Artificial lipid bilayers formed on solid surface supports are widespread model systems to study physical, chemical, as well as biological aspects of cell membranes and fundamental interfacial interactions. The approach to use a thin polymer film representing a cushion for lipid bilayers prevents incorporated membrane proteins from pinning to the support and mimics the native environment of a lipid bilayer in certain aspects of the extracellular matrix and intracellular structures. A key component for cell anchorage to extracellular fibronectin is the transmembrane adhesion receptor alpha(5)beta(1) integrin. Its transport dynamics and clustering behavior plays a major role in the assembly of focal adhesions, which mediate mechanical forces and biochemical signals of cells with their surrounding. The system investigated herein is envisioned to use extrinsically controlled stimuli-responsive polymer cushions to tune the frictional drag between polymer cushion and mobile membranes with incorporated integrins to actively regulate lipid membrane characteristics. To attain this goal, a temperature- and pH-responsive polymer based on poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) copolymers containing varying amounts of carboxyl-group-terminated comonomers at different aliphatic spacer lengths (PNIPAAm-co-carboxyAAM) was surface-grafted to a poly(glycidyl methacrylate) anchorage layer. The swelling transitions were characterized using atomic force microscopy, ellipsometry and quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation monitoring (QCM-D) and found to be tunable over a wide range of temperature and pH. In agreement with the behavior of the polymers in solution, longer alkyl spacers decreased the phase transition temperature T(P) and higher contents of carboxylic acid terminated comonomers increased T(P) at alkaline conditions and decreased T(P) at acidic conditions. Remarkably, the point where the degree of carboxyl group deprotonation balances the T(P)-lowering effect of the alkyl spacer was distinctive for each alkyl spacer length. These findings illustrate how the local and global balance of hydrophilic and hydrophobic interactions along the copolymer chain allows to adjust the swelling transition to temperatures below, comparable, or above those observed for PNIPAAm homopolymers. Additionally, it could be shown that surface-grafting leads to a decrease in T(P) for PNIPAAm homopolymers (7°C) and copolymers (5°C - 10°C). The main reason is the increase in local polymer concentration of the swollen film constrained by dense surface anchorage in comparison to the behavior of dilute free chains in solution. In accordance with the Flory-Huggins theory, T(P) decreases with increasing concentration up to the critical concentration. Biological functionalization of the PNIPAAm-co-carboxyAAm thin films was demonstrated for the cell adhesion ligand peptide cRGD via carbodiimide chemistry to mimic extracellular binding sites for the cell adhesion receptors integrin. The outcome of QCM-D measurements of cRGD-functionalized surfaces showed a maintained stimuli-responsiveness with slight reduction in T(P). A drying/rehydration procedure of a 9:1 lipid mixture of the cationic lipid dioleoyl-trimethylammoniumpropane (DOTAP) and the zwitterionic dioleoyl-phosphatidylcholine (DOPC) was utilized to form lipid bilayer membranes on PNIPAAm-co-carboxyAAM cushions. Fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (FRAP) revealed that lipid mobility was distinctively higher (6.3 - 9.6) µm2 s-1 in comparison to solid glass support ((3.0 - 5.9) µm2 s-1). In contradiction to the initial expectations, modulation of temperature and pH led to poor variations in lipid mobility that did not correlate with the PNIPAAm cushion swelling state. The results suggested a weak coupling of the lipid bilayer with PNIPAAm polymer cushions that can be slightly tuned by electrostatic interactions. The transmembrane adhesion receptor alpha(5)beta(1) integrin was reconstituted into liposomes consisting of DOPC/sphingomyelin/cholesterol 2:2:1 for the formation of polymer cushioned bilayers. PNIPAAm- co-carboxyAAM and maleic acid (MA) copolymers were used as cushions, both with the option for cRGD functionalization. On the MA copolymer cushions, fusion of proteoliposomes resulted in supported bilayers with mobile lipids as confirmed by FRAP. However, incorporated integrins were immobile. In an attempt to explain this observation, the medium-sized cytoplasmic integrin domain was accounted to hamper the movement by steric interactions with the underlying polymer chains in conjunction with electrostatic interactions of the cationic cytoplasmic domain with the oppositely charged MA copolymer. On the PNIPAAm-co-carboxyAAM cushion only a drying/rehydration procedure lead to bilayer formation. However, again the integrins were immobile, presumably due to the harsh treatment during preparation. Nevertheless, the results of the investigated set of PNIPAAm copolymer films suggest their application as temperature- and pH-responsive switchable layers to control interfacial phenomena in bio-systems at different physiological conditions. The PNIPAAm-co-carboxyAAm cushioned bilayer system represents a promising step towards extrinsically controlled membrane – substrate interactions.

