Pseudomonas aeruginosa is resistant to many clinically-relevant antibiotics and this is partly attributable to multidrug efflux systems in this organism. One of these, MexEF-OprN, exports chloramphenicol, fluoroquinolones and trimethoprim and is positively regulated by MexT, encoded by the mexT gene that is located upstream of the efflux genes. MexT also positively regulates the mexS gene that encodes an oxidoreductase of unknown function and whose loss increases expression of mexEF-oprN. A null mutation in the mexS gene of P. aeruginosa increased expression of two 3-gene operons, PA4354-PA4355-PA4356 and PA2813-2812-2811. This increased expression, which paralleled an increase in mexEF-oprN expression in the same mutant, was, like mexEF-oprN, MexT-dependent. The PA4356 (xenB) gene product is homologous to a xenobiotic reductase in P. fluorescens shown to remove nitro groups from trinitrotoluene and nitroglycerin. As nitration is a well-known result of nitrosative stress, a role for xenB (and the co-regulated mexEF-oprN and PA2813-2812-2811) in a nitrosative stress response was hypothesized and tested. Using S-nitrosoglutathione (GSNO) as a source of nitrosative stress, expression of mexEF-oprN, xenB and PA2811 was shown to be GSNO-inducible, though in the case of xenB and PA2811 this was only seen in a mutant lacking MexEF-OprN and only for xenB, this GSNO-inducible expression was dependent upon MexT. Consistent with MexT being required for mexEF-oprN and PA4354-PA4355-PA4356 expression, MexT bound to their promoter regions. Chloramphenicol, a nitroaromatic antimicrobial that is a substrate for MexEF-OprN and resembles a nitrosated nitrosative stress product accommodated by this efflux system induced expression of mexEF-oprN, but not xenB, or PA2811, and this was dependent upon the MexT regulator. In addition to MexT positive-regulating activity of genes in response to nitrosative stress, MexT also negatively regulates the expression of mexAB-oprM through direct binding to its promoter region and the oprD gene, encoding an outer membrane porin that provides a portal of entry for basic amino acids and carbapenem, whose expression was reduced only by GSNO. / Thesis (Ph.D, Microbiology & Immunology) -- Queen's University, 2011-05-15 20:59:57.018

The obligate anaerobe Porphyromonas gingivalis is the etiological agent responsible for periodontal disease. It must withstand high levels of reactive nitrogen species in the oral cavity generated by the host and other oral flora. The mechanisms allowing for protection against such stress remain poorly understand. HcpR is an FNR-CRP family regulator that has been implicated in regulation of the nitrosative stress response. In this study we characterize the biochemical properties of HcpR. It is a homo-dimer that is composed of 3 domains – a heme-binding domain, dimerization helix, and a DNA-binding domain. Our studies show that HcpR binds the heme cofactor. UV-Vis and Raman spectroscopy reveal that the bound heme is capable of binding the diatomic gas molecule Nitric Oxide (NO)-a source of nitrosative stress. Binding of NO causes a change in the oxidation state of the iron. SAXS reveals the protein bears a structural resemblance to homology models generated from an ortholog. Promoterr studies reveal that mechanisms P. gingivalis-HcpR uses to modulate expression are novel and different than those found in E. coli and P. aeruginosa.

