Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Alabama at Birmingham, 2009. / Title from PDF title page (viewed on Feb. 2, 2010). Includes bibliographical references.

Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer (SCNT), commonly known as cloning, is the transfer of a somatic nucleus into an enucleated oocyte to produce a clone. The chromatin structure of somatic cells permits the expression of certain genes, while silencing the rest of the genome. The cytoplasm of oocytes can reprogram a somatic nucleus by reactivating the genes necessary for embryonic development and silencing the somatic genes. However, the low efficiency of SCNT indicates that successful nuclear reprogramming is a rare event. The objectives of this study were determine the extent of transcriptional reprogramming in bovine blastocysts produced by serial rounds of chromatin transfer (from first and fourth generations), using blastocysts produced by in vitro fertilization (IVF) as controls, to identify cumulative errors in the transcriptome profile. Differentially expressed genes were studied further to determine their function in embryonic development. We identified a set of transcripts consistently misregulated in cloned blastocyst, some of which had a more marked misregulation in the embryos produced by 4 successive rounds of cloning. Among the genes significantly upregulated in both CT groups compared to IVF blastocysts were both de novo DNA methylation enzymes DNMT3A and DNMT3B. Expression patterns, structural and functional analyses were performed for DNA methyltransferases. A high structural and functional conservation was observed for DNA methyltransferases among human, mouse, and bovine species. A set of genes that participate in early embryonic development, chromatin remodeling and DNA methylation were differentially regulated in cloned embryos and had not been fully annotated at the time of the analysis. We annotated those genes and submitted them to the Bovine Genome Sequencing Consortium database. These results have important implications for the selection of models for the study of DNA methylation during early development. The present study provides a valuable data set for identifying possible cumulative errors in somatic cell chromatin transfer that could hinder nuclear reprogramming shedding light on the epigenetic role in reprogramming and cell plasticity.

Somatic cell nuclear reprogramming (SCNR) by eggs is a way to forcibly transform the nuclei of terminally differentiated somatic cells to an embryonic state and gain totipotency (Gurdon et al., 1958). Additionally, induced pluripotency is applied to transform identities of somatic cells to induced pluripotent stem cells by overexpression of combinatorial Yamanaka factors (iPS, Takahashi et al., 2006). Although both approaches aim to derive cells with highest plasticity, the mechanisms and differences between these procedures are not yet clear. In my thesis, I used quantitative polymerase chain reaction (QPCR) and RNAseq plus 5-bromouridine 5'-triphosphate (BrUTP) pulldown to evaluate the transcriptional reprogramming by maternal factors and overexpressed transcription factors during SCNR by Xenopus oocytes, which are inactive in DNA replication and cell division. QPCR measures changes in the steady-state levels of transcripts within 2 days of nuclear transfer to Xenopus oocytes (Oocyte-NT). Three pairs of Yamanaka factor homologs were tested by QPCR and Yamanaka factor homologues regulated similar sets of pluripotency genes in mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs). Pioneer factor mFoxA1 could not up-regulate most pluripotency genes and their binding targets of neurogenic genes in MEFs while pioneer factors are proposed to bind to their targets even if they may reside in inaccessible chromatin. This shows that the existence of other factors is needed at specified developmental stages. Hence, gene activation by transcription factors in the Oocyte-NT system requires not only corresponding binding on regulatory elements of linked genes but transcription cooperators to exert effective gene activation. Additionally, RNA-seq plus BrUTP pulldown measures the extent to which oocytes change the transcriptional activity of nuclei transplanted to oocytes. Through RNA-seq plus BrUTP pulldown, I compared the reprogrammed transcriptomes of embryonic and somatic cells, including mouse embryonic stem cells, mouse embryonic fibroblasts and mouse myoblasts, to demonstrate the effects of maternal factors and overexpression of transcription factors on gene activities during SCNR by oocytes. Importantly, I find that maternal factors of oocytes and the overexpression of transcription factors exert different strategies to reprogram somatic cells. Oocyte factors reprogram the donor cell nuclei to an oocyte-steady state except for the SCNR resistance genes and xklf2-HA overexpression enhances expression of reprogrammable genes and activates SCNR resistance genes.

