Na maioria dos países, a incidência e prevalência da doença renal crônica (DRC) vem aumentando ao longo dos anos. Embora tenha havido uma melhora significativa no manejo da DRC com os inibidores do sistema renina-angiotensina-aldosterona, a doença ainda é progressiva, levando a necessidade do surgimento de novas estratégias protetoras. A fibrose renal progressiva está presente na DRC e envolve a participação de várias citocinas, com destaque para o fator Transforming growth factor- beta1 (TGF-beta1). Tem sido demonstrado que a mortalidade de pacientes com DRC está diretamente relacionada à função renal e está associada a riscos tradicionais como cardiovasculares e infecções. Entretanto, esses riscos tradicionais explicam apenas metade das causas de mortalidade nesses pacientes. Evidências crescentes mostram que o status de vitamina D pode ser um fator de risco não tradicional para a evolução da DRC. Tendo em vista o importante papel da vitamina D na manutenção das funções fisiológicas essenciais e a observação da queda dos níveis deste hormônio na DRC, torna-se relevante o estudo da deficiência de vitamina D nos eventos envolvidos na evolução crônica da lesão renal aguda em modelo experimental de isquemia/reperfusão renal. Ratos Wistar foram divididos em quatro grupos: controle, animais que receberam dieta padrão; dVD, animais que receberam dieta depletada em vitamina D; Isq, animais que receberam dieta padrão e foram submetidos ao insulto de isquemia/reperfusão renal bilateral no 28º dia; Isq+dVD, animais que receberam dieta depletada em vitamina D e foram submetidos ao insulto de isquemia/reperfusão bilateral no 28º dia. Ao final dos 90 dias do protocolo, os animais foram submetidos à eutanásia, amostras de sangue, urina e o tecido renal foram coletados para a análise dos mecanismos de lesão renal. Os animais submetidos ao insulto de isquemia/reperfusão renal apresentaram hipertrofia renal, aumento dos níveis de pressão arterial média, colesterol e de PTH plasmático. Além disso, foi observada expansão da área intersticial, aumento do infiltrado de macrófagos/monócitos, da expressão de colágeno IV, fibronectina, vimentina e alfa-actina e redução da expressão da proteína Klotho. A deficiência de vitamina D contribuiu para a elevação dos níveis plasmáticos de PTH e aumento da proteinúria assim como para as alterações túbulo-intersticiais crônicas importantes (fibrose e infiltrado inflamatório do interstício, dilatação e atrofia tubular), aumento da expressão da citocina TGF-beta1 expressão do receptor de vitamina D (VDR) e da proteína Klotho, observados nos animais deficientes em vitamina D submetidos ao insulto de isquemia/reperfusão renal. Portanto, através de vias inflamatórias e com participação do fator de crescimento TGF-beta1 ê um fator agravante para o dano túbulo-intersticial e formação de fibrose intersticial nesse modelo experimental de isquemia/reperfusão renal / In most countries, the incidence and prevalence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) has been increasing over the years. Although there was a significant improvement in the management of CKD with renin-angiotensin-system inhibitors, the disease is still progressive, leading to the need of emergence of new protective strategies. The progressive renal fibrosis is present in CKD and involves the participation of several cytokines, especially the Transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1). It has been shown that the mortality of patients with CKD is directly related to renal function, which is associated to traditional risk factors such as cardiovascular diseases and infections. However, these traditional risk factors explain only half of the causes of mortality in these patients. Growing evidence shows that vitamin D status may be a non-traditional risk factor for the progression of CKD. Considering the important role of vitamin D in the maintenance of essential physiological functions and the observation of low levels of this hormone in CKD, the study of vitamin D deficiency in the events involved in chronic evolution of acute kidney injury in an experimental model of ischemia/reperfusion becomes relevant. Wistar rats were divided into four groups : control, animals received a standard diet ; dVD, animals received a vitamin D-depleted diet ; Isq, animals received a standard diet and were subjected to bilateral renal ischemia/reperfusion injury on day 28; Isq +dVD, animals received a vitamin D-depleted diet and were subjected to bilateral renal ischemia/reperfusion injury on day 28 . At the end of the 90 days of the protocol, the animals were euthanized and samples of blood, urine and kidney tissue were collected for analysis of the mechanisms of renal injury. The animals subjected to the insult of ischemia/ reperfusion showed renal hypertrophy, increased levels of mean blood pressure, cholesterol and plasma PTH. Furthermore, expansion of the interstitial area, increased infiltration of