Les mégacaryocytes sont des cellules de la moelle osseuse qui par un processus complexe et encore mal caractérisé, mégacaryopoïèse/thrombopoïèse, donnent naissance, in fine, aux plaquettes sanguines. La différenciation mégacaryocytaire nécessite un intense remodelage nucléaire et cytoplasmique, guidé à la fois par des facteurs intrinsèques mais aussi par des facteurs extrinsèques tel que le microenvironnement médullaire. Les plaquettes sanguines sont des acteurs essentiels du maintien de l'intégrité vasculaire. Elles sont les premiers éléments cellulaires à intervenir dans l'arrêt du saignement lors d'une blessure vasculaire par la formation d'un thrombus via des mécanismes d'adhésion, de sécrétion et d'agrégation, trois étapes majeures de l'hémostase physiologique. Dans un premier temps, mes travaux de thèse visent à déterminer le rôle inconnu de l'isoforme alpha des PI3Ks de classe II (PI3KC2a), de la PI3K de classe III (Vps34) et de leur produit, le phosphatidylinositol 3 monophosphate (PI3P), dans la production et les fonctions plaquettaires. Grâce à un modèle murin présentant une inactivation partielle de la PI3KC2a, j'ai mis en évidence son rôle clé dans la génération d'un pool basal de PI3P dans les plaquettes. L'inactivation de la PI3KC2a affecte la composition du cortex sous-membranaire plaquettaire induisant une morphologie plaquettaire anormale, une accumulation de plaquettes à deux corps appelées " barbell-shaped proplatelets ", un défaut de formation du thrombus ex vivo et un retard d'occlusion de la carotide après lésion in vivo. Ainsi, la PI3KC2a joue un rôle majeur dans le maintien de l'intégrité du squelette membranaire contrôlant la structure et la dynamique membranaire, processus critique à la production de plaquettes fonctionnelles. D'autre part, la délétion de Vps34 spécifiquement dans la lignée mégacaryocyte/plaquette se traduit par une microthrombopénie modérée associée à une migration anormale des mégacaryocytes liées à un défaut de trafic vésiculaire et une diminution du taux de PI3P. De façon intéressante, Vps34 joue aussi un rôle dans l'activation plaquettaire en régulant la production de PI3P sous stimulation, la croissance du thrombus ex vivo et les capacités thrombotiques in vivo. Le rôle de Vps34 dans la plaquette indépendamment de son rôle dans le mégacaryocyte a été confirmé via l'utilisation de nouveaux inhibiteurs spécifiques de Vps34, SAR405 et INH1, ex vivo. Vps34 est donc critique dans la régulation de la production plaquettaire par les mégacaryocytes ainsi que dans l'activation plaquettaire. Dans un deuxième temps, je me suis intéressé à l'impact du microenvironnement médullaire sur la mégacaryopoïèse, et plus spécifiquement sur la communication entre adipocytes médullaires et progéniteurs hématopoïétiques lors de leur différenciation en mégacaryocytes. Grace à un système de coculture in vitro, j'ai montré que les adipocytes améliorent la différenciation mégacaryocytaire via un transfert direct de lipides, dans un but non-énergétique. Dans un contexte d'obésité, nous observons, in vivo, associée à une adiposité médullaire augmentée une maturation mégacaryocytaire exacerbée, une production et une demi-vie plaquettaire défectueuses ayant pour conséquence une macrothrombopénie. Ainsi, le microenvironnement médullaire et plus particulièrement l'adipocyte impacte directement sur la mégacaryopoïèse et la production plaquettaire. En conclusion, ces travaux de thèse contribuent à caractériser les mécanismes de production et de fonction plaquettaire régulés par des facteurs intrinsèques tels que le PI3KC2a et Vps34, ainsi que par des facteurs extrinsèques tels que l'adipocyte médullaire. / Megakaryopoiesis is a highly specialised and complex process occurring in the bone marrow, by which megakaryocytes give rise to de novo circulating blood platelets. Megakaryocyte differentiation implies cytoplasmic and nuclear rearrangements regulated by intrinsic as well as extrinsic factors such as bone marrow microenvironment. Platelets play a critical role in preventing blood loss after vascular injury by orchestrating clot formation through mechanisms of adhesion, secretion and aggregation. These mechanisms are the three major steps of physiological haemostasis leading to the maintenance of