La grande majorité des essais cliniques de transfert de gènes in vivo utilise des vecteurs viraux. Si ces derniers sont efficaces, ils présentent des risques immunogènes, toxiques, voire mutagènes avérés. Les vecteurs synthétiques (non viraux), par leur grande modularité et leur faible toxicité représentent une alternative très prometteuse. Le principal frein à leur utilisation est leur manque d’efficacité. L’objectif majeur de ce travail de thèse a été de comprendre le mécanisme de transfert de gènes associé à différents complexes vecteurs synthétiques/ADN plasmidique, ce qui est indispensable pour une conception rationnelle de nouveaux vecteurs. Nous avons étudié, sur cellules en culture, le mécanisme de transfert de gènes associé à deux lipides cationiques ; le BGTC (bis(guanidinium)-tren-cholesterol) et la DOSP (DiOleylamine A-Succinyl-Paromomycine) qui sont connus pour être des vecteurs efficaces in vitro. Nous avons ainsi pu visualiser par microscopie électronique leurs voies d’entrée, leurs remaniements structuraux ainsi que leur échappement endosomal qui représente une étape clé du processus de transfert de gènes. L’identification non ambigüe des lipoplexes tout au long de leur trafic intracellulaire a été rendue possible grâce au marquage de l’ADN par des nanoparticules de silice dotées d’un cœur de maghémite (Fe2O3) dense aux électrons. Cette stratégie de marquage a également été appliquée à l’étude du mécanisme d’action d’un autre vecteur synthétique de type polymère, le copolymère à blocs non ionique P188 ou Lutrol. Contrairement à la plupart des vecteurs synthétiques, celui-ci présente une efficacité de transfection in vivo chez la souris par injection in situ pour le tissu musculaire ou en intra trachéale dans le poumon. En revanche, il est totalement inefficace in vitro. Nous avons montré que le Lutrol permet une augmentation de l’internalisation d’ADN par les cellules mais n’induit pas son échappement endosomal, ce qui expliquerait son absence d’efficacité in vitro. D’autres voies d’entrée sont alors à envisager in vivo pour comprendre son mécanisme d’action. / The vast majority of clinical trials of gene transfer in vivo use viral vectors. Although they are effective, they induce immunogenic, toxic or mutagenic risks. Due to their high modularity and low toxicity, synthetic vectors (non viral), represent a promising alternative despite their lack of effectiveness. The major objective of this work was to understand the mechanism of gene transfer using two prototypic synthetic vectors, in the context of a rational design of new vectors. We studied on cultured cells, the mechanism of action of two cationic lipids; BGTC (bis(guanidinium)-tren-cholesterol) and DOSP (DiOleylamine A-Succinyl-Paromomycine) formulated with plasmid DNA (lipoplexes) which are in vitro efficient vectors. We have been able to visualize by electron microscopy, their intracellular pathways, their structural alterations and their endosomal escape, the latter being a key step in the process of gene transfer. The unambiguous identification of lipoplexes throughout their intracellular trafficking has been made possible thanks to the labelling of DNA by core-shell silica nanoparticles with an electron dense maghemite core (Fe2O3). The labeling strategy has also been applied to study the mechanism of action of a nonionic block copolymer (P188 or Lutrol). Interestingly, these synthetic vectors have an in vivo transfection efficiency in mice lung and muscle tissue while they are totally inefficient in vitro. We have shown that Lutrol induces an increase of DNA internalization into cells and fails to trigger endosomal escape, which would explain the lack of in vitro efficacy. These findings suggest that the in vivo mechanism of action of Lutrol would involve other internalization pathways.

