisme cérébral à l'aide d'un monitorage multimodal. Les effets de la rhEpo (5000UI/Kg), du mannitol (1g/kg) et du lactate de sodium molaire (1.5 ml/Kg soit 3mOsm/kg) ont été étudiés sur l'œdème cérébral (IRM, microscopie électronique), sur l'hypoxie cérébrale tissulaire (IRM BOLD, mesure de la pression tissulaire en O2, saturation veineuse en O2 du sinus longitudinal supérieur), sur le métabolisme cérébral (spectroRMN) et sur la mitochondrie (analyse de la capacité de rétention calcique, de la chaine respiratoire, microscopie électronique et mesure du calcium intramitochondrial) chez des rats wistar mâles. Notre hypothèse était que l’injection de différents neuroprotecteurs permettrait d’améliorer le métabolisme cérébral post traumatique par des effets bénéfiques sur l’hémodynamique cérébrale et l'œdème cérébral, sur l'hypoxie tissulaire ou sur la dysfonction mitochondriale post TC. Nos résultats ont démontré que la rhEpo avait un effet bénéfique sur l'hypoxie cérébrale post traumatique par le biais d'une diminution de l'œdème cérébral péri capillaire en phase aigue associée à une diminution de la dysfonction mitochondriale proapoptotique. Le mannitol améliore l'hypoxie cérébrale post traumatique en jouant sur la microvascularisation cérébrale perturbée par l'œdème astrocytaire péri capillaire. Enfin, le lactate de sodium molaire avait des effets bénéfiques anti œdémateux et sur la dysfonction mitochondriale post TC améliorant ainsi la crise métabolique post traumatique. Ces résultats permettent d'améliorer la compréhension de la physiopathologie des lésions survenant au décours du traumatisme crânien ainsi que les mécanismes d'action de différentes molécules neuroprotectrices. / Cerebral metabolism is impaired after a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI). Post traumatic cerebral edema and hypoxia are mainly responsible of the development of secondary ischemic lesions after TBI leading to metabolic impairment. Tissular hypoxia can result from disorders in macro and microcirculation and/or disturbance in the diffusion of oxygen from the blood capillaries to tissue. The decrease in oxygen consumption observed after brain injury is also related to a post traumatic dysfunction of the mitochondrial respiratory chain. These ischemic or hypoxic phenomena may be responsible for metabolic disorders leading to elevated level of endogenous lactate under anaerobic conditions. However, the elevation of endogenous lactate is mainly the consequence of a metabolic crisis that led to a state of hyperglycolysis without cerebral hypoxia or ischemia after TBI. The aim of our study was to investigate cerebral edema, cerebral oxygenation, mitochondrial and metabolic impairment post TBI in an experimental model of impact acceleration diffuse brain injury in rats. We also analyzed the effects of various neuroprotective agents on cerebral metabolism using a multimodal monitoring. The effects of rhEpo (5000UI/Kg), mannitol (1g/Kg) and of molar sodium lactate (1.5 ml/Kg or 3mOsm/kg) were investigated on brain edema (MRI, electronic microscopy), on brain tissue hypoxia (BOLD MRI, measurement of the tissular pressure of O2, venous O2 saturation of the upper longitudinal sinus), on brain metabolism (Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy) and on mitochondria (study of the calcium retention capacity, of the respiratory chain, morphological analysis with electronic microscopy and measurement of intramitochondrial calcium) in male wistar rats. We hypothesized that the injection of various neuroprotective agents would improve posttraumatic cerebral metabolism by restoring a better cerebral hemodynamic status, by improving cerebral edema, tissular oxygenation and/or mitochondrial function. On the early phase of TBI, we demonstrated that rhEpo had a beneficial effect on post traumatic cerebral hypoxia by decreasing post-traumatic cerebral capillaries collapse due to astrocytic end-foot swelling. This effect was associated with an improvement in cellular apoptosis induced by mitochondrial pathways. Mannitol improved brain hypoxia by decreasing peri vascular astrocytic edema. Sodium lactate had benefic effects on cerebral hypoxia by decreasing cerebral edema and improved mitochondrial and metabolic impairments after TBI. These results help understanding physiopathological events after TBI and the various effects of neuroprotective agents that can be used in future clinical research.