The cells from the inner cell mass (ICM) of an early embryo have the potential to differentiate into all the different cell types present in an adult organism. Cells from the ICM can be isolated and cultured in vitro, becoming embryonic stem cells (ESCs). ESCs have several properties that make them unique: they are unspecialized, can self-renew indefinitely in culture, and given the appropriate cues can differentiate into cells from all three germ layers (ecto-, meso-, and endoderm), including the germline, both in vivo and in vitro. Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) can be generated from adult, terminally differentiated somatic cells by transient exogenous expression of four transcription factors (Oct4, Sox2, Klf4, and cMyc; OSKM) present normally in ESCs. It has been shown that iPSCs are equivalent to ESCs in terms of morphology, gene expression, epigenetic signatures, in vitro proliferation capacity, and in vitro and in vivo differentiation potential. However, unlike ESCs, iPSCs can be obtained from a specific individual without the need for embryos. This makes them a promising source of pluripotent cells for regenerative medicine, tissue engineering, drug discovery, and disease modelling; additionally, in livestock species such as the bovine, they also have applications in genetic selection, production of transgenic animals for agricultural and biomedical purposes, and species conservancy. Nevertheless, ESC and iPSC lines that meet all pluripotency criteria have, to date, only been successfully produced in mice, rats, humans, and non-human primates. In the first part of this dissertation, we attempted reprogramming of three types of bovine somatic cells: fetal fibroblasts (bFFs), adult fibroblasts (bAFs), and bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (bMSCs), using six different culture conditions adapted from recent work in mice and humans. Using basic mouse reprogramming conditions, we did not succeed in inducing formation of ESC-like colonies in bovine somatic cells. The combination of 2i/LIF plus ALK5 inhibitor II and ascorbic acid, induced formation of colony-like structures with flat morphology, that occasionally produced trophoblast-like structures. These trophoblast-like vesicles did not appear when an inhibitor of Rho-associated, coiled-coil containing protein kinase 1 (ROCK) was included in the medium. We screened for expression of exogenous OSKM vector with RT-PCR and found upregulation of OSKM vector 24h after Dox was added to the medium; however, expression was sharply decreased on day 2 after Dox induction, and was not detectable after day 3. In a separate experiment, we induced reprogramming of bFF and bAFs using medium supplemented with 50% of medium conditioned by co-culture with the bovine trophoblast CT1 line. These cells expressed both OCT4 and the OSKM vector 24h after Dox induction. However, similar to our previous observations, both markers decreased expression until no signal was detected after day 3. In summary, we were unable to produce fully reprogrammed bovine iPSCs using mouse and human protocols, and the exact cause of our lack of success is unclear. It is possible that a different method of transgene expression could play a role in reprogramming. However, these ideas would be driven by a rather empirical reasoning, extrapolating findings from other species, and not contributing in our understanding of the particular differences of pluripotecy in ungulates. Our inability to produce bovine iPSCs, combined with the only partial reprogramming observed by others, justifies the need for in depth study of bovine pluripotency mechanisms, before meaningful attempts to reprogram bovine somatic cells to plutipotency are made. Therefore, we focused on getting a better understanding of bovine nuclear reprogramming. This would allow us to rationally target the specific requirements of potential bovine pluripotent cells. Cell fusion is a process that involves fusion of the membrane of two or more cells to form a multinucleated cell. Fusion of a somatic cell to an ESC is known to induce expression of pluripotency markers in the somatic nucleus. In the second part of this dissertation, we hypothesized that fusion of bFFs to mouse ESCs (mESCs) would induce expression of pluripotency markers in the bFF nucleus. We first optimized a cell fusion protocol based on the use of polyethylene glycol (PEG), and obtained up to 11.02% of multinucleated cells in bFFs. Next, we established a method to specifically select for multinucleated cells originated from the fusion of mESCs with bFFs (heterokaryons), using indirect immunofluorescence. With this in place, flow cytometry was used to select 200 heterokaryons which were further analyzed using RNA-seq. We found changes in bovine gene expression patterns between bFFs and heterokaryons obtained 24h after fusion. Focusing on the bovine transcriptome, heterokaryons presented upregulation of early pluripotency markers OCT4 and KLF4, as well as hypoxia response genes, contrasted with downregulation of cell cycle inhibitors such as SST. The cytokine IL6, known to increase survival of early embryos in vitro, was upregulated in heterokaryons, although its role and mechanism of action is still unclear. This indicates that the heterokaryon cell fusion model recapitulates several of the events of early reprogramming, and can therefore be used for further study of pluripotency in the bovine. The cell fusion model presented here can be used as a tool to characterize early changes in bovine somatic nuclear reprogramming, and to study the effect of different reprogramming conditions on the bovine transcriptome. / Ph. D.

