Aufgrund ihres sehr hohen Metastasierungsrisikos weisen Patienten mit klarzelligem Nierenzellkarzinom (kzNZK) eine sehr hohe Sterblichkeit auf. Mit den zurzeit zur Verfügung stehenden klinischen Parametern kann der Krankheitsverlauf der Patienten nach der operativen Entfernung des Primärtumors nur unzureichend vorhergesagt werden. Um das Nachsorge- und Therapieregime der Patienten zu optimieren, muss die Vorhersagegenauigkeit der bestehenden Prognosemodelle durch molekulare Marker erhöht werden. Um geeignete Gene für eine Abschätzung von Metastasierungsrisiko und krankheitsfreiem Überleben (DFS) zu identifizieren, wurden genomweite Expressionsanalysen sowohl an Lungenmetastasen (n = 24) als auch an Primärtumoren (n = 24) des kzNZK vorgenommen. Durch Vergleich von Metastasensubgruppen, die sich nach unterschiedlich langen DFS entwickelt hatten bzw. Primärtumoren, die nach unterschiedlich langen DFS Metastasen bedingten, wurden tumorintrinsische DFS-assoziierte Expressionsmuster identifiziert. Weiterhin wurden Gene identifiziert, deren Expression sich zwischen Primärtumoren unterschied, die im Krankheitsverlauf manifeste Metastasen bedingten und solchen, die dies nicht taten. Die differenzielle Expression funktionell interessanter, teilweise auch in anderen publizierten Microarraystudien an kzNZK bestätigter Gene wurde im Folgenden mittels quantitativer Polymerasekettenreaktion (qPCR) validiert. Anschließend wurde die Assoziation ausgewählter Gene mit klinischen Parametern und dem Überleben der Patienten untersucht. Ein von klinischen Parametern unabhängiger Einfluss auf den Krankheitsverlauf der Patienten wurde dabei für EDNRB und PECAM1 auf Expressionsebene (qPCR; n = 86) sowie für TSPAN7 auf Proteinebene (Immunhistochemie an „Tissue Microarrays“; n = 106) belegt. EDNRB und PECAM1 waren signifikant höher exprimiert in Primärtumoren mit günstigen klinischen Parametern (TNMI/II, G1/2, V0, N0/M0). TSPAN7 war vorwiegend in den Gefäßen der primären kzNZK nachweisbar; eine signifikant höhere Zahl TSPAN7-positiver Gefäße war ebenfalls in Tumoren mit günstigen klinischen Parametern zu verzeichnen (pT1/2, TNMI/II, N0). Überlebensanalysen zeigten ein signifikant längeres DFS für Patienten mit einer hohen im Vergleich zu solchen mit einer geringen EDNRB-Expression und für Patienten, die in beiden untersuchten Gewebestanzen der „Tissue Microarrays“ TSPAN7-positive Gefäße aufwiesen im Vergleich zu Patienten mit nur einer oder keiner TSPAN7-gefäßpositiven Stanze. Für Patienten mit einer hohen im Vergleich zu solchen mit einer geringen EDNRB- bzw. PECAM1-Expression oder mit zwei im Vergleich zu keiner oder einer TSPAN7-gefäßpositiven Gewebestanze war zudem ein signifikant längeres tumorspezifisches Überleben (TSS) zu verzeichnen. Mit Hilfe multivariater Cox-Regressionsanalysen wurde eine unabhängige günstige prognostische Relevanz für EDNRB auf das DFS sowie für EDNRB, PECAM1 und TSPAN7 auf das TSS nachgewiesen. Somit sind diese molekularen Faktoren geeignet, um die Genauigkeit der bestehenden und ausschließlich auf klinischen Parametern basierenden Prognosemodelle zu erhöhen. Für eine Abschätzung von DFS und Metastasierungsrisiko erscheint dabei insbesondere EDNRB geeignet. / Patients with clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) have an extremely poor prognosis due to their high risk of metastases. Currently used clinico-patological parameters are insufficient for reliable prediction of metastatic risk and disease free survival (DFS) after surgical resection of the primary tumor. Molecular markers are strongly needed to improve outcome prediction, and thus to optimize the follow up and treatment schedule for patients with ccRCC. To identify genes which are suitable for the prediction of metastatic risk and DFS, genome-wide expression analyses were performed on pulmonary metastases (n = 24) and primary tumors (n = 24) obtained from patients with ccRCC. Tumor-intrinsic DFS-associated expression patterns were observed by comparing subgroups of metastases, which had developed within different DFS as well as primary tumors, which had caused metastases after different DFS. Furthermore, genes differentially expressed in primary tumors, which caused macroscopic metastases and tumors, which did not were identified. The differential expression of genes with a potential function in metastatic spread, which has in part been identified in independent published microarray studies as well, were validated by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Moreover, an independent prognostic impact on the survival of ccRCC patients was observed for the EDNRB und the PECAM1 gene expression (qPCR; n = 86) as well as for the TSPAN7 protein level (immunohistochemistry on tissue microarrays; n = 106). Primary tumors of patients with favourable clinico-pathological parameters (TNMI/II, G1/2, V0, N0/M0) showed