vascular integrity. Firstly, my thesis work focused on characterizing the role of class II PI3K alpha isoform (PI3KC2a), class III PI3K (Vps34) and their common product the phosphatidylinositol 3 monophosphate (PI3P) in platelet production and function. Using a unique mouse model partially inactivated for PI3KC2a, I highlighted its key role in the production of a basal PI3P housekeeping pool in platelets. PI3KC2a partial inactivation affects platelet membrane skeleton composition leading to an abnormal platelet morphology, an enrichment of platelet with two cell bodies recently called "barbell-shaped proplatelets", an ex vivo defective thrombus formation and an in vivo delayed carotid occlusion following injury. Thus, PI3KC2a plays a major role in membrane structure and dynamics by maintaining membrane skeleton integrity, which is crucial for functional platelet production. On the other hand, Vps34 specific deletion in megakaryocyte/platelet lineage induced mild microthombopenia correlated to an abnormal megakaryocyte migration linked to an affected PI3P production as well as vesicular trafficking in megakaryocytes. In platelets, Vps34 plays a role in their activation by regulating PI3P production under stimulation, ex vivo thrombus growth and in vivo thrombotic capacity. Vps34 role in platelet independently from its role in megakaryocyte was confirmed using two recently developed inhibitors, SAR405 and INH1, which reproduced ex vivo thrombus growth defects. Therefore, Vps34 is critical for platelet production by megakaryocyte as well as platelet activation. Secondly, I studied the impact of bone marrow microenvironment on megakaryopoiesis and more specifically the crosstalk between medullar adipocytes and hematopoietic progenitors differentiating towards the megakaryocyte lineage. Using an in vitro coculture assay, I demonstrated that adipocytes enhanced megakaryocyte differentiation through a direct lipid transfer, in a non-energetic aim. In the context of obesity, increased marrow adipocity is associated to enhanced megakaryocyte differentiation and defective platelet production and lifespan leading to macrothrombopenia. Thus, bone marrow microenvironment through adipocytes impact directly on megakaryopoiesis and platelet production. Altogether my thesis work contributes to better understand platelet production and function, mechanisms regulated by intrinsic factors such as PI3KC2a and Vps34 as well as extrinsic factors like medullar adipocytes.

We recently reported that embryonic stem cells-conditioned medium (ES-CM) contains antiapoptotic factors that inhibit apoptosis in the cardiac myoblast H9c2 cells. However, the mechanisms of inhibited apoptosis remain elusive. In this report, we provide evidence for the novel mechanisms involved in the inhibition of apoptosis provided by ES-CM. ES-CM from mouse ES cells was generated. Apoptosis was induced after exposure with H2O2 (400 μm) in H9c2 cells followed by the replacement with ES-CM or culture medium. H9c2 cells treated with H2O2 were exposed to ES-CM, and ES-CM plus cell survival protein phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/Akt inhibitor, LY-294002, or extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK1/2) inhibitor, PD-98050. After 24 h, H9c2 cells treated with ES-CM demonstrated a significant increase in cell survival. ES-CM significantly inhibited (P < 0.05) apoptosis determined by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP-mediated nickend labeling staining, apoptotic ELISA, and caspase-3 activity. Importantly, enhanced cell survival and inhibited apoptosis with ES-CM was abolished with LY-294002. In contrast, PD-98050 shows no effect on ES-CM-increased cell survival. Furthermore, H2O2-induced apoptosis is associated with decreased levels of phosphorylated (p)Akt activity. Following treatment with ES-CM, we observed a decrease in apoptosis with an increase in pAkt, and the increased activity was attenuated with the Akt inhibitor, suggesting that the Akt pathway is involved in the decreased apoptosis and cell survival provided by ES-CM. In contrast, we observed no change in ES-CM-decreased apoptosis or pERK with PD-98050. In conclusion, we suggest that ES-CM inhibited apoptosis and is mediated by Akt but not the ERK pathway.

