The present study examined adverse effects of sunlight exposure (mimicked by intradermal cis-urocanic acid, cUCA) on local and systemic immune responses, with or without co-exposure to the immunotoxic insecticide permethrin. A single exposure to cUCA caused diminished splenic macrophage phagocytosis that was persistent up to 30 days post-exposure. Five-day exposure to cUCA subtly increased splenocyte proliferation in response to the T cell mitogen Concanavalin A. Four-week exposure to cUCA caused increased splenic lymphocyte cellularity, thymic hypocellularity, and enhanced hydrogen peroxide production by splenic leukocytes. Single exposure to topical permethrin resulted in decreased thymic and splenic weight and cellularity, and inhibited antibody production by splenic B cells. cUCA worsened the negative effect of permethrin on both thymic weight and cellularity, and depressed splenocyte blastogenesis, hydrogen peroxide production, and antibody production. Five-day exposure to either cUCA or permethrin also caused persistent decreased contact hypersensitivity responses, an effect that became more than additive when the chemicals were administered concurrently. Defects in antigen processing and presentation by cutaneous Langerhans cells were evaluated as possible contributing mechanisms to the cutaneous immunosuppression, using mice with deleted genes. Vehicle-exposed IFNg knockout mice displayed approximately a 22.1% depression in the ear swelling response as compared to control C57BL/6N mice, suggesting that this cytokine may be required for mounting a control-level hypersensitivity response. Ear swelling in cUCA-exposed IFNg knockout mice displayed a 21.4% depressed response as compared to cUCA-exposed wild-type C57BL/6N mice, again suggesting that IFNg is an important cytokine in the contact hypersensitivity (CH) response. TNFaR knockout mice exposed to cUCA displayed 33.9% greater ear swelling than cUCA-exposed wild-type C57BL/6N mice, suggesting that increased TNFa may be involved in inhibited CH by cUCA. TNFaR knockout mice exposed to permethrin displayed 33.9% greater ear swelling than permethrin-exposed C57BL/6N mice, suggesting that increased TNFa may also be involved in inhibited CH by permethrin. C57BL/6N mice exposed to cUCA + permethrin displayed severe reduction of the CH response to 8.7% of the control level. IFNg knockout mice exposed to permethrin + cUCA showed essentially identical depression of the CH response as IFNg knockout mice exposed to either permethrin or cUCA alone. These results suggest that IFNg is required for the greater than additive immunotoxic effect that occurred when these two agents were co-administered. TNFaR knockout mice exposed to cUCA + permethrin displayed 8.7 fold greater ear swelling than similarly exposed C57BL/6N mice, again suggesting that increased TNFa is involved in inhibited CH by both cUCA and permethrin. / Ph. D.

Le travail présenté dans ce manuscrit est consacré à la synthèse et à l'évaluation pharmacologique de quelques δ-valérolactones. Une première séquence réactionnelle a permis d'accéder aux analogues synthétiques des kavalactones avec de bons rendements en développant notamment des réactions de couplage par activation aux micro-ondes. Diverses modulations ont ensuite été réalisées par des couplages de type Heck, Suzuki et Sonogashira. Parallèlement une deuxième séquence réactionnelle a été mise au point au départ d'alcools allyliques en utilisant une réaction tandem isomérisation-aldolisation avec divers aldéhydes pour entrer différents substituants en position 3, 5 et 6 du cycle lactonique. Notre intérêt s'est aussi porté sur la chimie combinatoire, pour préparer des petites chimiothèques de δ-valérolactones. Nous avons utilisé le couplage de Heck suivi d'une aldolisation/lactonisation à partir d'un support fluoré. Les avantages de ce support fluoré ont permis de simplifier les étapes de purification. La séquence réactionnelle choisie n'a cependant été validée qu'en solution. Concernant