Chez les plantes, le génome plastidique est continuellement exposé à divers stress mutagènes, tels l’oxydation des bases et le blocage des fourches de réplication. Étonnamment, malgré ces menaces, le génome du plastide est reconnu pour être très stable, sa stabilité dépassant même celle du génome nucléaire. Néanmoins, les mécanismes de réparation de l’ADN et du maintien de la stabilité du génome plastidique sont encore peu connus. Afin de mieux comprendre ces processus, nous avons développé une approche, basée sur l’emploi de la ciprofloxacine, qui nous permet d’induire des bris d’ADN double-brins (DSBs) spécifiquement dans le génome des organelles. En criblant, à l’aide de ce composé, une collection de mutants d’Arabidopsis thaliana déficients pour des protéines du nucléoïde du plastide, nous avons identifié 16 gènes vraisemblablement impliqués dans le maintien de la stabilité génomique de cette organelle. Parmi ces gènes, ceux de la famille Whirly jouent un rôle primordial dans la protection du génome plastidique face aux réarrangements dépendants de séquences de microhomologie. Deux autres familles de gènes codant pour des protéines plastidiques, soit celle des polymérases de types-I et celle des recombinases, semblent davantage impliquées dans les mécanismes conservateurs de réparation des DSBs. Les relations épistatiques entre ces gènes et ceux des Whirly ont permis de définir les bases moléculaires des mécanismes de la réparation dépendante de microhomologies (MHMR) dans le plastide. Nous proposons également que ce type de mécanismes servirait en quelque sorte de roue de secours pour les mécanismes conservateurs de réparation. Finalement, un criblage non-biaisé, utilisant une collection de plus de 50,000 lignées mutantes d’Arabidopsis, a été réalisé. Ce criblage a permis d’établir un lien entre la stabilité génomique et le métabolisme des espèces réactives oxygénées (ROS). En effet, la plupart des gènes identifiés lors de ce criblage sont impliqués dans la photosynthèse et la détoxification des ROS. Globalement, notre étude a permis d’élargir notre compréhension des mécanismes du maintien de la stabilité génomique dans le plastide et de mieux comprendre l’importance de ces processus. / The plant plastidial genome is constantly threatened by many mutagenic stresses, such as base oxidation and replication fork stalling. Despite these threats, the plastid genome has long been known to be more stable than the nuclear genome, suggesting that alterations of its structure would have dramatic consequences on plant fitness. At the moment, little is known about the genes and the pathways allowing such conservation of the organelle genome sequences. To gain insight into these mechanisms, we developed an assay which uses ciprofloxacin, a gyrase inhibitor, to generate DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) exclusively in plant organelles. By screening mutants deficient for proteins composing the plastid nucleoid on ciprofloxacin, we were able to identify 16 candidate genes, most likely involved in the repair of DSBs in plastid. Among these genes, those of the Whirly family of single-stranded DNA binding proteins are shown to be key factors in protecting the genome from error-prone microhomology mediated repair (MHMR). Two other family of proteins, the plastid type-I polymerases and the plastid recombinases, seem to be involved in the conservative repair pathways. The evaluation of the epistatic relationship between those two genes and the Whirly genes led us to define the molecular basis of MHMR and to propose that they might act as a backup system for conservative repair pathways. Finally, a non-biased screen, using 50,000 different insertion lines, allowed the identification of numerous genes that were already associated with ROS homeostasis, suggesting a link between DNA repair and ROS imbalance. Globally, our study shed light on the mechanisms that allow the maintenance of plastid genome, while explaining the importance of such conservation of the plastid genome.