macrophages/monocytes, increased expression of collagen IV, fibronectin, vimentin and alpha-actin, and reduced expression of Klotho protein were observed. The vitamin D deficiency contributed to the elevation of plasma PTH levels and increased proteinuria as well as for important chronic tubulo-interstitial changes (fibrosis and inflammatory infiltration of the interstitium, tubular dilation and atrophy), increased expression of cytokine TGF-beta1 vitamin D receptor (VDR) and Klotho protein observed in vitamin D-deficient animals subjected to the insult of renal ischemia/reperfusion. Therefore, through inflammatory pathways and involvement of TGF-beta1 w y aggravating factor in tubulointerstitial damage and formation of interstitial fibrosis in this experimental model of renal ischemia/reperfusion

A expressão de Smads e de membros da família AP1/ jun-fos podem refletir alterações da via de TGFb, uma via importante para o câncer epidermóide de cabeça e pescoço (HNSCC). Encontramos expressão aumentada dos mRNAs das Smads1-8 em HNSCC em comparação com tecido normal adjacente, por RPA. Além disso, as curvas de sobrevida de Kaplan Meier e a análise multivariada mostraram que a Smad6+ parece ser um fator determinante de bom prognóstico em HNSCC. Quanto a família AP-1, mensurado por Northern blot, somente Fra-1 mostrou-se aumentado no tumor e associado à presença de linfonodos comprometidos. Nossos dados sugerem que a positividade de Smad6 possa ser marcador de bom prognóstico em HNSCC / Smad and AP1 messenger RNA expression may underlie disruptions affecting TGFb signaling in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Analysis of Smads1-8 mRNA expression by RPA has shown Smad expression is globally increased in tumor as compared to adjacent normal tissue. Kaplan Meier survival curves and multivariate analysis revealed that Smad6 positivity in tumor was an independent good prognostic factor in HNSCC. In relation to AP-1, as measured by Northern blot, only Fra-1 was overexpressed in tumor and directly related to the presence of lymph node involvement. Our data suggest that Smad6 may be a marker of good prognosis in HNSCC

Submitted by Renata Lopes (renatasil82@gmail.com) on 2016-07-18T17:29:53Z No. of bitstreams: 1 fabianaaparecidamayrinkdeoliveira.pdf: 602450 bytes, checksum: 44abccc7edd994e7c93876d1aac063dd (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Adriana Oliveira (adriana.oliveira@ufjf.edu.br) on 2016-07-22T15:11:02Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 fabianaaparecidamayrinkdeoliveira.pdf: 602450 bytes, checksum: 44abccc7edd994e7c93876d1aac063dd (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-07-22T15:11:02Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 fabianaaparecidamayrinkdeoliveira.pdf: 602450 bytes, checksum: 44abccc7edd994e7c93876d1aac063dd (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011-02-24 / CAPES - Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / FAPEMIG - Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de Minas Gerais / Justificativa e Objetivo: Independente da etiologia, a doença renal crônica (DRC) envolve fibrose generalizada e progressiva do tecido, atrofia tubular e a perda da função renal. Atualmente, as terapias eficazes para esta condição são escassas. Neste estudo, foram investigados os efeitos da terapia laser de baixa intensidade (LLLT) sobre a fibrose intersticial, que ocorre após obstrução ureteral unilateral (OUU) em ratos, um modelo experimental de doença renal crônica. Materiais e Métodos: Foram utilizados 32 ratos Wistar, 8 em cada grupo, machos, com 250 a 300g de peso aproximadamente e 8 semanas de idade. O rim obstruído de metade dos ratos, submetidos à OUU receberam dose única intra-operatória do LLLT (AlGaAs laser, 780 nm, 22,5 J / cm ², 30 mW, 30 segundos em cada um dos nove pontos). Após 14 dias, a fibrose renal foi avaliada pela coloração por picrosírius e medição da área transversal sob luz polarizada. Análise imunohistoquímica quantificou células do tecido renal que expressam marcadores de fibroblastos (FSP-1) e miofibroblastos (α-SMA). RT-PCR foi realizado para determinar a expressão de mRNA de genes chaves relacionados com a fibrose: TGF-β1, Smad3 e colágeno I (Col I). Resultados: No grupo OUU e tratado pelo LLLT os animais apresentaram menos fibrose renal do que os animais obstruídos (OUU). α-SMA, TGF-β1 e Smad3 foram aumentados no interstício renal de ratos OUU. LLLT reduziu a expressão de todas essas moléculas. LLLT não parece ter um efeito significativo no Col I ou FSP-1, que também foram induzidos por OUU. Conclusão: Pela primeira vez, nós mostramos que LLLT tem um efeito protetor em relação à fibrose intersticial renal. Entende-se que, atenuando a inflamação, a laserterapia pode impedir a ativação tubular e transdiferenciação, que são os dois processos principais que formam a fibrose renal no modelo OUU. / Background and Objective: Regardless of the etiology, chronic kidney disease (CKD) involves