INTRODUÇÃO: Osteopontina (OPN) é uma glicoproteína presente em tecidos e fluidos orgânicos e envolvida em vários processos patológicos que incluem inflamação, proliferação celular, invasão da matriz extracelular, progressão tumoral e metástase. Em pacientes (pts) portadores de carcinoma epidermóide de cabeça e pescoço (CECCP), OPN tem sido associada a uma maior agressividade tumoral e empregada como marcador prognóstico. Nós investigamos o valor prognóstico e preditivo da OPN sérica em pacientes portadores de CECCP tratados de forma uniforme. MÉTODOS: Estudo longitudinal prospectivo de 47 pts portadores de CECCP localmente avançado e irressecável submetidos à quimioterapia e radioterapia. OPN sérica foi determinada pelo método ELISA (kit 1 com17 pts e kit 2 com 30 pts) com coleta realizada antes e após o término do tratamento e estudada a relação entre OPN, categorizada como alta ou baixa em relação ao valor mediano, e as características clínico-patológicas, resposta ao tratamento, sobrevida global (SG) e sobrevida livre de progressão (SLP). RESULTADOS: A OPN sérica mediana dos pacientes determinada pelo kit 1 (em ng/ml) foi de 2,1 e 1,9 pré e pós-tratamento, respectivamente; no kit 2 (em ng/ml) foi de 69,5 e 87,9 pré e pós-tratamento, respectivamente. Pacientes portadores de tumores de orofaringe foram mais freqüentemente associados a baixos níveis séricos de OPN pós-tratamento, em comparação com outros sub-sítios (p=0,03). Observada tendência à associação entre os valores séricos baixos de osteopontina pós-tratamento e a resposta tratamento (p=0,06). Houve associação entre os valores elevados da osteopontina pós-tratamento e menor SLP (p=0,09, log rank), com medianas de 11,9 meses e 14,5 meses, conforme valores séricos de OPN pós-tratamento altos e baixos, respectivamente. Não houve associação dos valores séricos de OPN pré e pós-tratamento e a SG (p=0,19 e p= 0,10, respectivamente). CONCLUSÃO: Neste grupo de pacientes portadores de CECCP, sugere-se que OPN sérica baixa após a quimioradioterapia associa-se à resposta ao tratamento e melhor SLP. / INTRODUCTION: Osteopontin (OPN) is a glycoprotein present in tissues and body fluids involved in several pathological processes that include inflammation, cell proliferation, invasion of the extracellular matrix, tumor progression and metastasis. In head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) patients, OPN has been associated with greater tumor aggressiveness and used as a prognostic marker. We investigated the prognostic and predictive value of plasma OPN in homogeneously treated (HNSCC) patients. METHODS: Longitudinal prospective study of 47 patients with locally advanced and inoperable HNSCC treated with exclusive platin based concomitant chemoradiotherapy. Plasma OPN was determined by ELISA (n=14 kit I, n=32 kit II) pre and postreatment and correlated with tumor response, overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS). RESULTS: Median OPN levels in ng/ml were 2,1 and 1,9 pre and postreatment, respectively, by kit I and 69,5 and 87,9 by kit II. Patients were categorized as OPN low or high, using the median as a cut-off point. Patients with oropharynx tumors, as compared to other subsites, were more frequently categorized as low OPN (p = 0,03). A low postreatment OPN level was associated with tumor response (p = 0,06) and a high postreatment OPN level was associated with poor PFS, 11.9 vs. 14.5 months (p=0.09, log rank). Mean OS was 16.2 and 13.7 months in low and high postreatment OPN pts, respectively (p=0.10, log rank). CONCLUSIONS: In this group of HNSCC patients, it is suggested that a low plasma OPN after chemoradiotherapy is associated with a lower response rate and a worse PFS.

O trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar e quantificar o tecido ósseo neoformado, a distribuição e a importância das proteínas não colágenas (osteocalcina, osteopontina e osteonectina) no processo de reparação tecidual do alvéolo dental de ratos Wistar idosos após exodontia. Para sua realização, foram utilizados 80 Rattus Norvegicus albinus, linhagem Wistar, machos. Os animais foram distribuídos em dois grupos: Grupo Controle, correspondente a animais com 60 dias de vida; e Grupo Experimental correspondente aos animais com 2 anos de vida (700 dias em média). Cada grupo foi dividido em 4 subgrupos de 10 animais em cada grupo. Os animais foram submetidos à exodontia do incisivo superior direito e foram sacrificados com 05, 15, 21 e 28 dias de pós-operatório. Após a dissecção, 5 amostras foram submetidas à análise por microscopia convencional com coloração por Hematoxilina e Eosina e análise da imunohistoquímica e 5 amostras para análise por RT-PCR. Os resultados mostraram que o processo de envelhecimento não alterou a cronologia do reparo ósseo alveolar e não promoveu maior remodelação do alvéolo dental. A osteocalcina não apresentou atuação importante nos períodos pós-operatórios estudados. A osteonectina apresentou-se importante no processo de reparo, não sofrendo alterações no início da reparação óssea, apresentando marcação mais intensa durante a maturação óssea entre 21 e 28 dias de pós-operatório no grupo controle e diminuição da marcação no grupo experimental aos 28 dias de pósoperatório. O envelhecimento proporcionou uma diminuição da imunomarcação da osteonectina e demonstrou marcações positivas principalmente em osteoblastos e matriz mineralizada. A osteopontina apresentou-se importante no processo de reparo ósseo durante todos os períodos pós-operatório, apresentando marcações em osteoblastos, matriz osteóide, osteócitos e matriz mineralizada, apresentando maior marcação dos tipos celulares do no grupo experimental aos 28 de pós-operatório. Apesar desses achados, novos estudos são necessários para o melhor entendimento do processo de reparo ósseo alveolar em ratos adultos e idosos. / The aim of the present study was to evaluate and quantify the newly formed bone tissue, as well as the distribution and the importance of non-collagen proteins (osteocalcin, osteopontin and osteonectin) in the process of dental alveolar repair in Wistar aged rats submitted to tooth extraction. To perform that, about 80 male Rattus Norvegicus albinus, Wistar strain, were randomly distributed into two groups: Control Group corresponding to 60 days old rats; and Experimental Group corresponding to 2 years old animals (about 700 days old). Both groups were later subdivided into 4 subgroups consisting of 10 animals each. All animals were submitted to the upright incisive tooth extraction and were euthanized 05, 15, 21 and 28 days after the tooth extraction surgery. After the dissection, five samples from each subgroup underwent conventional microscopy analysis by hematoxylin-eosin stain as well as immunohistochemistry. Bone tissue from other five samples of each groups were subjected to Real Time RT-PCR analysis of non-collagen proteins expression The results obtained suggest that aging process was not able to change either the chronology of alveolar bone repair or the remodeling of dental alveolus. Osteocalcin did not present any important action in the post-operation periods evaluated. On the other hand, osteonectin showed an important role during the repair process, since its expression was increased in the control group and decreased in comparison to the experimental group at 28 days. Osteopontin was important in the bone repair in all times evaluated, since it was present in osteoblasts, osteiod matrix, osteocytes and mineralized matrix, being even more stained at 21 days after the surgery. Finally, besides the results obtained in the present work, other studies are necessary to better understand the alveolar bone repair in adult and aged rats.

The molecular mechanisms underlying susceptibility to severe respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection remain poorly understood. Herein, we report on the role of osteopontin (OPN) in regulation of RSV infection in human epithelial cells and how interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β), a cytokine secreted soon after RSV infection, when persistently expressed can induce OPN expression leading to increased viral infection. We first compared OPN expression in two human epithelial cell lines: HEK-293 and HEp-2. In contrast to HEp-2, HEK-293 expresses low levels of pro-caspase-1 resulting in decreased IL-1β expression in response to RSV infection. We found a correlation between low IL-1β levels and a delay in induction of OPN expression in RSV-infected HEK-293 cells compared to HEp-2. This phenomenon could partially explain the high susceptibility of HEp-2 cells to RSV infection versus the moderate susceptibility of HEK-293 cells. Also, HEK-293 cells expressing low levels of pro-caspase-1 exhibit decreased IL-1β expression and delayed OPN expression in response to RSV infection. HEK-293 cells incubated with human rIL-1β showed a dose-dependent increase in OPN expression upon RSV infection. Also, incubation with rOPN increased RSV viral load. Moreover, HEp-2 cells or mice infected with a mucogenic RSV strain RSV-L19F showed elevated levels of OPN in contrast to mice infected with the laboratory RSV strain rA2. This correlated with elevated levels of OPN following infection with RSV-L19F compared to rA2. Together, these results demonstrate that increased OPN expression is regulated in part by IL-1β, and the interplay between IL-1β and OPN signaling has a pivotal role in the spread of RSV infection.