a significantly higher EDNRB und PECAM1 gene expression than those with unfavorable parameters. TSPAN7 was predominantly detected in blood vessels of ccRCC tissues. In patients with favourable clinico-pathological parameters (pT1/2, TNMI/II, N0) a significantly higher number of TSPAN7-positive vessels was observed. Using survival analyses, a significantly longer DFS was observed for patients with a high compared to those with a low EDNRB expression as well as for patients with TSPAN7-positive vessels in both cores compared to no or one of the both cores investigated on tissue microarrays. A significantly longer TSS was observed for patients with a high EDNRB or PECAM1 expression as well as for patients with TSPAN7-positive vessles in both tissue cores investigated. Furthermore, EDNRB was an independent prognostic factor for the DFS of the patients; EDNRB, PECAM and TSPAN7 had an independent prognostic impact on the TSS. Therefore, these molecular markers are suitable to improve the accuracy of outcome prediction based on clinico-pathological parameters in ccRCC. For the prediction of DFS and metastatic risk EDNRB is particularly interesting.

L’utilisation massive des antibiotiques, depuis les années 50, génère une libération importante de ces molécules dans l’environnement (excrétion via les urines et les fèces) que l’on peut retrouver à des concentrations allant de 1 à 100 ng/L dans les eaux usées urbaines. Parce qu’elle réunit microorganismes résistants et antibiotiques, la station d’épuration d’eaux usées urbaines pourrait être une zone propice au transfert des gènes de résistance. Cependant, avec sa position stratégique à l’interface entre les activités humaines et l’environnement, la station d’épuration pourrait constituer un « rempart » contribuant à limiter leur dissémination dans l’environnement.Les paramètres qui influencent ces transferts dans les stations d’épuration sont encore mal connus, en particulier du fait de limitations méthodologiques. Aussi l’objectif de notre travail était de déterminer les facteurs environnementaux influant sur la stabilité et le transfert d’un élément génétique mobile modèle, le plasmide pB10, dans des communautés bactériennes (biomasses de stations d’épuration et sédiments de rivière) maintenues en microcosmes. Jusqu’à présent, les transferts de gènes de résistance ont été principalement étudiés avec des méthodes reposant sur la culture de microorganismes sur milieux sélectifs, dont nous savons aujourd’hui qu’elles sous-estiment les phénomènes observés. Aussi, nous avons élaboré une approche basée sur la PCR quantitative pour détecter la dissémination d’un ADN mobile modèle amené via une bactérie hôte E. coli DH5α. Les couples amorces/sondes très spécifiques ont pu être élaborés en tirant profit de la structure mosaïque du génome bactérien. L’approche proposée repose sur des mesures comparées du nombre de plasmide pB10 et de son hôte bactérien DH5α au cours du temps, où une augmentation du rapport (pB10/DH5α) implique une dissémination du plasmide vers les bactéries indigènes. Outre l’intérêt du développement méthodologique proposé, cette méthode a permis d’évaluer l’incidence de quelques paramètres environnementaux sur la dissémination d’un ADN au sein de communautés microbiennes complexes. Deux groupes de facteurs ont pu être distingués selon qu’ils influencent la persistance du plasmide pB10 dans les communautés dans son hôte initial (oxygénation/brassage, ajout d’antibiotiques en concentrations sub-inhibitrices comme l’amoxicilline et le sulfaméthoxazole fréquemment retrouvés en station d’épuration) ou/et qu’ils favorisent sa dissémination dans les communautés bactériennes (biofilms, sédiments). Sans induire de transferts génétiques, les antibiotiques testés, même en concentrations sub-létales, pourraient participer à la dissémination de gènes de résistance en favorisant leur persistance / The widespread use of antibiotics since the 50s, generates a significant release of these molecules in the environment (excretion via urine and feces) which can be found at concentrations ranging from 1-100 ng/L in wastewater. Due to the high microbial biomass and the abundance of nutrients, wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) represent a suitable habitat for horizontal gene transfer. Because they occupy a key position between human activities and the environment, WWTP may play a major role in limiting the dissemination of antibiotic resistance genes, therefore contributing to the preservation The parameters which influence these transfers in wastewater treatment plants are still poorly known, especially because of methodological limitations. Therefore the aim of our study was to identify environmental factors affecting the stability and transfer of a mobile genetic element model, the plasmid pB10 in bacterial communities (biomass from wastewater treatment plants and river sediments) maintained in microcosms. So far, the transfer of resistance genes have been studied mainly with methods based on the cultivation of microorganisms on selective media that we know now they underestimate the observed phenomena. Also, an approach based on quantitative PCR was developed for detecting the release of a mobile DNA template from the host bacterium E. coli DH5α. Couples of designed primers/probes were very specific and have been developed by taking advantage of the mosaic structure of the bacterial genome. The proposed approach is based on the over time measurements of the number of plasmids pB10 and its bacterial host DH5α, where an increased ratio (pB10/DH5α) implies a release of the plasmid to the indigenous bacteria. This method was used to assess the impact of some environmental parameters on the release of DNA in complex microbial communities. Two groups of factors could be distinguished according to whether they influence the persistence of plasmid pB10 in communities in microcosms (oxygenation / mixing, addition of antibiotics at sub-inhibitory concentrations as amoxicillin and sulfamethoxazole frequently found in treatment plant) and / or they favor his release in bacterial communities (biofilms, sediments). Without inducing genes transfers, the antibiotics tested, even at sub-lethal concentrations, could participate in the dissemination of resistance genes by facilitating their persistence

La maladie de Parkinson (MP) est caractérisée par une dégénérescence des neurones dopaminergiques de la voie nigrostriée. La thérapie cellulaire, par transplantation intranigrale de cellules fœtales issues de mésencéphale ventral (MV), assure un rétablissement anatomique et fonctionnel de cette voie. Des molécules de guidage axonal (MGA) joueraient ainsi un rôle dans la reconnexion axonale des cellules transplantées. Pour tester cette hypothèse, nous avons étudié l'expression de MGA dans le cerveau adulte intact et dans des cellules destinées à la transplantation, ainsi que dans le cerveau adulte d'un modèle murin de la MP après transplantation. Dans le tissu intact, nous avons montré que semaphorin7A (Sema7A) et Sema3A et leurs récepteurs, plexinC1 et neuropilin1, conservent leur expression protéique. De plus, grâce à l'utilisation de puces à ADN, nous avons montré que les récepteurs Robo2, neuropilin1, neuropilin2, EphA5 et DCC sont exprimés de manière différentielle dans les deux populations cellulaires utilisées pour la transplantation. Ceci suggère que ces molécules seraient impliquées dans la restauration fonctionnelle observée. Enfin, dans le tissu lésé, nous avons observé, par RT-qPCR, des variations d'expression de l'ARNm de ces MGA après transplantation intranigrale des cellules fœtales du MV, suggérant plus particulièrement l'implication de Sema3A, Sema3F et Sema7A dans la reconstruction de la voie. Ce travail met en lumière l'action de sémaphorines dans le guidage axonal des cellules transplantées. L'intégration de ces MGA dans les procédures de transplantation pourrait aider à optimiser les procédures de thérapie cellulaire dans la MP. / Parkinson's disease (PD) is characterised by the degeneration of the dopaminergic nigrostriatal pathway. Cell therapy using intranigral transplantation of foetal ventral mesencephalon (VM) cells in a mouse model of PD results in anatomical and functional reconstruction of the pathway. This suggests a role for axon guidance molecules (GMs) in reconnecting transplanted cells to their striatal target. To test this hypothesis, we studied the expression of axon GMs in the intact adult brain, on cells used for transplantation and in a mouse model of PD after cell therapy. In the intact brain, we showed that GMs as semaphorin7A (Sema7A) and Sema3A and their corresponding receptors, plexinC1 and neuropilin1, retain an expression at the protein level, therefore showing a possible role for these guidance cues in the adult brain. Moreover, using microarray, we studied GM receptor expression profiles in two types of cells used for transplantation and exhibiting different functional ameliorations. Robo2, neuropilin1, neuropilin2, EphA5 and DCC receptors showed differential expression between the two cellular populations, indicating their possible contribution to the different functional outcomes observed. In the lesioned mouse brain, we observed, using RT-qPCR, variations of mRNA expression of these axon GMs after intranigral transplantation of foetal VM derived cells, thus suggesting the implication of Sema3A, Sema3F, and Sema7A in the reconstruction of the pathway. Overall, this work highlights particular importance of semaphorins in the nigrostriatal pathway reconstruction. Integrating these cues in transplantation procedures can possibly optimize cell therapy for PD patients.

