O receptor ativado do peroxissomo γ (PPAR-γ) é regulador do metabolismo e diferenciação do tecido adiposo, sendo um alvo conhecido das tiazolidinedionas (TZD), utilizadas para o tratamento do diabetes tipo 2 (DM2). As TZD agem como um agente sensibilizador da ação da insulina nos tecidos periféricos e tem sido especulado que as TZDs podem ter um papel na função da célula , prevenindo perda de massa e melhorando a sua viabilidade a longo prazo. Este efeito seria supostamente mediado pela transcrição de genes que favoreceriam a lipólise, diminuindo o conteúdo intracelular de triglicérides e, portanto, diminuindo a lipotoxicidade. Entretanto, alguns estudos também mostraram efeito nulo ou mesmo deletério das TZDs sobre as ilhotas pancreáticas. Na realidade, o papel de genes-alvo para o PPAR- nas ilhotas pancreáticas é ainda pouco conhecido. Estudamos o perfil de expressão gênica induzido pelo tratamento com Pioglitazona (Pio), uma TZD aprovada e disponível para uso clínico no tratamento do DM2, em ilhotas pancreáticas murídeas em cultura primária, com concentrações normal e suprafisiológica de glicose no meio de cultura. As ilhotas foram obtidas de ratos wistar machos de dois meses de idade e isoladas pelo método do gradiente de Ficoll e então cultivadas em 5,6 mM ou 23 mM de glicose por 24h, sendo tratadas com Pio 10 M ou DMSO 0,1% (veículo). A Pioglitazona foi cedida pela Takeda Farmacêutica, Osaka, Japão. O RNA foi extraído com Trizol e purificado com o kit RNeasy (Qiagen). As amostras foram marcadas e hibridizadas no microarranjo de cDNA Mouse Panchip 13k, usando-se cinco replicatas biológicas diferentes para cada condição. A análise estatística dos dados do microarranjo foi feita com o uso do programa significance analysis of microarrays (SAM) com uso de taxa de descobrimento falso (FDR) de 20%. A análise das vias acometidas foi feita com o Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (www.ingenuity.com). Os resultados de expressão gênica foram confirmados por RT-qPCR. Em concentração de 5,6 mM de glicose no meio de cultura, 101 genes foram modulados pela Pio, sendo 49 regulados para cima, com aumento de sua expressão na presença da droga e 52 genes regulados para baixo. Em 23 mM de glicose, 1.235 genes foram afetados, sendo 621 para cima e 623 para baixo. A comparação entre as duas condições revelou 74 genes que foram modulados em ambas as concentrações de glicose. A análise das vias biológicas alteradas mostrou que genes relacionados ao metabolismo de lípides foram modulados em ambas as concentrações de glicose. Em 23 mM foi ainda significativo o grupo de genes relacionados a ciclo celular e morte celular que tiveram sua expressão modificada pela presença da droga na cultura. Este dado demonstrou que além de seus efeitos conhecidos nos adipócitos, o sensibilizador de insulina Pioglitazona modula a expressão de genes nas ilhotas pancreáticas, especialmente na presença de concentrações suprafisiológicas de glicose, afetando notadamente genes relacionados ao metabolismo lipídico, sendo vários deles ligados a lipogênese, como Srebf1, Scd2 e Fabp4 cujas expressões aumentaram em ambas as concentrações de glicose. Além disso foi observado aumento na expressão de genes com atividade pró-apoptótica como Tnf, Bad, Bax, Caspase4, Fadd e Myc. A Pioglitazona parece induzir um perfil gênico desfavorável em ilhotas pancreáticas mantidas em cultura em concentrações suprafisiológicas de glicose. / Peroxisome proliferator-activator receptor-γ (PPAR-γ) is a target for thiazolidinedione (TZD) antidiabetic drugs and a regulator of adipose tissue differentiation and metabolism. TZD act as an insulin sensitizing agent on peripheral tissues. It has been speculated that TZD could play a role on beta-cell function, preventing loss and improving viability in the long-term. This effect is supposed to be mediated through a potential benefit against lipotoxicity, favouring lypolisis and decreasing intracellular tryglicerides content. Nevertheless some studies also showed a lack or even a potential deleterious effect of TZD on islets. The role of PPAR-γ target genes in pancreatic islets is actually still largely unclear. We studied the gene expression profile induced by the treatment with Pioglitazone (Pio), an approved TZD for T2DM therapy, on rat pancreatic islets primary culture both at normal and supraphysiological glucose medium concentrations. Islets were obtained from 2 month-old, male, wistar rats and isolated through the Ficoll gradient method and then cultured with 5.6 mM or 23 mM of glucose concentration for 24h, being treated with Pio 10 µM or DMSO 0.1% (vehicle). Pioglitazone was provided by Takeda Pharmaceuticals, Osaka, Japan. RNA was extracted with Trizol (Sigma) and purified with RNeasy kit (Qiagen). Samples were labeled and then hybridized on the Mouse PanChip 13k cDNA microarray, using 5 different biological replicates for each test condition. Statistical Analysis of the microarray data was performed using significance analysis of microarrays (SAM) with a false discovery rate of 20%. Pathways assessment was performed through Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (www.ingenuity.com). Gene expression results were confirmed through RT-qPCR. At 5.6 mM glucose 101 genes were modulated by Pio, 49 upregulated and 52 downregulated. At 23 mM, 1,235 genes were affected, 612 upregulated and 623 downregulated. Comparison between both conditions revealed 74 genes that were similarly modulated at both glucose concentrations. Pathway analysis of perturbed genes revealed biologically relevant networks related to lipid metabolism at both glucose medium concentrations. At 23 mM, cell cycle and cell death pathways were significant modulated as well. These data demonstrates that in addition to known effect in adipocytes, the insulin sensitizing agent Pioglitazone modulates gene expression in pancreatic islets, especially in the presence of supraphysiological glucose concentrations, affecting especially lipid metabolism and mechanisms of cell death and cell cycle. Considering the ontology of modulated genes it seems to be a trend towards lypogenesis (increased Srebf1, Scd2 and Fabp4 RNA expressions) with Pio treatment also enhancing the abundance of some genes considered to be pro apoptotic like Tnf, Bad, Bax, Caspase4, Fadd and Myc. Pioglitazone seems to induce a negative gene expression profile in islets cultured at high glucose concentrations.

