Neurodegenerative Erkrankungen sind wegen steigender Prävalenz ein zunehmendes Problem in Industrieländern. In diversen Studien wurde bereits ein Zusammenhang zwischen neurodegenerativen Vorgängen und purinerger Signalübertragung aufgezeigt. Insbesondere die Rezeptoruntereinheit P2X7R ist durch seine apoptotische Wirkung bei verschiedenen Krankheiten involviert. Im Rahmen dieser Arbeit wurde die funktionelle Präsenz des P2X7R an neuralen Progenitorzellen untersucht, die von der Subventrikularzone (SVZ) der Maus isoliert wurden. Mittels Calcium-Imaging wurde die intrazelluläre Ca2+-Konzentration ([Ca2+]i) erfasst. Der P2X7R-Agonist BzATP führte in einem Mg2+-freiem Milieu zu einer deutlichen [Ca2+]i-Steigerung. Selektive (A438079, BBG) und unselektive (PPADS) Antagonisten des P2X7R sowie unterschiedliche Kationen (Zn2+, H+) inhibierten den agonistischen [Ca2+]i-Anstieg. Desweiteren bewirkte Ivermectin (IVM), ein allosterischer Modulator sowohl von P2X4R als auch von P2X7R, eine signifikante Wirksteigerung des niedrigdosierten BzATP. Dieser Effekt war an Progenitorzellen, welche P2X7R-defizienten (P2X7-/-R) Mäusen entnommen waren, nicht nachzuweisen. Weitere purinerge Antagonisten (NF449, TNP-ATP) hatten keine signifikante Wirkung an den Zellen der Wildtyp-Maus. Ebenso war der P2X1-3R-Agonist α,β-meATP wirkungslos. Ein extrazelluläres Ca2+- freies Milieu wurde zur Untersuchung der Zellen auf P2Y-R genutzt und führte zum fast vollständigen Verschwinden des agonistischen Effektes an den murinen Zellen. Allerdings zeigten P2X7-/-R-Zellen nach Entfernen von Ca2+ aus der extrazellulären Flüssigkeit eine deutliche Wirkung von BzATP, welches auf Aktivität von P2Y-R hindeutet. Zusammenfassend konnte somit durch Applikation von Agonisten, Antagonisten und Modulatoren eine Aktivität des P2X7R an den murinen Progenitorzellen der SVZ gezeigt werden, welcher möglicherweise zur Regulation der Zellproliferation beiträgt. Weitere purinerge Rezeptoren (P2X1-4R, P2Y-R) waren an den Vorläuferzellen der Wildtyp-Maus nicht sicher nachweisbar, während an murinen P2X7R-/--Zellen Aktivität von P2Y-R zu erkennen war.

The purinergic P2X7 receptor (P2X7R), an adenosine triphosphate (ATP)-gated receptor, is widely distributed in a variety of cell types such as neuron cells, immune cells and epithelial cells. P2X7R on cells senses extracellular ATP released from dying cells which then acts as a danger signal and initiates inflammation. Activation of P2X7R results in various downstream events, including Ca2+ influx, nonselective membrane pore formation, cell death, assembly of the inflammasome, and killing of intracellular pathogens. Epithelial cells in the gut also express P2X7R and act as a sentinel that protects against infection and responds to changes in environmental stimuli. However, the role of P2X7R in IECs is poorly defined. Given that infection of pathogens often causes cellular damage and the released ATP may be sensed by P2X7R, we hypothesised that IECs initiate intestinal inflammation via activation of the P2X7R in response to infection. Thus, the aim of this thesis was to characterise the role of P2X7R in the initiation and development of small intestinal inflammation. In order to achieve this aim, we used two parasite-induced murine ileitis models, Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) and Trichinella spiralis (T. spiralis), which induce Th1 and Th2 immunity respectively. In the in vivo model of T. gondii infection, we found that P2X7R deficiency was associated with less intestinal epithelial responsiveness to the infection. The P2X7R-/- IECs had reduced CCL5 and CCL20 chemokine expression which was associated with reduced recruitment of CD103+CD11b- dendritic cells (DCs) to the small intestinal epithelium at day 1 post infection (p.i.). This finding was supported by