Les capacités de guérison humaine étant limitées et grandement associées à la fibrose, la possibilité de régénérer tous tissus contribueraient grandement à l’amélioration de la santé des patients. Dans le cadre de ce projet de doctorat, nous avons publié un article montrant les limitations de certains modèles de recherche en ce qui a trait à la guérison des plaies. Ces limitations sont d’autant plus importantes lorsque la recherche traite de régénération tissulaire. Aussi, cette publication positionne l’axolotl (Ambystoma mexicanum) comme un excellent modèle pour étudier le processus de régénération épimorphique ainsi que l’importance de la signalisation TGF-β. La cytokine multifonctionnelle TGF-β est impliquée dans la guérison, l’induction des cicatrices, la différenciation, la croissance et la migration cellulaire. Cette cytokine est responsable de la guérison quasi parfaite des muqueuses buccales chez les mammifères, mais est aussi liée à la cicatrisation de plusieurs autres types tissulaires. La famille des TGF-β est aussi impliquée dans la régénération épimorphique chez l’échinoderme, ainsi que dans la régénération hépatique (hyperplasie compensatoire), ce qui confirme son rôle régulateur de la guérison parfaite. Des travaux précédents ont montré que l’utilisation d’un inhibiteur spécifique de la signalisation des TGF-β (SB-431542) empêche la régénération (Lévesque et al., 2007). Comme la voie canonique de signalisation de TGF-β s’opère via les protéines Smads (Smad2 & 3), l’étude de ces deux protéines est au cœur du second article. Lors du processus de régénération, Smad2 est phosphorylé entre 6h et 48h post-amputation (pa), ce qui correspond à la phase de migration cellulaire et au début de la prolifération. D’un autre côté, Smad3 est phosphorylé plus tôt, entre 3h et 6h pa, alors que la quantité de protéine totale diminue lors de la phase de préparation. L’administration de l’inhibiteur SB-431542 au moment de l’amputation bloque l’activation de Smad2 et de Smad3. Aucun blastème ne se forme, bien que la plaie ferme normalement. L’utilisation des inhibiteurs SIS3 et Naringenin (spécifique à Smad3) réduisent la phosphorylation de Smad3 d’environ 50 % (lorsque mesurée par immunobuvardage). Le processus de régénération ne semble toutefois pas affecté. La régulation différentielle des Smads est donc centrale au processus de régénération de l’axolotl. Dans le cadre de ce projet, nous avons aussi tenté de bloquer spécifiquement l’expression, ainsi que l’activation de Smad2. J’ai premièrement établi que Smad2 et Smad3 étaient présents dans la lignée cellulaire AL-1 et qu’ils peuvent être phosphorylés. J’ai ensuite tenté, par différentes techniques, de réduire l’activation spécifique de Smad2, sans succès. D’autre part, plusieurs expériences complémentaires confirment que l’activation de Smad3 est difficilement détectable et est peu importante pour la formation du blastème. La capacité exceptionnelle de régénération de l’axolotl est intimement liée à une activation différentielle des protéines Smad2 et Smad3. L’activation de Smad2 est associée à une prolifération cellulaire importante. D’autre part, l’absence de fibrose est potentiellement due à la faible activation de Smad3 au cours du processus de régénération. / Since wound healing in human is imperfect and associated with fibrosis, understanding how regeneration works would be a great asset to improve patient’s health. During this PhD project, we have published a paper exposing the weaknesses of certain research models when studying wound healing. Those limitations are even more striking when studying regeneration. This publication sets the stage for the use of the axolotl (Ambystoma mexicanum) as an excellent model to study regeneration and the importance of TGF- for the process. The multifunctional cytokine TGF-β is involved in healing, scarring, cellular differentiation, growth and migration. This cytokine is associated with the near perfect healing of oral tissues in humans, but is also associated with scarring of multiple tissue types. TGF-β is also associated with epimorphic regeneration in echinoderm and liver hyperplasia. Previous work had shown that treatment