Die Funktionalität β1- und β2-adrenerger Rezeptoren wird durch Polymorphismen in ihrer kodierenden Region moduliert. Wir haben uns die Technik des Fluoreszenz-Resonanz- Energie-Transfers (FRET) zu Nutze gemacht, um den Einfluss der am häufigsten vorkommenden Polymorphismen (Ser49Gly und Gly389Arg im β1AR, Arg16Gly und Gln27Glu im β2AR) auf die Rezeptorkonformation nach Aktivierung zu untersuchen. Dafür wurden FRET-Sensoren für die beiden βAR-Subtypen mit einem gelb-fluoreszierenden Protein (YFP) sowie einem cyan-fluoreszierenden Protein (CFP oder Cerulean) in der dritten intrazellulären Schleife bzw. am C-Terminus verwendet. Nach Stimulierung der βARSensoren konnte die Aktivierung der polymorphen Rezeptorvarianten in lebenden Zellen in Echtzeit untersucht werden. Dabei behielten die FRET-Sensoren sowohl die Bindungsaffinitäten der nativen Rezeptoren als auch eine intakte Funktionalität hinsichtlich der Bildung von sekundären Botenstoffen. Der Vergleich der Aktivierungskinetiken der verschieden polymorphen Varianten des β1AR und β2AR ergab keine signifikanten Unterschiede nach einer einmaligen Stimulation. Es zeigte sich jedoch, dass Rezeptorpolymorphismen die Aktivierungskinetik vorstimulierter βAR erheblich beeinflussen. So konnten wir im Vergleich zur ersten Aktivierung eine schnellere Aktivierung der Gly16-Varianten des β2AR sowie des Gly49Arg389-β1AR feststellen, während die Arg16-β2AR-Variante und der Ser49Gly389-β1AR dagegen bei einer wiederholten Stimulation langsamer aktiviert wurden. Diese Ergebnisse lassen auf ein "Rezeptorgedächtnis" schließen, das spezifisch für bestimmte polymorphe Rezeptorvarianten ist und eine βAR-Subtyp-spezische Ausprägung zeigt. Die Ausbildung der unterschiedlichen Aktivierungskinetiken hing von der Interaktion des Rezeptors mit löslichen intrazellulären Faktoren ab und bedurfte einer Phosphorylierung intrazellulärer Serin- und Threonin-Reste durch G-Protein-gekoppelte Rezeptorkinasen. Die Interaktion mit löslichen intrazellulären Faktoren scheint für den β1AR weniger stark ausgeprägt zu sein als für den β2AR. Die cAMP-Produktion war für die schneller werdenden, “hyperfunktionellen” Gly16-β2ARVarianten signifikant um mehr als 50% höher im Vergleich zur “hypofunktionellen” Arg16- Variante. Die unterschiedliche Funktionalität spiegelte sich im Therapieausgang bei Tokoysepatientinnen wider, dessen Erfolg mit dem Arg16Gly Polymorphismus verknüpft war. Die Daten implizieren eine intrinsische, polymorphismusabhängige Eigenschaft der βAR, die die Aktivierungskinetik der Rezeptoren bei wiederholten Stimulationen determiniert. Diese könnte auch für die zwischen Individuen variierende Ansprechbarkeit auf β-Agonisten und β-Blocker mitverantwortlich sein. / Signaling through G protein-coupled receptors is known to be influenced by receptor polymorphisms, yet the molecular basis for the functional differences is unclear. To investigate the impact of the most frequent polymorphic sites of the β1- and the β2– adrenergic receptor (Ser49Gly and Gly389Arg for β1AR, Arg16Gly and Gln27Glu for β2AR) on receptor conformation we used a fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) based approach. We made use of βAR-FRET sensors with a yellow fluorescent protein (YFP) inserted into the third intracellular loop and a cyan fluorescent protein (CFP or Cerulean) fused to the C-terminal tail of the βAR. These sensors retained key pharmacological and functional characteristics of the native receptors. Upon stimulation of the sensors we determined the activation characteristics of the polymorphic receptors in real time and in living cells and found that βAR respond to repeated activation with a change of their activation kinetics during subsequent stimulations. This phenomenon differed between polymorphic variants of the βAR. The “hyperfunctional” Gly16-β2AR variants as well as the Gly49Arg389-β1AR became faster in their activation kinetics, while the “hypofunctional” Arg16-β2AR