Les vinylphosphonates fonctionnalisés représentent une classe importante de briques moléculaires utilisées en synthèse organique et suscitent un grand intérêt au niveau biologique. Ainsi, nous avons étudié différentes voies de synthèse pour accéder à ces composés. Il en ressort une méthode généralisable, faisant intervenir une réaction de substitution organocatalysée, à partir d’un substrat phosphoré original, et permettant d’obtenir de nombreux vinylphosphonates non décrits jusqu’ici. Par la suite, la synthèse de vinylphosphonates azahétérocycliques a été abordée en employant la réaction de métathèse cyclisante à partir de substrats adéquats, eux-mêmes obtenus par le biais de la méthodologie décrite précédemment.Nous avons enfin mis au point la première synthèse totale énantioselective de la molécule UPF 702 (vinylphosphonate cyclique comportant un motif acide aminé), connue pour ses propriétés biologiques notamment comme agoniste de récepteurs du glutamate et présentant ainsi un potentiel thérapeutique contre les maladies du système nerveux central. Deux voies de synthèses ont été imaginées, basées sur des réactions organocatalysées et de métathèse cyclisante. L’introduction de la chiralité a été réalisée via des réactions de désymétrisation ou de dédoublement enzymatiques et l’accès à l’amine par un réarrangement de Curtius. / Functionalized vinylphosphonates constitute an important class of building blocks used in organic synthesis and aroused great interest due to their various biological activities. Thus, we developed several synthetic methodologies to reach these compounds. The most general method entails an organocatalyzed substitution reaction using an original substrate, and allows the synthesis of numerous hitherto unknown vinylphosphonates.Then, the synthesis of azaheterocyclic vinylphosphonates was investigated using the ring closing metathesis from appropriate substrates which are obtained through the above methodology.Finally, we have set up the first enantioselective synthesis of UPF 702 (a cyclic vinylphosphonate including the amino acid moiety), known to exhibit agonist activity towards glutamate receptors, and thus potentially active against central nervous system diseases. Two synthetic approaches were devised, based on the organocatalyzed substitution followed by ring closing metathesis. The enantioselectivity was brought by enzymatic resolution or desymmetrisation, whereas the amino acid was prepared via a Curtius rearrangement.

Philadelphia (Ph) chromosome, as a result of reciprocal translocation, is in majority of cases connected to two types of leukaemia - chronic myelogenous (CML) and acute lymphoblastic (ALL). The translocation occurs within large intronic sequences of BCR and ABL genes. The breakpoints are specific for individual patient and may be used as a target for monitoring of leukemic burden (MRD, minimal residual disease) during the treatment. In general, MRD is an important prognostic factor, which influences the treatment intensity. Two standardized methods are currently used for its monitoring. The first one is based on the detection of clonal specific Immunoglobulin and/or T-cell receptor genes rearrangements (and thus cannot be used for CML cases) at the DNA level, the second one utilizes detection of the BCR/ABL fusion gene at the mRNA level. Our aim was to optimize and standardize the process to find individual patient breakpoints on Ph chromosome and to use it for MRD quantification. We found the breakpoint in 80 % cases. The MRD data from 15 patients obtained by our method were compared to the levels obtained by standard methods (Ig/TCR and BCR/ABL transcript quantification). In all but 1 patient we found significant discrepancies, raising the questions about leukemic origin and the most accurate method for...

In this thesis, multiple ionisation processes of free atoms and molecules upon single photon absorption are studied by means of a versatile multi-electron-ion coincidence spectroscopy method based on a magnetic bottle, primarily in combination with synchrotron radiation. The latter offered the possibility to access not only valence but also core levels, revealing processes, which promote the target systems into different charge states. One study focuses on double and triple ionisation processes of acetaldehyde (ethanal) in the valence region as well as single and double Auger decay of initial 1s core vacancies. The latter are investigated site-selectively for the two chemically different carbon atoms of acetaldehyde, scrutinising theoretical predictions specifically made for that system. A related study concentrates on core-valence double ionisation spectra of acetaldehyde, which have been investigated in the light of a previously established empirical model, and which have been used as test cases for analysing this kind of spectra by means of quantum chemical electronic structure methods of increasing sophistication. A third study investigates site-specific fragmentation upon 1s photoionisation of acetaldehyde using a magnetic bottle augmented with an in-line ion time-of-flight mass spectrometer. Experimental evidence is presented that bond rupture occurs with highest probability in the vicinity of the initial charge localisation and possible mechanisms are discussed. A site-specificity parameter P∆ is introduced to show that differences