of regenerating axolotl limbs with a specific inhibitor of TGF-β canonical signalling (SB-431542) prevents regeneration (Lévesque et al., 2007). Since canonical signaling goes through Smad2 and Smad3, those two proteins are at the center of the second publication. During limb regeneration, Smad2 is phosphorylated at 6h-48h post-amputation (pa), which corresponds to the cellular migration phase and the beginning of the proliferative phase. On the other hand, Smad3 phosphorylation happens earlier (3h-6h pa), while the total protein expression is lower. Treatment with SB-421543 blocks the phosphorylation of both Smad2 and Smad3. No blastema is formed, but the wound closes at the same rate. Treatment with other inhibitors, SIS3 or Naringenin (specifically targeting Smad3), blocks approximately 50% of Smad3 phosphorylation (as determined by western blotting), but regeneration is not affected. Differential regulation of Smads is essential for proper regeneration to occur. Lastly, we have tried multiple approaches to diminish specifically the activation of Smad2. Using the only axolotl cell line available (AL-1), we have tried inhibition with LNA molecules, long antisense and overexpression of a competitor. None of these approaches specifically reduced the levels of Smad2. In addition, other experiments confirmed that activation of Smad3 during the regeneration process is limited. The extraordinary ability to regenerate that the axolotl possesses is tightly linked to a differential activation of Smad2 and Smad3 proteins. Smad2 phosphorylation is associated with cellular proliferation and migration, hence blastema formation, while the apparent lack of Smad3 activity might partly explain why these animals do not form scar tissues.

Abstract Dentin formation in physiological and pathological conditions has been widely studied, but the events and regulation are still not completely understood. Odontoblasts, terminally differentiated post-mitotic cells located in a single cell layer around pulp tissue, synthesize and mineralize dentin organic matrix. Growth factors, such as TGF-β1 and BMP-2, have been implicated in the regulation of the responses of odontoblasts and pulp tissue to external irritation. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), a family of 28 endopeptidases collectively capable of degrading virtually all extracellular matrix components, and their specific tissue inhibitors (TIMPs) participate in the organo- and morphogenesis, physiological tissue turnover and pathological tissue destruction in many tissues, but very little is known about their presence, function, and regulation in the dentin-pulp complex cells and tissues. The aim of the work presented in this thesis was to analyze the expression and regulation of collagens, MMPs and TIMPs by TGF-β1 and BMP-2 in mature human odontoblasts and pulp tissue. Odontoblasts synthesize and secrete type I and type III collagens, with no clear effect of TGF-β1 on their expression levels. MMP-1, -2, -8, -9, -10, -11, -14, -15, -16, -19 and TIMP-1, -2, -3 and -4 were expressed by both odontoblasts and pulp tissue. MMP-3 and MMP-12 were not expressed in native odontoblasts or pulp tissue, and MMP-7, -24, and -25 were expressed only in odontoblasts. MMP-2, -10, -14, -20 and -23 were expressed more abundantly in odontoblasts, whereas pulp tissue expressed more MMP-13 and MMP-17. Growth factors differentially regulated the expression of different MMPs and TIMPs within and among the cells and tissues studied. In odontoblasts, MMP-1, -8 and -14 were down-regulated, but MMP-7, MMP-9, TIMP-1 and TIMP-3 up-regulated, by either TGF-β1 or BMP-2, alone or in combination. In pulp tissue, growth factors up-regulated the expression of MMP-1, -2, -10, -13, -17 and TIMP-3, but down-regulated TIMP-4. The widespread of expression of MMPs and TIMPs by mature human odontoblasts and pulp tissue suggests that they may participate in dentin matrix organization prior to mineralization, and that growth factors may further control dentin matrix modeling, not by regulating the synthesis of type I or III collagens as previously believed, but rather by differentially regulating each MMPs and TIMPs.

