O mecanismo pelo qual a sinalização da leptina no hipotálamo permite o início da puberdade ainda não foi esclarecido. Um possível mecanismo para a ação molecular da leptina no eixo reprodutivo é constituído por uma alteração na sinalização do NPY. Objetivou-se neste estudo foi verificar se novilhas precoces Bos taurus indicus possuem a expressão modificada de genes hipotalâmicos relacionadas à sinalização da leptina. Dentre uma população de 500 novilhas entre 20 e 25 meses de idade, 100 novilhas foram selecionadas com base nas características da raça (Nelore), mês de nascimento e peso corpóreo (290 kg). Estas 100 novilhas foram classificadas de acordo com a presença ou não de um corpo lúteo (CL) notável. Dez novilhas sem um CL e dez novilhas com CL notável receberam uma injeção de prostaglandina, e de acordo com a observação visual de cio e palpação retal, 6 novilhas precoces e 6 novilhas não precoces foram selecionadas para o experimento. Estas 12 novilhas foram abatidas e amostras de tecido do hipotálamo foram coletadas e congeladas em nitrogênio liquido. A expressão de SOCS-3, NPY, NPY-Y1 e NPY-Y4 no hipotálamo foi quantificada por PCR em tempo real usando uma proteína ribossomal RP-L19 como um gene de referência. A expressão hipotalâmica de SOCS-3 ou NPY não foi diferente entre os grupos de novilhas (P > 0,50). Acreditava-se que as novilhas ciclando poderiam ser resistentes à leptina devido a um aumento na expressão do SOCS-3 no hipotálamo. Houve uma tendência (P = 0,10) de redução na expressão dos receptores do NPY, NPY-Y1 e NPY-Y4 em novilhas que atingiram a puberdade precocemente. A expressão do NPY-Y1 foi 8.3 vezes menor e a expressão do NPY-Y4 foi 14.3 vezes menor em novilhas precoces. Quando analisados em conjunto, houve uma redução de 11 vezes na expressão dos receptores de NPY em novilhas precoces, e este efeito foi estatisticamente significante (P = 0,03). Estes resultados sugerem que, a menor expressão dos receptores de NPY pelo hipotálamo de novilhas precoces pode torná-lo menos sensível à inibição do NPY, e permitir a obtenção da puberdade com maior peso vivo e níveis menores de leptina circulante. Em conclusão, não houve uma correlação entre a expressão do gene NPY e SOCS-3 e a precocidade sexual das novilhas Nelore, porém houve uma tendência significativa de redução da expressão dos receptores de NPY-Y1 e NPY-Y4 no hipotálamo das novilhas precoces. / The molecular mechanism by which leptin signaling in the hypothalamus might permit the initiation of puberty has not been elucidated. One possible mechanism for leptin molecular action on the reproductive axis is affecting NPY signaling. It was our objective to test whether early-maturing Bos indicus heifers have altered expression of hypothalamic genes related to leptin signaling. Among a population of 500 heifers between 20 and 25 months of age, 100 heifers were selected base on breed attributes (Nelore), month of birth, and body weight (290 kg). These 100 heifers were scored as prepubertal or pubertal according to the presence or not of a noticeable corpus luteum (CL). Ten heifers without a CL and ten heifers with noticeable CL received a prostaglandin injection, and according to visual observation of heat and rectal palpation, 6 prepubertal and 6 pubertal heifers were selected for the experiment. These 12 heifers were slaughtered and samples of hypothalamus were collected and frozen in liquid nitrogen. Expression of SOCS-3, NPY, NPY-Y1 and NPY-Y4 at the hypothalamus was quantified by real-time PCR using the ribosomal protein RP-L19 as a reference gene. Hypothalamic expression of SOCS-3 or NPY was not different between groups of heifers (P > 0, 50). It was thought that late-maturing heifers could be resistant to leptin due to an increased expression of SOCS-3 at the hypothalamus. However, there was a tendency for NPY-Y1 and NPY-Y4 expression to be reduced in heifers that reached puberty earlier (P = 0,10). Expression of NPY-Y1 was 8.3-folds lower and NPY-Y4 expression was 14.3-folds lower in early-maturing heifers. When analyzed together, there was an 11-fold reduction in NPY receptors expression in early-maturing heifers, and this effect was statistically significant (P = 0,03). These results suggest that, because of the lower expression of NPY receptors, the hypothalamus of early-maturing heifers could be less sensitive to NPY inhibition, and therefore reach puberty with lower levels of circulating leptin. In conclusion, there was no effect between the expression of NPY and SOCS-3 and sexual precocity of Nelore heifers, but there was a significant tendency of reduction in NPY-Y1 e NPY-Y4 receptors expression in the hypothalamus of sexually precocious heifers.