and the Ser49Gly389-β1AR became slower compared to their initial activation. These differences depended on the interaction with soluble cytosolic factors that occurred after the initial activation, and on the phosphorylation of agonist-bound receptors through G protein-coupled receptor kinases. The “memory“ of previous activation is formed already after a first stimulation of only five seconds, whereas the β1AR memory necessitates prestimulation for five minutes and seems to be based on a less stable interaction with intracellular proteins compared to the β2AR. Assuming short-lived and repetitive receptor-ligand interaction under native conditions, we hypothesized that faster activation during single ligand-receptor interaction represents the basis for more effective signaling to downstream effectors. Indeed, the extent of cAMP formation was enhanced by 50% upon stimulation of the Gly16-β2AR compared to the Arg16 variant. The different functionality reflected the outcome of tocolysis treatment with the β2-agonist fenoterol whose success correlated with the Arg16Gly genotype of the patients. Our findings suggest an intrinsic, polymorphism-specific property of the βAR that alters activation kinetics upon continued stimulation and that might account for individual drug responses.

Thesis (Ph.D. in Clinical Science) -- University of Colorado Denver, 2007. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 130-142). Free to UCD affiliates. Online version available via ProQuest Digital Dissertations;

Stuttgart, Univ., Diss., 2002.

Orientador: Ricardo Della Coletta / Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Odontologia de Piracicaba / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-18T17:48:45Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Bersaneti_JoseliAssem_D.pdf: 811147 bytes, checksum: f8bb5e097207f57ec74bd4e214234d0b (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011 / Resumo: O aumento gengival induzido por ciclosporina A (CsA) é causado por um acúmulo excessivo de matriz extracelular, resultado da ação do fator de crescimento transformante-beta 1 (TGF-ß1) sobre a atividade dos fibroblastos gengivais. O presente estudo investigou in vitro os efeitos da superexpressão de Smad7, um inibidor da sinalização de TGF-ß1, nos eventos biológicos associados ao acúmulo de matriz extracelular induzido por CsA. Para verificar os efeitos inibitórios de Smad7, nós superexpressamos Smad7 em fibroblastos de gengiva normal (GN) de uma maneira estável. Células superexpressando Smad7 e células controle foram incubadas com CsA e a síntese de colágeno tipo I, produção e atividade de metaloproteinase de matriz 2 (MMP-2) e proliferação celular foram analisadas por ELISA, zimografia, curva de crescimento, método de incorporação de bromodeoxiuridina (BrdU) e análise do ciclo celular. Os efeitos de CsA na viabilidade celular e apoptose dos fibroblastos de GN também foram avaliados. Análises de western blot e imunofluorescência para fosforo-Smad2 foram realizados para verificar a ativação da cascata de sinalização de TGF-ß1. Apesar do tratamento com CsA estimular a produção de TGF-ß1 tanto nas células controle quanto nos fibroblastos superexpressando Smad7, a via de sinalização de TGF-ß1 foi marcantemente inibida nas células superexpressando Smad7, como revelado pelos níveis reduzidos de fosforilação de Smad2. Nas células superexpressando Smad7, os efeitos de CsA na proliferação, síntese de colageno tipo I e produção e atividade de MMP-2 foram significativamente bloqueados. A superexpressão de Smad7 bloqueou a proliferação dos fibroblastos gengivais induzida por CsA via regulação de p27. CsA e a superexpressão de Smad7 não induziram morte celular. Os resultados deste estudo confirmaram que a expressão de TGF-ß1 é correlacionada com os eventos moleculares associados ao aumento gengival induzido por CsA, e sugerem que a superexpressão de Smad7 é efetiva no bloqueio de tais