Survival rates for pediatric B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL) have improved dramatically, but outcomes for the 15% who relapse and for adults with B-ALL remain poor. Up to 40% of pediatric B-ALL patients require central nervous system (CNS) prophylaxis that causes significant treatment-related morbidities. p53-/- Rag-2-/- Prkdcscid;scid triple mutant (TM) mice spontaneously develop B-ALL that disseminates to the CNS. We used this model to investigate molecular mechanisms that drive CNS dissemination of leukemic B-cells. We show that CNS-disseminating B-ALLs had recurrent genomic rearrangements that replaced N-terminal Fms-like tyrosine kinase 3 (Flt3) exons with endogenous retrovirus (ERV) transcriptional control elements. ERV-Flt3 fusion genes encoded truncated FLT3 (trFLT3) proteins that induced ligand-independent STAT5 phosphorylation and proliferation of hematopoietic progenitor cells. Furthermore, trFLT3 promoted de novo development of CNS-disseminating B-ALL from hematopoietic progenitors. Thus, a novel mutational mechanism involving ERV-mediated FLT3 activation can drive the development of B-ALL characterized by high degree of CNS-invasion. Ectopic expression of trFlt3 suggested that TM B-ALLs initiate prior to B-cell commitment, since Flt3 is normally repressed by PAX5 upon B-cell commitment, co-incident with Cd19 expression. In support of this idea, we report evidence of Flt3 amplification in a rare subset of CD19- progenitors, and we show that CD19- FLT3+ cells from leukemic TM mice contain leukemia-initiating cells. Finally, we compared gene expression profiles of trFl3+ and trFl3- B-ALLs to identify potential Flt3 effectors important for CNS dissemination. TM B-ALLs uniquely expressed RANKL, a key regulator of osteoclast differentiation and normal B-cell development. FLT3 inhibition decreased RANKL expression, suggesting at least partial dependence on trFLT3 signaling. RANKL-expressing TM B-ALLs decreased trabecular bone density after adoptive transfer to normal mice, demonstrating a role for RANKL in leukemia-associated bone pathology. Importantly, a RANKL biologic antagonist inhibited CNS dissemination of TM B-ALLs in adoptive transfer experiments. Thus, my studies identified novel ligand-independent Flt3 mutations that arise prior to B-cell commitment and promote development of CNS-disseminating B-ALLs. Furthermore, I identified RANKL as a potential therapeutic target that may limit leukemia CNS dissemination and leukemia-associated bone pathology.

Survival rates for pediatric B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL) have improved dramatically, but outcomes for the 15% who relapse and for adults with B-ALL remain poor. Up to 40% of pediatric B-ALL patients require central nervous system (CNS) prophylaxis that causes significant treatment-related morbidities. p53-/- Rag-2-/- Prkdcscid;scid triple mutant (TM) mice spontaneously develop B-ALL that disseminates to the CNS. We used this model to investigate molecular mechanisms that drive CNS dissemination of leukemic B-cells. We show that CNS-disseminating B-ALLs had recurrent genomic rearrangements that replaced N-terminal Fms-like tyrosine kinase 3 (Flt3) exons with endogenous retrovirus (ERV) transcriptional control elements. ERV-Flt3 fusion genes encoded truncated FLT3 (trFLT3) proteins that induced ligand-independent STAT5 phosphorylation and proliferation of hematopoietic progenitor cells. Furthermore, trFLT3 promoted de novo development of CNS-disseminating B-ALL from hematopoietic progenitors. Thus, a novel mutational mechanism involving ERV-mediated FLT3 activation can drive the development of B-ALL characterized by high degree of CNS-invasion. Ectopic expression of trFlt3 suggested that TM B-ALLs initiate prior to B-cell commitment, since Flt3 is normally repressed by PAX5 upon B-cell commitment, co-incident with Cd19 expression. In support of this idea, we report evidence of Flt3 amplification in a rare subset of CD19- progenitors, and we show that CD19- FLT3+ cells from leukemic TM mice contain leukemia-initiating cells. Finally, we compared gene expression profiles of trFl3+ and trFl3- B-ALLs to identify potential Flt3 effectors important for CNS dissemination. TM B-ALLs uniquely expressed RANKL, a key regulator of osteoclast differentiation and normal B-cell development. FLT3 inhibition decreased RANKL expression, suggesting at least partial dependence on trFLT3 signaling. RANKL-expressing TM B-ALLs decreased trabecular bone density after adoptive transfer to normal mice, demonstrating a role for RANKL in leukemia-associated bone pathology. Importantly, a RANKL biologic antagonist inhibited CNS dissemination of TM B-ALLs in adoptive transfer experiments. Thus, my studies identified novel ligand-independent Flt3 mutations that arise prior to B-cell commitment and promote development of CNS-disseminating B-ALLs. Furthermore, I identified RANKL as a potential therapeutic target that may limit leukemia CNS dissemination and leukemia-associated bone pathology.