O mecanismo pelo qual a sinalização da leptina no hipotálamo permite o início da puberdade ainda não foi esclarecido. Um possível mecanismo para a ação molecular da leptina no eixo reprodutivo é constituído por uma alteração na sinalização do NPY. Objetivou-se neste estudo foi verificar se novilhas precoces Bos taurus indicus possuem a expressão modificada de genes hipotalâmicos relacionadas à sinalização da leptina. Dentre uma população de 500 novilhas entre 20 e 25 meses de idade, 100 novilhas foram selecionadas com base nas características da raça (Nelore), mês de nascimento e peso corpóreo (290 kg). Estas 100 novilhas foram classificadas de acordo com a presença ou não de um corpo lúteo (CL) notável. Dez novilhas sem um CL e dez novilhas com CL notável receberam uma injeção de prostaglandina, e de acordo com a observação visual de cio e palpação retal, 6 novilhas precoces e 6 novilhas não precoces foram selecionadas para o experimento. Estas 12 novilhas foram abatidas e amostras de tecido do hipotálamo foram coletadas e congeladas em nitrogênio liquido. A expressão de SOCS-3, NPY, NPY-Y1 e NPY-Y4 no hipotálamo foi quantificada por PCR em tempo real usando uma proteína ribossomal RP-L19 como um gene de referência. A expressão hipotalâmica de SOCS-3 ou NPY não foi diferente entre os grupos de novilhas (P > 0,50). Acreditava-se que as novilhas ciclando poderiam ser resistentes à leptina devido a um aumento na expressão do SOCS-3 no hipotálamo. Houve uma tendência (P = 0,10) de redução na expressão dos receptores do NPY, NPY-Y1 e NPY-Y4 em novilhas que atingiram a puberdade precocemente. A expressão do NPY-Y1 foi 8.3 vezes menor e a expressão do NPY-Y4 foi 14.3 vezes menor em novilhas precoces. Quando analisados em conjunto, houve uma redução de 11 vezes na expressão dos receptores de NPY em novilhas precoces, e este efeito foi estatisticamente significante (P = 0,03). Estes resultados sugerem que, a menor expressão dos receptores de NPY pelo hipotálamo de novilhas precoces pode torná-lo menos sensível à inibição do NPY, e permitir a obtenção da puberdade com maior peso vivo e níveis menores de leptina circulante. Em conclusão, não houve uma correlação entre a expressão do gene NPY e SOCS-3 e a precocidade sexual das novilhas Nelore, porém houve uma tendência significativa de redução da expressão dos receptores de NPY-Y1 e NPY-Y4 no hipotálamo das novilhas precoces. / The molecular mechanism by which leptin signaling in the hypothalamus might permit the initiation of puberty has not been elucidated. One possible mechanism for leptin molecular action on the reproductive axis is affecting NPY signaling. It was our objective to test whether early-maturing Bos indicus heifers have altered expression of hypothalamic genes related to leptin signaling. Among a population of 500 heifers between 20 and 25 months of age, 100 heifers were selected base on breed attributes (Nelore), month of birth, and body weight (290 kg). These 100 heifers were scored as prepubertal or pubertal according to the presence or not of a noticeable corpus luteum (CL). Ten heifers without a CL and ten heifers with noticeable CL received a prostaglandin injection, and according to visual observation of heat and rectal palpation, 6 prepubertal and 6 pubertal heifers were selected for the experiment. These 12 heifers were slaughtered and samples of hypothalamus were collected and frozen in liquid nitrogen. Expression of SOCS-3, NPY, NPY-Y1 and NPY-Y4 at the hypothalamus was quantified by real-time PCR using the ribosomal protein RP-L19 as a reference gene. Hypothalamic expression of SOCS-3 or NPY was not different between groups of heifers (P > 0, 50). It was thought that late-maturing heifers could be resistant to leptin due to an increased expression of SOCS-3 at the hypothalamus. However, there was a tendency for NPY-Y1 and NPY-Y4 expression to be reduced in heifers that reached puberty earlier (P = 0,10). Expression of NPY-Y1 was 8.3-folds lower and NPY-Y4 expression was 14.3-folds lower in early-maturing heifers. When analyzed together, there was an 11-fold reduction in NPY receptors expression in early-maturing heifers, and this effect was statistically significant (P = 0,03). These results suggest that, because of the lower expression of NPY receptors, the hypothalamus of early-maturing heifers could be less sensitive to NPY inhibition, and therefore reach puberty with lower levels of circulating leptin. In conclusion, there was no effect between the expression of NPY and SOCS-3 and sexual precocity of Nelore heifers, but there was a significant tendency of reduction in NPY-Y1 e NPY-Y4 receptors expression in the hypothalamus of sexually precocious heifers.