progressive widespread tissue fibrosis, tubular atrophy and loss of kidney function. At present, effective therapies to this condition are lacking. We investigated the effects of low level laser therapy (LLLT) on the interstitial fibrosis that occurs after unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) in rats, an experimental model of CKD. Study Design/Materials and Methods: We used 32 Wistar rats, 8 in each group, males, 250 to 300g weight and 8 weeks old. The occluded kidney of half of the Wistar rats that underwent UUO received a single intraoperative dose of LLLT (AlGaAs laser, 780 nm, 22.5 J/cm², 30 mW, 30 seconds on each of nine points). After 14 days, renal fibrosis was assessed by Sirius red staining and measurement of the cross-sectional area under polarized light. Immunohistochemical analyses quantitated the renal tissue cells that expressed fibroblast (FSP-1) and myofibroblast (α-SMA) markers. RT-PCR was performed to determine the mRNA expression of key fibrosis-related genes, namely TGF-β1, Smad3 and collagen I (Col I). Results: The UUO-LLLT animals had less severe renal fibrosis than OUU animals. α- SMA, TGF-β1 and Smad3 were increased in the renal interstitium of UUO rats. LLLT reduced the expression of all of these molecules. LLLT did not appear to have a significant effect on Col I or FSP-1, which were also induced by UUO. Conclusion: For the first time, we showed LLLT had a protective effect regarding renal interstitial fibrosis. It is conceivable that by attenuating inflammation, LLLT can prevent tubular activation and transdifferentiation, which are the two processes that mainly drive the renal fibrosis of the UUO model.

Oral Submucous Fibrosis (OSF) is a chronic inflammatory disease resulting in progressive fibrosis of the oral tissues that can cause difficulty in chewing, swallowing, speaking, and mouth opening. Epidemiological studies have shown that OSF is a precancerous condition and 2-8% of the OSF patients develop squamous cell carcinoma. This disease affects 0.5% of the population in the Indian subcontinent and is now a growing public health issue in many parts of the world. Habit of chewing betel quid has been proposed as an important etiological factor in the development of this disease and is coline, a principle alkaloid of areca nut is considered as major causative factor for OSF development. But the exact molecular mechanism of OSF pathogenesis is not known. Therefore, we set the following objectives for this study: 1) Gene expression profiling of OSF using microarray. 2) Role of areca nut constituents in OSF pathogenesis. 3) Effect of areca nut on epithelial and fibroblast cells. In order to delineate the possible molecular mechanism of OSF pathogenesis, we took microarray approach and identified differentially regulated genes in ten OSF tissues against eight pooled normals using whole human genome oligonucleotide arrays. Microarray results revealed differential expression of 5288 genes (p≤0.05 and Fold change≥1.5), among them 2884 were up-regulated and 2404 were down-regulated. Validation employing quantitative real-time PCR and immunohistochemistry confirmed up-regulation of transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), TGFBI, THBS1, SPP1, TIG1 and down-regulation of bone morphogenic protein 7 (BMP7), C4orf7 and ALOX12 in OSF tissues. Furthermore, activation of TGF-β pathway was evident in OSF tissues as demonstrated by p-SMAD2 strong immunoreactivity. Analysis of IHC data showed that in all the normal tissues and in 70% of the OSF tissues the expression of TGF-β and BMP7 are inversely correlated. In good correlation, treatment of keratinocytes (HaCaT) by TGF-βdown-regulated BMP7, while BMP7 expression could not be detected in fibroblast cells. Hence, the imbalance between TGF-βand BMP7 signalling, which are positive and negative modulators of extracellular matrix production, respectively may trigger the manifestation of OSF. We also studied the regulation few genes (CTGF, TGM2 and THBS1) identified in OSF microarray in response to TGF-βand arecoline. TGF-βwas able to induce all the above genes in both HaCaT and hGF cells but arecoline could only induce TGM2 in hGF and THBS1 in HaCaT. Therefore TGF-βpathway came out to be the most important pathway in OSF microarray and subsequent validations. But areca nut constituents responsible for TGF-βpathway activation and the source (epithelial or fibroblast cells) through which it activates TGF-βare not known. In an attempt to understand the role of areca nut and its constituents in inducing TGF-βsignalling in epithelial cells, we performed microarray on epithelial cells (HaCaT) treated with areca nut water extract. Surprisingly, 64% of the differentially regulated genes by areca nut water extract matched with TGF-βinduced gene expression profile. To find out areca nut induced genes through TGF-β, epithelial cells were treated with areca nut in presence of ALK5 (TβRI) inhibitor. Out of 