Organochlorine pesticides (OCs) are environmental toxicants with important links to human health. They have been found to activate signalling pathways within cells and thereby affect cell survival and proliferation. Receptor Activator of Nuclear Factor kB (RANK) ligand and its receptor RANK are crucial for mammary epithelial proliferation in pregnancy and have recently been linked to hormone induced breast cancers. The objectives of this study were to confirm the proliferative effects of an OC (endosulfan) on human MCF-7 breast cancer cells, identify activated intracellular signaling pathways and investigate changes in RANK and RANKL gene expression. This study showed that endosulfan has a stimulatory effect on human MCF-7 cell proliferation, which may be invoked through activated intracellular signaling pathways (JNK, ERK1/2 and p38). In addition, there was a down regulation of RANK and upregulation of RANKL gene expression suggesting endosulfan is capable of modulating both cellular behavior and gene expression. / UOIT

Made available in DSpace on 2015-03-26T13:46:39Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 texto completo.pdf: 3315832 bytes, checksum: 7804372ccab471d7e6ac34ca69be57c9 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2007-03-20 / Osteoporosis is a common human disease affecting both men and women, and it can classified as (1) primary, related to sexual hormones deficiency or senility, or (2) secondary, for what the most common example is the chronic therapies with glucocorticoids. Whatever is its cause, the osteoporosis outcomes are bone loss and increased fracture risk. Although osteoporosis is considered a systemic condition, bone loss seen in osteoporosis is not homogeneous throughout the skeleton. RANKL is a cytokine able to activate the osteoclasts function and its expression is inducible in osteoblasts and T cells by a range of stimuli. Function of RANKL has been considered a possible therapeutic target for the treatment of osteoporosis. To evaluate the trabecular bone loss related to the RANKL expression, immunochemistry and histomorphometric assays were used in femur and vertebra of castrated and/or glucocorticoid-treated male and female rats, at the day 56 after induction. RANKL expression was evident only in the castrated group, both male and female, but not in the group of castrated rats that also received glucocorticoid therapy. But histomorphometric data showed that bone loss was similar in both groups. That could happen because glucocorticoid can inhibit osteoblast metabolism. Histomorphometry also reveals that trabecular bone mass in male is similar to female, and bone loss is not homogenous between distal and proximal femur and vertebra body. At the day 56 after induction, bone loss, in femur and vertebra, both male and female, was compatible to osteoporosis. / A osteoporose é uma doença comum em humanos, acometendo tanto mulheres quanto homens. A doença pode ter origem primária, relacionada à deficiência de hormônios sexuais ou a senilidade, ou secundária, cujo exemplo mais comum é o uso crônico de glicocorticóides. Independente da causa, a conseqüência da osteoporose é a diminuição da massa óssea, aumentando o risco de fraturas. Apesar de ser considerada uma doença sistêmica, a redução de massa óssea na osteoporose não é uniforme no esqueleto. RANKL é uma citocina capaz de ativar a função osteoclástica e sua expressão é indutível em osteoblastos e linfócitos T. A função desta citocina tem sido considerada um possível alvo terapêutico no tratamento da osteoporose. Para avaliar a relação da perda óssea trabecular e a expressão de RANKL, foram realizados testes imunoistoquímicos e histomorfométricos em fêmur e vértebras de ratos castrados e/ou tratados com glicocorticóides, 56 dias após a indução. A expressão imunoistoquímica de RANKL pôde ser verificada nos animais castrados, tanto machos quanto fêmeas, mas não no grupo castrado que também recebeu glicocorticóide. Entretanto, a diminuição da massa óssea em ambos os grupos foi similar na avaliação histomorfométrica. Isso pode ocorrer por causa do efeito inibitório que os glicocorticóides têm sobre o metabolismo. As análises histomorfométricas revelaram ainda, que a massa óssea trabecular avaliada por este método é similar em machos e fêmeas, e que a perda óssea não é uniforme entre o colo femoral, o côndilo femoral e o corpo vertebral. Aos 56 dias de indução, o quadro de perda óssea instalado tanto em machos quanto em fêmeas, para todos os fragmentos ósseos analisados, é compatível com o quadro de osteoporose.

