Abstract not available

Sphingolipids modulate multiple cellular functions, including steroid hormone biosynthesis. Sphingosine is an antagonist ligand for the nuclear receptor steroidogenic factor 1 (SF-1), which is the primary transcriptional regulator of most steroidogenic genes. Furthermore, sphingosine-dependent repression of SF-1 function is dependent on the expression of acid ceramidase (ASAH1), an enzyme that forms sphingosine. Based on these data, I hypothesized that ACTH/cAMP signaling regulates ASAH1 function at both transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels. In addition, because SF-1 is predominantly a nuclear protein, I postulated that ASAH1 modulates SF-1 function and, therefore, steroidogenic gene expression by controlling the nuclear concentrations of SPH. To test these hypotheses, I first examined the effect of chronic ACTH/cAMP signaling on the transcription of the ASAH1 gene. Next, the functional significance of ASAH1 expression in adrenocortical cells was probed by generating an ASAH1-knockdown cell line. I subsequently characterized the role of ASAH1 as a transcriptional nuclear receptor coregulator. Finally, I defined the role of sphingosine-1-phosphate, a bi-product of ASAH1 activity, in the acute phase of cortisol biosynthesis. Using a variety of experimental approaches, I identified cAMP response element binding protein as an essential transcriptional activator of the ASAH1 gene. Analysis of adrenocortical cells lacking ASAH1 revealed that ASAH1 is a global regulator of steroidogenic capacity. Furthermore, I identified ASAH1 as a nuclear protein and defined the molecular determinants of the interaction between ASAH1 and SF-1. Collectively, this body of work establishes the integral role of ASAH1 in the regulation of ACTH-dependent adrenocortical cortisol biosynthesis.

The ubiquitous presence of anthropogenic chemicals and their transformation products in surface water represents a toxicological concern from both an ecological standpoint and a human perspective as many of these chemicals are capable of altering hormonal function. Endocrine disrupting compounds can be traced back to numerous sources and may fall under the class of pesticide, industrial chemical, pharmaceutical, personal care product, and/or heavy metals. The adrenal gland is the most common target for endocrine disruptors, although in comparison to the sex steroids, this system has received much less attention in published research. Corticosteroids play a pivotal role in many physiological processes, including immunity, cognitive function, growth, metabolism, reproduction, mineral balance, and blood pressure. A primary cell culture of rainbow trout adrenocortical cells was used to investigate the endocrine disrupting activity of two commonly detected water-borne toxicants, a personal care product, triclosan (TCS), a pesticide, dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D), and their transformation products, methyl-triclosan (M-TCS) and dichlorophenol (DCP). Previously, it has been shown that TCS, 2,4-D, and DCP exhibit a potential for endocrine disruption, although it is currently unknown if these chemicals are capable of affecting corticosteroid balance. In this study, all four chemicals showed significant inhibitory effects on corticosteroid synthesis, even though there were considerable differences in their activity. The chemical that exhibited the highest toxicity was 2,4-D, followed by TCS, DCP, and M-TCS. Both parent-compounds proved to be more toxic than their degradation products. More research with suitable test systems is needed to determine the mechanism(s) of action of these corticosteroid disruptors and the health risk that they may present. / ix, 139 leaves : ill. ; 29 cm