La thérapie cellulaire régénératrice offre des perspectives d'applications dans de nombreuses pathologies entraînant une perte cellulaire. Cependant, suite à un infarctus du myocarde et donc une diminution importante du nombre de cardiomyocytes, l'injection de cellules souches n'a permis de mettre en évidence qu'une amélioration légère et transitoire de la fonction cardiaque. Ces résultats suggèrent qu'il est nécessaire d'améliorer l'efficacité des protocoles de thérapie cellulaire cardiaque. Cette amélioration passe par une meilleure compréhension des mécanismes mis en jeu par les cellules souches dans la régénération myocardique. Parmi les hypothèses soulevées, la fusion entre les cellules souches et les cardiomyocytes a été décrite dans plusieurs études mais le rôle physiologique de ce phénomène reste inconnu. Mon travail de thèse a consisté à étudier ce mécanisme in vitro au sein de cocultures entres des cellules souches adultes humaines (cellules hMADS pour human multipotent adipose derived stem cells) et des cardiomyocytes murins adultes. Nous avons pu mettre en évidence un processus de fusion hétérologue entre ces deux types cellulaires, aboutissant à la reprogrammation du cardiomyocyte vers un stade de progéniteur. Les cellules hybrides résultant de cette fusion ont exprimé des marqueurs cardiomyogéniques précoces et de prolifération et ont été montrées comme ayant un génotype exclusivement murin. Ces cellules hybrides ou progéniteurs cardiaques se sont formés préférentiellement par un mécanisme de fusion partielle par l'intermédiaire de structures intercellulaires appelées nanotubes composés de f-actine et de microtubules. En outre, nous avons montré que le transfert de mitochondries des cellules souches vers les cardiomyocytes était indispensable pour la reprogrammation des cardiomyocytes. En conclusion, nos résultats apportent de nouveaux éléments dans la compréhension des mécanismes de régénération médiés par les cellules souches qui est un pré-requis pour optimiser les protocoles de thérapie cellulaire cardiaque / Regenerative cell therapy offers potential applications in many diseases involving cell loss. However, following myocardial infarction and the dramatic decrease in the number of cardiomyocytes, the injection of stem cells led to a poor and transient improvement of cardiac function. Therefore stem cell-based therapy to treat myocardial infarction requires a better understanding of the mechanisms brought into play by stem cells in heart regeneration. Among the different hypothesis raised, cell fusion between stem cells and cardiomyocytes has been described in several studies. However, the respective physiological impact of cell fusion remains unknown. During my thesis, I investigated this cell fusion mechanism in vitro in a coculture model between human multipotent adipose-derived stem cells (hMADS) and murine fully differentiated cardiomyocytes. We showed intercellular exchanges of cytoplasmic and nuclear material between both cell types, followed by a heterologous cell fusion process promoting cardiomyocyte reprogramming back to a progenitor-like state. The resulting hybrid cells expressed early cardiac commitment and proliferation markers and exhibited a mouse genotype. We provided evidence that cardiac hybrid cells were preferentially generated through partial cell fusion mediated by intercellular structures composed of f-actin and microtubule filaments. Furthermore, we showed that stem cell mitochondria were transferred into cardiomyocytes and were required for somatic cell reprogramming. In conclusion, by providing new insights into previously reported cell fusion processes, our results might contribute to a better understanding of stem cell-mediated regenerative mechanisms and thus, the development of more efficient stem cell-based heart therapies