in fragmentation behavior between initial ionisations at chemically different carbon atoms probably persist even for identical internal energy contents in the nascent dications. In another study where both electrons and ions from Auger decay of core-excited and core-ionised states of CO2 are detected in coincidence, it is confirmed that O2+ is formed specifically in Auger decay from the C1s → π* and O1s → π* resonances, suggesting a decisive role of the π* orbital in the molecular rearrangement. Also, the molecular rearrangement is found to occur by bending in the resonant states, and O2+ is produced by both single and double Auger decay. A new version of the multi-electron-ion coincidence method, where the ion time-of-flight spectrometer is mounted perpendicularly to the electron flight tube, which affects less the electron resolution and which allows for position sensitive detection of the ions, is employed in combination with tunable soft X-rays to reveal the branching ratios to final Xen+ states with 2 &lt; n &lt; 9 from pure 4d-1, 4p-1, 4s-1, 3d-1 and 3p-1 Xe+ hole states. The coincident electron spectra give information on the Auger cascade pathways. / <p>Byte av lokal vid disputation till Polhemssalen.</p>

Rearranjos genômicos são alterações estruturais na molécula de DNA e podem ser a causa de inúmeras doenças genéticas. O mecanismo gerador dessas alterações é bem variável. Ele pode ser recorrente, por intermédio de low copy repeats (LCRs), resultando num rearranjo causado por recombinação homóloga não-alélica (NAHR), ou não recorrente, ou seja, sem intermédio de um hotspot. Dentre os mecanismo não recorrentes temos: a junção das extremidades não-homólogas (NHEJ - non-homologous end joining) e a junção mediada por micro-homologia (MMEJ - microhomology-mediated end joining), a replicação em série por deslizamento (SRS), a SRS induzida por quebra (BISRS), a replicação induzida pela quebra de DNA por homologia (MMBIR - microhomology-mediated break induced replication), o enrolamento da forquilha de replicação e mudança de molde de DNA (FoSTeS - fork stalling and template switching). A análise dos pontos de quebra dos rearranjos genômicos pode fornecer informações importantes para uma maior compreensão da arquitetura genômica e seu papel na geração das anormalidades estruturais. O objetivo deste trabalho foi sequenciar os pontos de quebra genômicos a fim de identificar o mecanismo formador das alterações encontradas. Para isso, investigamos o panorama estrutural de 10 pacientes por sequenciamento por meio de linked reads (10X Genomics) e sequenciamos os pontos de quebra previamente identificados por array CytoSNP-12 (Illumina) de 12 pacientes com rearranjos genômicos estruturais por utilizando a captura por Nextera Rapid Capture (Illumina). A investigação por linked reads revelou rearranjos estruturais em 5 pacientes, destacando translocações encontradas em dois pacientes, impossíveis de serem detectadas por metodologias de sequenciamento que não envolva long reads. Foi possível sugerir os mecanismos causadores dessas alterações como NHEJ. O sequenciamento após a captura por Nextera foi capaz de identificar elementos que permitiram definir o mecanismo em três pacientes (NAHR E FoSTeS/MMBIR) e sugerir em mais dois pacientes (NHEJ). Com a estratégia utilizada foi possível sequenciar pontos de quebra por meio do flanqueamento das regiões identificadas por array, identificar os elementos genômicos presentes nos pontos de quebra e os mecanismos formadores dessas alterações / Genomic rearrangements are structural changes in the DNA molecule and can be the cause of numerous genetic diseases. The mechanisms that generate these alterations can occur in different ways. It can be recurrent, mediated by low copy repeats (LCRs), resulting in a rearrangement cause by non-alellic homologue recombination (NAHR), or non-recurrent, without a hotspot. Among non-recurrent mechanisms there are: non-homologous end joining (NHEJ), microhomology-mediated end joining (MMEJ), serial replication slippage (SRS), break-induced serial replication slippage (BISRS), microhomology-mediated break induced replication (MMBIR) and fork stalling and template switching (FoSTeS). Analysis of the breakpoints of genomic rearrangements may provide important information for a better understanding of genomic architecture and its role in generating structural abnormalities. The aim of this work was to sequence the genomic breakpoints in order to identify the mechanism that formed the alterations found. To do this, we investigated the genomic structure of 10 patients by linked reads (10X Genomics) sequencing and sequenced the breakpoints previously identified by Illumina CytoSNP-12 array of 12 patients with structural genomic imbalances by using Nextera Rapid Capture (Illumina). The research by linked reads revealed structural rearrangements in 5 patients, highlighting translocations found in two patients, impossible to be detected by sequencing methodologies that did not involve long reads. It was possible to suggest the mechanisms causing these changes as NHEJ. The sequencing after capture by Nextera was able to identify elements that allowed us to determine the formation mechanism in three patients (NAHR and FoSTeS / MMBIR) and to suggest in two patients (NHEJ). With the approach employed here, it was possible to sequencing breakpoints by flanking the regions identified by array, identifying the genomic elements present at breakpoints and the formation mechanisms of the alterations