Orientador: Helena Coutinho Franco de Oliveira / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Biologia / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-11T11:46:21Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Raposo_HelenaFonseca_M.pdf: 1257741 bytes, checksum: f53550bd6c88a5cd12f0daf241da3486 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2008 / Resumo: Os óleos de peixe e de milho são fontes de ácidos graxos poli-insaturados (PUFA) n-3 e n-6, respectivamente. Estes ácidos graxos são ligantes naturais dos receptores ativados por proliferadores de peroxissomos (PPARs) e, dessa forma, modificam a expressão de diversos genes envolvidos no metabolismo de lipídios. A proteína de transferência de colesteril-éster (CETP) é uma proteína plasmática sintetizada em vários tecidos, principalmente do fígado. A CETP participa do transporte reverso de colesterol, reduzindo HDL no plasma e aumentando o risco de aterosclerose. Este trabalho teve como objetivo investigar os efeitos dos óleos ricos em PUFA n-3 e n-6 e de fibratos (ligantes sintéticos de PPAR e agentes redutores de triglicérides) sobre a expressão e atividade da CETP. Assim, camundongos transgênicos que expressam a CETP foram tratados por duas semanas com óleo de peixe, óleo de milho ou salina, e camundongos CETP hipertrigliceridêmicos foram tratados com gemfibrozil (GEM), fenofibrato (FENO), bezafibrato (BEZA) ou veículo (control). Após os tratamentos com os PUFA, não foi verificada diferença no peso corporal, na ingestão ou no peso relativo do fígado e tecidos adiposos. Também não houve alteração das concentrações plasmáticas de glicose e triglicerídios. O óleo de peixe reduziu os níveis de ácidos graxos livres (37%) e colesterol (15%), enquanto o óleo de milho aumentou significativamente os níveis de colesterol. Comparado ao grupo salina, os camundongos tratados com óleo de milho apresentaram aumento nos níveis de leptina (30-40%). O tratamento com óleo de peixe elevou os níveis de adiponectina quando comparados com o grupo salina (27%) e com o grupo tratado com óleo de milho (31%). Dois dos três fibratos testados (FENO, GEM) induziram elevação da atividade plasmática (15-30%) e da expressão hepática de RNAm da CETP (53-75%) quando comparados ao grupo controle. FENO também reduziu a concentração plasmática de triglicérides. O óleo de peixe aumentou os níveis plasmáticos de CETP em relação aos grupos salina e óleo de milho (13-14%), efeito verificado apenas nas fêmeas. Entretanto, não foi observada alteração na expressão hepática de RNAm de CETP. Verificou-se que os tratamentos com os óleos PUFA reduziram a expressão hepática de RNAm de PPAR_ (36%) e o óleo de milho induziu aumento da expressão do fator de transcrição SREBP1 (120%) nos machos, mas não nas fêmeas. Os óleos PUFA também induziram aumento da expressão de SREBP2, porém, apenas em fêmeas. As alterações diferenciais de RNAm de PPAR_, SREBP1 e SREBP2 em cada sexo poderiam estar implicadas na resposta gênero-específica da CETP frente aos PUFA. Assim concluímos que o gene da CETP é responsivo aos agonistas sintéticos de PPAR_, e que os ácidos graxos n-3 controlam a expressão da CETP de maneira gênero-dependente e por mecanismo pós-transcricional / Abstract: Fish and corn oils are n-3 and n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) sources, respectively. They are natural ligands of the peroxisome proliferator activated receptors (PPARs), thus capable of modifying the expression of several genes involved in lipid metabolism. CETP is a plasma protein synthesized in several tissues, mainly liver, which reduces plasma HDL and increases the risk of atherosclerosis. The aim of this work was to investigate the potential effects of PUFA oils and fibrates on the CETP levels. Therefore, CETP transgenic mice were treated during 2 weeks with fish oil (FO), corn oil (CO) or saline, whilst hypertrygliceridemic CETP mice were treated with gemfibrozil (GEM), fenofibrate (FENO), bezafibrate (BEZA) or vehicle (control). There were no differences in body weight, food intake and relative weight of liver and adipose tissue after PUFA or saline treatments. Also, no changes were verified in glucose and triglyceride plasma levels after both PUFA treatments. FO reduced plasma free fatty acid (37%) and cholesterol (15%) levels, whilst CO increased cholesterol mildly. Compared to saline, mice treated with CO showed an increase in leptin levels (30-40%). Treatment with FO enhanced adiponectin plasma levels when compared to saline (27%) and CO (31%). Two