eventos, incluindo proliferação, síntese de colágeno tipo I e atividade de MMP-2 / Abstract: Cyclosporin A (CsA)-induced gingival overgrowth is attributed to an exaggerated accumulation of extracellular matrix, which is mainly due to an increased expression of transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-ß1). Herein the in vitro investigation of effects of overexpression of Smad7, a TGF-ß1 signaling inhibitor, in the events associated with CsA-induced extracellular matrix accumulation was performed. To assess the inhibitory effects of Smad7, we stably overexpressed Smad7 in fibroblasts from normal gingiva (NG). Smad7 overexpressing cells and controls were incubated with CsA and type I collagen synthesis, matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP-2) production and activity, and cellular proliferation were evaluated by ELISA, zymography, growth curve, BrdUincorporation assay and cell cycle analysis. CsA effects on cell viability and apoptosis of NG fibroblasts were also evaluated. Western blot and immunofluorescence for phospho-Smad2 were performed to measure the activation of TGF-ß1 signaling. Although the treatment with CsA stimulated TGF-ß1 production in both control and Smad7 overexpressing fibroblasts, its signaling was marked inhibited in Smad7 overexpressing cells as revealed by low levels of Smad2 phosphorylation. In Smad7 overexpressed cells, the effects of CsA on proliferation, synthesis of type I collagen and MMP-2 production and activity were significantly blocked. Smad7 overexpression blocked CsA-induced fibroblast proliferation via p27 regulation. Neither CsA nor Smad7 overexpression induced cell death. The data presented here confirm that TGF-ß1 expression is related to the molecular events associated with CsA-induced gingival overgrowth, and suggest that Smad7 overexpression is effective in the blockage of those events, including proliferation, type I collagen synthesis and MMP-2 activity / Doutorado / Estomatologia / Doutor em Estomatopatologia

Introdução: A alteração dos níveis normais de marcadores séricos e urinários ocorre na presença de dano renal associado à uropatia obstrutiva. Valores séricos e e urinários de TGF beta1 e CA 19-9 ainda não foram avaliados em modelo experimental de uropatia obstrutiva. Material e Métodos: Ratos foram divididos em sete grupos: referência, sham operation, nefrectomia unilateral, ligadura completa de ureter unilateral, obstrução parcial de ureter unilateral, obstrução parcial de ambos ureteres, nefrectomia unilateral associada à obstrução parcial do ureter contralateral. Morfometria renal e ureteral, concentrações séricas e urinárias de TGF beta1 e CA 19-9 e expressão tecidual renal de CA 19-9 foram analisadas. A correlação destes marcadores com os grupos submetidos a obstrução completa, obstrução parcial ou sem obstrução foi realizada. Resultados: Achados anatomopatológicos correlacionaram-se positivamente à intensidade da obstrução ureteral e negativamente aos níveis urinários de CA 19-9. Subexpressão acentuada do CA 19-9 foi observada em unidades renais com obstrução completa. Não foram encontradas diferenças estatisticamente significativas para os marcadores TGF beta1 urinário, TGF beta1 sérico e para o CA 19-9 sérico Conclusões: O CA 19-9 urinário correlacionou-se negativamente com o grau de obstrução ureteral. A análise imuno-histoquímica demonstrou a expressão do CA 19-9 no citoplasma das células epiteliais tubulares, sugerindo produção renal do marcador. O TGF beta1 sérico e urinário não apresentaram modificações de acordo com o grau de severidade e tempo de obstrução, o que pode estar relacionado a remodelamento renal menos intenso em resposta à uropatia obstrutiva nestes ratos / Introduction: Abnormal levels of serum and urinary markers occur in the presence of renal damage associated to obstructive uropathy. Urinary and serum TGFbeta1 and CA 19- 9 have not yet been evaluated in an experimental