Fundação Carlos Chagas Filho de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado do Rio de Janeiro / A obesidade, doença resultante do acúmulo excessivo de gordura corporal, é importante fator de risco para diabetes mellitus tipo 2, dislipidemias e doenças cardiovasculares, doenças de alta prevalência em todo o mundo. O processo de transição nutricional decorrente da globalização contribuiu para o crescente número de indivíduos com obesidade, principalmente pela modificação nos hábitos alimentares da população, com ampla inclusão de produtos industrializados ricos em gordura saturada, sal e açúcar, denominada dieta ocidental. Os mecanismos pelos quais a obesidade induzida por dieta leva ao desenvolvimento de doenças cardiovasculares ainda não estão completamente esclarecidos na literatura, porém sabe-se que a obesidade leva ao comprometimento da função cardíaca e do metabolismo energético, aumentando a morbidade e mortalidade. Em grande parte dos estudos relacionados à obesidade, o metabolismo energético celular comprometido associa-se à disfunção mitocondrial. Neste contexto, torna-se importante avaliar a função mitocondrial na obesidade, visto que as mitocôndrias são organelas com funções-chave no metabolismo energético. No presente estudo, avaliamos inicialmente o efeito obesogênico da dieta ocidental em camundongos Swiss por 16 semanas a partir do desmame. Para tal, analisamos a ingestão alimentar, evolução da massa corporal, Índice de Lee, peso das gorduras epididimal e retroperitoneal, peso e morfologia do fígado, relação entre o peso do fígado/massa corporal, peso do ventrículo esquerdo (VE)/massa corporal, glicemia de jejum e teste intraperitoneal de tolerância à glicose. Avaliamos também o consumo de oxigênio das fibras cardíacas através da respirometria de alta resolução. Além disso, o conteúdo das proteínas envolvidas no metabolismo energético: Carnitina Palmitoil Transferase 1 (CPT1), proteína desacopladora 2 (UCP2), Transportadores de glicose 1 e 4 (GLUT1 e GLUT4), proteína quinase ativada por AMP (AMPK), proteína quinase ativada por AMP fosforilada (pAMPK), receptor de insulina &#946; (IR&#946;) e substrato do receptor de insulina 1 (IRS-1) foi determinado por western blotting. Nossos resultados confirmaram o caráter obesogênico da dieta ocidental, visto que os camundongos submetidos a esta dieta (GO), apresentaram-se hiperfágicos (P<0,001) e obesos (72,031,82, P<0,001), com aumento progressivo no ganho de massa corporal. Além do aumento significativo dos parâmetros: Índice de Lee (362,902,44, P<0,001), gorduras epididimal e retroperitonial (3,310,15 e 1,610,11, P<0,001), relação entre o peso do fígado/massa corporal (0,060,003, P<0,001) e peso de ventrículo esquerdo (VE)/massa corporal (0,080,002, P<0,01), hiperglicemia de jejum (192,1014,75, P<0,01), intolerância à glicose (P<0,05, P<0,01) e deposição ectópica de gordura no fígado. A respirometria de alta resolução evidenciou disfunção mitocondrial cardíaca no grupo GO, com reduzida capacidade de oxidação de carboidratos e ácidos graxos (P<0,001) e aumento do desacoplamento entre a fosforilação oxidativa e a síntese de ATP (P<0,001). Os resultados de western blotting evidenciaram aumento nos conteúdos de CPT1 (1,160,08, P<0,05) e UCP2 (1,080,06, P<0,05) e redução no conteúdo de IRS-1 (0,600,08, P<0,05). Não houve diferença significativa nos conteúdos de GLUT1, GLUT4, AMPK, pAMPK, pAMPK/AMPK e IR&#946;. Em conclusão, o consumo da dieta ocidental resultou no desenvolvimento de obesidade com disfunção mitocondrial associada a alterações no metabolismo energético. / Obesity, a disease resulting from excessive accumulation of body fat is a risk factor for type 2 diabetes, dyslipidemia and cardiovascular diseases, which are of high prevalence worldwide. Nutritional transition, a process associated with globalization, has contributed to growing obesity, mainly by changing eating habits of the population, with broad inclusion of industrial products high in saturated fat, salt and sugar, the called Western diet. The mechanisms by which diet-induced obesity leads to cardiovascular disease are not completely understood, but it is known that obesity leads to impairment of cardiac function and energy metabolism, increasing morbidity and mortality. In most obesity studies, the related cellular energy metabolism is compromised associated with mitochondrial dysfunction. In this context, it becomes important to asses mitochondrial function in obesity, since mitochondria are organelles with key roles in energy metabolism. In the present study, we evaluated the effect of the Western diet in Swiss mice for 16 weeks from weaning. We analyzed the food intake, changes in body weight, Lee index, weight of epididymal and retroperitoneal fat, weight and morphology of the liver, the ratio of liver weight /body weight, weight of the left ventricle (LV)/body weight , fasting plasma glucose and intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test. We also evaluated the oxygen consumption of cardiac fibers by high-resolution respirometry. Furthermore, proteins content