A reprogramação nuclear de uma célula somática a um estado embrionário tem diversas aplicações, como pesquisas básicas na biologia do desenvolvimento, terapia celular, melhoramento genético em animais de produção e conservação de espécies. As principais técnicas utilizadas para a reprogramação nuclear são a transferência nuclear de células somáticas (TNCS) e a geração de células tronco pluripotente induzidas (iPS). Muitos trabalhos têm mostrado uma baixa eficiência no processo de reprogramação nuclear nas duas técnicas, além disso, modificações epigenéticas tem sido apontada como a principal barreira para uma reprogramação nuclear eficiente. Por esse motivo, medidas como a utilização de células menos diferenciadas e/ou alteração do perfil epigenético das células somáticas podem aumentar a eficiência destas técnicas. Por isso, o objetivo deste trabalho foi investigar a influência de marcas epigenéticas em células bovinas utilizadas na reprogramação nuclear mediada por TNCS ou superexpressão de genes relacionados a pluripotêcia (iPS). Para isso, utilizamos 3 abordagens. Primeiro, analisamos marcações epigenéticas relacionadas ao desenvolvimento embrionário e pluripotência (H3K9me2, H3K9me3, H3K9ac, 5mC e 5hmC) em diferentes tipos celulares, analisamos a expressão gênica de genes responsáveis por essas marcações em células de diferentes tecidos (ex. células tronco mesenquimais (MSC) e fibroblastos) e as utilizamos como doadoras de núcleo na TNCS. Na segunda e a terceira abordagem, utilizamos células com menores níveis de H3K9me2 para a geração de iPS e na TNCS, respectivamente. Além disso, por se mostrar eficiente na TNCS, analisamos o efeito da sincronização do ciclo celular por privação de soro fetal bovino (SFB) na geração de células iPS. Com o intuito de diminuir os níveis de H3K9me2, as células foram tratadas com UNC0638, um inibidor especifico das metiltransferases de histona G9a/GLP. Nossos resultados do primeiro experimento mostraram que as MSC podem ser utilizadas como doadoras de núcleo na TNCS, no entanto, mesmo com algumas diferenças na expressão gênica em relação aos fibroblastos, a produção de blastocistos não foi diferente entre as duas células. No segundo experimento, as células privadas de SFB geraram mais colônias que as células controle, enquanto que as células tratadas não apresentaram diferença. Por último, as células tratadas com o UNC0638 apresentaram um menor nível de metilação no DNA em zigotos em relação às células controle. Os resultados encontrados neste trabalho podem contribuir para o melhor entendimento dos mecanismos epigenéticos envolvidos na reprogramação nuclear de bovinos / Nuclear reprogramming of somatic cells to embryonic state has several aplications, such as basic research on developmental biology, cell therapy, genetic improvement in livestock animals and preservation of endangered species. The principal techniques utilized to achieve nuclear reprogramming are Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer (SCNT) and induced pluripotency. Several works has reported low efficiency rates of nuclear reprogramming when these techniques are used to reprogram somatic cells. Moreover, epigenetic modifications acquired during development act as epigenetic barrier to the complete reprogramming process. For this reason, strategies such as use of less differentiated cells and/or modification of epigenetic profile of somatic cells might increase the efficiency these techniques. The objective of this work was investigate the influence of epigenetic marks in bovine cells utilized on nuclear reprogramming experiments mediated by SCNT or induced pluripotency. To investigate it, we used three approaches. First, we analyzed the epigenetic marks related to the embryonic development and pluripotency (e.g H3K9me2, H3K9me3, H3K9ac, 5mC and 5hmC), gene expression of genes involved in these epigenetic marks in different tissues (i.e. mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) and fibroblasts) and their use as nuclear donor cells on SCNT procedure. Regarding the second and the third approach, we utilized cells with reduced levels of H3K9me2 to generate iPS cells and cloned embryos, respectively. Furthermore, since serum starvation has been demonstrated increase SCNT developmental rates, we assessed the effect of cell cycle synchronization mediated by serum starvation on nuclear reprogramming using iPS cells. Aiming decrease the levels of H3K9me2, cells were treated with UNC0638, a chemical probe that works as a specific inhibitor of the histone methyltransferases