infection of bone marrow chimeras showing a decrease in the recruitment of WT P2X7R+/+ CD103+ DCs to a P2X7R-/- epithelium. To address whether the reduced DC response impacted on development of adaptive immunity, we analysed serum IFN-g and the proportion of splenic IFN-g+CD4+ T cells at day 8 p.i., and showed they were reduced in P2X7R-/- mice. In the in vivo model of T. spiralis infection, P2X7R deficiency was also associated with reduced intestinal epithelial responsiveness to this infection characterised by lower CCL5 expression in IECs. A significant decrease in the recruitment of CD103+CD11b+ DCs at day 2 p.i. was noted in P2X7R-/- animals, and the importance of epithelial P2X7R in DC recruitment was confirmed using bone marrow chimeras. The P2X7R-/- mice, compared with the WT, had delayed progression of small intestinal inflammation, accompanied by a reduction in the percentage of IL-4+CD4+ T cells and IL-4 levels at day 8 p.i. The reduced IL-4 response was associated with a delayed worm expulsion in the P2X7R-/- mice at day 12 p.i. An in vitro study demonstrated that P2X7R blockade using the chemical inhibitor A-740003, significantly decreased CCL5, IL-6 and TNF-a secretion from mouse intestinal epithelial CMT-93 cells in response to T. gondii infection. A similar decrease in the level of CCL5 produced was also observed using primary P2X7R-/- intestinal crypt cells stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) compared with WT cells. This data indicates a proinflammatory role for P2X7R during infection. Although P2X7R signalling is known to induce the assembly of the inflammasome, IECs did not secrete the inflammasome-associated cytokines IL-1b and IL-18 in response to T. gondii infection. Moreover, P2X7R signalling had no effect on the induction of cell death in T. gondii-infected IECs. Interestingly, there was a novel finding that P2X7R antagonism inhibited T. gondii infectivity in CMT-93 cells. In summary, we have shown that P2X7R signalling mediated CCL5 expression in IECs in response to infection. Epithelial chemokines are important for the initiation of small intestinal inflammation via recruitment of innate cells such as DCs which can then prime for protective adaptive immunity. These results in this thesis improve the understanding of the role of P2X7R in the intestinal immune system and reveal novel roles for epithelial P2X7R. The work suggests the potential of epithelial P2X7R as a target for pharmacological treatment of intestinal inflammatory disorders.

A melatonina é um hormônio produzido de forma rítmica e no período de escuro pela glândula pineal bem como de forma não rítmica por diversos tecidos e células imunocompetentes. É sintetizada pela acetilação e metilação da serotonina pela ação das enzimas arilalquilamina N-acetiltransferase (AA-NAT) e acetilserotonina -O-metiltransferase (ASMT) que levam à formação de N-acetilserotonina (NAS) e melatonina (MEL), respectivamente. Nos últimos anos temos demonstrado que síntese de melatonina pela pineal pode ser negativamente modulada por mediadores inflamatórios e pelo ATP que atua como co-transmissor juntamente com a noradrenalina liberada no terminal nervoso simpático que a inerva. Perifericamente, contudo, estes mediadores inflamatórios apresentam um efeito contrário induzindo a produção de melatonina em células imunocompetentes. Estas observações levaram à criação da hipótese de um eixo imune-pineal. Esse trabalho teve como objetivo verificar o efeito do ATP sobre produção de melatonina em macrófagos da linhagem RAW 264.7 Os dados desse trabalho mostram que o ATP é capaz de induzir de maneira dose dependente a produção de melatonina em macrófagos através da modulação das enzimas AA-NAT e ASMT. Foi demostrado também que esse efeito é mediado pelo receptor P2X7 e que a melatonina produzida