La demande en énergie grandissante, les gisements d'uranium à faible teneur pourront être ceux exploités dans le futur. Le traitement conventionnel de minerais d'uranium utilise peu de procédés minéralurgiques de concentration permettant la réduction de consommation de réactifs de lixiviation. Le but de ce travail est de développer un procédé de valorisation visant l'amélioration du procédé d'exploitation (lixiviation alcaline en tas) prenant en compte la variabilité minéralogique et texturale du minerai. Le gisement de Trekkopje, est composé d'une calcrète et d'une gypscrète. Le minéral porteur de l'uranium est la carnotite (K2(UO2)2[VO4]2.3H2O). Les minéraux de gangue sont composés de silicates tels que le quartz, les feldspaths, les micas et de minéraux du calcium, la calcite et le gypse (analyses en DRX, ICP-MS). Un traitement d'images MEB a permis d'étudier les propriétés texturales et la surface exposée des inclusions dans les amas d'argiles (cf. Figure 1). Dans la calcrète broyée à -200 µm, 50 % de l'ensemble de la carnotite est en moyenne associée aux amas d'argiles, composés à 98 % de palygorskite, 2% d'illite, de montmorillonite et d'interstratifiés (analyses DRX et microsonde électronique de Castaing). La taille des grains de carnotite est à 95 % inférieure à 70 µm. La calcite est la principale inclusion dans les amas d'argiles avec un taux moyen d'inclusion de 12% tandis que celui de la carnotite s'élève à 5%. Le pourcentage de surface exposée moyen de ces minéraux, dans les amas, est de 6 % et de 3 %, respectivement, ceci indiquant que les inclusions ne devraient pas influencer le comportement des particules mixtes d'argile. Cependant, les essais de flottation sur minerai n'ont pas vérifié cette hypothèse. Trois voies de séparation minérales ont été proposées en fonction de l'aptitude des minéraux à consommer le réactif de lixiviation : les minéraux calciques des silicates, la palygorskite des minéraux de gangue et la carnotite des minéraux de gangue. Une étude des propriétés électrocinétiques en électrophorèse des silicates et des minéraux calciques a été réalisée afin de choisir les collecteurs et l'intervalle de pH optimal à une flottation sélective. Un pH basique proche de la neutralité est révélé optimal pour la séparation des minéraux de gangue avec des collecteurs cationiques ou anioniques en s'appuyant sur les valeurs de PIE des minéraux : silicates pH 1-2, palygorskite pH 3, francolite pH 3-4 et minéraux du calcium pH 9-10. Les isothermes d'adsorption des amines primaires avec un réactif nonionique obtenues par chromatographie gazeuse mettent en évidence leur coadsorption sur la surface des silicates à pH 8. La présence du réactif non ionique permet la formation d'une couche d'adsorption plus dense sur la surface minérale déduite des déplacements des bandes de vibration symétriques et asymétriques des groupements CH2, CH3 sur les spectres infrarouge en réflexion diffuse. La palygorskite est séparée de l'ensemble de minéraux calciques et silicates purs à pH 8, avec un mélange de collecteurs tels qu'une amine primaire et un alcool aliphatique sans utiliser de déprimants spécifiques. Une séparation nette entre minéraux du calcium et des silicates est réalisée à pH 8 en combinant l'oléate de sodium avec le même réactif nonionique. Des effets synergiques des mélanges de réactifs ioniques avec un réactif non ionique ont été mis en évidence avec un abaissement de la consommation en réactif ionique de deux à dix fois. Les essais de flottation en cellule mécanique de laboratoire de 1L sur le minerai ont confirmé les résultats obtenus en flottation des minéraux purs avec les collecteurs anioniques. L'élimination des minéraux du calcium (produit flotté contenant 25 % de l'uranium), des silicates (produit non flotté contenant 75 % de l'uranium) en utilisant une combinaison d'oléate de sodium et d'un alcool aliphatique est la voie de séparation par flottation retenue [...] / Due to the energy growing demand, uranium low grade ores may be those exploited in the future. Uranium ores conventional treatment doesn't often use mineral processing such as concentration methods for reducing leaching reagent consumption. The aim of this work is to develop an upgrading process to improve the operating process (alkaline heap leaching) taking into account the mineralogical and textural variability of the ore. The Trekkopje deposit is composed of calcrete and a gypscrete. The uranium bearing mineral is carnotite (K2 (UO2)2 [VO4]2.3H2O). The gangue minerals are composed by silicates, such as quartz, feldspars, micas and Ca-minerals, calcite and gypsum (XRD and ICP-MS analysis). A SEM image processing was used to study the textural properties and the exposed free surface of mineral inclusions in clay clusters. In calcrete milled to -200 µm, 50 % of all carnotite is associated with clay clusters, which are composed by 98 % of palygorskite, 2 % of illite, montmorillonite, and