model of obstructive uropathy. Material and Methods: Rats were divided into seven groups: reference, sham operation, unilateral nephrectomy, complete unilateral ureteral obstruction, partial unilateral ureteral obstruction, partial bilateral ureteral obstruction, and unilateral nephrectomy with contralateral partial ureteral obstruction. Kidney and ureter morphometry, TGFbeta1 and CA 19-9 serum and urinary concentrations and CA 19-9 renal tissue expression were analysed. Correlation of these markers to complete, partial obstruction or unobstructed groups was performed. Results: Pathological findings correlated positively with the degree of ureteral obstruction, but negatively with urinary CA 19-9 levels. Marked underexpression of CA 19-9 was observed in kidneys with complete ureteral obstruction. No statistically significant differences were found for urinary and serum TGFbeta1 and also for serum CA 19-9. Conclusions: Urinary CA 19-9 correlated negatively with ureteral obstruction grade. Immunohistochemistry depicted CA 19-9 expression on epithelial tubular cells cytoplasm, suggesting renal origin. Serum and urinary TGFbeta1 did not show alterations in response to severity and length of urinary obstruction, which might be associated with less intense renal remodeling

Myofibroblast expansion is a critical event in the pathogenesis of liver fibrosis. The activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSC) to myofibroblast (MFB) results in the enhanced production of extracellular matrix (ECM). We have studied the effect of fibroblast growth factor 1 (FGF-1) on liver MFB. In the second part we investigated effect of transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1) and FGF-1 on cell line HSC-T6. Cells were cultured on plastic dishes and in 3D collagen gel mimicking fibrotic tissue. MFB were isolated by repeated passaging of nonparenchymal liver cell fraction. The transfer of MFB from plastic dishes to collagen gel resulted in the change in their shape and phenotype. The expression of cytokine TGF-β1 and of MFB markers, α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and cellular fibronectin (EDA-FN) on protein level was significantly decreased in collagen gel. The experiments with SB 431542, the inhibitor of TGF-β receptor type I, showed that EDA-FN and α-SMA are differently regulated. EDA-FN expression is dependent on TGF-β1, while the expression of α-SMA is primarily determined by the environment and modified by TGF-β1. EDA-FN is more sensitive to the U0126, the inhibitor of protein kinases MEK 1 and 2. Collagen gel does not change the expression of metalloproteinase MMP-2 but activates the proenzyme....

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado do Rio de Janeiro / As doenças cardiovasculares possuem a maior taxa de óbitos no mundo, e notavelmente nos últimos anos as pesquisas genéticas sobre as mesmas estão baseadas em estudos de associação, no qual o gene suspeito que esteja em maior frequência entre os pacientes passa a ser considerado um possível fator causal. Os polimorfismos genéticos que ocorrem no receptor beta-adrenérgico podem resultar em mudanças significativas na função do receptor, podendo acarretar fisiopatologias. Neste trabalho, o objetivo foi estimar a diversidade e a frequência do polimorfismo Ser49Gly do gene do receptor beta-adrenérgico 1 a partir de uma amostra de 188 indivíduos da população do Estado do Rio de Janeiro. As frequências também foram analisadas a partir da estratificação da amostra por critério fenotípico em função do padrão de cor da pele em (negros e não negros) ou ancestralidade genética em (afrodescendente e não afrodescendente), definida através da informação dos marcadores de ancestralidade Indels e SNP de cromossomo Y, para avaliar se os padrões de ancestralidade ou cor da pele são fundamentais para a diferenciação e distanciamento genético. Fragmentos de interesse foram amplificados por PCR (reação de