out of the three fibrates (FENO, GEM) induced elevation in plasma CETP activity (15- 30%) and liver mRNA expression (53-75%) when compared to control. FENO also reduced triglyceride levels. FO increased CETP plasma levels (13-14%) when compared to CO and saline, an effect verified only in females. However, no changes were observed in liver CETP mRNA expression. FO treatment decreased PPAR_ (36%) and CO increased SREBP1 liver mRNA levels (120%) in males, but not in females. PUFA treatment increased SREBP2 mRNA only in females. These distinct mRNA changes could explain genderspecific CETP response to PUFA treatments. In conclusion, CETP gene is responsive to PPAR_ agonists, and n-3 PUFA (FO) can regulate CETP expression by post-transcriptional mechanisms, in a manner dependent on the female context / Mestrado / Fisiologia / Mestre em Biologia Funcional e Molecular

Submitted by Luciana Ferreira (lucgeral@gmail.com) on 2015-10-15T12:44:52Z No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertação - Maira Chiquito Alves - 2015.pdf: 2795650 bytes, checksum: df30e15f25e56e8cea5234d554455c1b (MD5) license_rdf: 23148 bytes, checksum: 9da0b6dfac957114c6a7714714b86306 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Luciana Ferreira (lucgeral@gmail.com) on 2015-10-15T12:46:45Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertação - Maira Chiquito Alves - 2015.pdf: 2795650 bytes, checksum: df30e15f25e56e8cea5234d554455c1b (MD5) license_rdf: 23148 bytes, checksum: 9da0b6dfac957114c6a7714714b86306 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2015-10-15T12:46:45Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertação - Maira Chiquito Alves - 2015.pdf: 2795650 bytes, checksum: df30e15f25e56e8cea5234d554455c1b (MD5) license_rdf: 23148 bytes, checksum: 9da0b6dfac957114c6a7714714b86306 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015-03-20 / Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de Goiás - FAPEG / To verify the relationship between the polymorphisms rs18011282 in PPAR-gamma gene and rs429358 + rs7412 in apolipoprotein E gene and lipid profile of adolescents under cardiovascular risk factors. Material and methods: The study sample was composed of 115 adolescents aged 10-19 years, which presented cardiovascular risk factors. The students were evaluated regarding socioeconomic, anthropometric, biochemical, genetic and dietetic variables. ANOVA or Kruskal-Wallis tests were used in the analysis of ungrouped genotypes, while Student’s t-test or Mann-Whitney test were applied to the analysis of the grouped genotypes. Results: The overweight adolescents presented lower HDL-c concentrations (p=0.0016). Those carrying PPAR-gamma Ala allele showed higher serum TAG (p=0.0423) and VLDL-c (p=0.0410) levels when compared to those carrying the Pro allele. For the apolipoprotein E gene polymorphism, it was observed a tendency of higher TAG (p=0.0712) and VLDL-c (p=0.0758) levels in the adolescents carrying the E4 allele when compared to those who did not carry this allele. Conclusion: The polymorphisms PPAR-gama rs18011282 and apolipoprotein E rs429358 + rs7412 seem to be related to the development of lipid profile alterations in adolescents. / Verificar a relação dos polimorfismos rs18011282 no gene do PPAR-gama e rs429358 + rs7412 no gene da apolipoproteína E com o perfil lipídico de adolescentes com fatores de risco cardiovascular. Material e métodos: A amostra foi constituida por 115 adolescentes com idade entre 10-19 anos e com fatores de risco cardiovascular. Os estudantes foram avaliados quanto as variáveis socioeconômicas, antropométricas, bioquímicas, genéticas e dietéticas. Os testes ANOVA ou Kruskal-Wallis foram utilizados para os genótipos não agrupados, e as análises dos genótipos agrupados foram realizadas por meio dos testes t de Student e Mann-Whitney. Resultados: Os adolescentes com excesso de peso apresentaram concentrações inferiores de HDL-c (p=0,0016). Carreadores do alelo variante Ala (PPAR-gama) apresentaram concentrações séricas superiores de TG (p=0,0423) e de VLDL-c (p=0,0410) em relação ao carreadores do alelo selvagem Pro. Para o polimorfismo no gene da ApoE foram observadas concentrações séricas de TG (p=0,0712) e de VLDL-c (p=0,0758) marginalmente maiores nos carreadores do alelo E4 em relação aos não carreadores deste alelo. Conclusão: Os polimorfismos rs18011282 no gene que codifica o PPAR-gama e rs429358 + rs7412 no gene que codifica a ApoE podem estar relacionados ao desenvolvimento de dislipidemias em adolescentes.