Bis heute ist die Ätiopathogenese der Parkinson Krankheit noch nicht geklärt. Verschiedene Abweichungen im Stoffwechsel von Betroffenen konnten zwar detektiert werden (z.B. Komplex I-Mangel, erhöhte Eisen- und 8-OHdG Werte im Gehirn), aber bis heute gibt es keine eindeutigen Hinweise, wodurch es zur Entstehung der Krankheit kommt. Da es am wahrscheinlichsten ist, dass die Krankheit multifaktoriell bedingt ist, könnten auch Mutationen der mitochondrialen DNA eine wichtige Rolle spielen. Entscheidende Hinweise darauf lieferten Experimente mit Cybrid–Zellen. Bisherige Screeninguntersuchungen des mitochondrialen Genoms konnten allerdings noch keine eindeutigen krankheitsspezifischen Mutationen nachweisen. Die Theorie, dass oxidativer Stress in Verbindung mit der Parkinsonschen Krankheit stehen könnte, fand Unterstützung, als signifikant erhöhte Produkte der Lipidperoxidation (Malondialdehyd, Lipidhydroperoide) in der Substantia nigra (Dexter et al., 1989 b, 1994) und ein abnormaler Eisenstoffwechsel in den Basalganglien des Gehirns (Dexter et al., 1987; Dexter et al., 1989a; Cadet, 2001; Hirsch et al., 1991) einiger Patienten nachgewiesen worden. Erhöhte Eisenwerte in Neuromelaninaggregationen, sowie verringerte Ferritinspiegel unterstützen diese Untersuchungen (Cadet, 2001; Dexter et al., 1987, 1989b; Riederer et al., 1989; Sofic et al., 1988). Besonders anfällig für reaktive Sauerstoffverbindungen im Gehirn ist die Substantia nigra. Zum einen kommt es während des Dopaminstoffwechsels zur Freisetzung von Wasserstoffperoxid, des weiteren enthält sie Neuromelanin, welches selektiv Metalle (z.B. Eisen) bindet. Reduziertes Eisen kann mit Wasserstoffperoxid via Fentonreaktion reagieren und das äußerst schädliche Hydroxylradikal bilden (Klein & Ackerman, 2003). Die Menge der in den Mitochondrien frei werdenden Radikale ist von einer Reihe von verschiedenen Faktoren abhängig. Umwelteinflüsse und Ernährungsfaktoren spielen dabei eine ebenso wichtige Rolle, wie der mitochondriale Stoffwechsel selbst (Adachi et al., 1993; Simic, 1991; Menegon et al., 1997). Als ein Biomarker für den oxidativen Stress hat sich in den letzten Jahren 8-Hydroxy-2’-deoxyguanosin (8-OHdG) etabliert, welches als Folge von Angriffen des Hydroxyl-Radikals auf die Doppelbindungen der DNA-Basen am häufigsten gebildet wird (Simic, 1991; Dizdaroglu et al., 1991, Kasai, 1997). 8-OHdG ist in der Lage sich mit Adenin zu paaren (ca. 1% der Fälle), was wiederum bei der nächsten Replikation zu einer Transversion von Guanin zu Thymin führt (Richter, 1992; Croteau & Bohr, 1997).

A Distrofia Muscular de Duchenne/Becker (DMD/BMD) é a doença neuromuscular mais freqüente em crianças, afetando uma em cada 3.500 nascidos vivos do sexo masculino (DMD), e um em cada 20.000 (BMD). A criança nasce aparentemente saudável, com o aparecimento gradual e progressivo dos sintomas desde o primeiro ano de vida. A perda da habilidade de caminhar se dá entre os sete e 12 anos de idade, com sobrevivência rara acima dos 30 anos; e a BMD, de forma mais amena, com os mesmos sintomas aparecendo mais tardiamente. O diagnóstico se baseia nas características clínicas e na investigação genética de deleções e duplicações no gene da distrofina. Um teste preciso ainda é necessário para a identificação de mulheres portadoras. O PCR quantitativo em tempo real seria um bom ensaio para a determinação deste status.O objetivo deste trabalho foi identificar as mulheres portadoras de deleções no gene da distrofina através de PCR quantitativo em tempo real e apresentar informações diagnósticas sobre a população de meninos com DMD/BMD do RS. Informações pertinentes a 123 meninos com diagnostico clínico foram incluídos neste estudo. Após análise dos exames de DNA nos meninos estudados, os exons 47, 48 e 50 se mostraram mais frequentemente deletados na nossa população, confirmando que o segundo "hotspot" gênico é o que mais sofre alterações. Cinco mulheres com filhos com deleções nos exons 45, 47 e 51 foram testadas para estabelecimento do seu status de portadora ou não-portadora. A comparação direta dos exons específicos em relação aos mesmos em outras mulheres, determinou, com uma fácil visualização, a confirmação de três mulheres portadoras e duas não-portadoras, sendo um método preciso e efetivo. É uma abordagem prática e importante para uma utilização em casos de duplicações neste mesmo gene e em outros que necessitem deste tipo de quantificação exata. / Duchenne/Becker Muscular dystrophy (DMD/BMD) is the most frequent neuromuscular disorder in children, affecting one in every 3,500 born male boys (DMD), and one in every 20,000 (BMD). The child is born apparently healthy, with a gradual and progressive appearance of the symptoms during the first year of life. Between the ages of seven to 12, the child demonstrates a loss of the ability to walk, with rare survival above 30 years; and BMD, a milder form, with similar symptoms delayed. The diagnosis is based on the clinical