age autocrina e paracrinamente aumentando a fagocitose de particulas de zimosan. Com isso, podemos concluir que o ATP é um ativador endógeno do eixo imune-pineal / During the dark phase, melatonin is produced rhythmically by the pineal gland. Besides, a non rhythmical production is observed in several tissues and immunocompetent cells. In both scenarios, melatonin biosynthetic pathway is dependent on serotonina methylation by the action of arylalkylamine N-acetyltransferase (AA-NAT), leading to the formation of N-acetylserotonin (NAS), which will be a further target for acetylserotonin O-methyltransferase (ASMT), the last step in melatonin synthesis. In the last years, we have demonstrated that melatonin synthesis by the pineal gland may be negatively modulated by inflammatory mediators such as adenosine triphosphate (ATP), which also acts as co-transmitter released along with noradrenalin by the sympathetic nerve terminals. However, these inflammatory stimuli have the opposite effect inducing melatonin production in immunocompetent cells. These observations led us to the hypothesis of an immune-pineal axis. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate if the ATP was able to induce melatonin production in RAW 264.7 macrophages. ELISA assays demonstrate that high doses of ATP induce melatonin synthes. Accordingly, ATP is able to induce an increase in the expression of AA-NAT as well as the ASMT. Herein, we also demonstrated that this effect is mediated by P2X7 receptor, and melatonin-ATP induced acted as an autocrine and paracrine message that increases the phagocytosis of zymosan particles. Therefore, we conclude that ATP is an endogenous activator of the RAW 264.7

Neurodegenerative Erkrankungen sind wegen steigender Prävalenz ein zunehmendes Problem in Industrieländern. In diversen Studien wurde bereits ein Zusammenhang zwischen neurodegenerativen Vorgängen und purinerger Signalübertragung aufgezeigt. Insbesondere die Rezeptoruntereinheit P2X7R ist durch seine apoptotische Wirkung bei verschiedenen Krankheiten involviert. Im Rahmen dieser Arbeit wurde die funktionelle Präsenz des P2X7R an neuralen Progenitorzellen untersucht, die von der Subventrikularzone (SVZ) der Maus isoliert wurden. Mittels Calcium-Imaging wurde die intrazelluläre Ca2+-Konzentration ([Ca2+]i) erfasst. Der P2X7R-Agonist BzATP führte in einem Mg2+-freiem Milieu zu einer deutlichen [Ca2+]i-Steigerung. Selektive (A438079, BBG) und unselektive (PPADS) Antagonisten des P2X7R sowie unterschiedliche Kationen (Zn2+, H+) inhibierten den agonistischen [Ca2+]i-Anstieg. Desweiteren bewirkte Ivermectin (IVM), ein allosterischer Modulator sowohl von P2X4R als auch von P2X7R, eine signifikante Wirksteigerung des niedrigdosierten BzATP. Dieser Effekt war an Progenitorzellen, welche P2X7R-defizienten (P2X7-/-R) Mäusen entnommen waren, nicht nachzuweisen. Weitere purinerge Antagonisten (NF449, TNP-ATP) hatten keine signifikante Wirkung an den Zellen der Wildtyp-Maus. Ebenso war der P2X1-3R-Agonist α,β-meATP wirkungslos. Ein extrazelluläres Ca2+- freies Milieu wurde zur Untersuchung der Zellen auf P2Y-R genutzt und führte zum fast vollständigen Verschwinden des agonistischen Effektes an den murinen Zellen. Allerdings zeigten P2X7-/-R-Zellen nach Entfernen von Ca2+ aus der extrazellulären Flüssigkeit eine deutliche Wirkung von BzATP, welches auf Aktivität von P2Y-R hindeutet. Zusammenfassend konnte somit durch Applikation von Agonisten, Antagonisten und Modulatoren eine Aktivität des P2X7R an den murinen Progenitorzellen der SVZ gezeigt werden, welcher möglicherweise zur Regulation der Zellproliferation beiträgt. Weitere purinerge Rezeptoren (P2X1-4R, P2Y-R) waren an den Vorläuferzellen der Wildtyp-Maus nicht sicher nachweisbar, während an murinen P2X7R-/--Zellen Aktivität von P2Y-R zu erkennen war.

