Submitted by Luciana Ferreira (lucgeral@gmail.com) on 2014-12-01T11:55:38Z No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertação - Bruna dos Santos Rodrigues - 2013.pdf: 1797836 bytes, checksum: b56e1b3bdd63eeb9040d2ef050f157f8 (MD5) license_rdf: 23148 bytes, checksum: 9da0b6dfac957114c6a7714714b86306 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Luciana Ferreira (lucgeral@gmail.com) on 2014-12-04T14:18:47Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertação - Bruna dos Santos Rodrigues - 2013.pdf: 1797836 bytes, checksum: b56e1b3bdd63eeb9040d2ef050f157f8 (MD5) license_rdf: 23148 bytes, checksum: 9da0b6dfac957114c6a7714714b86306 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2014-12-04T14:18:47Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertação - Bruna dos Santos Rodrigues - 2013.pdf: 1797836 bytes, checksum: b56e1b3bdd63eeb9040d2ef050f157f8 (MD5) license_rdf: 23148 bytes, checksum: 9da0b6dfac957114c6a7714714b86306 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013-08-30 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES / The death mechanisms induced by a new synthetic compound (4-FTC) in adenocarcinoma prostate cells (PC-3) and its toxicity were investigated in this study. PC-3 cells cytotoxity was evaluated by MTT reduction assay. The mechanisms involved in PC-3 death and cell cycle were investigated by flow cytometry and colorimetric assays. The compound toxicity was analized by cytotoxicity of mononuclear cells (MTT reduction assay) and 3T3 cells (neutral red uptake assay), myelotoxicity, haemolytic activity and acute oral toxicity. 4-FTC has concentration dependent cytotoxic activity in PC-3 cells, and 184,6 μM IC50. Investigation of death mechanisms indicated death by apoptosis, because of the significant increase in phosphatidylserine externalization (109,83%), loss of mytochondrial membrane potential (41,96%), significant increase of DNA fragmentation (284,02%) and capases 3/7 and 9 activity increase, 13,12% and 12,8%, respectively. Furthermore, the treatment of PC-3 cells wih 4-FTC did not induce the reactive oxygen species production, as well as, the induction of acid autophagic vesicles generation and did not change the cell cycle significantly. Althought 4-FTC was able to modulate the expression of some proteins that regulate cell cycle, incresead the expression of p53, p21 and p27. Thus, the results suggests that 4-FTC induced PC-3 death by apoptosis dependent by mitochondrial pathway activation. In toxicity evaluation, 4-FTC presented 52,86 μM and 19,63 μM IC50 to mononuclear and 3T3 cells, respectively; 27,35 μM IC50 to hematopoietic precursors; low acute oral toxicity, classified in GHS category 5, and not significant haemolytic activity. / Neste trabalho, investigaram-se os mecanismos de morte induzidos por um novo composto sintético, 4-fluorbenzaldeidotiossemicarbazona (4-FTC), nas células de adenocarcinoma prostático PC-3 e alguns parâmetros da toxicidade desse composto. A citotoxicidade nas células PC-3 foi avaliada pelo método de redução do MTT, método colorimétrico para avaliar a viabilidade celular. A investigação dos mecanismos de morte induzidos foi realizada por citometria de fluxo e ensaio colorimétrico. A toxicidade do composto foi avaliada pela citotoxicidade em células mononucleares pelo método de redução do MTT, citotoxicidade em células 3T3 pelo método de incorporação do vermelho neutro, mielotoxicidade, potencial hemolítico e toxicidade oral aguda. Os resultados obtidos mostram atividade citotóxica concentração dependente, com CI50 de 184,6 μM para PC-3. A investigação dos mecanismos de morte induzidos indicou morte por apoptose, pois houve aumento significativo da externalização da fosfatidilsserina (109,83%), perda do potencial de membrana mitocondrial em 41,96%, aumento significativo da fragmentação de DNA (284,02%) e aumento de caspases 3/7 e 9, em 13,12% e 12,8%, respectivamente. Além disso, não induziu a produção de espécies reativas de oxigênio, bem como, a formação de vesículas autofágicas ácidas e não alterou o perfil do ciclo celular de forma significativa. Embora tenha modulado a expressão de proteínas reguladoras do ciclo celular, aumentando a expressão de p53, p21 e p27. Assim, pode-se sugeririr que o 4-FTC induz morte por apoptose por meio de mecanismos de ativação dependentes da via mitocondrial em células PC-3. Na avaliação da toxicidade, o 4-FTC apresentou concentração inibitória 50% (CI50) de 52,86 μM e 19,63 μM para células mononuclerares e células 3T3, respectivamente; CI50 de 27,35 μM para precursores hematopoiéticos; baixa toxicidade oral aguda, sendo classificado na categoria 5 e baixo potencial hemolítico.