Les cytokines jouent un rôle fondamental dans la régulation des processus biologiques via la cascade de signalisation JAK-STAT. Les « Suppressors of Cytokine Signalling » (SOCS), protéines intracellulaires, inhibent la voie JAK-STAT. Plusieurs études supportent leur implication dans des maladies immunitaires, mais peu d’informations sont disponibles sur leur expression par les lymphocytes T humains. Nous postulons que les cytokines Interféron-β(IFN-β) et Interleukine-27 (IL-27), dotées d’un potentiel immuno-régulateur, ont des rôles bénéfiques via l’induction des SOCS. L’impact de l’IFN-β et l’IL-27 sur l’expression des SOCS-1 et SOCS-3 par des cellules T CD8 et CD4 humaines a été étudié en utilisant des cellules sanguines de donneurs sains. L’expression de ces régulateurs a été évaluée aux niveaux de l’ARNm par qRT-PCR et protéique par immunocytochimie. Les SOCS-1 et SOCS-3 ont été rapidement induits en ARNm dans les deux types cellulaires en réponse à l’IFN-β ou l’IL-27 et une augmentation de l’expression a été confirmée au niveau protéique. Afin de mimer les thérapies à base d’IFN-β, les cellules T ont été exposées chroniquement à l’IFN-β. Après chaque ajout de cytokine les cellules T ont augmenté l’expression du SOCS-1, sans moduler le SOCS-3. L’IL-27 a induit les SOCS-1 et SOCS-3 préférentiellement dans les cellules T CD8 ; ceci corrèle avec des résultats du laboratoire démontrant une plus petite expression des récepteurs à l’IL-27 par les lymphocytes T CD4 que les CD8. Notre projet a permis d’élucider l’expression des SOCS dans deux populations de cellules T et de clarifier les mécanismes d’actions de l’IFN-β et l’IL-27. / Cytokines regulate fundamental biological processes via the JAK-STAT signaling pathway. Suppressors of Cytokine Signaling proteins (SOCS), intracellular proteins, inhibit the JAK-STAT pathway. Emerging evidence supports the involvement of SOCS in diseases of the immune system but no data is available regarding their expression in human T cells. We postulate that the cytokines Interferon-β (IFN-β) and Interleukin-27 (IL-27), both potential immuno-regulators, have beneficial roles through the induction of SOCS proteins. The impact of IFN-β and IL-27 on the SOCS-1 and SOCS-3 expression by human CD4 and CD8 T cells was assessed using peripheral blood mononuclear cells from healthy donors. We evaluated the expression of SOCS-1 and SOCS-3 at the mRNA level by qRTPCR and at the protein level by immunocytochemistry. A rapid increase of SOCS-1 and SOCS-3 mRNA levels was observed upon cytokine addition, and such upregulation was confirmed at the protein level. To mimic patients under IFN-β treatment, both T cell subsets were chronically exposed to IFN-β. We observed an increase of SOCS-1 after each stimulation but not for SOCS-3. IL-27 stimulation increased SOCS-1 and SOCS-3 mRNA levels in CD8 T cells but only slightly in CD4 T cells; these observations correlate with previous observations in our laboratory showing less IL-27 receptors on CD4 T cells than CD8 counterparts. Our project determined the distinct expression of SOCS proteins in different human T cells subsets. This study could highlight the mechanism of action of cytokines such as IFN-β and IL-27.

