Diss. (sammanfattning) Stockholm : Karol. inst., 2005. / Härtill 5 uppsatser.

O objetivo do atual trabalho, foi correlacionar os eventos celulares e teciduais com a expressão das proteínas VEGF, BMP-7, RANKL e OPG durante a osteogênese ectópica e ortotópica, induzida pela matriz óssea (MO) e dentinária (MD) alogênica. Matrizes alogênicas desmineralizada em HCl a 0,6N, obtidas de fêmur e incisivo de ratos, fori implantada entre as fáscias musculares da coxa e em defeito trans-ósseo de 8mm de diâmetro nos ossos parietais. As análises radiográfica e histomorfométrica da neoformação óssea e, a imunohistoquímica e o western blotting para as proteínas VEGF, BMP, RANKL e OPG, mostraram que: a) o volume da região do enxerto nos sítios ortotópicos reduziu 19% em 42 dias; b) em ambos tipos de enxerto e locais de implantação, ocorreu formação de tecido cartilaginoso e ósseo; c) nos sítios intramusculares, a reabsorção da matriz alogênica e a remodelação do tecido cartilaginoso, ósseo e medular foi mais acelerado, em relação a implantação ortotópico; d) o aumento na densidade de volume dos vasos sanguíneos e no número de osteoblastos/osteócitos e osteoclastos ocorreu simultaneamente e estava associado à maior reabsorção da matriz alogênica e à formação do tecido medular (hematopoiético); e) as proteínas VEGF, BMP-7, RANKL, OPG foram expressas em condrócitos, osteoblastos ativos, osteócitos recém aprisionados na matriz e em células estromais próximas aos osteoblastos ou às áreas da matriz alogênica reabsorvida; e f) a expressão das proteínas VEGF, BMP-7, RANKL e OPG foi maior no grupo MO. O pico de expressão dessas proteínas ocorreu nos períodos de 14 aos 21 dias no grupo da MO e 21 e 28 dias no grupo da MD. Concluímos que, a capacidade osteoindutora da matriz alogênica desmineralizada está relacionado a origem da matriz e ao sítio de implantação e que, as proteínas VEGF, BMP-7, RANKL e OPG estão associadas a maior reabsorção da matriz implantada, promovendo uma rápida e contínua liberação dos morfógenos contidos em seu interior que, induzem temporal e espacialmente a formação óssea/medular. / The aim of the present work was to correlate the cellular and tissue events with the expression of VEGF, BMP-7, RANKL and OPG during ectopic and orthotopic osteogenesis, induced by bone and dentin allogeneic matrix. Allogenic matrices obtained from femur and incisor of rats and demineralized in 0.6 N HCl were implanted into a intramuscular pocket and a 8mm-diameter bone defect in the skull. The radiographic and histomorphometric analysis of new bone formation, and immunohistochemistry and western blotting for VEGF, BMP, RANKL and OPG proteins, showed that: a) the total volume of the graft region in orthotopic site decreased 19% at 42 days b) in both graft types and implantation sites occurred formation of cartilaginous and bone tissues, c) in intramuscular sites, the resorption of allogenic matrix and remodeling of the new formed cartilage and bone were faster, in relation to orthotopic implantation sites; d) the increase in the volume density of blood vessels and in the number of osteoblasts/osteocytes and osteoclasts occurred simultaneously and was associated with greater reabsorption of the allogenic matrix and hematopoietic bone marrow formation; e) VEGF, BMP-7, RANKL, OPG proteins were expressed in chondrocytes, active osteoblasts, newly osteocytes confined and stromal cells located near the osteoblasts or in the surface of the reabsorbed matrix; and f) the VEGF, BMP-7, RANKL and OPG expression was higher in MO grafts than in the MD. The peak of expression of these proteins each occurred at 14 and 21 days in MO and 21 and 28 days in MD. We concluded that, the osteoinductive capacity of allogeneic demineralized matrix is related to matrix origin and implantation site and that the VEGF, BMP-7, RANKL and OPG proteins are associated with greater reabsorption of the implanted matrix, promoting rapid and continuous matrix-release morphogens that induces spatially and temporally the bone and bone marrow formation.

