Os mini-implantes ortodônticos vem sendo amplamente utilizados na prática clínica como dispositivos de ancoragem. No entanto, há casos em que ocorre sua perda durante o tratamento. Inúmeros aspectos tem sido analisados com o intuito de detectar as causas do insucesso, porém estas ainda não estão totalmente esclarecidas. Portanto, utilizando-se dois grupos de mini-implantes - com estabilidade (sucesso) e sem estabilidade (falha) -, os objetivos do presente estudo in vivo foram: 1) avaliar a contaminação microbiana, empregando sondas de DNA para 40 espécies de bactérias, por meio da técnica de biologia molecular checkerboard DNA-DNA hybridization; 2) quantificar a endotoxina bacteriana presente nos mini-implantes dos dois grupos por meio do teste Limulus Amebocyte Lysate ; e 3) quantificar as citocinas pró-inflamatórias IL-1&alpha;, IL-6, IL-17 e TNF-&alpha; e proteínas marcadoras da osteoclastogênese (RANK, RANKL e OPG) por meio da técnica real-time polymerase chain reaction. Dezesseis pacientes de ambos os sexos (11-49 anos) em tratamento ortodôntico com aparelho corretivo e mini-implantes foram selecionados, sendo obtidos 19 miniimplantes com estabilidade e 10 mini-implantes sem estabilidade. O tempo médio de permanência na boca foi de 23,8 meses para os mini-implantes estáveis e 6,7 meses para os mini-implantes sem estabilidade. Foram utilizados mini-implantes da marca Neodent, com 1,6mm de diâmetro e com 7,0 ou 9,0 mm de comprimento, colocados na maxila e/ou mandíbula. Todos os mini-implantes foram instalados e removidos pelo mesmo cirurgião. No momento da remoção, foram coletados os miniimplantes e amostras de gengiva ao redor dos mesmos. Os mini-implantes foram processados para a detecção dos micro-organismos e para a quantificação da endotoxina bacteriana. As amostras de gengiva foram processadas para a quantificação das citocinas pró-inflamatórias e proteínas marcadoras da osteoclastogênese. Os resultados obtidos foram analisados por meio do teste nãoparamétrico de soma de postos de Wilcoxon, considerando-se os conglomerados, utilizando o software SAS. O nível de significância adotado foi de 5%. Todas (100%) as 40 espécies de microorganismos foram observadas em ambos os grupos de mini-implantes, com diferentes porcentagens de ocorrência. Não foi possível observar diferença entre os grupos com relação aos complexos microbianos (azul, roxo, amarelo, verde, laranja, vermelho e outras espécies). Também não foi possível observar diferença na quantificação de endotoxina e das citocinas e marcadores da osteoclastogênese (p>0,05), com exceção da IL-6 (p<0,05). Baseado nos resultados obtidos, pode-se concluir que a contaminação microbiana e a quantidade de endotoxina nos mini-implantes, assim como a expressão das citocinas pró-inflamatórias IL-1&alpha;, IL-17 e TNF-&alpha; e dos marcadores da osteoclastogênese RANK, RANKL e OPG no tecido gengival circundante não atuaram como fatores responsáveis pela perda da estabilidade dos mini-implantes e que a maior expressão da citocina próinflamatória IL-6 pode estar diretamente relacionada à perda da estabilidade dos mini-implantes, sugerindo-se estudos adicionais. / Orthodontic mini-implants have been widely used in clinical practice as anchorage devices. However, their loss may occur during the treatment. Several aspects have been investigated to identify the causes of failure, but they are not yet completely elucidated. Therefore, using two groups of miniimplants - stable and unstable/loose - the objectives of this in vivo study were: 1) to evaluate the microbial contamination, using DNA probes for 40 bacterial species by the checkerboard DNA-DNA hybridization biomolecular technique; 2) to quantify the bacterial endotoxin present in both groups of mini-implants by the Limulus Amebocyte Lysate assay; and 3) to quantify the proinflammatory cytokines IL-1&alpha;, IL-6, IL-17 and TNF-&alpha; and the osteoclastogenesis marker proteins (RANK, RANKL and OPG) by real-time polymerase chain reaction technique. Sixteen patients of both sexes (11 to 49 years old) under orthodontic treatment with corrective appliance and mini-implants were selected, obtaining 19 stable mini-implants and 10 unstable/loose mini-implants. The mean time of permanence in the mouth was 23.8 months for stable mini-implants and 6.7 months for unstable/loose mini-implants. The mini-implants (1.6 mm diameter x 7.0 or 9.0 mm long; Neodent) were placed in the maxilla and/or mandible. All mini-implants were placed and removed by the same surgeon. At the moment of removal, the mini-implants and periimplant gingival tissue samples were collected. The mini-implants were processed for detection of microorganisms and quantification of bacterial endotoxin, while the gingival tissue samples were processed for quantification of proinflammatory cytokines and osteoclastogenesis protein markers. The results were analyzed statistically by the nonparametric Wilcoxon rank-sum test, considering the conglomerates, using SAS software. A significance level of 5% was adopted for all analyses. All (100%) 40 microbial species were observed in both groups of mini-implants, with different percentages of occurrence. No differences could be observed between the groups with respect to the microbial complexes (blue, purple, yellow, green, orange, red and other species). There was no significant difference either in the quantification of endotoxin and cytokines and osteoclastogenesis markers (p>0.05), except for IL- 6 (p<0.05). Based on the obtained results, it may be concluded that neither the microbial contamination and amount of endotoxin in mini-implants, nor the expression of proinflammatory cytokines IL-1&alpha;, IL-17 and TNF-&alpha; and osteoclastogenesis markers RANK, RANKL and OPG in the periimplant gingival tissue acted as factors responsible for the loss of stability of the mini-implants, and that the higher expression of the IL-6 proinflammatory cytokine may be directly associated with the loss of stability of the mini-implants, suggesting additional studies.