Den aktuellen Forschungsgegenstand dieser Arbeit bildet der in Glioblastomen häufig überaktivierte PI3K/AKT/mTOR-Signalweg. Eine entscheidende Rolle bei der Aktivierung des Signalwegs spielt das Tumorsuppressorprotein PTEN. Ein mutiertes PTEN sorgt für die zuvor genannte Überaktivierung des PI3K/AKT/mTOR-Signalwegs und korreliert mit einer Radioresistenz. In der vorliegenden Arbeit wurde die strahlensensibilisierende Wirkung des neuartigen dualen PI3K/mTOR-Inhibitors NVP-BEZ235 an zwei humanen Glioblastomzelllinien mit unterschiedlichem PTEN-Status (GaMG: PTEN wt und U373-MG: PTEN mut) analysiert. Vergleichend dazu erfolgten Untersuchungen mit dem mTOR-Inhibitor Rapamycin und dem PI3K-Inhibitor LY294002. Untersucht wurden die Auswirkungen auf die Zellproliferation, die Strahlensensibilität, das Proteinexpressionsmuster, die Zellzyklusverteilung, die Induktion und Reparaturfähigkeit des DNS-Schadens sowie die Einleitung des programmierten Zelltods. U373-MG stellte sich im Vergleich zu GaMG als die strahlensensiblere Zelllinie heraus. Des Weiteren konnte gezeigt werden, dass die mTOR-Inhibition durch NVP-BEZ235, unabhängig vom PTEN-Status, für die Einflussnahme auf Proliferation und Proteintranslation vordergründig ist. Es kam zu keinen radiosensibilisierenden Effekten durch Zugabe von NVP-BEZ235, Rapamycin und LY294002 24 Stunden vor Bestrahlung, was auf das Ausbleiben eines erhöhten DNA-Schadens und einer verzögerten DNA-Reparatur, einen G1-Arrest und der Aktivierung des PI3K-Signalwegs zum Zeitpunkt der Bestrahlung sowie der Unterdrückung der Apoptose zurückzuführen ist. Trotz Ausbleiben radiosensibilisierender Effekt, konnte durch die Testsubstanzen eine starke zytostatische Wirkung gezeigt werden. / The current research topic of this work is the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway, which is often overactivated in glioblastomas. The tumor suppressor protein PTEN plays a decisive role in the activation of the signaling pathway. A mutated PTEN provides the overactivation of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway and correlates with radiation resistance. In the present paper, the radiosensitizing effect of the novel dual PI3K/mTOR inhibitor NVP-BEZ235 on two human glioblastoma cell lines with different PTEN status (GaMG: PTEN wt and U373-MG: PTEN mut) was analyzed. Comparative studies were carried out with the mTOR inhibitor rapamycin and the PI3K inhibitor LY294002. The effects on cell proliferation, radiation sensitivity, protein expression pattern, cell cycle distribution, induction, and repairability of DNA damage as well as the initiation of programmed cell death were investigated. U373-MG turned out to be more radiosensitive compared to GaMG. Furthermore, it has been shown that mTOR-Inhibition by NVP-BEZ235 is essential for the influence on proliferation and protein translation, regardless of the PTEN status. The addition of NVP-BEZ235, rapamycin and LY294002 24 hours prior to irradiation did not lead to any radiosensitizing effect. This is due to the absence of increased DNA damage and delayed DNA repair, a G1 arrest and the activation of the PI3K signaling pathway at the time of irradiation and the suppression of apoptosis. Despite the lack of radiosensitizing effects, the test substances showed strong cytostatic effects.