Para testar a hipótese de que a desmineralização in situ das superfícies de contato enxerto-leito, e a forma como o enxerto é estabilizado ao leito, podem influenciar os mecanismos envolvidos na consolidação do enxerto, fragmentos ósseos de 10 mm de diâmetro foram removidos das metáfises proximais tibiais de 36 coelhos (Oryctolagus Cuniculus) e transplantados para uma área adjacente. Na tíbia esquerda dos animais, as superfícies de contato do enxerto e do leito hospedeiro foram desmineralizadas com ácido cítrico pH 1,0 por 3 minutos antes dos enxertos serem fixados ao leito. Na tíbia direita, o transplante do bloco ósseo não foi precedido de desmineralização. Metade dos enxertos foi imobilizada sobre o leito pela superposição de uma membrana não reabsorvível de politetrafluoretileno colada com cianoacrilato ao leito à distância da interface enxerto-leito. A outra metade dos enxertos foi fixada por um parafuso de titânio no centro do enxerto. Assim, foram formados 4 grupos de estudo: membrana (M), membrana + ácido (MA), parafuso (P) e parafuso + ácido (PA). Três animais de cada grupo forneceram espécimes para análise microscópica quantitativa e qualitativa aos 15, 30 e 45 dias de pós-operatório. A análise qualitativa demonstrou que não houve formação óssea na interface em nenhum espécime aos 15 dias e que nos demais períodos, em todos os grupos, a quantidade de tecido ósseo neoformado na interface e seu estágio de maturação aumentaram com o tempo. Ambos os métodos de fixação empregados foram eficientes em manter os enxertos em posição, porém a membrana promoveu menor reabsorção da estrutura do enxerto. A análise quantitativa computadorizada revelou que, aos 30 dias, os grupos MA e PA apresentaram maior área de formação óssea na interface (71,34 ± 12,03%; 56,74 ± 2,15% respectivamente) em relação aos grupos M e P (51,75 ± 11,02%; 43,95 ± 4,05% respectivamente) e superfícies de consolidação óssea mais extensas (93,41 ± 5,95%; 93,73 ± 4,96% respectivamente) do que os grupos sem tratamento ácido (73,49 ± 7,7%; 73,77 ± 11,77% respectivamente para M e P), sendo essas diferenças estatisticamente significantes (p<0,05). Aos 45 dias de pós-operatório, os grupos MA e PA (71,18 ± 8,9%; 58,97 ± 3,97% respectivamente) apresentaram resultados superiores aos grupos M e P (59,78 ± 11,28%; 46,08 ± 3,53% respectivamente) em relação à área de neoformação óssea na interface, porém essa diferença não foi significativa. Concluiu-se que a desmineralização ácida das superfícies contactantes nos enxertos ósseos autógenos em bloco na tíbia de coelhos promoveu a osteogênese na interface enxerto-leito e acelerou a consolidação dos enxertos. Além disso, quando o tratamento ácido foi associado ao uso de membrana como método de fixação, a consolidação e grau de reabsorção óssea foram otimizados. / In order to test the hypothesis that the demineralization \"in situ\" of contacting surfaces of bone graft/bone bed and the fixation method used for graft stabilization can influence the mechanisms involved in the consolidation of the graft, bone fragments of 10 mm in diameter were removed from the proximal tibial metaphysis of thirty-six male rabbits (Oryctolagus Cuniculus) and transplanted to an adjacent area. In the left tibia of the animals, the contacting surfaces of the graft and host bed were demineralized with citric acid pH 1.0 for 3 minutes before the grafts were fixed to the receptor bed. In the right tibia, the bone block transplantation was not preceded by demineralization. Half of the grafts were immobilized on the bone bed by a nonresorbable polytetrafluoroethylene membrane glued with cyanoacrylate adhesive to the host bed distant from the bone graft-bone bed interface. The other half of the grafts were fixed by a titanium screw in the center of the graft. Thus, four groups were formed: membrane (M), membrane + acid (MA), screw (P) and screw + acid (PA). Three animals from each group provided