Nas últimas décadas tem aumentado o interesse pelos enxertos de pele humana radioesterilizadas, para aplicação principalmente em queimaduras extensas e profundas. Isto se deve ao fato destes enxertos apresentarem rápida aderência e menor potencial antigênico, em comparação com os demais tratamentos utilizados. A proposta deste estudo foi avaliar a histoarquitetura do enxerto de pele humana irradiada com doses de 25 kGy, 50 kGy e não irradiada, durante o processo de reparação tecidual, em camundongos Nude submetidos a enxertia de pele na região dorsal. Três grupos de animais receberam enxertos de pele humana irradiada (25 kGy e 50 kGy) e não irradiada e foram eutanasiados no 3º, 7º e 21º dia após a realização da cirurgia. Após os procedimentos histológicos de rotina, as amostras de tecido foram coradas com hematoxilina e eosina (HE) para a quantificação de queratinócitos, fibroblastos, células de defesa e vasos sanguíneos e a reação de imunofluorescência (IF) foi realizada para a determinação da expressão de colágeno do tipo I humano e do colágeno dos tipos I e III de camundongo. A quantificação, tanto das células quanto dos tipos de colágeno foi realizada por análise de imagem, utilizando o programa Image-Pro PLus 6.0. Os resultados histológicos demostraram que a pele humana irradiação, quando enxertada, influencia o aumento do número de células no local de cicatrização ao longo do tempo, principalmente na dose de 25 kGy, além de proporcionar uma melhor dispersão destas células. No 21º dia, os três grupos de animais com enxertia de pele humana tiveram parte do enxerto incorporado no processo de cicatrização. O grupo não irradiado apresentou maior incorporação do enxerto (43%), porém menor produção de colágeno do tipo III de camundongo (22%). Já os grupos com enxertia de pele irradiada apresentaram menor incorporação do enxerto (6 e 15%), mas com maior produção de colágeno do tipo III de camundongo (35% e 28%, para 25 kGy e 50 kGy, respectivamente). Com este estudo pôde-se concluir que o grupo irradiado a 25 kGy, apresenta maior proliferação celular e formação de vasos,além de melhor remodelamento da região de cicatrização. / Over the last few years it has increased the interest in the human skin grafts radio sterilized for application mainly in extensive and deep burns. Because these grafts quickly grip and present antigenic lower potential, compared with other treatments used. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the histoarchitecture of human skin grafts irradiated with doses 25 kGy, 50 kGy and non-irradiated during the pepair tissue process in nude mice submitted by skin grafting in the dorsal region. Three groups of animals received irradiated human skin grafts (25 kGy and 50 kGy) and non-irradiated and were euthanized on the 3rd, 7th and 21th day after the surgery. Indeed, routine histologic procedures, tissue samples were stained with hematoxylin and eosin (HE) for quantification of keratinocytes, fibroblasts, immune cells and blood vessels and immunofluorescence (IF) was performed to determine the expression human collagen type I and collagen type I and III mouse. Therefore, quantification of both the cells and the collagen types was performed by image analysis using Image-Pro Plus 6.0 software. Histologic results demonstrated at a dose of 25 kGy that human skin irradiation when grafted influences the increase in the number of cells in wound site over time and it provides better dispersion of these cells. In addition, on the 21st day, three groups of animals with human skin graft were embedded part of the graft in the healing process. On the other hand, the group not irradiated showed greater incorporation of the graft (43 %), but less production of collagen type III mouse (22 %). Since the groups irradiated skin graft showed lower graft incorporation (6 and 15%), but with greater production of collagen type III mice (35 % and 28 % to 25 kGy and 50 kGy, respectively). In conclusion, this study presented that the group irradiated to 25 kGy and it has a higher cell proliferation and vessel formation, and better remodeling of the healing area.