In order to effectively treat disorders whose pathology is marked by neovascularization, a better understanding of the pathways that mediate the processes involved in angiogenesis is needed. To this end we have identified two important pathways that regulate endothelial cell capillary morphogenesis, a key process in angiogenesis. We have identified the small GTPase RhoB as being induced by vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). Depletion of RhoB inhibited endothelial cell VEGF - mediated migration, sprouting, and cord formation. Cells depleted of RhoB showed a marked increase in RhoA activation in response to VEGF. Defects in cord formation in RhoB - depleted cells could be partially restored through treatment with the Rho inhibitor C3 transferase or ROCK I/II inhibitors, indicating increased RhoA activity and enhanced downstream signaling from RhoA contribute to the phenotype of decreased cord formation observed in cells depleted of RhoB. Interestingly, we did not observe a significant change in RhoC activity in RhoB - depleted cells suggesting differential regulation of RhoA and RhoC by RhoB in HUVECs. We have also identified microRNA - 30b (miR - 30b) as being negatively regulated by VEGF and as being a negative regulator of HUVEC capillary morphogenesis. Overexpression of miR - 30b significantly reduced HUVEC cord formation in vitro, while inhibition of miR - 30b enhanced cord formation. Neither overexpression nor inhibition of miR - 30b affected migration or viability of endothelial cells. Interestingly, miR - 30b regulated the expression of TGFβ2 but not TGFβ1, with overexpression of miR - 30b inducing expression of TGFβ2 mRNA and protein, and inducing phosphorylaton of Smad2 , suggesting TGFβ2 produced in response to miR - 30b overexpression functions in an iii autocrine manner to stimulate HUVECs . MiR - 30b effects on TGFβ2 expression were found to be regulated to an extent by ATF2, as miR - 30b overexpressing cells exhibited increased levels of phosphorylated ATF2 , with depletion of ATF2 via siRNA resulting in inhibition of miR - 30b - induced TGFβ2 expression. Treatment of HUVECs with TGFβ2 inhibited cord formation, while TGFβ1 had no effect, indicating a major difference in how endothelial cells respond to these two related growth factors. Inhibition of TGFβ2 with a neutralizing antibody restored cord formation in miR - 30b overexpressing cells to levels similar to control cells, thus identifying TGFβ2 expression as contributing to the inhibitory effects of miR - 30b overexpression on capillary morphogenesis. Thus, we have identified two signaling pathways regulated by VEGF in HUVECs that further our understanding of the process of angiogenesis and may provide novel targets for therapeutic intervention into diseases involving angiogenesis.

Transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) superfamily of cytokines comprises of several members, which can broadly be sub-divided into three classes [TGF-βs, Activin/Nodal, and Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs)]. Most members of this family play critical roles during embryo development differentiation and regulation of homeostasis. In mammals there are three TGF-β isoforms, TGF-β1, 2 and 3. All the three TGF-β isoforms have important roles in embryo development as revealed by mouse knock-out models. TGF-β has also been associated with several pathological conditions such as inflammation, Fibrosis, and cancer. In cancers, TGF-β plays both tumor suppressive and tumor promoting roles depending upon the context. TGF-β has growth inhibitory effect on epithelial cells which is essential to maintain tissue homeostasis. TGF-β induces the expression of several cyclin dependent kinase inhibitors such as p21Cip1, p15Ink4b while down-regulating the expression of cMYC in the epithelial cells. In lieu of its tumor suppressive role, several cancers harbor mutations in the components of the TGF-β signaling axis such as receptors and effector molecules called SMADs. Interestingly various cancers also show hyper activation of TGF-β signaling. It has been suggested that cancer cells become unresponsive to the growth inhibitory effects of TGF-β by losing the expression of p21Cip1, and p15INK4b. Oncogenic transformation of cancer cells can override the growth inhibitory effects of TGF-β. While the loss of growth inhibitory effects by TGF-β are seen in the tumor cells, several tumor promoting actions are also observed in these cells such as induction of EMT. TGF-β activates mesenchymal cells leading to the formation of a reactive stroma in tumors and TGF-β suppresses almost all types of cells of the immune system causing a local immune-suppressive environment. TGF-β also recruits mesenchymal stem cells into the stroma which secrete several cytokines. The sum total of all these effects is pro-angiogenic, pro-infiltrative and pro-metastatic. In