specimens for quantitative and qualitative microscopic analysis at 15, 30 and 45 days postoperatively. Qualitative analysis showed no significant bone formation at the interface in any specimen of the groups at 15 days and on the other periods in all groups, the amount of newly formed bone at the interface as well as the stage of bone maturation increased with time. Both fixation methods were effective in maintaining the graft in position, but the membrane resulted in less resorption of the graft. Quantitative analysis, performed by means of a computer program for image analysis, showed that at day 30, groups MA and PA, showed greater area of bone formation at the interface (71.34 ± 12.03%; 56.74 ± 2 15%) than groups M and P (51.75 ± 11.02%, 43.95 ± 4.05%) and more osseointegrated bone surfaces (93.41 ± 5.95%, 93.73 ± 4.96%) than those without acid treatment (73.49 ± 7.7%, 73.77 ± 11.77%), and these differences were statistically significant. At 45 days postoperatively MA and PA groups (71.18 ± 8.9%, 58.97 ± 3.97%) showed better results than the M and P groups (59.78 ± 11.28%, 46 , 08 ± 3.53%) compared to the area of new bone formation at the interface and osseointegrated surfaces, but these differences were not significant. It was concluded that the acid demineralization of contacting surfaces in autogenous onlay bone grafts in the tibia of rabbits promotes osteogenesis in bone graft-host bed interface and accelerates the consolidation of the grafts. Furthermore, the association of this surface treatment to the use of membrane/cyanoacrylate fixation method, optimizes the results regarding consolidation and degree of bone graft resorption.

No description available.

No description available.

L’ostéoarthrose (OA) est une maladie articulaire invalidante caractérisée par la perte de l’intégrité du cartilage articulaire. Les recherches tentent de comprendre les mécanismes moléculaires de la maladie afin de trouver des inhibiteurs efficaces pouvant prévenir la dégradation du cartilage articulaire. Les BMPs (bone morphogenic proteins) jouent un rôle dans le processus pathophysiologique de cette maladie. Cette étude cible le rôle d’un antagoniste des BMPs, le gremlin. Nous avons étudié la régulation de l’expression de gremlin par le clonage et la caractérisation de son promoteur et en déterminant si gremlin pouvait jouer un rôle autre qu’antagoniste des BMP, en affectant l’expression d’autres gènes par l’activation d’une cascade de signalisation dans la cellule. Les résultats ont identifié une région importante dans le promoteur de gremlin qui affecte son activité basale et induite, et ont montré que le gremlin ne pouvait pas affecter l’expression génique et l’activation de signalisation intracellulaire indépendamment des BMPs. Cette étude démontre que le rôle de gremlin dans l’OA en est un essentiellement d’antagoniste des BMPs. / Osteoarthritis (OA) is a disease that affects the integrity of the articular cartilage which leads to serious health issues for many individuals. Research is focused on understanding the molecular mechanisms which lead to this loss in integrity in the hopes of finding a way to turn the tide. The bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) have been shown to play a role in the progression of this disease and this study focuses on one of their antagonists, gremlin. We therefore decided to study what affects the expression of this protein through the cloning and characterization of its promoter region. We also studied the role of this protein in the disease, can it influence gene expression and can it initiate a signalling cascade within the cell on its own. The results identified a region important for basal and induced activity of its promoter .The results also demonstrated that the main role of this protein in the progression of OA is through BMP antagonism. Gremlin does not initiate a signalling cascade and affect gene expression on its own.

