Os genes relógio são responsáveis pelo ritmo circadiano e homeostase de diversos sistemas biológicos, incluindo o pâncreas endócrino. Nas células β são de grande importância para a regulação do metabolismo e da secreção de insulina (SI), e sua ausência pode levar ao desenvolvimento do diabetes. A NADPH oxidase (NOX) é um complexo enzimático responsável pela produção do ânion superóxido através da redução do oxigênio molecular. Em ilhotas pancreáticas, a NOX participa da regulação do metabolismo da glicose e da SI, através da modulação do estado redox intracelular. O objetivo do nosso estudo foi verificar se a desregulação dos genes relógio mediada pela ausência de Bmal1 seria capaz de modular a NOX e o estado redox nas células β pancreáticas, influenciando assim a SI. Observamos que a ausência de Bmal1 alterou a atividade e expressão da NOX, desregulando o estado redox intracelular. Essas alterações levaram à redução da viabilidade celular e mudanças na resposta à estimulação com glicose, resultando em uma deficiência na principal função da célula β a SI. / Clock genes are responsible for homeostasis and circadian rhythm in various biological systems, including endocrine pancreas. In β -cells, they are important for the regulation of metabolism and insulin secretion (IS), and its absence can lead to development of diabetes. NADPH oxidase (NOX) is an enzymatic complex responsible for production of superoxide anion by reducing molecular oxygen. In pancreatic islets, NOX regulates glucose metabolism and IS through modulation of the intracellular redox state. The aim of our study was to investigate whether dysregulation of clock genes mediated by Bmal1 suppression would be able to modulate NOX activity and redox state in pancreatic β cells, thus influencing the SI. In this work, the lack of Bmal1 altered the activity and expression of NOX, deregulating the intracellular redox state. These changes led to reduced cell viability and changes in cell response after stimulation with glucose, resulting in a deficiency in β cell main function, GSIS.

Submitted by PPG Biologia Celular e Molecular (bcm@pucrs.br) on 2017-07-25T18:53:17Z No. of bitstreams: 1 PRISCYLLA_ANDRADE_VOLKART_DIS.pdf: 1703523 bytes, checksum: 625ed4371e92d211496ba44a5d264d21 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Caroline Xavier (caroline.xavier@pucrs.br) on 2017-07-26T14:20:44Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 PRISCYLLA_ANDRADE_VOLKART_DIS.pdf: 1703523 bytes, checksum: 625ed4371e92d211496ba44a5d264d21 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-07-26T14:27:43Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 PRISCYLLA_ANDRADE_VOLKART_DIS.pdf: 1703523 bytes, checksum: 625ed4371e92d211496ba44a5d264d21 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-03-27 / Coordena??o de Aperfei?oamento de Pessoal de N?vel Superior - CAPES / The redox-active chemical properties of trace element copper make it an essential cofactor for several cellular mechanisms, as for ROS production. Polyphenols have been used in the pro-oxidant mechanism of action of interaction with endogenous Cu (II) ions for the production of reactive oxygen species in excess as a treatment for malignancies, leading to apoptosis. This work studied Cu (II) ions in the complex formation mechanism with Resveratrol in MCF-7 cells model. We analyzed the selectivity of Resveratrol in relation to the cupric metal ion using HPLC (High-Performance Liquid Chromatography) and the formation of the compound Resveratrol-Copper through UV-VIS (Ultra-Violet Visible Spectrophotometry). We analyzed the cellular morphology and location of the metal ion by MET-EDS (Electronic Transmission microscopy with Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy). Cell death by apoptosis and quantification of ROS in said cell line with copper enrichment and treated with Resveratrol was made by flow cytometry. The results show the selectivity of the polyphenol compound by copper ion as well as the formation of the complex Resveratrol-Copper in extracellular conditions, however even with verification of endogenous copper accumulation in physiological conditions in vitro, the formation of that complex did not occur because there was no production of ROS and therefore, no cell death. In short, our research reveals that for in vitro conditions for the MCF-7 line, there's no Resveratrol-Copper complex formation as observed in sub-lethal quantities of chemically enriched cells with CuSO4 and treated with Resveratrol. / As propriedades qu?micas redox-ativas do oligoelemento cobre o tornam cofator essencial para diversos mecanismos celulares como o de produ??o de ROS. Polifen?is v?m sendo utilizados no mecanismo de a??o pr?