La Pioglitazone appartient à la famille des thiazolidinédiones et le Fénofibrate à la famille des fibrates. Ces molécules sont, respectivement, des agonistes synthétiques du récepteur activable par les proliférateurs de peroxysomes γ (PPARγ) et PPARα, membres de la famille des récepteurs nucléaires aux hormones. Le traitement de cellules cancéreuses humaines par ces molécules limite la croissance et peut induire leur apoptose. Cependant, l’impact de ces traitements sur les cellules cancéreuses est en partie dû à une action indépendante de l’activation du récepteur et met en cause la génération d'un stress oxydant. Au cours de ces travaux, un analogue de la Pioglitazone, la ΔPioglitazone, qui ne permet pas l’activation de PPARγ, a été synthétisé. Les effets de ces molécules ont été testés sur deux lignées cellulaires établies à partir de cancer colique, HT29 et HCT116. Ces traitements limitent la croissance des cellules cancéreuses sans induire de processus apoptotique. La production d’espèces réactives est responsable d’une diminution du contenu en glutathion intracellulaire. Le stress oxydant généré suite au traitement par la Pioglitazone et la ΔPioglitazone induit l’activation de la voie de signalisation antioxydante Nrf2/Keap1 et l’expression de ses gènes-cibles HO-1 et NQO1. En revanche, bien qu’il induise la production d’un stress oxydant, le Fénofibrate n’entraîne aucune activation de cette voie. De plus, ces trois composés sont responsables d’une modification du métabolisme cellulaire en faveur de la glycolyse. Parallèlement, l’impact de dérivés 4-thiazolidinones, analogues des thiazolidinédione, synthétisés au laboratoire, a été testé. L’effet de ces molécules a été évalué sur la survie cellulaire et le statut redox des cellules HT29. Plusieurs composés présentent une activité antiproliférative et sont capables de générer un stress oxydant sans activer la voie Nrf2/Keap1 / Peroxisome Proliferator-activated Receptors (PPAR) are members of the nuclear receptor family. Pioglitazone and Fenofibrate belong respectively to the thiazolidinedione and fibrate family. Pioglitazone is an agonist of PPARγ isotype whereas Fenofibrate is an agonist of PPARα isotype. Cancer cell exposure to each ligand inhibits cell growth and triggers apoptosis cell death. However, the effects of respective PPAR ligand on cell survival were found to be independent of receptor activation and were associated to redox changes within the cells. In order to discriminate PPAR independent from PPAR dependent activation, an analogue of Pioglitazone, Δ-Pioglitazone was synthesized. The molecule binds to PPARγ without activating it. Two cancer cell lines established from human colon adenocarcinoma, HT29 and HCT116 were tested. Cell exposure to each molecule inhibited cell growth but cells did not undergo apoptosis cell death. Cell treatment induced the production of reactive species and the decrease of intracellular glutathione content. Pioglitazone or [delta]-Pioglitazone-mediated oxidative stress triggered the activation of the Nrf2/Keap1 pathway as assessed by the increases of Nrf2 target genes expression such as HO-1 and NQO1. In contrast, Fenofibrate treatment increased reactive species production but did no activate this pathway. Moreover, cell exposure to Pioglitazone, Δ-Pioglitazone or Fenofibrate modulated cell metabolism, notably by enhancing glycolysis. In parallel, impact of 4-thiazolidinone derivatives synthesized in the laboratory was tested. These molecules are analogues of thiazolidinedione. Effect of 4-thiazolidinone treatments was assessed to cell growth arrest and redox changes within the HT29 cells. Several molecules have anti-proliferative effect and are able to generate oxidative stress without Nrf2/Keap1 pathway activation

No description available.

Diagnostiqué par la présence d'une hyperandrogénie et d'une dysfonction ovarienne, le syndrome des ovaires polykystiques (SOPK) est le désordre endocrinien le plus fréquent chez les jeunes femmes affectant 6 à 10% d'entre elles. Ces dernières présentent fréquemment divers défauts métaboliques. Par ailleurs, le SOPK semble avoir une composante génétique importante. L'hypothèse principale soutenue dans ce mémoire est que les acides gras non-estérifiés (AGNE) sont impliqués dans la physiopathologie du SOPK, tout comme ils sont impliqués dans le risque accru de diabète de type 2. Le premier objectif est de mieux comprendre le métabolisme des AGNE chez les femmes ayant un SOPK en comparaison à des femmes saines et ceci, en lien avec leur sensibilité hépatique et musculaire à l'insuline, leur sécrétion d'insuline et leur hyperandrogénie. Ce premier volet de l'étude a aussi pour objectif de quantifier l'amélioration du métabolisme des AGNE et de la sensibilité à l'insuline chez les femmes avec SOPK, après la prise d'une médication qui permet spécifiquement d'améliorer le métabolisme des AGNE, soit un agoniste des récepteurs activés par les proliférateurs des peroxysomes gamma (PPARy) en comparaison avec des médications qui ne font que diminuer les niveaux d'insuline, soit l'acarbose ou le diazoxide. Pour ce faire, les femmes SOPK devaient effectuer quatre ou cinq visites composées d'une hyperglycémie provoquée orale (HGPO) ou d'un clamp euglycémique-hyperinsulinémique avec utilisation de traceurs. Nos résultats préliminaires montrent que les femmes SOPK ont des niveaux d'AGNE ainsi qu'un rythme d'apparition des AGNE plus élevés que les témoins. Puisque le recrutement des participantes randomisées sur les bras de traitement n'a pas encore été atteint, il n'est pas possible pour le moment d'établir une corrélation entre l'amélioration du métabolisme des AGNE et la diminution de