Dans l’intestin, le récepteur P2X7, un membre unique de la famille P2X, est fortement exprimé à la surface des cellules épithéliales intestinales le long des villosités, ce qui suggère un autre rôle pour ce récepteur que l’induction de l’apoptose des cellules à l’apex des villosités. Dans des modèles de cellules intestinales, nous avons mis en évidence qu’à la suite de l’activation du récepteur P2X7, la translocation à la membrane de GLUT2, le transporteur facilité du glucose, du fructose et du galactose dans l’intestin, était diminuée. Cette diminution d’expression s’accompagne d’une diminution d’absorption dans les cellules IEC-6 et d’une diminution du transport transcellulaire à travers une monocouche de cellules Caco-2 différenciées. En fait, comme nous l’avons montrée, l’internalisation de GLUT2 est induite par une voie de signalisation impliquant les protéines PI4K, PLC[gamma]-1, PKC[delta] et PKD1. Nous avons alors entrepris une série d’études pour déterminer quel était l’impact d’une délétion du gène P2rx7 sur le métabolisme du glucose dans un modèle de souris pour lequel l’expression de P2rx7 est invalidée (P2rx7-/-). Dans ce modèle, nous avons mesuré que les souris P2rx7-/- ont une masse significativement plus grande dès le sevrage. Des tests de tolérance au glucose sur des souris âgées de 3 semaines montrent une hyperglycémie qui se traduit par une concentration maximale de glucose sanguin plus élevé que le maximum de glycémie mesuré chez les souris normales. Cet état évolue à l’âge de 12 semaines avec une glycémie qui reste plus forte jusqu’à 90 min dans les souris P2rx7-/- par rapport aux souris contrôles. Nous avons également observé chez ces souris un taux d’insuline et de triglycérides significativement plus haut. La glycémie à jeun est aussi plus haute de façon significative à partir de 12 semaines. Cette différence de glycémie peut s’expliquer par une expression plus importante du transporteur GLUT2 à la surface apicale des cellules épithéliales dans le jéjunum des souris mutantes. Cette insertion systématique du transporteur semble favoriser une absorption rapide du glucose et le transport transcellulaire de celui-ci dans le sang. Enfin, l’augmentation de la glycémie a des conséquences sur le foie puisque les souris P2rx7-/- ont la voie de la lipogenèse active au sevrage et développent une stéatose hépatique avec accumulation croissante avec le temps de gouttelettes lipidiques dans le cytoplasme des cellules. L’ensemble des données suggère que le récepteur P2X7 joue un rôle majeur dans l’homéostasie du glucose.

P2X7 receptors belong to a family of membrane bound ion channels which are activated by extracellular ATP, resulting in the opening of a non-selective cation channel. After prolonged or repeated exposure to agonist, functional and cellular changes can occur, including the formation of a large pore, cell lysis and the release of mature, biologically active interleukin-1β. It is this diversity of functions that underlies the significance of this receptor in pain processing. P2X7 receptors are expressed on microglia, which when activated, release a host of mediators which contribute to central sensitisation, a phenomenon associated with neuropathic pain. The role of P2X7 receptors in the activation of microglia is less well established and is the main subject of this thesis. Before considering the interaction between P2X7 receptors and microglia, the first aim was to establish whether P2X7 receptors played a role in a pathological process known to be associated with microglial activation. An additional aim was to establish whether the site of action was in the central nervous system (CNS), where microglia are located. These aims were accomplished using a surgery-based rat model of neuropathic pain, the chronic constriction injury (CCI) model, and by comparing the effects of different P2X7 receptor antagonists when dosed peripherally or directly into the spinal cord. The results indicated that P2X7 receptor antagonists produced efficacy in the CCI model via a mechanism located in the CNS. To further investigate the association between P2X7 receptors and microglia, a different experimental paradigm was explored. Chronically dosed morphine is known to activate microglia, the consequence of which is thought to underlie morphine tolerance and reduced morphine analgesia. By administering a P2X7 receptor antagonist to CCI-operated rats treated with chronic morphine, the interaction between the P2X7 receptor and morphine tolerance and analgesia was explored. The results showed that P2X7 receptor antagonism delayed morphine tolerance and increased the efficacy of low doses of morphine, suggesting an association between P2X7 receptors and microglia. It was intended to confirm the interaction between a P2X7 receptor antagonist and morphine in another neuropathic pain model, namely varicella zoster virus-induced neuropathy. However due to a lack of reproducibility, this model was not used for pharmacological studies. Having demonstrated an association between P2X7 receptor antagonist and morphine in a chronic pain setting, studies were initiated to explore whether this interaction occurred in other morphine-related behaviours. The effect on body weight, motor coordination and single dosed morphine-induced analgesia was assessed in rats co-administered with P2X7 receptor antagonist and morphine. Results demonstrated that the blockade of P2X7 receptors enhanced morphine acute dose-induced analgesia, but had no influence on motor-impairment and body weight. The final part of the thesis used immunohistochemical and molecular techniques to confirm that microglia played a role in established allodynia induced by CCI-surgery and that P2X7 receptors directly influenced microglia-activation. In conclusion, the data in this thesis has illustrated an association between centrally activated P2X7 receptors and microglia, as well as an association between the P2X7 receptor and morphine-induced tolerance and analgesia. It is possible that co-administration of a P2X7 receptor antagonist with morphine could reduce the effective dose of morphine clinically, thereby reducing the side effects of this commonly used analgesic.