-oxidante de intera??o com ?ons Cu (II) end?geno para a produ??o dessas esp?cies oxig?nio reativas em excesso como tratamento de malignidades, levando a apoptose. O presente trabalho estudou os ?ons Cu (II) no mecanismo de forma??o do complexo com Resveratrol em modelo de c?lulas MCF-7. Analisamos a seletividade do Resveratrol frente ao ?on met?lico c?prico utilizando CLAE (Cromatografia L?quida de Alta Efici?ncia) e verificou-se a forma??o do complexo Resveratrol-Cobre por meio de UV-VIS (Espectrofotometria de Ultra-Violeta Vis?vel). Analisou-se a morfologia celular e localiza??o do ?on met?lico por MET-EDS (Microscopia de Transmiss?o Eletr?nica com Espectroscopia Dispersiva de Raios-X). Morte celular por apoptose e quantifica??o de ROS na linhagem enriquecida com cobre e tratadas com Resveratrol foi feita por Citometria de Fluxo. Os resultados mostram a seletividade do composto polifen?lico pelo ?on cobre bem como a forma??o do complexo Resveratrol-Cobre em condi??es extracelulares, por?m mesmo com a verifica??o de ac?mulo de cobre end?geno, em condi??es fisiol?gicas in vitro n?o foi constatada a forma??o do referido, pois n?o houve forma??o de ROS e morte celular conseguinte. Em suma, Nossa pesquisa revela que em condi??es in vitro para a linhagem MCF-7, n?o h? forma??o de complexo Resveratrol-Cobre como observado quimicamente em quantidades sub-letais de c?lulas enriquecidas com CuSO4 e tratadas com Resveratrol.

Le système nerveux consiste en plusieurs types cellulaires quels interagissent avec eux-mêmes pour conduire des potentiels d’action du soma au travers l’axone vers la synapse. Dans les nerfs périphériques, les cellules de Schwann interagissent avec les neurones par enrouler autour l’axone et créer une gaine de myéline. Cette gaine de myéline permit une conduction rapide des potentiels d’action de nœud de Ranvier vers nœud de Ranvier, quels sont petits régions non-myélinisés de l’axone. En plus, les cellules de Schwann transportent du lactate vers le neurone et le neurone utilise ce lactate pour la production d’énergie sous la forme d’ATP. Cette production est nécessaire, parce que beaucoup de processus dans des cellules, comme la conduction des potentiels d’action, ont besoin d’ATP. Trois mécanismes sont impliqués à la production d’ATP : la glycolyse dans le cytosol et le cycle de Krebs et la chaîne de transport d'électrons dans les mitochondries. Par contre, la production d’ATP par des mitochondries résulte en la production du dérivés réactifs de l'oxygène (DRO), quels provoquent du stress oxydative. DRO peuvent être présent en plusieurs formes et ces formes différentes ont des traits spécifiques, mais tous les formes peuvent endommager la cellule. Par exemple, l’ion superoxyde est très réactif donc ils agissent extrêmement vite avec les molécules dans son environnement. Par contre, peroxyde d'hydrogène est un type de DRO quel est moins réactif, mais peut diffuser à plus longue distances et peut oxyder des cibles plus distales. Heureusement, les cellules sont équipées avec un système antioxydant compétant en consistent une groupe d’enzymes antioxydant, quels réduisent du DRO à l’eau. Si les mitochondries dysfonctionnent ou si l’équilibre entre DRO et antioxydants devient en disbalance, des neuropathies pourraient se développer, comme sclérose latérale amyotrophique (SLA), sclérose en plaques (SEP), maladie d'Alzheimer et maladie de Parkinson. Au SNP, des neuropathies périphériques comme la maladie Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) peuvent se développer en raison d’excès du DRODans cette thèse, je présente un modèle élaboré pour la production d’ATP et DRO par les mitochondries in vivo. Je montrerai comment les cellules de Schwann utilisent l’effet Warburg, la transition de métabolisme de phosphorylation oxydative à glycolyse, pour la production de lactate, quel est transporté vers le neurone pour la production d’énergie. Je montrerai aussi que sans l’effet Warburg dans des cellules de Schwann, le métabolisme neuronal est détérioré menant à la production d’ATP diminué, déficits neuronales et des problèmes moteurs. Suite à l’activité nerveuse, la production d’ATP par des mitochondries augmente, mais aussi la production de DRO. Pourtant les deux productions ne sont pas en parallèle. En plus, je montre que la physiologie mitochondriale est affectée par des neuropathies. Aux souris avec défectueux mitofusin2, un modèle pour CMT2A, le contact