the canonical TGF-β signaling pathway, ligands bind to the hetero-tetrameric receptor complex of TGFβR1 and TGFβR2 leading to activation of the TGFβR1 by TGFβR2. Activated TGFβR1 then phosphorylates and activates R-SMAD molecules (SMAD2, SMAD3) which complexes with the co-SMAD (SMAD4) and translocate into the nucleus to effect transcriptional changes. Non-canonical TGF-β signals are many and almost all the known signaling pathways like MAPK, WNT, PI3K-AKT, NOTCH, Integrin, Hedgehog, Hippo etc. have been shown to be activated by TGF-β in different contexts. The canonical TGF-β/SMAD pathway has been shown to be essential for both tumor suppressive and tumor promoting actions of TGF-β. Although the non-canonical signalling pathways have been shown to be context dependent, the exact mechanisms have not been elucidated. In previous studies, we have shown the importance of non-canonical TGF-β signaling in normal vs. carcinoma cells. However, there has been no study that addressed the differential effects of TGF-β on cells of connective tissue origin. To throw light on such questions we have undertaken this study with the following objectives: 1) Whole genome expression profiling of TGF-β targets in normal fibroblasts, transformed fibroblasts and sarcoma cells 2) Elucidation of non-canonical signaling pathways differentially regulated by TGF-β 3) Identification and characterization of novel TGF-β targets The cell-lines chosen for the study are: 1) hFhTERT (human foreskin fibroblasts immortalized with human terminal telomerase); 2) hFhTERT-LTgRAS (hFhTERT transformed with SV40 large T antigen and activated RAS); and 3) HT1080 (fibrosarcoma). We performed whole genome expression profiling using 4×44K Agilent Human Whole Genome Oligonucleotide Arrays. Analysis of the microarray results revealed that TGF-β regulated a large number of genes in all the three cell-lines but few targets were found to be commonly regulated between any two or all the three cell-lines. 5291 genes were differentially regulated by TGF-β between hFhTERT and hFhTERT-LTgRAS and 2274 genes were differentially regulated by TGF-β between hFhTERT and HT1080 cells. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) of these two gene lists revealed enrichment of similar gene sets in the HT1080 and hFhTERT-LTgRAS cells compared to the hFhTERT cells. MAPK signaling pathway components were enriched in the hFhTERT cells. Closer inspection revealed that several upstream regulators of the MAPK pathway were in fact down-regulated by TGF-β in these cells compared to both hFhTERT-LTgRAS and HT1080 cells suggesting a depression of the MAPK pathway by TGF-β in the hFhTERT cells. Assessment of the phosphorylation status of ERK1/2 and p38 MAPK proteins after TGF-β treatment showed that both ERK1/2 and p38 MAPK pathways were not activated in response to TGF-β in the hFhTERT cells. On the other hand in hFhTERT-LTgRAS and HT1080 cells, both ERK1/2 and p38 MAPK were activated post TGF-β treatment. Activity of the AP1 and SMAD responsive p3TP-lux reporter plasmid was dependent on only the SMAD pathway in hFhTERT cells while in the hFhTERT-LTgRAS and HT1080 cells both MAPK and SMAD pathway were found to regulate the expression of the p3TP-lux reporter. This suggests activation of MAPK and SMAD pathways in transformed and tumor cells while there is no activation of MAPK in normal cells of mesenchymal origin. Components of the WNT signaling pathway such as WNT ligands WNT4, and WNT11, frizzled receptors, FZD4, FZD8 and FZD9, regulators like SFRP1, SFRP2, AXIN2 and several targets of the WNT-β-catenin pathway were regulated by TGF-β in the hFhTERT cells but not in the hFhTERT-LTgRAS and HT1080 cells suggesting a positive regulation of the pathway by TGF-β in the hFhTERT cells. Indeed, TGF-β induced the activity of the WNT responsive reporter, pTOP-FLASH in the hFhTERT cells but not in the hFhTERTLTgRAS and HT1080 cells. WNT4 and WNT11 were two of the novel targets of TGF-β identified in hFhTERT cells. Further experiments suggested that TGF-β conferred regulation of these genes was specific to the fibroblast cells since induction of these genes by TGF-β was not observed in any of the cancer cell lines or in HaCaT cells. Some recent studies have demonstrated remodelling of cytoskeleton in epithelial cells by the non-canonical WNT ligands such as WNT5a, WNT4 and WNT11. WNT4 has also been shown to be required for the maintenance of α-SMA levels in smooth muscle cells. In this study we have shown that WNT4 can induce α-SMA in the hFhTERT cells leading to their activation. TGF-β conferred activation of these cells was also found to be dependent on the presence of WNT4. In brief, our study identified differentially activated pathways by TGF-β in immortal and transformed fibroblasts. WNT4 was identified as a crucial molecule required for the TGF-β conferred activation of fibroblasts.