RANKL et RANK sont membres de la superfamille des TNF et de la superfamille des TNF-récepteurs, respectivement. Ils sont connus pour jouer un rôle important dans la régulation de la masse osseuse et dans le développement et la fonction du système immunitaire. Cependant des questions restent. Nous avons utilisé des souris génétiquement modifiées pour répondre à certaines de ces questions, en particulier en utilisant une souris dont les cellules stromales réticulaires marginales manquent RANKL dans les ganglions lymphatiques. Les résultats obtenus lors de cette thèse fournissent de nouvelles informations importantes sur l'impact positif de RANKL stromal sur les macrophages des ganglions lymphatiques concomitantes avec une fonction des cellules B amélioré et une pathogénicité virale réduit. Nous avons constaté que RANKL stromal régule l'expression de lymphotoxine et CXCL13, deux molécules clés de l'homéostasie des cellules B et de l'intégrité cellulaire des organes lymphoïdes secondaires. L’activité du RANKL semble suivre une hiérarchie temporelle sur lymphotoxine/TNFα, vu que le phénotype causé par le déficit en RANKL a une pénétrance augmenté avec l'âge. De plus, nous démontrons que RANKL active les cellules endotheliales lymphatiques des ganglions lymphatiques et on a trouvé que l'intégrine ITGA2b est un nouvel indicateur pour les cellules endotheliales lymphatiques activés. Ainsi, avec MAdCAM-1, ITGA2b sert comme un nouveau marqueur pour les cellules endothéliales lymphatiques qui sont constitutivement activés par le RANKL stromal. Au total, les données confirment l'importance de RANKL pour l'homéostasie des ganglions lymphatiques et dévoile les mécanismes ci-inconnus des fonctions de RANKL. À la lumière de cela et le fait que RANKL est sensible aux hormones féminines, nous avons étudié le rôle de RANKL dans le syndrome de Sjögren, une maladie inflammatoire chronique des glandes salivaires et lacrymales avec une forte polarisation de sexe féminin. Nous apportons la preuve que la neutralisation du RANKL réduit la taille des organes lymphoïdes tertiaire. En perspective, une éventuelle diaphonie entre les cellules endothéliales lymphatiques et les macrophages ou les cellules réticulaires marginales reste à clarifier. En outre, d'autres travaux sont nécessaires pour élucider le mécanisme par lequel RANKL stimule les maladies inflammatoires chroniques présentant des structures lymphoïdes tertiaires, afin de faire RANKL une nouvelle cible pour la thérapie. / RANKL and RANK are members of the TNF-superfamily and TNF-receptor superfamily, respectively. They are known to play an important role in the regulation of bone mass and in the development and the function of the immune system. However questions still remain. We have used genetically modified mice to address some of these questions, in particular by using a mouse whose lymph node marginal reticular stromal cells lack RANKL. The results obtained during this PhD provide important new insights into the positive impact of stromal RANKL on lymph node macrophages concomitant with enhanced B cell function and reduced viral pathogenicity. We found that stromal RANKL regulates lymphotoxin and CXCL13 expression, two key molecules for B cell homeostasis and secondarylymphoid organ cellular integrity. RANKL activity seems to follow a temporal hierarchy over lymphotoxin/TNFα, as the phenotype caused by stromal RANKL-deficiency has increased penetrance with age. Furthermore, we demonstrate that RANKL activates lymph node lymphatic endothelial cells and found that the integrin ITGA2b is a new indicator for activated lymphatic endothelial cells. Thus, together with MAdCAM-1, ITGA2b serves as a novel marker for those lymphatic endothelial cells that are constitutively activated by stromal RANKL. Altogether, the data reinforce the importance of RANKL for the lymph node homeostasis and uncover here to unknown mechanisms of RANKL functions.In light of this and the fact that RANKL is responsive to female hormones, we studied the role of RANKL in the Sjögrens syndrome, a chronic inflammatory disease of salivary and lacrimal glands with a strong female sex bias. We provide evidence that RANKL neutralization reduces tertiary lymphoid organ size. On the perspective side, a possible cross talk between lymph node lymphatic endothelial cells and macrophages or marginal reticular cells remains to be clarified.Furthermore, further work is required to elucidate the mechanism by which RANKL stimulates chronic inflammatory diseases presenting tertiary lymphoid structures, in order to make RANKL a new target for therapy.

