Thesis (Ph.D. in Toxicology) -- University of Colorado Denver, 2007. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 130-174).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Missouri--Columbia, 1998. / Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (l. 140-148). Also available on the Internet.

Orientador: Erick da Cruz Castelli / Resumo: O Complexo Principal de Histocompatibilidade (MHC) é um complexo gênico que está intimamente envolvido com a regulação do sistema imune. Esse complexo comporta o sistema de Antígenos Leucocitários Humano (HLA), cuja principal importância está relacionada com o reconhecimento do que é próprio ou não do organismo. HLA-C é o gene polimórfico menos variável dos genes HLA clássicos e o que tem menor expressão nos tecidos, exceto na interface materno-fetal, em que é o único gene clássico expresso. A molécula codificada por esse gene possui significante função na apresentação antigênica e regulação da atividade de células NK, o que permite uma íntima associação com situações fisiológicas, como gestação, e patológicas, como doenças infecciosas, autoimunes, inflamatórias, neoplasias e rejeições a enxertos transplantados. Sua porção gênica mais estudada é a que codifica a fenda de ligação a peptídeos antigênicos, devido sua destacada importância na apresentação de antígenos a células T citotóxicas. No entanto, outras regiões do gene, que são negligenciadas nos estudos de variabilidade, também merecem destaque por influenciarem na sinalização e modulação da citotoxicidade de células efetoras, na ancoragem e estabilidade da molécula na membrana plasmática e na internalização e reciclagem da molécula HLA-C. Desta maneira, nós exploramos a variabilidade dos segmentos que codificam α3 (éxon 4), transmembrana (éxon 5) and cauda citoplasmática (éxon 6 and éxon 7) da molécula HLA-C em uma popu... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: The Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) is a gene complex closely involved in the regulation of the immune system. This complex includes the Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) system, whose main role is related to the recognition of self/non-self structures of humans. HLA-C is the least variable polymorphic gene of classical HLA genes and has the lowest expression in tissues, except at the maternal-fetal interface, where it is the only classical HLA class I expressed gene. The molecule encoded by this gene has a significant role in the antigen presentation and regulation of NK cells activities, which allows an intimate association with physiological conditions, such as pregnancy, and pathological conditions like infectious, autoimmune, and inflammatory diseases, cancer, and transplantation rejection. The most studied HLA-C portion is that encoding the peptide-binding groove, due to its outstanding importance in presentation of antigens to cytotoxic T cells. However, other regions of the gene, which are neglected in the variability studies, are also important in influencing the signaling and modulation of effector cell cytotoxicity, in the anchorage and stability of the molecule on the cell surface, and in the internalization and recycling of the HLA-C molecule. Here, we explore the variability of the segments encoding the α3 (exon 4), transmembrane (exon 5) and cytoplasmic tail (exon 6 and exon 7) domains of the HLA-C molecule in an admixed population sample from Southeastern B... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Mestre

Le domaine transmembranaire des récepteurs membranaires est aujourd’hui considéré comme essentiel dans l’activation et la régulation des voies de signalisation sous-jacentes. Ceci est tout particulièrement le cas pour neuropiline-1 et -2 (NRP1/2), et ErbB2, trois récepteurs impliqués dans la croissance tumorale. Notre laboratoire a initialement démontré qu’un peptide ciblant le domaine transmembrane du récepteur NRP1, bloque l’oligomérisation de ce récepteur et provoque ainsi l’inhibition de la prolifération/migration des cellules tumorales et l’angiogenèse in vivo. L’objectif principal de ce travail de thèse était d’élargir cette stratégie aux