Orientador: Elenice Aparecida de Moraes Ferrari / Disertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Biologia / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-13T18:30:13Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Dias_ElayneVieira_M.pdf: 1520883 bytes, checksum: 05673dcedfdc35b300eb07144edbd5bb (MD5) Previous issue date: 2008 / Resumo: O condicionamento clássico aversivo é utilizado para investigar os mecanismos celulares e moleculares na formação da memória em diferentes espécies de animais. Estes envolvem processos sinápticos que desencadeiam mecanismos de sinalização intracelular com ativação de diferentes quinases em momentos específicos. A ativação da PKC é um dos mecanismos moleculares da plasticidade sináptica subjacente à formação de memória. O presente trabalho investigou o envolvimento da PKCá/âIl no condicionamento clássico aversivo em pombos. No Experimento 1, o inibidor da PKC, calfostina C foi administrado i.c.v. em um grupo de pombos (GCdCa, n=6; 5ml de solução 60mg/ml, DMSO 2%), 1h antes do condicionamento. Outro grupo recebeu veículo (GCdVe, n=5; DMSO 2% em salina). A sessão de condicionamento teve 20 min de duração e 3 pareamentos som-choque (treino). O teste ao contexto ocorreu 24h após o treino. O Experimento 2 usou grupos de pombos expostos ao contexto experimental (GCC), som e choque não pareados (GCR) ou som-choque pareados (GCd) para investigar a ativação da PKCá/âII no hipocampo 2h após o treino, por meio de Western blot. No Experimento 3, grupos de pombos não treinados (GC, n=6) ou sacrificados em diferentes tempos após o treino - G1min (n=6), G1h (n=6), G2h (n=6) e G24h (n=6) - foram utilizados para investigar o curso temporal da ativação da PKCá/âII e da fosforilação do substrato da PKC, GAP-43, no hipocampo. Todas as sessões foram gravadas em vídeo para posterior análise dos dados comportamentais. No Experimento 1 o GCdCa teve menor expressão da resposta condicionada de congelamento (freezing) ao contexto em comparação ao GCdVe (p<0,05), indicando que a administração da calfostina C prejudicou a memória aversiva contextual. Não ocorreram diferenças significativas na ativação da PKC á/âII entre os diferentes grupos (Experimentos 2 e 3;p>0,05), mas houve maior imuno-marcação da GAP-43 fosforilada no G1min quando comparado ao GC (Experimento 3; p<0,05). Esses dados indicam o envolvimento da PKC em mecanismos de aprendizagem e memória aversiva em pombos, e sugerem que outras isoformas além da PKCá/âII podem participar desses processos. / Abstract: The classical aversive conditioning is used to investigate cellular and molecular mechanisms of memory formation in different animal species. Those mechanisms involve synaptic processes that trigger intracellular signaling with activation of different kinases at specific time points. The PKC activation is one of the molecular mechanisms of synaptic plasticity underlying memory. This study investigated the involvement of PKCá/âIl in classical aversive conditioning in pigeons. In Experiment 1, the PKC inhibitor, calphostin C was administered i.c.v. in one group of pigeons (GCdCa, n=6; 5ml solution 60mg/ml, DMSO 2%), 1h before the conditioning. Another group received vehicle (GCdVe, n=5; DMSO 2% in saline). The session of conditioning had 20 min duration and 3 tone-shock pairings (training). The test to the context occurred 24h after training. Experiment 2 investigated with Western blot analysis the PKCá/âII activation in the hippocampus 2h after the training in groups of pigeons that were exposed to unpaired (GCR) or paired (GCd) tone-shock presentations or to the experimental context only (GCC). In Experiment 3, groups of pigeons naive (GC, n=6) or sacrificed at different times after the training - G1min (n=6), G1h (n=6), G2h (n=6) and G24h (n=6) - were used to investigate the time course of the PKCá/âII activation and phosphorylation of PKC substrate, GAP-43, in the hippocampus. All sessions were video recorded for analysis of behavioral data. In Experiment 1 GcdCa had lower expression of conditioned freezing response to the context in comparison to GCdVe (p<0.05), indicating that calphostin C administration impaired contextual aversive memory. No significant differences in the PKCá/âII activation were observed among the groups (Experiments 2 and 3; p>0.05) but the immunolabeling of phosphorylated GAP-43 in G1min was higher as compared to GC (Experiment 3; p<0.05). These data indicate the involvement of PKC in mechanisms of aversive learning and memory in pigeons and suggest that other isoforms besides PKCá/âII may play a role in those processes. / Mestrado / Fisiologia / Mestre em Biologia Funcional e Molecular