l'aspect biologique, l'évaluation de l’activité cytotoxique in vitro de 34 δ-valérolactones seul un composé présente une cytotoxicité modérée sur les lignées cancéreuses B16 et A375M (CI50 < 10μM). Les effets inhibiteurs in vitro sur le sang total permettent de souligner l'intérêt thérapeutique éventuel de cette famille de molécules dans le traitement de l’inflammation. Enfin le test à l'acide acétique in vivo pour évaluer l’activité analgésique de quelques composés a montré une forte inhibition pour l'hétérocycle 131 (69,4%). / A pesquisa e desenvolvimento de medicamentos é um processo complexo e longo que se inicia com a pesquisa básica de um novo composto bioativo em modelos experimentais in vitro e pré-clinicos. Neste trabalho descreve-se a síntese de d-valerolactonas e avaliação biológica. Uma primeira rota sintética permitiu obter análogos das kavalactones com bons rendimentos através de reações de aldolisação e acoplamentos do tipo Heck e Suzuki com o auxílio do forno de microondas. Paralelamente outra estratégia sintética foi realizada através de modulações no anel aromático ligado ao núcleo lactônico, com reações do tipo Heck, Suzuki e Sonogashira, com excelentes rendimentos. Outra sequência reacional foi desenvolvida a partir de álcoois alílicos utilizando a reação conhecida como tandem isomerisação/aldolisação com diversos aldeídos obtendo lactonas substituídas em posição 3, 5 e 6 do ciclo lactônico. Objetivou-se também neste estudo, a partir do princípio da química combinatória, preparar uma pequena quimioteca de d-valerolactones. Para tanto se desenvolveu uma seqüência reacional a partir do suporte fluorado em função das vantagens deste método em relação à Síntese Orgânica em Fase Sólida (SOFS), esta rota sintética foi acompanhada em solução. No que se refere ao aspecto biológico, foram avaliados 35 compostos sintetizados sobre a atividade citotóxica. No entanto apenas um composto apresentou uma leve atividade (CI50 < 10μM) sobre as linhagens celulares testadas (A-375M e B16). Em relação à avaliação antiinflamatória in vitro observou-se atividade interessante sobre o composto 61 na inbição do TNFa no sangue total. A avaliação do potencial antinociceptivo dos 10 compostos testados (5, 129-137) demonstrou um perfil promissor, sendo que o composto 131 apresentou uma inibição mais expressiva (69,4%) em relação aos outros compostos. Os resultados químicos e biológicos promissores aqui demonstrados indicam a viabilidade em utilizar essa classe química estudada para encontrar substâncias mais ativas as quais podem representar uma nova entidade terapêutica. / This work describes the synthesis and the pharmacological evaluation of various δ-valerolactone derivatives. We first prepared some kavalactone analogues in good yields using microwave-promoted palladium-catalyzed coupling reactions. Several modulations have been done using Heck, Suzuki and Sonogashira reactions. At the same time, we developed a synthetic pathway starting from allylic alcohols and involving a tandem isomerisation-aldolisation reaction with various aldehydes in order to introduce diversity at the C-3, C-5 and C-6 positions of the valerolactone. We focused on the combinatorial chemistry in order to obtain a library of δ-valerolactone derivatives. The Heck coupling was followed by an isomerisation-aldolisation reaction using a fluorated support. The purification steps were much easier using fluorated supports. However, so far this synthetic pathway is only valid in solution. We then tested 34 d-valerolactones analogues to determine their in vitro cytotoxic activity and discovered that one d-valerolactone was slightly active (CI50 < 10μM) on two cell lines (A-375M and B16). Moreover, the in vitro inhibitor effects on whole blood sample showed that δ-valerolactone derivatives might have an interesting antiinflammatory activity. Finally, the in vivo acetic acid test evaluating the analgesic activity of several compounds displayed a high inhibition for the heterocyclic 131 (69.4%).