Submitted by Renata Lopes (renatasil82@gmail.com) on 2015-12-15T13:26:48Z No. of bitstreams: 1 erickestevesdeoliveira.pdf: 1235775 bytes, checksum: d5513847048574c1ada373c0b486b859 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Adriana Oliveira (adriana.oliveira@ufjf.edu.br) on 2015-12-15T13:42:12Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 erickestevesdeoliveira.pdf: 1235775 bytes, checksum: d5513847048574c1ada373c0b486b859 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2015-12-15T13:42:12Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 erickestevesdeoliveira.pdf: 1235775 bytes, checksum: d5513847048574c1ada373c0b486b859 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015-02-24 / CAPES - Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / CNPq - Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico / FAPEMIG - Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de Minas Gerais / Ocimum. gratissimum L. e Mentha x villosa Huds. são duas plantas aromáticas que são amplamente utilizadas no Brasil e em outros países tanto para fins terapêuticos, como na culinária. Diversas atividades farmacológicas já foram descritas para essas duas plantas e para os componentes majoritários de seus óleos essenciais, Eugenol e Óxido de Piperitenona, respectivamente. Porém ainda há a carência de estudos sobre a atividade antiproliferativa desses óleos essenciais sobre linhagens tumorais e as implicações desses compostos sobre a produção de TGF-1, uma citocina que, em tumores já estabelecidos, apresenta efeito pró-tumoral. Esse estudo visa avaliar os efeitos dos tratamentos com os óleos essenciais de O. gratissimum e M. x villosa, sobre uma linhagem de adenocarcinoma humano de pulmão produtora de TGF-1. Métodos: A viabilidade celular foi avaliada através do ensaio de MTT em linhagens de células (A549 e J774 A.1) e em macrófagos intraperitoneais tratados com 5 a 200g/mL, por 48h. O efeito dos óleos essenciais sobre o ciclo celular foi avaliado através de marcação com iodeto de propídio e quantificação das fases de ciclo celular por citometria de fluxo. A quantificação de células em SubG1 foi utilizada como parâmetro para avaliação de apoptose, que foi confirmada através da marcação de TUNEL. A produção de TGF-1 foi avaliada por ELISA. Resultados: Os dois óleos essenciais reduziram a viabilidade da linhagem celular A549 (IC50: OG:160g/mL / MV:117g/mL), os tratamentos também induziram parada do ciclo celular em S com 24h de tratamento (controle: 12,31±0,89 / OEOG: 15,70±1,15 / OEMV: 23,35±0,75) efeito já registrado para eugenol. Também houve aumento do percentual de células em SubG1 (controle: 15,05±0,71 / OEOG: 91,94±1,71 / OEMV:24,62±1,06), indicando aumento da fragmentação de DNA, um dos sinais de apoptose, que foi confirmado pelo aumento da mediana de fluorescência na marcação de TUNEL (controle:59.1±3.4 / OEOG:68.6±3.7 / OEMV:75.3±15.7). Houve redução da produção de TGF-1 nas concentrações não letais dos óleos essenciais (10 e 50g/mL). Conclusões: Esses dados demonstram o potencial indutor de apoptose e de parada de ciclo celular, desses óleos essenciais para o tratamento de tumores, sobretudo aqueles caracterizados pela produção de TGF-1, citocina importante para a sobrevivência e proliferação de células tumorais. Contudo, essa citocina desempenha papéis importantes na homeostase do organismo, e por isso são necessários estudos que avaliem o efeito sistêmico desses óleos essenciais. / Ocimum. gratissimum L. and Mentha x villosa Huds are aromatic plants largely used, in Brazil and other countries, for therapeutic and culinary purposes. Several pharmacological properties have been described for their essential oil and their major compounds: Eugenol and piperitenone oxide respectively. However, the antiproliferative effect and the blockage of the TGF-1 production are poorly understood. This cytokine contributes for the development of late-phase tumors. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of the essential oils of Ocimum gratissimum and Mentha x villosa over a TGF-1 producer human lung adenocarcinoma cell line. Methodology: Viability was assessed through MTT assay, on cell lineages (A549 and J774 A.1) and intraperitoneal macrophages treated for 48h with essential oil concentrations ranging from 5 to 200g/mL. Cell cycle and SubG1 DNA amount was evaluated through propidium iodide staining followed by flow citometry analysis. TUNEL assay was used to quantify the DNA fragmentation. ELISA was performed to measure the TGF-1 production. Results: Both essential oils reduced A549 cell viability (IC50: EOOG:160g/mL / EOMV:117g/mL), there was also cell cycle arrest at S phase, after 24hours of treatment (control: 12,31±0,89 / EOOG: 15,70±1,15 / EOMV: 23,35±0,75). SubG1 DNA amount was also elevated after treatment (control: 15,05±0,71 / EOOG: 91,94±1,71 / EOMV:24,62±1,06), an indicative of DNA fragmentation, one of the apoptosis sign. This effect was confirmed by the elevated TUNEL labeling. The non-lethal concentrations of the essential oils (10 and 50g/mL) led to the reduction of TGF-1 production. Conclusion: These data indicates the apoptotic and cell cycle arrest effects of the essential oils, mainly over TGF-1 producing tumors. As this cytokine has a key role over the survival and proliferation of these cancer cells. The possible systemic effects of these treatments are yet to be evaluated, as the TGF-1 blockage may affect the maintenance of homeostasis.

Bakgrund: Sjukdomar i cirkulationsorganen är den vanligaste dödsorsaken i Sverige följt av tumörsjukdomar. År 2019 stod tumörsjukdomarna för hela 27% av dödsfallen. Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) är en process då epitelceller de-deffinerentierar till celler med en mesenkymal fenotyp. Vid denna process mister cellerna sin polaritet och cell-cell-kontakt. Cellerna får även en ändrad morfologi, från en rektangulär form till mer utsträckta och oregelbundna former. Processen möjliggör att cellerna får migrerande och invasiva egenskaper. EMT behövs för att cancercellerna ska kunna sprida sig från den primära tumören och bilda metastaser/dottertumörer på andra ställen i kroppen. Det är välkänt att Transforming Growth Factor beta (TGF-b) kan framkalla EMT. TGF-b kan stimulera tumörutvecklingen på många olika sätt, där ett av dessa sätt är genom att stimulera EMT. Andra studier har visat att kalcitrol, som är den aktiva formen av vitamin D, kan hämma TGF-b förmåga att driva tumörutveckling.   Syfte: Syftet är att undersöka om vitamin D kan motverka TGF-b orsakat EMT.    Metod: Data hämtades från databasen PubMed. För att finna relevanta studier användes sökorden Vitamin D, TGF-beta, EMT, Cancer tillsammans med sökkriterier. Inklusionskriterna var vetenskapliga orginalartiklar, artiklar i full text samt skrivna på språket engelska. Exklusionskriterierna vara artiklar äldre än 10 år.   Resultat: När humana cancerceller behandlades med vitamin D resulterade det i minskad EMT. Förändrat EMT kunde påvisas genom minskad migration och invasion samt ökning av epitela egenskaper. Vitamin D minskade cellmigrationen på ett tids- och dosberoende sätt. In vitro-testerna indikerade på att i cellkultur av cancerceller verkar vitamin D genom att motverka EMT, både i närvaro och i frånvaro av TGF-b. När EMT-programmet däremot redan initerats m.h.a. TGF-b kan inte längre vitamin D motverka att cellerna genomgår EMT.   Slutsats: Intag av vitamin D före och under TGF-b-signalering har ett positivt resultat på EMT-programmet.