Les secrétions de peau des grenouilles néo tropicales et sud américaines contiennent un large éventail de molécules biologiquement actives et notamment les peptides ayant des propriétés antimicrobiennes. Disposant de sécrétions de peau de la grenouille sud américaine du genre Phyllomedusa bicolor, nous avons recherché la présence molécules ayant des activités antitumoraleet angiostatique. Deux peptides cationiques antimicrobiens membres de la famille des dermaseptine (Drs) ont été identifies comme possédant ces activités: les dermaseptines B2 et B3 (Drs B2 et Drs B3). Ces deux peptides sont ainsi capables d’inhiber la prolifération et la formation de colonies de différentes lignées de cellules tumorales, la prolifération des cellules endothéliales ainsi que la formation de pseudo-capillaires in vitro. D’autre part, la Drs B2 est également capable d’inhiber la croissance des cellules tumorales dans un modèle in vivo dexénogreffe. L’exploration du mécanisme d’action de la Drs B2 sur les cellules tumorales PC3 nous a permis de mettre en évidence un rapide re-largage de la LDH cytosolique, une absence d’activation des caspases-3, -9 et -8 ainsi que l’absence de modification du potentiel de membrane mitochondriale. L’ensemble de ces données semble indiquer que la Drs B2 n’induit pas la mort de cellules tumorales par un mécanisme d’apoptose mais plus probablement par une fixation à la surface de cellules entraînant une lyse rapide de la membrane plasmique des cellules conduisant à une mort par nécrose. En conclusion, la Drs B2 est une molécule qui cible préférentiellement les cellules tumorales pour des concentrations efficaces de l’ordre du micro molaire, ce qui en fait un outil pharmacologique potentiellement intéressant pour le traitement du cancer. / The skin secretions of neotropical and South American frogs contains large amounts of a widerange of biological active molecules. Commonly studied are peptides with antimicrobialactivities. In this study we have postulated that the skin secretions from the South Americanfrog Phyllomedusa bicolor contain molecules with antitumor and angiostatic activities. Twowell known cationic alpha helical antimicrobial peptides of the dermaseptin (Drs) family wereidentified to have these activities: Drs B2 and Drs B3. Both peptides inhibited proliferationand colony formation of various tumor cell lines, and the proliferation and capillary formationof endothelial cell in vitro. Furthermore, Drs B2 inhibited tumor growth in a PC3 xenograftmodel in vivo.Research on the mechanism of action of Drs B2 on tumor cells PC3 demonstrated a rapidincreasing amount of cytosolic LDH, no activation of caspase-3, -9 or -8, and no changes inmitochondrial membrane potential. These data together indicate that Drs B2 does not act byapoptosis but possibly could fix to the tumor cell surface, disrupt the cellular plasmamembrane leading to its death by necrosis.In conclusion, Drs B2 could be an new interesting and promising pharmacological leadermolecule for the treatment of cancer. Its antitumor and angiostatic activities, especially itsselective targeting of tumoral cells with micro molar concentrations propose Drs B2 as anpotential candidate for the development of a new efficient targeting therapy against cancer.

Diabetes mellitus tipo 1 resulta da produção insuficiente ou da ausência de insulina, decorrente da destruição de células β, por mecanismo auto-imune. O tratamento deste tipo de diabetes consiste na administração subcutânea de insulina exógena. Recentemente, foi demonstrado que o transplante de ilhotas pancreáticas é capaz de tornar o portador de diabetes tipo 1 independente de insulina exógena. Apesar do sucesso alcançado, a necessidade permanente de imunossupressão é uma das principais barreiras para que o transplante de ilhotas possa ser realizado em número maior de pacientes. Assim, o desenvolvimento de novas metodologias que evitem a rejeição do enxerto, como o macro e o microencapsulamento de ilhotas, continua sendo crucial para o estabelecimento definitivo do transplante de ilhotas como opção terapêutica no tratamento de diabetes tipo 1. Neste trabalho, foi padronizado um modelo animal para avaliar, in vivo, a funcionalidade das ilhotas pancreáticas humanas isoladas e purificadas na Unidade de Ilhotas Pancreáticas Humanas do IQUSP. Ratos NIH nude foram tornados diabéticos através de injeção de estreptozotocina para o implante de ilhotas pancreáticas humanas nuas e microencapsuladas. As ilhotas foram microencapsuladas em Biodritina, um novo heteropolissacarídeo patenteado e cedido ao nosso laboratório, tendo sido possível padronizar a produção de microcápsulas uniformes e homogêneas, com tamanho médio entre 400µm e 600 µm. A reversão do diabetes ocorreu em 24% dos ratos nude transplantados com ilhotas pancreáticas humanas nuas. Por outro lado, não observamos reversão do diabetes quando ilhotas encapsuladas foram implantadas, apesar do teste de atividade funcional realizado in vitro ter demonstrado que elas continuam a secretar insulina e a responder ao estímulo com glicose após o encapsulamento. Para elucidar este efeito, cápsulas vazias foram implantadas em ratos nude e em ratos imunocompetentes, os quais desenvolveram processo inflamatório acompanhado de processo fibrótico no local do implante. Estudo imuno-histoquímico está sendo realizado para esclarecer a natureza e a intensidade destes processos. / Type 1 diabetes mellitus results from insufficient or absence of insulin production, as a consequence of destruction of pancreatic β cells, by an auto-imune mechanism. Treatment for this type of diabetes consists of subcutaneous administration of exogenous insulin. Recently, it has been demonstrated that pancreatic islet cell transplantation is capable of rendering type I diabetic patients independent of exogenous insulin. However, in spite of the success achieved, permanent immunosuppression is still required, being the main barrier to expand this treatment to a large number of patients. Therefore, development of new technologies, such as islet macro and microencapsulation to avoid rejection of the tissue implanted, is still crucial for definitive establishment of islet transplantation as a therapeutic alternative for type I diabetes. In the present work, an animal model was established for in vivo evaluation of the functional ability of human pancreatic islets, which were isolated and purified at the Human Pancreatic Islet Unit of the University of São Paulo Chemistry Institute. Diabetes was induced in NIH nude rats through streptozotocin injection followed by implantation of naked or microencapsulated human pancreatic islets. Biodritin, a new and patented heteropolyssaccaride was used to microencapsulate the islets. The production of uniform and homogeneous microcapsules with diameters in the range of 400µm e 600 µm was successfully established. Reversion of diabetes occurred in 24% of the nude rats transplanted with human pancreatic islets. On the other hand, no reversion of diabetes was observed when encapsulated islets were implanted, although their functional activity in vitro indicated that they secreted insulin and responded to glucose stimulation upon encapsulation. In order to elucidate this effect, empty capsules were implanted in nude rat and in immunocompetent rats, both of which developed an inflammatory process accompanied by a fibrotic process in the site of the implant. Immunohistochemical studies are underway to address the nature and the intensity of these inflammatory processes.