Abstract Heart failure (HF) and aortic valve stenosis (AS) are complex disorders affected by functional alterations and actively regulated remodelling of the heart and the aortic valve, respectively. In addition to structural proteins, such as collagens and elastin, the extracellular matrix (ECM) in the heart and the aortic valve comprises non-collagenous factors that are not strictly involved in the architecture but may modulate cardiac and valvular remodelling. In the present study the expression of non-collagenous fibrosis- and calcification-related ECM proteins was investigated in HF-associated cardiac remodelling from different origins as well as in fibrocalcific aortic valve disease leading to AS. The experimental models of pressure overload, myocardial infarction (MI) and chronic renal failure were used to study the cardiac expression of bone morphogenetic protein (BMP)-2, BMP-4, bone sialoprotein, matrix Gla protein (MGP), osteoactivin, osteopontin, periostin and/or pleiotrophin in vivo in cardiac remodelling. Human aortic valves, obtained from patients undergoing valve replacement, were studied to characterize the valvular expression of BMP-2, BMP-4, bone sialoprotein, MGP, osteoactivin, osteopontin, osteoprotegerin, periostin, pleiotrophin, and thrombospondins (TSPs) 1-4 in the different stages of fibrocalcific aortic valve disease. Left ventricular (LV) MGP expression was upregulated in vivo in non-uremic cardiac remodelling. In vitro results indicate that angiotensin II elevates MGP expression in cardiomyocytes and fibroblasts. Periostin gene expression was induced in cardiac but not in aortic valve remodelling and the cardiac induction in chronic renal insufficiency was associated with LV hypertrophy and blood pressure as well as the cardiac gene expression of other fibrosis-related genes. Bone sialoprotein and osteopontin were expressed in the aortic valves in parallel with calcification, and also in distinct models of cardiac remodelling. Osteoprotegerin protein expression in stenotic valves was weak regardless of a simultaneous increase in gene expression. BMPs were downregulated in AS and no change in LV gene expression was detected in uremic cardiac remodelling. All the studied TSPs were expressed in human aortic valves, and especially the expression of TSP-2 was shown to increase in fibrocalcific aortic valves simultaneously with decreased activation of the Akt/nuclear factor (NF)-κB-pathway. This study delineates distinct expression patterns of non-collagenous ECM proteins in pathological tissue remodelling in the heart and in the aortic valve, and thus emphasizes the role of ECM proteins as an important modulator of cardiac and aortic valve remodelling. / Tiivistelmä Sydämen vajaatoiminnan ja aorttastenoosin taudinkuvaan kuuluvat toiminnallisten muutosten ohella aktiivisesti säädellyt soluväliaineen muutokset sydämen ja aorttaläpän rakenteessa. Soluväliaineen rakenteen muodostavien kollageenien ja elastiinin lisäksi soluväliaineessa on rakenteeseen kuulumattomia proteiineja. Tässä väitöskirjassa tutkittiin sidekudoksen kertymiseen ja kudosten kalkkiutumiseen osallistuvia soluväliaineen proteiineja sydämen vajaatoiminnassa sekä aorttastenoosiin johtavassa kalkkiuttavassa aorttaläppäviassa. Tutkimuksessa selvitettiin sydämen soluväliaineen proteiinien ilmentymistä painekuormituksen, sydäninfarktin ja pitkäaikaisen munuaisten vajaatoiminnan koemalleissa rotalla. Tutkittavia proteiineja olivat luun morfogeneettiset proteiinit 2 ja 4, luun sialoproteiini, matriksin Gla proteiini (MGP), osteoaktiviini, osteopontiini, periostiini ja pleiotropiini. Edellä mainittujen proteiinien lisäksi osteoprotegeriinin ja trombospondiinien 1-4 ilmentymistä tutkittiin kalkkiuttavan aorttaläppävian eri kehitysvaiheissa. Aorttaläpät oli kerätty tekoläppäleikkauspotilailta. Sydämessä MGP:n ilmentyminen lisääntyi kaikissa muissa paitsi munuaisten vajaatoiminnan koemallissa. Angiotensiini II nosti MGP:n ilmentymistä sydänlihassoluissa ja sidekudossoluissa. Periostiinin ilmentyminen lisääntyi sydämen uudelleenmuovautumisessa, muttei aorttaläppäviassa. Lisäksi munuaisten vajaatoiminnan aiheuttama periostiinin ilmentymisen muutos sydämessä liittyi sekä sydämen kasvuun, verenpaineen nousuun että muiden sidekudosta muokkaavien proteiinien ilmentymiseen. Luun sialoproteiinin ja osteopontiinin ilmentymiset erosivat toisistaan erilaisissa sydämen vajaatoiminnan malleissa, mutta aorttaläpissä niiden molempien ilmentyminen oli suhteessa läpän kalkkiutumiseen. Osteoprotegeriinin geenin ilmentyminen lisääntyi kalkkiutuneissa aorttaläpissä vaikkakin proteiinin määrä pysyi vähäisenä. Luun morfogeneettisten proteiinien ilmentyminen oli alentunut sairaissa läpissä, muttei sydämessä munuaisten vajaatoiminnan aikana. Aorttaläpissä ilmennettiin kaikkia trombospondiineita, joista trombospondiini-2:n ilmentyminen kasvoi sairaissa aorttaläpissä. Kalkkiutuneissa läpissä solunsisäinen Akt/NF-κB–signaalinvälitysjärjestelmä oli vaimentunut. Tutkimus osoittaa, että soluväliaineen proteiinien ilmentymistä säädellään eri tavoin sydämen vajaatoiminnassa ja aorttastenoosissa kudoksen uudelleenmuovautumisprosessin aikana.

