Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / Immune response enables the body to resist foreign invasions. The Inflammatory response is an important aspect in the immune response which is articulated by elements such as cytokines, APC, T-cell and B-cell, effector cell or natural killer. Of these elements, T-cells especially T-helper cells; a sub class of T-cells plays a pivotal role in stimulating the immune response by participating in various biological reactions such as, the transcription regulatory network. Transcriptional regulatory mechanisms are mediated by a set of transcription factors (TFs), that bind to a specific region (motifs or transcription factor binding sites, TFBS), on the target gene(s) controlling the expression of genes that are involved in T-helper cell mediated immune response. Eukaryotic regulatory motifs, referred to as cis regulatory modules (CRMs) or cistrome, co-occur with the regulated gene’s transcription start site (TSS) thus, providing all the essential components for building the transcriptional regulatory networks that depends on the relevant TF-TFBS interactions. Here, we study IL-12 stimulated transcriptional regulators in STAT4 mediated T helper 1 (Th1) cell development by focusing on the identification of TFBS and CRMs using a set of Stat4 ChIP-on-chip target genes. A region containing 2000 bases of Mus musculus sequences with the Stat4 binding site, derived from the ChIP-on-chip data, has been characterized for enrichment of other motifs and, thus CRMs. Our experiments identify some potential motifs, (such as NF-κB and PPARγ/RXR) being enriched in the Stat4 binding sequences compared to neighboring background sequences. Furthermore, these predicted CRMs were observed to be associated with biologically relevant target genes in the ChIP-on-chip data set by meaningful gene ontology annotations. These analyses will enable us to comprehend the complicated transcription regulatory network and at the same time categorically analyze the IL-12 stimulated Stat4 mediated Th1 cell differentiation.

In der Pathogenese der Multiplen Sklerose (MS) wird autoantigenspezifischen proinflammatorischen T-Helferzellen eine entscheidende Rolle zugeschrieben. Das am meisten untersuchte Autoantigen ist das Myelin Basic Protein (MBP). Bisher waren zum Nachweis autoantigenspezifischer T-Zellen deren Kultur über Tage bis Monate unumgänglich. In dieser Arbeit wurden Methoden zum direkten ex vivo-Nachweis autoreaktiver T-Helferzellen etabliert, die die reaktive Sekretion der proinflammatorischen Zytokine Interferon gamma und Tumor Nekrose Faktor alpha nach sechsstündiger Stimulation nachweisen. Die durchflusszytometrische Analyse antigenreaktiver Zytokinexpression in fixierten Zellen wies eine Sensitivität von 1/10.000 in mononukleären Zellen des peripheren Blutes (PBMC) auf. Es konnten damit bei 34 untersuchten MS-Patienten und 25 gesunden Kontrollpersonen keine MBP-reaktiven T-Helferzellen detektiert werden, während sich die Reaktion auf die beiden Kontrollantigene Tetanus Toxoid und Cytomegalie Virus-Antigen in den beiden Gruppen nicht relevant unterschied. Deshalb wurde in einer anderen Methode reaktiv sezerniertes Zytokin extrazellulär auf lebenden Zellen gebunden und durch einen anschließenden magnetischen Anreicherungsschritt die Sensitivität auf 2/100.000 erhöht. Bei einem von acht MS-Patienten wurde so eine Population MBP-spezifischer Zellen mit einer Ausgangsfrequenz von 2,15/100.000 nachgewiesen. Im Liquor von drei MS-Patienten ließen sich keine MBP-reaktiven proinflammatorischen T-Helferzellen detektieren. Diese Ergebnisse implizieren, dass die Frequenz MBP-spezifischer T-Helferzellen im peripheren Blut und im Liquor der meisten MS-Patienten und Kontrollpersonen geringer ist als die Sensitivität der etablierten Methoden, diese Zellen jedoch bei einigen Patienten in höheren Frequenzen nachgewiesen werden können. / Autoantigen-specific proinflammatory T-helper cells are assumed