Submitted by Cláudia Bueno (claudiamoura18@gmail.com) on 2016-07-13T21:03:27Z No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertação - Priscila Elias Campos Naves - 2012.pdf: 1687485 bytes, checksum: 4d21dacd2ba42ae2bd0c8df7e82075b0 (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Luciana Ferreira (lucgeral@gmail.com) on 2016-07-14T13:01:06Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertação - Priscila Elias Campos Naves - 2012.pdf: 1687485 bytes, checksum: 4d21dacd2ba42ae2bd0c8df7e82075b0 (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-07-14T13:01:06Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertação - Priscila Elias Campos Naves - 2012.pdf: 1687485 bytes, checksum: 4d21dacd2ba42ae2bd0c8df7e82075b0 (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012-08-30 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES / Paracoccidioides is a thermal dimorphic fungus that causes Paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM), an endemic disease in Latin America. Immune cells have a variety of defense mechanisms against pathogens, such as the production and release of nitric oxide (NO), one of the reactive nitrogen species (RNS). RNS react with cellular components, resulting in damage to DNA and membranes, inhibition of repiration and inactivation of cellular enzymes. To understand how Paracoccidioides responds to nitrosative stress, this study aims to identify genes that might contribute to this response. The Paracoccidioides yeast cells grouth was evaluated in the presence of various concentrations of sodium nitrite (NaNO2). The nitrosative stress was confirmed by quantification of nitrite in the cultures supernatant and by the inhibition of the cytochrome c oxidase (complex IV) activity. The transcriptional analyzes were performed by sequencing a cDNA library constructed with Paracoccidioides mRNA obtained after incubation of fungal cells with 500 µM NaNO2 during 1 h. The results show the induction of transcripts related to several cellular pathways, including genes of mitochondrial electron transport chain. The expression of selected transcripts was confirmed by quantitative real time RT-PCR. Moreover, mitochondrial activity measured by XTT method was reduced in the presence of NaNO2 during the first 2 hours of treatment. Additionally, the NADP+/NADPH ratio is lower during nitrosative stress, as demonstrated. The results suggest that the induction of transcripts associated with energy production during nitrosative stress may reflect a compensatory effect on the inhibition of enzymes that carry out this metabolic function, probably to ensure the production of energy and/or contribute to the redox balance by generation of NADPH. / Paracoccidioides é um fungo termodimórfico causador da Paracoccidioidomicose (PCM), uma doença endêmica na América Latina. Células do sistema imune humano possuem uma variedade de mecanismos de defesa contra patógenos, como a produção e liberação de óxido nítrico (NO), uma das espécies reativas de nitrogênio (RNS). RNS reagem com os componentes celulares, o que resulta em danos ao DNA e membranas, inibição da respiração e inativação de enzimas celulares. Para entender como Paracoccidioides responde ao estresse nitrosativo, esse trabalho tem como objetivo identificar genes que possam contribuir para esta resposta. O crescimento de células de levedura de Paracoccidioides foi avaliado na presença de várias concentrações de nitrito de sódio (NaNO2). O estresse nitrosativo foi confirmado através da quantificação de nitrito no sobrenadante das culturas e da inibição da atividade da enzima citocromo c oxidase (Complexo IV). As análises transcricionais foram feitas a partir do sequenciamento da biblioteca de cDNA construída utilizando-se mRNA obtido após incubação de células leveduriformes de Paracoccidioides na presença de 500µM de NaNO2 durante 1 hora. Os resultados mostram a indução de transcritos relacionados a várias vias celulares, incluindo genes da cadeia mitocondrial transportadora de elétrons. A expressão de alguns desses transcritos foi confirmada por PCR quantitativo em tempo real. Adicionalmente, a atividade mitocondrial, avaliada através do método do XTT, apresentou-se reduzida na presença de NaNO2 durante as primeiras 2 horas de tratamento. A razão NADP+/NADPH foi avaliada, apresentando-se menor durante o estresse nitrosativo. Os resultados sugerem que a indução de transcritos relacionados à produção de energia durante o estresse nitrosativo possa refletir um efeito compensatório sobre a inibição de enzimas que desempenham esta função metabólica, provavelmente para assegurar a produção de energia e/ou contribuir para o balanço redox através da geração de NADPH.

This dissertation is a compilation of published work and a manuscript that seeks to understand the role of polyamine metabolism in the regulation of pneumococcal physiology. Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus) is the major cause of community-acquired pneumonia, and otitis media worldwide. Genetic diversity and serotype replacement, and antibiotics resistance to confound existing therapeutic strategies and limit the effectiveness of the available capsule polysaccharide (CPS) based vaccines. Polyamines such as putrescine, spermidine and cadaverine are ubiquitous polycationic hydrocarbons that interact with negatively charged molecules and modulate important cellular processes. Intracellular polyamine concentrations are regulated by biosynthesis, degradation, and transport. This work investigated the impact of the deletion of polyamine biosynthesis gene, SP_0916 (cadA, lysine/arginine decarboxylase covered in the second, third and fourth chapters), on growth, Gram staining characteristics, capsule production, proteome and stress responses of virulent pneumococcal serotype 4 (TIGR4). We identified loss of capsular polysaccharide (CPS) in DELTA SP_0916 strain. Our proteome results showed a shift in metabolism towards the pentose phosphate pathway (PPP) that could reduce the availability of precursors for CPS and could explain the un-encapsulated phenotype of DELTA SP_0916. Since a shift towards the PPP is usually in response to stress, we compared the stress responses of DELTA SP_0916 to that of TIGR4. Our results show that the mutant was more susceptible to oxidative, nitrosative, and acid stress compared to the wild type. In the fifth chapter we compared the transcriptome, metabolome, stress responses and stress susceptibility of the polyamine transport deficient strain (DELTA potABCD) and S. pneumoniae TIGR4. Results in this chapter show that polyamine transport is essential for pneumococcal stress responses, and capsule biosynthesis. The impact of impaired polyamine synthesis (DELTA SP_0916), and transport (DELTA potABCD) on pneumococcal capsule is due to altered expression of Leloir pathway, reduced glycolysis, and increased PPP, possibly in response to impaired stress responses. These results demonstrate that alteration of polyamine pathways affects pneumococcal stress responses which in turn could limit the availability of precursors for capsule synthesis, and thus have an impact on virulence. Thus, polyamine metabolism is an attractive avenue for developing novel interventions for limiting the spread of S. pneumoniae, a versatile human pathogen.