Doctorat en Sciences médicales / info:eu-repo/semantics/nonPublished

Abstract Cardiac myocytes react to increased workload and hypertrophic neurohumoral stimuli by increasing protein synthesis, reinitiating expression of fetal forms of structural genes, α-skeletal actin (α-SkA) and β-myosin heavy chain (β-MHC), and by increasing expression and secretion of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) and B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP). Initially, the response is beneficial, but when prolonged, it leads to pathological cardiomyocyte hypertrophy. In this study, cardiomyocyte hypertrophy was initiated by hypertrophic agonists, endothelin-1 (ET-1) and phenylephrine (PE), and by increased stretching of atrial wall. Transcription factor GATA4 was studied to identify the mechanism leading to increased gene expression of BNP. In BNP promoter, GATA4 binds to cis elements mediating hypertrophic response. Eliminating GATA4 binding by using the decoy approach, basal BNP gene expression was reduced. To identify mechanisms regulating GATA4, the roles of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) were studied. Activation of p38 MAPK increased GATA4 binding to BNP gene and led to increased GATA4 dependent BNP gene expression. p38 MAPK was required for ET-1 induced GATA4 binding, whereas extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) was required for maintaining basal GATA4 binding activity. PE and ET-1 activated protein kinase C (PKC) signaling in cardiac myocytes. Antisense oligonucleotide inhibition of PKCα markedly reduced PE induced ANP secretion and ET-1 induced BNP secretion, whereas gene expression of natriuretic peptides was not affected. Antisense PKCα treatment inhibited PE induced expression of α-SkA, while increased protein synthesis or β-MHC gene expression were not affected. Sretching of the perfused rat atria increased BNP, c-fos and BNP gene expression via mechanism involving p38 MAP kinase activation of transcription factor Elk-1. In cultured neonatal rat atrial myocytes stretch induced BNP gene expression was dependent upon transcription factor Elk-1 binding sites within the BNP gene promoter. In conclusion, hypertrophic signaling in cardiac myocytes involves multiple signaling cascades. Activation of p38 MAPK is required for the development of ET-1 induced hypertrophic phenotype and GATA4 mediated BNP gene expression in cultured ventricular myocytes, and for stretch induced Elk-1 dependent BNP gene expression in atrial myocytes. PKCα is involved in PE induced hypertrophic response and PE induced switch in gene programming inducing expression of α-SkA, the fetal form of cardiac α-actin.

Dopamine receptors belong to the G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) superfamily and are classified into two families: D1-like (D1R and D5R) and D2-like (D2R, D3R and D4R), based on their ability to stimulate or inhibit adenylyl cyclase (AC). Classically, GPCRs (including D2R and D3R) are desensitized by the activation of the serine/threonine protein kinase C (PKC) upon phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate (PMA) treatment. Previous studies demonstrate that while human D5R (hD5R) is also strongly desensitized upon PMA treatment, the human D1R (hD1R) undergo a robust PMA-induced sensitization. The aim of this PhD thesis was to explore how the canonical PKC- or phorbol ester-linked pathway can control the responsiveness of two similar GPCRs like hD1R and hD5R in an opposite fashion. Our data indicate that hD1R sensitization and hD5R desensitization are not mediated by a direct modulation of AC activity by PKC. Using a chimeric approach, we identified the third intracellular loop (IL3) as the key structural determinant controlling in an opposite manner the PMA-mediated regulation of hD1R and hD5R. To delineate the potential PKC phosphorylation sites, a series of mutation of serine (Ser) and threonine (Thr) located into IL3 of hD1R and hD5R were used. No hD1R mutation decreased the PMA-mediated sensitization. This suggests that hD1R phosphorylation is not required for PMA-induced sensitization. In contrast, our results indicate that PMA-mediated hD5R desensitization occurs through a hierarchical phosphorylation of Ser260, Ser261, Ser271 and Ser274. Notably, these hD5R mutants exhibited a PMA-induced sensitization, reminiscent of the PMA-induced hD1R sensitization. Additionally, using short hairpin RNAs (shRNAs), we showed that PKCε is the potentiating PKC while the desensitizing isoform is δ. Overall, our work suggests the presence or absence of specific Ser residues on IL3 of hD1-like receptors dictate if phosphorylation-dependent desensitization (through PKCδ) or phosphorylation-independent potentiation (via PKCε) will occur.