récepteurs membranaires NRP2 et ErbB2, et ce, dans le contexte du cancer du sein. Mes travaux montrent que ces peptides inhibent la pousse tumorale et les métastases associées dans différents modèles de cancer du sein. Les effets anti-tumoraux peuvent s’expliquer par les propriétés anti-angiogéniques et anti-prolifératives des peptides démontrées in vitro et in vivo. J’ai également disséqué le mécanisme d’action du peptide ErbB2 et montré que le peptide inhibiteur de NRP2 induit des effets secondaires rédhibitoires (promotion des métastases osseuses). Dans l’ensemble, mes recherches valident le potentiel thérapeutique de cette stratégie peptidique et renforce l’idée d’un développement clinique de ces composés. D’une terre inconnue à une terre d’espoir, le cœur de la membrane est incontestablement une nouvelle source d’inspiration pour le développement des médicaments de demain. / The role of transmembrane domains (TMD) in membrane receptor activation and regulation is nowadays appearing as a key step of cell signaling. This has been indeed evaluated for neuropilin-1 and -2 (NRP1/2) and ErbB2 receptors, three membrane receptors whose signaling has clearly been implicated in tumorigenesis. Our team had demonstrated that a synthetic peptide blocking the transmembrane domain of NRP1 blocked NRP1-dependent signaling leading to the inhibition of glioma cell proliferation/migration and tumor associated angiogenesis in vivo. The major goal of this thesis project was to extend this novel strategy to NRP2 and ErbB2 in the breast cancer context. Thus, I was able to demonstrate for the first time that the use of peptides, inhibiting the TMD of these receptors, was able to inhibit tumor growth and related metastases in vivo, in three different breast cancer mouse models that I have developed in the laboratory. These results were supported by in vitro experiments demonstrating anti-proliferative and anti-angiogenic properties of these peptides. Besides, I was able to dissect the mechanism of action of the peptide targeting ErbB2 receptor in vitro and in vivo, and I provided data excluding NRP2 as a target because of an unexpected promotion of bone metastasis. Altogether, my data offer convincing evidences to further develop MTP-ErbB2 and MTP-NRP1 peptides as novel therapeutic compounds for patients suffering metastatic cancers. From terra incognita to the exploration of a world of hope, the heart of the membrane is becoming a new promising estate for drug design.

Orientador: Carmen Silvia Bertuzzo / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Ciencias Medicas / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-09T09:38:13Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Arruda_LeonardoVicentini_M.pdf: 2764603 bytes, checksum: 06a4165f1f812c7be015b1e98fdfc702 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2006 / Resumo: A incidência da fibrose cística no Brasil é significativamente variável, com diferenças de até 20 vezes de acordo com o grupo étnico e região geográfica estudada. A população brasileira é composta da mistura de muitos grupos étnicos. Os portugueses começaram a colonização no século XVI. Os holandeses invadiram o nordeste em 1630. Os africanos foram trazidos ao Brasil, numa contínua migração forçada, que perdurou do século XVI ao século XIX. No final do século XIX, tiveram início novos movimentos migratórios, principalmente da Alemanha, Itália, Arábia e Espanha. Durante as três primeiras décadas do século XX, nova corrente migratória ocorreu, principalmente da Itália, Espanha e Portugal Após a segunda guerra mundial, o Brasil recebeu novos imigrantes (japoneses, judeus) compondo esta população. Este estudo gerou os primeiros dados sobre a incidência da FC no nordeste e também foram obtidos novos dados para a região sudeste. Na época do estudo, na cidade de Campinas estão sob atendimento no ambulatório 70 pacientes não aparentados com dois testes de suor alterados. Nestes pacientes, foram triadas as seguintes mutações. ?F508 (50%), G542X (4,29%), R1162X (2,14%), N1303K (1,43%) e R553X (0,71%). A mutação G551D não foi encontrada. A mutação ?F508 também foi analisada em 1.138 