Osteopontin, also called cytokine Eta-1, is a multifunctional protein containing Arg-Gly-Asp-Ser (RODS) cell-binding sequence. It interacts with αvβ1, αvβ3 and αvβ5 integrins and CD44 receptors. OPN is suggested to play a role during inflammation via the recruitment and retention of macrophages and T-cells to inflamed sites. OPN regulates the production of inflammatory cytokines and nitric oxide in macrophages. In this review, we will discuss diverse roles of OPN related to cardiovascular diseases, including atherosclerosis, valvular stenosis, hypertrophy, myocardial infarction and heart failure.

No / Ran is a small ras-related GTPase that controls the nucleocytoplasmic exchange of macromolecules across the nuclear envelope. It binds to chromatin early during nuclear formation and has important roles during the eukaryotic cell cycle, where it regulates mitotic spindle assembly, nuclear envelope formation and cell cycle checkpoint control. Like other GTPases, Ran relies on the cycling between GTP-bound and GDP-bound conformations to interact with effector proteins and regulate these processes. In nucleocytoplasmic transport, Ran shuttles across the nuclear envelope through nuclear pores. It is concentrated in the nucleus by an active import mechanism where it generates a high concentration of RanGTP by nucleotide exchange. It controls the assembly and disassembly of a range of complexes that are formed between Ran-binding proteins and cellular cargo to maintain rapid nuclear transport. Ran also has been identified as an essential protein in nuclear envelope formation in eukaryotes. This mechanism is dependent on importin-β, which regulates the assembly of further complexes important in this process, such as Nup107–Nup160. A strong body of evidence is emerging implicating Ran as a key protein in the metastatic progression of cancer. Ran is overexpressed in a range of tumors, such as breast and renal, and these perturbed levels are associated with local invasion, metastasis and reduced patient survival. Furthermore, tumors with oncogenic KRAS or PIK3CA mutations are addicted to Ran expression, which yields exciting future therapeutic opportunities.

La scoliose idiopathique de l’adolescent (SIA) est une maladie dont la cause est encore inconnue, et qui génère des déformations complexes du rachis, du thorax et du bassin. La prévalence est de 4% dans la population adolescente au Québec. Cette pathologie affecte surtout les filles durant leur poussée de croissance pubertaire. Parmi plusieurs hypothèses émises, l’hypothèse neuroendocrinienne, impliquant une déficience en mélatonine comme agent étiologique de la SIA a suscité beaucoup d’intérêt. Cette hypothèse découle du fait que l’ablation de la glande pinéale chez le poulet produit une scoliose ressemblant sous plusieurs aspects à la pathologie humaine. La pertinence biologique de la mélatonine dans la scoliose est controversée, étant donné que la majorité des études chez l’homme n’ont pu mettre en évidence une diminution significative des niveaux de mélatonine circulante chez les patients scoliotiques. Nous avons démontré un dysfonctionnement dans la signalisation de la mélatonine au niveau des tissus musculo-squelettiques chez une série de patients atteints de SIA (Moreau & coll. 2004). Nous avons confirmé ce défaut chez un plus grand nombre de patients ainsi qu’en utilisant une nouvelle technologie (spectroscopie cellulaire diélectrique) n’ayant pas recours à un prétraitement des cellules donnant ainsi des résultats plus précis. Cette technique a montré la présence des mêmes groupes fonctionnels identifiés auparavant par la technique d’AMPc. Le dysfonctionnement de la signalisation de la mélatonine est dû à une phosphorylation accrue des protéines G inhibitrices. Ce défaut pourrait être causé par un déséquilibre de l’activité des kinases et phosphatases capables de réguler la phosphorylation des protéines Gi. Parmi ces kinases, PKCd a suscité initialement notre intérêt vu qu’elle peut phosphoryler les protéines Gi. Nous avons démontré que cette kinase interagit avec le récepteur de la mélatonine MT2 et que cette interaction varie selon le groupe fonctionnel auquel un patient SIA appartient. Par la suite nos travaux se sont dirigés vers la découverte d’effecteurs cellulaires régulés par la mélatonine et plus spécifiquement l’ostéopontine (OPN), compte tenu de son rôle présumé comme mécanorécepteur et dans certaines structures jouant un rôle dans la proprioception, le contrôle postural et la fonction vestibulaire. L’OPN