The purpose of the study was to elucidate the mechanisms by which polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) prevent bone loss. MG-63 human osteoblasts and MC3T3-E1 murine osteoblasts were exposed to the n-6 PUFA arachidonic acid (AA) and the n-3 PUFA docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) as well as oestrogen (E2) and parathyroid hormone (PTH) and the effects thereof tested on a variety of biological parameters characteristic of osteoblasts. These parameters included prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) synthesis, proliferation, differentiation to mature mineralising osteoblasts as well as osteoprotegerin (OPG) and receptor activator of nuclear factor êB ligand (RANKL) secretion. Results showed that AA stimulates PGE2 production significantly in both cell lines. Stimulated PGE2 production by MC3T3-E1 cells however, was significantly higher, which might be attributed to auto-amplification by PGE2 itself in this cell line. Pre-incubation of the MG-63 cells with cyclo-oxygenase (COX)-blockers inhibited PGE2 production significantly, suggesting that both COX enzymes were involved in PGE2 synthesis. The number of functional osteoblasts is important for bone formation therefore in vitro osteoblastic cell proliferation was investigated. In contrast to the hormones E2 and PTH, both AA and DHA inhibited proliferation significantly. The AA-mediated anti-proliferative effect is possibly independent of PGE2 production, as PGE2 per se had little effect on proliferation. DHA inhibited proliferation of MG-63 cells more severely, which might be attributed to the osteosarcoma nature of the MG-63 cells. The anti-proliferative effect of these PUFAs might be attributed to modulation of cell cycle progression or anti-mitotic effects of PUFA peroxidation products. Morphological studies showed apoptotic cells after DHA exposure in MG-63 cells. There is a reciprocal relationship between reduced proliferation and the subsequent induction of cell differentiation in vitro. High basal levels of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, a marker of the mature mineralising osteoblastic phenotype, were detected in MC3T3-E1 cells. Long-term exposure to AA inhibited ALP activity in these cells. This process might be PGE2-mediated. Exposure to PUFAs, however, did not compromise the ability of the MC3T3-E1 cells to differentiate to mature mineralising osteoblasts. In contrast with MC3T3-E1 cells, MG-63 cells demonstrated low basal ALP activity and were unable to differentiate to mature mineralising osteoblasts. In the absence of osteogenic-inducing supplements, PUFAs induced adipocyte-like features that might be due to the expression of high levels of PPARã in this cell line. Lipid-filled vacuoles were absent in the MC3T3-E1 cells suggesting that the MC3T3-E1 cell line may not express PPARã mRNA. The study furthermore demonstrated that PUFAs are able to modulate OPG and RANKL secretion in osteoblasts. AA inhibited OPG secretion dose-dependently in both cell lines, this could be PGE2-mediated. AA dose-dependently stimulated soluble RANKL (sRANKL) secretion in MC3T3-E1 cells thereby affecting the OPG/RANKL ratio in a negative way, supporting various reports that AA and PGE2 do cause bone resorption. No sRANKL could be detected after exposing the MC3T3-E1 cells to DHA suggesting that DHA could be protective to bone. In conclusion, contrary to in vivo evidence, this in vitro study could not indisputably demonstrate protective effects of PUFAs on the osteoblastic cell lines tested. / Thesis (PhD (Physiology))--University of Pretoria, 2006. / Physiology / unrestricted

INTRODUÇÃO: O hipoestrogenismo pode determinar perda da massa mineral óssea, diminuindo a qualidade do osso. Assim, vários fármacos são ministrados para evitar esta perda, porém, podem determinar efeitos colaterais importantes. Portanto, questiona-se se o emprego do estrogênio associado a estas substâncias poderia minimizar os efeitos adversos e manteria a massa mineral óssea. Contudo, há poucas informações sobre os efeitos destas combinações. Esta pesquisa tem como objetivo avaliar a ação do estrogênio, raloxifeno e do extrato de soja rico em gensteína, isolado ou combinado no osso de ratas ovariectomizadas. MATERIAIS E MÉTODOS: No nono dia de nascimento, todas as ratas receberam propionato de testosterona (0,1 g/g). No sexto mês de idade, os animais do controle fisiológico foram identificados como GI e receberam apenas o veículo (propilenoglicol em 0,5 ml/dia) durante o experimento e os outros que receberam testosterona foram ovariectomizados e divididos aleatoriamente em seis grupos: GII veículo (controle castrado, n=6); GIII - estrogênio conjugados eqüinos (ECE, (50 g/Kg/dia, n=8); GIV raloxifeno (RAL, 0,75 mg/kg/dia, n=8); GV extrato de soja enriquecido com genisteína (ESG, 300 mg/kg/dia, n=7); GVI ECE + ESG (50 g/Kg/dia + 300 mg/kg/dia, n=7); GVII - ECE+RAL (50 g/Kg/dia + 0,75mg/kg/dia, n=6). Após três meses da cirurgia, os fármacos foram ministrados por 120 dias consecutivos. Posteriormente, os animais foram sacrificados sob anestesia, sendo retirada a tíbia esquerda para rotina histológica. Os cortes histológicos foram corados pela hematoxilina-eosina para avaliar a microarquitetura óssea. Foram feitos procedimentos imunoistoquímicos, de imunofluorescência e PCR para quantificar as principais proteínas ósseas estruturais (colágeno tipo I, osteocalcina, osteopontina e osteoprotegerina), bem como de seus respectivos RNA mensageiros. Os dados foram analisados pelos testes de ANOVA e Tukey. RESULTADOS: Todos os tratamentos determinaram aumento da quantidade de osso trabecular (p<0,05). As fibras totais de colágeno apresentaram-se aumentadas em todos os grupos tratados, exceto com o raloxifeno. Já as fibras finas de colágeno diminuíram apenas no grupo tratado com estrogênio. As frações de colágeno tipo I, mostraram-se aumentadas nos grupos tratados com estrogênio e sua asssociação com o raloxifeno. O colágeno tipo III esteve aumentado no grupo tratado com estrogênio em associação com extrato de soja rico em genisteína. Em relação às proteínas não colagenosas, a osteoprotegerina apresentou-se aumentada nos grupos tratados com estrogênio, suas associações e com o extrato de soja rico em genisteína. A osteopontina esteve diminuída em todos os grupos tratados e a osteocalcina mostrou-se aumentada apenas no grupo tratado com ralolxifeno, em comparação ao grupo castrado (p<0,05). Não houve diferença estatística significante do PCR em tempo