Porphyromonas gingivalis, a Gram negative anaerobe implicated in the progression of periodontal disease, is capable of surviving and causing infection despite high levels of reactive nitrogen species found in the oral cavity due to its efficient nitrosative stress response. HcpR is an important sensor-regulator that plays a vital step in the initiation of the nitrosative stress response in many Gram negative anaerobic bacteria. We employ a combination of X-ray crystallography, SAXS, resonance Raman spectroscopy, UV-Vis spectroscopy, and molecular biology techniques to better understand this key regulator. Knockout of the hcpR gene in W83 P. gingivalis results in the inability of the bacteria to grow in physiological concentrations of nitrite and complementation of hcpR using the novel plasmid Pg108 rescues this phenotype. HcpR causes a drastic, dose dependent upregulation of PG0893, a gene coding for a putative NO reductase, when exposed to nitrite or nitric oxide. Full transcriptome sequencing reveals that hcp is the only significantly upregulated gene when P. gingivalis is exposed to nitrite and knockout of hcp resulted in a phenotype that is similar to that of the hcpR deficient strain. HcpR directly regulates the expression of hcp via direct binding to an inverted repeat sequence in the promoter region of the hcp gene. We present a 2.6 Å crystal structure of the N-terminal sensing domain of HcpR and show that it is FNR-CRP regulator. A putative hydrophobic heme binding pocket was identified in the junction between the N-terminal domain and the dimerization helix. Mutation of two methionine residues (Met68 and Met145) in this pocket abrogates activation of HcpR thus verifying the binding site. Heme bound to HcpR exhibits heme iron as a hexa-coordinate system in the absence of nitric oxide (NO) and upon nitrosylation transitions to a penta-coordinated system. Finally, Small Angle X-ray Scattering experiments of the full length HcpR reveal that the C-terminal DNA binding domain of HcpR has a high degree of interdomain flexibility.

The caudal solitary complex (cSC) is a cardiorespiratory integrative center in the dorsal medulla oblongata that plays a vital role in the central CO2-chemoreceptive network. Neurons in this area respond to hypercapnic acidosis (HA) by a depolarization of the membrane potential and increase in firing rate, however a definitive mechanism for this response remains unknown. Likewise, CO2-chemoreceptive neurons in the cSC respond to hyperoxia in a similar fashion, but via a free radical mediated mechanism. It remains unknown if the response to increased pO2 is merely an increase in redox signaling, or if it’s the result of a pathological state of redox stress. Importantly, free radical production is known to be stimulated by increasing pO2, and can be exacerbated downstream by the addition of CO2 and its subsequent acidosis. Conditions of hyperoxia in combination with HA can therefore become detrimental in several scenarios, including O2 toxicity seizures in divers and stranded submariners, as well as in cases of ischemia-reperfusion injury and sleep apneas. As such, we sought to not only determine how O2 and CO2 interact to affect cellular excitability in the cSC, but also if these cells exhibited increases in redox signaling and/or stress. We employed sharp-electrode intracellular electrophysiology to study whole-cell electrical responses to varied combinations of hyperoxia (0.4 0.95/1.95 ATA O2) and HA (0.05 0.1 ATA CO2). Additionally, we used fluorescence microscopy under similar conditions to study changes in the production rates of various free radicals, including superoxide (˙O2-), nitric oxide (˙NO), and a downstream aggregate pool of CO2/H+-dependent reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS). Finally, we used several colorimetric assays to measure markers of oxidative and nitrosative stress, including malondialdehyde, 3-nitrotyrosine, and protein carbonyls. Our hypothesis for these experiments was that hyperoxia and HA alone could produce effects, but would be more pronounced when used together. As such, we saw that ~89% of cells tested that were sensitive to both hyperoxia and HA showed larger firing rate responses to HA during an increased background O2 (0.9 and/or 1.9 ATA) after showing a smaller response or no response to HA during control levels O2 (0.4 ATA). Additionally, we noted that the rate of ˙O2- fluorescence increased in response to hyperoxia, but only during pharmacological inhibition of its reactions with ˙NO and SOD. Likewise, the rate of ˙NO fluorescence increased during hyperoxia compared to control O2, but only during pharmacological scavenging of ˙O2-. Downstream, our aggregate pool of RONS showed increased rates of fluorescence during both hyperoxia alone and HA in control O2, however the most prominent increases were seen during hypercapnic hyperoxia. Finally, no significant effects were seen when probing for markers of redox stress in response to hyperoxia and hypercapnic hyperoxia. Overall, these results suggest that the increased excitability seen in cSC neurons during hypercapnic hyperoxia is the result of physiological redox signaling rather than pathological redox stress. Further research needs to be done to determine how this redox mechanism is specifically resulting in increased cellular excitability.