Le but de cette étude était d’évaluer si la bone morphogenetic protein (BMP)-2 pouvait aider à contrôler le phénotype de chondrocytes humains dans des conditions de culture à long terme nécessaires pour la transplantation de chondrocytes autologues (TCA). Nous avons aussi évalué le potentiel de la BMP-2 comme facteur de réparation du cartilage, en combinaison avec un biomatériau à base de collagène, pour étendre la technique aux lésions arthrosiques. Des chondrocytes humains ont été cultivés selon la procédure utilisée pour la TCA. Nous avons évalué la réponse des chondrocytes à la BMP-2 en culture monocouche ou dans les éponges de collagène par des analyses par PCR en temps réel, par Western blotting et Immunohistochimie.L’ajout de BMP-2 améliore le caractère chondrogénique des chondrocytes humains amplifiés en monocouche. L’effet stimulateur de la BMP-2 sur l’expression du collagène de type II a été observé au niveau des gènes mais aussi des protéines, ce qui est une propriété essentielle pour la reconstruction d’une matrice cartilagineuse. Nos résultats ont aussi montré que dans des chondrocytes tout d’abord amplifiés en monocouche puis cultivés en éponges de collagène en présence de BMP-2, la BMP-2 est capable de restaurer l’expression du gène COL2A1 et la synthèse de collagène de type II qui avaient été perdues pendant l’amplification. De manière importante, aucun signe de maturation hypertrophique ou d’induction ostéogénique n’a été détecté. Cette étude est la première à révéler le bénéfice de l’ajout de BMP-2 à des chondrocytes humains comme un agent thérapeutique pour la réparation du cartilage. / The aim of this study was to investigate if bone borphogenetic brotein (BMP)-2 could help to control human chondrocytes phenotype in long-term culture conditions necessary for autologous chondrocyte implantation (ACI). We also evaluated the potential of BMP-2 as a repair factor in combination with collagen-based biomaterials, to extend the technique to osteoarthritic lesions. Human chondrocytes were cultured independently, according to the procedure used for ACI. We evaluated the responsiveness of chondrocytes to BMP-2 when cultured in monolayer or within collagen sponges using Real-time PCR, Western blotting and Immunohistochemistry. Exogenous BMP-2 improved the chondrogenic character of human chondrocytes when amplified in monolayer. The stimulatory effect of BMP-2 on type II collagen expression was observed not only at the mRNA level but also at the protein level, and this is crucial for cartilage matrix reconstruction. Our data with human chondrocytes first amplified in monolayer then cultured in collagen sponges in the presence of BMP-2 have revealed that BMP-2 is able to restore COL2A1 gene expression and type II collagen synthesis that were lost during the amplification step. Importantly, no sign of hypertrophic maturation or osteogenic induction was detected beside the chondrogenic stimulatory effect of BMP-2. This study is the first to reveal the benefit of adding exogenous BMP-2 to human chondrocytes as a therapeutic agent for cartilage repair.

Yung, Lai Hang. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2009. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 93-115). / Abstract also in Chinese. / Declaration --- p.i / Acknowledgements --- p.ii / Abbreviations --- p.iii / Abstract in English --- p.v / Abstract in Chinese --- p.ix / Contents --- p.xi / Chapter Chapter I - --- Introduction / Chapter 1.1) --- Endothelial cells function --- p.1 / Chapter 1.2) --- Oxidative stress in the vascular wall --- p.2 / Chapter 1.2.1) --- Sources of ROS --- p.3 / Chapter 1.2.2) --- Actions of ROS --- p.3 / Chapter 1.2.2.1) --- Impaired endothelium-dependent vasodilatation --- p.3 / Chapter 1.2.2.2) --- VSMC migration --- p.4 / Chapter 1.2.2.3) --- Programmed cell death (cell apoptosis) --- p.4 / Chapter 