Cardiovascular diseases, particularly acute myocardial infarction, are one of the leading causes of death in developed countries. It is well known that adaptation to chronic intermittent hypobaric hypoxia (IHH) confers long-lasting cardiac protection against acute ischemia/reperfusion injury. Protein kinase C (PKC) appears to play a role in its cardioprotective mechanism since the administration of general PKC inhibitor completely abolished the improvement of ischemic tolerance in IHH hearts. However, the involvement of individual PKC isoforms remains unclear. Therefore, the primary aim of this study was to investigate the potential involvement of PKCδ and PKCε, the most prevalent PKC isoforms in rat heart, in the mechanism of IHH-induced cardioprotection. We showed that IHH up- regulated PKCδ protein in left ventricle, enhanced its phosphorylation on Ser643 and increased its co-localization with markers of mitochondrial and sarcolemmal membranes. PKCδ subcellular redistribution induced by IHH as well as the infarct size-limiting effect of IHH was reversed by acute treatment with PKCδ inhibitor rottlerin. These data support the view that PKCδ plays a significant role in IHH-induced cardioprotection. On the other hand, adaptation to IHH decreased the PKCε total protein level without affecting its...

AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is an energy-sensing enzyme that is activated when cellular energy is low and causes muscle and other cells to increase glucose uptake and fat oxidation, diminish lipid synthesis, and alter expression of various genes. AMPK activity is diminished in animals with the metabolic syndrome, though the mechanisms causing this reduction are unknown. To examine nutrient-induced changes in AMPK activity over time and factors that may regulate it, we compared rat muscle incubated with high glucose (HG) (30min-2h) and muscle of glucose-infused rats (3-8h) with appropriate controls. In addition to diminished AMPK activity (measured by the SAMS peptide assay) and phosphorylation of its activation loop at Thr172, we observed increased muscle glycogen, phosphorylation of AMPK’s α1/α2 subunit at Ser485/491, and PP2A activity, and decreased SIRT1 expression, all of which have been shown to diminish AMPK activity. Dysregulation of one or more of these factors could contribute to pathophysiological changes leading to metabolic syndrome associated disorders. Since recent studies suggest phosphorylation at Ser485/491 may play an important role in AMPK inhibition, we sought to determine how phosphorylation of this site is regulated. We investigated whether insulin or diacylglycerol (DAG) signaling pathways may be involved, since both are increased in at least one of the HG models. Akt and Protein Kinase (PK)D1 phosphorylated AMPK at Ser485/491 and diminished its activity in C2C12 myotubes, downstream of insulin and the DAG-mimetic PMA, respectively. Additionally, p-AMPK Ser485/491 was increased in muscle and liver of fed versus fasted mice and liver of diabetic mice. Our results suggest that Akt- and PKD1-mediated inhibition of AMPK via Ser485/491 phosphorylation may inhibit energy-metabolizing processes, while favoring energy-storing processes. Our results highlight the fact that phosphorylation of Ser485/491 can inhibit AMPK activity independent of changes in p-AMPK Thr172, a measure which is often used as a readout of AMPK activity. We hypothesize that Akt-mediated inhibition of AMPK is an acute, physiological response to insulin, whereas PKD1-mediated inhibition may be associated with more chronic pathophysiological changes. Thus, PKD1 inhibition or prevention of Ser485/491 phosphorylation may represent new strategies for therapeutic AMPK activation as treatment for the metabolic syndrome.