interbedded clays (XRD and microprobe analysis). The carnotite grain size is 95% less than 70 µm. Calcite is the main inclusion in clay clusters. Indeed, the calcite inclusions average rate in the clay clusters is 12 % and 5 % for carnotite inclusion. And the free exposed surface percentage of these minerals in clay clusters is 3 % and 6 %, thus indicating that the inclusions should not affect the behavior of mixed clay particles. However, ore flotation essays didn't verify this hypothesis. Three minerals separation have been proposed based on the mineral ability to consume leaching reagents: separating Ca-minerals from silicates, palygorskite from gangue minerals and carnotite from gangue minerals. A study of silicates and Ca-minerals electrokinetic properties (electrophoresis) was carried out to select the collectors and the optimum pH range for selective flotation. Basic pH near neutral was proved to be optimal for the separation of gangue minerals with cationic or anionic collectors (silicates IEP - pH 1-2, palygorskite IEP - pH 3, francolite IEP - pH 3-4 and IEP minerals calcium - pH 9 - 10). The adsorption isotherms of the primary amines with a nonionic reagent obtained by gay chromatography highlight their coadsorption on the silicates surface at pH 8. The presence of nonionic reagent allows to the formation of a compact layer on the mineral surface, derived from the displacement of the symmetric and asymmetric vibration groups CH2, CH3 of the infrared diffuse reflectance spectra. Palygorskite is separated from the pure Ca-minerals and silicates at pH 8, with a mixture of a primary amine and a nonionic reagent such as collectors, without using specific depressant. A clear separation of Ca-minerals and silicates is carried out at pH 8 by combining sodium oleate with aliphatic alcohols. The synergistic effects of ionic and nonionic reagents were highlighted with an ionic reagents consumption reduction by two to ten fold. The ore flotation tests have confirmed the results obtained in pure mineral flotation with anionic collectors. The removal of Ca-minerals (floated product containing 20 % of uranium), silicates (nonfloated product containing 80 % of uranium) using a combination of sodium oleate and an aliphatic alcohol is the separation by flotation chosen solution. This study led to exploitable results in solving the problem by coupling multi-scale approaches

Le point clé des polymérisations radicalaires et/ou cationiques réside dans la génération des radicaux et/ou des cations qui amorcent la réaction. Ces derniers sont formés par transformation, via absorption de lumière, d’un composé photosensible. Puisque la majorité des réactions de polymérisation se produisent en système ouvert, on conçoit l’importance de trouver des solutions aux inconvénients liés à la présence de l’air lors de la réticulation. Durant ce travail, de nouvelles séries de molécules de type silanes, germanes, complexes boranes ... ont été examinées. On va s’intéresser aussi aux systèmes d’amorçage de type I et II. Nous nous intéresserons aussi à la polymérisation induite par la lumière visible ou solaire. Notre objectif consiste à développer des systèmes dont la sensibilité spectrale s’étend vers de grandes longueurs d’onde. Les molécules étudiées au cours de ce travail semblent être très favorables en tant que photoamorceurs ou co-amorceurs pour la polymérisation radicalaire ainsi que pour la polymérisation cationique. La plupart de ces structures se sont montrées plus efficaces que les références utilisées. Le travail de cette thèse s’articule autour de deux grandes parties : La première partie relative à la polymérisation radicalaire contient également une étude bibliographique et se divise en trois chapitres. La deuxième partie relative à la polymérisation cationique se divise en sept chapitres. Une annexe sera donnée à la fin de ce manuscrit et regroupe les différentes techniques expérimentales. / The key point of radical and/or cationic polymerization is the generation of radicals and/or cations that initiate the reaction. These are formed by transformation via light absorption of a photosensitive compound. Since the majority of polymerization reactions occur in an open system, we can understand the importance of finding solutions to the disadvantages associated with the presence of air during the crosslinking. During this work, new series of molecules of silanes, germanes, boranes ... were examined. Were also interested by the polymerization induced by visible light. Our objective is to develop systems whose spectral sensitivity extends to longer wavelengths. This work consists in two main parts: The first part on the radical polymerization also contains a literature review and is divided into three chapters. The second part on the cationic polymerization is divided into seven chapters. An appendix will be given at the end of this manuscript and includes the various experimental techniques.