involved in energy metabolism: carnitine palmitoyl transferase 1 (CPT1), uncoupling protein 2 (UCP2), glucose transporters 1 and 4 (GLUT1 and GLUT4), AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), AMP-activated protein kinase phosphorylated (pAMPK), insulin receptor &#946; (IR&#946;) and insulin receptor substrate 1 (IRS-1) was determined by western blotting. Our results confirmed the obesogenic role of the Western diet. Thus, mice subjected to Western diet (WG), presented hyperphagia (P<0.001) and obesity (72.031.82, P<0.001), with a progressive increase in body mass gain. Also, the WG group compared to control had statistically significant increase of the all parameters studied: Lee index (362.902.44, P<0.001), epididymal and retroperitoneal fat (3.310.15 and 1.610.11, P<0.001), ratio of liver weight/body weight (0.060.003, P<0.001) and weight of the left ventricle (LV)/body weight (0.080.002, P<0.01), fasting hyperglycemia (192.1014.75, P<0.01), glucose intolerance (P<0.05, P<0.01) and ectopic fat deposition in liver. High-resolution respirometry showed cardiac mitochondrial dysfunction in the WG group, with reduced capacity of oxidation of carbohydrates and fatty acids and increased uncoupling between oxidative phosphorylation and ATP synthesis. Western blotting results revealed an increase in CPT1 (1.160.08, P<0.05) and UCP2 (1.080.06, P<0.05) content and reduction in IRS-1 content (0.600.08, P<0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in the GLUT1, GLUT4, AMPK, pAMPK, pAMPK/AMPK and IR&#946; content. In conclusion, the Western diet consumption resulted in the development of obesity with mitochondrial dysfunction associated to alterations in energy metabolism.

La méthamphétamine (METH) est une drogue stimulante qui peut causer des déficiences des fonctions cognitives et des dommages irréversibles dans le cerveau des utilisateurs. Il est important de comprendre les mécanismes moléculaires de la toxicité de la drogue pour pouvoir développer des traitements pour contrer les effets toxiques de la METH. Plusieurs études dans notre laboratoire et autres ont montré qu’une seule dose élevée de METH (30-40 mg/kg de poids corporel) suffit à endommager l’arborisation terminale des neurones dopaminergiques dans le striatum et le cortex chez les rongeurs, de même qu’elle peut causer l’activation des signaux apoptotiques produits a partir du réticulum endoplasmique (RE) et de la mitochondrie dans le striatum. De ce fait, le but de cette thèse était d’analyser si la dose toxique de 40 mg/kg de METH injectée par faibles doses répétées (4 fois, avec des intervalles de 2 heures), appelée « binge METH », peut aussi causer des stress cellulaires du RE et de la mitochondrie dans le striatum. Des travaux récents ont suggéré que les récepteurs D1 et D2 de la dopamine pourraient être les intermédiaires de l’apoptose des neurones dans le striatum causée par l’administration d’une unique toxique dose de METH. Nous avons alors émis l’hypothèse que les messages cellulaires diriges par la stimulation des récepteurs D1 et D2 de la dopamine pourraient être à l’ origine des effets toxiques du « binge modele ». Le rôle des récepteurs de la dopamine sur l’activation des signaux de l’apoptose a été examiné en utilisant des antagonistes de ces récepteurs. Dans cette dissertation, je donne la preuve que « binge METH » affecte l’expression des immediate early genes de façon différente. Il semble que ces effets soient dépendants de la stimulation du récepteur D1. Un autre volet de cette dissertation a analysé les effets de « binge METH » sur l’expression de gènes impliqués dans la réponse au stress du RE et à l’altération de la fonction de la mitochondrie. Le prétraitement avec l’antagoniste du récepteur D1 de la dopamine, SCH23390, a complètement bloqué l’apparition de ces stress cellulaires après les injections de METH, alors que l’antagoniste du récepteur D2, raclopride, a eu des effets minimes. SCH23390 a aussi bloqué l’effet de METH à causer l’augmentation de la température corporelle des animaux, mais pas raclopride. Cependant, les deux antagonistes ont protégés contre les pertes dans plusieurs marqueurs des neurones de dopamine et sérotonine dans le striatum. De plus, SCH23390, mais non raclopride, a aussi protégé les neurones de sérotonine dans le cortex. Durant mes travaux, j’ai aussi identifié qu’il y a une augmentation de l’ARN messager de activin βA, la protéine TGF-β et Smad2 phosphorylée après les injections de METH. Ces effets sont réduits suite à un prétraitement par SCH23390 ; cependant, raclopride n’a eu aucun effet sur l’expression de TGF-β.En résumé, ces nouvelles données suggèrent que le récepteur D1 joue un rôle prédominant dans la toxicité de la METH. / Methamphetamine (METH) is a potent psychostimulant known to cause cognitive abnormalities and neurodegenerative changes in the brains of METH abusers. One approach for developing therapies for METH abuse is to understand the molecular mechanisms of toxicity of the drug. Investigations in our laboratory and elsewhere have shown that single intraperitoneal injections