Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Chicago, Committee on Immunology. / Includes bibliographical references. Also available on the Internet.

Thesis (doctoral)--Lund University, 1994. / Added t.p. with thesis statement inserted.

Diss., Martin-Luther-Universität, Halle-Wittenberg.

Thesis (M.S.)--Duquesne University, 2004. / Title from document title page. Abstract included in electronic submission form. Includes bibliographical references (p. 55-60) and index.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--Duquesne University, 2006. / Title from document title page. Abstract included in electronic submission form. Includes bibliographical references (p.284-333) and index.

This thesis sought to improve our understanding of how kidneys become injured as a consequence of organ donation, with the aim of improving the outcomes of transplantation. Every year, hundreds of patients on the waiting list die whilst awaiting a kidney transplant. With an ever-increasing demand for suitable organs, supply cannot keep up with the pressures on the transplant waiting list. As a consequence the transplant community are forced to use organs that previously would not have been considered suitable for transplant, including from older donors with additional comorbidities. This thesis aimed to develop an understanding as to how the kidney becomes injured during the donation process, identifying which key cellular homeostatic processes are disturbed as a consequence of donation. The thesis outlines the experimental development of rodent models of organ donation replicating the donation process for donation after brain death (DBD) and donation after circulatory death (DCD) donors and also the development of a kidney ischaemia reperfusion injury (IRI) model. Proteomics was subsequently used to identifying global protein alterations in the kidney as a consequence of brain death and ischemia reperfusion injury using bioinformatics tools to identify involvement of cellular pathways. The results indicated alterations in mitochondrial function and metabolic homeostasis occurring following brain death. Alterations in cellular metabolism and mitochondrial function were then confirmed using metabolomics and mitochondrial functional assays. I subsequently evaluated how alterations in cellular hypoxia and the hypoxia inducible factor system is altered in the brain dead organ donor kidney and aimed to target this system as a means of conditioning the brain dead organ donor to prevent mitochondrial and metabolic mediated injury to kidney cells following brain death. This involved exploring the role of prolyl hydroxylase inhibitors, including dimethyloxalylglycine, on mitochondrial function and whether this could be a therapeutic target in organ donation. This thesis provides important insights into the mechanism of injury of kidneys following brain death, providing evidence that even before procurement and preservation in the DBD donor alterations in mitochondrial function and metabolic homeostasis occur. I provide preliminary data on the use of prolyl hydroxylase inhibitors in altering mitochondrial function. I also outline my involvement in other ongoing projects in organ donation and machine perfusion that also aim to improve the outcomes of deceased donor kidney and liver transplantation.

No description available.

No description available.

Thesis (M. Tech.) -- Central University of Technology, Free State, 2009

Orientador: Jean Leandro dos Santos / Banca: Chung Man Chin / Banca: Cintia Duarte de Freitas Milagre / Resumo: Uma das aplicações da terapia imunossupressora é evitar que ocorra rejeição em situações de transplante de órgãos e auxiliar na sobrevida dos indivíduos. O ácido micofenólico (A.M.) é um imunossupressor de caráter anti-proliferativo, inibidor da inosina 5-monofosfato desidrogenase, porém, apresenta baixa biodisponibilidade oral e por isso na terapêutica utiliza-se o seu pró-fármaco: micofenolato de mofetila. Este trabalho teve como objetivo a síntese de pró-fármacos mútuos do ácido micofenólico ligados a derivados ftalimídicos a fim de garantir-lhe melhorias farmacocinéticas e farmacodinâmicas. Os derivados ftalimídicos encontrados na estrutura de compostos, por exemplo, na talidomida, utilizada em doenças auto-imunes, agem como imunossupressores por inibição de citocinas pró-inflamatórias. Os pró-fármacos foram obtidos com rendimentos que variaram entre 40-53%. As novas moléculas foram caracterizadas utilizando métodos analíticos como ressonância magnética nuclear (RMN), espectrometria na região de infravermelho e espectrometria de massas. Além disso, o coeficiente de partição (log P) foi determinado pelo método de HPLC e usando os programas de Chem Draw® Ultra e AlogPS®.O log P experimental dos derivados apresentou valores entre 2,29 e 4,09. Avaliou-se a citotoxicidade, liberação óxido nítrico (NO) e de citocinas (IL-1β e TNF-α) usando linhagens celulares de macrófagos murinos. A genotoxicidade in vivo foi avaliada usando o teste de micronúcleo. Todos os compostos apresentaram viabilidade celular superior a 70% nas concentrações usadas. O pró-fármaco (E)-2-(1,3-dioxoisoindolin-2-il) etil6-(4-hidroxi-6-metóxi-7-metil-3-oxo-1,3-dihidroisobenzofuran-5-il)-4-metilhex-4-enoato (3a) apresentou valores de IC50 de 200 μM. Na avaliação da inibição de TNF-α todos os pró-fármacos apresentam atividade nas concentrações utilizadas... / Abstract: One of the applications is immunosuppressive therapy to prevent rejection occurs in situations of organ transplantation and assist in the survival of individuals. Mycophenolic acid (MA) is an immunosuppressive anti -proliferative character inhibitor of inosine 5 -monophosphate dehydrogenase but has a low oral bioavailability and therefore therapeutic uses is the prodrug thereof: mycophenolate mofetil. This work aimed at the synthesis of mutual prodrugs of mycophenolic acid derivatives linked to ftalimidic to ensure you Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic improvements. The ftalimdic derived from compounds found in the structure, for example in thalidomide used in autoimmune diseases, they act as immunosuppressants by inhibiting pro-inflammatory cytokines. The prodrugs were obtained with yields ranging from 40-53 %. The new molecules were characterized using analytical methods such as nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy in the infrared region and mass spectrometry. In addition, the partition coefficient (log P) was determined by HPLC method using programs Chem Draw Ultra ® and AlogPS ®. Experimental log P of the derivatives showed values between 2.29 and 4.09. Cytotoxicity was assessed, the release nitric oxide (NO) and cytokines (IL- 1β and TNF- α) using murine macrophage cell lines. The in vivo genotoxicity was assessed using the micronucleus test. All compounds showed cell viability above 70 % in the concentrations used. The prodrug (E) -2 - (1,3- dioxoisoindolin -2- yl) etil 6 -(4 -hydroxy- 6-methoxy -7-methyl -3-oxo -1,3- dihydroisobenzofuran -5- yl) 4- methylhex -4- enoate ( 3a ) showed IC50 values of 200 mM . In evaluating the inhibition of TNF- α all prodrugs exhibit activity at the concentrations used were the most active, and 3a (E) - (1,3- dioxoisoindolin -2- yl) methyl 6 - (4 -hydroxy -6- methoxy -7-methyl -3-oxo -1,3- dihydroisobenzofuran -5-yl )-4 -methylhex- 4-enoate (3c) with IC50 values of 18.75 mM . In ... / Mestre