Addition of lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) to rat aorta-derived endothelial cells significantly induced preproendothelin-1 (preproET-1) mRNA expression. PreproET-1 mRNA levels reached a plateau within 1 h after the addition of 0.5 μM LPA and declined after 2 h. The induction was superinduced by cycloheximide and was blocked by actinomycin D. Suramin, an LPA receptor antagonist, abolished the induction of preproET-1 mRNA by LPA. Protein kinase C inhibitors, H7 and bisindolylmaleimide, were able to block the induction. Transient transfection experiment revealed that the elevated preproET-1 mRNA was a result of the activation of ET-1 gene activity. Electrophoretic mobility shift assay revealed that LPA stimulated the binding of AP-1. The secreted level of ET-1 was elevated 2.3-fold after 12 h of stimulation with LPA. Our results suggest that the upregulation of preproET-1 by LPA may serve to augment and prolong the vasoconstriction action of LPA.

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a potent mitogen for endothelial cells and a vascular permeability factor. In this study we found that the addition of angiotensin II (AII) to rat heart endothelial cells induced VEGF mRNA production. VEGF mRNA levels reached a plateau within 2 h after the addition of AII and decreased after 4 h. The induction was superinduced by cycloheximide and blocked by actinomycin D. Losartan, an AT1 receptor antagonist, abolished the induction of VEGF mRNA by AII, whereas PD 123319, an AT2 receptor antagonist, had no effect on VEGF mRNA induction. H7, a protein kinase C inhibitor, blocked the induction. RT-PCR experiments showed two mRNA species (VEGF 120 and VEGF 164) in these cells and both species were stimulated by AII. Transient transfection experiment showed that VEGF promoter activity was increased 2.2-fold upon AII stimulation. Electrophoretic mobility shift assay revealed an enhanced binding of transcription factors AP-1 and NF-KB. Immunoblot analysis showed that the amount of secreted VEGF was elevated in the medium 8 h after AII stimulation. Our results demonstrate for the first time that the upregulation of VEGF by AII may play a significant role in AII-induced hyperpermeability.

Thrombospondin-1 (TSP-1) is synthesized, secreted, and incorporated into the extracellular matrix by a variety of cells, including the endothelial cells. Addition of angiotensin II (AII) significantly induced TSP-1 mRNA in rat heart-derived endothelial cells. TSP-1 mRNA levels reached a plateau within 2 h after the addition of AII and decreased after 5 h. The induction was superinduced by cycloheximide and blocked by actinomycin D. Losartan, an AT1 receptor antagonist, could abolish the induction of TSP-1 mRNA by AII. Phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (TPA) was found to enhance TSP-1 mRNA level whereas a protein kinase C inhibitor, H7, was shown to block the induction. Immunoblot analysis revealed that TSP-1 was detectable in the medium 4 h after AII stimulation. Our results suggest that the upregulation of TSP-1 by All represents an important mechanism leading to perivascular fibrosis in the heart.

Thromboxane A2 (TXA2) and ET-1 have been known to play important roles in modulating vascular contraction and growth. The present study was undertaken to examine the effect of TXA2 on the induction of endothelin-1 (ET-1) mRNA and protein levels in smooth muscle cells derived from rat heart. U-46619, a stable TXA2 mimetic, superinduced preproET-1 mRNA in the presence of cycloheximide in these cells. This effect could be blocked by SQ-29548, a TXA2/prostaglandin H2 receptor antagonist and by actinomycin D, an RNA synthesis inhibitor. In addition, H7, a protein kinase C inhibitor, could abolish the induction. Transient transfection experiment revealed that the elevated ET-1 mRNA level after U-46619 treatment was a result of the activation of ET-1 gene activity. The elevated ET-1 message level was accompanied by increased ET-1 release into the cultured medium. These results show that the short-lived TXA2 can induce potent and long-lived ET-1. These findings support a potential role for ET-1 in the pathogenesis of coronary atherosclerosis and hypertension evoked by TXA2.