Die Narbenbildung des Hautorgans stellt für die gegenwärtige Medizin weiterhin eine schwierige Aufgabe dar. Die frühzeitige Beeinflussung des Wundheilungspro- zesses hin zu einer verminderten oder narbenlosen Heilung scheint von entschei- dender Bedeutung. Ein vielversprechender Ansatz ist die präoperative Laserthe- rapie und dadurch erzeugte Hitzeschockantwort. Auf molekulare Ebene kommt es u.a. zur Expression von Hitzeschockproteine. Die vorliegende in-vitro Studie beschäftigte sich mit der laserinduzierten Hochregulation des Hitzeschockproteins 70 in den epidermalen Schichten. Hierfür wurden drei nicht ablative Lasersysteme mit insgesamt 12 verschiedenen Parametereinstellungen verwendet (1.540-nm Er:Glass- , 755-nm Alexandrit-, 1.064-nm Nd:YAG-Laser). Mithilfe eines humanen Hautexplantatmodells sollte unter gleichbleibenden Bedingungen Zeitpunkt und Konzentration der maximal induzierten Hsp70-Expression sowie epidermale Schä- digungen dargestellt werden. In der verfügbaren Literatur waren hierzu nur begrenzt Daten vorhanden. Alle drei Lasersysteme zeigten signifikante Hsp70-Expressionen. Der Zeitpunkt der maximalen Hsp70-Expression konnte zwischen Tag 1 und 3 festgehalten werden. Dabei zeigten die Lasersysteme unterschiedliche Hsp70- Maxima und unterschiedliche Epidermisschädigungen. Die Ergebnisse ließen schlussfolgern, dass eine potenzielle präoperative Narbenprävention tendeziell ein Tag vor dem chirurgischen Eingriff und mit den stärkeren Parametereinstellungen des 1.064-nm Nd:YAG Lasers durchgeführt werden sollte.

Die Narbenbildung des Hautorgans stellt für die gegenwärtige Medizin weiterhin eine schwierige Aufgabe dar. Die frühzeitige Beeinflussung des Wundheilungspro- zesses hin zu einer verminderten oder narbenlosen Heilung scheint von entschei- dender Bedeutung. Ein vielversprechender Ansatz ist die präoperative Laserthe- rapie und dadurch erzeugte Hitzeschockantwort. Auf molekulare Ebene kommt es u.a. zur Expression von Hitzeschockproteine. Die vorliegende in-vitro Studie beschäftigte sich mit der laserinduzierten Hochregulation des Hitzeschockproteins 70 in den epidermalen Schichten. Hierfür wurden drei nicht ablative Lasersysteme mit insgesamt 12 verschiedenen Parametereinstellungen verwendet (1.540-nm Er:Glass- , 755-nm Alexandrit-, 1.064-nm Nd:YAG-Laser). Mithilfe eines humanen Hautexplantatmodells sollte unter gleichbleibenden Bedingungen Zeitpunkt und Konzentration der maximal induzierten Hsp70-Expression sowie epidermale Schä- digungen dargestellt werden. In der verfügbaren Literatur waren hierzu nur begrenzt Daten vorhanden. Alle drei Lasersysteme zeigten signifikante Hsp70-Expressionen. Der Zeitpunkt der maximalen Hsp70-Expression konnte zwischen Tag 1 und 3 festgehalten werden. Dabei zeigten die Lasersysteme unterschiedliche Hsp70- Maxima und unterschiedliche Epidermisschädigungen. Die Ergebnisse ließen schlussfolgern, dass eine potenzielle präoperative Narbenprävention tendeziell ein Tag vor dem chirurgischen Eingriff und mit den stärkeren Parametereinstellungen des 1.064-nm Nd:YAG Lasers durchgeführt werden sollte.

The Aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) is a ligand-activated transcription factor and member of the basic helix-loop-helix Per/ARNT/Sim (bHLH/PAS) family of chemosensors and developmental regulators. As a member of the PAS domain family of transcription factors responsive to exogenous signals, the AhR exerts influence on many processes relating to cellular fate. The activation of AhR is widely associated with toxic endpoints related to dioxin exposure. However, the AhR also activates endogenous gene programs related to development, cellular growth, and differentiation. The AhR is able to bind a variety of ligands, leading to a wide range of biological outcomes. Recent reports have shown that the AhR can mediate tumor suppressive effects. As a ligand-activated transcription factor, the AhR has the potential to actuate a variety of transcriptional programs that are dependent on the AhR ligand. Our central hypothesis is that AhR ligands can be identified that are capable of initiating tumor suppressive functions of the AhR. We utilized complementary cell-based and in silico virtual screening approaches to identify potential AhR ligands. We developed homology models of the AhR ligand-binding domain (LBD) for virtual ligand screening (VLS) of small molecule libraries. This led to the identification of new AhR ligands 5,7- dihydroxyflavanone!and 5-hydroxy-7-methoxyflavone. Additional small molecule libraries were screened in parallel that led to identification of flutamide as a putative AhR ligand. Flutamide is clinically approved for the treatment of prostate cancer due to its ability to antagonize androgen receptor mediated transcription. We investigated the biological effects of flutamide in AhR positive cancer cells that do not express the androgen receptor and found that flutamide inhibited the growth of HepG2 cells. Suppression of AhR expression reversed the anti-proliferative effects of flutamide. We tested 15 structural analogs of flutamide, including the flutamide metabolite 2-hydroxyflutamide for activation of AhR transcriptional activity. Flutamide is unique in its ability to activate the AhR, and suppresses hepatoma cell growth. These data suggests that flutamide-induced AhR transcriptional activity is required to initiate the tumor suppressive effects. We examined changes in cell cycle checkpoint proteins after flutamide treatment and discovered increased expression of cell cycle inhibitory proteins p27[superscript Kip1] and p15[superscript INK]. We also found that transforming Growth Factor β1 (TGFβ1), which regulates both p27[superscript Kip1] and p15[superscript INK], is upregulated by flutamide. We demonstrate that TGFβ1 is upregulated by flutamide in an AhR-dependent manner and is required for suppression of proliferation by flutamide. We identify specific and unique transcriptional signatures of the AhR upon activation by flutamide, that are distinct from the potent AhR agonist 2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD). In summary, we characterize flutamide as an AhR ligand and demonstrate its AhR-dependent tumor suppressive effects in hepatoma cells. We provide the first direct evidence that AhR regulates TGFβ signaling in a ligand dependent manner. We demonstrate that the AhR-induced downstream transcriptional signature and subsequent biological effects are specific to the AhR ligand. Our studies have broad impact for characterizing the AhR as a new therapeutic target in hepatocellular carcinoma. / Graduation date: 2013 / Access restricted to the OSU Community at author's request from March 28, 2013 - March 28, 2015

Many studies have demonstrated a connection between the fibrillin matrix and TGFβ signalling, but at present the mechanistic basis for this link is unclear. An interaction between the C-terminus of Latent TGFβ Binding Protein 1 (LTBP1) and the N-terminus of fibrillin1 has previously been identified, and may have the potential to directly link the fibrillin matrix to TGFβ signalling. To investigate the structural basis for this interaction, several multi-domain fragments of fibrillin1 and LTBP1 were expressed prokaryotically and refolded in vitro. After initial characterisation to confirm folding, the structure, dynamics, and interdomain interactions of these fragments were investigated in more detail using NMR techniques. Domains in both LTBP1 and fibrillin1 appear to demonstrate folds consistent with homologous structures, and while the LTBP1 C-terminal cbEGF14-TB3-EGF3-cbEGF15 region contains many flexible linkers and few interdomain interactions, the fibrillin1 EGF2-EGF3-hyb1-cbEGF1 region appears rigid, with interfaces forming between all domains present. SPR studies were used to demonstrate binding between distinct LTBP1 and fibrillin fragments, suggesting interactions between multiple domains are involved in the LTBP1-fibrillin1 interaction. The binding sites involved were then mapped to specific residues using HSQC titration studies, and structural models for the LTBP1-fibrillin1 interaction were generated based on these data. Predictions from these models were used to target residues for site-directed mutagenesis, based on their potential involvement in salt bridges, and when certain residues were replaced with those of opposite charge, reductions in binding could be seen in the SPR assay. These key residues were consistent with a particular model of the LTBP1-fibrillin1 interaction, as derived from the HSQC titration data. The conservation of potential binding site residues through deuterostome evolution also supports an important biological role for the LTBP-fibrillin interaction.