64% differentially induced genes, 57% genes induced by areca nut got compromised in presence of ALK5 and 7% were independently induced by areca nut, highlighting the effect of areca nut via TGF-β. Accordingly, areca nut treatment induced both p-SMAD2 and TGF-βdownstream targets TGFBI, TGM2, TMEPAI and THBS1 in HaCaT cells. One possible mechanism of TGF-βsignalling induction by areca nut could be via induced ligand (TGF-β2) and its activator (THBS1). Induction of TGF-β2 ligand by areca nut was shown at both RNA (Real Time) and protein (ELISA) levels. To find out areca nut components responsible for inducing TGF-β signalling, areca nut fractionation was performed which gave three fractions namely, Ethyl acetate (polyphenol), water supernatant (alkaloids) and Dichloromethane (impurity). Out of these; polyphenol and alkaloid fractions were found to be responsible for the induction of TGF-β signalling and its downstream targets. Upon treatment with purified components, catechin and tannin of polyphenol fraction and arecoline, arecaidine and guvacine of alkaloid fraction were found to be responsible for inducing TGF-β signalling, as seen by increased appearance of phopho-SMAD2 in HaCaT cells. Areca nut treatment on human gingival fibroblast cells (hGF) did not induce TGF-β signalling, highlighting that the source of TGF-β induction by areca nut could possibly be the epithelium. Further treatment of areca nut along with TGF-β on hGF cells potentiated TGF-β effect both in terms of TGF-β downstream targets like TGFBI, TGM2, TMEPAI, COL1A1 etc and activation of fibroblast by inducing α-SMA. Increasing concentration of areca nut is cytotoxic on HaCaT cells and pro-proliferative on hGF cells. This could provide a possible explanation for epithelial atrophy and proliferating fibroblast cells in connective tissue of OSF patients. Further exploration on HaCaT cell cytotoxicity by areca nut suggests the involvement of Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) as a key molecule induced by areca nut. Compromising ROS generation by NAC (N-Acetyl-L-Cysteine) led to reversal of Sub-G1 peak induced by areca nut in HaCaT cells. This highlighted that cell death caused by areca nut could be ROS mediated. Areca nut treatment on hGF cells did not induce ROS generation, leading to no cytotoxicity on these cells. A possible explanation of this differential ROS generation can be due to dose dependent suppression of Catalase activity by areca nut in HaCaT cells but not in hGF cells. We also compared cytotoxicity of areca nut with all the alkaloids and found a good match with arecoline as both of them induce ROS, apoptotic ladder formation, annexin V positivity, suppression of Catalase activity and the cell death induced by them was compromised by NAC. The above results indicated that arecoline could be a mediator of areca nut water extract cytotoxicity on HaCaT cells. Betel nut chewer’s oral epithelium gets regularly exposed to areca nut and hence this exposure could be cytotoxic to oral epithelial cells too. We performed Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) in normal and OSF tissues. Our data showed 62.5% of OSF patients having significant percentage of epithelial cells with TUNEL positivity (Labeling index = 2-60%) compared to all normal tissues that were TUNEL negative. TUNEL positivity was predominantly seen in the upper keratin and supra basal layer of the epithelium. We also studied proliferation status of OSF epithelium and observed that 3-17% (LI) of epithelial cells in all normal tissues showed Ki-67 positivity in the germinal layer of epithelium. However, 65% of the OSF patients showed staining for Ki-67 (LI=.2-58%) in their epithelium. Also analysis of TUNEL positive and Ki-67 positive sections indicated that OSF patients with high TUNEL positivity have high Ki-67 labeling index, but stains in the supra basal or keratin layer (TUNEL) and basal layer (Ki-67) of epithelium respectively. This induced proliferation of epithelial cells could be the result of heavy apoptosis in the outer epithelium. But as these patients are regularly exposed to areca nut, this increased proliferation may not be able to cope up with the heavy apoptosis induced by areca nut, leading to atrophied epithelium. To understand the germinal status of OSF atrophied epithelium we performed staining for OCT4 in OSF tissues. To our surprise there were no OCT4 positive nuclei in the epithelium of 53% of OSF patients but a regular spread of OCT4 positivity has been seen in the epithelium of normal subjects. In conclusion, this thesis highlights the involvement of TGF-β pathway in OSF patho-physiology. In addition, activation of TGF-β pathway by areca nut constituents has been demonstrated. Moreover, the atrophied epithelium of OSF appears to be a consequence of apoptosis and stem cell deprivation. Taken together, areca nut perhaps causes atrophy of the epithelium and activates TGF-β pathway that may lead to manifestation of OSF.