real na análise dos transcritos entre os grupos estudados. CONCLUSÃO: A combinação de estrogênio com raloxifeno ou extrato de soja rico em genisteína não trouxe benefícios adicionais na qualidade do tecido ósseo, como ocorreu com esses fármacos isoladamente / INTRODUCTION: Hypoestrogenism can determine bone mineral loss, resulting in decreased bone quality. To prevent that process, several drugs are administered, which can lead, however, to important side effects. Therefore, it is questionable whether the use of estrogen associated with those substances could minimize the adverse effects and maintain bone mineral mass. There is little information on the effects of those compounds. This research aims to evaluate the action of unopposed estrogen or combined with raloxifene and genistein-rich soy extract on ovariectomized adult female rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: On the ninth day of birth, rats received, testosterone propionate (0.1 mg / g). On the sixth month, animals in the physiological control were identified as GI and received only the vehicle (propylene glycol at 0.5 ml / day) during the experiment and the other which was administered testosterone underwent ovariectomy and divided randomly into six groups: GII - vehicle (control castrated, n = 6); GIII - conjugated equine estrogen (CEE, 50 mg / kg / day, n = 8); GIV - raloxifene (RAL, 0.75 mg / kg / day, n = 8) ; GV - soy extract enriched with genistein (ESG, 300 mg / kg / day, n = 7), GVI - ECE + ESG (50 mg / kg / day + 300 mg / kg / day, n = 7); GVII - ECE + RAL (50 mg / kg / day + 0.75mg/kg/day, n = 6).Three months after the surgery, drugs were consecutively administered for 120 days. Subsequently, the animals were sacrificed on anesthesia and their left tibiae were removed for routine histology. The histological sections were stained by hematoxylin-eosin to evaluate bone microarchitecture. Immunohistochemical, immunofluorescence and PCR procedures were performed to quantify the main structural bone proteins (type I collagen, osteocalcin, osteopontin, and osteoprotegerin) as well as their mRNA. The data were analyzed by ANOVA and Tukey test. RESULTS: All treatments led to increased amounts of trabecular bone (p <0.05). The total collagen fibers had to be enlarged in all treated groups, except with raloxifene. Already thin collagen fibers decreased only in the group treated with estrogen. The fractions of type I collagen, were increased in groups treated with estrogen and its asssociação with raloxifene. Type III collagen was increased in the group treated with estrogen in combination with soybean extract rich in genistein. Regarding the non-collagenous proteins, the increased osteoprotegerin presented in groups treated with estrogen, and their associations with soy extract rich in genistein. The osteopontin was decreased in all treated groups and osteocalcin was increased only in the treated group ralolxifeno, compared to the castrated group (p <0.05). There was no statistically significant difference from the real-time PCR analysis of transcribed between the groups. CONCLUSION: The combination of estrogen with raloxifene or genistein-rich soy extract was uncapable of bringing additional benefits to the quality of bone tissue as observed with those drugs alone

Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans is present in elevated proportions and numbers in dental bacterial biofilms of patients with localized aggressive periodontitis. This variant of periodontal disease, occurring in adolescents and young adults, is characterized by rapid and severe destruction of the connective tissues and bone supporting the teeth, eventually culminating in tooth loss. The cytolethal distending toxin (Cdt) is a newly discovered bacterial protein toxin, uniquely present in A. actinomycetemcomitans among all known to-date oral bacterial species. The Cdt has the capacity to inhibit mammalian cell growth, but its putative role in the pathogenesis of the disease is unclear. The aim of this in vitro work has been to study the effects of A. actinomycetemcomitans on periodontal connective tissue cell cultures, and to evaluate the possible involvement of its Cdt. A. actinomycetemcomitans inhibited the proliferation of gingival and periodontal ligament fibroblasts, as a result of a combined arrest at the G1 and G2/M phases of the cell cycle. This growth inhibition was non-lethal and the cells remained metabolically active, although their DNA synthesis was reduced. The intoxicated cells exhibited increased size and irregular structure, characterized by distension and elongation. This cellular enlargement occurred in both G1 and G2/M phase arrested cells. The Cdt of A. actinomycetemcomitans was responsible for the observed growth inhibition, as well as the concomitant morphological alterations. The possible induction of inflammatory cytokines related to bone resorption was investigated in response to A. actinomycetemcomitans, and the involvement of Cdt was evaluated. Extensive focus was given to the study of receptor activator of NF-κB ligand (RANKL) expression, a membrane-bound ligand that signals osteoclast progenitors to differentiate and fuse into mature osteoclasts, activating bone resorption. It was demonstrated that A. actinomycetemcomitans induced RANKL mRNA and protein expression in the cells studied, but did not affect the expression of its decoy receptor, osteoprotegerin. This induction was solely attributed to its Cdt, as demonstrated by the use of a cdt-knockout A. actinomycetemcomitans strain, purified recombinant Cdt, and antibodies blocking the Cdt. In addition, this event was not mediated by pro-inflammatory cytokines known to stimulate RANKL. Interleukin-6 mRNA and protein expression were also enhanced by A. actinomycetemcomitans, but Cdt had limited involvement in this enhancement. In conclusion, two distinct mechanisms by which A. actinomycetemcomitans Cdt may be involved in the pathogenesis of localized aggressive periodontitis are proposed. Firstly, the growth arrest of the resident fibroblasts may impair the physiological connective tissue remodelling equilibrium and lead to connective tissue attachment loss. Secondly, the induction of RANKL by these cells, residing in the proximity of the alveolar bone, may locally stimulate osteoclastogenesis and promote alveolar bone resorption. This work also provides further insights to the understanding of Cdt mechanisms of action, contributing to the global characterization of the toxin’s virulence.