Plantas cultivadas em ambientes com média e alta disponibilidade de cádmio apresentam menor produção de folhas e perfilhos devido à maior quantidade de cádmio absorvido, resultando em menor produção de biomassa. O fornecimento de enxofre às plantas pode minimizar os efeitos negativos causados pelo cádmio, uma vez que esse nutriente participa de compostos que atuam no sistema antioxidante, conferindo maior tolerância aos metais pesados. Objetivou-se avaliar as modificações ocorridas: i) nos aspectos morfológicos, morfogênicos e produtivos; ii) no estado nutricional e iii) na resposta do sistema antioxidante do capim-tanzânia (Panicum maximum) cultivado com combinações de doses de enxofre (0,1; 1,0; 1,9; 2,8 e 3,7 mmol L-1) e de cádmio (0,0; 0,5; 1,0; 1,5 e 2,0 mmol L-1) em solução nutritiva. O experimento foi desenvolvido em casa de vegetação, utilizando o esquema fatorial 5² fracionado, em blocos ao acaso, com seis repetições. O primeiro corte do capimtanzânia foi realizado 40 dias após o transplantio das mudas para os vasos e o segundo corte 18 dias após o primeiro. Para a taxa de mortalidade de perfilhos, valor SPAD, concentração de cádmio e a atividade da APX (segundo corte) do capim-tanzânia foi significativa a interação doses de enxofre x doses de cádmio, de forma que o suprimento de enxofre atenuou a taxa de mortalidade, diminuiu a quantidade de cádmio absorvida, aumentou o valor SPAD e a atividade da APX. O teor de água, número de perfilhos, taxa de aparecimento de perfilhos, número de folhas, área foliar, taxa de aparecimento foliar, razão de área foliar, produção de massa seca da parte aérea e das raízes, valor SPAD, concentração de potássio, teor de GSH e a atividade da CAT foram menores com o fornecimento de cádmio na solução nutritiva. De forma contrária, as concentrações de nitrogênio, fósforo, zinco e cádmio, o fator de transporte do cádmio, os teores de GSSG e glutationa, e a atividade da APX aumentaram. O fornecimento de enxofre aumentou a concentração de enxofre na parte aérea do capimtanzânia. Os efeitos causados pelo cádmio são mais acentuados durante a rebrotação, principalmente, em condições de alta disponibilidade do metal pesado. As enzimas CAT e GR apresentaram mais isoformas na parte aérea do que nas raízes do capim-tanzânia, sugerindo que esse tecido é mais eficaz no combate aos danos oxidativos causados pelas altas concentrações de cádmio. O suprimento de enxofre ao capim-tanzânia cultivado em ambientes com alta disponibilidade de cádmio é indicado para aumentar a tolerância da gramínea ao metal pesado. / Plants grown at medium and high cadmium availability has produced low number of leaves and tillers due to the great amount of cadmium absorbed, resulting in lower biomass production. Sulfur supply to plants may mitigate negative effects caused by cadmium, since compounds containing sulfur participate of the antioxidative plant system, resulting in greater tolerance to heavy metals. This study evaluated changes in: i) morphological, morphogenesis and productive aspects, ii) nutritional status, and iii) response of the antioxidative system of Tanzania guineagrass (Panicum maximum) grown under combined sulfur rates (0.1; 1.0, 1.9, 2.8 and 3.7 mmol L-1) and cadmium rates (0.0, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0 mmol L-1) in nutrient solution. The experiment was conducted in greenhouse, by using a fractionated factorial 5², in randomized block design, with six replications. The first harvest of Tanzania guineagrass was performed at 40 days after seedlings transplanting to the pots, and the second at 18 days after the first harvest. Mortality rate of tillers, SPAD value, cadmium concentration and APX activity (second harvest) of Tanzania guineagrass had statistically significant sulfur rates x cadmium rates interaction, since that sulfur supply mitigate the mortality rate, decreased the amount of cadmium absorbed and increased SPAD value and the APX activity. The water content, number of tillers, tiller emergence rate, number of leaf, leaf area, leaf emergence rate, ratio of leaf area, dry mass of shoots and roots, SPAD value, potassium concentration, GSH content and CAT activity decreased with the cadmium supply in the nutrient solution. Contrary to that, nitrogen, phosphorus, zinc and cadmium concentrations were increased as well as the transporting factor of cadmium, GSSG and glutathione contents and APX activity. Sulfur supply increased sulfur concentration in shoots of Tanzania guineagrass and the effects of cadmium were more pronounced during the plant regrowth period, especially under high availability of the heavy metal. Isoforms of CAT and GR showed higher abundance in shoots compared to roots, suggesting higher effectiveness of such tissue in avoiding oxidative damage caused by high concentrations of cadmium. Thus, sulfur supply to the Tanzania guineagrass grown in environment with high cadmium availability is indicated to increase tolerance to this heavy metal.