characteristics and a genetic investigation of deletions and duplications in the dystrophin gene. A precise test is still necessary for the identification of carrier women. A quantitative real-time PCR would be a good assay for the determination of this status. The main goals of this study were to identify the carrier women of deletions in the dystrophin gene through the quantitative real-time PCR and to present the diagnostic information available for the population of boys with DMD/BMD in RS. Information pertaining to 123 boys with a clinical diagnosis was included in this study. After the analysis of the boy´s DNA exams, exons 47, 48, and 50 were the most frequently deleted in our population, confirming that the second genetic hospot suffers most of the alterations. Five women that bore children with deletions in exons 45, 47, and 51 were tested for the establishment of their carrier or non-carrier status. A direct comparison of the specific exons to the same ones in other women determined, with an easy visualization, the confirmation of three carrier women and two non-carrier, being a precise and effective method. It is a practical and important approach for the use in cases of duplication in this same gene and in others that may need an exact quantification.

A Distrofia Muscular de Duchenne/Becker (DMD/BMD) é a doença neuromuscular mais freqüente em crianças, afetando uma em cada 3.500 nascidos vivos do sexo masculino (DMD), e um em cada 20.000 (BMD). A criança nasce aparentemente saudável, com o aparecimento gradual e progressivo dos sintomas desde o primeiro ano de vida. A perda da habilidade de caminhar se dá entre os sete e 12 anos de idade, com sobrevivência rara acima dos 30 anos; e a BMD, de forma mais amena, com os mesmos sintomas aparecendo mais tardiamente. O diagnóstico se baseia nas características clínicas e na investigação genética de deleções e duplicações no gene da distrofina. Um teste preciso ainda é necessário para a identificação de mulheres portadoras. O PCR quantitativo em tempo real seria um bom ensaio para a determinação deste status.O objetivo deste trabalho foi identificar as mulheres portadoras de deleções no gene da distrofina através de PCR quantitativo em tempo real e apresentar informações diagnósticas sobre a população de meninos com DMD/BMD do RS. Informações pertinentes a 123 meninos com diagnostico clínico foram incluídos neste estudo. Após análise dos exames de DNA nos meninos estudados, os exons 47, 48 e 50 se mostraram mais frequentemente deletados na nossa população, confirmando que o segundo "hotspot" gênico é o que mais sofre alterações. Cinco mulheres com filhos com deleções nos exons 45, 47 e 51 foram testadas para estabelecimento do seu status de portadora ou não-portadora. A comparação direta dos exons específicos em relação aos mesmos em outras mulheres, determinou, com uma fácil visualização, a confirmação de três mulheres portadoras e duas não-portadoras, sendo um método preciso e efetivo. É uma abordagem prática e importante para uma utilização em casos de duplicações neste mesmo gene e em outros que necessitem deste tipo de quantificação exata. / Duchenne/Becker Muscular dystrophy (DMD/BMD) is the most frequent neuromuscular disorder in children, affecting one in every 3,500 born male boys (DMD), and one in every 20,000 (BMD). The child is born apparently healthy, with a gradual and progressive appearance of the symptoms during the first year of life. Between the ages of seven to 12, the child demonstrates a loss of the ability to walk, with rare survival above 30 years; and BMD, a milder form, with similar symptoms delayed. The diagnosis is based on the clinical characteristics and a genetic investigation of deletions and duplications in the dystrophin gene. A precise test is still necessary for the identification of carrier women. A quantitative real-time PCR would be a good assay for the determination of this status. The main goals of this study were to identify the carrier women of deletions in the dystrophin gene through the quantitative real-time PCR and to present the diagnostic information available for the population of boys with DMD/BMD in RS. Information pertaining to 123 boys with a clinical diagnosis was included in this study. After the analysis of the boy´s DNA exams, exons 47, 48, and 50 were the most frequently deleted in our population, confirming that the second genetic hospot suffers most of the alterations. Five women that bore children with deletions in exons 45, 47, and 51 were tested for the establishment of their carrier or non-carrier status. A direct comparison of the specific exons to the same ones in other women determined, with an easy visualization, the confirmation of three carrier women and two non-carrier, being a precise and effective method. It is a practical and important approach for the use in cases of duplication in this same gene and in others that may need an exact quantification.