mulheres saudáveis, sendo 694 da cidade de Campinas - SP e 444 de João Pessoa ¿ PB com idade média de 26,3 anos (15-39, ±6,8), que participaram voluntariamente de projeto de pesquisa anterior. Nas amostras coletadas em Campinas n=694 não foi encontrado nenhum alelo mutante 0/1.388, o que nos impediu de calcular a incidência nesta cidade através deste método. Dos 888 alelos analisados de João Pessoa, foram encontrados quatro alelos mutantes (p=0,0045). Sabendo que a mutação ?F508 corresponde a aproximadamente 50% dos alelos de indivíduos com FC no Brasil, a freqüência dos alelos causadores da FC foi estimada utilizando a proporção: (0,0045/0,5)=0,0090. Com isso, para a cidade de João Pessoa a incidência estimada desta doença autossômica recessiva é de 1:12.321 indivíduos. Esta incidência é similar à encontrada por afro-brasileiros, entretanto difere por exemplo, da encontrada na população do RS. Quando utilizamos o método de cruzamento de dados étnicos das duas regiões estudadas com dados literários da doença nos diferentes grupos étnicos, na cidade de Campinas a incidência da FC ficaria em 1/4.434 e na cidade de João Pessoa ficaria 1/6.087 / Abstract: The incidence of the Cystic Fibrosis (CF) is significantly variable in Brazil, with differences larger than 20 fold, according with the ethnic group and geographic studied region. Brazilian population is composed by ethnic admixture. Portuguese started colonization in the 16th century. The Netherlander invaded the northeast in 1630. The Africans were brought to Brazil, in a continuous forced migration, which lasted from 16th to 19th centuries. In the 19th century, new migratory movements have begun from Germany, Italy, Arab and Spain. In the first three decades of the 20th century, started a new migratory flow, mainly from Italy, Spain and Portugal. After the World War II, Brazil received additional immigrants (Japanese, Jewish) compounding its population. These studies generated the first data about the CF incidence on the Brazilian northeast and also were obtained new data about the southeast region. At the time of this study, 70 non related patients were attended at the local CF center in Campinas, with two positive sweat tests in the city of Campinas-SP. On theses patients were screened the following mutations: ?F508 (50%), G542X (4.29%), R1162X (2.14%), N1303K (1.43%) and R553X (0.71%). The mutation G551D wasn¿t found. The ?F508 mutation was also analyzed in 1,138 healthy voluntary women, 694 from Campinas ¿ SP and 444 from João Pessoa ¿ PB, with average age of 26.3 years (15-39, ±6.8), who previously participated from another research. In the samples collected in Campinas ¿ SP n=694 wasn¿t found any mutated allele 0/1,388 and so, we wasn¿t able to make any incidence calculation through this method. In the 888 alleles from João Pessoa, four carry the ?F508 mutation (p=0.0045). Knowing that this mutation accounts for approximately 50% of the FC patients alleles in Brazil, the incidence of the CF in this region was estimated using the proportion: (0.0045/0.5)=0.009. Thus, the estimated incidence of this recessive disease in João Pessoa was 1:12,321. This incidence is similar to the found in African-Brazilians, although differs for example, to the found on the RS population. When we use the method of crossing ethnic data of both studied regions with literary data of the disease in the different ethnic groups, in the city of Campinas, the incidence of the CF would be in 1/4,434 and in the city of João Pessoa would be 1/6,087 / Mestrado / Mestre em Farmacologia