1.3) --- Endothelial cell apoptosis --- p.7 / Chapter 1.3.1) --- Apoptosis and cardiovascular diseases --- p.7 / Chapter 1.3.2) --- Mechanisms of endothelial cells apoptosis --- p.7 / Chapter 1.3.2.1) --- What are caspases? --- p.8 / Chapter 1.3.2.2) --- Death receptor-mediated apoptosis --- p.9 / Chapter 1.3.2.3) --- Mitochondria-dependent pathway --- p.9 / Chapter 1.3.3) --- Regulations of endothelial cells apoptosis --- p.10 / Chapter 1.3.3.1) --- Oxidative stress --- p.10 / Chapter 1.3.3.2) --- Shear Stress --- p.11 / Chapter 1.3.3.3) --- Growth factors --- p.12 / Chapter 1.3.3.4) --- NO --- p.12 / Chapter 1.3.3.5) --- Inflammatory mediators --- p.13 / Chapter 1.4) --- Mitogen activated kinases signaling in apoptosis --- p.15 / Chapter 1.5) --- Bone morphogenic proteins (BMPs) --- p.17 / Chapter 1.5.1) --- BMPs functions and cardiovascular system --- p.17 / Chapter 1.5.2) --- BMPs signaling pathways --- p.18 / Chapter 1.5.2.1) --- Smad-dependent pathway --- p.18 / Chapter 1.5.2.2) --- MAPKs and SAPKs pathways --- p.19 / Chapter 1.5.2.3) --- Antagonists of BMPs signaling --- p.20 / Chapter 1.5.3) --- BMP4 and cardiovascular diseases --- p.20 / Chapter 1.6) --- "Justification, long-term significance and objectives of the present project" --- p.23 / Chapter Chapter II - --- Methods and Materials / Chapter 2.1) --- Animal handling --- p.24 / Chapter 2.2) --- Endothelial cell isolation and culture --- p.24 / Chapter 2.2.1) --- Primary culture of rat endothelial cells --- p.24 / Chapter 2.2.2) --- Culture of human umbilical cord vein endothelial cells… --- p.25 / Chapter 2.3) --- Apoptosis assessment --- p.25 / Chapter 2.3.1) --- Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end-labeling (TUNEL) assay --- p.25 / Chapter 2.3.2) --- Cell death detection ELISA kit --- p.26 / Chapter 2.3.3) --- Flow cytometry --- p.27 / Chapter 2.4) --- Western blot analysis --- p.28 / Chapter 2.4.1) --- Sample preparation --- p.28 / Chapter 2.4.2) --- SDS-PAGE and transfer --- p.28 / Chapter 2.5) --- DHE fluorescence --- p.29 / Chapter 2.6) --- "Drugs, chemicals and other reagents" --- p.30 / Chapter 2.6.1) --- Drugs and chemicals used in the present experiments --- p.30 / Chapter 2.6.2) --- Reagents for Western blot analysis --- p.30 / Chapter 2.6.3) --- Primary antibodies --- p.33 / Chapter 2.7) --- Small interfering RNA experiment --- p.34 / Chapter 2.8) --- Statistical analysis --- p.34 / Chapter Chapter III - --- BMP4 induces endothelial cell apoptosis in ROS related p38 MAPK and JNK mediated caspase-3 dependent pathway / Chapter 3.1) --- Introduction --- p.35 / Chapter 3.2) --- Methods and materials --- p.39 / Chapter 3.2.1) --- Isolation and culture of endothelial cells --- p.39 / Chapter 3.2.2) --- Drugs treatment --- p.39 / Chapter 3.2.3) --- Assay for cell apoptosis --- p.40 / Chapter 3.2.3.1) --- Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end-labeling (TUNEL) assay --- p.40 / Chapter 3.2.3.2) --- Cell death detection ELISA kit --- p.41 / Chapter 3.2.3.3) --- Flow cytometric analysis --- p.41 / Chapter 3.2.4) --- Western blot analysis --- p.41 / Chapter 3.2.5) --- Dihydroethidium (DHE) staining --- p.42 / Chapter 3.2.6) --- Statistical analysis --- p.42 / Chapter 3.3) --- Results --- p.43 / Chapter 3.3.1) --- Dose- and time-dependent effect of BMP4 --- p.43 / Chapter 3.3.2) --- Role of caspases in apoptosis of RAECs and HUVECs --- p.43 / Chapter 3.3.3) --- Roles of BMP4 and ROS in endothelial cell apoptosis --- p.44 / Chapter 3.3.3.1) --- Noggin antagonism of BMP4-induced effect --- p.44 / Chapter 3.3.3.2) --- NAD(P)H oxidase-mediated ROS production --- p.44 / Chapter 3.3.3.3) --- Inhibition of endothelial cell apoptosis by ROS scavengers --- p.45 / Chapter 3.3.4) --- Roles of MAPKs/SAPKs in BMP4-induced endothelial cell apoptosis --- p.45 / Chapter 3.3.5) --- Relationship between ROS and MAPKs/SAPKs --- p.46 / Chapter 3.3.6) --- Relationship between p38 MAPK and JNK --- p.46 / Chapter 3.4) --- Discussion --- p.82 / Chapter 3.4.1) --- Caspase-dependent pathways --- p.82 / Chapter 3.4.2) --- Oxidative stress --- p.85 / Chapter 3.4.3) --- Role of MAPKs activation in BMP4-induced endothelial cell apoptosis --- p.87 / Chapter 3.4.4) --- ROS mediates BMP4-induced activation of MAPKs --- p.88 / Chapter 3.4.5) --- Role of p38 MAPK in the activation of JNK 1 --- p.89 / Chapter 3.5) --- Concluding remarks --- p.91 / References --- p.93 / Publications and Awards --- p.116