INTRODUÇÃO: O hipoestrogenismo pode determinar perda da massa mineral óssea, diminuindo a qualidade do osso. Assim, vários fármacos são ministrados para evitar esta perda, porém, podem determinar efeitos colaterais importantes. Portanto, questiona-se se o emprego do estrogênio associado a estas substâncias poderia minimizar os efeitos adversos e manteria a massa mineral óssea. Contudo, há poucas informações sobre os efeitos destas combinações. Esta pesquisa tem como objetivo avaliar a ação do estrogênio, raloxifeno e do extrato de soja rico em gensteína, isolado ou combinado no osso de ratas ovariectomizadas. MATERIAIS E MÉTODOS: No nono dia de nascimento, todas as ratas receberam propionato de testosterona (0,1 g/g). No sexto mês de idade, os animais do controle fisiológico foram identificados como GI e receberam apenas o veículo (propilenoglicol em 0,5 ml/dia) durante o experimento e os outros que receberam testosterona foram ovariectomizados e divididos aleatoriamente em seis grupos: GII veículo (controle castrado, n=6); GIII - estrogênio conjugados eqüinos (ECE, (50 g/Kg/dia, n=8); GIV raloxifeno (RAL, 0,75 mg/kg/dia, n=8); GV extrato de soja enriquecido com genisteína (ESG, 300 mg/kg/dia, n=7); GVI ECE + ESG (50 g/Kg/dia + 300 mg/kg/dia, n=7); GVII - ECE+RAL (50 g/Kg/dia + 0,75mg/kg/dia, n=6). Após três meses da cirurgia, os fármacos foram ministrados por 120 dias consecutivos. Posteriormente, os animais foram sacrificados sob anestesia, sendo retirada a tíbia esquerda para rotina histológica. Os cortes histológicos foram corados pela hematoxilina-eosina para avaliar a microarquitetura óssea. Foram feitos procedimentos imunoistoquímicos, de imunofluorescência e PCR para quantificar as principais proteínas ósseas estruturais (colágeno tipo I, osteocalcina, osteopontina e osteoprotegerina), bem como de seus respectivos RNA mensageiros. Os dados foram analisados pelos testes de ANOVA e Tukey. RESULTADOS: Todos os tratamentos determinaram aumento da quantidade de osso trabecular (p<0,05). As fibras totais de colágeno apresentaram-se aumentadas em todos os grupos tratados, exceto com o raloxifeno. Já as fibras finas de colágeno diminuíram apenas no grupo tratado com estrogênio. As frações de colágeno tipo I, mostraram-se aumentadas nos grupos tratados com estrogênio e sua asssociação com o raloxifeno. O colágeno tipo III esteve aumentado no grupo tratado com estrogênio em associação com extrato de soja rico em genisteína. Em relação às proteínas não colagenosas, a osteoprotegerina apresentou-se aumentada nos grupos tratados com estrogênio, suas associações e com o extrato de soja rico em genisteína. A osteopontina esteve diminuída em todos os grupos tratados e a osteocalcina mostrou-se aumentada apenas no grupo tratado com ralolxifeno, em comparação ao grupo castrado (p<0,05). Não houve diferença estatística significante do PCR em tempo real na análise dos transcritos entre os grupos estudados. CONCLUSÃO: A combinação de estrogênio com raloxifeno ou extrato de soja rico em genisteína não trouxe benefícios adicionais na qualidade do tecido ósseo, como ocorreu com esses fármacos isoladamente / INTRODUCTION: Hypoestrogenism can determine bone mineral loss, resulting in decreased bone quality. To prevent that process, several drugs are administered, which can lead, however, to important side effects. Therefore, it is questionable whether the use of estrogen associated with those substances could minimize the adverse effects and maintain bone mineral mass. There is little information on the effects of those compounds. This research aims to evaluate the action of unopposed estrogen or combined with raloxifene and genistein-rich soy extract on ovariectomized adult female rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: On the ninth day of birth, rats received, testosterone propionate (0.1 mg / g). On the sixth month, animals in the physiological control were identified as GI and received only the vehicle (propylene glycol at 0.5 ml / day) during the experiment and the other which was administered testosterone underwent ovariectomy and divided randomly into six groups: GII - vehicle (control castrated, n = 6); GIII - conjugated equine estrogen (CEE, 50 mg / kg / day, n = 8); GIV - raloxifene (RAL, 0.75 mg / kg / day, n = 8) ; GV - soy extract enriched with genistein (ESG, 300 mg / kg / day, n = 7), GVI - ECE + ESG (50 mg / kg / day + 300 mg / kg / day, n = 7); GVII - ECE + RAL (50 mg / kg / day + 0.75mg/kg/day, n = 6).Three months after the surgery, drugs were consecutively administered for 120 days. Subsequently, the animals were sacrificed on anesthesia and their left tibiae were removed for routine histology. The histological sections were stained by hematoxylin-eosin to evaluate bone microarchitecture. Immunohistochemical, immunofluorescence and PCR procedures were performed to quantify the main structural bone proteins (type I collagen, osteocalcin, osteopontin, and osteoprotegerin) as well as their mRNA. The data were analyzed by ANOVA and Tukey test. RESULTS: All treatments led to increased amounts of trabecular bone (p <0.05). The total collagen fibers had to be enlarged in all treated groups, except