Staphylococcus xylosus est couramment utilisé comme ferment dans les produits carnés pour son rôle dans le développement de la flaveur et de la couleur. Beaucoup de propriétés technologiques ont été caractérisées in vitro. Cependant, les mécanismes moléculaires mis en place par cette bactérie pour s’adapter à une matrice carnée et aux composés nitrosés, fréquemment ajoutés dans ces produits, étaient méconnus. Pour identifier ces mécanismes, des approches de transcriptomique globale ont été mises en œuvre. S. xylosus survit dans un modèle viande en modulant l’expression de 55 % de ses gènes. Il surexprime des gènes codant des protéines impliqués dans le catabolisme du glucose et du gluconate et des gènes codant des peptidases. En parallèle, il sous exprime de nombreux gènes impliqués dans la synthèse des acides aminés probablement en raison de leur disponibilité dans le modèle viande. Le modèle viande est un milieu riche en divers substrats et la bactérie pourrait adapter sa physiologie via les régulateurs transcriptionnels CcpA et CodY. S. xylosus répond au sel ajouté au modèle viande en surexprimant des gènes impliqués dans des mécanismes d’osmoprotection, d’extrusion de Na + et de protons. S. xylosus répond aux composés nitrosés dans le modèle viande en modulant 24 % de son génome. Ces composés nitrosés génèrent un stress nitrosant et S. xylosus répond à ce stress par la surexpression de gènes impliqués dans l’homéostasie du fer via la dérépression du régulateur Fur. S. xylosus surexprime aussi des gènes codant des enzymes antioxydants via la dérépression du régulateur PerR. De plus, il surexprime des gènes impliqués dans la réparation de l’ADN et des protéines. La viande est un aliment riche en fer hémique et non hémique. Ainsi, S. xylosus est capable d’acquérir du fer à partir de ferritine, de transferrine et potentiellement des hémoprotéines. La ferritine est une source préférentielle de fer pour S. xylosus. Un opéron codant potentiellement un complexe membranaire impliqué dans des réactions d’oxydo-réduction a été identifié. Un mutant de délétion/insertion dans le premier gène de l’opéron confirme que ce système pourrait jouer un rôle dans l’acquisition du fer de la ferritine chez S. xylosus. Cette étude révèle un changement global dans l’expression des gènes de S. xylosus dans un modèle viande, elle souligne la capacité de S. xylosus à s’adapter à un stress osmotique ou nitrosant et elle caractérise pour la première fois la capacité d’un staphylocoque à utiliser du fer de la ferritine. / Staphylococcus xylosus is used as starter culture in meat product for its role in the development of flavor and color. S. xylosus is characterized for its technological properties in vitro. However, the molecular mechanisms for its adaptation in meat with or without nitrate and nitrite, frequently added in meat product, remained unknown. Global transcriptomic approaches were carried out to determine the molecular mechanisms. S. xylosus modulated the expression of 55 % of the genes to survive in a meat model. Many genes encoding proteins involved in glucose and gluconate catabolisms and peptidases were up expressed. In parallel, a lot of genes involved in amino acids synthesis were down regulated, probably due to their availability in the meat model. The meat model is a rich medium composed of various substrates and S. xylosus adapted its physiology through the transcriptional regulators CcpA and CodY. Finally, it responded to salt added in the meat model in overexpressing genes involved in mechanisms of osmoprotection, Na + and H + extrusion. S. xylosus modulated the expression of 24 % of the genes in presence of nitroso compounds in the meat model. These compounds generated a nitrosative stress. S. xylosus responded to this stress by over expressing genes involved in iron homeostasis through the derepression of the regulator Fur. It over expressed also genes encoding antioxidant enzymes through the derepression of the regulator PerR. Moreover, it over expressed genes involved in DNA and proteins repairs. Meat is rich in hemic and non-hemic iron. S. xylosus is able to grow in presence of ferritin, transferrin and potentially hemoproteins. Ferritin is one of preferential iron sources. An operon encoding potentially a membranous complex involved in oxydo-reduction reactions has been identified. A strain defective in the first gene of the operon confirmed that this complex could contribute to the iron acquisition from ferritin. This study revealed a global change in the gene expression of S. xylosus in the meat model; it highlighted ability of S. xylosus to mitigate nitrosative or osmotic stress, it characterised for the first time the capacity of a Staphylococcus to acquire ferritin-iron.