Mosaic, activating mutations in PIK3CA, the gene encoding the catalytic p110α subunit of class IA phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K), are the cause of rare, developmental growth disorders collectively known as PIK3CA-Related Overgrowth Spectrum (PROS). Given the pressing need for targeted therapy and evidence for tissue- and cell lineage-specific distribution of PIK3CA mutations in PROS, developmental models of this disease will be a key asset for preclinical drug testing and for a better understanding of PIK3CA activation in development. This PhD project addressed the lack of human, developmental PROS models by establishing isogenic series of human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) with endogenously expressed, activating PIK3CA mutations. This involved the optimisation of a CRISPR/Cas9 protocol for efficient knockin of different PIK3CA variants into human iPSCs. An isogenic iPSC series was established with cells expressing either wild-type PIK3CA or PIK3CA-H1047R, knocked into either one or both endogenous alleles. In parallel, mosaic patient- derived fibroblast cultures were reprogrammed to obtain isogenic wild-type and heterozygous iPSCs expressing PIK3CA-E418K. The models were used in comprehensive signalling studies, providing new insights into PI3K signalling in human iPSCs and how it is perturbed by genetic p110α activation. PIK3CA-E418K, a rare variant in both PROS and cancer, caused minimal pathway activation, in contrast to the highly recurrent variant PIK3CA-H1047R which induced strong PI3K signalling in both heterozygous and homozygous iPSCs according to a graded pattern. Studies of clinically relevant PI3K pathway inhibitors provided proof-of-concept that stem cell-based PROS models can be used for preclinical drug testing, and demonstrated that p110α is likely to be the main catalytic isoform mediating canonical PI3K signalling in human iPSCs. Differentiation assays revealed allele dose-dependent effects of PIK3CA-H1047R on stemness, with homozygous iPSCs exhibiting widespread transcriptome remodelling affect- ing genes implicated in cancer and development. Accordingly, these cells showed increased expression of pluripotency genes such as NANOG and NODAL, resulting in self-sustained "stemness" in embryoid body and teratoma assays. In comparison, heterozygous mutants behaved similar to wild-type controls under all differentiation paradigms. Furthermore, evidence was obtained that strong activation of PI3K signalling is fully compatible with definitive endoderm formation, arguing against cell-autonomous differentiation defects as the cause of endoderm sparing in PROS. In summary, these studies demonstrate the utility of human stem cell-based models of PROS for preclinical drug testing and for improved understanding of class IA PI3K signalling in human development. They are also likely to be useful in efforts to obtain a better understanding of PIK3CA-H1047R in human cancer.

Die Interaktion des Masernvirus mit T-Zellen stört die Aktivierung der TCR-Signalkaskade durch die Hemmung der Phosphatidylinositol-3-Kinase (PI3K), die zur Einstellung der T-Zell-Funktionen führt und dadurch nachgeschaltete (downstream) Signalwege sowie den Eintritt in den Zellzyklus, aber auch die Genexpression reguliert. Infolgedessen können die Aktivität spleißregulatorischer Faktoren sowie die Spleißmuster von mRNAs verändert werden, wie zum Beispiel bei der alternativ gespleißten SHIP1-Isoform SIP110, die eine T-Zell-inhibitorische Aktivität zeigt. Um alternativ gespleißte (AS) und differentiell regulierte (RG) Transkripte in T-Zellen infolge von PI3K-Inhibition zu erfassen, wurde ein Human Exon 1.0 ST Array an RNA-Proben von humanen T-Zellen, 24 h stimuliert und stimuliert/ PI3K-inhibiert, durchgeführt. Durch die Anwendung geeigneter bioinformatischer Algorithmen konnten spezifisch in PI3K-inhibierten Zellen angereicherte Transkripte nachgewiesen und in die Kategorien AS (2192 Gene) und RG (619 Gene) eingeteilt werden. Ausgewählte Gene wurde mittels RT-PCR und qPCR validiert, gefolgt von der funktionellen Annotation beider Genlisten. AS Gene konnten verstärkt in ECM-Rezeptor Interaktionen, fokaler Adhäsion, Proliferation, Zytoskelettorganisation und Tumorsignalwegen gefunden werden, während RG Gene eher in der DNA-Replikation, DNA-Reparatur und