Bei der Hornhauttransplantation (Keratoplastik) handelt es sich um die häufigste Transplantation humanen Gewebes. Das Hornhautendothel, eine empfindliche Zellschicht auf der Innenseite der Kornea, verfügt nicht über die Fähigkeit, Zellverluste durch Proliferation auszugleichen. Zwei grundsätzliche Probleme ergeben sich aus dieser Eigenschaft des kornealen Endothels für die Keratoplastik: ein Endothelzellverlust tritt zum einen während der Hornhautkonservierung vor Keratoplastik auf und führt zu einem Ausschluss vieler Transplantate, zum anderen ist er oftmals im Zuge von immunvermittelten Abstoßungsreaktionen oder in Folge chronischer Vorgänge nach Keratoplastik zu beobachten. Aus diesem Grund ist eine möglichst hohe Endothelzelldichte auf kornealen Transplantaten eine Voraussetzung für den Erfolg einer Keratoplastik. Das erste Ziel dieser Arbeit war deshalb die Übertragung des Gens für den aziden FGF (aFGF) in korneale Endothelzellen mit Hilfe des nicht-viralen Gentransfers. Dazu wurden verschiedene Lipid-Formulationen für den Gentransfer in humane korneale Endothelzellen in vitro optimiert. Der Einsatz von DAC-30 und Lipofectin für den aFGF-Gentransfer führte zu einer deutlichen Proliferationssteigerung (um ca. 50 %) der Zellen, womit der Einsatz dieses Wachstumsfaktors eine gute Möglichkeit darzustellen scheint, die prä-operative Ausgangssituation kornealer Transplantate zu verbessern. Der zweite Teil dieser Arbeit befasste sich mit Untersuchungen zur Immunmodulation nach Keratoplastik. Eine Hauptrolle bei der Abstoßung kornealer Transplantate spielen CD4+ T- Lymphozyten. In anderen Transplantationsmodellen konnte durch die lokale Überexpression immunmodulatorischer Zytokine die Entstehung und Aktivierung dieser Zellen gehemmt und eine verlängerte Transplantatüberlebenszeit erzielt werden. Mit Hilfe gentherapeutischer Vektoren (Adenoviren, Liposomen) wurden die immunmodulatorischen Zytokine vIL-10 und rIL-4 ex vivo in korneale Transplantate eingebracht. Nach erfolgreichen in vitro- Untersuchungen zur Genexpression wurden die transduzierten/transfizierten Hornhäute in einem starken Abstoßungsmodell der Ratte transplantiert, was jedoch zu keiner signifikanten Verlängerung der Transplantatüberlebenszeit führte. Diese Arbeit liefert Hinweise darauf, dass der lokale Gentransfer von vIL-10 in der Keratoplastik nicht für eine Immunmodulation geeignet ist, und dass sowohl die Zytokindosis, als auch der Zeitpunkt und der Ort der Vektorapplikation eine entscheidende Rolle für den Transplantationserfolg spielen. / Keratoplasty is the most common transplantation of human tissue. The corneal endothelium constitutes a damagable cell layer on the inner surface of the cornea, unable to proliferate. From this, two general problems arise for the outcome of keratoplasty: loss of corneal endothelial cells occurs on the one hand during corneal long time storage before keratoplasty and enforces the lack of donor tissue, on the other hand it is often correlated with immune mediated rejections as well as with chronic processes after keratoplasty. Therefore an endothelial cell number as high as possible on corneal grafts displays a requirement for successful keratoplasties. The first aim of this study was non-viral gene transfer of the aFGF (acidic FGF) gene in corneal endothelial cells. Different lipid formulations were optimized for gene transfer in human corneal endothelial cells in vitro. Application of DAC-30 and Lipofectin for aFGF gene transfer clearly showed a stimulating effect on cell proliferation (approximately 50 %). Thus, the use of aFGF seems to be a good possibility for improving the pre-operative situation of corneal allografts. The second part of this study deals with the immune modulation after keratoplasty. CD4+ T- lymphocytes play a key role in rejection processes after keratoplasty. Local over expression of immunomodulatory cytokines in different transplantation models could inhibit the development and activation of these cells and was able to prolong the allograft survival time. Using different gene therapeutic vectors (adenoviruses, liposomes) the immunomodulatory cytokines vIL-10 and rIL-4 were transferred ex vivo in corneal allografts. After successfully determined gene expression in vitro, the transduced/transfected corneal allografts were transplanted in a strong rejection model of the rat. However, this was not sufficient in prolonging the graft survival time significantly. This study provides indications, that local gene transfer of vIL-10 in keratoplasty is not suitable for an immune modulation, and that both cytokine dose as well as time point and site of vector application play an important role for successful transplantation.