Made available in DSpace on 2016-04-27T18:47:16Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Leonice Aparecida Martins Sapucaia.pdf: 2094235 bytes, checksum: 142397f741a88bf464e0d463fe02e6ff (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015-02-05 / Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico / The project investigates how ex-streets residents have become caregivers to elderly people, recived from the streets to the Missão Belém s house, an entity belonging to the Catholic Church, scenario of this study. The methodology of research was the qualitative approach, through a participative observation, containig as main instruments: the field journal and semi-structured interview with ten caregivers, about how the turned into elder people caregivers, difficulties on caring of them, orientation needs about care and the aging process. It was found that seven of the interviewed came to the institution to assume other functions such as monitors or cooks, and got involved in the care of the streer received elderliers, identifying themselves with the chore of taking care of them; six indicated difficulties about the caring process and 10 of the answers pointed to the need for guidelines to properly care for the elderly. Were also emphasized the importance of the changes that occur in this age groups, trying to demistify the old people image being only related to negative issues, as losses, illnesses and uselessness. The answers allow the reflection on who this individual that must be listened to and respected. The research concluded that the hosting houses are a family rearrangement in wich the intergenerational relashionship between the young and the elderly emerges: the care is essential to both sides. At the same time, seek to help those who, once unknown, learnerd to share feelings and emotions, srories, secrets and teachings. It can be observed that the care givem by the young to the elderly is a way to their own recovery in the fight against drugs, in the hope of regaining their families, citizenship and dignity / O trabalho investiga como ex-moradores em situação de rua tornaram-se cuidadores de pessoas idosas, acolhidas das ruas nas casas da Missão Belém, entidade pertencente à Igreja Católica, cenário deste estudo. A metodologia de pesquisa foi a abordagem qualitativa, por meio da observação participante, tendo como principais instrumentos o diário de campo e a entrevista semiestruturada, com dez cuidadores, sobre como se tornaram cuidadores dos idosos, dificuldades encontradas no cuidado aos idosos, necessidade de orientações sobre o cuidado e processo de envelhecimento. Verificou-se que sete dos entrevistados chegaram à instituição para assumir outras funções, como monitores ou cozinheiros, e se envolveram no cuidado aos idosos acolhidos das ruas, identificando-se com a tarefa de cuidar dos mesmos; seis indicaram alguma dificuldade no cuidado aos idosos e dez respostas assinalaram a exigência de orientações para cuidar adequadamente dos idosos. Ressaltou-se ainda a importância das mudanças que ocorrem nessa faixa etária, tentando desmistificar a imagem do velho somente relacionado a questões negativas, como perdas, doenças e inutilidade. As respostas permitem a reflexão sobre quem é aquele indivíduo e seu direito de escolha, pessoa que deve sempre ser ouvida e respeitada. A pesquisa concluiu que as casas de acolhimento são um rearranjo familiar nas quais emerge a relação intergeracional entre os cuidadores jovens e os idosos: os cuidados são imprescindíveis a ambos os lados. Ao mesmo tempo, procuram ajudar aqueles com quem, outrora desconhecidos, aprenderam a dividir sentimentos e emoções, histórias, segredos e ensinamentos. Observamos que o cuidado dispensado pelos jovens cuidadores aos idosos é um dos caminhos para a própria recuperação na luta contra as drogas, sob a esperança de reconquista da família, da cidadania e dignidade

Pour la recherche de candidats d’intérêt thérapeutique, l’accès à des systèmes carbonés toujours plus complexes peut se heurter à divers problèmes synthétiques. Afin d’enrichir la diversité structurales, il est nécessaire de pallier aux difficultés synthétiques par le développement de nouveaux outils de synthèse. Dans ce contexte, ce travail s’est principalement orienté sur l’accès de cycles carbonés par des réactions d’expansion de cycle via l’utilisation de composés polarisés. Une première partie est réalisée avec l’utilisation de l’α-chlorodiazoacétate d’éthyle dans la réaction d’expansion de cycle de Tiffeneau-Demjanov pour la synthèse de céto-esters cycliques avec l’incorporation d’un centre tétrasubstitué présentant un atome de chlore. Dans un second temps, le développement d’une réaction de cycloaddition (5+3) à partir de deux entités cyclopropaniques polarisées a été mené au laboratoire. Cette méthodologie a conduit à décrire une nouvelle réactivité des composés cyclopropanes donneurs-accepteurs pour former des lactones α,β,γ-trisubstituées via une activation avec un acide de BrØnsted. Une étude approfondie par des calculs théoriques ont permis d’appréhender le mécanisme réactionnel et la sélectivité de cette transformation. La dernière partie a examinée la réactivité