<p>Balans redoks potencijala u živoj ćeliji predstavlja imperativ održavanja zdravog fenotipa, i u&nbsp;krajnjem, njenog preživljavanja. Nitrozativni stres može ozbiljno naru&scaron;iti ćelijsku redoks&nbsp;homeostazu i, u kombinaciji sa oksidativnim stresom, uticati na ćelijsku proliferaciju i&nbsp;diferencijaciju, a u nekim slučajevima i na aktivaciju maligne transformacije&nbsp;U ovom radu ispitivani su efekti donora NO natrijum-nitroprusida na dve ćelijske linije u&nbsp;kulturi: transformisane&nbsp; ćelije mi&scaron;ijih fibroblasta (L929) i maligne&nbsp; ćelije humane&nbsp;eritroleukemije (K562). Natrijum- nitroprusid (SNP) je fotoreativan molekul sa veoma&nbsp;kratkim poluživotom koji izaziva koncentraciono - zavisnu proliferaciju ili inhibiciju<br />ćelijskog rasta in vitro.NO izaziva različite efekte u zavisnosti od eksperimentalnog modela,&nbsp;svoje relativne koncentracije kao i okruženja u kojem nastaje. Ispitivanja mogućnosti direktne&nbsp;transformacije azot oksida u redoks aktivne vrste kao &scaron;to su nitrozonijum katjon (NO⁺) i&nbsp;nitroksil anjon (NO^-/HNO) i direktni efekti tih redoks potomaka u ćeliji tek su u začetku. U&nbsp;na&scaron;im eksperimentima, kori&scaron;ćenjem donora NO - natrijum nitroprusida (SNP) i dve vrste&nbsp;superoksid dismutaza, CuZn-SOD i Mn-SOD, stvorili smo uslove generisanja vi&scaron;e vrsta&nbsp;signalnih molekula i ispitali odgovor transfomisanih (L929) i malignih (K562) ćelija na njih.&nbsp;Rezultati eksperimenata pokazuju da izabrani parametri (količina slobodnih tiolnih grupa i&nbsp;glutationa) mogu biti relevantni za praćenje efekata egzogenog azot oksida i njegovih redoks&nbsp;potomaka kod različitih, transformisanih i malignih ćelijskih linija.</p> / <p>The redox potential balance in the living cell isthe imperative of continuation of healthy phenotype, and subsequently of its survival. Nitrosative stress may seriously damage cell&#39;s redox homeostasis, and in combination with oxidative stress may influence cell proliferation and differentiation, in some cases even activation of malignant transformation. This paper investigates effects of sodium nitroprusside as&nbsp; NO donor on two cell lines in culture: transformed cells of mice fibroblasts (L929) and malignant cells of human eritroleukemia (K562). The sodium nitroprusside(SNP)&nbsp; is a photo reactive molecule with very short half-life, causing concentration- dependant proliferation or inhibition of cell growth in vitro.The NO causes different effects depending on experimental model, its relative concentration and environment&nbsp; where it is formed. Investigations of possibility of direct transformation from nitrogen oxide to redox-active species as nitrosonium cation (NO+) and nitroxyl anion (NO &minus;/HNO), as well as direct effects ofthose redox descendants within the cell are only in beginning. In our experiments,by using sodium nitroprusside (SNP) as NO donor and&nbsp; two kind of superoxide dismutase, CuZn-SOD and Mn-SOD, we created conditions to generate several kinds of signal molecules and investigated reaction of transformed (L929) and malignant (K562) cells tothose. Results of experiments are showing the parameters chosen (amount of free thiol groups and glutathione) may be relevant in measuring the effect of exogenous nitrate oxideand its redox descendants in different,&nbsp; both transformed and malignant cell lines.</p>

Le syndrome de Wernicke-Korsakoff (SWK) est un désordre neuropsychiatrique causé par la déficience en thiamine (DT). Dans la DT expérimentale comme dans le SWK, on observe une mort neuronale et des hémorragies dans certaines régions précises du diencéphale et du tronc cérébral. Les lésions diencéphaliques du SWK sont particulièrement sévères et entraînent souvent des séquelles amnésiques permanentes. Le lien entre la dysfonction métabolique induite par la DT et la mort neuronale n’est pas connu. Des rapports précédents ont démontré que la perméabilité de la barrière hémato-encéphalique (BHE) était altérée et