Orientador: Kleber Luiz de Araujo e Souza / Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Biologia / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-13T09:13:30Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Roma_LeticiaPrates_D.pdf: 1071638 bytes, checksum: 52777a4c39261ec7137298200cb2b319 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2009 / Resumo:Introdução/Objetivos. A produção de espécies reativas de oxigênio (EROs) faz parte de diversos processos fisiológicos. Nos últimos anos, o aumento de EROs têm sido associado ao desenvolvimento de diversas doenças, dentre elas o Diabetes Mellitus Tipo 2. As células beta pancreáticas são notadamente mais suscetíveis ao estresse oxidativo devido a sua baixa capacidade antioxidativa, resultado da menor expressão e atividade de enzimas antioxidantes como superóxido dismutase e peroxidases. A dexametasona, um glicocorticóide sintético, tem efeitos diabetogênicos e citotóxicos em células produtoras de insulina e ilhotas pancreáticas. Entretanto, os mecanismos pelos quais a dexametasona atua sobre as células-alvo não estão bem esclarecidos. Dessa forma, nosso objetivo foi analisar se a dexametasona induz estresse oxidativo em células produtoras de insulina RINm5F e ilhotas pancreáticas. Utilizamos três modelos: 1) células RINm5F controle, que são extremamente sensíveis ao estresse oxidativo; 2) células RINm5F superexpressando a enzima catalase (RINm5F.Cat), que são resistente ao estresse oxidativo e 3) ilhotas de ratos adultos cultivadas por 72 h com dexametasona (Dexa) e ilhotas tratadas concomitantemente com dexametasona e o antioxidante N-acetilcisteína (Dexa+NAC). Resultados: Aumento na produção de EROs foi observado em células RINm5F tratadas com dexametasona. O tratamento com dexametasona aumentou a atividade/clivagem da caspase-3 e apoptose em células RINm5F após 3 dias de cultura. Expressão protéica e atividade de Cu/ZnSOD estava aumentada após o tratamento com dexametasona, enquanto que a expressão/atividade de MnSOD não foi modulada pelo corticóide. A superexpressão da catalase em linhagens de célula beta previniu todos os efeitos citotóxicos da dexametasona, inclusive a morte celular. Elevados níveis de Cu/ZnSOD podem favorecer o aumento na geração de EROs e conseqüentemente, apoptose. Da mesma forma, ilhotas tratadas com dexametasona apresentaramaumento na produção de EROs, efeito que foi revertido quando as ilhotas foram tratadas concomitantemente com dexametasona e NAC. Redução na secreção de insulina estimulada por glicose foi observada em ilhotas cultivadas com dexametasona. O tratamento com dexametasona e NAC restaurou a secreção de insulina a níveis próximos aos controles. Uma menor produção deNAD(P)H no grupo Dexa foi observado, sendo que o grupo Dexa+NAC mostrou níveis semelhantes ao grupo controle. Não ocorreram diferenças nas concentrações intracelulares de cálcio estimulado por glicose em nenhum dos grupos. A dexametasona reduziu a expressão gênica da sinaptotagmina VII, enquanto no grupo Dexa+NAC houve um aumento da expressão desse gene em ilhotas pancreáticas. Interessantemente, o tratamento com NAC diminuiu a expressão gênica da Cu/ZnSOD. Conclusões: Nossos resultados indicam que as ações da dexametasona em células produtoras de insulina e ilhotas pancreáticas são mediadas através do aumento do estresse oxidativo, sendo a Cu/ZnSOD importante nesse processo. A superexpressão da catalase e o uso do antioxidante n-acetilcisteína previnem contra os efeitos citotóxicos do glicocorticóide. / Abstract: Introduction/Aims: Reactive oxygen species (ROS) play a dual role on living organisms, being involved in many physiological processes and also being linked to the development of several pathologies, including the type 2 diabetes mellitus. Pancreatic beta cells are very sensitive to oxidative stress because of their low antioxidant capacity, wich results from their low expression and activity of antioxidant enzymes, especially peroxidases. Dexamethasone is a synthetic diabetogenic glucocorticoid that induces cytotoxic effects on pancreatic beta cells. However, the precise mechanisms of dexamethasone toxicity on target cells are not fully understood. The aim of the present study was to analyzed whether dexamethasone induces oxidative stress in insulinproducing cells and pancreatic islets. Experimental design: The experiments were performed using 3 models: 1) RINm5F control cells, extremely sensitive to oxidative stress; 2) RINm5F cells overexpressing the enzyme catalase (RINm5F.Cat), very resistant to oxidative stress and 3) rat pancreatic islets cultured for 72 h with dexamethasone (Dexa) or cultured concomitantly with dexamethasone and the antioxidant N-acetylcysteine (Dexa+NAC). Results: An increased generation of reative oxygen species (ROS) was observed in dexamethasone-treated insulinproducing cells together with an increase in caspase-3 activity and apoptosis rate. Interestingly, exposure to dexamethasone increased the cytosolic superoxide dismutase Cu/ZnSOD protein expression and activity, while the mitochondrial MnSOD isoform was not affected by the glucocorticoid. Overexpression of catalase in insulin-producing cells prevented all the cytotoxic effects of dexamethasone. Pancreatic islets cultured in the presence of dexamethasone (Dexa) for 72 h showed increased ROS production. Glucose-stimulated insulin secretion was decreased after Dexa treatment. Intracellular ROS levels were decreased and the insulin secretion capacitywas recovered by concomitant treatment with Dexa+NAC. The total insulin content and intracellular Ca+2 levels were not modulated in either Dexa or Dexa+NAC groups. There was a decrease in the NAD(P)H production rate, used as an indicator of viability, after dexamethasone treatment. Concomitant incubation with NAC returned viability to control levels. Dexamethasone also decreased SYT VII gene expression; in contrast, the Dexa+NAC group showed increased expression of SYT VII compared to controls. Surprisingly, treatment with NAC decreased the gene expression of the antioxidant enzyme, Cu/ZnSOD. Conclusions: The cytotoxic effects of dexamethasone in RINm5F insulin-producing cells and pancreatic islets are primarily ROS-mediated. High levels of expression and activity of the Cu/ZnSOD might favour the generation of ROS. The overexpression of catalase and the use of the antioxidant Nacetylcysteine counteract the cytotoxic effects of dexamethasone. / Doutorado / Fisiologia / Doutor em Biologia Funcional e Molecular