Le travail présenté dans ce manuscrit est consacré à la synthèse et à l'évaluation pharmacologique de quelques δ-valérolactones. Une première séquence réactionnelle a permis d'accéder aux analogues synthétiques des kavalactones avec de bons rendements en développant notamment des réactions de couplage par activation aux micro-ondes. Diverses modulations ont ensuite été réalisées par des couplages de type Heck, Suzuki et Sonogashira. Parallèlement une deuxième séquence réactionnelle a été mise au point au départ d'alcools allyliques en utilisant une réaction tandem isomérisation-aldolisation avec divers aldéhydes pour entrer différents substituants en position 3, 5 et 6 du cycle lactonique. Notre intérêt s'est aussi porté sur la chimie combinatoire, pour préparer des petites chimiothèques de δ-valérolactones. Nous avons utilisé le couplage de Heck suivi d'une aldolisation/lactonisation à partir d'un support fluoré. Les avantages de ce support fluoré ont permis de simplifier les étapes de purification. La séquence réactionnelle choisie n'a cependant été validée qu'en solution. Concernant l'aspect biologique, l'évaluation de l’activité cytotoxique in vitro de 34 δ-valérolactones seul un composé présente une cytotoxicité modérée sur les lignées cancéreuses B16 et A375M (CI50 < 10μM). Les effets inhibiteurs in vitro sur le sang total permettent de souligner l'intérêt thérapeutique éventuel de cette famille de molécules dans le traitement de l’inflammation. Enfin le test à l'acide acétique in vivo pour évaluer l’activité analgésique de quelques composés a montré une forte inhibition pour l'hétérocycle 131 (69,4%). / A pesquisa e desenvolvimento de medicamentos é um processo complexo e longo que se inicia com a pesquisa básica de um novo composto bioativo em modelos experimentais in vitro e pré-clinicos. Neste trabalho descreve-se a síntese de d-valerolactonas e avaliação biológica. Uma primeira rota sintética permitiu obter análogos das kavalactones com bons rendimentos através de reações de aldolisação e acoplamentos do tipo Heck e Suzuki com o auxílio do forno de microondas. Paralelamente outra estratégia sintética foi realizada através de modulações no anel aromático ligado ao núcleo lactônico, com reações do tipo Heck, Suzuki e Sonogashira, com excelentes rendimentos. Outra sequência reacional foi desenvolvida a partir de álcoois alílicos utilizando a reação conhecida como tandem isomerisação/aldolisação com diversos aldeídos obtendo lactonas substituídas em posição 3, 5 e 6 do ciclo lactônico. Objetivou-se também neste estudo, a partir do princípio da química combinatória, preparar uma pequena quimioteca de d-valerolactones. Para tanto se desenvolveu uma seqüência reacional a partir do suporte fluorado em função das vantagens deste método em relação à Síntese Orgânica em Fase Sólida (SOFS), esta rota sintética foi acompanhada em solução. No que se refere ao aspecto biológico, foram avaliados 35 compostos sintetizados sobre a atividade citotóxica. No entanto apenas um composto apresentou uma leve atividade (CI50 < 10μM) sobre as linhagens celulares testadas (A-375M e B16). Em relação à avaliação antiinflamatória in vitro observou-se atividade interessante sobre o composto 61 na inbição do TNFa no sangue total. A avaliação do potencial antinociceptivo dos 10 compostos testados (5, 129-137) demonstrou um perfil promissor, sendo que o composto 131 apresentou uma inibição mais expressiva (69,4%) em relação aos outros compostos. Os resultados químicos e biológicos promissores aqui demonstrados indicam a viabilidade em utilizar essa classe química estudada para encontrar substâncias mais ativas as quais podem representar uma nova entidade terapêutica. / This work describes the synthesis and the pharmacological evaluation of various δ-valerolactone derivatives. We first prepared some kavalactone analogues in good yields using microwave-promoted palladium-catalyzed coupling reactions. Several modulations have been done using Heck, Suzuki and Sonogashira reactions. At the same time, we developed a synthetic pathway starting from allylic alcohols and involving a tandem isomerisation-aldolisation reaction with various aldehydes in order to introduce diversity at the C-3, C-5 and C-6 positions of the valerolactone. We focused on the combinatorial chemistry in order to obtain a library of δ-valerolactone derivatives. The Heck coupling was followed by an isomerisation-aldolisation reaction using a fluorated support. The purification steps were much easier using fluorated supports. However, so far this synthetic pathway is only valid in solution. We then tested 34 d-valerolactones analogues to determine their in vitro cytotoxic activity and discovered that one d-valerolactone was slightly active (CI50 < 10μM) on two cell lines (A-375M and B16). Moreover, the in vitro inhibitor effects on whole blood sample showed that δ-valerolactone derivatives might have an interesting antiinflammatory activity. Finally, the in vivo acetic acid test evaluating the analgesic activity of several compounds displayed a high inhibition for the heterocyclic 131 (69.4%).