to play an important role in the pathogenesis of Multiple Sclerosis (MS). The most extensively studied autoantigen is Myelin Basic Protein (MBP). To detect autoantigen-specific T-cells, so far these had to be cultured for several days or months. In this work methods for the direct ex vivo detection of autoreactive T-helper cells have been established by detecting the reactive secretion of the proinflammatory cytokines Interferon gamma and Tumor Necrosis Factor alpha after six hour stimulation. The flow cytometric analysis of antigen-reactive cytokine expression in fixed cells showed a sensitivity of 1/10.000 in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). With this method there could not be detected any MBP-reactive T-helper cells in 34 MS-patients and 25 healthy controls, whereas the reaction after stimulation with the two control antigens Tetanus Toxoid and Cytomegalovirus antigen did not differ relevantly between the two groups. Therefore in another method the reactively secreted cytokine was bound on the surface of living cells and the sensitivity was then increased to 2/100.000 by following magnetic enrichment. With that, there could be detected a population of MBP-specific cells in one of eight MS-patients with a frequency of 2,15/100.000 in PBMC. There could not be found any MBP-reactive proinflammatory T-helper cells in the cerebrospinal fluid of three MS-patients. Our results suggest that the frequency of MBP-specific T-helper cells in peripheral blood and cerebrospinal fluid is below the employed methods' detection limit in most MS-patients, but seldom these cells can be detected in higher frequencies.

Avaliou-se a capacidade dos cimentos endodônticos: Sealapex®, Activ-GP® e AH-Plus® de alterarem o perfil das citocinas nas respostas Th1, Th2 e Th17, após a implantação destes em subcutâneo de camundongos. A quantificação das citocinas IL-2, IL-6, TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL-4, IL-10 e IL-17 foi realizada in vivo, no tecido reacional circundante aos implantes, os quais foram confeccionados a partir de sondas nasogástricas estéreis e apirogênicas de cloreto de polivinila preenchidas com os cimentos, tendo um grupo controle com sondas vazias. Utilizou-se camundongos isogênicos da linhagem C57BL/6 machos de 6/8 semanas de vida sendo que cada um recebeu 2 implantes na região dorsal (lado direito e esquerdo). Após os períodos experimentais de 7, 21 e 63 dias, com os camundongos anestesiados, os implantes foram removidos juntamente com o tecido circundante, e os animais sacrificados em seguida por deslocamento cervical. As amostras de cada grupo foram divididas sendo: duas, contendo implante/tecido, processadas histotecnicamente e as demais com apenas tecido (sem implante) foram homogeneizadas e centrifugadas com solução formada por tampão RIPA e inibidor de protease. O sobrenadante, fruto deste processo, foi coletado e a dosagem das citocinas realizada através do kit CBA mouse-Th1/Th2/Th17 Cytokine Kit (BD Cytometric Bead Array, San Jose, CA, USA) em análise por citometria de fluxo. Os parâmetros avaliados foram a concentração da citocina em função do cimento testado em cada período experimental. Submeteu-se os resultados à análise estatística por meio do teste t com a correção de Welch\'s. Para todos os testes o nível de significância foi de 5%. Com relação à IL-2 houve diferenças estatísticas significantes entre os grupos Activ-GP® e AH-Plus® (p=0,0391). No período de 21 dias foram detectadas diferenças entre o grupo controle e AH-Plus® (p=0,0402) e entre o grupo Sealapex® e AH-Plus® (p=0,0244). O AH-Plus® induziou um maior aumento na IL-6, aos 7 dias em relação ao Activ-GP® (p=0,0286) e aos 21 dias entre o grupo controle (p=0.0402) e Activ-GP® (p=0.0244). Os níveis de TNF-α foram estatisticamente superiores após 7 dias quando comparou-se o grupo AH-Plus® com os demais. Observou-se que no grupo controle aos 7 e 21 dias ocorreram diferenças estatísticas em relação