Activin B, a member of the transforming growth factor-β superfamily, is ubiquitously expressed in diverse tissues and is a regulator of reproduction, embryonic development, and adult tissue homeostasis. We aimed to determine whether activin B is involved in skeletal muscle injury and if selective inhibition of activin B would provide a regenerative benefit. The local introduction of activin B into normal skeletal muscle increased the expression of inflammatory and muscle atrophy genes TWEAK, TNFα, GDF3 and TRIM63, by 2-, 10-, 10-, and 4-fold, respectively. The data indicate a sensitive response of skeletal muscle to activin B. Six hours after cardiotoxin-induced skeletal muscle damage, circulating activin B protein expression in serum increased by 9-fold and InhβB gene expression increased by 30-fold in muscle. After cardiotoxin-induced skeletal muscle damage, activin B protein expression in muscle was significantly increased at 48- and 120-hours by 1.5 and 2-fold, respectively. Muscle histopathological features showed that activin B antibody–treated mice displayed a reduction in necrotic debris, with a concomitant reduction in intramyocellular space at 9-days after injury. Activin B treated C2C12 myoblasts also displayed a dose-dependent reduction in active myogenesis. Furthermore, the increased presence of activin B early in muscle injury impedes muscle repair and remodeling. In summary, acute muscle injury leads to increases in activin B levels and when selectively neutralized with a monoclonal antibody, there is augmented skeletal muscle repair.

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is one of the most aggressive and severe interstitial lung diseases (ILDs) for which there is no cure. IPF is characterized by an excessive accumulation of fibroblasts which secrete an abundance of extracellular proteins such as collagen. These processes lead to repetitive tissue scarring and fibrosis in the lung parenchyma. As a result, lungs become rigid limiting oxygen intake and gas exchange. Once diagnosed, IPF is fatal within 2-3 years. There is no known cause or proven treatment that significantly improves outcomes. Although the cause is unknown, the current model of IPF suggests that an overactive epithelial repair mechanism caused by genetic and epigenetic factors as well as environmental exposures is responsible for the chronic fibrosis and scarring characteristic of IPF. The transforming growth factor beta (TGF-B) signaling pathway has been implicated as a major contributor in activating this chronic fibrosis. An upstream activator of the TGF-B pathway, avB6, has been identified as a potential therapeutic target. My collaborators in Dr. David Baker's lab at the University of Washington have created a novel avB6 integrin inhibitor (BP2_disulf) whose efficacy in improving IPF outcomes has yet to be tested. In my study, I test the ability of BP2_disulf to combat IPF through the use of the standard IPF murine model and translatable end points like non-invasive uCT scans, pulmonary function tests, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) profiles, and histology. With these methods, I demonstrate that intraperitoneal injection of BP2_disulf in bleomycin-injured mice has the ability to decrease rate of fibrotic progression and pulmonary function decline compared to mice treated with bleomycin alone. These results prove that BP2_disulf is a promising therapeutic not only for IPF but other ILDs as well. Further efficacy validation and investigation into an aerosolized delivery method will advance this drug to clinical trials and make it accessible to those in need.

No description available.

No description available.