O carcinoma epidermóide representa mais de 90% das neoplasias malignas de cabeça e de pescoço, apresentando taxas elevadas de morbi-mortalidade. Proteínas relacionadas à invasão e proliferação celular estão em evidência devido ao seu envolvimento na carcinogênese, a exemplo da vimentina, encontrada em células de origem mesodérmica. Sua presença em células epiteliais neoplásicas contribui na transição epitélio mesenquimal e está associada à tumorigênese, à invasão celular e à metástase. O propósito deste estudo foi analisar através de métodos qualitativos (imunofluorescência e imunoistoquímica) e quantitativos (Western Blot) a expressão da vimentina em linhagens celulares de carcinoma epidermóide de cabeça e de pescoço (CECP) e em uma linhagem de queratinócitos imortalizados (HaCat) submetidas ao cultivo tridimensional em Matrigel®. O grupo controle foi representado pelas mesmas linhagens cultivadas na ausência de Matrigel®. A Vimentina apresentou marcação citoplasmática em algumas células das linhagens estudadas, exceto na HaCat, com evidente diminuição da sua expressão quando submetida ao cultivo com Matrigel®. Esses resultados foram confirmados por Western Blot. A expressão da Vimentina em diferentes linhagens de CECP pode variar dependendo da linhagem analisada, da reação de suas células aos componentes da matriz extracelular e da técnica utilizada para avaliação da expressão da proteína. / Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) represents more than 90% of all head and neck malignancies, causing more deaths than any other oral disease. Proteins related to cancer growth, invasion and metastasis are in evidence due to their involvement in carcinogens, such as vimentin. This protein is observed in mesenquimal cells, however, it is considered a common finding in cervix, breast and bladder tumours. Thus its presencence in epithelial neoplasic cells contributes to epithelial-mesenchymal transition associated with tumorigenesis and tumor progression. The aim of this study was to analyse through Western Blot, Immunohistochemistry and Immunofluorescence methods, the expression of Vimentin in three different HNSCC cell lines and HaCat cell line (immortalized keratinocytes) submitted to a 3D assay into Matrigel®. The control group was represented by the same cell lines, without any treatment. Results showed that Vimentin had citoplasmatic staining in some cell of lines studied, except for HaCat cells, with evident decrease in its expression when submitted to cultive into Matrigel®. These findings were confirmed by Western Blot. Taking these results together, we conclude that in squamous cell carcinoma, the Vimentin is related to the process of tumour invasion and metastasis. This fact was showed by the reduction of its expression after treatment with Matrigel®. Therefore, the expression of Vimentin in different cell lines of HNSCC may vary according to the stimulus and, fundamentally, the localization of the tumor and the individual characteristics of neoplasic cells.

O carcinoma epidermóide representa mais de 90% das neoplasias malignas de cabeça e de pescoço, apresentando taxas elevadas de morbi-mortalidade. Proteínas relacionadas à invasão e proliferação celular estão em evidência devido ao seu envolvimento na carcinogênese, a exemplo da vimentina, encontrada em células de origem mesodérmica. Sua presença em células epiteliais neoplásicas contribui na transição epitélio mesenquimal e está associada à tumorigênese, à invasão celular e à metástase. O propósito deste estudo foi analisar através de métodos qualitativos (imunofluorescência e imunoistoquímica) e quantitativos (Western Blot) a expressão da vimentina em linhagens celulares de carcinoma epidermóide de cabeça e de pescoço (CECP) e em uma linhagem de queratinócitos imortalizados (HaCat) submetidas ao cultivo tridimensional em Matrigel®. O grupo controle foi representado pelas mesmas linhagens cultivadas na ausência de Matrigel®. A Vimentina apresentou marcação citoplasmática em algumas células das linhagens estudadas, exceto na HaCat, com evidente diminuição da sua expressão quando submetida ao cultivo com Matrigel®. Esses resultados foram confirmados por Western Blot. A expressão da Vimentina em diferentes linhagens de CECP pode variar dependendo da linhagem analisada, da reação de suas células aos componentes da matriz extracelular e da técnica utilizada para avaliação da expressão da proteína. / Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) represents more than 90% of all head and neck malignancies, causing more deaths than any other oral disease. Proteins related to cancer growth, invasion and metastasis are in evidence due to their involvement in carcinogens, such as vimentin. This protein is observed in mesenquimal cells, however, it is considered a common finding in cervix, breast and bladder tumours. Thus its presencence in epithelial neoplasic cells contributes to epithelial-mesenchymal transition associated with tumorigenesis and tumor progression. The aim of this study was to analyse through Western Blot, Immunohistochemistry and Immunofluorescence methods, the expression of Vimentin in three different HNSCC cell lines and HaCat cell line (immortalized keratinocytes) submitted to a 3D assay into Matrigel®. The control group was represented by the same cell lines, without any treatment. Results showed that Vimentin had citoplasmatic staining in some cell of lines studied, except for HaCat cells, with evident decrease in its expression when submitted to cultive into Matrigel®. These findings were confirmed by Western Blot. Taking these results together, we conclude that in squamous cell carcinoma, the Vimentin is related to the process of tumour invasion and metastasis. This fact was showed by the reduction of its expression after treatment with Matrigel®. Therefore, the expression of Vimentin in different cell lines of HNSCC may vary according to the stimulus and, fundamentally, the localization of the tumor and the individual characteristics of neoplasic cells.