As fraturas e perdas ósseas representam altos riscos para o Sistema público de Saúde (SUS), além de afetar a qualidade de vida do paciente, portanto é necessário o entendimento das bases moleculares que envolvem os mecanismos de reparo ósseo. Citocinas secretadas por células do sistema imune presentes no local da inflamação, como as IL-6, IL-10 e TNF&#945; atuam como fatores quimiotáticos para células mesenquimais, que proliferam e se diferenciam em osteoblastos pela ação autócrina e parácrina de Proteínas Morfogenéticas Ósseas (BMPs), principalmente a BMP2. Embora seja conhecido que a ação de BMP2 ocorra através de sua ligação nos receptores ActRI/BMPR, que ativam proteínas SMADS 1/5/8 efetoras, pouco se sabe sobre os mecanismos intracelulares que participam do processo de diferenciação osteoblástico. Neste estudo propôs-se analisar as diferenças no conteúdo de proteínas totais e de proteínas fosforiladas em células mesenquimais de pele induzidas à osteogênese pelo tratamento com BMP2 por diferentes períodos de tempo, utilizando-se de Isótopos Estáveis de Dimetila acoplado ao LC/MS. A partir de 150&#181;g de material inicial, foi possível identificar 2.264 proteínas, as quais foram quantificadas nos diferentes pontos de indução, sendo que 235 são fosforiladas. Análise de motivos de quinases mostrou que diversos substratos possuem sítios fosforilados correspondentes àqueles dos motivos de fosforilação das quinases Casein Kinase, p38, CDK e JNK. A análise da ontologia gênica mostrou um aumento de processos biológicos relacionados com sinalização e diferenciação após a primeira hora de indução com rhBMP2. Além disso, proteínas envolvidas com o rearranjo do citoesqueleto e com vias de sinalização Wnt e Ras foram encontradas como tendo fosforilação diferencial durante todos os períodos estudados. Os dados revelaram novos substratos intracelulares que são fosforilados nos primeiros momentos do comprometimento com a diferenciação osteoblástica mediada pelo tratamento com rhBMP2 em células mesenquimais derivadas da pele. Além disso, clones celulares que superexpressam as proteínas recombinantes humanas BMP2 e BMP4 foram gerados, e sua atividade verificada in vitro. Paralelamente, a rhBMP7, obtida anteriormente, foi purificada por cromatografia de afinidade utilizando-se uma coluna de Heparina-Sepharose, que foi posteriormente utilizada para ensaios in vitro e in vivo, nos quais se mostrou capaz de gerar osteoblastos e tecido ósseo, respectivamente, o que abre novas possibilidades para o uso destas proteínas como biofármacos no Brasil. / Bone fractures and loss represent significant costs for the public health system and often affect the patients quality of life, therefore, understanding the molecular basis for bone regeneration is essential. Cytokines, such as IL-6, IL-10 and TNF&#945;, secreted by inflammatory cells at the lesion site, at the very beginning of the repair process, act as chemotactic factors for mesenchymal stem cells, which proliferate and differentiate into osteoblasts through the autocrine and paracrine action of bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs), mainly BMP-2. Although it is known that BMP-2 binds to ActRI/BMPR and activates the SMAD 1/5/8 downstream effectors, little is known about the intracellular mechanisms participating in