ao Sealapex® e AH-Plus® respectivamente quando avaliadas as concentrações de IFN-γ. Houve também diferenças estatísticas entre o grupo controle e Sealapex® (p=0,0158) no período de 7 dias para a citocina IL-4. Os valores de IL-10 foram estatisticamente superiores para o grupo controle em relação ao Activ-GP® no período de 21 dias (p=0,0471). Com relação a IL-17 no período de 21 dias, observou-se os maiores valores para o grupo controle, seguido pelo Sealapex®, Activ-GP® e AH-Plus®. Foram detectadas diferenças entre os grupos controle e AH-Plus® (p=0,0121), controle e Activ-GP® (p=0,0262) e entre Sealapex® e Activ GP® (p=0,0314). Baseado nesses resultados podê-se concluir que: os cimentos endodônticos são capazes de modular as respostas Th1, Th2 e Th17 através da inibição ou estimulação da liberação das citocinas testadas. O cimento AH-Plus® promoveu as maiores diferenças no perfil de resposta Th1. / It was evaluated the capacity of the following endodontic sealers: Sealapex, Activ-GP and AH-Plus to modify the cytokine profile in Th1, Th2 and Th17 responses, after their implantation in the subcutaneous tissue of mice. Quantification of IL-2, IL-6, TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL-4, IL-10 and IL-17 was performed in vivo, in the reactional tissue surrounding the implants, which were made from sterile nasogastric probes and apyrogenic of polyvinyl chloride filled with sealer, and a control group of empty probes. It was used isogenic mice of C57BL/6 lineage, 6/8 weeks old males, each of which received two implants in the dorsal region (left and right). After the experimental time of 7, 21 and 63 days, the mice were anesthetized and the implants were removed along with the surrounding tissue, the animals were then sacrificed by cervical dislocation. Samples from each group were divided as follows: two containing implant / tissue processed histologically and with only the remaining tissue (without implant) were mixed and centrifuged with a solution formed by RIPA buffer and protease inhibitors. The supernatant result of this process was collected and cytokine dosage accomplished by mouse-Th1/Th2/Th17 Cytokine CBA Kit Kit (BD cytometric Bead Array, San Jose, CA, USA) for flow cytometry analysis. The evaluated parameters were the cytokine concentration in function of sealer tested in each trial. The results were submitted to statistical analysis using the t test with Welch\'s correction. For all tests the significance level was 5%. With respect to IL-2 there were significant statistical differences between groups-Activ GP and AH-Plus (p=0.0391). In the period of 21 days differences were found between the control group and AH-Plus (p=0.0402) and between the group Sealapex and AH-Plus (p=0.0244). The AH-Plus induced a greater increase in IL-6, at 7 days compared to Activ-GP (p=0.0286) and at 21 days between the control group (p=0.0402) and Activ-GP (p=0.0244). The levels of TNF-α were significantly higher after 7 days when the AH-Plus group was compared with others. It was observed that in the control group at 7 and 21 days there were statistical differences in relation to Sealapex and AH-Plus respectively when evaluated concentrations of IFN-γ. There were also significant differences between the control group and Sealapex (p=0.0158) within 7 days for the cytokine IL-4. The amounts of IL-10 were statistically higher in the control group compared to the Activ GP in a period of 21 days (p=0.0471). With respect to IL-17 in a period of 21 days, it was observed the highest values for the control group, followed by Sealapex, Activ-GP and AH-Plus. Differences were found between the control groups and AH-Plus (p=0.0121), control and Activ-GP (p=0.0262) and between Sealapex and Activ-GP (p=0.0314). Based on the presented results theendodontic sealers are able to promote changes in the response cytokine profile Th1, Th2 and Th17; Sealer AH-Plus produced the greatest changes, in the Th1 response profile.