ce, précédant l’apparition du dommage neuronal, suggérant un rôle critique de la dysfonction vasculaire. Les jonctions serrées (JS) interendothéliales, la base anatomique de la BHE, constituent un réseau moléculaire incluant l’occludin et les zonula occludens (ZOs). Cette thèse démontre une perte d’expression et une altération de la morphologie de ces protéines en relation avec la dysfonction de la BHE dans le thalamus de souris déficientes en thiamine, fournissant une explication pour la présence d’hémorragies. Le stress oxydatif peut entraîner des dommages directs aux protéines des JS et interférer avec leurs mécanismes de régulation. De plus, l’oxyde nitrique (NO) peut induire la métalloprotéinase matricielle-9 (MMP-9) impliquée dans la dégradation de ces protéines. L’endothélium vasculaire cérébral (EVC) semble être une source importante de NO dans la DT, l’expression de l’oxyde nitrique synthase endothéliale (eNOS) étant sélectivement induite dans les régions vulnérables. Le NO peut réagir avec les espèces réactives oxygénées et former du peroxynitrite, entraînant un stress oxydatif/nitrosatif endothélial. Les résultats présentés démontrent que la délétion du gène de eNOS prévient le stress oxydatif/nitrosatif cérébrovasculaire, l’extravasation des immunoglobulins G (IgGs) et l’altération de l’occludin et des ZOs dans le thalamus de souris déficientes en thiamine. De plus, cette délétion prévient l’induction de l’expression de MMP-9 dans l’EVC. Des résultats similaires ont été obtenus avec l’antioxydant N-acétylcystéine (NAC). Les mécanismes précis par lesquels les espèces réactives altèrent les protéines des JS sont inconnus. Caveolin-1, une composante majeure du caveolæ de l’EVC, est impliquée dans la régulation de l’expression des protéines des JS, et celle-ci est modulée par le stress oxydatif/nitrosatif; l’altération de l’expression de caveolin-1 a été récemment associée à la rupture de la BHE. Les résultats présentés démontrent que l’expression de caveolin-1 est sélectivement altérée dans l’EVC du thalamus de souris déficientes en thiamine, coïcidant avec la rupture de la BHE, et démontrent que la normalisation de l’expression de caveolin-1 par le NAC est associée avec l’atténuation du dommage à la BHE. Pris ensemble, ces résultats démontrent un rôle central du stress oxydatif/nitrosatif cérébrovasculaire, particulièrement celui provenant de eNOS, dans l’altération des JS de la BHE via des dommages directs et via l’induction de MMP-9 et de caveolin-1. Cette rupture de la BHE contribue par conséquent à la mort neuronale dans le thalamus, puisque la prévention des altérations cérébrovasculaires par la délétion du gène de eNOS et le NAC atténue significativement la mort neuronale. L’administration précoce d’antioxydants en combinaison avec la thiamine devrait donc être une considération importante pour le traitement du SWK. / Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome (WKS) is a neuropsychiatric disorder caused by thiamine deficiency (TD). In experimental TD as in WKS, neuronal cell death and hemorrhages are observed in specific diencephalic and brainstem areas. Diencephalic lesions in WKS are especially severe and often lead to permanent amnesic symptoms. The link between TD-induced metabolic dysfunction and neuronal cell death is unknown. Previous reports have shown that blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability was impaired and that this occurred prior to the onset of neuronal damage, suggesting a critical role for vascular dysfunction. Interendothelial tight junctions (TJs), the anatomical basis of the BBB, constitute a molecular network comprising occludin and zonula occludens (ZOs). This thesis shows a loss of expression and alterations in the morphology of these proteins in relation to BBB dysfunction in the thalamus of thiamine-deficient mice, providing an explanation for the presence of hemorrhages. Oxidative stress can lead to direct oxidative damage to TJ proteins and interfere with their regulation mechanisms. Also, nitric