entre le réticulum endoplasmique et les mitochondries est diminué, à côté d’un changement de morphologie et fonction mitochondriale. En plus, démyélinisation résulte dans des déficits de la production ATP et DRO, montrent une dissociation pathologique entre la production d’ATP et DRO.Pour obtenir ces résultats, des techniques d'imagerie avancées étaient utilisé pour imager les nerfs périphériques des souris transgéniques. Ces transgènes sont introduit dans les souris par injection des vecteurs virales, quels induisent l’expression des sondes fluorescents dans les cellules neuronales. Ces sondes fluorescentes étaient détectées par microscopie multiphotonique. En plus du modèle de la production d’ATP et DRO dans des nerfs périphériques, je présente un protocole pour introduire des vecteurs viraux dans le nerf sciatique. / The nervous system consists of several cell types that interact with each other in order to conduct action potentials from the neuronal soma through axons to the synapse. In peripheral nerves, Schwann cells interact with neurons by wrapping around the axon and creating a myelin sheath. This myelin sheath allows for fast conduction of action potentials from node of Ranvier to node of Ranvier, which are small unmyelinated areas of the axon. In addition, Schwann cells transfer lactate to the neuron, which the axonal mitochondria use to produce energy in the form of ATP. This is necessary, because many cellular processes, such as the conduction of action potentials use ATP. The production of ATP involves three mechanisms: anaerobic glycolysis in the cytosol and the Kreb’s cycle and electron transport chain within mitochondria. However, the production of ATP by mitochondria also results in the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which cause cell damage. ROS can be present in several different forms and these different forms have specific properties. For example, superoxide anions are highly reactive and subsequently react rapidly with the molecules in their environment. Hydrogen peroxide on the other hand is less reactive but hence can diffuse over longer distances and react with their targets more distally. Fortunately, the cell contains a competent antioxidant system, which can reduce ROS to water. When mitochondria malfunction or when the equilibrium between ROS and antioxidants becomes in disbalance, neuropathies can develop, such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), multiple sclerosis (MS), Alzheimer’s disease or Parkinson’s disease. In the PNS, peripheral neuropathies can develop such as Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease as a result from an excess of ROS.In this thesis, I will provide an elaborate model for ATP and ROS production by axonal mitochondria in vivo. I will show how Schwann cells use the Warburg effect, the shift in metabolism from oxidative phosphorylation to anaerobic glycolysis, to produce lactate, which is then transported to the neuron for energy production. I also demonstrate that without the Warburg effect in Schwann cells neuronal metabolism would be impaired, leading to impaired ATP production, neuronal deficits and motor problems. Following action potential firing, not only ATP is produced by mitochondria, but also ROS, although with independent dynamics. In addition, I show that mitochondrial physiology is affected by several neuropathologies. In mitofusin2 deficient mice, a model for CMT2A, contact between the endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondria is impaired next to affected mitochondrial morphology and function. Also demyelination causes deficits in mitochondrial ATP and ROS production, showing a pathologic decoupling between ATP and ROS.To obtain these results, advanced imaging techniques were used to image peripheral nerves of transgenic mice. These transgenes were introduced in mice via injection of viral vectors which induce expression of fluorescent probes in neuronal cells. These fluorescent probes were detected via multiphoton microscopy. Next to the model for ATP and ROS production in peripheral nerves, I provide a protocol for introducing viral vectors into mouse sciatic nerves.

Based on analysis of human-human interactions, we have developed an initial model of engagement for human-robot interaction which includes the concept of connection events, consisting of: directed gaze, mutual facial gaze, conversational adjacency pairs, and backchannels. We implemented the model in the open source Robot Operating System and conducted a human-robot interaction experiment to evaluate it.