Le travail présenté dans ce manuscrit est consacré à la synthèse et à l'évaluation pharmacologique de quelques δ-valérolactones. Une première séquence réactionnelle a permis d'accéder aux analogues synthétiques des kavalactones avec de bons rendements en développant notamment des réactions de couplage par activation aux micro-ondes. Diverses modulations ont ensuite été réalisées par des couplages de type Heck, Suzuki et Sonogashira. Parallèlement une deuxième séquence réactionnelle a été mise au point au départ d'alcools allyliques en utilisant une réaction tandem isomérisation-aldolisation avec divers aldéhydes pour entrer différents substituants en position 3, 5 et 6 du cycle lactonique. Notre intérêt s'est aussi porté sur la chimie combinatoire, pour préparer des petites chimiothèques de δ-valérolactones. Nous avons utilisé le couplage de Heck suivi d'une aldolisation/lactonisation à partir d'un support fluoré. Les avantages de ce support fluoré ont permis de simplifier les étapes de purification. La séquence réactionnelle choisie n'a cependant été validée qu'en solution. Concernant l'aspect biologique, l'évaluation de l’activité cytotoxique in vitro de 34 δ-valérolactones seul un composé présente une cytotoxicité modérée sur les lignées cancéreuses B16 et A375M (CI50 < 10μM). Les effets inhibiteurs in vitro sur le sang total permettent de souligner l'intérêt thérapeutique éventuel de cette famille de molécules dans le traitement de l’inflammation. Enfin le test à l'acide acétique in vivo pour évaluer l’activité analgésique de quelques composés a montré une forte inhibition pour l'hétérocycle 131 (69,4%). / A pesquisa e desenvolvimento de medicamentos é um processo complexo e longo que se inicia com a pesquisa básica de um novo composto bioativo em modelos experimentais in vitro e pré-clinicos. Neste trabalho descreve-se a síntese de d-valerolactonas e avaliação biológica. Uma primeira rota sintética permitiu obter análogos das kavalactones com bons rendimentos através de reações de aldolisação e acoplamentos do tipo Heck e Suzuki com o auxílio do forno de microondas. Paralelamente outra estratégia sintética foi realizada através de modulações no anel aromático ligado ao núcleo lactônico, com reações do tipo Heck, Suzuki e Sonogashira, com excelentes rendimentos. Outra sequência reacional foi desenvolvida a partir de álcoois alílicos utilizando a reação conhecida como tandem isomerisação/aldolisação com diversos aldeídos obtendo lactonas substituídas em posição 3, 5 e 6 do ciclo lactônico. Objetivou-se também neste estudo, a partir do princípio da química combinatória, preparar uma pequena quimioteca de d-valerolactones. Para tanto se desenvolveu uma seqüência reacional a partir do suporte fluorado em função das vantagens deste método em relação à Síntese Orgânica em Fase Sólida (SOFS), esta rota sintética foi acompanhada em solução. No que se refere ao aspecto biológico, foram avaliados 35 compostos sintetizados sobre a atividade citotóxica. No entanto apenas um composto apresentou uma leve atividade (CI50 < 10μM) sobre as linhagens celulares testadas (A-375M e B16). Em relação à avaliação antiinflamatória in vitro observou-se atividade interessante sobre o composto 61 na inbição do TNFa no sangue total. A avaliação do potencial antinociceptivo dos 10 compostos testados (5, 129-137) demonstrou um perfil promissor, sendo que o composto 131 apresentou uma inibição mais expressiva (69,4%) em relação aos outros compostos. Os resultados químicos e biológicos promissores aqui demonstrados indicam a viabilidade em utilizar essa classe química estudada para encontrar substâncias mais ativas as quais podem representar uma nova entidade terapêutica. / This work describes the synthesis and the pharmacological evaluation of various δ-valerolactone derivatives. We first prepared some kavalactone analogues in good yields using microwave-promoted palladium-catalyzed coupling reactions. Several modulations have been done using Heck, Suzuki and Sonogashira reactions. At the same time, we developed a synthetic pathway starting from allylic alcohols and involving a tandem isomerisation-aldolisation reaction with various aldehydes in order to introduce diversity at the C-3, C-5 and C-6 positions of the valerolactone. We focused on the combinatorial chemistry in order to obtain a library of δ-valerolactone derivatives. The Heck coupling was followed by an isomerisation-aldolisation reaction using a fluorated support. The purification steps were much easier using fluorated supports. However, so far this synthetic pathway is only valid in solution. We then tested 34 d-valerolactones analogues to determine their in vitro cytotoxic activity and discovered that one d-valerolactone was slightly active (CI50 < 10μM) on two cell lines (A-375M and B16). Moreover, the in vitro inhibitor effects on whole blood sample showed that δ-valerolactone derivatives might have an interesting antiinflammatory activity. Finally, the in vivo acetic acid test evaluating the analgesic activity of several compounds displayed a high inhibition for the heterocyclic 131 (69.4%).