DNA nanostructures enable the attachment of functional molecules to nearly any unique location on their underlying structure. Due to their single-base-pair structural resolution, several ligands can be spatially arranged and closely controlled according to the geometry of their desired target, resulting in optimized binding and/or signaling interactions. Here, the efficacy of SWL, an ephrin-mimicking peptide that binds specifically to EphrinA2 (EphA2) receptors, increased by presenting up to three of these peptides on small DNA nanostructures in an oligovalent manner. Ephrin signaling pathways play crucial roles in tumor development and progression. Moreover, Eph receptors are potential targets in cancer diagnosis and treatment. Here, the quantitative impact of SWL valency on binding, phosphorylation (key player for activation) and phenotype regulation in EphA2-expressing prostate cancer cells was demonstrated. EphA2 phosphorylation was significantly increased by DNA trimers carrying three SWL peptides compared to monovalent SWL. In comparison to one of EphA2’s natural ligands ephrin-A1, which is known to bind promiscuously to multiple receptors, pinpointed targeting of EphA2 by oligovalent DNA-SWL constructs showed enhanced cell retraction. Overall, we show that DNA scaffolds can increase the potency of weak signaling peptides through oligovalent presentation and serve as potential tools for examination of complex signaling pathways.

The differential activation of Wnt pathways (canonical: Wnt/-catenin; non-canonical: planar cell polarity (PCP), Wnt/Ca2+) depends on the cell-specific availability and regulation of Wnt receptors, called Frizzled (FZD). FZDs selectively recruit co-receptors to activate various downstream effectors. We established a proximity ligation assay (PLA) for the detection of endogenous FZD–coreceptor interactions and analyzed time-dependent Wnt pathway activation in cultured cells. Prostate cancer cells (PC-3) stimulated by Wnt ligands (Wnt5A, Wnt10B) were analyzed by Cy3-PLA for the co-localization of FZD6 and co-receptors (canonical: LRP6, non-canonical: ROR1) at the single-cell level. Downstream effector activation was assayed by immunocytochemistry. PLA allowed the specific (siRNA-verified) detection of FZD6–LRP6 and FZD6–ROR1 complexes as highly fluorescent spots. Incubation with Wnt10B led to increased FZD6–LRP6 interactions after 2 to 4 min and resulted in nuclear accumulation of -catenin within 5 min. Wnt5A stimulation resulted in a higher number of FZD6–ROR1 complexes after 2 min. Elevated levels of phosphorylated myosin phosphatase target 1 suggested subsequent Wnt/PCP activation in PC-3. This is the first study demonstrating time-dependent interactions of endogenous Wnt (co-)receptors followed by rapid Wnt/-catenin and Wnt/PCP activation in PC-3. In conclusion, the PLA could uncover novel signatures of Wnt receptor activation in mammalian cells and may provide new insights into involved signaling routes