Les cytokines jouent un rôle fondamental dans la régulation des processus biologiques via la cascade de signalisation JAK-STAT. Les « Suppressors of Cytokine Signalling » (SOCS), protéines intracellulaires, inhibent la voie JAK-STAT. Plusieurs études supportent leur implication dans des maladies immunitaires, mais peu d’informations sont disponibles sur leur expression par les lymphocytes T humains. Nous postulons que les cytokines Interféron-β(IFN-β) et Interleukine-27 (IL-27), dotées d’un potentiel immuno-régulateur, ont des rôles bénéfiques via l’induction des SOCS. L’impact de l’IFN-β et l’IL-27 sur l’expression des SOCS-1 et SOCS-3 par des cellules T CD8 et CD4 humaines a été étudié en utilisant des cellules sanguines de donneurs sains. L’expression de ces régulateurs a été évaluée aux niveaux de l’ARNm par qRT-PCR et protéique par immunocytochimie. Les SOCS-1 et SOCS-3 ont été rapidement induits en ARNm dans les deux types cellulaires en réponse à l’IFN-β ou l’IL-27 et une augmentation de l’expression a été confirmée au niveau protéique. Afin de mimer les thérapies à base d’IFN-β, les cellules T ont été exposées chroniquement à l’IFN-β. Après chaque ajout de cytokine les cellules T ont augmenté l’expression du SOCS-1, sans moduler le SOCS-3. L’IL-27 a induit les SOCS-1 et SOCS-3 préférentiellement dans les cellules T CD8 ; ceci corrèle avec des résultats du laboratoire démontrant une plus petite expression des récepteurs à l’IL-27 par les lymphocytes T CD4 que les CD8. Notre projet a permis d’élucider l’expression des SOCS dans deux populations de cellules T et de clarifier les mécanismes d’actions de l’IFN-β et l’IL-27. / Cytokines regulate fundamental biological processes via the JAK-STAT signaling pathway. Suppressors of Cytokine Signaling proteins (SOCS), intracellular proteins, inhibit the JAK-STAT pathway. Emerging evidence supports the involvement of SOCS in diseases of the immune system but no data is available regarding their expression in human T cells. We postulate that the cytokines Interferon-β (IFN-β) and Interleukin-27 (IL-27), both potential immuno-regulators, have beneficial roles through the induction of SOCS proteins. The impact of IFN-β and IL-27 on the SOCS-1 and SOCS-3 expression by human CD4 and CD8 T cells was assessed using peripheral blood mononuclear cells from healthy donors. We evaluated the expression of SOCS-1 and SOCS-3 at the mRNA level by qRTPCR and at the protein level by immunocytochemistry. A rapid increase of SOCS-1 and SOCS-3 mRNA levels was observed upon cytokine addition, and such upregulation was confirmed at the protein level. To mimic patients under IFN-β treatment, both T cell subsets were chronically exposed to IFN-β. We observed an increase of SOCS-1 after each stimulation but not for SOCS-3. IL-27 stimulation increased SOCS-1 and SOCS-3 mRNA levels in CD8 T cells but only slightly in CD4 T cells; these observations correlate with previous observations in our laboratory showing less IL-27 receptors on CD4 T cells than CD8 counterparts. Our project determined the distinct expression of SOCS proteins in different human T cells subsets. This study could highlight the mechanism of action of cytokines such as IFN-β and IL-27.

Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is a chronic autoimmune disease targeted against the pancreatic β-cells. Proinflammatory cytokines are considered to play a major role in the destruction of the insulin-producing β-cells. This thesis studied strategies to counteract proinflammatory cytokines in experimental T1D. Both animal models for T1D as well as β-cell preparations exposed in vitro to putative noxious conditions were examined. In the first study we observed that cytokine treatment of mouse pancreatic islets lacking inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) induced a prolongation of the early stimulatory phase of glucose stimulated insulin secretion. Various experiments led to the conclusion that this prolonged stimulatory effect may involve the DAG/PLD/PKC pathway. Next, we transplanted mouse islets deficient in iNOS to spontaneously diabetic NOD mice. We observed a normalization of hyperglycemia but not a delayed allograft rejection compared to transplanted wild type islets. Thus, absence of iNOS in the graft was not sufficient to prolong allograft survival. In paper III we found that sustained glucose stimulation of rat pancreatic islets was coupled to a decreased conversion of proinsulin to insulin. Islet treatment with IL-1β was also coupled to a decreased proinsulin conversion. Islet proconvertase activity may be a target in islet damage. In paper IV prolactin (PRL) was administered to mice in the multiple low dose streptozotocin model and we observed that PRL enhanced a Th2 response. This may contribute to the protective action by PRL in this model of autoimmune T1D. Finally, by examining β-cells overexpressing Suppressor of cytokine signalling 3 (SOCS-3) it was found that this could inhibit IL-1β induced signalling through the NF-κB and MAPK pathways. SOCS-3 overexpression also inhibited apoptosis induced by cytokines in primary β-cells. Lastly, we demonstrated that SOCS-3 transgenic islets were protected in an allogeneic transplantation model.