G9a and its counterpartner GLP. Our results showed that MSC are suitable to be used as nuclear donors on SCNT procedures, however, in spite of differences on gene expression comparing with fibroblasts, the embryonic developmental rates were not improved. On the second experiment, cells privated of fetal calf serum produced more iPS cells colonies than control cells, whereas cells treated with UNC did not show differences when compared with untreated cells. Lastly, UNC treated donor cells treated produced cloned zygotes with lower levels of DNA methylation compared to zygotes derivated from untreated cells. The results presented here will contribute to the better understanding of the epigenetic mechanisms involved on bovine nuclear reprogramming

O estudo de mutações genéticas como causa das cardiomiopatias teve início com a descoberta de mutações em proteínas sarcoméricas que levavam à Cardiomiopatia Hipertrófica, desde então, alterações em diversos genes, de proteínas contráteis ou não, foram descobertas e listadas como a responsável pelo desenvolvimento de diferentes cardiomiopatias. Estudar o efeito destas mutações nos cardiomiócitos destes pacientes permanecia um desafio devido ao difícil acesso às células cardíacas. Em 2007, a técnica de reprogramação de células somáticas em células-tronco pluripotentes foi descoberta. Pelo fato das células-tronco pluripotentes serem capazes de ser diferenciadas em cardiomiócitos, surgiu-se a possibilidade de se estudar essas células de indivíduos portadores das mutações genéticas. Esta tese teve como objetivo a criação de um modelo celular para estudar a Cardiomiopatia Hipertrófica causada por mutações genéticas. Inicialmente foi estabelecido um protocolo de reprogramação celular para se estabelecer linhagens celulares das células-tronco induzidas de um paciente com mutação no gene MYH7. Tendo as células caracterizadas, elas foram diferenciadas em cardiomiócitos através de um protocolo adaptado de protocolos de diferenciação direta em cardiomiócitos. Os cardiomiócitos gerados apresentaram características moleculares e funcionais semelhantes à cardiomiócitos primários humanos e foi visualizado, através de microscopia eletrônica de transmissão, que os cardiomiócitos do paciente com alteração genética possuíam grande proporção de sarcômeros desorganizados em comparação a cardiomiócitos de indivíduos saudáveis. Em conclusão, o modelo celular desenvolvido sugere ser possível o estudo do efeito de mutações genéticas em Cardiomiopatia Hipertrófica. / The study of genetic mutations as the cause of cardiomyopathies initiates with the discovery of mutations in sarcomeric proteins genes that lead to Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy. Since then, mutations in several genes, coding to sarcomeric proteins or not, were discovered and listed as the reason to the cardiomyopathies. To study the effect of these mutations was a challenge due the difficulty to accesses cardiac cells. In 2007, the technique of reprogramming somatic cells into pluripotent stem cells was discovered. The fact that the pluripotent stem cells are capable of differentiating into cardiomyocytes opened the opportunity to study these cells from individuals with genetic mutations. This thesis aimed to create a cellular model to study Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy caused by genetic mutations. Initially we established a cell reprogramming protocol to establish induced stem cells lines from a patient with mutation in MYH7 gene. Having characterized the cells, they were differentiated into cardiomyocytes using an adapted protocol from direct differentiation protocols. Cardiomyocytes generated showed molecular and functional characteristics similar to human primary cardiomyocytes and were visualized by means of transmission electron microscopy. The patient\'s cardiomyocytes had a large proportion of disorganized sarcomeres compared to cardiomyocytes from healthy individuals. In conclusion, the cell model developed suggests that it is possible to study the effect of genetic mutation in Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy using induced pluripotent stem cells derived cardiomyocytes.