d’une nouvelle classe de molécule : les vinylbiscyclopropanes. Ces composés peuvent conduire à la famille des benzocyclobutènes et aux composés cycliques à 8 chainons par des réactions de réarrangement ou de transposition sigmatropique [3.3] formelle. Ce dernier motif est toujours à l’étude et devrait permettre un accès rapide à de multiples structures carbonées. / In the quest for new therapeutic candidates, the description of novel synthetic approaches to access to increasingly complex carbon systems remains a daunting challenge. In order to increase the structural of such scaffolds, it is necessary to overcome the encountered difficulties by developing new straightforward an efficient tools. In this context, this work has mainly focused on the access of structurally defined carbon cycles by ring expansion reactions via the use of polarized compounds. The first part of this study has been devoted to the Tiffeneau-Demjanov ring expansion reaction using ethyl α-chlorodiazoacetate. This approach allowed us to access highly versatile cyclic keto esters displaying a tetrasubstitued carbon center bearing a chlorine atom. The next topic of this study has been focused on the development of a (5 + 3) cycloaddition reaction between two polarized cyclopropane entities. This methodology led to the description of a novel reactivity of donor-acceptor cyclopropanes compounds to form α,β,γ-trisubstituted lactones under a BrØnsted acid activation. In order to gain mechanistic insights, a theoretical study has also been conducted which led us to rationalize the mechanism and the selectivity of this transformation. The last part described the reactivity of a underexplored class of molecule, the vinylbiscyclopropanes. These compound, can lead to the benzocyclobutene family and to the 8 membered-ring compounds through rearrangement or formal [3.3] sigmatropic rearrangement reaction. This last class of compound is still under study and should allow rapid access to diverse cyclic structures.

The β-acyloxyalkyl radical rearrangement has been known since 1967 but its mechanism is still not fully understood, despite considerable investigation. Since the migration of a β-trifluoroacetoxy group generally proceeds more rapidly and with more varied regiochemistry than its less electronegative counterparts, this reaction was studied in the hope of understanding more about the subtleties of the mechanism of the β- acyloxyalkyl radical rearrangement. The mechanism of the catalysed rearrangement of Nalkoxy- 2(1H)-pyridinethiones was also explored because preliminary studies indicated that the transition state (TS) for this process was isoelectronic with TSs postulated for the β-acyloxyalkyl radical and other novel rearrangements. ¶ A kinetic study of the rearrangement of the 2-methyl-2-trifluoroacetoxy-1-heptyl radical in solvents of different polarity was undertaken using a radical clock method. Arrhenius equations for the rearrangement in each solvent were: hexane, log10[kr (s-1)] = 11.8±0.3 – (48.9±0.7)/ θ; benzene, log10[kr (s-1)] = 12.0±0.2 – (43.7±0.8)/ θ; and propionitrile, log10[kr (s-1)] = 11.9±0.2 – (42.0±0.3)/ θ. Rate constants at 75˚C were: hexane, kr = 2.9 × 104; benzene, kr = 2.8 × 105; and propionitrile, kr = 4.0 × 105 s-1. The equilibrium constant for the reversible rearrangement at 80°C in benzene was 15.1 <K < 52.9. ¶ A regiochemical study with oxygen-labelled radicals revealed that trifluoroacetoxy group migration occurs with 66-83% label transposition (3,2 shift). The proportion of 3,2 shift is decreased by polar solvent, high temperature and low concentration of the reducing agent. Results of labelling experiments were consistent with cooperative 1,2 and 3,2 shifts, the former having Ea 9.5 kJmol-1 higher than the latter in benzene solution. ¶ An esr study of nine β-oxygenated radicals revealed that the temperaturedependent equilibrium conformation is controlled by a balance between steric and stereoelectronic effects. The influence of the latter is increased by electron-attracting β- substituents. Barriers to C α–C β rotation in β-oxyethyl radicals are approximately the same as for the propyl radical. Consequently, there is no significant through-space interaction between the β-substituent and the unpaired electron. ¶ Experimental results were consistent with a mechanism involving a combination of polarized 1,2 and 3,2 concerted shifts. The results may also be rationalised by the intermediacy of a contact ion pair, as well as combinations of the three options. ¶ The rearrangement of N-alkoxy-2(1H)-pyridinethiones is catalysed by oxidants, Lewis acids and protic acids. Pseudo first order kinetics are observed and there are moderate solvent effects. The migration of a 1,1-dideuteroallyl group occurs almost exclusively in a 1,4 sense. Migration of an enantiomerically enriched 1-phenylethyl group proceeds with predominant retention of configuration in chloroform, but with virtual racemisation in acetonitrile. Migrating groups do not become diffusively free during the rearrangement. Substituents which stablise positive charge at C1 migrate more rapidly. The bulk of evidence indicates that a catalyst activates the pyridinethione for rearrangement by promoting aromatisation. Mass-spectrometric analysis of an isolated intermediate and kinetic results are consistent with an intermolecular mechanism.