<p>Prostasomes are extracellularly occurring organelles which are secreted in human semen by the prostate gland. Prostasomes have several known biological activities, but their physiological function is still unclear. In this thesis some new aspects were studied on the biological role of the prostasomes. </p><p>The motility-stimulatory effect of prostasomes on cryopreserved spermatozoa was further studied by supplementing the swim-up medium with seminal prostasomes, and with prostasomes purified from a PC-3 prostate cancer cell line (PC-3 prostasomes), on fresh spermatozoa. The recovery of motile spermatozoa after swim-up increased by 50% when the swim-up medium was supplemented with prostasomes. The PC-3 prostasomes bore a functional resemblance to seminal prostasomes as regards various expressions of sperm motility promotion. </p><p>Prostasomes proved to have potent antibacterial effects. The effects were not strictly confined to Bacillus megaterium since a few other bacteria were also sensitive. The high percentage of patients with anti-prostasome antibodies showed that prostasomes could be one of the major targets for antisperm antibodies (ASA). The results demonstrate that ASA in serum of infertile men and women recognise prostasomes as antigens, and that polyclonal antibodies raised against prostasomes agglutinate human spermatozoa. This suggests that prostasomes contribute at least partly to immunological infertility. Three types of prostasomes (seminal-, native- and metastasis-derived prostasomes) demonstrated similarities regarding a high cholesterol/phospholipid ratio and some marker enzymes. The conclusion is that prostasomes have a common and exclusive prostatic origin in man and that they are internalised in storage vesicles of the secretory cells and released in toto by an ordinary exocytotic event.</p>

Prostasomes are extracellularly occurring organelles which are secreted in human semen by the prostate gland. Prostasomes have several known biological activities, but their physiological function is still unclear. In this thesis some new aspects were studied on the biological role of the prostasomes. The motility-stimulatory effect of prostasomes on cryopreserved spermatozoa was further studied by supplementing the swim-up medium with seminal prostasomes, and with prostasomes purified from a PC-3 prostate cancer cell line (PC-3 prostasomes), on fresh spermatozoa. The recovery of motile spermatozoa after swim-up increased by 50% when the swim-up medium was supplemented with prostasomes. The PC-3 prostasomes bore a functional resemblance to seminal prostasomes as regards various expressions of sperm motility promotion. Prostasomes proved to have potent antibacterial effects. The effects were not strictly confined to Bacillus megaterium since a few other bacteria were also sensitive. The high percentage of patients with anti-prostasome antibodies showed that prostasomes could be one of the major targets for antisperm antibodies (ASA). The results demonstrate that ASA in serum of infertile men and women recognise prostasomes as antigens, and that polyclonal antibodies raised against prostasomes agglutinate human spermatozoa. This suggests that prostasomes contribute at least partly to immunological infertility. Three types of prostasomes (seminal-, native- and metastasis-derived prostasomes) demonstrated similarities regarding a high cholesterol/phospholipid ratio and some marker enzymes. The conclusion is that prostasomes have a common and exclusive prostatic origin in man and that they are internalised in storage vesicles of the secretory cells and released in toto by an ordinary exocytotic event.

Background: The secretory epithelial cells of the prostate gland use sophisticated vehicles named prostasomes to relay important information to sperm cells in semen. This prostasome-forming and secretory ability of the epithelial cells is also preserved in poorly differentiated prostate cancer cells. Aim: The aim of this thesis was to examine different characteristics of prostasomes, especially those derived from malignant prostate cells, linked to their potential role in diagnosis and prognostication of prostate cancer. Results: Serum samples of prostate cancer patients contained autoantibodies against seminal prostasomes in a higher concentration than did control sera. These autoantibodies were most frequently directed against 25 prostasome-associated proteins, but no one was prostate specific. Clusterin was one of the most frequently occurring prostasomal proteins. Elevated titers were however seen in both patients´ and control sera. Clusterin turned out to be a major antigen of seminal prostasomes. No prostate specific or prostate cancer specific protein was discovered upon proteomic analysis of prostasomes deriving from malignant cells of vertebral metastases of prostate cancer patients. Human chromosomal DNA was identified in both seminal prostasomes and PC-3 cell prostasomes and strong evidence existed that the DNA was localized inside the prostasomes. Four out of 13 DNA clones of seminal prostasomes featured gene sequences (31%). The corresponding figures for PC-3 cell prostasomes were 4 out of 16 clones (25%). Conclusions: Prostasomes are immunogenic and give rise to serum autoantibodies. The most frequently occurring autoantibodies were directed against 25 prostasomal proteins but none of these was exclusively prostate specific. Thirty different proteins were identified in prostate cancer metastasis-derived prostasomes but none of these proteins was prostate cancer specific. Human chromosomal DNA was identified in prostasomes of both normal and malignant cell origin.