Bone metastases are a major cause of morbidity in patients of advanced breast cancer. Development of osteolytic bone metastasis depends on the interaction between malignant tumour cells and bone microenvironment. Receptor Activator of Nuclear Factor Kappa B (RANK) is a member of tumour necrosis factor (TNF) superfamily that is expressed by osteoclasts (the bone resorbing cells) and primary breast tumour cells. Previous studies demonstrated that RANK receptor and its ligand (RANKL) play an important role in bone remodelling, mammary gland development and immune system. RANKL was also found to serve as a chemotactic factor that facilitates breast tumour metastasis to bone. However, the role of the RANK receptor in breast cancer cell metastatic behaviour in bone is not fully understood. Therefore, the aim of this thesis was to explore the role of the RANK receptor in parental and bone-tropic breast cancer cell growth, motility and invasion, and assess these cells influence on breast cancer cell induced osteoclastogenesis. Functional studies in breast cancer cells showed that RANKL (100 - 300 ng/ ml) significantly enhanced parental human MDA-231 (MDA-231P) and mouse 4T1 breast cancer cell spreading within minutes. RANKL induced chemotactic cell migration of MDA-231P cells in vitro. I also found that RANKL significantly stimulated random and directional 2D and 3D cell migration of parental MDA-231P and bone-tropic (MDA-231BT) breast cancer cells in vitro. These effects were observed at concentrations (100 – 300 ng/ml) that were sufficient to induce osteoclast formation in the presence and absence of breast cancer cells in vitro. In contrast, high concentrations of RANKL (1000 ng/ ml) dramatically suppressed human MDA-231P breast cancer cell invasion in vitro. These data indicate that the RANK receptor in the breast cancer cell lines tested influences cancer cell spreading, migration and invasion in vitro. Thus, targeting RANK in tumour cells may be of value in the prevention of tumour burden associated with breast cancer bone metastasis. Mechanistic studies revealed that RANKL stimulated the phosphorylation of p38 kinase in human and mouse breast cancer cells. Interestingly, RANKL had no effect on NFᴋB, JNK and AKT pathways in parental human MDA-231 and mouse 4T1 breast cancer cells at concentrations up to 300 ng/ ml. These data implies that the RANK receptor modulates human and mouse breast cancer cell metastatic behaviour via p38 activation and independently of the NFᴋB and PI3K/AKT pathways. Silencing of the RANK receptor in the bone-tropic human breast cancer cells MDA- 231BT2 reduced directional cell migration without affecting cell viability and growth. Functional studies in osteoclast and breast cancer cell revealed that knockdown of RANK expression in both parental and bone-tropic human breast cancer cells significantly inhibited the ability of these cells to stimulate osteoclast formation. Although, I cannot exclude the possibility of the involvement of other signalling pathways downstream of the RANK receptor, these studies suggest that the RANK/P38 signalling in osteoclast and breast cancer cells contributes significantly to breast cancer cell behaviour in bone. Genetic analysis of the RANK gene in human parental and bone-tropic MDA-231 breast cancer cells showed a number of polymorphisms. One variant detected was found to be deleterious for the RANK protein. This variant changes the amino acid sequence from alanine to threonine (Ala ˃ Thr) and only appeared in the RANK gene in the parental human MDA-231P breast cancer cells. Moreover, of the four known RANK isoforms that were detected in the parental and bone-tropic breast cancer cells tested, two lacked the TRAF6 binding motifs associated with NFκB activation. All RANK isoforms detected on the bone-tropic MDA-231BT breast cancer cells expressed the P38 binding motifs. Altogether, these findings support the role of the RANK/P38 signalling pathway in breast cancer cell behaviour in bone. Epigenetic analysis in parental human MDA-231P breast cancer cells showed that continuous and long-term exposure to RANKL (10 and 100 ng/ ml) for up to 50 passages (approximately 120 days) did not induce epigenetic changes, particularly DNA methylation, in the RANK gene. However, I found DNA methylation changes in a set of genes that are known to be involved in cell development and regulation. The methylation status of the altered CpG loci either hypermethylated or hypomethylated are located at different parts in the CpG islands. Whole genome DNA methylation pattern of the bone-tropic breast cancer cells showed a number of genes that appeared in both bone-tropic variants are correlated with different biological function of the cells. I also found that long-term exposure of human MDA-231P to RANKL (100 ng/ ml) enhanced the ability of these cells to stimulate osteoclastogenesis in vitro. These data together indicate that long-term exposure to RANKL induces “boney” epigenetic changes in a set of genes that enhances breast cancer cell behaviour in bone. Overall, this thesis illustrated that the RANK receptor on human parental and bone-tropic breast cancer cells plays an important role in cell motility and ability of these cells to influence osteoclastogenesis and ultimately osteolysis. Therefore, agents that selectively target the RANK receptor may be of value in the treatment of both tumour burden and osteolytic bone disease associated with breast cancer. However, the role of the RANK receptor in bone metastasis will require further in vivo investigation.