Stressantwort vertreten waren. Gene beider Gruppen konnten auf Signalwege bezogen werden, die essentiell für den TCR-Signalweg, die Zytoskelettdynamik und den Zellzykluseintritt waren. Das stützt die Annahme, dass die Außerkraftsetzung der PI3K-Schüsselprozesse der T-Zell-Aktivierung sowohl auf der Ebene der RG als auch der AS Gene wirkt. Über die Ingenuity Pathway Analyse konnten wir unsere Genlisten mit Genen vergleichen, die bereits auf solche Schlüsselprozesse und die Viabilität bezogen werden können. In der Überschneidung wurden z.B. die AS GTP-Austauschfaktoren Vav1 und Vav3 gefunden, die für die Übersetzung extrazellulärer Signale in Zytoskelettdynamik, Proteinphosphatasen und Adapter von Bedeutung sind. Ausgewählte Gene (AS - FBXO6 und LAT2, RG - SLFN5) wurden aus PI3K-arretierten T-Zellen kloniert und deren Effekt auf grundlegende zelluläre Funktionen durch Überexpression in HEK293T-Zellen überprüft. Die Fusionsproteine veränderten weder die Zellviabilität noch die Proliferation dieser Zellen. Über einen auf siRNA basierenden Knockdown wurde überprüft, ob das RG Gene SLFN5 als Suppressor auf die T-Zell-Aktivierung agiert. Der Knockdown in primären T-Zellen zeigte keinen Einfluss auf die Zellviabilität, Proliferation und Polarisation. Jedoch konnte ein signifikanter Effekt auf die T-Zell-Adhärenz auf Fibronektin gezeigt werden, was darauf schließen lässt, dass SLFN5 die T-Zell-Adhärenz negativ reguliert. Des Weiteren wurde die MV-induzierte Regulation selektierter Gene betrachtet und Unterschiede in der Regulation im Vergleich zur direkten PI3K-Inhibition festgestellt. Ein Grund dafür könnte sein, dass das MV eine Inhibition auf vielen Ebenen induziert, anstelle der alleinigen PI3K-Inhibition. Abschließend wurde untersucht, ob ausgewählte Gene an der Regulation in verschiedenen T-Zelllinien beteiligt sind und als Tumorsuppressoren agieren könnten. FBXO6 als Regulator der CHK1-Stabilität wurde in den meisten Zelllinien nicht exprimiert. Die Annahme, dass eine Stress-induzierte defekte Ubiquitinierungsmaschinerie an der Resistenz von Tumorzellen auf Chemotherapeutika beteiligt ist, macht FBXO6 zu einem interessanten Kandidaten als Biomarker für Tumorsensitivität gegenüber Krebsmedikamenten. Diese Annahme bedarf jedoch weiterer Untersuchungen. / The interaction of measles virus (MV) with T cells interferes with the activation of the TCR-signaling by the inhibition of the phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K), leading to the termination of T cell functions and consequently to the regulation of downstream signaling as well as cell cycle entry. PI3K-inhibition also affects the activity of splice regulatory elements and the splicing pattern of mRNAs, as for example the alternatively spliced SHIP1 isoform SIP110 that shows T cell inhibitory activity. To integrate early alternatively spliced (AS) and differentially regulated (RG) transcripts in response to PI3K interference in T cells at a general level, we performed a Human Exon 1.0 ST Array analysis on RNAs isolated from human T cells PI3K-inhibited or not prior to 24h stimulation. Applying suitable bioinformatic algorithms, transcripts detected specifically in PI3K-inhibited cells were assigned to categories defining RG (619 genes) and AS species (2192 genes). A selection of genes was validated by RT-PCR and qPCR followed by functional annotation of both gene lists. AS genes were found to be enriched in ECM-receptor interactions, focal adhesion, proliferation, cytoskeleton organization and tumor signaling, while RG genes were rather related to processes as DNA-replication, DNA-repair and stress response. Some genes that belonged to both groups target pathways essential for TCR-signaling, cytoskeletal dynamics and cell cycle entry, strongly support the notion that PI3K abrogation interferes with key T cell activation processes at the level of differential regulation as well as alternative splicing. Using Ingenuity Pathway Analysis we compared our gene lists to genes already known to specifically relate to key T cell functions and viability. In the overlap we found for example AS GTP-exchange factors Vav1 and Vav3 important for translating extracellular signals into cytoskeletal dynamics, protein phosphatases and adaptors. Selected candidate genes (AS - FBXO6 und LAT2, RG - SLFN5) were cloned from PI3K-arrested