A Distrofia Muscular de Duchenne/Becker (DMD/BMD) é a doença neuromuscular mais freqüente em crianças, afetando uma em cada 3.500 nascidos vivos do sexo masculino (DMD), e um em cada 20.000 (BMD). A criança nasce aparentemente saudável, com o aparecimento gradual e progressivo dos sintomas desde o primeiro ano de vida. A perda da habilidade de caminhar se dá entre os sete e 12 anos de idade, com sobrevivência rara acima dos 30 anos; e a BMD, de forma mais amena, com os mesmos sintomas aparecendo mais tardiamente. O diagnóstico se baseia nas características clínicas e na investigação genética de deleções e duplicações no gene da distrofina. Um teste preciso ainda é necessário para a identificação de mulheres portadoras. O PCR quantitativo em tempo real seria um bom ensaio para a determinação deste status.O objetivo deste trabalho foi identificar as mulheres portadoras de deleções no gene da distrofina através de PCR quantitativo em tempo real e apresentar informações diagnósticas sobre a população de meninos com DMD/BMD do RS. Informações pertinentes a 123 meninos com diagnostico clínico foram incluídos neste estudo. Após análise dos exames de DNA nos meninos estudados, os exons 47, 48 e 50 se mostraram mais frequentemente deletados na nossa população, confirmando que o segundo "hotspot" gênico é o que mais sofre alterações. Cinco mulheres com filhos com deleções nos exons 45, 47 e 51 foram testadas para estabelecimento do seu status de portadora ou não-portadora. A comparação direta dos exons específicos em relação aos mesmos em outras mulheres, determinou, com uma fácil visualização, a confirmação de três mulheres portadoras e duas não-portadoras, sendo um método preciso e efetivo. É uma abordagem prática e importante para uma utilização em casos de duplicações neste mesmo gene e em outros que necessitem deste tipo de quantificação exata. / Duchenne/Becker Muscular dystrophy (DMD/BMD) is the most frequent neuromuscular disorder in children, affecting one in every 3,500 born male boys (DMD), and one in every 20,000 (BMD). The child is born apparently healthy, with a gradual and progressive appearance of the symptoms during the first year of life. Between the ages of seven to 12, the child demonstrates a loss of the ability to walk, with rare survival above 30 years; and BMD, a milder form, with similar symptoms delayed. The diagnosis is based on the clinical characteristics and a genetic investigation of deletions and duplications in the dystrophin gene. A precise test is still necessary for the identification of carrier women. A quantitative real-time PCR would be a good assay for the determination of this status. The main goals of this study were to identify the carrier women of deletions in the dystrophin gene through the quantitative real-time PCR and to present the diagnostic information available for the population of boys with DMD/BMD in RS. Information pertaining to 123 boys with a clinical diagnosis was included in this study. After the analysis of the boy´s DNA exams, exons 47, 48, and 50 were the most frequently deleted in our population, confirming that the second genetic hospot suffers most of the alterations. Five women that bore children with deletions in exons 45, 47, and 51 were tested for the establishment of their carrier or non-carrier status. A direct comparison of the specific exons to the same ones in other women determined, with an easy visualization, the confirmation of three carrier women and two non-carrier, being a precise and effective method. It is a practical and important approach for the use in cases of duplication in this same gene and in others that may need an exact quantification.