Submitted by Fabiano Malheiro (fabianomalheiro22@hotmail.com) on 2017-05-18T14:29:41Z No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) Avaliação da expressão de proteínas reguladoras do metabolismo ósseo na periodontite crônica em fumantes e não fumantes.pdf: 3990055 bytes, checksum: 9a391dd3c2e0c3333e7b27ff29d0a184 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-05-18T14:29:41Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) Avaliação da expressão de proteínas reguladoras do metabolismo ósseo na periodontite crônica em fumantes e não fumantes.pdf: 3990055 bytes, checksum: 9a391dd3c2e0c3333e7b27ff29d0a184 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014-04-10 / Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado do Rio Grande do Sul - FAPERGS / A periodontite é uma doença crônica que induz resposta imune inata e adaptativa nos tecidos periodontais e pode ser modulada pelo consumo de cigarros. Para avaliar possíveis diferenças na resposta imune foi determinada a expressão dos domínios de oligomerização de ligação de nucleotídeos (Nod1 e Nod2), do ligante do receptor-ativador do fator nuclear kappa B (RANKL), de osteoprotegerina (OPG), de CD20 (marcador de células B), de CD68 (marcador de monócitos/macrófagos), de CD45RO (marcador para células T) e de metaloproteinases de matriz (MMP)-8 e -9 nos tecidos periodontais de fumantes e não fumantes. Os tecidos gengivais foram coletados de pacientes saudáveis (n = 10) e pacientes com periodontite crônica - fumantes (n = 15) e não fumantes (n = 16). As expressões de Nod1, Nod2, RANKL, OPG, CD20, CD68 e CD45RO foram determinadas por reação de imunohistoquímica. A atividade das MMP-2 e MMP-9 foi verificada por zimografia. Sítios com periodontite apresentaram níveis mais elevados de todas as proteínas estudadas, quando comparado aos saudáveis (P < 0,001). No entanto, não foram observadas diferenças entre fumantes e não-fumantes (P > 0,05). Todas as proteínas foram mais expressas na porção apical da bolsa periodontal em comparação com a porção coronária. Considerando a periodontite como uma doença infecciosa, a sua progressão induz a migração de linfócitos T e B e monócitos/macrófagos para o local inflamado, principalmente regiões mais apicais da bolsa perioodntal. Além disso, os receptores de reconhecimento e reguladores de remodelação óssea mostraram-se com expressão aumentada. Não foram observadas diferenças entre fumantes e não fumantes. / Periodontitis is a chronic disease modulated by cigarette consumption inducing innate and adaptive immune responses within the periodontal tissues. To assess these immune responses, we evaluated the expression of nucleotide-binding oligomerization domains (Nod)-1 and -2, receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-B ligand (RANKL), osteoprotegerin (OPG), CD20 (B-cells), CD68 (monocytes/macrophages), CD45RO (T-cells) and matrix metalloproteinases (MMP)-8 and -9 in periodontal tissues of smokers and nonsmokers in order to identify possible differences. Gingival tissues were obtained from periodontally health subjects (n=10), and patients with chronic periodontitis smokers (n=15) and nonsmokers (n=16). Nod1, Nod2, RANKL, OPG, CD20, CD68 and CD45RO expression was determined by immunohistochemistry (IHC). MMP-2 and -9 activity were verified by zymography. Periodontitis-affected patients presented higher levels of all studied proteins when compared with healthy sites (P < 0.001). However, no differences were observed between smokers and non-smokers (P > 0.05). All proteins were more expressed at the apical portion of periodontal pocket compared with the coronal portion. Considering periodontitis as an infectious disease, its progression induce the migration of B- and T-cells and monocytes/macrophages to inflamed site. In addition, pattern recognition receptors and bone turnover regulators are overexpressed. No differences were observed between smokers and nonsmokers.