No description available.

Das Lipopolysaccharid Bindende Protein (LBP) ist ein überwiegend in der Leber synthetisiertes Akutphaseprotein. Es bindet den Zellwandbestandteil Lipopolysaccharid (LPS) Gram-negativer Bakterien und transportiert es zu zellulären Rezeptoren, wodurch das angeborene Immunsystem aktiviert wird. In dieser Arbeit wird die Regulation der LBP-Expression in Interleukin (IL)-1, IL-6 und Dexamethason (Dex) stimulierten humanen Hepatomzelllinien HuH-7 und HepG2 untersucht. Der wichtigste Stimulator ist dabei IL-6, dessen Wirkung über die Transkriptionsfaktoren (TF) Stat-3, C/EBP-beta und AP-1 vermittelt wird. Für alle 3 TF konnten aktive Bindungsstellen auf dem LBP-Promotor nachgewiesen werden. Für IL-1-Effekte die u. a. über den TF NF-kappaB vermittelt werden, konnten ebenfalls aktive Bindungsstellen nachgewiesen werden. Die Wirkung von Dex wird über Glucocorticoid Responsive Elements (GREs) vermittelt. Auf dem LBP-Promotor befinden, sich wie gezeigt werden konnte, mehrere aktive GREs, wobei einige verstärkend und einige hemmend wirken. Eine zu beobachtende Synergiewirkung von Dex und IL-6 wird durch die Aufregulation des IL-6-Rezeptors durch Dex verursacht. Die LBP-Expression kann durch TGF (Transforming Growth Factor)-beta gehemmt werden. Der TGF-beta-Signalweg über Smads ist in den Hepatomzellen aktiv, vermittelt aber nicht den TGF-beta-Hemmeffekt, sondern eine geringe stimulierende Wirkung, die bei alleiniger TGF-beta-Inkubation auftritt. Die inhibierende Wirkung von TGF-beta wird durch Gfi-1- und AP-1-Bindungsstellen vermittelt. Die Gfi-1-Bindungsstelle nimmt dabei, wie hier erstmals gezeigt werden konnte, eine herausragende Stellung ein. Die Aufklärung der LBP-Regulation und dabei besonders die Hemmung der LBP-Expression kann mittelfristig dazu beitragen, den klinischen Verlauf von inflammatorischen und infektiösen Erkrankungen zu beeinflussen und bietet daher Potenzial für neue Therapieansätze. / Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) binding protein (LBP) is an acute phase protein with the ability to bind and transfer LPS of Gram-negative bacteria. This soluble pattern recognition molecule represents an important defense principle of the host. Regulation of the hepatic acute phase response and its termination are important mechanisms for limiting systemic inflammatory activity of the host. Here were analyze the cooperation of Interleukin (IL)-1, IL-6, and Dexamethasone (Dex) at LBP expression in the hepatoma cell lines HuH-7 and Hep G2. The major inducer of LBP expression is IL-6. Within the LBP promoter numerously highly consensus binding sites such as AP-1, C/EBP-beta? and STAT3 are present, that confer transcriptional activity as shown by truncation and mutation experiments. Additionally, activate NF-kappaB sites activated by IL-1 were detected at the LBP promoter. By mutation experiments of the promoter furthermore were found differentially active glucocorticoid response elements (GREs). The promoter contains GREs enhancing the activity as well as inhibitory ones. The enhancing effect towards LBP expression by Dex was mediated by IL-6. Dex stimulated the expression of the IL-6 receptor and therefore upregulated the IL-6 pathway. Transforming Growth Factor (TGF)-beta is able to inhibit LBP expression in stimulated cells. An AP-1 binding site was identified mediating inhibitory TGF-beta effects towards LBP promoter activity. Furthermore it was shown that a growth factor independence (Gfi)-1 binding site localized near the AP-1 site is essential for mediating the TGF-beta inhibitory effect. The relevancy of the Gfi-1 site fore mediating TGF-beta effects indicates a novel mechanism for understanding inhibitory TGF-beta effects at the transcriptional level. In summary the complex regulation of LBP were elucidate which may help to eventually develop novel intervention strategies for acute phase, sepsis, and septic shock.