of METH (30-40 mg/kg of body weight) can cause damage to striatal and cortical monoaminergic systems and induce neuronal apoptosis in the striatum of rodents via activation of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and mitochondrial death pathways. Hence, the purpose of this thesis was to investigate if toxic binge METH injections can cause ER- and mitochondria-induced stress in the rat striatum. Recent studies have suggested that dopamine (DA) D1 and D2 receptors might mediate neuronal apoptosis in the striatum after single toxic METH doses. We therefore hypothesized that signaling through these two types of DA receptors might activate toxic effects of the binge METH regimen. The role of DA D1 or D2 receptors in METH-induced cell death pathways was thus examined by using pharmacological inhibitors of these receptors. In this dissertation, I report that binge METH regimen caused differential changes in immediate early genes (IEGs) that are known to influence synaptic changes in the brain. METH-induced changed in the expression of the IEGs were dependent on DA D1 receptor stimulation. The second study examined the effects of binge METH on the expression of ER stress- and mitochondrial dysfunction-responsive genes. Pretreatment with the DA D1 receptor antagonist, SCH23390, caused complete inhibition of METH-induced ER and mitochondrial stresses whereas the DA D2 receptor antagonist, raclopride, provided only partial blockade. SCH23390 also blocked METH-induced hyperthermia whereas raclopride failed to do so. Interestingly, both antagonists attenuated METH-induced dopaminergic and serotonergic deficits in the striatum. Moreover, SCH23390 but not raclopride blocked METH-induced serotonergic deficits in cortical tissues. I also found that METH treatment induced upregulation of activin βA mRNA, increased TGF-β and phosphorylated Smad2 proteins in the rat striatum. SCH23390 pretreatment completely blocked all these effects whereas raclopride did not block METH-induced increases in TGF-β expression.

Fundação Carlos Chagas Filho de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado do Rio de Janeiro / A obesidade, doença resultante do acúmulo excessivo de gordura corporal, é importante fator de risco para diabetes mellitus tipo 2, dislipidemias e doenças cardiovasculares, doenças de alta prevalência em todo o mundo. O processo de transição nutricional decorrente da globalização contribuiu para o crescente número de indivíduos com obesidade, principalmente pela modificação nos hábitos alimentares da população, com ampla inclusão de produtos industrializados ricos em gordura saturada, sal e açúcar, denominada dieta ocidental. Os mecanismos pelos quais a obesidade induzida por dieta leva ao desenvolvimento de doenças cardiovasculares ainda não estão completamente esclarecidos na literatura, porém sabe-se que a obesidade leva ao comprometimento da função cardíaca e do metabolismo energético, aumentando a morbidade e mortalidade. Em grande parte dos estudos relacionados à obesidade, o metabolismo energético celular comprometido associa-se à disfunção mitocondrial. Neste contexto, torna-se importante avaliar a função mitocondrial na obesidade, visto que as mitocôndrias são organelas com funções-chave no metabolismo energético. No presente estudo, avaliamos inicialmente o efeito obesogênico da dieta ocidental em camundongos Swiss por 16 semanas a partir do desmame. Para tal, analisamos a ingestão alimentar, evolução da massa corporal, Índice de Lee, peso das gorduras epididimal e retroperitoneal, peso e morfologia do fígado, relação entre o peso do fígado/massa corporal, peso do ventrículo esquerdo (VE)/massa corporal, glicemia de jejum e teste intraperitoneal de tolerância à glicose. Avaliamos também o consumo de oxigênio das fibras cardíacas através da respirometria de alta resolução. Além disso, o conteúdo das proteínas envolvidas no metabolismo energético: Carnitina Palmitoil Transferase 1 (CPT1), proteína desacopladora 2 (UCP2), Transportadores de glicose 1 e 4 (GLUT1 e GLUT4), proteína quinase ativada por AMP (AMPK), proteína quinase ativada por AMP fosforilada (pAMPK), receptor de insulina &#946; (IR&#946;) e substrato do receptor de insulina 1 (IRS-1) foi determinado por western blotting. Nossos resultados confirmaram o caráter obesogênico da dieta ocidental, visto que os camundongos submetidos a esta dieta (GO), apresentaram-se hiperfágicos (P<0,001) e obesos (72,031,82, P<0,001), com aumento progressivo no ganho de massa corporal. Além do aumento significativo dos parâmetros: Índice de Lee (362,902,44, P<0,001), gorduras epididimal e retroperitonial (3,310,15 e 1,610,11, P<0,001), relação entre o peso do fígado/massa corporal (0,060,003, P<0,001) e peso de ventrículo esquerdo (VE)/massa corporal (0,080,002, P<0,01), hiperglicemia de jejum (192,1014,75, P<0,01), intolerância à glicose (P<0,05, P<0,01) e deposição ectópica de gordura no fígado. A respirometria de alta resolução evidenciou disfunção mitocondrial cardíaca no grupo GO, com reduzida capacidade de oxidação de carboidratos e ácidos graxos (P<0,001) e