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Entre os fatores locais estão as citocinas: Receptor Activator of Nuclear Factor Kappa B Ligand (RANKL), presente nos osteoblastos, e Receptor Activator of Nuclear Factor Kappa B (RANK), presente nos osteoclastos, além de outras citocinas como o Tumor Necrosis Factor Alpha (TNF-α) que podem agir no processo de deposição e/ou reabsorção óssea in vivo. Entre os fatores sistêmicos que participam da remodelação óssea estão os hormônios estrógeno (E2) e triiodotironina (T3). O objetivo do trabalho foi verificar a ação do E2, infrafisiológico (simulando a menopausa) e T3, suprafisiológico (simulando hipertireoidismo) em osteoblastos humanos derivados de células troncos mesenquimais (CTMs) na síntese proteica de RANKL e TNF-α. Os osteoblastos foram incubados por 72 horas na presença de E2 em dose fisiológica (E2F/10-8M) e infrafisiológica (E2I/10-9M), e T3 em dose fisiológica (T3F/10-9M) e suprafisiológica (T3S/10-8M), e quantificada a matriz mineralizada óssea e a síntese proteica de RANKL e TNF-α por Western Blot. A análise estatística dos dados foi realizada pelo teste de variância ANOVA complementada pelo teste de Tukey, sendo o nível de significância considerado p<0,05. O tratamento de E2 em dose E2F (1,96± 0,48; p<0,05) e E2I (3,18±0,31; p<0,001) elevou a síntese proteica de RANKL comparado ao controle (C) (1,00±0,32), e de TNF-α em dose de E2F (3,61±0,45; p<0,05) e E2I (2,45±0,07; p<0,05) também aumentou em relação ao C (1,13±0,19). Assim como o E2, o T3 elevou os níveis proteicos de RANKL em T3F (1,18±0,10; p<0,05) e T3S (1,14±0,004; p<0,05) comparado ao controle (1,00±0,02), porém, TNF-α diminui em dose de T3S (0,82±0,09; p<0,05) relacionado ao T3F (1,00±0,09) e C (0,99±0,04). Com isso, E2I diminuiu a matriz mineralizada óssea e aumentou a síntese de ambas as proteínas estudadas, o que nos leva a especulação de que a reabsorção óssea observada na menopausa seja via RANKL e TNF-α. Por outro lado, na mimetização de hipertireoidismo com o T3S, observamos diminuição da matriz mineralizada óssea, supressão da síntese proteica de TNF-α e aumento de RANKL, o que nos leva a inferir que o mecanismo de reabsorção óssea no hipertireoidismo seja via RANKL. / The regulation of bone remodeling is intermediated by local and systemic factors. The cytokines are among the local factors: Receptor Activator of Nuclear Factor Kappa B Ligand (RANKL), present in osteoblasts, and Receptor Activator of Nuclear Factor Kappa B (RANK), present in osteoclasts, in addition to other cytokines such as Tumor Necrosis Factor Alpha (TNF-α) that can act in the process of bone deposition and/or resorption in vivo. Hormones are among the systemic factors involved in bone remodeling, estrogen (E2) and triiodothyronine (T3). The aim of the study was to verify the action of E2, infraphysiological (simulating menopause) and T3, supraphysiological (simulating hyperthyroidism) in human osteoblasts derived from mesenchymal stem cells (CTMs) in the protein synthesis of RANKL and TNF-α. Osteoblasts were incubated during 72 hours in the presence of E2 at physiological dose (E2F/10 -8 M) and infraphysiological (E2I/10 -9 M), and T3 at physiological (T3F/10 -9 M) and supraphysiological (T3S/10-8 M) and quantified the bone mineralized matrix and the protein synthesis of RANKL and TNF-α by Western Blot. Statistical analysis of the data was performed by the ANOVA variance test complemented by the Tukey test, and the significance level was considered p<0.05. The treatment of E2F in E2F dose (1.96 ± 0.48, p<0.05) and E2I (3.18 ± 0.31; p <0.001) increased RANKL protein synthesis compared to control (C) (1.00 ± 0.32), and TNF-α in the dose of E2F (3.61 ± 0.45; p<0.05) and E2I (2.45 ± 0.07; p <0.05) also increased in relation to C (1.13 ± 0.19). As with E2, T3 increased RANKL protein levels in T3F (1.18 ± 0.10, p <0.05) and T3S (1.14 ± 0.004; p <0.05) compared to control (1 , 00 ± 0.02), but TNF-α decreased in dose T3S (0.82 ± 0.09; p <0.05) related to T3F (1.00 ± 0.09) and C (0, 99 ± 0.04). Thus, E2I decreased the bone mineralized matrix and increased the synthesis of both proteins studied which leads to speculation that bone resorption observed at menopause by RANKL and TNF-α pathway. On the other hand, in the mimicry of hyperthyroidism with T3S, we observed a reduction of the bone mineralized matrix, suppression of TNF-α protein synthesis and increase of RANKL, which leads us to infer that the mechanism of action for bone resorption in hyperthyroidism is by RANKL. / FAPESP: 2014/15529-0