Avaliou-se a capacidade dos cimentos endodônticos: Sealapex®, Activ-GP® e AH-Plus® de alterarem o perfil das citocinas nas respostas Th1, Th2 e Th17, após a implantação destes em subcutâneo de camundongos. A quantificação das citocinas IL-2, IL-6, TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL-4, IL-10 e IL-17 foi realizada in vivo, no tecido reacional circundante aos implantes, os quais foram confeccionados a partir de sondas nasogástricas estéreis e apirogênicas de cloreto de polivinila preenchidas com os cimentos, tendo um grupo controle com sondas vazias. Utilizou-se camundongos isogênicos da linhagem C57BL/6 machos de 6/8 semanas de vida sendo que cada um recebeu 2 implantes na região dorsal (lado direito e esquerdo). Após os períodos experimentais de 7, 21 e 63 dias, com os camundongos anestesiados, os implantes foram removidos juntamente com o tecido circundante, e os animais sacrificados em seguida por deslocamento cervical. As amostras de cada grupo foram divididas sendo: duas, contendo implante/tecido, processadas histotecnicamente e as demais com apenas tecido (sem implante) foram homogeneizadas e centrifugadas com solução formada por tampão RIPA e inibidor de protease. O sobrenadante, fruto deste processo, foi coletado e a dosagem das citocinas realizada através do kit CBA mouse-Th1/Th2/Th17 Cytokine Kit (BD Cytometric Bead Array, San Jose, CA, USA) em análise por citometria de fluxo. Os parâmetros avaliados foram a concentração da citocina em função do cimento testado em cada período experimental. Submeteu-se os resultados à análise estatística por meio do teste t com a correção de Welch\'s. Para todos os testes o nível de significância foi de 5%. Com relação à IL-2 houve diferenças estatísticas significantes entre os grupos Activ-GP® e AH-Plus® (p=0,0391). No período de 21 dias foram detectadas diferenças entre o grupo controle e AH-Plus® (p=0,0402) e entre o grupo Sealapex® e AH-Plus® (p=0,0244). O AH-Plus® induziou um maior aumento na IL-6, aos 7 dias em relação ao Activ-GP® (p=0,0286) e aos 21 dias entre o grupo controle (p=0.0402) e Activ-GP® (p=0.0244). Os níveis de TNF-α foram estatisticamente superiores após 7 dias quando comparou-se o grupo AH-Plus® com os demais. Observou-se que no grupo controle aos 7 e 21 dias ocorreram diferenças estatísticas em relação ao Sealapex® e AH-Plus® respectivamente quando avaliadas as concentrações de IFN-γ. Houve também diferenças estatísticas entre o grupo controle e Sealapex® (p=0,0158) no período de 7 dias para a citocina IL-4. Os valores de IL-10 foram estatisticamente superiores para o grupo controle em relação ao Activ-GP® no período de 21 dias (p=0,0471). Com relação a IL-17 no período de 21 dias, observou-se os maiores valores para o grupo controle, seguido pelo Sealapex®, Activ-GP® e AH-Plus®. Foram detectadas diferenças entre os grupos controle e AH-Plus® (p=0,0121), controle e Activ-GP® (p=0,0262) e entre Sealapex® e Activ GP® (p=0,0314). Baseado nesses resultados podê-se concluir que: os cimentos endodônticos são capazes de modular as respostas Th1, Th2 e Th17 através da inibição ou estimulação da liberação das citocinas testadas. O cimento AH-Plus® promoveu as maiores diferenças no perfil de resposta Th1. / It was evaluated the capacity of the following endodontic sealers: Sealapex, Activ-GP and AH-Plus to modify the cytokine profile in Th1, Th2 and Th17 responses, after their implantation in the subcutaneous tissue of mice. Quantification of IL-2, IL-6, TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL-4, IL-10 and IL-17 was performed in vivo, in the reactional tissue surrounding the implants, which were made from sterile nasogastric probes and apyrogenic of polyvinyl chloride filled with sealer, and a control group of empty probes. It was used isogenic mice of C57BL/6 lineage, 6/8 weeks old males, each of which received two implants in the dorsal region (left and right). After the experimental time of 7, 21 and 63 days, the mice were anesthetized and the implants were removed along with the surrounding tissue, the animals were then sacrificed by cervical dislocation. Samples from each group were divided as follows: two containing implant / tissue processed histologically and with only the remaining tissue (without implant) were mixed and centrifuged with a solution formed by