aumento do desacoplamento entre a fosforilação oxidativa e a síntese de ATP (P<0,001). Os resultados de western blotting evidenciaram aumento nos conteúdos de CPT1 (1,160,08, P<0,05) e UCP2 (1,080,06, P<0,05) e redução no conteúdo de IRS-1 (0,600,08, P<0,05). Não houve diferença significativa nos conteúdos de GLUT1, GLUT4, AMPK, pAMPK, pAMPK/AMPK e IR&#946;. Em conclusão, o consumo da dieta ocidental resultou no desenvolvimento de obesidade com disfunção mitocondrial associada a alterações no metabolismo energético. / Obesity, a disease resulting from excessive accumulation of body fat is a risk factor for type 2 diabetes, dyslipidemia and cardiovascular diseases, which are of high prevalence worldwide. Nutritional transition, a process associated with globalization, has contributed to growing obesity, mainly by changing eating habits of the population, with broad inclusion of industrial products high in saturated fat, salt and sugar, the called Western diet. The mechanisms by which diet-induced obesity leads to cardiovascular disease are not completely understood, but it is known that obesity leads to impairment of cardiac function and energy metabolism, increasing morbidity and mortality. In most obesity studies, the related cellular energy metabolism is compromised associated with mitochondrial dysfunction. In this context, it becomes important to asses mitochondrial function in obesity, since mitochondria are organelles with key roles in energy metabolism. In the present study, we evaluated the effect of the Western diet in Swiss mice for 16 weeks from weaning. We analyzed the food intake, changes in body weight, Lee index, weight of epididymal and retroperitoneal fat, weight and morphology of the liver, the ratio of liver weight /body weight, weight of the left ventricle (LV)/body weight , fasting plasma glucose and intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test. We also evaluated the oxygen consumption of cardiac fibers by high-resolution respirometry. Furthermore, proteins content involved in energy metabolism: carnitine palmitoyl transferase 1 (CPT1), uncoupling protein 2 (UCP2), glucose transporters 1 and 4 (GLUT1 and GLUT4), AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), AMP-activated protein kinase phosphorylated (pAMPK), insulin receptor &#946; (IR&#946;) and insulin receptor substrate 1 (IRS-1) was determined by western blotting. Our results confirmed the obesogenic role of the Western diet. Thus, mice subjected to Western diet (WG), presented hyperphagia (P<0.001) and obesity (72.031.82, P<0.001), with a progressive increase in body mass gain. Also, the WG group compared to control had statistically significant increase of the all parameters studied: Lee index (362.902.44, P<0.001), epididymal and retroperitoneal fat (3.310.15 and 1.610.11, P<0.001), ratio of liver weight/body weight (0.060.003, P<0.001) and weight of the left ventricle (LV)/body weight (0.080.002, P<0.01), fasting hyperglycemia (192.1014.75, P<0.01), glucose intolerance (P<0.05, P<0.01) and ectopic fat deposition in liver. High-resolution respirometry showed cardiac mitochondrial dysfunction in the WG group, with reduced capacity of oxidation of carbohydrates and fatty acids and increased uncoupling between oxidative phosphorylation and ATP synthesis. Western blotting results revealed an increase in CPT1 (1.160.08, P<0.05) and UCP2 (1.080.06, P<0.05) content and reduction in IRS-1 content (0.600.08, P<0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in the GLUT1, GLUT4, AMPK, pAMPK, pAMPK/AMPK and IR&#946; content. In conclusion, the Western diet consumption resulted in the development of obesity with mitochondrial dysfunction associated to alterations in energy metabolism.

(EN) Obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) are among metabolic disease with increasing incidence and prevalence. Last decade has been devoted to intensive research focused on pathophysiological mechanisms underlying development of these diseases. Besides environmental factors, lifestyle and amount and composition of food, adipose tissue is a key player in the pathogenesis of obesity and its metabolic complications including insulin resistance (IR) and T2DM. Primary aim of our work was to evaluate the role of recently discovered adipokine omentin and the role of mitochondrial dysfunction in subcutaneous adipose tissue (SCAT) and in peripheral monocytes (PM) in patients with obesity and T2DM with respect to the development of insulin resistance and diabetes. A total number of 118 subjects enrolled in the study were divided into three groups: patients with obesity and T2DM (T2DM group), obese non-diabetics (OB) and healthy lean subjects as a control group (KO). Study subjects underwent several types of interventions - 2 to 3 weeks of very-low calorie diet (VLCD, energy intake 600 kcal per day), regular physical activity program or bariatric surgery (laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy, LSG). Results indicate that low serum omentin concentrations may contribute to development of obesity-associated...