In needle-based surgical interventions, accurate alignment and insertion of the tool is paramount for providing proper treatment at a target site while minimizing healthy tissue damage. While manually-aligned interventions are well-established, robotics platforms promise to reduce procedure time, increase precision, and improve patient comfort and survival rates. Conducting interventions in an MRI scanner can provide real-time, closed-loop feedback for a robotics platform, improving its accuracy, yet the tight environment potentially impairs motion, and perceiving this limitation when planning a procedure can be challenging. This project developed a surgical workflow and software system for evaluating the workspace and planning the motions of a robotics platform within the confines of an MRI scanner. 3D Slicer, a medical imaging visualization and processing platform, provided a familiar and intuitive interface for operators to quickly plan procedures with the robotics platform over OpenIGTLink. Robotics tools such as ROS and MoveIt! were utilized to analyze the workspace of the robot within the patient and formulate the motion planning solution for positioning of the robot during surgical procedures. For this study, a 7 DOF robot arm designed for ultrasonic ablation of brain tumors was the targeted platform. The realized system successfully yielded prototype capabilities on the neurobot for conducting workspace analysis and motion planning, integrated systems using OpenIGTLink, provided an opportunity to evaluate current software packages, and informed future work towards production-grade medical software for MRI-guided, needle-based robotic interventions.

A ativação do receptor para tromboxano-prostanóide (TP) está relacionada com o processo de desenvolvimento e manutenção da hipertensão arterial. O objetivo do presente trabalho foi investigar se a ativação do receptor TP promove a produção de fatores contráteis derivados do endotélio (EDCFs) e espécies reativas de oxigênio (ERO), contribuindo para a disfunção vascular observada na hipertensão renovascular. Aortas de ratos normotensos (2R) ou hipertensos (2R-1C) foram utilizadas para avaliar a expressão proteica da enzima cicloxigenase (COX-1, COX- 2), expressão gênica do receptor TP, expressão proteica da enzima NO-Sintase endotelial fosforilada (fosfo-eNOS) e produção de TXA2 ativada pelo U46619. Células endoteliais (CE) e do músculo liso vascular (CMLV) foram utilizadas para avaliar a produção de NO e ERO pelo estímulo com o U46619. Em aortas com (E+) ou sem endotélio (E-) de ratos 2R e 2R-1C foram realizadas curvas concentraçãoefeito cumulativas para o U46619 na ausência ou presença de Tiron, Catalase (Cat) e em aortas E+, na presença de L-NAME, Ibuprofeno (Ibu) ou L-NAME + Ibu. Em aortas E+ contraídas com U46619, foram realizadas curvas concentração-efeito para acetilcolina (ACh), na ausência ou presença de Tiron, Cat ou Ibu. Os resultados mostram que a expressão gênica para o receptor TP foi menor e a expressão proteica da COX-1 e COX-2 foi maior em aortas de ratos 2R-1C do que em 2R. Em aorta de ratos 2R e 2R-1C, o U46619 não promoveu a geração de TXA2 e não alterou a expressão proteica da fosfo-eNOS. O estímulo com U46619 promoveu o aumento de NO em CE e ERO em CE e CMLV. Em aortas E- a potência (pD2) do U46619 em induzir contração foi maior em 2R e 2R-1C em relação às preparações E+. Em aortas E- de ratos 2R, a contração ao U46619 foi menor com Cat ou Ibu do que no controle. Em preparações E+, Ibu ou Ibu+Tiron (mas não Ibu+L-NAME) reduziram a potência do U46619 em relação ao controle. Em aortas E+ de ratos 2R- 1C, a contração ao U46619 foi maior com Tiron e menor em presença de Tiron+Ibu em relação ao controle. Tiron+L-NAME ou Ibu não modificou a resposta contrátil ao U46619. Em aortas E-, Tiron ou Cat não modificaram a contração ao U46619. Quando contraídas com U46619 (10 nmol/L), o relaxamento à ACh foi menor em aorta de ratos 2R-1C em relação a 2R. Em aortas E+ de ratos 2R e 2R-1C, o relaxamento à ACh foi menor quando contraídas com U46619 (100 nmol/L) do que com U46619 (10 nmol/L). Tiron, Cat ou Ibu não modificaram o relaxamento à ACh em aorta de ratos 2R-1C comparadas a 2R. Em aorta de ratos 2R, o peróxido de hidrogênio regula a atividade das enzimas COX e eNOS. Por outro lado, em aorta de ratos 2R-1C, a regulação da atividade da COX pelas ERO depende do endotélio e modula negativamente a síntese de EDCFs. Palavras-chave: receptor TP, NO, ERO, COX, função vascular, hipertensão. / TP receptor activation is involved on the development and maintenance of hypertension. This study aimed to investigate if TP receptor activation