cadeia de polimerase) com primers específicos para o marcador Ser49Gly e as reações de genotipagem foram realizadas com enzimas de restrição Eco0109I. Os valores da heterozigosidade variaram entre 0,25-0,50 e 0,20-0,41 nos grupos estratificados por ancestralidade e cor da pele, respectivamente. No que diz respeito à análise do equilíbrio de Hardy-Weinberg, não houve um desvio significativo na distribuição do marcador nas amostras gerais do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, ou mesmo nas amostras estratificadas. A distribuição dos alelos na amostra dos 188 indivíduos da população geral do Rio de Janeiro (AC_RJ) mostrou uma frequência de 80,30% e 19,70% para o alelo selvagem e mutado Ser49Gly, respectivamente. A comparação das análises sobre a distribuição das frequências alélicas para este marcador mostrou a ocorrência de diferenças significativas na distribuição das frequências alélicas entre negros e não negros e afrodescendentes e não afrodescendentes. A diferença significativa observada entre os negros e afrodescendentes, foi em menor grau de distanciamento. A informação obtida em relação à ancestralidade foi crucial para a obtenção dos dados sobre o aumento da variável mutada do polimorfismo Ser49Gly nas populações negras e afrodescendentes do Estado Rio de Janeiro. Tal evidência, em combinação com estudos clínicos podem contribuir para uma análise pormenorizada do padrão de susceptibilidade à doença em questão, em falhas do mecanismo deste receptor. / Cardiovascular diseases have the highest death rate in the world, and notably in recent years genetic research about them are based on association studies, in which the gene suspected to be at a higher frequency among patients is now considered a possible causal factor. Genetic polymorphisms that occur in the beta adrenergic receptor can result in significant changes in the receptor function that may trigger physiopathologies. The main aim of this study was to estimate the diversity and the frequency of Ser49Gly polymorphism of Βeta adrenergic 1 receptor gene in a sample of 188 individuals of the population of Rio de Janeiro. The frequencies were also analyzed from the sample stratification by phenotypic criteria due to skin color pattern (blacks and non-blacks) or by genetic ancestry (African descent and non-African descent), defined by ancestry information SNP and Indels markers from Y chromosome, to evaluate whether the ancestry criteria and/or skin color are crucial to the pattern of differentiation and genetic distance. Fragments of interest were amplified by PCR (polymerase chain reaction) with specific primers for the marker Ser49Gly and genotyping reactions performed by restriction with the enzyme Eco0109I. The values of heterozygosity ranged from 0.25 to 0.50 and 0.20 to 0.41 in the groups stratified by ancestry and skin color, respectively. Regarding the analysis of EHW, there was no significant deviation from this marker genotype distribution in Rio de Janeiro sample or even the stratified sample. The distribution of alleles in the sample of 188 individuals from the general population of Rio de Janeiro (AC_RJ) shows a frequency of 80.30% and 19.70% for the wild-type allele mutated Ser49 and Gly49, respectively. The comparison analysis showed the occurrence of significant differences in the distribution of allele frequencies of this marker between blacks and non-blacks and African descent and non-African descent. A significant difference was also observed between blacks and African descent, with a lesser degree of detachment. The information obtained in relation to ancestry was crucial for obtaining data on the increase in variable mutated polymorphism Ser49Gly in the black populations and African descent in Rio de Janeiro State. Such evidence, in combination with clinical studies may contribute to a detailed analysis of the pattern of susceptibility to disease involved in mechanism crashes of this receptor.