osteoblastic differentiation. We assessed differences in the phosphorylation status of different cellular proteins upon BMP-2 osteogenic induction of isolated human skin mesenchymal stem cells using Triplex Stable Isotope Dimethyl Labeling coupled with LC/MS. From 150 &#181;g of starting material, 2,264 proteins containing two or more peptides were identified and quantified at five different time points, 235 of which are differentially phosphorylated. Kinase motif analysis showed that several substrates display phosphorylation sites for Casein Kinase, p38, CDK and JNK. Gene ontology analysis showed an increase in biological processes related with signaling and differentiation at early time points after BMP2 induction. Moreover, proteins involved in cytoskeleton rearrangement, Wnt and Ras pathways were found to be differentially phosphorylated during all timepoints studied. Taken together, these data, allow new insights on the intracellular substrates which are phosphorylated early on during commitment to BMP2-driven osteoblastic differentiation of skin-derived mesenchymal stem cells. Cell clones overexpressing the human BMP 2 and 4 recombinant proteins were also generated, and their biological activity was confirmed in vitro. In parallel, chromatography-affinity purified rhBMP7, obtained using heparin-Sepharose columns, was used for in vivo and in vitro assays to evaluate the ability of this purified protein to generate osteoblasts and bone tissue, respectively, opening new avenues for the use of these proteins as biopharmaceuticals in Brazil.

<p>Members of the Transforming Growth factor-β (TGF-β) superfamily and its subclass Bone Morphogenetic Proteins (BMP) play important roles for nervous system development. </p><p>In order to study the BMP role for catecholaminergic neurons <i>in vivo</i>, we generated three knock-in mice, expressing the transgenes specifically in the targeting cells. </p><p>Two genetic modifications result in expression of dominant negative (dn) BMP receptors (BMPRII and ALK2). The tissue-specific expression was achieved by the transgene insertion into 3’- untranslated region of the endogenous gene for tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), the first enzyme in catecholamine biosynthesis. An Internal Ribosome Entry site (IRES) preceded inserted cDNAs, allowing for functional bicistronic mRNA production. While almost no defects in Th-IRES-dnALK2, the Th-IRES-dnBMPRII mouse demonstrated declined levels of catecholamines, including dopamine in the striatum. Losses of midbrain dopaminergic neurons (MDN) might cause the effect. Additionally, intermediate lines of these mice, preserving a neo-cassette, oriented opposite to the locus transcription, demonstrate dramatic decrease of catecholamine level, hence, represent models for rare catecholamine-deficiency diseases, including L-DOPA-responsive dystonia.</p><p>The third mouse, expressing in the same way Cre-recombinase (Th-IRES-Cre), represents a tool for catecholaminergic cell-limited deletion of any gene, which has to be flanked by loxP sites. Besides TH-positive areas, unexpected sites of Cre-recombination were identified, indicating regions of transient TH expression. Surprising recombination in oocytes opens a possibility to use our mouse as a general Cre-deletor.</p><p>Using TH-IRES-Cre mouse we generated tissue-specific knockout mice for two BMP signal transducers: Smad1 and Smad4 (also crucial for TGF-β). While no phenotype in Smad1 knockout, TH-IRES-Cre/Smad4 mouse revealed several defects including decreased level of striatal dopamine. </p><p>These results demonstrate a positive role of BMPs for MDN fate<i> in vivo</i>. Generated mice represent a tool-box for comprehensive study of the BMP function in catecholaminergic neurons. This study is of potential interest for understanding some aspects of Parkinson’s disease.</p>