induces endothelium-derived contractile factors (EDCFs) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, and if it contributes to the vascular dysfunction in renal hypertensive rats. Normotensive (2K) and renal hypertensive (2K-1C) rat aortas were used to evaluate COX-1 and -2 expression, genic expression of TP receptor, p-eNOS expression and TXA2 production induced by TP agonist, U46619. Endothelial cells (EC) and vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) were stimulated with U46619 to evaluate NO and ROS production. U46619- stimulated concentration-effect curves were performed in intact (E+) and denuded-endothelium (E-) aortas of 2K and 2K-1C rats, in the absence (Control) or presence of Tiron or Catalase (Cat). In E+ aortas, we used L-NAME, Ibuprofen or the combination of both. Concentration-effect curves were performed for acetylcholine (ACh) in E+ aortas, contracted by U46619, in the absence or presence of Tiron, Catalase or Ibuprofen. In 2K-1C, the genic expression of TP receptor was lower and expression of COX-1 and -2 was higher than in 2K. The agonist did not have effect on TXA2 production or p-eNOS expression in both rat groups of aortas. U46619 induced production of NO in EC and ROS in EC and VSMC. The endothelium removal increased the potency of U46619 in 2K and 2K-1C aortas. In Eaortas of 2K, contraction induced by U46619 was impaired by Catalase. In E+ aortas, the potency was lower in the presence of Ibu ou Ibu+Tiron, but not Cat or Ibu+LNAME. In E+ aortas of 2K-1C, the contraction to U46619 was potentiated by Tiron but it was inhibited by Tiron+Ibu. Tiron and L-NAME or Ibuprofen had no effect on U46619-induced contraction. In E- aortas of 2K-1C, Tiron or Catalase had no effect on the contraction induced by U46619. ACh-induced relaxation was impaired in 2K and 2K-1C aortas contracted with 100 nmol/L U46619. Relaxation induced by ACh was lower in 2K-1C aortas contracted with 10 nmol/L U46619. Tiron, Catalase or Ibuprofen had no effect on the relaxation to ACh in 2K-1C rats aorta. Our results suggest that in 2K rat aortas, H2O2 regulates COX and eNOS activity. On the other hand, in 2K-1C rats aorta, ROS modulates COX activity and EDCFs production, which mechanisms are endothelium- dependent.

Cancer, which is characterised by aggressiveness and increased capacity for metastatic spread still requires basic researchers and clinicians to direct enormous efforts toward the development of novel therapeutic targets. Potential novel targets can be identified and exploited in combination with currently existing therapeutic approaches to improve their efficacy and overcome treatment resistance of tumour cells, protecting the patient from recurrence. To achieve this, different strategies and techniques can be proposed to identify the most promising candidate molecules for further exploitation as therapeutic targets. Human epidermal growth factor receptors (HERs) and NF-E2-related factor 2 (NRF2) are regulators of cellular proliferation and determinants of cancer initiation and progression. NRF2 and HERs confer cancers with resistance to several therapeutic agents. Nevertheless, there is limited understanding of the regulation of HER expression and activation, and the link between NRF2 and HER signalling pathways. This research has demonstrated that pharmacological activation of NRF2 by tert-butyl hydroquinone (tBHQ) upregulates the expression of HER family receptors, HER1 and HER4, elevates phospho protein kinase B (pAKT) levels, and enhances the proliferation of ovarian cancer cells. Pharmacological inhibition using retinoic acid (RA) and bexarotene and genetic inhibition using small interfering RNA (siRNA), did the opposite. Further, tBHQ caused transcriptional induction of HER1 and HER4 with different levels of expression, while siRNA-mediated knockdown of NRF2 prevented this and further caused transcriptional repression. A panel of potent NRF2 inhibitors were screened with the hope of finding the most potent for further investigation. Bexarotene was found to be the most potent and was used either alone, or in combination with lapatinib or erlotinib. The use of these drugs in combination with bexarotene resulted in the repression of HER1, HER2, HER3 and HER4 expression, inhibition of NRF2, elevation of ROS, depletion of glutathione and enhanced cytotoxicity in PEO1, OVCAR3, SKOV3 and MCF7-AREc32 cell lines. This explained the crosstalk mechanism between HER receptor family and NRF2 and the role of NRF2 in drug resistance and as a relevant anti-cancer target which opens up novel avenues of targeting HER receptor kinase family and NRF2 pathways for improving cancer therapy.