Orientadores: José Dirceu Ribeiro, Francisco Ubaldo Vieira Junior / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-26T00:51:01Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 SouzaGomez_CarlaCristina_M.pdf: 3648408 bytes, checksum: 8fc98c01df413aea0740fb6bb16723a1 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014 / Resumo: Introdução: O teste do suor clássico (TSC) é aceito como padrão-ouro para o diagnóstico da fibrose cística (FC). Objetivo: Comparara estimulação e peso do suor produzido, os efeitos colaterais associados ao uso das correntes, contínua pulsada (CCP) e contínua constante (CCC) e determinar o tempo ideal para a estimulação e para a coleta de suor em indivíduos com e sem FC. Método: Estudo de intervenção prospectivo de corte transversal. Experimento 1(braço direito): CCC e CCP. Tempo de estimulação (TE) de 10min e o de coleta do suor de 30min. Correntes de 0,5; 0,75; 1,0; e 1,5mA e frequências de 0; 200; 1000; e 5000Hz. Experimento 2 (braço esquerdo): Corrente de 1,0mA; TE: 5 e 10min e coleta de 15 e 30min com frequências de 0; 200; 1000; e 5000Hz. Ambos os experimentos foram testados com densidade de corrente (DC) de 0,07 a 0,21mA/cm2. Experimento 3: Avaliar a CCP e a CCC como métodos diagnósticos para a FC comparando com diagnósticos estabelecidos por estudos na biópsia retal e sequenciamento do gene CFTR(do inglês, Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Condutance Regulator). Resultados: Participaram do estudo48 sujeitos (79,16% do sexo feminino), com média de 29,54±8,87 anos de idade. Não houve diferença estatística entre a interação da frequência e da corrente no peso do suor (p=0,75). Houve associação do peso do suor com a frequência de estímulo (p=0,0088) e corrente utilizada para a obtenção de sudorese (p=0,0025). A produção de suor foi maior no tempo de 10min de estimulação (p=0,0023). A coleta do suor foi maior no tempo de 30min (p=0,0019). A impedância da pele não foi influenciada pelo TE e de coleta do suor (p>0,05). A frequência da corrente utilizada mostrou associação inversa com a impedância da pele (p<0,0001). A temperatura da pele mensurada antes da estimulação foi maior que a temperatura após a estimulação (p=0,0001). No experimento 3 (29 indivíduos)a CCP mostrou melhor índice kappa comparada a CCC (0.92versus 0.52, respectivamente). Conclusão: A realização do TSC tanto com CCC quanto CCP utilizando DC de 0,14 a 0,21mA/cm2 mostrou eficácia nas etapas de estimulação e coleta de suor, sem efeitos colaterais. O tempo ideal para a estimulação e para a coleta de suor foi, respectivamente, 10 e 30min / Abstract: Background: The classic sweat test (CST) is still accepted as the goldstandard method for cystic fibrosis (CF) diagnosis. Objective: To compare the production and volume of sweat, the side-effects caused by direct pulsed current (DPC) and direct constant current (DCC) and to determine the stimulation time for stimulation and sweat for collection in CF and non-CF individuals. Method: Prospective study of cross-sectional intervention. Experiment 1 (right arm): DPC and DCC. Stimulation time (ST) of 10min and sweat collection every 30min. Currents of 0.5; 0.75; 1.0; and 1.5mA and frequencies of 0; 200; 1000; and 5000Hz. Experiment 2 (left arm): current of 1mA, ST: 5 and 10min and collection at 15 and 30min interval with frequencies of 0; 200; 1000; and 5000Hz. Both experiments were tested with current density (CD) ranging from 0.07 to 0.21mA/cm2. Experiment 3: To assess CF diagnosis by DPC and DCC methods by comparison with the established by rectal biopsy diagnosis studies and sequencing of the CFTR (Cystic Fribrosis Transmembrane Condutance Regulator) gene. Results: 48 subjects (79.16% female) with mean average of 29.54 ± 8.87 years old participated in this study. There was no statistical differences between the interaction of frequency and current in sweat weight (p=0.7488). An association was found between sweat weight with the frequency of stimulation (p=0.0088) and the current used for sweating (p=0.0025). The sweat production was higher for the 10min stimulation interval (p=0.0023). The best time interval for sweat collection was 30min (p=0.0019). The skin impedance was not influenced by ST and sweat collection time (p>0.05). The frequency of the current used was inversely associated with skin impedance (p<0.0001). The skin temperature measured before the stimulation was higher than after stimulation (p=0.0001). In experiment 3 (29 subjects), the DPC showed better kappa index compared to DCC (0.92 versus 0.52, respectively). Conclusion: ST performance with both DCC and DPC using a CD of 0.14 to 0.21mA/cm2 showed efficacy in both of stimulation and sweat collection steps, without side-effects. The optimal time for stimulation and sweat collection were, respectively, 10 and 30min / Mestrado / Saude da Criança e do Adolescente / Mestra em Ciências