O veneno de animais contém um arsenal de toxinas que desencadeia respostas fisiológicas e bioquímicas específicas. A crotamina, um peptídio catiônico (4,4 kDa, pI 9,5), é um dos componentes mais abundantes do veneno de cascavel Sul Arrericana (Crotalus durissus terrificus). No Brasil, há populações de C. d. terrificus que expressam ou não a crotamina no veneno. Em um único espécime de C. d. terrificus crotamina-positivo, foram isolados cDNAs precursores de duas isoformas de crotamina, dentre as quais a crotamina lle-19, presente somente no veneno de C.d. ruruima. Análise por Northern blot de RNA total e mensageiro de glândulas de C.d. terrificus crotamina-positivo e -negativo, indica que a expressão é defectiva em espécimes de cascavel crotamina-negativo. O gene da crotamina (Crt-pl) foi isolado e possui três exons interrompidos por dois introns de diferentes fases e tamanhos. O exon I codifica a totalidade do peptídio sinal; o exon II codifica os três resíduos carboxi-terminais do peptídio sinal, bem como a maior parte da toxina madura; o terceiro exon codifica os resíduos terminais da toxina. Tentativa de identificar o pseudogene da crotamina, que indicaria a ausência de transcritos na glânlula de veneno, permitiu isolar um gene parálogo ao da crotamina, isto é o gene crotasin (Cts-p2). Esse gene apresenta a mesma organização estrutural do gene da crotamina, contudo, o intron I é cerca de 800 pares de base mais longo e o exon II é hipermutado. Esse gene é expresso em diferentes tecidos de cascavel, majoritariamente no pâncreas, mas insignificantemente nas glândulas de veneno. Surpreendentemente, esse gene é também detectado no genoma de C. d. terrificus crotamina-positivo, sugerindo que o gene de crotamina é o produto de uma duplicação gênica, bem como da evolução acelerada que operou restritivamente ao exon II. Buscando as funções do produto desse gene nos tecidos de cascavel, por alinhamento de domínios protéicos e outras famílias de peptídios de vertebrados, duas categorias foram encontradas: peptídios catiônicos antibióticos (β-defensinas) e domínios ricos em cisteína de receptores de fator de crescimento. Testes antibióticos indicam que o crotasin, a crotamina e oligopeptídios derivados sintéticos possuem certa atividade microbicida seletiva. Por outro lado, ensaios com células-tronco embrionárias de camundongo e crotamina de veneno mostram que a crotamina é citotóxica em concentrações milimolares, mas induz a diferenciação dos corpos embrionários, em concentrações micromolares. Esses achados demonstram a multi-funcionalidade de peptídios catiônicos, com três pontes de cisteína precisamente arranjadas, é decorrente da versatilidade dos domínios protéicos anfipáticos, que permitem interação com a membrana plasmática, modulando canais iônicos e receptores celulares. / Abstract not available.

INTRODUÇÃO: Líquen plano (LP) é uma doença mucocutânea de natureza inflamatória crônica de etiologia ainda desconhecida. Alterações na resposta imune inata, como aos padrões moleculares associados à patógenos (PAMPs) e padrões moleculares associados ao dano (DAMPs) podem levar à inflamação crônica e contribuir com a patogênese do LP. OBJETIVO: Avaliar o efeito da ativação via o DAMP S100A8 e o receptor Toll-like 4 (TLR-4) em células Natural killer (NK) e TCD8 citotóxicas e suas subpopulações de memória/efetoras em pacientes com LP. MÉTODOS: Foram selecionados 25 pacientes com LP (22 mulheres, 3 homens) com idade média de 43,46 anos ± 8,46 e um grupo controle com 25 indivíduos (22 mulheres, 3 homens) com idade média de 42 anos ± 5,5. A determinação transcricional e da expressão por imunohistoquimica dos DAMPs S100A8, HMGB-1 e de TLR-4 e RAGE foi realizada em biópsias de lesões cutâneas de indivíduos com LP, e os níveis séricos de S100A8, HMGB-1, MICA e MICB foram determinados por ELISA. As células mononucleares (CMNs) de sangue periférico foram avaliadas por citometria de fluxo quanto a frequência de TNF, IL-1beta e o marcador de desgranulação CD107a em células TCD8+ e células NK CD56+ e suas subpopulações. A avaliação da via de sinalização de TLR em células TCD8+ purificadas e ativadas com S100A8 foi analisada por PCR array e a determinação da expressão de mRNA dos componentes do inflamassoma em células TCD8+ ativadas com S100A8 por PCR em tempo real. RESULTADOS: Foi evidenciado