Pannexins represent a recently discovered second family of gap junction proteins in vertebrates. However, instead of forming intercellular gap junction channels like connexins, pannexins operate as unpaired pannexons, allowing the flux of molecules from the cytoplasm to the extracellular space and vice versa. Pannexins appear to play a vital role in the local control loop of blood perfusion and oxygen delivery. The properties of Panx1 channels indicate that this protein is the most probable candidate for an ATP release channel and is involved in the propagation of intercellular calcium waves. It is also proposed to mediate the large pore formation of the P2X7 receptor death complex. Prolonged activation of this receptor can lead to cell death. There must be some mechanisms to stop this ATP-induced ATP release and opening of the lethal pore. Here we describe a negative feedback loop controlling pannexin 1 channel activity. ATP, permeant to pannexin 1 channels, was found to inhibit its permeation pathway when applied extracellularly. ATP analogues, including BzATP, suramine, and BBG were even more effective inhibitors of pannexin 1 currents than ATP. These compounds also attenuated the uptake of dyes by erythrocytes, which express pannexin 1. The rank order of the compounds in attenuation of pannexin 1 currents was similar to their binding affinities to the P2X7 receptor, except that receptor agonists and antagonists both were inhibitory to the channel. The ATP inhibitory effect is largely decreased when R75 on the first extracellular loop of Pannexin1 is mutated to alanine, strongly indicating that the ATP regulates this channel through binding. To further investigate the structural property of the ATP binding, we did alanine scanning mutagenesis of the extracellular loops and found that mutations on W74, S237, S240, I247 and L266 on the extracellular loops severely impair the BzATP inhibitory effect indicating that they might be direct binding partners for the ligands. Mutations on R75, S82, S93, L94, D241, S249, P259 and I267 have largely decreased BzATP sensitivity. Mutations on other residues didn't change the BzATP sensitivity compared to the wild type except for some nonfunctional mutants. All these data demonstrate that some amino acid residues on the extracellular loop of Pannexin 1 mediate ATP sensitivity. However, how these residues form the ATP-binding pocket remains to be elucidated.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-03-15T14:19:06Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 romulo_bezerra_ioc_dout_2012.pdf: 7162611 bytes, checksum: 3d02f06c712f13335b047fc33620dd3c (MD5) license.txt: 1748 bytes, checksum: 8a4605be74aa9ea9d79846c1fba20a33 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-02-23 / O P2X7 é um receptor purinérgico que está envolvido em importantes funções fisiológicas e metabólicas, mas também tem participação em diversas patologias, principalmente aquelas de caráter inflamatório. Apesar de sua relevância, ainda não se têm disponíveis antagonistas específicos que possam ser utilizados na clínica para o tratamento de doenças relacionadas à ativação deste receptor. Muitos fármacos comercializados nos dias de hoje apresentam estruturas químicas relacionadas a um produto natural extraído de alguma espécie botânica de uso consagrado na medicina popular. Baseia-se nisso a relevância do estudo de produtos naturais para obtenção de uma atividade específica sobre alvos celulares. Logo, esse trabalho teve como interesse o estudo de extratos vegetais e fúngicos obtidos de espécies dos diferentes biomas, cedidos pelo LQPN do Centro de Pesquisas René Rachou \2013 Fiocruz-MG, visando á identificação de antagonistas para o receptor P2X7. Nosso primeiro passo foi à padronização de uma metodologia que permitiu a triagem de cerca de 60 extratos ao mesmo tempo, através da utilização de um espectrofotômetro de placas. Depois de padronizada, promovemos a aplicação dessa metodologia na triagem de 1800 extratos, dos quais apenas três extratos (8067,8549 e 8568) apresentaram atividade antagonista na faixa de corte pré-estabelecida [100 \03BCg/mL], com perfis de inibição de 65 %, 62 % e 61 % respectivamente, sobre o P2X7R. Destes extratos foram