The most useful drugs in the management of nephrotic syndrome are the corticosteroids. These drugs are as well known for their adverse effects as they are for their therapeutic advantages. The two most common paediatric side effects are suppression of linear growth and posterior subcapsular cataracts. Both of these untoward effects are insiduous and therefore less easily perceived. Although many workers have studied the growth inhibiting effects of the corticosteroids in the various diseases e.g. asthma, very little work was done to investigate these effects in patients with nephrotic syndrome. Furthermore, the Renal Clinic, King Edward VIII Hospital, Durban continues to use a daily regime of prednisone instead of the alternate day regime which is widely recommended to minimise growth retardation. This study was therefore undertaken to investigate the growth inhibiting effects of repeated courses of daily, high-dose prednisone in African and Indian children with nephrotic syndrome. All children with nephrotic syndrome with relevant data in their records and with no other chronic illness were selected from the Renal Clinic. Of the 125 selected, 87 children had been treated with prednisone for an average of 35,9 weeks and 38 had been treated symptomatically. The heights of those that received prednisone were measured at an averace of 77 weeks after completion of therapy. The mean height standard deviation score (SDS) of the treatment and control groups of Indian children were -1,06 and -0,92 respectively, both being between the 10th and 25th percentile, whilst the mean height SDS of the treatment and control groups of African children were -1,82 (just below the 5th percentile) and -1,77 (between the 5th and 10th percentile) respectively. From the results, it is evident that repeated courses of daily prednisone therapy, even when it exceeds 36 weeks, does not inhibit growth in both African and Indian children. Although there was no significant difference between the races and sexes with respect to growth and corticosteroid therapy, this study does confirm earlier reports that most of the African children with nephrotic syndrome had obvious glomerular lesions whilst most of the Indians had minimal change nephrotic syndrome. / Thesis (M.Med.)-University of Natal, Durban, 1986.

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / Type 2 diabetes manifests from peripheral insulin resistance and a loss of functional beta cell mass due to decreased beta cell function, survival, and/or proliferation. Beta cell stressors impair each of these factors by activating stress response mechanisms, including endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. The glucolipotoxic environment of the diabetic milieu also activates a stress response in beta cells, resulting in death and decreased survival. Whereas the cell cycle machinery (comprised of cyclins, kinases, and inhibitors) regulates proliferation, its involvement during beta cell stress in the development of diabetes is not well understood. Interestingly, in a screen of multiple cell cycle inhibitors, p21 was dramatically upregulated in INS-1-derived 832/13 cells and rodent islets by two independent pharmacologic inducers of beta cell stress - dexamethasone and thapsigargin. In addition, glucolipotoxic stress mimicking the diabetic milieu also induced p21. To further investigate p21’s role in the beta cell, p21 was adenovirally overexpressed in 832/13 cells and rat islets. As expected given p21’s role as a cell cycle inhibitor, p21 overexpression decreased [3H]-thymidine incorporation and blocked the G1/S and G2/M transitions as quantified by flow cytometry. Interestingly, p21 overexpression activated apoptosis, demonstrated by increased annexin- and propidium iodide-double-positive cells and cleaved caspase-3 protein. p21-mediated caspase-3 cleavage was inhibited by either overexpression of the anti-apoptotic mitochondrial protein Bcl-2 or siRNA-mediated suppression of the pro-apoptotic proteins Bax and Bak. Therefore, the intrinsic apoptotic pathway is central for p21-mediated cell death. Like glucolipotoxicity, p21 overexpression inhibited the insulin cell survival signaling pathway while also impairing glucose-stimulated insulin secretion, an index of beta cell function. Under both conditions, phosphorylation of insulin receptor substrate-1, Akt, and Forkhead box protein-O1 was reduced. p21 overexpression increased Bim and c-Jun N-terminal Kinase, however, siRNA-mediated reduction or inhibition of either protein, respectively, did not alter p21-mediated cell death. Importantly, islets of p21-knockout mice treated with the ER stress inducer thapsigargin displayed a blunted apoptotic response. In summary, our findings indicate that p21 decreases proliferation, activates apoptosis, and impairs beta cell function, thus being a potential target to inhibit for the protection of functional beta cell mass.