The receptor activator of nuclear factor-kB (RANK) and its ligand, RANKL has have been implicated as an important link between breast cancer and metastasis to bone because of their ability to activate intracellular signal cascades leading to altered cancer cell behaviour and bone breakdown. The JAK/STAT5a cell signaling pathway is also crucial to breast biology and is involved in transcriptional regulation of many genes. The objective of this study is to determine if RANKL mRNA expression is regulated through the JAK/STAT5a pathway by stimulating human breast cancer cell lines, MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231, with prolactin (PRL), epidermal growth factor (EGF) and heregulin-beta1 (HRG-1), all known to activate STAT5a and play a role in breast cancer progression. This study shows that RANKL expression is upregulated by PRL, EGF and HRG-1, and that PRL and HRG-1 regulate transcription through the JAK/STAT5a pathway. / UOIT

Heat shock proteins (Hsps) are increasingly being seen as having roles other than those of intracellular molecular chaperones, particularly with regard to their potential to act as cytokines, and to stimulate the innate immune system. Hsps have also been found to promote bone resorption and osteoclast formation in vitro, although the mechanism has not been previously identified. The overall aims of this thesis were to determine whether Hsps could stimulate bone resorption by affecting the RANKL/OPG pathway, and to address the hypothesis that Hsps can act as a danger signal to the innate immune system. In order for Hsps to affect either the RANKL/OPG system of bone resorption or act as danger signals they would need to be actively released from cells, ideally in a controlled manner following exposure to the source of stress. Hsp60 and Hsp70 were found to be released from a range of immune cells including the cell lines Jurkat and U937, and also PBMCs, T-cells and B-cells. This release was not due to cell damage. The release of Hsp60 and Hsp70 were downregulated by inhibitors of protein secretion, in particular Hsp70 release was reduced by compounds that inhibited lysosomal pathways and Hsp60 release by classical secretion inhibitors. Hsp60, Hsp70, GroEL and LPS all affected the RANKL/OPG system of bone regulation; OPG production and release was down-regulated in the MG63 and GCT osteoblast-like cell lines following treatment with Hsp60, Hsp70 and LPS, and RANKL expression was upregulated following treatment with Hsp60, Hsp70, GroEL and LPS. This effect on the RANKL/OPG system was found to translate into an effect on osteoclast formation when conditioned media from treated osteoblasts was added to osteoclast precursors in the presence of M-CSF. A range of different factors that affected Hsp release were identified; PHA activation of PBMCs was found to upregulate Hsp60 release from PBMCs. GroEL and LPS caused an upregulation in Hsp70 release from PBMCs and GCT osteoblast like cells, and Hsp70 was found to stimulate Hsp60 release from PBMCs and GCT cells. These responses of Hsp release were used to form a theory of a cascade-like danger signal that may occur when cells are exposed to bacterial infection and which would result in activation of antigen presenting cells via previously identified receptors for Hsps such as CD14/TLR4 or by unidentified pathways. The elevated release of Hsps in response to GroEL and LPS was also identified as a mechanism that could stimulate bone loss during infection or autoimmuniry by affecting the RANKL/OPG system. hi conclusion, Hsp60 and Hsp70 can be released from immune cells under normal conditions, and from both immune and osteoblast-like cells following stimulation with LPS and other Hsps. The observed release responses provide a mechanism through which Hsps can act as danger signals to the innate immune system, and also as promoters of bone resorption via the RANKL/OPG system.