determinados os IC´s50 tanto em células de linhagem murina (2,1 \03BCg/mL; 2.6 \03BCg/mL e 3.8 \03BCg/mL) quanto em células de linhagem humana (0.69, 0.92 e 1.5 \03BCg/mL), sendo possível verificar maior atividade quando testados em células de linhagem humana Posteriormente avaliamos a ação destes sobre funções fisiológicas relacionadas à ativação do P2X7R, nessa etapa, observamos o efeito inibitório destes extratos sobre a liberação de IL-1beta, ROS e NO, onde os três compostos foram capazes de inibir estas funções numa faixa entre 50 % a 60 %. Para obtermos uma caracterização do efeito farmacológico destes extratos sobre o receptor P2X7, realizamos experimentos de eletrofisiologia, caracterizando assim uma ação inibitória dose-dependente destes, sendo que nos respectivos IC´s50 os perfis de inibição da corrente foram de: 76 %, 47 % e 75 %. Também avaliamos a citotoxicidade in vitro utilizando as células de ambas às linhagens e verificamos que não apresentaram significativa toxicidade quando tratadas por 24 h. em doses até quatro vezes maiores que o IC50, visto que os resultados foram semelhantes ao controle não tratado. Depois de avaliarmos a atividade antagonista destes extratos in vitro, partimos para os experimentos in vivo utilizando os modelos de úlcera induzida por etanol e de dor neuropática e inflamatória, pois existem trabalhos previamente descritos na literatura que correlacionam a atividade do P2X7R com a evolução dessas patologias. No ensaio de dor neuropática, apenas dois extratos mostraram atividade analgésica (8067 e 8549) inibindo o estímulo de dor em 68 % e 66 %, porém no contexto da dor inflamatória os três extratos mostraram efeito analgésico, inibindo o estímulo em: 8067 = 48%, 8549 = 50% e 8568 = 44 % Os resultados obtidos do experimento de úlcera induzida por etanol demonstraram o efeito inibitório sobre a formação de úlceras desses extratos em: 88 %, 84 % e 51 %, inclusive foram mais efetivos que o BBG (antagonista reversível deste receptor) e que o medicamento utilizado na clínica (Lansoprazol), os quais inibiram a formação de úlceras em 43 % e 46% respectivamente. Nosso conjunto de resultados apontam extratos com significativa atividade antagonista sobre o P2X7R, com potencial para o desenvolvimento de novos fármacos com grande interesse para a indústria farmacêutica, além de contribuir para o conhecimento acerca de propriedades medicinais presentes na biodiversidade / The purinergic receptor P2X7 is involved in important physiological and metabolic functions, but it also participates in pathology, especially when inflammatory in character. Despite the importance of P2X7, it has no specifi c antagonists yet available for use in clinical treatment of diseases related to the receptor's activation. Today, many drugs on the market have chemical structures related to natural products obtained from botanical species with traditional use in indigen ous medicine, forming the basis for studying natural products to obtain specific activity on cellular targets. This work focused primarily on the study of plant and fungal species extracts obtained from different biomes provided by LQPN of the Research Cen ter René Rachou - Fiocruz - MG, aiming to identify antagonists for the P2X7 receptor. The first step was to standardize a method that allowed the screening of approximately 60 extracts at the same time through the use of a plate spectrophotometer. Once stand ardized, the application of this methodology was promoted in the screening of 1800 extracts. Of these, only three extracts (8067, 8549 and 8568) showed antagonistic activity in the pre - established cut range [100 mg/mL], with inhibition profiles of 65%, 62% , and 61% respectively, on the P2X7R. Th e IC's50 of them were determinate in murine (2.1, 2.6, and 3.8 mg/mL) and human (0.69, 0.92, and 1.5 mg/mL) cell lines. Which an increased activity was possible to verify when they were tested in human cells. Consequ ent evaluation of action on physiological functions related to the activation of P2X7R revealed an inhibitory effect of these extracts on the release of IL - 1beta, NO, and ROS. The three tested compounds were able to inhibit these functions in a range betwe en 50% and 60%. To obtain a pharmacological