Diabetes mellitus tipo 1 resulta da produção insuficiente ou da ausência de insulina, decorrente da destruição de células β, por mecanismo auto-imune. O tratamento deste tipo de diabetes consiste na administração subcutânea de insulina exógena. Recentemente, foi demonstrado que o transplante de ilhotas pancreáticas é capaz de tornar o portador de diabetes tipo 1 independente de insulina exógena. Apesar do sucesso alcançado, a necessidade permanente de imunossupressão é uma das principais barreiras para que o transplante de ilhotas possa ser realizado em número maior de pacientes. Assim, o desenvolvimento de novas metodologias que evitem a rejeição do enxerto, como o macro e o microencapsulamento de ilhotas, continua sendo crucial para o estabelecimento definitivo do transplante de ilhotas como opção terapêutica no tratamento de diabetes tipo 1. Neste trabalho, foi padronizado um modelo animal para avaliar, in vivo, a funcionalidade das ilhotas pancreáticas humanas isoladas e purificadas na Unidade de Ilhotas Pancreáticas Humanas do IQUSP. Ratos NIH nude foram tornados diabéticos através de injeção de estreptozotocina para o implante de ilhotas pancreáticas humanas nuas e microencapsuladas. As ilhotas foram microencapsuladas em Biodritina, um novo heteropolissacarídeo patenteado e cedido ao nosso laboratório, tendo sido possível padronizar a produção de microcápsulas uniformes e homogêneas, com tamanho médio entre 400µm e 600 µm. A reversão do diabetes ocorreu em 24% dos ratos nude transplantados com ilhotas pancreáticas humanas nuas. Por outro lado, não observamos reversão do diabetes quando ilhotas encapsuladas foram implantadas, apesar do teste de atividade funcional realizado in vitro ter demonstrado que elas continuam a secretar insulina e a responder ao estímulo com glicose após o encapsulamento. Para elucidar este efeito, cápsulas vazias foram implantadas em ratos nude e em ratos imunocompetentes, os quais desenvolveram processo inflamatório acompanhado de processo fibrótico no local do implante. Estudo imuno-histoquímico está sendo realizado para esclarecer a natureza e a intensidade destes processos. / Type 1 diabetes mellitus results from insufficient or absence of insulin production, as a consequence of destruction of pancreatic β cells, by an auto-imune mechanism. Treatment for this type of diabetes consists of subcutaneous administration of exogenous insulin. Recently, it has been demonstrated that pancreatic islet cell transplantation is capable of rendering type I diabetic patients independent of exogenous insulin. However, in spite of the success achieved, permanent immunosuppression is still required, being the main barrier to expand this treatment to a large number of patients. Therefore, development of new technologies, such as islet macro and microencapsulation to avoid rejection of the tissue implanted, is still crucial for definitive establishment of islet transplantation as a therapeutic alternative for type I diabetes. In the present work, an animal model was established for in vivo evaluation of the functional ability of human pancreatic islets, which were isolated and purified at the Human Pancreatic Islet Unit of the University of São Paulo Chemistry Institute. Diabetes was induced in NIH nude rats through streptozotocin injection followed by implantation of naked or microencapsulated human pancreatic islets. Biodritin, a new and patented heteropolyssaccaride was used to microencapsulate the islets. The production of uniform and homogeneous microcapsules with diameters in the range of 400µm e 600 µm was successfully established. Reversion of diabetes occurred in 24% of the nude rats transplanted with human pancreatic islets. On the other hand, no reversion of diabetes was observed when encapsulated islets were implanted, although their functional activity in vitro indicated that they secreted insulin and responded to glucose stimulation upon encapsulation. In order to elucidate this effect, empty capsules were implanted in nude rat and in immunocompetent rats, both of which developed an inflammatory process accompanied by a fibrotic process in the site of the implant. Immunohistochemical studies are underway to address the nature and the intensity of these inflammatory processes.