L'intégrine β1 appartient à une large famille de récepteurs de première importance pour les interactions cellule/matrice extracellulaire. La délétion spécifique d'un régulateur négatif de l'intégrine β1, ICAP-1α, induit de sévères défauts osseux. Nous avons pu montrer que la perte d'ICAP-1α est accompagnée d'une augmentation de l'activité de l'intégrine β1, affectant le dépôt des matrices de fibronectine et de collagène de type I. De plus, nous avons pu montrer qu'ICAP-1α a une action antagoniste sur le recrutement de la kindline-2 au niveau du domaine cytoplasmique de l'intégrine β1 (Brunner et al. JCB 2011). Nous nous sommes ensuite intéressés au rôle de l'intégrine β1 elle-même dans l'ostéogenèse afin de comprendre comment les ostéoblastes intègrent les signaux du microenvironnement pour coordonner la formation et le remodelage osseux. Dans cette optique, nous avons généré un modèle de souris délétées pour l'intégrine β1 spécifiquement dans les ostéoblastes en cours de maturation. Ces souris présentent un sévère phénotype osseux caractérisé par des réductions importantes de la minéralisation et de la dynamique osseuse, ainsi que des déformations osseuses et des fractures rappelant le syndrome d'Ostéoporose Juvénile. L'analyse in vitro d'ostéoblastes n'exprimant pas l'intégrine β1 a révélé un défaut majeur de prolifération impliquant non pas la voie canonique MAPK/ERK mais plutôt un défaut d'activation du co-facteur de transcription YAP. De plus, nous avons pu montrer que les intégrines β1 régulaient le niveau d'AMP cyclique (AMPc) dans les ostéoblastes et que ceci était corrélé à l'inactivation de YAP. De même, nous avons pu relier l'inactivation de YAP à la dynamique d'endocytose des rafts. Finalement, des analyses in vivo et in vitro ont révélé un défaut fonctionnel des ostéoblastes dépourvus d'intégrine β1. Nous avons pu montrer que cette incapacité fonctionnelle était due à une réduction de la réponse au BMP-2, facteur de croissance ostéoblastique majeur, non pas au niveau de son récepteur mais probablement au niveau de l'activation des promoteurs BMP-dépendants. Nos résultats montrent ainsi que l'intégrine β1 est un régulateur clé de la prolifération ostéoblastique dépendante de YAP et de la signalisation BMP régulant la fonction ostéoblastique, la minéralisation et la formation osseuse. / Β1 integrins belong to a large family of receptors that have been shown to be of paramount importance for cell/extracellular matrix interactions. The ablation of the specific β1 integrin regulator ICAP-1α results in severe bone and mineralization defects. By combining mouse and cell biology we could demonstrate that loss of ICAP-1α was accompanied by an increase of β1 integrin activity that affects fibronectin and collagen deposition. Moreover, we could show that ICAP-1 is an important negative regulator of kindlin-2 recruitment on β1 integrin cytoplasmic domain (Brunner et al. JCB 2011). We then wanted to address the functional role of β1 integrin per se in osteogenesis and to understand how osteoblasts integrate environmental cues to coordinate bone formation and remodeling. For this we generated osteoblast specific β1 integrin deficient mice. These mice showed severe bone defects characterized by reduced bone mineralization and dynamic, as well as bending and fractures reminding human Juvenile Osteoporosis symptoms. In vitro analyses of β1 integrin deficient osteoblasts revealed proliferation defect which is not due to defective canonical MAPK/ERK pathway, but rather to defective activity of the co-transcription factor YAP. Then, we showed that β1 integrins are regulating cAMP level in osteoblasts and that the cAMP level correlates with YAP inactivation. We also linked YAP inactivation with raft endocytosis. Finally, in vivo and in vitro analyses revealed a functional incapacity of β1 integrin deficient osteoprecursors. We could show that the lazy phenotype of β1 integrin deficient osteoblasts is likely due to a reduced response to BMP signaling, a major osteoblast growth factor. Taken together, our findings demonstrate that β1 integrin is a key regulator of YAP-dependent osteoblast proliferation and BMP signaling allowing osteoblast functionality, mineralization and bone formation.