l'hyperandrogénie. Comme ce ne sont pas toutes les femmes obèses ou résistantes à l'insuline qui présentent un SOPK, le deuxième objectif est de déterminer s'il y a un facteur primaire, possiblement héréditaire, pourrait caractériser les femmes ayant un SOPK et expliquer sa prépondérance héréditaire. Ces travaux font l'objet d'un article original qui est incorporé dans ce mémoire. Pour ce faire, nous avons étudié 9 filles dont la mère ou une soeur avait un SOPK (SOM) et 10 filles témoins sans lien familial de SOPK et âgées entre 8 et 14 ans. Les jeunes filles devaient effectuer une HGPO ainsi qu'une hyperglycémie par voie intraveineuse pour mesurer la sensibilité à l'insuline ainsi que différents androgènes et les AGNE. Les résultats de cette étude ont montré une augmentation de l'hyperandrogénie, une résistance à l'insuline et surtout, une réduction de la suppression de la lipolyse induite par l'insuline chez les jeunes filles prédisposées au SOPK comparativement aux contrôles le tout indépendamment de l'adiposité. En conclusion, les résultats obtenus par nos deux études portent à croire qu'une altération du métabolisme des AGNE pourrait être impliquée dans le développement du SOPK et que l'apparition du SOPK pourrait être liée à une dysfonction adipocytaire. // Abstract: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most frquent endrocrine disorder in young women in North America. Diagnosed by the presence of hyperandrogenism and ovarian dysfunction, women with PCOS frquently have an adverse metabolic profile. Furthermore, PCOS seems to have a strong genetic component because the prevalence of this syndrome rises to 20 to 40% in PCOS relatives. The main hypothesis supported in this thesis is that non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA) are involved in the pathogenesis of PCOS, similar to their putative role in the development of type 2 diabetes (T2D), a condition that is frquently observed in women with PCOS. The first objective is to better understand the metabolism of NEFA in women with PCOS compared to lean normal women and this, the association with insulin sensitivity (hepatic and muscles), with insulin secretion, and with hyperandrogenism. One of our goal included measurement of NEFA metabolism and insulin sensitivity in women with PCOS, after taking a medication that acts specifically on NEFA metabolism (peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARy) agonist) in comparison to a medication that only reduce insulin levels (acarbose or diazoxide). In order to accomplish this goal, participants had to perform four to five visits, depending of their group, consisting of an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) or a hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp. Our preliminary results show that PCOS women tend to have lower levels of NEFA and a rate of appearance of NEFA higher than controls. Since the recruitment of participants randomized to treatment arms is incomplete, it is not possible at this moment to correlate improvement of NEFA metabolism with decreased hyperandrogenism. As mentioned above, SOPK has an hereditary component. The second objective is to determine whether there is a primary factor, maybe inherited, that characterize women with PCOS. This work is the subject of an original article that is embedded in this thesis. We studied 9 girls whose mother or sister had PCOS (PCOSr) and 10 controls girls without family history of PCOS. All were aged between 8 and 14 years old and both groups were matched for age. The girls had to perform an OGTT and an intravenous glucose tolerance test to establish their levels of glucose tolerance and to measure androgens and NEFA levels. The results of this study showed an increase of adrenal hyperandrogenism, insulin resistance, and especially, a reduction in the suppression of lipolysis induced insulin resistance in girls predisposed to PCOS compared to controls, all independently of adiposity. In conclusion, the results of our two objectives suggest that altered NEFA metabolism may be involved in the development of PCOS and the onset of PCOS may be related to adipocyte dysfunction.

Thesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2012. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Background: Myocardial oxidative fuel supply is increased in obese conditions. How this metabolic environment and altered cardiometabolic phenotype associated with prediabetic obesity impacts on cardiac function and tolerance to ischaemia/reperfusion injury remains uncertain. While obese individuals are likely to be treated with PPARα agonists, controversy exists as to how activation of the PPARα receptor influences cardiovascular function and post-ischaemic recovery. Aims: To determine in a model of hyperphagia-induced obesity 1) whether protracted obesity is associated with left ventricular (LV) mechanical dysfunction; 2) the responsiveness of these hearts to insulin stimulation; 3) whether insulin can afford cardioprotection against ischaemia/reperfusion damage; and 4) how obesity and chronic PPARα agonist (K-111) treatment influences myocardial function, substrate metabolism, mitochondrial function and post-ischaemic outcomes. Methods: Male Wistar rats were fed standard rat chow or a high caloric diet. 1) In vivo LV mechanical function was assessed echocardiographically in 32 week fed animals. Ex vivo LV function was measured in the presence of glucose, insulin and/or fatty acid (FA); 2) Ex vivo myocardial insulin sensitivity was assessed by measuring insulin stimulated glycolytic flux in 16 week fed rats. Insulin was also administered prior to and during regional ischaemia to determine its