Dihydronicotinamide riboside (NRH) quinone oxidoreductase 2 (NQO2) is involved in quinone metabolism reducing quinone to hydroquinone. Quinones are products of oestrogen metabolism and are responsible for the oestrogen-initiated breast carcinogenesis. It has been demonstrated that oestrogen quinones are endogenous biological substrates of NQO2 which acting as a detoxification enzyme catalyses the reduction of oestrogen quinones to hydroquinone. Hydroquinone can then be removed by conjugation to glutathione or glucuronic acid. In this study, the oestrogen dependent and oestrogen independent effects of NQO2 in a variety of networks implicated in breast tumorigenesis were investigated aiming to understand the potential role of NQO2 overexpression in mammary carcinomas. The use of NRH as a cofactor for NQO2 is being studied in parallel with the Î2-oestradiol and tamoxifen treatments. The MCF-7, T47D, MDA-MB-231 and MDA-MB-468 breast cancer cells were transfected with increasing amounts of NQO2 and its biological activity in regulating ERα transcriptional activity, reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, cell cycle control, mitochondrial membrane potential and antioxidant activities including catalase activity, glutathione (GSH) levels and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity were studied. NQO2 overexpression in MDA-MB-231 and T47D cells reduced ROS generation. Increasing amounts of transfected NQO2 induced the ERα transcriptional activity in Î2-oestradiol treated MCF-7 and T47D cells and decreased cyclin D1 protein levels in these cells treated with Î2-oestradiol compared to untransfected cells. Reduction of catalase activity was detected in tamoxifen treated T47D cells overexpressing NQO2, an effect that was not evident in Î2-oestradiol treated cells, whereas NQO2 mediated reduction of GSH levels was detected in these cells treated with Î2-oestradiol but not with tamoxifen. Finally, NQO2 affected mitochondrial membrane depolarization in Î2-oestradiol treated MDA-MB-231 cells. Given the fact that NRH is not physiologically synthesized in humans, the results presented in this study are valuable from the fundamental science point of view indicating the existence of a potential link between NQO2 and estrogens affecting a number of biological pathways important for breast carcinogenesis and as such from the clinical angle it could be assumed that NQO2 effects could impact the design of personalised breast cancer treatment of oestrogen receptor positive and negative breast cancers.

Dehidroepiandrosterona (DHEA) é um hormônio esteroide secretado pelas glândulas adrenais, gônadas e cérebro, que juntamente com sua forma sulfatada (DHEAS) constituem os esteroides mais abundantes da circulação. É um importante precursor para hormônios sexuais e exerce funções diretas sob diversos sistemas do corpo, dentre eles, o sistema imune. A relação entre sistema endócrino e imune já é bem estabelecida, tendo hormônios a capacidade de modular a resposta imune e vice-versa. Dentre os componentes da resposta imune, estão os neutrófilos, importantes células da imunidade inata que reconhecem e eliminam patógenos através de diversos mecanismos efetores como fagocitose, produção de espécies reativas de oxigênio (EROs), desgranulação, neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs). Já é descrito que o avanço da idade é acompanhado pela redução dos níveis plasmáticos de DHEA, assim como a redução da atividade efetora de neutrófilo, podendo estes dois mecanismos estarem relacionados com estado de senescência e aumento da suscetibilidade de idosos à infecções. Porém, poucos estudos existem mostrando relação entre DHEA e neutrófilos. Desta forma, o objetivo do nosso trabalho, foi avaliar a influência do hormônio DHEA nas diversas funções efetoras de neutrófilos. Para tanto, neutrófilos humanos isolados do sangue periférico foram submetidos a um pré-tratamento com DHEA e infectado com Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium ou estimulados com LPS. Observamos que o tratamento prévio dos neutrófilos com 0,01 ?M de DHEA é capaz aumentar a fagocitose da S. Typhimurium, assim como aumento da atividade microbicida destas células. Para investigar o mecanismo pelos quais a capacidade microbicida foi aumentada, avaliamos a produção de EROs e formação de NETs. Curiosamente o hormônio não influenciou em nenhum destes processos. Então, por fim, avaliamos o perfil de produção de citocinas in vitro produzidas pelos neutrófilos tratados com DHEA e infectados com S. Typhimurium ou estimulados com LPS (lipopolissacarídeo). Nosso estudo mostrou que os neutrófilos infectados ou estimulados reduzem a produção de quimiocinas como IL-8, MIP-1? e MIP-1?, quando comparados aos neutrófilos sem tratamento. Em adição, neutrófilos tratados com esteroide e estimulados com LPS tiveram a produção de TNF-? reduzida, a produção da IL-4 foi aumentada nos neutrófilos tratados com DHEA e infectados e a relação entre IFN-?