Orientador: Carmen Silvia Bertuzzo / Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-23T02:22:32Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Furgeri_DanielaTenorio_D.pdf: 7382335 bytes, checksum: edfcfca14ac645a69fd4e8e2d2777246 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013 / Resumo: A fibrose cística (FC) é uma doença autossômica recessiva com características de doença complexa. Complicações clínicas parece ser fator decisivo para o prognóstico dos pacientes. Os polimorfismos nos genes ADRA2A e TCF7L2 são importantes para elucidar parte da variabilidade encontrada nas características clínicas de doenças inflamatórias, incluindo a FC, que tem a Diabetes Mellitus como uma importante co-morbidade. Os objetivos deste estudo foram determinar a frequência do polimorfismo rs12255372 no gene TCF7L2 e sua associação com Diabetes Mellitus em pacientes com fibrose cística, e investigar a associação de 27 variáveis clínicas da FC com os polimorfismos rs553668 e rs10885122 do gene ADRA2A. Em nosso estudo, 145 pacientes foram avaliados em relação ao genótipo do polimorfismo rs12255372 no gene TCF7L2 e 176 pacientes foram avaliados em relação à associação dos polimorfismos rs553668 e rs10885122 no gene ADRA2A com 27 variáveis clínicas da FC. Todos os pacientes em atendimento no Ambulatório de Pediatria da Faculdade de Ciências Médicas da UNICAMP foram confirmados como tendo fibrose cística por dois testes de suor alterados (valor de sódio e de cloro superior a 60 mmol / L) e por análise de diferencial do epitélio da membrana do intestino através da dosagem de CFTR pela câmara Ussing. A identificação das mutações do gene CFTR foi realizada no laboratório de Genética Molecular da FCM/Unicamp. O rastreio do polimorfismo rs12255372 foi feito através da técnica de PCR associada à digestão enzimática específica. O rastreio dos polimorfismos rs553668 e rs10885122 no gene ADRA2A foi feito por PCR ARMS. Uma comparação genotípica foi realizada com as 27 variáveis clínicas, da FC considerando as mutações do gene CFTR. Encontramos associações clínicas, sem considerar as mutações no gene CFTR, com as variáveis categóricas: raça [para o polimorfismo rs553668 (p = 0,002), grupo haplotípico (p = 0,014)], íleo Meconial [para o polimorfismo rs553668 (p = 0,030) Quando consideradas as duas mutações no gene CFTR, encontramos associações com as variáveis íleo meconial (p = 0,0012) e IMC [para o polimorfismo rs553668 (p = 0,014)]. A associação com dados numéricos, sem considerar as mutações no gene CFTR, foi positiva para a idade ao diagnóstico [para o polimorfismo rs553668 (p = 0,022)]. Considerando as duas mutações no gene CFTR, a associação com dados numéricos foi positiva para o Escore de Bhalla [para o polimorfismo rs553668 (p = 0,014)], Escore de Shwachman-Kulczycki [para o polimorfismo rs553668 (p = 0,008) e haplótipos (p = 0,050)]. Os polimorfismos rs553668 e rs10885122 no gene ADRA2A parecem ser moduladores da gravidade da FC em nossa amostra. Em nossa amostra, não houve associação entre o polimorfismo rs12255372 no gene TCF7L2 e a Diabetes Mellitus / Abstract: Cystic fibrosis (CF) is an autosomal recessive disease with characteristics of complex disease. Clinical complications appear to be a decisive factor in the prognosis of patients. The ADRA2A and TCF7L2 gene polymorphisms are important to elucidate part of the variability encountered in clinical characteristics in inflammatory diseases, including CF, which has diabetes-associated as an important comorbidity. The aims of this study ware to determine the frequency of polymorphism rs12255372 in the TCF7L2 gene and its association with Diabetes Mellitus in Cystic Fibrosis patients and to investigate the association of 27 CF clinical variables with ADRA2A polymorphisms. In our study, 145 patients were evaluated in relation to the genotype of the rs12255372 polymorphism in the TCF7L2 gene. 176 patients were evaluated in relation to associate rs553668 and rs10885122 polymorphisms in the ADRA2A gene with 27 