Disruptions in cardiac development cause congenital heart disease, the most prevalent and deadly congenital malformation. Genetic and environmental factors are thought to contribute to these defects, however molecular mechanisms remain largely undefined. Recent work highlighted potential roles of chromatin- modifying enzymes in congenital heart disease pathogenesis. Histone deacetylases, a class of chromatin-modifying enzymes, have developmental importance and recognized roles in the mature heart. This thesis aimed to characterize functions of Hdac3 in cardiac development. We found loss of Hdac3 in the primary heart field causes precocious progenitor cell differentiation, resulting in hypoplastic ventricular walls, ventricular septal defect, and mid- gestational lethality. In primary heart field progenitors, Hdac3 interacts with, deacetylates, and functionally suppresses transcription factor Tbx5. Furthermore, a disease-associated Tbx5 mutation disrupts this interaction, rendering Tbx5 hyperacetylated and hyperactive. By contrast, deletion of Hdac3 in second heart field progenitors bypasses these defects, instead causing malformations in the outflow tract and semilunar valves, with lethality prior to birth. Affected semilunar valves and outflow tract vessels exhibit extracellular matrix and EndMT defects and activation of the Tgfβ1 signaling pathway. In normal second heart field development, Hdac3 represses Tgfβ1 transcription, independent of its deacetylase activity, by recruiting the PRC2 methyltransferase complex to methylate the Tgfβ1 promoter. Importantly, knockouts of Hdac3 in differentiated cardiac cells do not fully recapitulate the progenitor-specific knockout phenotypes. These results illustrate spatiotemporal roles of Hdac3, both deacetylase-dependent and deacetylase-independent, in cardiac development, suggesting that dysregulation of Hdac3 in cardiac progenitor cells could be a contributing factor in congenital heart disease pathogenesis.

No description available.

No description available.

Durante o processo de reparação tecidual, o fator de transformação de crescimento <font face=\"symbol\">b1 (TGF-<font face=\"symbol\">b1) apresenta um importante papel na regulação da expressão da <font face=\"symbol\">a-actina de músculo liso (<font face=\"symbol\">a-AML) e portanto, na diferenciação miofibroblástica. Como os fibroblastos pulpares apresentam características peculiares, com a expressão de proteínas específicas que os diferem de fibroblastos de outros tecidos conjuntivos, o presente estudo avaliou in vitro se o TGF-<font face=\"symbol\">b1 aumenta a expressão de <font face=\"symbol\">a-AML em fibroblastos pulpares humanos comparando-os com fibroblastos de gengiva. Para tal, diferentes doses de TGF-<font face=\"symbol\">b1 (5 à 10 ng/ml) foram adicionadas às culturas de células, sendo a expressão da <font face=\"symbol\">a-AML analisada por imunofluorescência e western-blotting. Ambos os tipos celulares imunoexpressaram <font face=\"symbol\">a-AML mesmo sem o tratamento com o TGF-<font face=\"symbol\">b1, estando aumentada consideravelmente, quando o TGF-<font face=\"symbol\">b1 foi adicionado às culturas. Os resultados do presente estudo demonstraram que o TGF-<font face=\"symbol\">b1 induz a expressão de <font face=\"symbol\">a-AML, sugerindo a indução do fenótipo miofibroblástico em fibroblastos pulpares. / Transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-<font face=\"symbol\">b1) has been related to induce the expression of <font face=\"symbol\">a-smooth muscle actin (<font face=\"symbol\">a-SMA) in fibroblasts during repair. Since pulpal fibroblasts seem to be somewhat different from other fibroblasts, the present study investigated in vitro whether TGF-<font face=\"symbol\">b1 enhances the expression of <font face=\"symbol\">a-SMA in human pulpal fibroblasts. TGF-<font face=\"symbol\">b1 was added in doses between 5-10 ng/ml to cultures of both dental pulp and gingiva human fibroblasts. The expression of <font face=\"symbol\">a-SMA was analyzed by immunofluorescence and western-blotting. Both cell types were immunoreactive for <font face=\"symbol\">a-SMA even without TGF-<font face=\"symbol\">b1. When TGF-<font face=\"symbol\">b1 was added to cell cultures, the expression of <font face=\"symbol\">a-SMA increased dramatically in pulpal fibroblasts, independent of the concentration used. It was confirmed by the western blot analysis. The present findings showed that TGF-<font face=\"symbol\">b1 up-regulated the expression of <font face=\"symbol\">a-SMA thus inducing pulpal fibroblasts to acquire the myofibroblast phenotype.