The objective of this thesis was to investigate the effects of the somatotrope GH/IGF-1 axis upon the thymus. This work included two parts: 1. Translational research study: Thymus function in adult GH deficiency (AGHD) with and without GH treatment Background: Despite age-related adipose involution, T cell generation in the thymus (thymopoiesis) is maintained beyond puberty in adults. In rodents, growth hormone (GH), insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), and GH secretagogues reverse agerelated changes in thymus cytoarchitecture and increase thymopoiesis. GH administration also enhances thymic mass and function in HIV-infected patients. Until now, thymic function has not been investigated in adult GH deficiency (AGHD). The objective of this clinical study was to evaluate thymic function in AGHD, as well as the repercussion upon thymopoiesis of GH treatment for restoration of GH/IGF-1 physiological levels. Methodology/Principal Findings: Twenty-two patients with documented AGHD were enrolled in this study. The following parameters were measured: plasma IGF-1 concentrations, signal-joint T-cell receptor excision circle (sjTREC) frequency, and sj/b TREC ratio. Analyses were performed at three time points: firstly on GH treatment at maintenance dose, secondly one month after GH withdrawal, and thirdly one month after GH resumption. After 1-month interruption of GH treatment, both plasma IGF-1 concentrations and sjTREC frequency were decreased (p,0.001). Decreases in IGF-1 and sjTREC levels were correlated (r = 0.61, p,0.01). There was also a decrease in intrathymic T cell proliferation as indicated by the reduced sj/b TREC ratio (p,0.01). One month after reintroduction of GH treatment, IGF-1 concentration and sjTREC frequency regained a level equivalent to the one before GH withdrawal. The sj/b TREC ratio also increased with GH resumption, but did not return to the level measured before GH withdrawal. Conclusions: In patients with AGHD under GH treatment, GH withdrawal decreases thymic T cell output, as well as intrathymic T cell proliferation. These parameters of thymus function are completely or partially restored one month after GH resumption. These data indicate that the functional integrity of the somatotrope GH/IGF-1 axis is important for the maintenance of a normal thymus function in human adults. 2. Fundamental study: intrathymic expression of members of the GH/IGF-1 axis and effects of GH on T-cell differentiation in murine fetalthymic organ cultures (FTOC). We here address the question of expression and role of GH/IGF axis in the thymus. Methods: Using RT-qPCR, the expression profile of various components of the somatotrope GH/IGF axis was measured in different thymic cell types and during thymus embryogenesis in Balb/c mice. Effect of GH on T-cell differentiation was explored through thymic organotypic culture. Results: Transcription of Gh, Igf1, Igf2 and their related receptors predominantly occurred in thymic epithelial cells (TEC), while a low level of Gh and Igf1r transcription was also evidenced in thymic T cells (thymocytes). Gh, Ghr, Ins2, Igf1, Igf2, and Igfr1, displayed distinct expression profiles depending on the developmental stage. The protein concentration of IGF-1 and IGF-2 were in accordance with the profile of their gene expression. In fetal thymus organ cultures (FTOC) derived from Balb/c mice, treatment with exogenous GH resulted in a significant increase of double negative CD4-CD8- T cells and CD4+ T cells, with a concomitant decrease in double positive CD4+CD8+ T cells. These changes were inhibited by concomitant treatment with GH and GHR antagonist pegvisomant. However, GH treatment also induced a significant decrease in FTOC Gh, Ghr and Igf1 expression. Conclusion: These data show that the thymotropic properties of the somatotrope GH/IGF-1 axis involve an interaction between exogenous GH and GHR expressed by TEC. Since thymic IGF-1 is not increased by GH treatment, the effects of GH upon T-cell differentiation could implicate a different local growth factor or cytokine.

This thesis presents a nonadiabatic (4-body) description of the hydrogen-antihydrogen system at a nonrelativistic level. The properties of the system, the rearrangement processes and the possible existence of resonance states are investigated by using a variational method for coupled arrangement channels, the Gaussian Expansion Method, and the stabilization method. The 4-body basis set is optimized by means of prediagonalization of 2-body fragments. In paper I, a mass-scaling procedure of the Born-Oppenheimer potential is introduced for the description of the relative motion between hydrogen and antihydrogen. The nonadiabaticity of the system is investigated in paper II.