a été identifiée initialement par sa surexpression au niveau protéique et de l’ARNm dans la musculature paraspinale uniquement chez les poulets scoliotiques. Nous avons également utilisé un autre modèle animal, la souris C57Bl/6 naturellement déficiente en mélatonine. Nous avons généré des souris bipèdes en amputant les membres antérieurs de souris OPN KO, des souris CD44 KO ainsi que des souris contrôles C57Bl/6. Nos résultats ont montré qu’aucune souris OPN KO (n=50) ou CD44 KO (n=60) ne développe la maladie, contrairement aux souris contrôles C57Bl/6 (n=50) dont 45% deviennent scoliotiques. Ces résultats nous ont poussés à investiguer le rôle de cette protéine dans l’étiopathogenèse de la maladie chez l’humain. Nos résultats ont montré une augmentation des niveaux circulants d’OPN chez les patients atteints de la SIA et que l’élevation en OPN corrélait avec la sévérité de la maladie. Nos études chez les enfants asymptomatiques nés de parents scoliotiques et qui sont plus à risque de développer la maladie ont aussi démontré des différences significatives au niveau des concentrations en OPN en comparaison avec les sujets sains. En effet, plusieurs enfants à risque présentaient des niveaux d’OPN supérieurs à 800ng/ml suggérant un plus grand risque de développer une scoliose indiquant aussi que l’augmentation des niveaux en OPN précède le début de la maladie. / Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) is the most common form of scoliosis that affects a significant number of young teenagers, mainly females. Historically, several hypotheses were postulated to explain the aetiology of AIS. The neuroendocrine hypothesis involving a melatonin deficiency as the source for AIS has generated great interest. This hypothesis stems from the fact that experimental pinealectomy in chickens, and more recently in rats maintained in a bipedal mode, produces scoliosis. The biological relevance of melatonin in idiopathic scoliosis is controversial since no significant decrease in circulating melatonin level has been observed in a majority of studies. Analysis of melatonin signal transduction in musculoskeletal tissues of AIS patients demonstrated for the first time a defect occurring in a cell autonomous manner in different cell types isolated from AIS patients suffering of the most severe form of that disease. We confirmed this defect by analysing more AIS patients and by using a new technology (cellular dielectric spectroscopy) which gives more precise results because it allows the measurement and analysis of receptor activation without the need to pretreat cells. This technique showed the same functional classification into three functional groups as identified by cAMP technique. Melatonin signalling dysfunction is caused by phosphorylation of serine residues affecting the activity of G inhibitory (Gi) proteins normally associated with melatonin receptors present at the cell surface. This defect could be caused by an imbalance in the activity of kinases or phosphatases that can regulate Gi proteins phosphorylation. Among these kinases PKCd was initially of interest because it has been shown that it can phosphorylate Gi proteins. We showed that this kinase interacts with melatonin receptor MT2 and that this interaction varies from one functional group to another. Thereafter, we moved one step further to characterise downstream effector regulated by melatonin. This work has led to the identification of osteopontin (OPN) which is a relevant candidate because it can act as a mecanosensor and it is involved in proprioception, postural and vestibular control. OPN was initially identified in pinealectomized chickens where it was shown to be upregulated at protein and mRNA levels only in scoliotic ones. We also used another animal model, C57Bl/6 mice which are naturally deficient in melatonin. We generated bipedal mice by amputating forelimbs of OPN knock-out mice, CD44 knock-out mice as well as C57Bl/6 wild type mice. Our results showed that all bipedal mice OPN Knock-out or CD44 Knock-out did not develop scoliosis contrasting with C57Bl/6 wt mice where 45% develop scoliosis. These results prompted us to investigate the role of this protein in scoliosis etiopathogenesis in humans. We showed an increase in the OPN circulating levels in AIS patients and this elevation correlates with disease severity. Elevated plasma OPN levels were also found in the asymptomatic at-risk group (offspring of scoliotic patients), suggesting that these changes precede scoliosis onset.