RIPA buffer and protease inhibitors. The supernatant result of this process was collected and cytokine dosage accomplished by mouse-Th1/Th2/Th17 Cytokine CBA Kit Kit (BD cytometric Bead Array, San Jose, CA, USA) for flow cytometry analysis. The evaluated parameters were the cytokine concentration in function of sealer tested in each trial. The results were submitted to statistical analysis using the t test with Welch\'s correction. For all tests the significance level was 5%. With respect to IL-2 there were significant statistical differences between groups-Activ GP and AH-Plus (p=0.0391). In the period of 21 days differences were found between the control group and AH-Plus (p=0.0402) and between the group Sealapex and AH-Plus (p=0.0244). The AH-Plus induced a greater increase in IL-6, at 7 days compared to Activ-GP (p=0.0286) and at 21 days between the control group (p=0.0402) and Activ-GP (p=0.0244). The levels of TNF-α were significantly higher after 7 days when the AH-Plus group was compared with others. It was observed that in the control group at 7 and 21 days there were statistical differences in relation to Sealapex and AH-Plus respectively when evaluated concentrations of IFN-γ. There were also significant differences between the control group and Sealapex (p=0.0158) within 7 days for the cytokine IL-4. The amounts of IL-10 were statistically higher in the control group compared to the Activ GP in a period of 21 days (p=0.0471). With respect to IL-17 in a period of 21 days, it was observed the highest values for the control group, followed by Sealapex, Activ-GP and AH-Plus. Differences were found between the control groups and AH-Plus (p=0.0121), control and Activ-GP (p=0.0262) and between Sealapex and Activ-GP (p=0.0314). Based on the presented results theendodontic sealers are able to promote changes in the response cytokine profile Th1, Th2 and Th17; Sealer AH-Plus produced the greatest changes, in the Th1 response profile.

As doenças periodontais (DP) afetam os tecidos de suporte dos dentes e são desencadeadas por micro-organismos gram-negativos anaeróbios presentes no biofilme periodontal. A evolução da doença é influenciada pela resposta inflamatória e imunológica do hospedeiro e envolve a participação de diversos tipos celulares, que atuam no micro ambiente local modulando a resposta do hospedeiro em busca do controle da infecção. Acredita-se que citocinas inflamatórias, quimiocinas e seus receptores estão envolvidos na migração celular para os tecidos periodontais, contudo, pouco se sabe sobre os mecanismos de determinação de resistência ou susceptibilidade às DP; ou no desencadeamento do dano tecidual decorrente da resposta. Neste projeto, avaliou-se o papel das células CCR5+ na DP experimental induzida pela inoculação oral de Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans em camundongos C57BL/6 wild type e camundongos CCR5-knockout. Os resultados mostram que a maioria das células CCR5+ possuem fenótipo compatível com células T do subtipo Th1, devido a co-expressão de CD3 e CXCR3; além de co-expressarem RANKL. Na ausência das células CCR5+, houve uma significativa diminuição da migração de células inflamatórias totais e RANKL+ para os tecidos periodontais, diminuição da reabsorção óssea alveolar, diminuição dos níveis de expressão de citocinas pró-inflamatórias TNFα-, IL-1β e IFN-γ, assim como diminuição na expressão de MMP-1, MMP-2 e MMP-13. Sua ausência não interferiu no controle da infecção periodontal apesar da diminuição dos níveis de iNOS. Estes resultados conduzem à conclusão de que a maioria das células CCR5+ são células T do subtipo Th1, que atuam como importantes moduladoras das citocinas TNFα-, IL-1β e IFN-γ, das metaloproteinases de matriz MMP-1, MMP-2 e MMP-13, e que também expressam e modulam a expressão de RANKL, tendo participação importante na imunopatogenese da DP experimental, sem interferir no controle da infecção periodontal. Estes fatos tornam as células CCR5+ potenciais alvos para intervenção terapêutica visando ao controle das doenças periodontais. / The periodontal diseases (PD) affect the supportive tissues of the teeth and are triggered by periodontopathogens present in the dental biofilm. The clinical outcome is highly influenced by the host inflammatory and immune response with participation of many cellular