Os vírus são eficazes na transferência de genes em células devido aos seus mecanismos especializados. No entanto, vírus como veículos de entrega de genes podem acarretar em problemas, particularmente quando proposto para reprogramar células somáticas em células-tronco pluripotentes induzidas (iPS) visando utilização terapêutica. No presente estudo, procurou-se desenvolver um sistema alternativo para entregar diretamente proteínas nucleares (Oct4, Sox2, KLF4, e c-Myc) fusionadas com o domínio de transdução de proteína TAT, para promover a reprogramação de fibroblastos embrionários de camundongos (MEF) ou células mesenquimais derivadas de tecido adiposo humano (hASC) em células iPS. Primeiramente o PTD TAT ou TAT- foi fundido a proteína verde fluorescente (GFP) como modelo para prova de princípio e padronização detalhada. Inesperadamente, TAT-GFP produzido e secretado pelas células NIH-3T3 produtora não foi capaz de ser detectado no meio de cultura por verificação quantitativa fluorimétrica, nem foi capaz de ser detectada em células-alvo, por citometria de fluxo, depois de co-cultura em transwells. Essa observação pode ser explicada por: (1) ineficiência desse tipo de célula em secretar proteínas e (2) falta de resistência à clivagem por endoproteases furinas. Para contornar esses fatores limitantes usou-se citometria de fluxo para avaliar as melhores condições para a transfecção por seis diferentes tipos de células (CHO, NIH-3T3, HT1080, HEK-293A, HEK-293t e COS-7) com TAT (modificada para ser resistente à furinas) fundido a GFP. Células 293t-TAT-GFP exibiram a maior eficiência de transfecção e também de secreção. O mesmo pôde ser observado para as seis linhagens celulares expressando fatores de transcrição nucleares TAT, determinados por ELISA. Em seguida, diferentes estratégias de entrega foram testadas. A primeira foi baseada na co-cultura de uma mistura de células produtoras com MEF ou hASC. No entanto, não foi possível observar a reprogramação devido à morte celular. A segunda foi baseada na concentração de meio condicionado de cultura de células por centrifugação usando colunas Amicon, trocando o meio a cada 24h, em quatro ciclos. No entanto, apesar da presença de algumas colônias após 20-30 dias, nenhuma colônia verdadeira iPS foi obtida. Na sequência, as células foram tratadas com cada proteína de forma independente, e as demais foram substituídas pelo retrovírus correspondente, trocando meio a cada 72h, em quatro ciclos. Essa estratégia, apesar de permitir verificar a função de cada proteína, também não resultou em reprogramação. Este achado pode ser explicado pela diferenciação celular induzida por BCS, que também é concentrado no processo. Assim, passou-se a adaptação de \"células produtoras\" em condições de cultura livre de soro, para enriquecer a produção dos fatores nucleares individuais, necessários para a reprogramação. A otimização sistematizada deste processo está sendo realizada em parceria com o IPT e deve resultar em quantidades de proteína de fusão suficientes para o teste final da hipótese proposta. Em conjunto, são apresentados os dados da geração de linhagens celulares expressando estavelmente os vários fatores de transcrição e estratégias para melhorar a eficiência necessária para a produção iPS. Esta nova estratégia garante uma produção eficiente de TAT fundida a fatores nucleares de reprogramação e sua eficácia para promover a reprogramação de células somáticas de maneira livre de vírus merece ser investigado futuramente / Viruses are effective at transferring genes into cells by its specialized mechanisms. However, viruses as gene delivery vehicles entail problems, particularly when proposed to reprogram somatic cells into induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS) for therapeutic uses. In the present study, we aimed to develop an alternative system for directly delivering nuclear proteins (Oct4, Sox2, Klf4, and c-Myc) fused with TAT protein transduction domain to promote reprogramming of mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEF) or human adipose tissue derived mesenchymal cells (hASC) into iPS cells. First TAT- or TAT- PTD was fused to green fluorescent protein (GFP) as a proof of principle model and for detailed standardization. Unexpectedly, TAT-GFP produced and secreted by NIH-3T3 producer cells was not detected in the culture medium by quantitative fluorimetric verification, nor detected on target cells, by flow cytometry, after being co-cultured using transwells. This observation maybe explained by: (1) inefficiency of this cell type to be transfected and to secrete proteins and (2) lack of resistance to furin endoproteases cleavage on Golgi of TAT sequence. To circumvent these limiting factors we used flow cytometer to assess the best conditions for transfection in six different cell types (CHO, NIH-3T3, HT1080, HEK-293A, HEK-293t and COS-7) with TAT- (a modified PTD to be resistant to furin endoproteases) fused to GFP. 293t-TAT-GFP cells displayed the highest transfection efficiency and secretion levels. The same could be observed for the six cell lineages expressing TAT- nuclear transcription factors, determined by ELISA.Next, different delivery strategies were tested for TAT- nuclear transcription factor system. Co-culturing a mix of producer cells with MEF or hASC resulted in not reprogramming and this was associated with cell death. The second was based on the use of microconcentrated conditioned cell culture medium, changed every 24h, in four cycles. However, despite the presence of some emerging colonies after 20-30 days, no true iPS colonies were obtained. Then, cells were treated with each protein independently, and the others were replaced by the corresponding retrovirus, changing cell medium every 72h, in four cycles. We verified the reprogramming potential of each protein, but no true colonies were obtained.One possibility for this finding is that BCS is also concentrated by centrifugation and may induce cell differentiation. To circumvent these problems, we have started the adaptation of producer cells in a serum-free culture condition to enrich the production of the individual factors required for reprogramming. This optimization process is taking place in collaboration with the IPT and shall result in large amounts of the fusion protein to finally test the proposed hypothesis. Altogether, we presented the generation of several cell lines stably expressing the transcription factors and strategies to improve the efficiency required for iPS production. This novel strategy guarantees efficient production of TAT-fused reprogramming nuclear factors and its efficacy to promote somatic cells reprogramming in a virus-free manner deserves to be further investigated

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Alabama at Birmingham, 2008. / Title from PDF title page (viewed on Sept. 17, 2009). Includes bibliographical references.