Mass spectrometry is being increasingly used in biomarker research mainly due to its ability to achieve high selectivity coupled with high sensitivity. This dissertation focuses on quantitative mass spectrometric investigations of two protein biomarkers i.e. serum thymidine kinase 1 (TK1) and human osteopontin (OPN). First part of this research was focused on developing a liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method for measuring the activity of TK1 in serum by monitoring the conversion of a TK1 specific exogenous substrate, 3’-deoxy-3’-fluorothymidine (FLT), to its mono-phosphorylated form 3’-deoxy-3’-fluorothymidine monophosphate (FLT-MP). A method to quantify FLT-MP on LC-MS/MS was developed and validated. The method was linear over the range of 2.5-2000 ng/mL with a mean correlation coefficient of 0.9935. Using the developed method, serum TK1 activity was measured in serum from hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients and age-matched controls under standardized conditions. A sub-population of the HCC patient samples showed an almost 20-fold enhanced TK1 activity compared to the controls. A method was developed and validated for quantifying human osteopontin from plasma using immunoaffinity isolations coupled with microflow liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry (MFLC-MS/MS). A biologically relevant tryptic peptide ‘GDSVVYGLR’ which is unique to hOPN was identified and used as a signature peptide for this method. The method was validated over a range of 25-600 ng/mL. The performance of the method was compliant with USFDA validation guidance. In addition, a stable isotope labeled (SIL) peptide GDSVVYGLR* and an extended SIL peptide TYDGRGDSVV*YGLRSKSKKF’ were evaluated as internal standards (IS) to account for signature peptide digestion instability and variability. In the digestion variability studies, the use of extended SIL peptide as internal standard limited the total variability within ±30%. Alternatively, when SIL peptide was used as internal standard the variability ranged from -67.4% to +50.6 %. The applicability of the validated method was demonstrated by analyzing plasma samples obtained from 10 healthy individuals and 10 breast cancer patients. More than 9-fold increase in the mean plasma hOPN concentration was seen in 30% of the breast cancer patient samples (n=10) in comparison to the healthy volunteer samples. In a proof of concept investigation, a stable isotope labeled signature peptide was evaluated as an internal standard to compensate for immunocapture variability during quantification of human osteopontin (hOPN) by immunoaffinity coupled LC-MS/MS. Immunocapture variability was induced by varying the antibody amount per well. The immunocapture variability ranged from -80.9 % to +77.0 % when the IS was added after immunocapture and from -37.5% to +20.3% when the IS was added before immunocapture. The lower variability demonstrates the ability of SIL-IS peptide to compensate for variation during immunocapture.