with raloxifene. Already thin collagen fibers decreased only in the group treated with estrogen. The fractions of type I collagen, were increased in groups treated with estrogen and its asssociação with raloxifene. Type III collagen was increased in the group treated with estrogen in combination with soybean extract rich in genistein. Regarding the non-collagenous proteins, the increased osteoprotegerin presented in groups treated with estrogen, and their associations with soy extract rich in genistein. The osteopontin was decreased in all treated groups and osteocalcin was increased only in the treated group ralolxifeno, compared to the castrated group (p <0.05). There was no statistically significant difference from the real-time PCR analysis of transcribed between the groups. CONCLUSION: The combination of estrogen with raloxifene or genistein-rich soy extract was uncapable of bringing additional benefits to the quality of bone tissue as observed with those drugs alone

No description available.

Diabetic vasculopathy (DV) is the most important consequence of chronic hyperglycemia in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM). This thesis explores the interaction of blood, bone and kidney in the pathogenesis of DV by i) reviewing the current understanding of pathogenesis of macrovascular and microvascular diseases in DM to identify gaps in literature and generate hypotheses relating to various facets of DV ii) undertaking a series of prospective studies to examine these hypotheses iii) analysing the findings and integrating any new information obtained from the clinical studies into the current knowledge base and iv) generating hypotheses upon which future work might be based. The literature search was carried out with the aim of understanding current concepts of pathogenesis of DV and its potential modulators. The original reviews resulting from this process are presented in chapters 2 to 4. A series of pilot studies reported in chapters 7 to 11, were then carried out to interrogate hypotheses originating from this process. The first study was carried out in healthy individuals to define the biological variation of potential modulators of DV, namely erythropoietin (EPO), parathyroid hormone, 25 hydroxyvitamin D and 1, 25-dihydroxyvitamin D to facilitate the design and interpretation of subsequent studies. It revealed a wide biological variation of these modulators in the healthy population thus,emphasizing the need to have a control group in the subsequent study population. To examine whether tubulointerstitial dysfunction occurs before the onset of microalbuminuria, a measurement of the above mentioned parameters was carried out along with markers of tubulointerstitial injury in patients with type 1 and type 2 DM without microalbuminuria and in non-diabetic controls. It was found that tubulointerstitial dysfunction with low levels of EPO and 1, 25-dihydroxyvitamin D and higher excretion of tubular injury markers, occurs before the onset of microalbuminuria. Subsequently, diabetic and nondiabetic chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients with EPO deficiency anaemia were examined to study the effects of EPO therapy on the excretion of tubular injury markers. However, in these patient groups, we were unable to demonstrate an effect of EPO therapy on the markers of tubular injury in spite of a beneficial haematological response. To examine whether vascular calcification (VC) and bone mineral density (BMD) were linked in patients with diabetes mellitus and to explore their relationship to modulators of DV, an assessment of VC and BMD was undertaken in patients with type 2 DM with different degrees of proteinuria and normoalbuminuria. VC was assessed by CT scan and BMD by a DEXA scan. Modulators of DV were measured including serum Osteoprotegerin (OPG) and receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-b-ligand (RANKL). The findings were i) a high prevalence of VC and osteopenia in normoalbuminuric type 2 DM patients with normal serum creatinine ii) a weak inverse relationship between VC and osteopenia iii) proteinuric patients had worse VC but not osteopenia iv) weak relationships between OPG levels and both VC and osteopenia, masked by age in multivariate analysis. The final study examined the relationship between modulators of DV, including OPG and RANKL, and the degree of CKD. It was found that abnormalities of OPG and RANKL occur before the onset of microalbuminuria and progress with deterioration of renal function. Compared to nondiabetics, DM patients have higher OPG levels in the predialysis phase and lower levels in haemodialysis phase, a phenomenon that might indicate endothelial exhaustion in dialysis patients with DM. The derangements associated with DV seem to occur earlier than previously thought. Further work is required to untangle these complexities and to define the contribution of factors such as the adverse blood milieu, the vasculature, abnormal bone and mineral metabolism, and early tubulointerstitial damage. The findings from the studies reported here may help in the formulation of new hypotheses, which might contribute to future work in this area.