CF clinical variables. All patients in attendance at the Pediatric Clinic at the Faculty of Medical Sciences, UNICAMP, were confirmed as having cystic fibrosis by two altered sweat tests (sodium and chlorine value greater than 60 mmol/L) and by analysis of differential membrane epithelium of the intestine by the dosage of active CFTR through the Ussing chamber. The identification of CFTR gene mutations was performed in the laboratory of Molecular Genetics, FCM/Unicamp. The rs12255372 polymorphism was screening by PCR method associated with specific enzymatic digestion. The rs553668 and rs10885122 polymorphisms in ADRA2A gene were screening by ARMS-PCR. A genotypic comparison was performed with 27 CF clinical variables, considering CFTR mutations. We found clinical associations, without considering the mutations in the CFTR gene, with categorical variables: race [for polymorphism rs553668 (p = 0.002), haplotype group (p = 0.014)], meconium ileus [for polymorphism rs553668 (p = 0.030). Considering the two mutations in the CFTR gene, we find associations with categorical variables meconium ileus (p = 0.0012) and BMI [for polymorphism rs553668 (p = 0.014)]. The association with numerical data, without considering the mutations in the CFTR gene, was positive for age at diagnosis [for polymorphism rs553668 (p = 0.022)]. Considering the two mutations in the CFTR gene, the association with numerical data was positive for Bhalla score [for polymorphism rs553668 (p = 0.014)], Shwachman-Kulczycki score [for polymorphism rs553668 (p = 0.008) and haplotypes (p = 0.050)]. Polymorphisms rs553668 and rs10885122 in ADRA2A gene appear to be modulators of CF severity in our sample. In our sample, there was no association between the polymorphism rs12255372 in the TCF7L2 gene and Diabetes Mellitus / Doutorado / Clinica Medica / Doutora em Clínica Médica

Orientador: Eulalia Sakano / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-23T20:48:54Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Ng_RonnyTahYen_M.pdf: 2076573 bytes, checksum: 564de0a72c22446e69acd2aaae6840a7 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013 / Resumo: A fibrose cística (FC) é uma doença genética autossômica recessiva, resultante da ausência total na proteína CFTR (Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator), ou de alterações qualitativas ou quantitativas do gene que transcreve esta proteína, em células de diversos órgãos do corpo humano, resultando em inúmeros genótipos e fenótipos desta doença. Em muitos pacientes, o diagnóstico é difícil de ser definido, pelo método clássico de dosagem de sódio e cloro no suor, ou pelo sequenciamento genético, justificando a utilização de novas técnicas de auxílio diagnóstico, como a Diferença de Potencial Nasal (DPN). Este teste proporciona uma forma de avaliação direta e sensível, através do epitélio nasal, do transporte de sódio e cloro das membranas celulares, baseado nas propriedades bioelétricas transepiteliais. O objetivo deste trabalho foi verificar se existe diferença dos valores obtidos no exame de DPN em pacientes com FC em comparação com indivíduos controles saudáveis; e verificar se este teste permite diferenciar pacientes com FC das subclasses funcionais mais graves (I, II, III) das subclasses menos graves (IV, V, VI). Foram incluídos no estudo 15 pacientes FC, 10 com mutações mais graves (grupo A) e 5 com mutações menos graves (grupo B), e 21 controles saudáveis (grupo C). Foram considerados os seguintes parâmetros do teste da DPN: "Finger", PDMax, ?Amilorideo, ?Amilorídeo+livrecloreto e index de Wilchanski. Para a variável "Finger", foi encontrada diferença entre pacientes com FC grupo B - mutações menos graves (classe IV, V ou VI) e indivíduos saudáveis - grupo C. O valor do index de Wilchanski mostrou diferença entre pacientes com FC grupo A - mutações mais graves (classes I, II ou III) e indivíduos saudáveis - grupo C. No nosso estudo, a DPN mostrou valores estatisticamente diferentes entre FC com 2 mutações conhecidas e sujeitos saudáveis. Porém, não conseguiu diferenciar fibrocísticos com mutações mais graves (classes I, II e III) daqueles com mutações