Resumo: A osteopontina (OPN) é uma proteína produzida por diversas células e tem grande implicação com o desenvolvimento de tumores mamários e na disseminação de metástases em humanos. Em cães há poucos estudos envolvendo neoplasias e OPN. Neste trabalho objetiva-se determinar as concentrações de OPN sérica em cães sem a presença de tumores mamários (GC) ou com presença de carcinoma mamário ou carcinoma em tumor misto, com e sem metástase macro ou microscopicamente evidente. Utilizou-se o Ensaio Imunoenzimático Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA), a partir do plasma colhido antes e após a ressecção cirúrgica do tumor, em animais com neoplasia, e apenas em um momento (basal) nos animais sadios. As informações do ensaio, assim como os dados histopatológicos, hematológico e de bioquímica sérica foram confrontadas e analisadas por análise de variância e teste de Tukey. Os cães do GC obtiveram média de OPN de 2499 ± 1159 ng/d, com amplitude de referência entre 4770 e 227 ng/dL. Os cães com presença de tumor, quando em um único grande grupo, obtiveram uma diminuição significativa nos níveis plasmáticos de OPN, quando avaliado a densidade óptica. Quando o grupo se subdivide, em função do tipo histológico e/ ou presença de metástases, os resultados não evidenciam diferenças significativas nos níveis plasmáticos de OPN entre os animais sadios e os animais com neoplasias metastáticas ou não. A análise de correlação também não apresentou nenhum resultado significativo com os dados hematológicos ou de bioquímica sérica. Nas condições de realização deste ensaio, infere-se que, ao contrário ... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: The osteopontin (OPN) is a protein produced by several cells and has extensive involvement with the development of mammary tumors and its spread through metastases in humans. In dogs there are no studies involving cancer and OPN. This study aimed to determine serum concentrations of OPN in dogs without the presence of mammary tumors (GC) and presence of carcinoma in breast or carcinoma in mixed tumor with or without metastasis macro or microscopically evident. We used immunoenzymatic assay Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) from plasma collected before and after surgical resection of the tumor, in animals with cancer, and only at a time (baseline) in healthy animals. The information of the test, and histopathological data, hematology and serum biochemistry were compared and analyzed by ANOVA and Tukey test. Dogs GC got an average of OPN in 2499 ± 1159 ng / d, with reference range between 227 and 4770 ng / dL. Dogs with the presence of tumor, when one large group, had a significant decrease in plasma levels of OPN, when determined by optical density. When the group is subdivided, according to the histological type and / or metastasis, the results showed no significant differences in serum levels of OPN between healthy animals and animals with metastases or not. The correlation analysis did not show any significant result with hematological or serum 4 biochemistry. We conclude that, contrarily to what is observed in humans, OPN does not appear important in the diagnosis or prognosis of breast neoplasm in dogs / Orientador: Antonio Carlos Alessi / Coorientador: Rosângela Zacarias Machado / Banca: Sabryna Gouveia Calazans / Banca: Aureo Evangelista Santana / Mestre

A regeneração óssea guiada é usada na reparação de defeitos ósseos com suficiente evidência de sucesso. Dentro desta técnica, os xenoenxertos são uma boa opção devido as suas características e segurança para o paciente. Todavia, estudos para melhorar as propriedades dos substitutos ósseos para a formação adequada de novo osso são constantes. Os bisfosfonatos (BPs) são análogos sintéticos dos pirofosfatos, constituem a primeira linha de tratamento para algumas desordens ósseas e tem sido utilizado com sucesso para reduzir o risco de fratura e melhorar a qualidade de vida dos pacientes. Os efeitos adversos e benefícios dos BPs são amplamente estudados. Está comprovado que os BPs inibem a reabsorção óssea reduzindo a atividade dos osteoclastos, mas também que as células osteoblásticas na presença de BPs que contêm nitrogênio aumentam sua proliferação e sua diferenciação na linhagem osteoblástica, promovendo mineralização além de inibir a apoptose de osteócitos e osteoblastos. Neste trabalho estudou-se o efeito do alendronato administrado local e sistemicamente na regeneração óssea com xenoenxerto porcino em ratos com defeitos críticos no osso parietal. Foram usados