T cells into the pEGFP-vector and tested by overexpression in HEK293T for their effect on basic cell functions. These fusion proteins did not affect viability and proliferation of these cells. Using siRNA-based knockdown the potential of the RG gene SLFN5 to act as suppressors of key steps in T cell activation was tested. Its knockdown in primary T cells did not affect cell viability, proliferation and polarization. However, T cell adherence on fibronectin was significantly enhanced indicating that SLFN5 negatively regulates T cell adhesion to the ECM. Additionally we had a look at the MV induced regulation of selected genes and found a difference of the regulation in comparison to direct PI3K-inhibition. A reason for these unexpected results could be that MV induces a multi-level inhibition, rather than PI3K-inhibition only. Finally we wanted to find out, if selected genes were also implicated in the regulation of different T cell lines and therefore could act as tumor suppressors. FBXO6, a regulator of CHK1 stability, for example was not expressed in most investigated cell lines. Assuming that a stress-induced defective ubiquitination complex is involved in the resistance of tumor cells to chemotherapeutic agents FBXO6 might be an interesting candidate as biomarker for tumor sensitivity to cancer medication. If some of these differences in regulation are the result of immortalization, corresponding genes could consequently act as tumor suppressor. This issue has to be subject to further research.

Das Multiple Myelom (MM) ist eine unheilbare Erkrankung, die aus einer klonalen Proliferation maligner Plasmazellen im Knochenmark hervorgeht. Dabei liegt ein komplexes Signalnetzwerk vor, das zum Überleben und Wachstum der MM-Zellen führt. Das MM ist durch eine enorme genetische und phänotypische Heterogenität gekennzeichnet. Die konstitutive Aktivierung des PI3K/Akt-Signalwegs spielt bei ungefähr der Hälfte der Patienten mit MM eine wichtige Rolle für das Überleben der MM-Zellen und ist daher ein potentieller therapeutischer Ansatzpunkt. Isoform-spezifische Untersuchungen der katalytischen Untereinheiten der Klasse I-PI3K (p110α, p110β, p110γ, p110δ) sollten zur Erkenntnis führen, welche dieser Isoformen für das MM Zellüberleben wichtig sind, um spezifischere Behandlungen mit möglichst geringen Nebenwirkungen zu erlauben. Dafür wurden zunächst Isoform-spezifische Knockdown-Experimente mit MM Zelllinien durchgeführt und sowohl deren Überleben als auch die Aktivierung der nachgeschalteten Komponenten im PI3K Signalweg untersucht. Zur Verifizierung der Ergebnisse wurden sowohl MM Zelllinien als auch Primärzellen mit Isoform-spezifischen PI3K-Inhibitoren behandelt (BYL 719 für p110α, TGX 221 für p110β, CAY10505 für p110γ und CAL 101 für p110δ) und in gleicher Weise untersucht. In beiden Versuchsansätzen stellte sich die katalytische Untereinheit p110α als wichtigste Isoform für das Überleben von MM Zellen mit konstitutiv phosphoryliertem Akt Signal heraus. Weder der Knockdown noch die pharmakologische Inhibition der anderen drei Isoformen (p110β, p110γ, p110δ) führten in MM-Zelllinien zur Beeinträchtigung des Zellüberlebens. Auch reagierten die Primärzellen von MM Patienten größtenteils nicht mit Apoptose auf eine Behandlung mit TGX 221, CAY10505 oder CAL 101. Aufbauend auf der postulierten Bedeutung von p110α, wurde der dafür spezifische Inhibitor BYL 719 mit bereits klinisch etablierten Therapeutika in Kombination verwendet, woraus eine im Vergleich zur Einzelbehandlung verstärkte Apoptose resultierte. Insgesamt deuten diese Daten darauf hin, dass PI3K/p110α eine therapeutisch nutzbare Zielstruktur zur Behandlung des Multiplen Myeloms darstellt. Daher scheinen weitergehende prä-klinische Studien mit p110α Inhibitoren erfolgversprechend. / Multiple myeloma (MM) is an incurable disease, which results from clonal proliferation of malignant plasma cells in the bone marrow. Thereby, a complex signaling network regulates the survival and growth of MM cells. This malignant hematological disease is characterized by profound genetic and phenotypical heterogeneity. The PI3K/Akt signaling pathway is constitutively activated in about 50% of patients with MM and therefore plays an important role for the survival of MM cells. Accordingly, treatment of MM patients with the most isoform-specific