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / Organoselenium compounds have been proposed as potential pharmacological agents in the treatment of diseases associated with the oxidative stress. Particularly, ebselen and diphenyl diselenide has been demonstrated as potential antioxidant agents in a variety of experimental models. Thus, the aims of the present study were: to evaluate the effect of ebselen and diphenyl diselenide, as well as, their combination with guanosine on the oxidative stress induced by glutamate in different regions of rat brains (article 1), to test the effects of diphenyl diselenide on mitochondrial dysfunction induced by methylmercury (MeHg) in rat s liver slices (manuscript 1), and investigate the effects of MeHg (5 mg/ kg/ day, i.g.) and/ or diphenyl diselenide (1 mg/ kg /day, i.p.) on mitochondrial dysfunction, thioredoxin reductase (TrxR) activity, mercury levels and locomotor activity after 21 days of treatment in rats (manuscript 2). In article 1, the organoselenium compounds (ebselen and diphenyl diselenide) and guanosine were able to reduce the glutamate-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in cortex, striatum and hippocampus of rat when used isolated or in combination. Guanosine also prevented glutamate uptake in the regions of rat brains tested. The combination of guanosine with organoselenium compounds was more effective against glutamate-induced ROS production than the individual compounds alone. The results in manuscript 1, show that diphenyl diselenide, at low concentrations (0.5 μM), protected against the MeHg-induced mitochondrial dysfunction in liver slices, which may be associated with the interaction between diphenyl diselenide s selenol intermediate and MeHg, with the formation of inert complex(es), as well as, with the antioxidant properties of the selenophenol intermediate. In manuscript 2, it was observed that diphenyl deiselenide protected against thiol depletion by MeHg in cerebral and hepatic mitochondria, but it didn t prevent the mitochondrial dysfunction induced by MeHg in brain and liver, nor protected from TrxR activity inhibition by MeHg in brain, liver and kidney. Moreover, the co-treatment with MeHg and diphenyl diselenide caused an increase in mercury deposition in brain and liver, increased the motor deficits and the loss of body weight. Taken together, the results present here reinforce the central role of the mitochondrial dysfunction on the toxicity induced by MeHg both in vivo and in vitro, and the role of TrxR as a molecular target for MeHg in rats. Moreover, the results indicate that organoselenium compounds, such as ebselen and diphenyl diselenide, are promising agents against the oxidative damage induced by both glutamate and MeHg in vitro, however, caution must be taken on the extrapolation of these results to in vivo situations, since the co-treatment with diphenyl diselenide and MeHg increased the neurotoxicity in rats. . / Os compostos orgânicos de selênio têm sido propostos como potenciais agentes farmacológicos para o tratamento de patologias associadas ao estresse oxidativo. Em particular, o disseleneto de difenila e o ebselen têm sido demonstrados como potentes agentes antioxidantes em uma variedade de modelos experimentais. Dessa forma, os objetivos do presente estudo foram: avaliar os efeitos do ebselen e do disseleneto de difenila, bem como, da sua combinação com a guanosina, sobre o estresse oxidativo induzido por glutamato em diferentes regiões do cérebro de rato (artigo 1); testar os efeitos do disseleneto de difenila frente à disfunção mitocondrial induzida por metilmercúrio (MeHg) em fatias de fígado de rato (manuscrito 1); e investigar os efeitos do MeHg (5 mg/ kg/ dia, i.g.) e/ ou disseleneto de difenila (1 mg/ kg /dia, i.p.) sobre a disfunção mitocondrial, a atividade da tioredoxina redutase (TrxR), os níveis de mercúrio, e a atividade locomotora após 21 dias de tratamento em ratos (manuscrito 2). No artigo 1 foi observado que os compostos orgânicos de selênio (ebselen e disseleneto de difenila) e a guanosina foram capazes de reduzir a produção de espécies reativas de oxigênio (EROS) induzida por glutamato em fatias de córtex, estriado e hipocampo de rato quando usados isolados ou combinados. A guanosina também preveniu a inibição da captação de glutamato nas regiões do cérebro testadas. A combinação dos compostos orgânicos de selênio com a guanosina foi mais efetiva na proteção contra a produção de EROS induzida por glutamato do que cada composto separadamente. Os resultados do manuscrito 1 mostram que o disseleneto de difenila na concentração mais baixa (0,5 μM) preveniu contra a disfunção mitocondrial induzida por MeHg em fatias de fígado de rato, a qual pode estar associada com a interação do intermediário selenol do disseleneto de difenila com o MeHg formando um complexo inerte, bem como com as propriedades antioxidantes do intermediário selenofenol. No manuscrito 2, foi observado que o co-tratamento com disseleneto de difenila protegeu contra a depleção de tióis pelo MeHg em mitocôndrias de cérebro e fígado de rato mas, não preveniu a disfunção mitocondrial cerebral e hepática induzida por MeHg, nem protegeu contra a inibição da atividade da TrxR por MeHg em cérebro, fígado e rim. Além disso, o co-tratamento com disseleneto de difenila causou um maior acúmulo de Hg no cérebro e fígado, e aumentou os déficits motores e a perda de peso corporal. Em conjunto, os resultados apresentados aqui reforçam o papel central da disfunção mitocondrial na toxicidade induzida pelo MeHg tanto in vitro quanto in vivo e o papel da TrxR como um alvo molecular para o MeHg em ratos. Além disso, os resultados indicam que os compostos orgânicos de selênio, como o ebselen e o disseleneto de difenila, são agentes promissores contra o dano oxidativo induzido tanto por glutamato quanto por MeHg in vitro, no entanto deve-se ter muita cautela ao extrapolar estes resultados para situações in vivo, uma vez que o co-tratamento com disseleneto de difenila e MeHg aumentou a neurotoxicidade em ratos. .