L’ingénierie du tissu osseux vise à concevoir un substitut tissulaire associant des cellules ostéoprogénitrices à une matrice tridimensionnelle capable de promouvoir la reconstruction osseuse, ouvrant la voie au développement de thérapeutiques substitutives à la pratique de la greffe dont les limitations sont bien connues.Le but de ce travail a été de développer un nouveau produit d’ingénierie tissulaire (PIT) destiné à la régénération osseuse constitué i) d’une matrice tridimensionnelle poreuse constituée de polysaccharides naturels biodégradables, ii) de cellules souches adultes issues du tissu adipeux humain (ADSCs) et d’identifier les conditions de culture optimales permettant le développement d’un produit fonctionnel pour une utilisation clinique. Nos résultats montrent que l’architecture et la composition de la matrice macroporeuse polysaccharidique permet de guider la différenciation ostéoblastique des ADSCs, en l’absence de facteurs ostéogéniques, et notamment en conditions de culture dynamique, grâce à l’organisation cellulaire en agrégats promouvant les interactions cellulaires. Les ADSCs peuvent être marquées à l’aide de nanoparticules superparamagnétiques et suivies in vivo de façon non invasive par imagerie par résonnance magnétique (IRM) au sein des matrices après leur implantation en site sous-cutané chez la souris. Les images IRM montrent que le matériau permet de délivrer une partie des cellules au niveau du site d’implantation participant probablement à un processus de réparation tissulaire. Enfin, en vue d’applications cliniques, un milieu de culture sans sérum répondant aux conditions GMP (Good Manufacturing Practices) pour la différenciation ostéoblastique a été développé par un industriel et validé au cours de ce travail de thèse.En conclusion de ces travaux, l’association d’une matrice macroporeuse composée de polysaccharides avec des ADSCs dans des conditions de culture spécifiques, en conditions dynamiques, semble pertinente et prometteuse pour des applications cliniques en ingénierie du tissu osseux. / Bone tissue engineering may associate osteoprogenitor cells to a tridimensional scaffold that can promote tissue reconstruction in order to replace bone grafting strategies whose limitations are well known. This study aims to develop a new tissue-engineered construct for bone regeneration constituted by i) a tridimensional polysaccharide-based scaffold, ii) adult stem cells extracted from human adipose tissue and identify the best culture conditions needed to develop a functional construct for clinical use. Our results show that this macroporous scaffold offers, without any osteoinductive factors, a suitable architecture and composition for driving osteoblastic differentiation of ADSCs especially when placing the tissue-engineered construct in dynamic conditions, thanks to cell aggregate conformation promoting cell-to-cell interactions. Thanks to ADSCs labeling, the tissue-engineered construct can be tracked in vivo in a non invasive way by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), after their subcutaneous implantation. Results evidenced that this scaffold behaves as a cell carrier for of holding in its own cell fraction and delivering another fraction to the site of implantation for inducing a better tissue regeneration process. Finally, a serum free medium meeting standards GMPs (Good Manufacturing Practices) has been developed for inducing ADSCs osteoblastic differentiation as a first step towards clinical application.In conclusion, this polysaccharide-based scaffold associated with ADSCs, cultured under low fluid flow in a new bioreactor device, could be a relevant and promising tissue engineered construct for bone tissue engineering applications.