consideradas menos graves (classes IV, V e VI) / Abstract: Cystic fibrosis (CF) is an autosomal recessive genetic disease, due to the total absence of protein CFTR (Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator), or due to qualitative or quantitative changes in the gene that transcript this protein in cells of various organs of the human body, resulting in numerous genotypes and phenotypes of the disease. In several patients, the diagnosis is difficult to be defined by the classical method of sodium and chloride dosage in sweat, or by genetic sequencing, justifying the use of new techniques for diagnosis, as the Nasal Potential Difference (NPD). This test provides a way of direct and sensitive assessment of the transport of sodium and chloride ions in cell membranes, via the nasal epithelium, based on transepithelial bioelectric properties. The objective of this work was to verify the difference of the values obtained in the examination of NPD in patients with CF compared with healthy control subjects, and, to verify if this test allows differentiating patients with more severe CF functional subclasses (I, II , III) from patients with less severe CF subclasses (IV, V, VI). This study included 15 CF patients, 10 with more severe mutations (group A) and 5 with less severe mutations (group B), and 21 healthy controls (group C). We considered the following test parameters of NPD: "Finger", PDMax, ?Amiloride, ?Amiloríde+Chloridefree and Wilchanski index. For "Finger" values, it was found difference between patients with CF Group B - less severe mutations (class IV , V or VI) and healthy individuals - group C. The value of Wilchanski index showed difference between group A CF patients, with more severe mutations (class I, II or III) and healthy individuals - group C. In our study, NPD showed statistically different values between CF patients with two known mutations and healthy subjects. However, it was not able to distinguish between CF patients with more severe mutations (class I, II and III) of the CF patientswith less severe mutations (Class IV, V and VI) / Mestrado / Otorrinolaringologia / Mestre em Ciências Médicas

>Magister Scientiae - MSc / Acute respiratory infections (ARI) continue to be the leading cause of acute illnesses worldwide and remain the most important cause of infant and young children mortality. Many viruses such as rhinoviruses, influenza viruses, parainfluenza viruses, respiratory syncytial viruses, adenoviruses and coronaviruses are deemed to be the etiological agents responsible for ARI’s in children. The recently discovered coronaviruses HCoV-HKU1 and HCoV-NL63 contribute significantly to the hospitalization of children with ARI’s. HCoV-NL63 was first identified in 2004, as the pathogen responsible for the hospitalization of a 7 month old child presenting with coryza, conjunctivitis and fever. Since then a significant amount of knowledge has been gained in the clinical spectrum on this virus, however HCoV-NL63 is still not well characterized on the molecular and proteomic level. This dissertation focuses on bringing about this characterization by cloning the HCoV-NL63 Nucleocapsid gene to be expressed in a bacterial system and transfecting the Nucleocapsid, Membrane and Envelope genes into a Mammalian cell culture system in order for its respective proteins to be expressed. With the use of Bioinformatic analytic tools certain characteristics of HCoV-NL63 Nucleocapsid, Membrane and Envelope proteins are able to be identified, as well as certain motifs and/or regions that are important in the functioning of these proteins. By comparing the results obtained for HCoV-NL63 N,M and E to other well studied coronavirus homologous will enlighten us on the potential role(s) of these proteins in determining HCoV-NL63 pathogenicity and infectivity. vi Although certain functions of these proteins can be deduced by the means of bioinformatics analysis, it is still imperative for it to be extensively characterized In Vitro. This will therefore form a fundamental step in the development of many other projects, which unfortunately fall outside the scope of this M.Sc thesis.