types, that act in the local microenvironment modulating the host response to control the infection. Inflammatory cytokines, chemokines and its receptors are thought to be involved in the cellular migration to the periodontal tissues, but there is little knowledge about the mechanisms of determination of resistance or susceptibility to the PD and in the triggering of tissue damage by immune response components. This study evaluated the role of CCR5+ cells in the experimental PD induced by oral inoculation of Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans in C57BL/6 wild type mice and CCR5-knockout mice. The phenotypic analysis of inflammatory infiltrate demonstrated that the most of CCR5+ cells coexpress CD3 and CXCR3, suggesting a phenotype compatible with Th1-type cells, and also co-express RANKL. In the absence of CCR5+ cells there was a significant overall reduction of inflammatory cells and RANKL+ cells influx to the periodontal tissues, reduction in the alveolar bone resorption, reduction in the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines TNFα-, IL-1β and IFN-γ expression, as a reduction in the expression of MMP-1, MMP-2 and MMP-13. The absence of CCR5+ cells did not impair the control of periodontal infection, despite the reduction of iNOS levels. In conclusion, these data demonstrate that the most of CCR5+ cells are Th1 cells, which act as important modulators of TNFα-, IL-1β and IFN-γ, MMP-1, MMP- 2 and MMP-13 levels, and which also express and modulate the expression of RANKL, playing an important role in the immunopathogenesis of experimental PD, without impairing the control of periodontal infection. These facts point to CCR5+ cells as potentials targets to therapeutic interventions aimed to control periodontal diseases.

Diss. (sammanfattning) Linköping : Linköpings universitet, 2010. / Härtill 4 uppsatser.

The regulation of systemic immune responses is dependent on individual cell responses that will concur to induce a coherent response against a stimulus. In turn, cell response is dependent on the processing of intracellular signals generated at the cell membrane and transmitted through successive protein modifications to the nucleus in order to activate gene transcription. This is referred to as intracellular signalling. Tight control of these mechanisms is required to generate an appropriate cell response to environmental stimulations and globally to establish an appropriate immune response. Among protein modifications used to transmit a signal to the nucleus, protein tyrosine phosphorylation represents a pivotal method used by immune cells to rapidly induce signalling. While protein tyrosine kinases (PTKs) phosphorylate proteins, protein tyrosine phosphatases (PTPs) regulate the signalling by removing the phosphate group. The goal of this study was to better characterize intracellular signalling events involved in allergic asthma, a chronic inflammatory disease involving a Th2 immune response. In a first time, we investigated the role of PTPs in the development of asthma. We show that inhibition of global PTP activity in mice, during either the allergen sensitization or the allergen challenge phase, reduces asthma development and is linked to an increased Th1 response in the spleen and lung. Secondly, we revealed that TC-PTP inhibition reduces asthma development, while PTP-1B inhibition exacerbates inflammatory cells recruitment to the lung. Inhibition of either SHP-1 or PTP-PEST activity did not significantly modulate asthma development in our model. In a third set of experiments, we got interested in the signalling pathways triggered by the pro-inflammatory molecules myeloid-related proteins (MRPs) 8 and 14. MRPs are small cytosolic proteins recently described to have extracellular functions. MRP8 expression is resistant to corticosteroid treatment, and potentially promotes inflammation in corticosteroid-treated patients. We identified that MRPs induce signal through the action of TLR-4 and trigger the activation of MEK/ERK and JNK pathways that lead to NF-kappaB translocation. Collectively, our data provide a new characterization of signalling pathways engaged in allergic asthma. This should be helpful in the elaboration of new therapeutic approaches targeting precise pathways to inhibit mechanisms of inflammation.