A disfunção mitocondrial pode ser um mecanismo chave associado à ocorrência de doenças metabólicas como o diabetes. Neste contexto, é importante obeservar os mecanismos envolvidos nesse processo. MicroRNAs (miRs) são conhecidos por regular a expressão de genes em vários processos fisiológicos, incluindo o metabolismo de glicose e ácidos graxos, biogênese mitocondrial, proliferação, diferenciação e morte celular no músculo esquelético. Usando análise \"in silico\" (Sfold2.2) identificamos 219 microRNAs que, potencialmente, se ligam à região 3 \'UTR do PGC-1?, um gene envolvido na biogênese mitocondrial e no metabolismo de glicose. Dos 219 candidatos, encontramos um alto valor de energia livre de hibridização entre o microRNA miR-696 e PGC-1? (-29,8 kcal / mol), sugerindo que o miR-696 poderia estar envolvido na regulação negativa do PGC-1? resultando em disfunção mitocondrial. Consistente com esta hipótese, observamos que a expressão do miR-696 apresentou-se aumentada nos músculos esqueléticos de dois modelos de camundongos com diabetes: camundongos diabéticos induzidos por STZ e camundongos alimentados com dieta hiperlipídica. Para compreender se o miR-696 regula a disfunção mitocondrial utilizamos células musculares C2C12 expostas a uma alta dose de ácido palmítico (700 µM) durante 24 horas, o que causou uma redução na expressão de genes mitocondriais, bem como no consumo de oxigênio. Vale destacar que a inibição do miR-696 através da transfecção de oligonucleotídeos antisenso (ASO) preveniu, parcialmente, a perda da função mitocondrial de células C2C12 tratadas com ácido palmítico. Curiosamente, não houve nenhuma alteração nos níveis de miR-696 em modelos envolvidos com a proteína AMPK, tal como em células C2C12 incubadas com uma droga ativadora de AMPK (AICAR) e no músculo esquelético de camundongos transgênicos superexpressando AMPK?2 com o domínio quinase inativo ou AMPK?3 com mutação de ativação crônica (R70Q). Em contraste, a expressão alterada de uma quinase relacionadas com a AMPK, SNF1-AMPK-related kinase (SNARK), recentemente demonstrada por ter sua expressão aumentada em virtude do envelhecimento, exerceu efeitos significativos sobre a expressão do miR- 696, como por exemplo sua redução dependente do knockdown de SNARK em células C2C12. Consistente com estes resultados, a superexpressão de SNARK em células C2C12 resultou no aumento da expressão do miR-696 e redução na expressão do PGC-1?, bem como no consumo de oxigénio. Nossos resultados demonstram que o estresse metabólico aumenta a expressão do miR-696 no músculo esquelético, que por sua vez inibe a sinalização da PGC-1? e a função mitocondrial. Ainda, apesar da AMPK não se apresentar como mediadora da expressão do miR-696, SNARK pode desempenhar um papel neste processo através do mecanismo de sinalização SNARKmiR-696-PGC-1?. / Mitochondrial dysfunction may be a key underlying mechanism for occurrence of metabolic disease and diabetes; thus elucidating how this process occurs is of great value. MicroRNAs (miRs) are known to regulate gene expression in several physiological processes including metabolism, mitochondrial biogenesis, proliferation, differentiation and cell death in multiple tissues including adipose tissue and skeletal muscle. Using \"in silico\" analysis (Sfold2.2) we identified 219 unique microRNAs that potentially bind to the 3\'UTR region of PGC-1?, a gene involved in mitochondrial biogenesis and glucose metabolism. Out of the 219 candidates, there was a high value of hybridization free energy between the microRNA miR-696 and PGC-1? (- 29.8 kcal/mol), suggesting that miR-696 could be involved in the downregulation of PGC-1?, which in turn could cause mitochondrial dysfunction. Consistent with this hypothesis we found that miR-696 expression was increased in the skeletal muscles of two mouse models of diabetes that have impaired mitochondrial function: STZ-induced diabetic mice and chronic high fat fed mice. To understand if miR-696 regulates mitochondrial dysfunction we used C2C12 muscle cells exposed to a high dose of palmitic acid (700 µM) for 24 hours, which