characterization of these extracts on the P2X7 receptor, electrophysiological experiments were conducted, which characterized the dose - dependent inhibitory effects, exhibiting inhibitory current profiles of 76%, 47%, and 75%, respectively. In vitro cytotoxicity was also evaluated, using both cell strains, showing no significant toxicity after 24 hours of treatment at doses of up to four times that of the IC50; the results were similar to the untreated control. Aft er evaluating the antagonistic activity of these extracts in vitro, experiments using the in vivo models of ethanol - induced ulcers and inflammatory and neuropathic pain were performed. Previous studies correlate the activity of the P2X7R with the evolution of these pathologies. In the neuropathic pain protocol experiment, only two extracts showed analgesic activity (8067 and 8549) by inhibiting the pain stimulation by 68% and 66%, but in the context of inflammatory pain, the three tested extracts showed ana lgesic effects by inhibiting the stimulus by the following percentages: 8067 = 48 %, 8549 = 50%, and 8568 = 44%. The results of the ethanol - induced ulcer demonstrated an inhibitory effect on the ulcer’s development of 88%, 84%, and 51% by these extracts, a nd found that the extracts were more effective than BBG (reversible antagonist of this receptor) and the medicine used clinically (Lansoprazole), which inhibited the formation of ulcers by 43% and 46%, respect ively. The data set links to extracts with significant antagonist activity on the P2X7R, and potential to the development xix of new medicines of great interest to the pharmaceutical industry and important contributions to the knowledge of medicinal properties present in biodiversity

CARMO, Marta Regina Santos do. Efeito neuroprotetor do antagonismo do receptor P2X7 no Parkinsonismo experimental induzido por 6-OHDA. 2015. 110 f. Tese (Doutorado em Farmacologia) - Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal do Ceará, Fortaleza, 2015. / Submitted by denise santos (denise.santos@ufc.br) on 2015-04-17T13:13:51Z No. of bitstreams: 1 2015_tese_mrscarmo.pdf: 2518438 bytes, checksum: 237c71b94e431515b74c222c224d8c8e (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by denise santos(denise.santos@ufc.br) on 2015-04-17T13:14:18Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 2015_tese_mrscarmo.pdf: 2518438 bytes, checksum: 237c71b94e431515b74c222c224d8c8e (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2015-04-17T13:14:18Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 2015_tese_mrscarmo.pdf: 2518438 bytes, checksum: 237c71b94e431515b74c222c224d8c8e (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015 / Parkinson’s disease (PD) is characterized by a progressive degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra (SN) and a concomitant decrease of dopamine (DA) in the striatum, which can be modeled by 6-OHDA administration. Since ATP released from damaged cells can exert noxious effects on neurons, acting through its P2X7 receptors (P2X7R), the aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of a P2X7R antagonist, Brilliant Blue G (BBG) on 6-OHDA-induced neurotoxicity. Male Wistar rats received stereotaxic injections of 6-OHDA (18 µg/3µl) into the right striatum and were treated with BBG (45 mg/kg, i.p. 48/48 h) for two weeks. In an additional experiment, animals were treated with the selective antagonist A-438079 (10 µM i.c.v.) for two weeks. BBG decreased the number of contralateral rotations in the apomorphine test, an effect mimicked by the selective P2X7R antagonist A438079. BBG has also improved the animals’ performance in the passive avoidance test (short-term memory) and in the cued version of the Morris Water maze. The antagonism of P2X7R by BBG has also prevented the reduction of dopamine content in the striatum and SN as well as the loss of dopaminergic neurons, and microgliosis and astrogliosis in the striatum. BBG treatment also decreased the IL-1β levels in striatum, despite the observed effect not being statistically significant. To grasp the mechanism of action of BBG, we used in vitro models exploring synaptotoxicity (striatal synaptosomes) and neurotoxicity (dopamine-differentiated SH-SY5Y