INTRODUÇÃO: Perda óssea é um achado comum em pacientes com Nefrite Lúpica (NL), mesmo naqueles com diagnóstico recente. Algumas evidências indicam um aumento na osteoclastogênese como um dos distúrbios principais no processo de remodelamento ósseo. O objetivo deste estudo foi investigar algumas vias de sinalização (RANKL/OPG, Wnt/Beta-catenin and Th17/IL-17) possivelmente envolvidas na osteoclastogênese anormal detectada em mulheres jovens ao diagnóstico de nefrite lúpica ativa, assim como avaliar a ação da vitamina D (VitD) nesse cenário e sua correlação com fatores inflamatórios. MÉTODOS: Realizamos culturas com a linhagem de células osteoblásticas humanas hFOB 1.19 (ATCC) e as dividimos em um grupo suplementado com soro de pacientes lúpicas (NL) (n=15) e em um grupo com soro de controles saudáveis (CS) (n=15) em vez de soro fetal bovino (SFB). Em seguida, adicionamos 1,25-dihidroxivitamina D3 (1,25(OH)2D3) em dois subgrupos nas concentrações 10-9M e 10-7M, resultando em 6 grupos: CS, CS+vitD 10-9M, CS+vitD 10-7M, NL, NL+vitD 10-9M, NL+vitD 10-7M). Após 48h da adição de 1,25(OH)2D3 ao meio de cultura, células hFOB foram tripsinizadas e separado o lisato celular de cada grupo. Ensaios de citometria de fluxo e multiplex foram realizados para quantificação das seguintes proteínas do lisato cellular: CD166, CD54, fosfatase alcalina, RANKL, OPG, CD14, TLR4, NF-KappaB, SOST, DKK-1, Beta-catenina, IL-1-beta, IL-2, IL-6, TNF-alfa, IL-17A, IL-17F, IL-21 and IL-22. RT-PCR foi empregado para quantificação de mRNA dos genes RANKL, SOST, OPG e Beta-catenina. RESULTADOS: Pacientes com NL evidenciaram maiores níveis séricos de DKK-1 (2802,04 ± 1380,06 x 696,30 ± 421,22pg/ml, p < 0,001), OPG (560,12 ± 333,56 x 340,24 ± 102,08pg/ml, p=0,0212), TNF-alfa (9,63 ± 14,49 x 1,27 ± 0,35pg/ml, p=0,0337), IL-6 (15,58±39,08 x 8,02±3,49, p= 0,0053) and IL-2 (3,36 ± 3,06 x 1,54 ± 0,9pg/ml, p=0,0353) do que CS. Após exposição ao meio enriquecido com soro de pacientes com NL, células hFOB 1.19 apresentaram maior nível de mRNA de RANKL (p=0,045)) e menor nível de proteína OPG (178,81 ± 66,40 x 298,76 ± 114,94pg/mg, p=0,0016). Suplementação com 1,25(OH)2D3 aumentou a diferença da expressão das proteínas DKK-1 (673,03 ± 171,93 x 456,69 ± 234,53pg/mg, p=0,0215), IL-6 (0,80 ± 0,25pg/mg x 0,66 ± 0,18, p=0,0417) and IL-2 (4,97 ± 2,2 x 3,90 ± 1,66pg/mg, p=0,042) entre hFOB NL comparados com hFOB CS, enquanto diminuiu o nível de mRNA de Beta-catenina em células do grupo NL. DISCUSSÃO: Dentro das limitações deste estudo, os resultados sugerem que os maiores níveis séricos de citocinas pró-inflamatórias, como TNF-alfa, IL-6 e talvez IL-2, detectadas em pacientes com NL pode ter induzido a maior expressão osteoblástica de RANKL, representada pelo maior nível de mRNA RANKL em células do grupo NL, e suprimido OPG, conforme a diminuição observada na quantificação proteica de OPG nos lisatos celulares, o que pode ter contribuído para a aumentada osteoclastogênese evidenciada pela biópsia óssea dessas pacientes. A adição de 1,25(OH)2D3 não preveniu os efeitos inflamatórios do soro de pacientes com NL ativa em células hFOB 1.19 neste estudo / INTRODUCTION: Bone loss is a common finding in Lupus Nephritis (LN) patients even in those recently diagnosed. Some evidences indicate an increased osteoclastogenesis as the main disturb of the bone remodeling process. The aim of this study was to investigate some pathways (RANK-L/OPG, Wnt/?-catenin and Th17/IL-17) possibly involved in the abnormal osteoclastogenesis detected in women at the diagnosis of proliferative LN as well as evaluating the action of vitamin D (vitD) in this scenario and their correlation with inflammatory factors. METHODS: We cultured the human osteoblastic cell line hFOB 1.19 (ATCC), and divided cultures into those supplemented with serum from healthy controls (HC) (n=15) and LN patients (n=15) instead of fetal bovine serum (FBS). Then 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 [1,25(OH)2D3] was added in two subgroups at the concentrations of 10-9M e 10-7M while vitD was absent in one subgroup in both HC and LN cultures (HC, HC+vitD 10-9M, HC+vitD 10-7M, LN, LN+vitD 10-9M, LN+vitD 10-7M) . After 48h of vitD addition, hFOB cultures were trypsinized. Flow cytometry and multiplex assays were performed to test CD166, CD54, alkaline phosphatase, RANKL, OPG, CD14, TLR4, NF-KappaB, SOST, DKK-1, ?-catenin, IL-1Beta, IL-2, IL-6, TNF-alfa, IL-17A, IL-17F, IL-21 and IL-22 concentrations in the cell lysates. Polymerase reaction chain (RT-PCR) assays analyzed the expression of RANKL, SOST, OPG and Beta-catenin mRNA. RESULTS: LN patients showed higher serum levels of DKK-1 (2802.04 ± 1380.06 x 696.3 ± 421.22pg/ml, p < 0.001), OPG (560.12 ± 333.56 x 340.24 ± 102.08pg/ml, p=0.0212), TNF-alfa (9.63 ± 14.49 x 1.27 ± 0.35pg/ml, p=0.0337), IL-6 (15.58±39.08 x 8.02±3.49, 0.0053) and IL-2 (3.36 ± 3.06 x 1.54 ± 0.9pg/ml, p=0.0353) than HCs. After exposure to medium enriched with LN serum, osteoblasts expressed higher RANKL mRNA (fold change 1.573, p=0.045) and lower OPG protein (178.81 ± 66.40 x 298.76 ± 114.94pg/mg, p=0.0016). 