drugs may be a desirable goal to achieve therapeutic utility with a minimum of undesired side effects. Therefore, an isoform-specific analysis of the catalytic subunits of the PI3K class I (p110α, p110β, p110γ, p110δ) was undertaken to reveal their individual role(s) for MM cell survival. Initially, isoform-specific knockdown experiments in MM cell lines were performed to assess their survival and the activation states of down-stream components of the PI3K pathway. These experiments were then complemented using isoform-specific pharmacological inhibitors (BYL 719 for p110α, TGX 221 for p110β, CAY10505 for p110γ and CAL 101 for p110δ) in MM cells and primary MM cells. Cell lines with constitutively phosphorylated Akt reduced this signal after p110α knockdown or pharmacologic inhibition and these treatments also affected their survival. Conversely, neither knockdown nor drug-mediated inhibition of any of the other three p110 isoforms influenced MM cell survival. In addition, whereas most primary MM samples were sensitive against BYL-719 only a few samples displayed apoptotic effects when treated with TGX 221, CAY10505 or CAL-101. These results showed that p110α is the major contributor of PI3K-mediated cell survival, and therefore the inhibitor BYL 719 was tested in combination with clinically relevant therapeutics for MM. Such treatment led to increased rates of apoptosis in MM cell lines in comparison to the respective single drug treatments. Taken together, we assume that PI3K/p110α is a therapeutically valuable target structure for the treatment of MM that would warrant more extensive pre-clinical studies.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--West Virginia University, 2006. / Title from document title page. Document formatted into pages; contains vi, 156 p. : ill. (some col.). Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references.

During the development of the nervous system, neurons migrate to their final location and extend neurites that navigate long distances in the extracellular environment to reach their synaptic targets. The proper functioning of the nervous system depends on correct connectivity, and mistakes in the wiring of the nervous system lead to brain abnormalities and mental illness. Growth cones are motile structures located at the tip of extending neurites that sense and respond to guidance cues encountered along the path toward their targets. Binding of these cues to receptors located on growth cone filopodia and lamellipodia triggers intracellular signaling pathways that regulate growth cone cytoskeletal dynamics. Although studies on extracellular cues and their effects on neuronal guidance are well documented, less is known about the intracellular signaling mechanisms that regulate growth cone motility. This dissertation focuses on two signaling pathways and describes how they might be involved in determining growth cone morphology during neuronal development. The specific aims of this work address: (1) the role of phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI-3K) and its downstream signaling pathway in regulating growth cone motility, and (2) the effect of nitric oxide (NO) release from a single cell on growth cone morphology of neighboring neurons. This study employs defined neurons from the pond snail, Helisoma trivolvis, to demonstrate that inhibition of PI-3K induces a concomitant increase in filopodial length and a decrease in the rate at which neurites advance. These effects are mediated through the lipid and protein kinase activities of PI-3K, and filopodial elongation is due to an increase in the rate at which filopodia elongate and the time that individual filopodia spend extending. Additionally, this study demonstrates that NO release from a single cell can affect growth cone dynamics on neighboring neurons via soluble guanylyl cyclase (sGC), and that NO has a physiological effect up to a distance of 100 ìm. Overall this study provides new information on cellular mechanisms regulating growth cone motility, and suggests a potential role of PI-3K and NO in neuronal pathfinding in vivo.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington, 2001. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 102-114).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Oklahoma. / Bibliography: leaves 120-130.