Replication-deficient adenovirus (Ad) and modified vaccinia virus Ankara (MVA) vectors expressing single Plasmodium falciparum antigens can induce potent T cell and antibody responses and have entered clinical testing using a heterologous prime-boost immunisation approach (Ad_MVA). This thesis describes a number of pre-clinical approaches aimed at enhancing the efficacy of these viral vectored vaccines targeting the blood-stage of malaria. First, the development of a highly efficacious malaria vaccine is likely to require a multi-antigen and/or multi-stage subunit vaccine. The utility of an Ad_MVA immunisation regime combining vaccines expressing the 42kDa C-terminus of the blood- stage antigen merozoite surface protein 1 (MSP142) and the pre-erythrocytic antigen circumsporozoite protein (CSP) in the P. yoelii mouse model was investigated. It was found that vaccine co- administration leads to maintained antibody responses and efficacy against blood-stage infection, but reduced secondary CD8+ T cell responses and efficacy against liver-stage infection. CD8+ T cell interference can be minimised by co-administering the MVA vaccines at separate sites, resulting in enhanced liver-stage efficacy. The mechanisms of CD8+ T cell interference were explored. Second, Ad_MVA regimes expressing blood-stage antigens that can protect against P. chabaudi and P. yoelii blood-stage infection were tested against P. berghei, but did not confer protection. Similarly, IgG from rabbits immunised against P. falciparum MSP1 (PfMSP1) could not protect mice from a chimeric P. berghei parasite expressing PfMSP1. Third, two molecular adjuvants, the C4bp α-chain oligomerisation domain (IMX108/313) and the Fc fragment of murine IgG2a, were tested for their ability to enhance immunogenicity of recombinant adenoviruses when fused at the C-terminus of a blood-stage antigen. IMX108/313 was found to adjuvant T cell responses of small (< 80kDa) antigens and this was associated with antigen oligomerisation. However, the Fc fragment did not adjuvant responses. Finally, it was found that using a strong early promoter to drive antigen expression enhances the immunogenicity of single administration MVA vaccines, but that this did not enhance post-boost immunogenicity in an Ad_MVA regime.

No description available.

L'asma és una malaltia d'etiologia complexa, formada per factors genètics i ambientals, on la interrelació de ambdós factors mitjançant interaccions gen-ambient juga un paper clau. L'objectiu d'aquesta tesi ha sigut aprofundir en el coneixement del paper dels polimorfismes genètics, i la seva interacció amb factors ambientals, en la ocurrència d'asma, atòpia i hiperreactivitat bronquial. Aquest objectiu ha estat desenvolupat a través de la replicació de variants genètiques prèviament identificades, l'avaluació d'interaccions gen-ambient i la identificació de nous gens de susceptibilitat mitjançant un disseny basat en el genotipatge de variants genètiques all llarg del genoma en pools d'ADN. La tesi ha estat majoritàriament duta a terme dins l'estudi European Community Respiratory Health Survey (ECRHS) que està comprès per 5.000 individus seguits durant 9 anys, pels quals es disposa d'un qüestionari complet sobre símptomes respiratoris, avaluacions clíniques, informació sobre exposicions ambientals i mostres de ADN. Aquesta tesi a replicat l'associació del polimorfismes dels gens TNFA i NPSR1 amb asma. A més s'han establert les interaccions entre TNFA i obesitat, NQO1 i contaminació atmosfèrica, i NPSR1 i edat d'inici d'asma. L'anàlisi de pools d' ADN ha permès associar la regió on es situa el gen SGK493 amb atòpia. Aquesta tesi contribueix al coneixement de l'etiologia d'asma amb la identificació i replicació d'associacions genètiques i interaccions gen-ambient. / Asthma is a disease with a complex etiology, involving multiple genetic and environmental factors, and with an important role of the interplay of these factors through gene-environment interactions. In this thesis I aimed to advance our knowledge on the importance of genetic polymorphisms and their interaction with environmental data for the occurrence of asthma and related phenotypes (atopy and bronchial hyperreactivity). This objective was developed through the replication of genetic associations previously reported, the assessment of gene-environment interactions and the identification of new susceptibility genes using genome-wide analysis based on a pooling DNA strategy. The thesis was, mostly, performed within the European Community Respiratory Health Survey (ECRHS). This cohort has information and DNA samples from approximately 5,000 adult subjects followed-up for 9 years, with extensive questionnaires on respiratory symptoms, clinical evaluations and information on environmental exposures. This thesis replicates previous effects on asthma of polymorphisms in TNFA and NPSR1 genes. In addition, interactions have been established between TNFA and obesity, NQO1 and air-pollution, and NPSR1 and age at onset of asthma. The approach based on genome-wide analysis of DNA pools identified the SGK493 region being associated with atopy. This thesis contributes to the understanding of the etiology of asthma through the identification and replication of genetic associations and gene-environment interactions.

No description available.