No description available.

Durante o processo de reparação tecidual, o fator de transformação de crescimento <font face=\"symbol\">b1 (TGF-<font face=\"symbol\">b1) apresenta um importante papel na regulação da expressão da <font face=\"symbol\">a-actina de músculo liso (<font face=\"symbol\">a-AML) e portanto, na diferenciação miofibroblástica. Como os fibroblastos pulpares apresentam características peculiares, com a expressão de proteínas específicas que os diferem de fibroblastos de outros tecidos conjuntivos, o presente estudo avaliou in vitro se o TGF-<font face=\"symbol\">b1 aumenta a expressão de <font face=\"symbol\">a-AML em fibroblastos pulpares humanos comparando-os com fibroblastos de gengiva. Para tal, diferentes doses de TGF-<font face=\"symbol\">b1 (5 à 10 ng/ml) foram adicionadas às culturas de células, sendo a expressão da <font face=\"symbol\">a-AML analisada por imunofluorescência e western-blotting. Ambos os tipos celulares imunoexpressaram <font face=\"symbol\">a-AML mesmo sem o tratamento com o TGF-<font face=\"symbol\">b1, estando aumentada consideravelmente, quando o TGF-<font face=\"symbol\">b1 foi adicionado às culturas. Os resultados do presente estudo demonstraram que o TGF-<font face=\"symbol\">b1 induz a expressão de <font face=\"symbol\">a-AML, sugerindo a indução do fenótipo miofibroblástico em fibroblastos pulpares. / Transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-<font face=\"symbol\">b1) has been related to induce the expression of <font face=\"symbol\">a-smooth muscle actin (<font face=\"symbol\">a-SMA) in fibroblasts during repair. Since pulpal fibroblasts seem to be somewhat different from other fibroblasts, the present study investigated in vitro whether TGF-<font face=\"symbol\">b1 enhances the expression of <font face=\"symbol\">a-SMA in human pulpal fibroblasts. TGF-<font face=\"symbol\">b1 was added in doses between 5-10 ng/ml to cultures of both dental pulp and gingiva human fibroblasts. The expression of <font face=\"symbol\">a-SMA was analyzed by immunofluorescence and western-blotting. Both cell types were immunoreactive for <font face=\"symbol\">a-SMA even without TGF-<font face=\"symbol\">b1. When TGF-<font face=\"symbol\">b1 was added to cell cultures, the expression of <font face=\"symbol\">a-SMA increased dramatically in pulpal fibroblasts, independent of the concentration used. It was confirmed by the western blot analysis. The present findings showed that TGF-<font face=\"symbol\">b1 up-regulated the expression of <font face=\"symbol\">a-SMA thus inducing pulpal fibroblasts to acquire the myofibroblast phenotype.