sessenta ratos Wistar albinos, distribuídos em três grupos (n=20), sendo que o grupo controle (GC) teve o defeito tratado apenas com xenoenxerto, o grupo experimental XE-ALNL que recebeu o xenoenxerto previamente hidratado com alendronato sódico, e o terceiro grupo, XE-ALNS, recebeu xenoenxerto com administração sistêmica diária de alendronato. As amostras foram fixadas, descalcificadas e processadas para análise histológica em microscopia de luz, histoquímica para fosfatase ácida tartarato-resistente (TRAP), e imuno-histoquímica para osteopontina (OPN). Determinou-se que o uso de alendronato potencializa a formação de novo osso. O que pode ser explicado pelo efeito conservador do alendronato no xenoenxerto prolongando seu efeito osteocondutor. Os resultados do grupo XE-ALNL mostraram que o efeito do alendronato sódico usado na hidratação do xenoenxerto colocado no defeito provocou uma maior formação de novo osso primário, tanto ao redor das bordas que limitavam o defeito como dos grânulos de xenoenxerto, quando comparado ao GC e ao grupo XE-ALNS, para os dois períodos avaliados (30 e 60 dias). Ainda que no grupo XE-ALNS nas amostras avaliadas para o período de 30 dias seu padrão foi similar ao GC, no período de 60 dias se observou maior quantidade de osso novo em relação ao GC no mesmo período. A presença de tecido conjuntivo com suas fibras colágenas entre os grânulos do xenoenxerto foi confirmada com a coloração de tricrômico de Mallory. A imunomarcação de OPN mostrou as áreas de osso primário formadas, bem como a presença de algumas linhas cimentantes. A escassa presença de osteoclastos evidenciou a baixa taxa de reabsorção dos grânulos do xenoenxerto nos períodos avaliados. / Guided bone regeneration is used in treatment for repairing bone defects with proven evidence of success. Within this technique, xenografts are a good alternative because of its characteristics and safety for the patient; however, studies aiming to enhance the properties of bone substitutes for proper formation of new bone is continuous. Bisphosphonates (BPs) are synthetic analogues of pyrophosphates, they represent the first line of treatment for some bone disorders. They have been successfully used to reduce the risk of fracture and improve the quality of life for patients, its adverse effects and benefits are widely studied. It has been established that BPs inhibit bone resorption by reducing osteoclast activity but also that osteoblastic cells in the presence of nitrogen-containing BPs increase their proliferation and differentiation in the osteoblastic lineage, inducing mineralization, and inhibiting apoptosis of osteocytes and osteoblasts. This study investigated the effect of alendronate administered locally and systemically on bone regeneration with porcine xenograft in rats with critical defects (5 mm in diameter) made in the parietal bone. Sixty Wistar albino rats were divided into three groups (n=20): control group (CG) with defect treated only with xenograft, XE-ALNL group received xenograft previously hydrated in 1 mg/ml of alendronate sodium, and the third group, XE-ALNS, received xenograft with daily systemic administration of alendronate (2.5 mg / kg). Each experimental group was randomly divided into two sub-groups (n=10): in the first sub-group of each experimental group the animals were sacrificed after 30 days and in the second after 60 days. The samples were fixed, decalcified and processed for light microscopic analysis, histochemistry for tartrate-resistance acid phosphatase (TRAP), and immunohistochemistry for osteopontin (OPN). The results of the XE-ALNL group showed that the effect of sodium alendronate used in the hydration of the xenograft placed in the defect caused a superior formation of new primary bone, both around the edges that limited the defect and the xenograft granules, when compared to CG and the XE-ALNS groups, for both periods of 30 and 60 days. For the XE-ALNS group even though smaller amount of primary bone was formed when compared to XE-ALNL at 30 and 60 days, its pattern was similar to the CG at 30 days; however, for the 60 days sub-group a greater amount of new bone was observed when compared to the CG in the same period. The presence of connective tissue with its collagen fibers between the granules of the xenograft was confirmed with Mallory\'s trichrome staining. The OPN immunolabeling showed the areas of primary bone formed, as well as the presence of cement lines. The low osteoclast presence indicated a low rate of xenografts reabsorption in the evaluated periods.