effect on post-ischaemic function and infarct size; 3) K-111 was added to the drinking water during the last 10 weeks of feeding (feeding period of 18 weeks); a) Ventricular mitochondrial function was determined polarographically in the presence of either glutamate or palmitoyl-L-carnitine as substrates; b) Myocardial carbohydrate and lipid metabolism, and in a separate series of perfusions, myocardial infarct size were determined in the presence of physiological or high insulin (30 or 50μIU/ml) and FA (0.7 or 1.5mM) concentrations. Results: 1) Obese animals maintained normal in vivo LV mechanical function. Glucose perfused hearts from obese animals had depressed aortic outputs compared to the control group (32.58±1.2 vs. 46.17±0.91 ml/min; p<0.001) which was abolished by the presence of FA; 2) Hearts from obese animals had reduced insulin stimulated glycolytic flux rates (1.54±0.42 vs. 2.16±0.57 μmol/g ww/min, p<0.01). Although insulin reduced infarct size in the obese group (20.94±1.60 vs. 41.67±2.09 %, p<0.001), its cardioprotective effect was attenuated in the presence of FA; 3) By simulating the in vivo metabolic environment of control and obese animals in ex vivo perfusions, elevated insulin and FA levels associated with obesity increased infarct sizes in the obese group compared to the control group (47.44±3.13 vs. 37.17±2.63 %, p<0.05); 4) While chronic K-111 treatment reversed systemic metabolic abnormalities associated with obesity, neither obesity nor the drug influenced myocardial and mitochondrial function or postischaemic outcomes. K-111 was able to reduce palmitate oxidation in the obese group. Conclusion: Elevated levels of circulating FFA may be important in maintaining normal LV mechanical function in the obese condition. While obesity had no impact on myocardial mitochondrial function and post-ischaemic outcomes during comparable perfusion conditions, the specific metabolic environment associated with obesity may augment post-ischaemic injury. K-111 is effective in reducing obesity related metabolic abnormalities, but has no effects on myocardial function, mitochondrial function or ischaemic tolerance. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Agtergrond: Miokardiale oksidatiewe substraat voorsiening is verhoog in vetsug. Hoe hierdie metaboliese omgewing en veranderde miokardiale metaboliese fenotipe in prediabetiese vetsug miokardiale funksie en iskemie/herperfusie skade beïnvloed, is onseker. Alhoewel vetsugtige individue met PPARα agoniste behandel kan word, is die resultate verkry van hierdie reseptor aktivering op miokardiale funksie en iskemiese skade teenstrydig. Doelwitte: Om te bepaal of 1) verlengde vetsug linker ventrikulêre (LV) funksie beïnvloed; 2) hierdie harte sensitief vir insulien stimulasie is; 3) insulien die hart teen iskemie/herperfusie beskadiging beskerm; en of 4) vetsug en chroniese K-111 behandeling miokardiale funksie, substraat metabolisme, mitochondriale funksie en post-iskemiese herstel in vetsugtige, insulienweerstandige rotte beïnvloed. Metodes: Manlike Wistar rotte is met gewone rotkos, of ʼn hoé kalorie dieet gevoer. 1) In vivo LV funksie in 32 week gevoerde rotte is met behulp van eggokardiografie bepaal. Ex vivo LV funksie is met of sonder insulien en/of vetsure in die perfusaat bepaal; 2) Die ex vivo insuliensensitiwiteit is in 16 weke gevoerde rotte bepaal deur miokardiale glikolise te meet. Insulien is ook voor en tydens streeksiskemie toegedien, ten einde sy effek op miokardiale beskerming te bepaal; 3) K-111 is in die drink water van rotte toegedien vir die laaste 10 weke van hul dieet (voedingsperiode van 18 weke); a) Ventrikulêre mitochondriale funksie is polarografies bepaal in die aanwesigheid van glutamaat of palmitiel-L-karnitien; b) Miokardiale koolhidraat- en lipied metabolisme, en in ʼn aparte groep rotte, infarktgrootte, is bepaal in die teenwoordigheid van fisiologiese of hoë insulien- (30 of 50μIU/ml) en vetsuurvlakke (0.7 of 1.5mM). Resultate: 1) Vetsugtige rotte het normale in vivo LV funksie gehandhaaf. Glukose geperfuseerde harte van vet rotte se LV funksie was laer as die van kontroles (Aorta omset: 32.58±1.2 vs. 46.17±0.91 ml/min; p<0.001), maar dit het verbeter in teenwoordigheid van vetsure; 2) Harte van vetsugtige rotte het verlaagde insuliengestimuleerde glikolise getoon (1.54±0.42 vs. 2.16±0.57 μmol/g ww/min, p<0.01). Alhoewel insulien infarktgrootte in die vetsugtige groep verlaag het (20.94±1.60 vs. 41.67±2.09 %, p<0.001), is sy beskermende effekte in die teenwoordigheid van vetsure verlaag; 3) deur die in vivo metaboliese omgewing van kontrole en vetsugtige rotte in die perfusaat van die harte ex vivo te simuleer, is dit aangetoon dat die verhoogde vlakke van insulien en vetsure, geassosieer met vetsugtigheid, infarktgroottes in die vetsugtige groep teenoor die kontrole groep verhoog het (47.44±3.13 vs 37.17±2.63 %, p<0.05); 4) Hoewel chroniese gebruik van K-111 die metaboliese abnormaliteite gepaardgaande met vetsug normaliseer het, het beide vetsug en die middel geen invloed op miokardiale of mitochondriale funksie of vatbaarheid vir iskemiese beskadiging gehad nie. K-111 het miokardiale palmitaatoksidasie in die vetsugtige behandelde groep verlaag. Gevolgtrekking: Verhoogde bloed vetsuurvlakke in vetsug mag n belangrike rol in die handhawing van sistoliese funksie speel. Dit blyk dat die spesifieke in vivo omgewing geassosieer met vetsug wel tot verhoogte vatbaarheid vir iskemie/herperfusie skade mag lei. K-111 is effektief om die sistemiese metaboliese abnormaliteite gepaard met vetsugtigheid te verbeter, maar het geen effek op miokardiale funksie, mitochondriale funksie of vatbaarheid vir iskemie gehad nie.