/IL-4 foi reduzida. Nossos dados mostram que o DHEA pode estar contribuindo para o controle da infecção por S. Typhimurium, principalmente através da fagocitose e killing intracelular. Apesar dos dados de citocinas mostrarem que o DHEA está direcionando a resposta de neutrófilos para um caráter menos inflamatório, acreditamos que este possa ser um mecanismo protetor ao organismo, a fim de evitar uma resposta inflamatória exacerbada que poderia causar lesões teciduais. Concluímos então, que o DHEA é um importante esteroide com atividades imunorreguladoras que podem estar contribuindo para o controle da infecção por S. Typhimurium, porém mais estudos são necessários para o entendimento dos mecanismos utilizados por este esteroide para modular a resposta de neutrófilos, células tão importantes ao organismo humano. / Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) is a steroid hormone secreted by the adrenal glands, gonads and brain, which along with its sulfated form (DHEAS) are the most abundant circulating steroid. It is an important precursor to sex hormones and exerts direct roles in several body systems, including the immune system. The relationship between the endocrine and immune system is already well established, with the hormone modulating the immune response and vice versa. Among the components of the immune response, neutrophils are important innate immunity cells that recognize and eliminate pathogens through various effector mechanisms such as phagocytosis, production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), degranulation, neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs). It is reported that advanced age is accompanied by the reduction of plasma levels of DHEA as well as the reduction of the effector activity of neutrophils, these two mechanisms may be related to the state of senescence and increase in susceptibility of the elderly to infections. However, few studies exist showing the relationship between DHEA and neutrophils activity. Thus, the aim of our study was to evaluate the influence of the hormone DHEA in the several effector functions of neutrophils. To that end, human neutrophils isolated from peripheral blood were subjected to a treatment with DHEA and infected with Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium or stimulated with LPS (lipopolysaccharide). We observed that the treatment of neutrophils with 0.01 ?M of DHEA can increase phagocytic rates of S. Typhimurium, as well as increase the microbicidal activity of these cells. To investigate the mechanism by which the microbicidal capacity has been increased, we evaluated the production of ROS and formation of NETs. Interestingly the hormone did not influence in any of these processes. Then, we finally evaluated in the cytokine production profile produced by neutrophils treated in vitro with DHEA and infected with S. Typhimurium or stimulated with LPS. Our study showed that pré-treated and infected neutrophils or LPS-stimulated cells reduced the production of chemokines such as IL-8, MIP-1? and MIP-1? compared to untreated neutrophils. In addition, when steroid treated neutrophils were stimulated with LPS, a reduced TNF-? production was observed and the levels of IL-4 was increased in treated neutrophils with DHEA and infected with S. Typhimurium. The ratio of IFN-? / IL-4 was reduced. Our data show that DHEA may be contributing to the control of infection by S. Typhimurium, mainly by phagocytosis and intracellular killing. Although cytokines data show that DHEA is directing the neutrophil response to a less inflammatory response, and we believe that this may be a protective mechanism of the organism in order to avoid an exacerbated inflammatory response that could cause tissue damage to the body. We conclude then, that DHEA is a steroid with important immunoregulatory activities that may be contributing to the control of infection by S. typhimurium, but more studies are needed to understand the mechanisms used by this steroid to modulate neutrophil response, cells so important to the human body.