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado do Rio de Janeiro / As doenças cardiovasculares possuem a maior taxa de óbitos no mundo, e notavelmente nos últimos anos as pesquisas genéticas sobre as mesmas estão baseadas em estudos de associação, no qual o gene suspeito que esteja em maior frequência entre os pacientes passa a ser considerado um possível fator causal. Os polimorfismos genéticos que ocorrem no receptor beta-adrenérgico podem resultar em mudanças significativas na função do receptor, podendo acarretar fisiopatologias. Neste trabalho, o objetivo foi estimar a diversidade e a frequência do polimorfismo Ser49Gly do gene do receptor beta-adrenérgico 1 a partir de uma amostra de 188 indivíduos da população do Estado do Rio de Janeiro. As frequências também foram analisadas a partir da estratificação da amostra por critério fenotípico em função do padrão de cor da pele em (negros e não negros) ou ancestralidade genética em (afrodescendente e não afrodescendente), definida através da informação dos marcadores de ancestralidade Indels e SNP de cromossomo Y, para avaliar se os padrões de ancestralidade ou cor da pele são fundamentais para a diferenciação e distanciamento genético. Fragmentos de interesse foram amplificados por PCR (reação de cadeia de polimerase) com primers específicos para o marcador Ser49Gly e as reações de genotipagem foram realizadas com enzimas de restrição Eco0109I. Os valores da heterozigosidade variaram entre 0,25-0,50 e 0,20-0,41 nos grupos estratificados por ancestralidade e cor da pele, respectivamente. No que diz respeito à análise do equilíbrio de Hardy-Weinberg, não houve um desvio significativo na distribuição do marcador nas amostras gerais do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, ou mesmo nas amostras estratificadas. A distribuição dos alelos na amostra dos 188 indivíduos da população geral do Rio de Janeiro (AC_RJ) mostrou uma frequência de 80,30% e 19,70% para o alelo selvagem e mutado Ser49Gly, respectivamente. A comparação das análises sobre a distribuição das frequências alélicas para este marcador mostrou a ocorrência de diferenças significativas na distribuição das frequências alélicas entre negros e não negros e afrodescendentes e não afrodescendentes. A diferença significativa observada entre os negros e afrodescendentes, foi em menor grau de distanciamento. A informação obtida em relação à ancestralidade foi crucial para a obtenção dos dados sobre o aumento da variável mutada do polimorfismo Ser49Gly nas populações negras e afrodescendentes do Estado Rio de Janeiro. Tal evidência, em combinação com estudos clínicos podem contribuir para uma análise pormenorizada do padrão de susceptibilidade à doença em questão, em falhas do mecanismo deste receptor. / Cardiovascular diseases have the highest death rate in the world, and notably in recent years genetic research about them are based on association studies, in which the gene suspected to be at a higher frequency among patients is now considered a possible causal factor. Genetic polymorphisms that occur in the beta adrenergic receptor can result in significant changes in the receptor function that may trigger physiopathologies. The main aim of this study was to estimate the diversity and the frequency of Ser49Gly polymorphism of Βeta adrenergic 1 receptor gene in a sample of 188 individuals of the population of Rio de Janeiro. The frequencies were also analyzed from the sample stratification by phenotypic criteria due to skin color pattern (blacks and non-blacks) or by genetic ancestry (African descent and non-African descent), defined by ancestry information SNP and Indels markers from Y chromosome, to evaluate whether the ancestry criteria and/or skin color are crucial to the pattern of differentiation and genetic distance. Fragments of interest were amplified by PCR (polymerase chain reaction) with specific primers for the marker Ser49Gly and genotyping reactions performed by restriction with the enzyme Eco0109I. The values of heterozygosity ranged from 0.25 to 0.50 and 0.20 to 0.41 in the groups stratified by ancestry and skin color, respectively. Regarding the analysis of EHW, there was no significant deviation from this marker genotype distribution in Rio de Janeiro sample or even the stratified sample. The distribution of alleles in the sample of 188 individuals from the general population of Rio de Janeiro (AC_RJ) shows a frequency of 80.30% and 19.70% for the wild-type allele mutated Ser49 and Gly49, respectively. The comparison analysis showed the occurrence of significant differences in the distribution of allele frequencies of this marker between blacks and non-blacks and African descent and non-African descent. A significant difference was also observed between blacks and African descent, with a lesser degree of detachment. The information obtained in relation to ancestry was crucial for obtaining data on the increase in variable mutated polymorphism Ser49Gly in the black populations and African descent in Rio de Janeiro State. Such evidence, in combination with clinical studies may contribute to a detailed analysis of the pattern of susceptibility to disease involved in mechanism crashes of this receptor.