Em procedimentos de regeneração óssea guiada (ROG) as membranas de colágeno são os materiais mais utilizados como barreira; porém, sua tendência ao colapso faz indispensável a utilização de materiais de suporte. Para este propósito, os xenoenxertos são substitutos ósseos considerados padrão-ouro, embora apresentem um período longo de reabsorção que impede grande formação do osso. Em contrapartida o ?-fosfato tricálcico (?-TCP) permite boa formação do osso, mas é reabsorvido rapidamente e fracassa quando precisa dar suporte à membrana. O alendronato, um bisfosfonato nitrogenado, é uma droga antirreabsortiva para o tratamento da osteoporose e outras doenças ósseas porque inibe a função dos osteoclastos. O plasma rico em fibrina (PRF) é um concentrado de fibrina sem adição de químicos que consegue estimular processos de cicatrização pelos fatores que fazem parte de sua composição. Neste estudo qualitativo de ROG em defeitos de 5 mm no osso parietal de ratos foi avaliado: 1) o efeito na formação óssea da administração local de 1g/ml de alendronato sódico adicionado a xenoenxerto porcino e a ?-TCP; 2) a adição local de alendronato e PRF a ?-TCP na possibilidade de diminuir a rápida reabsorção do material e impedir o colapso da membrana. Foram usados 100 ratos adultos Wistar distribuídos em 5 grupos (n=20): Xenoenxerto controle (XE-C); xenoenxerto adicionado com alendronato (XE-AL); ?-TCP controle (TCP-C); ?-TCP adicionado com alendronato (TCP-AL); e, ?-TCP adicionado com PRF (TCP-F). Em todos os grupos o enxerto foi coberto com membrana. Dois tempos de estudo de quatro e oito semanas foram considerados para cada grupo (n=10). Ao final de cada tempo, os animais foram sacrificados e as amostras foram fixadas, descalcificadas e processadas para seu estudo em microscopia de luz por meio de análise histológica, histoquímica TRAP e imuno-histoquímica para osteopontina (OPN). Os resultados mostraram maior formação do osso tanto para xenoenxerto como para ?-TCP quando foram adicionados com alendronato local, em ambos tempos de estudo. Nos grupos do ?-TCP a adição de alendronato local permitiu diminuir a reabsorção dos grânulos, melhorando o suporte à membrana ao final dos tempos de estudo; no entanto, no grupo do PRF a reabsorção foi maior e teve pouca formação de osso, provocando colapso da membrana. Adicionalmente, regiões de osso primário subjacentes à membrana de colágeno foram observadas em todos os grupos. / Collagen membranes are the most used materials as a barrier in guided bone regeneration (GBR) procedures; however, its tendency to collapse makes indispensable the use of support materials. For this purpose, xenografts, which are bone substitutes, although they have a long period of resorption that prevents large bone formation, are still considered the gold standard support material. In contrast, tricalcium ?-phosphate (?-TCP) allows good bone formation, but is rapidly reabsorbed and fails when it needs to support the membrane. Alendronate, a nitrogenated bisphosphonate, is an anti-resorptive drug for treatment of osteoporosis and other bone diseases because it inhibits the function of osteoclasts. Fibrin-rich plasma (FRP) is a fibrin concentrate with no added chemicals that can stimulate healing processes by the factors that are part of its composition. In this qualitative study of ROG in 5 mm defects in the rat parietal bone, was evaluated: 1) the effect on bone formation of local administration of 1g / ml sodium alendronate added to porcine xenograft and ?-TCP; 2) the local addition of alendronate and PRF to ?-TCP in the possibility of diminishing the rapid reabsorption of the material and preventing the collapse of the membrane. A 100 adult Wistar rats distributed in 5 groups was used (n = 20): Xenograft control (XE-C); xenograft added with alendronate (XE-AL); ?-TCP control (TCP-C); ?-TCP added with alendronate (TCP-AL); and, ?-TCP added with PRF (TCP-F). In all groups the graft was covered with membrane. Two study times of four and eight weeks were considered for each group (n = 10). At the end of each time, the animals were sacrificed and the samples were fixed, decalcified and processed for light microscopy by histological analysis, TRAP histochemistry and immunohistochemistry for osteopontin (OPN). Results showed higher bone formation for both xenograft and ?-TCP when added with local alendronate at both study times. In the ?-TCP groups the addition of local alendronate allowed to decrease grain resorption, improving membrane support at the end of the study times; however, in the PRF group the resorption was greater and had little bone formation, causing membrane collapse. In addition, primary bone formed in the underlying collagen membrane were observed in all groups.