O status oxidativo do espermatozoide atua sobre ele de diferentes formas, desde a capacitação até a fecundação do oócito. No entanto, as espécies reativas de oxigênio (EROs) podem ser benéficas ou prejudiciais dependendo do contexto celular. Tendo em vista a baixa proteção antioxidante do sêmen criopreservado, associado às sucessivas manipulações que antecedem a fecundação in vitro, entender como esta célula se comporta em um ambiente oxidante e os impactos deste sobre o embrião é de suma importância. Com isto, o objetivo deste trabalho foi propor um modelo dose-dependente para o estudo do estresse oxidativo sobre o espermatozoide e possível impacto no desenvolvimento embrionário. Para isto, no experimento 1, palhetas de sêmen criopreservado de touros (n=5) da raça Nelore foram submetidas à incubação por 1 hora a 38,5 ºC e 5% CO2, com doses crescentes de peróxido de hidrogênio (0; 12,5; 25; e 50 µM). Ao final da incubação, os parâmetros de motilidade foram avaliados pelo sistema Computer Assisted System Analysis (CASA). No experimento 2, foram escolhidas duas doses de peróxido de hidrogênio com base nos resultados do experimento 1: alta (50 µM), baixa (12,5 µM) e também um controle (0 µM). Os espermatozoides foram incubados com as respectivas doses de peróxido de hidrogênio por 1 hora, e ao final da incubação foram utilizados para a fecundação in vitro (D=0). Neste experimento, além das análises do CASA, foram feitas avaliações do status oxidativo (CellROX® green e 2'-7'diacetato de diclorofluoresceína - DCFH), do potencial mitocondrial (JC-1), da cromatina (LA) e da capacitação espermática (clortetraciclina). Os embriões foram avaliados com relação à taxa de clivagem rápida (30 horas pós-inseminação), taxa de clivagem (D=3), taxa de desenvolvimento (D=5) e taxa de blastocisto (D=8). Para análise estatística foi utilizado o modelo de regressão polinomial, considerando p≤0,05. Tanto no experimento 1 quanto no experimento 2 houve detrimento dose-dependente do peróxido de hidrogênio sobre o padrão de movimento e de porcentagem de células móveis. Houve aumento dose-dependente da porcentagem de células positivas para CellROX® células capacitadas e positivas para o LA. Com relação às taxas de clivagem e de blastocisto, houve diminuição da porcentagem de embriões clivados e de blastocistos, conforme a dose de peróxido de hidrogênio foi aumentada. Referente à taxa de desenvolvimento embrionário, houve bloqueio das estruturas em 2-4 células. Nestas condições, o espermatozoide quando exposto a um ambiente oxidante, apresenta alterações no padrão de motilidade, no status oxidativo e na capacitação, sendo que estas interferem de forma negativa no desenvolvimento embrionário, desde o início da clivagem até a formação do blastocisto. / Oxidative status may influence spermatozoa by distinct mechanisms, from capacitation to oocyte fertilization. However, reactive oxygen species (ROS) could be beneficial or harmful depending on cellular context. Due to the low levels of antioxidant enzymes of cryopreserved semen, associated to successive manipulations prior to in vitro fertilization (IVF), it is momentous to understand the mechanism involved on sperm status in such conditions and the further impact on embryo development. The present study aimed to assess the possible impact of a dose-dependent model for sperm oxidative stress on embryo development. In experiment 1, straws from five Nelore bulls were subjected to a 1 hour incubation at 38,5 ºC and 5% CO2, with increase doses of hydrogen peroxide (0; 12,5; 25; e 50 &microM). At the end of incubation period, motility parameters were evaluated by Computed Assisted System Analysis (CASA). Based on the results of the experiment 1, experiment 2 was designed to study a high (50 µM) and a low (12,5 µM) dose of hydrogen peroxide and also a control (0 µM). Sperm samples were incubated with each dose for 1 hour and subsequently used for in vitro fertilization (D=0). Samples were analyzed by CASA, oxidative status (CellROX® green and 2'-7' diclorofluorescein diacetate - DCFH), mitochondrial potential (JC-1), chromatin (LA) and sperm capacitation status (chlortetraciclin). Embryos were evaluated based on fast cleavage rate (30 hours pos-insemination), cleavage rate (D=3), development rate (D=5) and blastocyst rate (D=8). Statistical analysis was performed by polynomial regression model, considering significant a p≤0,05. A dose-dependent deleterious effect of hydrogen peroxide was observed on most motility variables evaluated by CASA, including the percentage of motile cells. Similarly, a dose-dependent increase was observed on the percentages of positive cells for CellROX®, capacitated sperm and also for LA. A decrease on the percentage of cleaved embryos and blastocyst was observed as hydrogen peroxide increased. Interestingly, a blockage was detected during the 2-4 cell stage. In these conditions when exposed to oxidative environment, sperm may present disabled motility characteristics, oxidative status and premature capacitation and such abnormalities result on impaired embryo development, from the first cleavage to blastocyst.