cells). Besides showing that P2X7R are present in striatal dopaminergic terminals, we observed that BBG 100 nM prevented the 6-OHDA-induced synaptosomal dysfunction. Furthermore, we have shown the presence of P2X7 receptors in SH-SY5Y cells, their co-localization with tyrosine hydroxilase, and that BBG attenuates the cell damage, evaluated through lactate dehydrogenase release. The present results suggests that P2X7R contribute to PD pathogenesis through a triple impact on synaptotoxicity, gliosis and neurotoxicity, highlighting the therapeutic potential of P2X7R antagonists in the disease. / A doença de Parkinson (DP) é caracterizada por uma degeneração progressiva dos neurônios da substância negra (SN) e uma concomitante diminuição do conteúdo de dopamina no estriado, que pode ser mimetizada pela administração de 6-OHDA. Visto que o ATP liberado das células danificadas exerce efeitos deletérios diretos sobre os neurônios, agindo através de receptores P2X7, o objetivo do presente trabalho foi estudar os efeitos do Brilliant Blue G (BBG), um antagonista dos receptores P2X7, sobre a neurotoxicidade induzida por 6-OHDA. Ratos Wistar machos receberam injeções estereotáxicas de 6-OHDA (18 µg/3µl) no estriado direito e foram tratados com BBG (45 mg/kg, i.p. 48/48hs) durante 14 dias. Em uma série adicional de experimentos, os animais receberam o antagonista seletivo A-438079 (10 µM i.c.v.) por 14 dias. O tratamento com BBG diminuiu o número de rotações contralaterais no teste da apomorfina, efeito que foi mimetizado pelo antagonista seletivo A-438079. O BBG também melhorou o desempenho dos animais no teste da esquiva passiva (memória de curta duração), assim como na versão com plataforma sinalizada do labirinto aquático. O antagonismo dos receptores P2X7 pelo BBG preveniu ainda a redução do conteúdo de dopamina no estriado e SN, assim como a perda de neurônios dopaminérgicos, a microgliose e astrogliose no estriado. O tratamento com BBG também diminuiu os níveis de IL-1β no estriado, apesar das diferenças observadas entre os grupos não serem estatisticamente diferentes. Com o objetivo de entender melhor o mecanismo de ação do BBG, foram utilizados modelos in vitro explorando a sinaptotoxicidade (sinaptossomas estriatais) e neurotoxicidade (células SH-SY5Y dopaminérgicas diferenciadas). Além da demonstração da presença dos receptores P2X7 nos terminais nervosos estriatais, foi observado que o BBG 100 nM preveniu a disfunção sinaptossomal. Também demonstramos a presença dos receptores P2X7 nas células SH-SY5Y, assim como sua co-localização com tirosina hidroxilase, onde o pré-tratamento com BBG 100 nM diminuiu o dano celular, avaliado através da liberação de lactato desidrogenase. Os resultados obtidos no presente estudo sugerem que os receptores P2X7 contribuem para a patogênese da DP através de um triplo mecanismo sobre a sinaptotoxicidade, gliose e neurotoxicidade, ressaltando o potencial terapêutico dos antagonistas desses receptores na doença.

The ATP-gated P2X7 receptors (P2X7Rs) play a key role in the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines in response to immunological challenges. Pannexin 1 (Panx1), conventionally described as a hemichannel forming protein, was suggested to be involved in the formation of the P2X7 large pore, which provides a conduit for large molecules such as fluorescent dyes. Firstly, this thesis demonstrated that the P2X7R-mediated dye uptake, a phenomenon attributed to the activation of Panx1, was suppressed by acidic pH and this inhibition was abolished in a P2X7 mutant (aspartic acid 197 to alanine) that was insensitive to extracellular pH. Then, the functional properties of human or mouse Panx1 in HEK293 cells were analysed in the absence of P2X7. The Panx1 currents were not affected by extracellular/intracellular calcium, but were reversibly inhibited by adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and non-specific anion channel blockers. Ion substitution experiments showed that Panx1 was permeable only to monovalent anions and single channel studies revealed a medium sized unitary conductance of Panx1 (~65 pS). Based on the evidence, this thesis concluded that Panx1 is an anion channel but not a hemichannel as originally proposed.