nos indivíduos com LP elevada expressão da proteína S100A8 nas lesões cutâneas e de HMGB-1, TLR-4 e RAGE na derme, em paralelo ao aumento da expressão de mRNAs para S100A8 e S100A9 e diminuição de RAGE. Além disto, uma elevação dos níveis séricos do dímero S100A8/A9 foi detectada nos pacientes comparados aos controles, ao contrário do DAMP HMGB-1 que mostrou níveis similares em ambos os grupos. A influência do S100A8 em células TCD8+ e células NK, foi analisada em CMNs pela ativação com o lipopolissacáride e a proteína recombinante S100A8, ambos ligantes de TLR-4. Nos indivíduos com LP foi detectado aumento da resposta citotóxica de linfócitos TCD8+ e células NK CD56bright pela expressão do marcador de desgranulação CD107a por citometria de fluxo. A proteína S100A8 foi capaz de induzir a expressão de genes pró-inflamatórios como IL-1beta, TNF e IL-6 em células TCD8+ de pacientes com LP em contraste com os indivíduos saudáveis que mostraram expressão IL-10 e IFN tipo I. As células TCD8+ de indivíduos com LP ativadas ou não com S100A8 expressam transcritos de NLRP1, NLRP3 e AIM-2 e produzem IL-1beta em níveis similares a controles saudáveis. Além disso, células TCD8+ ativadas com S100A8 mostraram aumento de expressão TLR3, TLR5, TLR7 e TLR8 na doença comparada às biopsias de controles. O aumento da resposta TCD8+ citotóxica foi principalmente mediado pelo subtipo de memória efetora (TEM, CCR7- CD45RA-). Elevação basal da expressão do receptor ativador NKG2D e inibidor NKG2A foi observado em células NK CD56dim nos indivíduos com LP e um nível similar do ligante solúvel MICB em ambos os grupos. CONCLUSÃO: Estes resultados evidenciam que componentes da imunidade inata, como a proteína S100A8 pode contribuir na manutenção do perfil inflamatório do LP / BACKGROUND: Lichen planus (LP) is a mucocutaneous inflammatory chronic disease of unknown etiology. Alterations in the innate immune response such as the pathogen-associated molecular pattern (PAMPs) and damage-associated molecular pattern (DAMPs) can lead to chronic inflammation and contribute to the pathogenesis of LP. OBJECTIVE: Evaluate the effect of the activation trough the DAMP S100A8 and the Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR-4) on the Natural killer cells (NK) and cytotoxic TCD8 cells and their memory / effector subsets in LP disease. METHODS: We selected 25 patients with LP (22 women, 3 men) with a mean age of 43.46 years ± 8.46 and a control group of 25 subjects (22 women, 3 men) with a mean age of 42 ± 5, 5. The transcriptional determination and protein expression by immunohistochemistry of DAMPs, S100A8 and HMGB-1 as well as TLR-4 and RAGE was performed on biopsies of skin lesions from patients with LP, and serum levels of S100A8, HMGB-1, MICA and MICB were determined by ELISA. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were assessed by flow cytometry to evaluate the frequency of TNF, IL-1beta and the degranulation marker CD107a in CD8+ T cells and CD56 + NK cells and their subsets. The evaluation of the TLR signaling pathway in purified CD8 + T cells activated with S100A8 were analyzed by PCR array and the determination of mRNA expression of inflammasome components on CD8 + T cells activated by S100A8 was measured by real time PCR. RESULTS: It was shown in the LP individuals an increased expression of the S100A8 protein in the cutaneous lesions and HMGB-1, TLR-4 and RAGE in the dermis, in parallel to increased level of mRNAs for S100A8 and S100A9 and decreased expression of RAGE. Moerover, increased serum levels of the dimer S100A8 / A9 was detected in patients compared to controls, in contrast to DAMP HMGB1 that revealed similar levels in both groups. The influence of S100A8 in CD8 + T cells and NK cells, was analyzed in PBMC activating with lipopolysaccharide and recombinant protein S100A8, both ligands of TLR-4. It was detected in LP individuals, an increased cytotoxic response of CD8+ T lymphocytes and CD56bright NK cells trough CD107a degranulation marker expression. The S100A8 protein was able to induce the pro-inflammatory genes expressions such as IL-1beta, TNF and IL-6 in CD8 + T cells of LP patients in contrast to healthy subjects who promoted IL-10 expression and type I IFN. CD8 + T cells of LP individuals activated or not with S100A8 are able to express NLRP1, NLRP3 and AIM-2 