La dermatite atopique (DA) est une maladie inflammatoire chronique de la peau caractérisée par un épaississement épidermique et un infiltrat dermique de lymphocytes T mémoire activés, macrophages, mastocytes et éosinophiles avec des phases aiguë et chronique associées respectivement à des profils cytokiniques de type Th2 et Th1. Chez la majorité des patients atteints de DA, une augmentation de production d'IgE et IgG totales et spécifiques d'allergènes et d'antigènes microbiens est observée. Les récepteurs de forte et de faible affinité pour l'IgE, FcepsilonRI et FcepsilonRII/CD23 et le récepteur de faible affinité pour l'IgG, FcgammaRIII/CD16, jouent un rôle essentiel dans les maladies allergiques. Dans la peau humaine, ces FcR sont exprimés par des cellules présentatrices d'antigène et des cellules effectrices résidentes ou recrutées au derme durant l'inflammation. Au cours de ce travail, nous avons étudié le rôle de ces FcR dans un modèle murin de DA, qui reproduit la pathologie humaine, en comparant des animaux déficients pour ces FcR aux animaux correspondants de type sauvage (WT). Les symptômes de la DA sont complètement absents chez les souris déficientes en FcRgamma et partiellement inhibés dans les souris déficientes en FcepsilonRI ou CD16. Cette inhibition est corrélée avec une augmentation de l'expression cutanée de l'IL-10 et Foxp3. Alors que FcepsilonRI régule les réponses Th1 et Th2, le recrutement des mastocytes vers les ganglions drainants et la production d'IgE, CD16 régule uniquement la réponse Th2, la prolifération lymphocytaire et la production d'IgG1. FcepsilonRI et CD16 régulent spécifiquement la production de leurs ligands en contrôlant respectivement l'expression ganglionnaire d'IL-4 et d'IL-21. D'une façon importante, l'absence de CD23 aboutit à une inhibition drastique de la pathologie cutanée et, comme celle de FcepsilonRI, à une diminution des réponses cutanées Th1 et Th2 ainsi que de la production sérique de l'IgE mais pas celle de l'IgG1. Par ailleurs, nous avons étudié le rôle régulateur du récepteur nucléaire PPAR-alpha dans ce modèle de DA. En effet, il est exprimé par plusieurs types cellulaires au sein du système immunitaire et possède des propriétés anti-inflammatoires dans d'autres pathologies. Suite à la sensibilisation cutanée, nous avons remarqué que les souris déficientes en PPAR-alpha montrent une exacerbation des réponses cutanée et pulmonaire, et de la production de l'IgE et IgG2a par rapport aux souris WT. Ce phénomène est corrélé avec une exacerbation des réponses moléculaires cutanées Th2 et surtout Th1 ainsi qu'à une augmentation d'expression de NF-kappaB. D'une façon intéressante, l'expression de PPAR-alpha a été diminuée dans les lésions cutanées de patients atteints de DA suggérant donc que cette diminution d'expression puisse contribuer à la pathologie. Enfin, l'application d'un agoniste spécifique de PPAR-alpha diminue significativement la pathologie expérimentale. Nos travaux ont donc précisé la contribution des IgE/FcepsilonR et IgG/FcgammaR à la physiopathologie de la DA. Ces derniers, comme PPAR-alpha, constituent des cibles thérapeutiques potentielles pour cette affection.

Fish may be exposed to an array of pharmaceuticals that are discharged into the aquatic environment, paralleling advances in medical knowledge, research and technology. Pharmaceuticals by their nature are designed to target specific receptors, transporters, or enzymes. Nuclear receptors (NRs) are often a key component of the therapeutic mechanism at play, and many of these are conserved among vertebrates. Consequently, fish may be affected by environmental pharmaceutical exposure, however there has been relatively little characterisation of NRs in fish compared with in mammals. In this thesis common carp (C. carpio) were exposed to selected pharmaceuticals in vitro and in vivo to investigate effects centred on the pregnane X receptor (PXR) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPARα), two key NRs involved in organism responses to pharmaceutical exposure. The PXR acts as a xenosensor, modulating expression of a number of xenobiotic metabolising enzymes (XMEs) in mammals. In a primary carp hepatocyte model it was shown that expression of a number of XMEs was altered on exposure to rifampicin (RIF), as occurs in mammals. This response was repressed by addition of ketoconaozle (KET; PXR-antagonist), indicating possible PXR involvement. The genes analysed showed up-regulation on exposure to ibuprofen (IBU) and clofibric acid (CFA), but not clotrimazole (CTZ) or propranolol (PRP). The lack of response to mammalian PXR-agonist CTZ was unexpected. In contrast, the same XME genes were found to be up-regulated in vivo after 10 days of exposure of carp to CTZ, although this response occurred only for a relatively high exposure concentration. CTZ was found to concentrate in the plasma (with levels up to 40 times higher than the water). Development and application of a reporter gene assay to measure PXR activation in carp (cPXR) and human PXR showed CTZ activation of cPXR, supporting data from the in vivo studies. Furthermore, activation was seen at concentrations as low as 0.01 μM. Interestingly RIF did not induce a response in the cPXR reporter gene assay, contrasting with the hepatocyte culture work. Taken together, the data presented here suggests divergence in the PXR pathway between mammals and fish in terms of ligand activation and downstream gene targets. PPARα was investigated in carp in vivo using CFA as a mammalian PPARα-agonist. Overall the resulting data suggested a broadly similar role for this NR in lipid homeostasis in fish as for mammals, with a number of PPARα-associated genes and acyl-coA oxidase (ACOX1) activity up-regulated in response to CFA exposure. A number of XMEs were also up-regulated by CFA (in vivo and in vitro), potentially extending the role of PPARα in fish (carp) to regulation of xenobiotic metabolism. The work presented has provided further characterisation of PXR and PPARα in fish. Elucidation of these pathways is vital to provide meaningful data in terms of establishing toxicity and mechanism-of-action data for pharmaceuticals and other compounds in fish, to allow validation of read-across approaches and ultimately aid in their environmental risk assessment. In vitro approaches are attractive ethically, financially and can provide useful mechanistic characterisation of compounds and the primary hepatocyte model and reporter gene assays used here show potential for the screening of pharmaceutical compounds in fish. However, further understanding of the metabolism of drugs and chemicals in fish is required to establish the true value of these methods for informing on possible effects in fish, in vivo.