Doctor Scientiae (Odontology) - DSc(Odont) / Investigations of pathoses of the oral cavity encompass a relatively wide spectrum of diseases, abnormalities, tumours and tumour-like conditions affecting and occurring in the dental hard tissues and supportive structures, the bony skeleton of the face and the soft tissues of the. mouth. It involves a study of the normal - oral biology - and the abnormal - oral pathology. Oral pathology is a relatively new specialized field of dental science and practice. In South Africa, prior to the nineteen-fifties, research in oral pathology was primarily directed towards dental disease. Two people - Julius Staz of the University of the Witwatersrand and Tony Ockerse of the University of Pretoria - were the doyens in this field and made major contributions to dental science. Staz reported on the status of dental caries and tumorous malformations of teeth and Ockerse on the prevalence and severity of fluorosis in South Africa. During the fifties a second generation of dental surgeons, who were interested in soft tissue, bone and tumour pathology, emerged. They ,were Bertie Cohen, George Baikie, Mervyn Shear and John Lemmer who, at that time, were all from the University of the Witwatersrand. Bertie Cohen later joined the Royal College of Surgeons of England. Mervyn Shear led the field with his research on cysts of the oral cavity. The practice of oral pathology, moulded on anatomical pathology, was established in the early sixties and Mervyn Shear and the author, from the University of Pretoria, became known as oral pathologists. Research at that early stage comprised clinical and histological observations of oral lesions, diseases, tumours and tumour-like conditions. Observation techniques became more sophisticated during the sixties and seventies with the advent of histochemistry and electronmicroscopy. The next major development which blossomed in the seventies and early eighties was the application of epidemiological methods in the study of disease. Epidemiological principles enabled the correct recording of profiles of oral pathoses in the community. Much was learnt about the prevalence and distribution of oral conditions. The application and use of experimental models, especially laboratory animals, became popular in the eighties. Amongst others, a germfree animal unit was established in the Faculty of Dentistry of the University of Stellenbosch enabling workers to study the microbiological aetiology of dental and oral disease. Morphological observations of tumours and mucosal lesions were further enhanced during this period with the development of immunocytochemistry Experimental cell studies by means of cell culture techniques, commenced late in the eighties and was established in the early nineties. These models fostered molecular biology techniques which have become useful tools for the investigation of the aetiology of disease at a cellular and molecular level. At present molecular techniques are also popular in other spheres of oral pathology such as microbiological, immunological and oncological research. The author's first contact with oral pathology as a subject, forming an important and interesting part of dentistry, was the prescribed textbook "Oral and Dental Diseases", 2nd ed., 1951., by HH Stone of the University of Liverpool in the United Kingdom. Subsequently an enduring interest in the subject and research was cultivated by three teachers and colleagues, Ivor Kramer, Robert Bradlow and Mervyn Shear. Ivor Kramer, Professor of Oral Pathology in the Eastman Dental Institute of the University of London was a superb postgraduate teacher of oral pathology, and revelled in research. The Dean of the Institute, Professor Sir Robert Bradlow was a clinician and splendid diagnostician. He correlated the clinical and histopathological features of oral diseases. These two teachers set the course in oral pathology for the author during his postgraduate studies. In the sixties, after a spell at the University of Pretoria, the author joined Professor Mervyn Shear at the University of Witwatersrand. It was here that the author could further his skills of presenting lectures and research papers in an orderely manner and strengthen his love of research. The research carried out by the author reflects to a large extent the development of research in oral pathology in South Africa since 1960.. It includes studies of diseases and lesions of the oral mucosa, the dental hard tissues, tumours of the oral cavity and jaws and forensic odonto-stomatology. To date 139 articles have been published and accepted in scientific journals of which I was the first or co-author. The research presented here, however, comprises only those studies related to pathoses of the oral mucosa as it occurs in South Africa. Fifty-four papers and two abstracts are submitted. The papers are grouped into two divisions which include studies on (I) normal human oral and ectocervical mucosa and (II), those related to pathoses of the oral mucosa. The latter is subdivided into sections on: the profile of lesions of the oral mucosa in the community; cytological, clinical and morphological features of lesions of the oral mucosa; and studies on the aetiology of lesions of the oral mucosa. Each division and section is preceded by a declaration as to the contribution of the author or co-authors and a précis of the aims, objects and research findings. In the introduction of the précis statements are made explaining the aims of the study. These statements are not referenced because they appear in the respective articles.

Dissertation (Ph.D.)--University of South Florida, 2008. / Title from PDF of title page. Document formatted into pages; contains 201 pages. Includes vita. Includes bibliographical references.