oxide (NO) can induce matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) involved in the degradation of these proteins. Cerebral vascular endothelium (CVE) seems to be an important source of NO in TD, since endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) expression is selectively induced in vulnerable areas. NO can react with reactive oxygen species and form peroxynitrite, leading to endothelial oxidative/nitrosative stress. Results have show that eNOS gene deletion prevents cerebrovascular oxidative/nitrosative stress, immunoglobulins G (IgGs) extravasation and occludin and ZOs alterations in the thalamus of thiamine-deficient mice. Also, eNOS gene deletion prevents the induction of MMP-9 in CVE. Similar results have been obtained with the antioxidant N-acetylcysteine (NAC). Precise mechanisms by which reactive species alter TJ proteins are unknown. Caveolin-1, a major component of CVE caveolæ, is involved in the regulation of TJ protein expression, and is modulated by oxidative/nitrosative stress; alteration in caveolin-1 expression has been recently associated with BBB breakdown. The present results show that caveolin-1 expression is selectively altered in CVE of the thalamus of thiamine-deficient mice, and show that normalization of caveolin-1 expression by NAC is associated with the attenuation of BBB damage. Taken together, these results demonstrate a central role for cerebrovascular oxidative/nitrosative stress, especially coming from eNOS, in BBB TJ protein alterations via direct damage and via induction of MMP-9 and caveolin-1. As a result, BBB breakdown contributes to neuronal cell death in the thalamus, since prevention of cerebrovascular alterations by eNOS gene deletion and NAC significantly attenuates neuronal cell death. Early administration of antioxidants combined with thiamine should therefore be an important consideration for the treatment of WKS.

L'encéphalopathie hépatique (EH) est un syndrome neuropsychiatrique dû à une dysfonction hépatique où l'ammoniaque est un facteur central. Il a déjà été rapporté que l’intoxication aiguë d'ammoniaque induise le stress oxydatif/nitrosatif. La présente étude cible à évaluer le rôle du stress oxydatif/nitrosatif dans 2 modèles de l’EH chronique : (1) l’anastomose portocave (PCA) et (2) la ligation de la voie biliaire (BDL). Ces 2 modèles sont caractérisés par une hyperammoniémie et une augmentation d’ammoniaque centrale, cependant l’œdème cérébral est trouvé seulement chez les rats BDL. Des marqueurs du stress oxydatif/nitrosatif ont été évaluées dans le plasma et cortex frontal. Un stress nitrosatif central a été observé chez les rats PCA; tandis qu’un stress oxydatif/nitrosatif systémique a été démontré seulement chez les rats BDL. Ces résultats suggèrent (1) que l’hyperammoniémie chronique n’induise pas le stress oxydatif/nitrosatif systémique et (2) qu’un synergisme existe entre l’ammoniaque et le stress oxydatif/nitrosatif, en association avec l’œdème cérébral. / Hepatic encephalopathy (HE) is a neuropsychiatric complication due to liver failure where ammonia is believed to be central in the pathogenesis. Acute ammonia intoxication has demonstrated to induce oxidative/nitrosative stress in both in vivo and in vitro models. The present study was aimed to assess the role of oxidative/nitrosative stress in 2 models of chronic liver failure/HE; 1. portacaval anastomosis (PCA) and 2. bile duct ligation (BDL). Both models are characterised with hyperammonemia and increased brain ammonia however cerebral edema is only found in BDL rats. Oxidative/nitrosative stress markers were evaluated in plasma and frontal cortex of both animal models. Central nitrosative stress was observed in PCA rats, but systemic oxidative/ntrosative stress was demonstrated only in BDL rats. The results of our study suggest i) chronic hyperammonemia does not induce oxidative stress and ii) a synergistic effect between ammonia and systemic oxidative/nitrosative stress is associated with cerebral edema.