Le maintien de l’homéostasie passe notamment par la sécrétion d’hormones provenant des cellules neuro-endocrines ou endocrines telles que les cellules chromaffines ou les cellules b pancréatiques. Par exemple, la régulation de la glycémie nécessite l’exocytose de l’insuline depuis les cellules b pancréatiques des îlots de Langerhans. Une famille de protéines membranaires est au cœur de la machinerie de fusion d’une vésicule avec la membrane plasmique. Ce groupe appelé, la famille des protéines SNARE est composé de trois protéines. VAMP2 est localisée à la membrane vésiculaire alors que syntaxine 1A et SNAP25 sont localisées à la membrane plasmique. Syntaxine 1A et VAMP2 ont un domaine transmembranaire alors que SNAP25 est reliée à la membrane par prénylation de résidus cystéine. Cette famille forme le complexe cytosolique SNARE décrit comme essentiel à l’exocytose. La structure et la fonction du complexe cytosolique ont été étudiées en profondeur et ont mené au modèle du « zipper ». Celui-ci décrit un enroulement progressif des domaines cytosoliques SNARE permettant l’apposition des membranes puis la fusion. Le rôle des domaines transmembranaires reste encore peu décrit. Pourtant, leur étude est nécessaire afin d’établir un modèle complet de la fusion membranaire par les protéines SNARE. Nous avons donc mené une étude alliant une analyse structurale dynamique à une analyse biologique pour déterminer l’importance du domaine transmembranaire de VAMP2 dans la sécrétion. L’analyse biologique représente donc le centre de ma thèse. Le système biologique utilisé est basé sur l’extinction de l’expression de la protéine VAMP2 endogène et l’expression concomitante d’une protéine VAMP2 mutée dans son domaine transmembranaire. Deux lignées cellulaires considérées comme des modèles dans l’étude de la sécrétion hormonale et du trafic vésiculaire ont servi de support à notre étude. Par des approches de microscopies (confocal, TIRF) et d’analyses biochimiques, nous avons observé les conséquences fonctionnelles des mutations ponctuelles, établis par mutagénèse dirigée, sur le trafic vésiculaire et sur la capacité des cellules à sécréter.Les mutations induites présentent différents effets cellulaires. Certaines bloquent la sortie de VAMP2 du réseau golgien alors que d’autres ont un effet important sur la sécrétion hormonale et plus précisément sur l’exocytose. Les études structurales ont permis de corréler ces effets avec une diminution de la flexibilité structurale dans le cas de la diminution de l’exocytose, ou avec une restriction à la conformation hélice alpha dans le cas du sorting. Ce projet pluridisciplinaire a pu mettre en avant le rôle biologique du domaine transmembranaire de VAMP2 au cours de l’exocytose probablement soutenue par la dynamique conformationelle unique observée par le versant structural du projet. / The hormonal secretion plays a key role in the maintenance of homeostasis. For example, the maintenance of normoglycaemia requires insulin exocytosis from the pancreatic beta cells. The SNARE membrane family protein has been described as the core machinery of fusion between the vesicle containing hormones and the plasma membrane. This family consists of 3 different membrane proteins that are essential during exocytosis. VAMP2 is localized on the vesicle and Syntaxin 1A - on the plasma membrane. They both are transmembrane protein whereas SNAP25 is linked to the plasma membrane by palmitoylation. The SNAREs appear to be essential as they form the cytosolic SNARE complex to dock the vesicle to the plasma membrane. Even though the role of this cytosolic domain has been studied in depth, much less is known on the role of their transmembrane domain during the fusion. Their study remains necessary to establish a complete model of membrane fusion mediated by the SNARE proteins.Here, we have studied the behavior and the role of the SNARE transmembrane domain during exocytosis. In a multidisciplinary project, we have combined a structural approach with a biological study to evaluate the role of this domain. Using mutagenesis in the transmembrane domain of VAMP2 and a cellular system with a clean background, we have assessed the effect of mutations on the secretion and exocytosis in two different cell lines (INS1E and PC12). The biological system is based on the silencing of endogenous VAMP2 and reconstitution of the expression of VAMP2 wt or mutated in the transmembrane domain. Using biochemistry assay and TIRF microscopy we have shown that mutations in this domain can lead to a missorting of the Golgi apparatus or a reduction of the stimulated secretion and exocytosis. This effect can be correlated to a modification of the structural dynamics of this domain.The obtained results clearly demonstrate the role of the transmembrane domain of VAMP2 during exocytosis probably sustained by its unique structural dynamics observed by physico-chemistry.