Submitted by Renata Lopes (renatasil82@gmail.com) on 2016-10-14T12:30:34Z No. of bitstreams: 1 vanessadealmeidabelo.pdf: 412659 bytes, checksum: 2be0607436379c3a9ca0f2415972f9be (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Adriana Oliveira (adriana.oliveira@ufjf.edu.br) on 2016-10-22T13:05:05Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 vanessadealmeidabelo.pdf: 412659 bytes, checksum: 2be0607436379c3a9ca0f2415972f9be (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-10-22T13:05:05Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 vanessadealmeidabelo.pdf: 412659 bytes, checksum: 2be0607436379c3a9ca0f2415972f9be (MD5) Previous issue date: 2008-02-15 / Nos países tropicais, as perdas causadas pela infestação de carrapatos em bovinos acarretam um grande impacto no sistema de produção animal. Recentes estudos têm mostrado a importância de fatores genéticos ligados a resistência a carrapato em Bos taurus indicus e Bos taurus taurus e que as citocinas têm um papel crítico na prevenção ou progressão de doenças. O objetivo desse trabalho foi avaliar os níveis de expressão dos genes IL-10 e IL-4 relacionados ao perfil imunológico Th2 associado à susceptibilidade ao carrapato e os genes IL-2 e IFN- relacionados ao perfil imunológico Th1 associado à resistência ao parasito. Além destes genes, analisou-se o perfil de expressão do gene TLR-2, importante no processo de reconhecimento de patógenos e os genes IL-8 e TNF-α importantes no processo inflamatório inicial. Seis animais mais resistentes e seis animais mais susceptíveis de uma população F2 de 332 animais, originária do cruzamento de animais F1(½ Holandês: ½ Gir), foram selecionados baseado na contagem de carrapatos e valor genético. Amostras de tecido foram coletadas de pele no 5° e 12° dias após a infestação para extração de RNA total. As PCRs em tempo real foram realizadas usando o gene GAPDH como controle endógeno. Os animais resistentes e susceptíveis apresentaram aumento de expressão do gene IL-10 no 5° (p<0,01) e 12 ° dias após a infestação (p<0,05). O gene IL-2, nos animais resistentes e susceptíveis, no 5° dia após a infestação não apresentou alteração da expressão sendo que 12° dia, em ambos os grupos de animais, este gene passou a ser mais expresso em relação ao animal controle sugerindo um perfil de resposta imunológica do tipo de Th2 nos animais resistentes e susceptíveis nos primeiros dias após a infestação. O gene IL-4 apresentou uma tendência ao aumento de expressão nos animais resistentes e susceptíveis em relação ao controle, sendo o perfil Th2 sugerido atribuído a IL-10 produzida por linfócitos T regulatórios (p>0,05). O gene TNF- apresentou aumento de expressão nos animais susceptíveis no 5° dia após a infestação com posterior diminuição no 12° dia após a infestação (p<0,05). Nos animais resistentes não foi observada alteração da expressão deste gene, isto sugere que ele possa estar mais atuante no início do processo inflamatório, logo após a fixação do carrapato. A mesma observação estende-se para o gene IL-8, em que não foi verificada alteração de expressão nos animais resistentes, embora nos animais susceptíveis este gene apresentou diminuição da expressão no 12° dia após a infestação (p<0,05). Quanto ao gene IFN-, não houve diferença de expressão entre os animais resistentes e susceptíveis, sendo que este gene parece não estar relacionado ao mecanismo de resistência. O gene TLR-2 apresentou diminuição da expressão em ambos os grupos de animais. Estes resultados sugerem que a resposta imune adquirida avaliada neste trabalho não apresenta papel preponderante no mecanismo de resistência e que resposta imune inata poderia está envolvida no mecanismo de resistência ao carrapato. Portanto, avaliação da resposta imunológica horas após a fixação do carrapato poderia nos fornecer resultados mais conclusivos. / In tropical countries losses caused by tick infestation in cattle lead to a major impact on animal production systems. Recent studies have shown the importance of genetic factors linked to tick resistance in Bos indicus and Bos taurus as well as the critical role in the prevention or progression of diseases mediated by cytokines. The aim of this work was to evaluate gene expression of IL-10 and IL-4 in relation to tick susceptibility associated with the Th2 profile and gene expression of IL-2 and IFN- in relation to tick resistance associated with the Th1 profile. In addition, the expression of TLR-2, important in the process the recognition of pathogens, and TNF-α and IL-8 genes, important in the initial inflammatory process, were evaluated. Six tick-resistant and six tick-susceptible animals from a F2 population of 332 animals, originated from the cross of F1 animals (½ Holstein: ½ Gir), were selected based on tick count and breeding value for tick resistance. Skin biopsies were collected in the 5th and 12th days after tick infestation. The GAPDH was used as endogenous control to normalize the amount of starting cDNA target in the real-time PCR assay. Both resistant and susceptible animals showed increased gene expression of IL-10 in the 5th and 12th days after infestation in relation to control animal (p<0.05). The IL-2 gene showed no change of expression in the 5th day after infestation for the resistant and susceptible animals. In the 12th post infestation, both resistant and susceptible animals showed increased gene expression in relation to control animal. These results suggest an enhancement of Th2 profile through the increase of IL-10 mRNA levels and a possible inhibition of the Th1 pattern in both groups (resistant and susceptible) starting 5 days after infestation and return to normal by day 12. Despite our results suggest the occurrence of the Th2 profile, the susceptible and resistant animals did not show variation on gene expression for IL-4 in relation to control animal. The susceptible animals showed increased expression of TNF-α in the 5th day after infestation. However, in the 12th day post infestation it was noted a decrease in the gene expression level. The resistant animals showed no change in the expression of this gene in relation to control animals suggesting that TNF-α could be more actively expressed in the early steps of the inflammatory process. Similarly, the resistant animals showed no variation in the expression of IL-8 while the susceptible animals showed increased expression in the 12th day post infestation. There were no differences of expression between resistant and susceptible animals in relation to IFN-γ what suggests that this gene might not be involved in the resistance mechanism. The TLR-2 gene showed decreased expression in both resistant and susceptible animals (p<0.05). Finally, there was no difference in expression between susceptible and resistant animals in relation to all selected genes in the 5th and 12th days after infestation. These results suggest that the acquired immunity evaluated in this work might not have preponderant role in the resistance mechanism. The innate immunity might be playing a major role in the bovine tick resistance/susceptibility mechanism in early hours after infestation.