1,25(OH)2D3 supplementation increased the difference between LN and HC expression of DKK-1 (673.03 ± 171.93 x 456.69 ± 234.53pg/mg, p=0.0215), IL-6 (0.80 ± 0.25pg/mg x 0.66 ± 0.18, p=0.0417) and IL-2 (4.97 ± 2.2 x 3.90 ± 1,66pg/mg, p=0.042) proteins and diminished Beta-catenin mRNA in LN cells. DISCUSSION: Within the limitations of this study, the results suggest that the higher serum levels of proinflammatory cytokines, such as TNF-alfa, IL-6 and perhaps IL-2, detected in LN patients would possibly have induced RANKL genes, as demonstrated by an enhanced RANKL mRNA expression in LN osteoblasts, and suppressed OPG protein in cell lysates, which would have contributed to the increased osteoclastogenesis detected in bone biopsies of women with new onset of LN. 1,25(OH)2D3 addition to osteoblast cultures did not prevent the effects of inflammatory LN serum in vitro

INTRODUÇÃO: O hiperparatireoidismo secundário (HPTS) é uma complicação da doença renal crônica que compromete a integridade do esqueleto. Pacientes com HPS submetidos à paratireoidectomia (PTX) passam de uma condição de níveis séricos de paratormônio (PTH) muito elevados para outra, onde esses níveis hormonais caem drasticamente. Os efeitos da PTX no tecido ósseo são mal compreendidos, especialmente no que se refere às proteínas expressas por osteócitos, como o fator de crescimento de fibroblastos 23 (FGF23), dentin matrix protein 1 (DMP-1), fosfoglicoproteína de matriz extracelular (MEPE), esclerostina, Fator nuclear Kappa beta ligante (RANKL) e osteoprotegerina (OPG), que regulam a remodelação e a mineralização óssea. OBJETIVOS: Caracterizar a expressão óssea dessas proteínas por imuno-histoquímica e estabelecer relações com os dados da histomorfometria do tecido ósseo em pacientes com HPS, antes e após a PTX. MÉTODOS: Estudamos biópsias ósseas obtidas de um banco de biópsias de 23 pacientes com DRC e HPTS, que foram realizadas antes e 12 meses após a PTX. RESULTADOS: A avaliação dos parâmetros histomorfométricos demonstrou uma melhora da microarquitetura óssea, porém com um maior retardo em sua mineralização após a PTX. A análise da expressão das proteínas osteocíticas revelou um aumento significativo na expressão da esclerostina e da OPG e uma diminuição da relação RANKL/OPG após a PTX, sugerindo a participação dessas proteínas na melhora das lesões ósseas decorrentes do HPTS. Observamos um aumento significativo na expressão da OPG no grupo de pacientes que evoluiu com defeito de mineralização somente após a cirurgia, sugerindo a participação dessa proteína no retardo de mineralização óssea desses pacientes. A expressão das proteínas osteocíticas que participam da formação e mineralização óssea apresentou correlação com parâmetros envolvidos na remodelação óssea. CONCLUSÕES: Mudanças significativas na expressão óssea de proteínas osteocíticas que podem potencialmente regular a remodelação e a mineralização óssea foram observadas após a PTX / INTRODUCTION: Secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHPT) is a complication of chronic kidney disease that compromises skeletal integrity. Patients with SHPT undergoing parathyroidectomy (PTX) go from a very high serum parathyroid hormone (PTH) condition to another, where these hormonal levels dramatically fall. The effects of PTX on bone tissue are poorly understood, especially as regards proteins expressed by osteocytes, such as fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23), dentin matrix protein 1 (DMP-1), extracellular matrix phosphoglycoprotein (MEPE), sclerostin, Kappa beta ligand nuclear factor (RANKL) and osteoprotegerin (OPG), which regulate bone remodeling and mineralization. OBJECTIVES: Characterize bone expression of these proteins by immunohistochemistry and establish relations with bone tissue histomorphometry data in SHPT patients, before and after PTX. METHODS: We studied bone biopsies obtained from a biopsy database of 23 patients with CKD and SHPT, which were performed before PTX and 12 months after PTX. RESULTS: Evaluation of histomorphometric parameters showed improvement of bone microarchitecture, but with longer delay in mineralization after PTX. Analysis of osteocyte protein expression revealed significant increase in sclerostin and OPG expression and decrease in RANKL/OPG ratio after PTX, suggesting participation of these proteins in improvement of bone lesions due to SHPT. We observed significant increase in OPG expression in the group of patients who evolved with mineralization defect only after surgery, suggesting participation of this protein in bone mineralization delay of these patients. Expression of osteocyte proteins that participate in bone formation and mineralization correlated with parameters involved in bone remodeling. CONCLUSIONS: Significant changes in bone expression of osteocyte proteins that can potentially regulate bone remodeling and mineralization were observed after PTX