O estudo de mutações genéticas como causa das cardiomiopatias teve início com a descoberta de mutações em proteínas sarcoméricas que levavam à Cardiomiopatia Hipertrófica, desde então, alterações em diversos genes, de proteínas contráteis ou não, foram descobertas e listadas como a responsável pelo desenvolvimento de diferentes cardiomiopatias. Estudar o efeito destas mutações nos cardiomiócitos destes pacientes permanecia um desafio devido ao difícil acesso às células cardíacas. Em 2007, a técnica de reprogramação de células somáticas em células-tronco pluripotentes foi descoberta. Pelo fato das células-tronco pluripotentes serem capazes de ser diferenciadas em cardiomiócitos, surgiu-se a possibilidade de se estudar essas células de indivíduos portadores das mutações genéticas. Esta tese teve como objetivo a criação de um modelo celular para estudar a Cardiomiopatia Hipertrófica causada por mutações genéticas. Inicialmente foi estabelecido um protocolo de reprogramação celular para se estabelecer linhagens celulares das células-tronco induzidas de um paciente com mutação no gene MYH7. Tendo as células caracterizadas, elas foram diferenciadas em cardiomiócitos através de um protocolo adaptado de protocolos de diferenciação direta em cardiomiócitos. Os cardiomiócitos gerados apresentaram características moleculares e funcionais semelhantes à cardiomiócitos primários humanos e foi visualizado, através de microscopia eletrônica de transmissão, que os cardiomiócitos do paciente com alteração genética possuíam grande proporção de sarcômeros desorganizados em comparação a cardiomiócitos de indivíduos saudáveis. Em conclusão, o modelo celular desenvolvido sugere ser possível o estudo do efeito de mutações genéticas em Cardiomiopatia Hipertrófica. / The study of genetic mutations as the cause of cardiomyopathies initiates with the discovery of mutations in sarcomeric proteins genes that lead to Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy. Since then, mutations in several genes, coding to sarcomeric proteins or not, were discovered and listed as the reason to the cardiomyopathies. To study the effect of these mutations was a challenge due the difficulty to accesses cardiac cells. In 2007, the technique of reprogramming somatic cells into pluripotent stem cells was discovered. The fact that the pluripotent stem cells are capable of differentiating into cardiomyocytes opened the opportunity to study these cells from individuals with genetic mutations. This thesis aimed to create a cellular model to study Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy caused by genetic mutations. Initially we established a cell reprogramming protocol to establish induced stem cells lines from a patient with mutation in MYH7 gene. Having characterized the cells, they were differentiated into cardiomyocytes using an adapted protocol from direct differentiation protocols. Cardiomyocytes generated showed molecular and functional characteristics similar to human primary cardiomyocytes and were visualized by means of transmission electron microscopy. The patient\'s cardiomyocytes had a large proportion of disorganized sarcomeres compared to cardiomyocytes from healthy individuals. In conclusion, the cell model developed suggests that it is possible to study the effect of genetic mutation in Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy using induced pluripotent stem cells derived cardiomyocytes.