L’ostéoporose liée à l’âge se caractérise par une perte osseuse et une augmentation de l’adiposité médullaire tout en s’accompagnant d’un stress oxydant général. L’ostéoblaste et l’adipocyte ont un précurseur commun, la cellule souche mésenchymateuse (CSM), dont la capacité à se renouveler et à se différencier est influencée par le statut redox cellulaire. Le Strontium (Sr) est un élément possédant un effet antifracturaire significatif in vivo cependant, il n’affecte que peu les marqueurs d’activités des cellules osseuses différenciées. Partant de ce constat, nous avons émis l’hypothèse que les CSMs pouvaient être une cible cellulaire du Sr, et notamment que l’inhibition de leur différenciation adipocytaire pouvait diminuer la lipotoxicité médullaire néfaste à la survie des ostéoblastes au cours du vieillissement. Nous montrons chez des souris traitées 3 semaines au Sr une diminution de l’adiposité médullaire et une augmentation du volume osseux trabéculaire par rapport aux animaux témoins. Nos résultats démontrent que le Sr inhibe rapidement l’adipogenèse des cellules multipotentes mésenchymateuses (CMMs) C3H10T1/2 en réprimant PPARγ2 et l’accumulation des gouttelettes lipidiques de façon partiellement dépendante de la voie ERK. Ce mécanisme serait dépendant de son effet proliférateur puisque que nous observons qu’en présence de Sr plus la Cycline D1 est exprimée, plus PPARγ2 est réprimé. De plus, le Sr prévient la mise en place de processus impliqués dans le statut redox cellulaire et nécessaires à la maturation d’un adipocyte comme la biogenèse mitochondriale, l’accumulation de Rac1 (une sous unité régulatrice de l’activité de la Nadph oxydase) et l’augmentation de l’expression des enzymes antioxydantes. Nous montrons aussi que le Sr diminue la production d’espèces réactives de l’oxygène (ERO) de façon précoce ce qui pourrait expliquer son action anti-adipogénique. En effet, les ERO sont indispensables à l’engagement des CSMs vers l’adipogenèse et elles oxydent des lipides qui sont alors activateurs de PPARγ. L’ensemble de ces données nous montre que le Sr, en modifiant la production d’ERO intracellulaire, maintiendrait un statut redox favorable à la prolifération des CMMs et défavorable à leur différenciation adipocytaire. Ainsi la capacité antioxydante et antiadipogénique de futures molécules pourraient définir de nouvelles approches dans le traitement de l’ostéoporose / Age-related osteoporosis is associated with both an increased marrow adiposity while bone mass decreased and an increased oxidative stress. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) differentiate into osteoblasts or adipocytes and their capacity of self-renewal and differentiation is influenced by cell redox status. Strontium (Sr) have an anti-fracture effect in vivo however, it doesn’t clearly modulate markers of mature bone cell activities. Starting from this observation, we hypothesized that MSCs could be a cellular target of Sr, and particularly the inhibition of their adipocyte differentiation could reduce the marrow lipotoxicity which is deleterious for the osteoblast survival during aging. Our study showed that Sr-treated mice presented a lower medullary adiposity and a higher trabecular bone volume as compared to control animals. It was demonstrated that Sr rapidly inhibited adipogenesis of multipotent mesenchymal cells (MMCs) C3H10T1/2 by repressing PPARγ2 and droplet lipid formation in a partially ERK-dependant pathway. This mechanism was linked to its proliferative effect since in presence of Sr the higher Cyclin D1 gene expression; the lower was that of PPARγ2. Moreover, Sr prevented the establishment of processes involved in the cell redox status and necessary for the adipocyte maturation such as mitochondrial biogenesis, Rac1 protein accumulation (a NADPH oxidase regulatory subunit) and increase of the antioxidant enzyme expression. Sr also induced intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) decrease that could explain its anti-adipogenic action. Indeed, ROS are essential for the CSM commitment toward adipogenesis and they oxidize lipids which could in turn activate PPAR. Taken together, these data showed that Sr by modulating the intracellular ROS production maintained a redox status supporting the MMCs proliferation and preventing adipocyte differentiation. Thus, the antioxidant and anti-adipogenic capacities of future molecules could define new therapeutic approaches for osteoporosis treatment