caused a decrease in mitochondrial gene expression and in oxygen consumption. Importantly, inhibition of miR-696 using an antisense oligo approach rescued the mitochondrial function by restoration of mitochondrial-related genes and increased oxygen consumption in the palmitic acid-treated C2C12 cells. Interestingly, there was no change in miR-696 levels in models involved with AMPactivated protein kinase such as C2C12 cells incubated with AICAR, skeletal muscle from AMPK?2 dominant-negative transgenic mice, and transgenic mice overexpressing the activating R70Q AMPK mutation. In contrast, altered expression of the AMPK-related kinase, SNF1- AMPK-related kinase (SNARK), recently shown to increase with aging, had significant effects on miR-696 expression. Knockdown of SNARK in C2C12 cells significantly decreased miR-696. Consistent with these findings, SNARK overexpression in C2C12 cells increased miR-696 concomitant with a decrease in PGC-1? expression and decreased oxygen consumption. Our findings demonstrate that metabolic stress increases miR-696 expression in skeletal muscle which in turn inhibits PGC-1? signaling and mitochondrial function. While AMPK does not mediate miR-696 expression, SNARK may play a role in this process through a SNARK-miR- 696-PGC-1? signaling mechanism.

Le but de cette thèse est d’étudier les modifications biochimiques mitochondriales liées à un défaut de lipoylation des protéines dans les fibroblastes de 14 patients. Ces patients sont porteurs d’une mutation dans un gène codant une des protéines impliquées soit dans la synthèse de l’acide lipoïque (LIPT1, LIPT2) soit dans la voie de biogenèse des centres Fe-S mitochondriale (FDX1L, ISCA1, ISCA2, IBA57, NFU1, BOLA3). La voie de biogenèse des centres Fe-S est nécessaire à la maturation des protéines Fe-S mitochondriales, dont la lipoic acid synthase (LIAS).Ces travaux ont permis d’étudier notamment un deuxième cas de déficit en FDX1L ainsi qu’un patient porteur d’une nouvelle mutation dans ISCA1. Les déficits dans la voie de la biogenèse des centres Fe-S observés chez les patients étudiés affectent principalement la maturation des protéines mitochondriales à centre [4Fe-4S] dont l’aconitase mitochondriale, les complexes I et II de la chaîne respiratoire et la LIAS, induisant ainsi un défaut de lipoylation d’enzymes clés du métabolisme énergétique (PDHc, KGDHc). Aucune atteinte du réseau mitochondrial ni de variations du stress oxydatif n’ont pu être mises en évidence. Finalement, l’ajout d’acide lipoïque exogène n’améliore pas les déficits observés.Les profils d’expression des protéines dans les fibroblastes des patients suggèrent que les protéines NFU1, BOLA3 et IBA57 ainsi que ISCA1, ISCA2 et IBA57 coopèrent entre elles de manière complexe. / The aim of this work is to study mitochondrial dysfunctions related to a defect of protein lipoylation in fibroblasts of 14 patients. These patients carry a point mutation in a gene encoding for a protein involved either in lipoic acid biosynthesis (LIPT1 or LIPT2) or in the mitochondrial pathway devoted to iron-sulfur cluster biogenesis (FDX1L, ISCA1, ISCA2, IBA57, NFU1, BOLA3) essential for maturation of mitochondrial Fe-S proteins such as lipoic acid synthase (LIAS). This work describes the second case of FDX1L deficiency and a patient with a new mutation in ISCA1 gene.We found that mitochondrial [4Fe-4S] proteins (mitochondrial aconitase, complexes I and II of the respiratory chain and LIAS) are mainly affected in fibroblasts of patients with defect in the mitochondrial Fe-S maturation pathway. Secondary, LIAS dysfunction leads to decreased lipoylation of PDHc and KGDHc, complexes involved in energy metabolism. Neither mitochondrial network nor oxidative stress biomarkers was modified in our study. Addition of exogenous lipoic acid did not rescue the mitochondrial deficiency.Protein expression profiles obtained in fibroblasts of patients suggest that NFU1, BOLA3 and IBA57 and also ISCA1, ISCA2 and IBA57 could function and interact together to form protein complexes.

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