Cette thèse s’inscrit dans le cadre du projet SEPOLBE qui a pour ambition d’élaborer des adjuvants respectueux de l’environnement qui doivent se substituer à des produits soumis à autorisation REACH. Elle a pour but de mettre en évidence les propriétés de mortiers enrichis d’un adjuvant fabriqué à partir de produits extracellulaires issus de bactéries selon un protocole original. Ce travail consiste en l’étude des caractéristiques de mortiers bioadjuvantés dans le but de développer l’usage de bétons plus éco‐respectueux en améliorant leurs compositions chimiques et leur durabilité. L’action du produit biologique utilisé a été évaluée aussi bien sur sa capacité à modifier le réseau poreux des mortiers et pâtes cimentaires que sur ses effets sur la prise du ciment, la rhéologie à l’état frais et les caractéristiques mécaniques à l’état durci des mortiers permettant ainsi de qualifier ce produit comme bioadjuvant. Il a présenté un effet notable sur l’ouvrabilité de mortiers (de CEM I ou CEM V) avec une action plastifiante. De plus, quel que soit le temps de cure, un optimum de concentration en bioadjuvant de 1,5% a été déterminé pour obtenir des résistances mécaniques dumême ordre de grandeur que les échantillons non adjuvantés, et supérieures au minimum requis par la norme EN 196‐1. Le bioadjuvant n’influence pas la porosité totale accessible à l’eau des mortiers et des pâtes de ciment, toutefois, pour ces dernières, les mesures par porosimétrie par injection de mercure ont révélé l’existence d’un seuil (entre 0,5 et 0,75% de bioadjuvant) à partir duquel la structure poreuse des pâtes cimentaires est modifiée. Les effets de modification de surface de pâtes cimentaires – le liant du béton pouvant constituer un maillon faible en ce qui concerne les problèmes de durabilité de celui‐ci – ont été analysés. Pour des temps de cure élevés, la rugosité des surfaces des pâtes cimentaires diminue en présence du bioadjuvant. Ce travail a permis de lever des verrous techniques concernant l’emploi d’un produit biosourcé en tant qu’adjuvant, ainsi que d’apporter une contribution à la connaissance des interactions entre les micro‐organismes et les matériaux cimentaires. En effet, une approche originale, grâce à la PCR – technique peu utilisée avec les matériaux cimentaires – a permis de mettre en évidence qu’il y avait des bactéries au coeur du béton ayant une capacité à se développer dans des conditions de cures normalisés pour des temps de cure supérieurs à 120 jours. Le bioadjuvant est susceptible de modifier le développement bactérien et présente ainsi la possibilité de conférer aux bétons des capacités de résistances aux agressions environnementales plus importantes lui permettant d’être plus éco‐respectueux, aussi bien par sa composition que par sa meilleure durabilité. / This work is a part of the SEPOLBE project, which aims to develop eco‐friendly admixtures. The active principle of this admixture is made of extra‐cellular substances, secreted by microorganisms into their surroundings. It contributes to the effort in sustainable development that consists to limit the impact of buildings on environment and human health, with a guarantee of better quality concerning esthetical, durability and resistance criteria, according to the REACH regulation. The action of thisorganic product was evaluated on its setting time effects on cement as well as the mechanical behavior to the hardened state. The bioadmixture presents a significant effect on the workability of mortar (CEM I or CEM V) with a plasticizing action. Whatever the curing time, the compressive strength values of samples containing 1.5% of bioadmixture remain higher than the minimum data of standard strength according to the EN 196‐1 standard. The porosimetry by intrusion with mercury carried out with cement pastes showed the existence of a threshold (in the range 0.5‐0.75% of bioadmixture) from which the porous structure of cement pastes changes, while no modification were observed with the measurement of porosity accessible to water. For higher curing times, thesurface roughness of cement pastes, more heterogeneous, decreases with the presence of the bioadmixture. This work allowed to better control the use of a bio‐product assimilated as an admixture, as well as to contribute to the knowledge of the interactions between microorganisms and cementitious materials. An original approach, using the PCR ‐ not routinely used technique forthat purpose with cementitious materials ‐ helped to highlight that bacteria were present inside the mortar samples with a capacity to grow to higher curing time. The studied bioadmixture allows giving to the concrete the ability to resist against environmental stresses while being eco‐friendly, concerning both its chemical composition and its durability.

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