As doenças periodontais (DP) afetam os tecidos de suporte dos dentes e são desencadeadas por micro-organismos gram-negativos anaeróbios presentes no biofilme periodontal. A evolução da doença é influenciada pela resposta inflamatória e imunológica do hospedeiro e envolve a participação de diversos tipos celulares, que atuam no micro ambiente local modulando a resposta do hospedeiro em busca do controle da infecção. Acredita-se que citocinas inflamatórias, quimiocinas e seus receptores estão envolvidos na migração celular para os tecidos periodontais, contudo, pouco se sabe sobre os mecanismos de determinação de resistência ou susceptibilidade às DP; ou no desencadeamento do dano tecidual decorrente da resposta. Neste projeto, avaliou-se o papel das células CCR5+ na DP experimental induzida pela inoculação oral de Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans em camundongos C57BL/6 wild type e camundongos CCR5-knockout. Os resultados mostram que a maioria das células CCR5+ possuem fenótipo compatível com células T do subtipo Th1, devido a co-expressão de CD3 e CXCR3; além de co-expressarem RANKL. Na ausência das células CCR5+, houve uma significativa diminuição da migração de células inflamatórias totais e RANKL+ para os tecidos periodontais, diminuição da reabsorção óssea alveolar, diminuição dos níveis de expressão de citocinas pró-inflamatórias TNFα-, IL-1β e IFN-γ, assim como diminuição na expressão de MMP-1, MMP-2 e MMP-13. Sua ausência não interferiu no controle da infecção periodontal apesar da diminuição dos níveis de iNOS. Estes resultados conduzem à conclusão de que a maioria das células CCR5+ são células T do subtipo Th1, que atuam como importantes moduladoras das citocinas TNFα-, IL-1β e IFN-γ, das metaloproteinases de matriz MMP-1, MMP-2 e MMP-13, e que também expressam e modulam a expressão de RANKL, tendo participação importante na imunopatogenese da DP experimental, sem interferir no controle da infecção periodontal. Estes fatos tornam as células CCR5+ potenciais alvos para intervenção terapêutica visando ao controle das doenças periodontais. / The periodontal diseases (PD) affect the supportive tissues of the teeth and are triggered by periodontopathogens present in the dental biofilm. The clinical outcome is highly influenced by the host inflammatory and immune response with participation of many cellular types, that act in the local microenvironment modulating the host response to control the infection. Inflammatory cytokines, chemokines and its receptors are thought to be involved in the cellular migration to the periodontal tissues, but there is little knowledge about the mechanisms of determination of resistance or susceptibility to the PD and in the triggering of tissue damage by immune response components. This study evaluated the role of CCR5+ cells in the experimental PD induced by oral inoculation of Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans in C57BL/6 wild type mice and CCR5-knockout mice. The phenotypic analysis of inflammatory infiltrate demonstrated that the most of CCR5+ cells coexpress CD3 and CXCR3, suggesting a phenotype compatible with Th1-type cells, and also co-express RANKL. In the absence of CCR5+ cells there was a significant overall reduction of inflammatory cells and RANKL+ cells influx to the periodontal tissues, reduction in the alveolar bone resorption, reduction in the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines TNFα-, IL-1β and IFN-γ expression, as a reduction in the expression of MMP-1, MMP-2 and MMP-13. The absence of CCR5+ cells did not impair the control of periodontal infection, despite the reduction of iNOS levels. In conclusion, these data demonstrate that the most of CCR5+ cells are Th1 cells, which act as important modulators of TNFα-, IL-1β and IFN-γ, MMP-1, MMP- 2 and MMP-13 levels, and which also express and modulate the expression of RANKL, playing an important role in the immunopathogenesis of experimental PD, without impairing the control of periodontal infection. These facts point to CCR5+ cells as potentials targets to therapeutic interventions aimed to control periodontal diseases.

In this work, we were interested in studying the effect of two main metabolic factors, hypoxia and extracellular ATP metabolism, on the effector function of T helper subsets. The major oxygen sensor is HIF-1α which is continuously degraded in the presence of oxygen but is stabilized in hypoxia, leading to transcription of genes involved in cellular adaptation to low oxygen level. Our data show that the proportion of IFN-& / Doctorat en Sciences / info:eu-repo/semantics/nonPublished

No description available.