and IL-1beta production at similar levels to healthy controls. Moreover, CD8 + T cells activated with S100A8 showed increased expression of TLR3, TLR5, TLR7 and TLR8 in LP compared to biopsies from healthy controls. The increased CD8 + T cells cytotoxic response was mediated by the subtype of effector memory (TEM CD45RA- CCR7). The increased baseline expression of activating receptor NKG2D and the inhibitory NKG2A in the NK CD56dim cells in LP individulas, and the similar level of MICB soluble in both groups. CONCLUSION: These results shows that innate immunity components, such as S100A8 protein may contribute to the maintenance of LP inflammatory profile

O projeto consistiu em avaliar o emprego de polímeros catiônicos e aniônicos de diferentes pesos moleculares como auxiliares de filtração no tratamento de águas de abastecimento proveniente de mananciais com alto grau de eutrofização com vistas a possibilitar a otimização da remoção de material particulado e minimização da evolução da perda de carga. O aparato experimental é composto, principalmente, por 4 filtros em escala piloto de alta taxa do tipo camada profunda e fluxo descendente por gravidade operados em paralelo. Os filtros possuem 5 m de altura e diâmetro interno de 150 mm. O procedimento experimental foi dividido em três etapas, execução de ensaios de fluidificação e expansão do leito dos filtros e utilização de polímeros catiônicos e de polímero aniônico como auxiliares de filtração. A primeira etapa teve como objetivo definir parâmetros de dimensionamento do sistema de lavagem em contra-corrente com ar e água e nas duas etapas seguintes foram realizados os ensaios de filtração a uma taxa de 500 m³/m²/dia, com a utilização dos polímeros com três dosagens diferentes. Os polímeros utilizados foram CA-2577, CA-2581, CD-2592 e N1986. Estes possuem estrutura e pesos moleculares variáveis, de forma que o trabalho tivesse uma maior amplitude. Os valores médios de turbidez, para a primeira etapa dos ensaios de filtração, foram de 2,36 ± 0,28 UNT e 1,12 ± 0,21 UNT para água bruta e decantada, respectivamente, 0,26 ± 0,07 UNT para o filtro F1 com antracito, 0,25 ± 0,08 UNT para o filtro F3 com antracito e adição de polímero, 0,29 ± 0,08 UNT para o filtro F2 com areia e 0,26 ± 0,08 UNT para o filtro F4 com areia e adição de polímero. Para a segunda etapa dos ensaios de filtração os valores médios de turbidez foram de 2,03 ± 0,36 UNT para água bruta, 0,80 ± 0,21 UNT para água decantada, 0,09 ± 0,03 UNT para o filtro F1, sem adição de polímero, e 0,15 ± 0,04, 0,16 ± 0,03 e 0,10 ± 0,04 UNT para os filtros F2, F3 e F4, respectivamente, todos com adição de polímero. Os resultados experimentais possibilitaram concluir que a adoção do antracito como material filtrante do tipo camada única e profunda apresenta a vantagem de permitir uma menor velocidade ascensional de água de lavagem para uma determinada expansão quando comparado a um filtro de areia de idêntica granulometria. A aplicação dos polímeros catiônicos e do polímero aniônico como auxiliares de filtração não proporcionou para nenhuma dosagem utilizada melhora significativa no comportamento dos filtros. Uma eventual melhora ou piora foi insignificante e estava ligada à qualidade da água decantada. No que diz respeito à perda de carga, os filtros com antracito tiveram carreiras de filtração mais longas quando comparados com os de areia, independente da utilização dos polímeros. / The project was to evaluate the use of anionic and cationic polymers of different molecular weights as filter aids to treat drinking water treatment of surface water sources with high degree of eutrophication, particularly with regard to particulate matter removal optimization and head loss rate minimization. The experimental apparatus was composed of four pilot scale, deep bed, down flow rapid gravity filters, operated in parallel. The filter columns were 5 m high, had inner diameter of 150 mm. The experimental procedure was divided in three stages, conduction of media fluidization and media expansion tests and cationic and anionic polymers application as filter aid. The first stage aims was to define design parameters for the filter backwashing system with water and air and in the two next phases the tests were conducted at a filtration rate of 500 m³/m²/day, with the use of polymers with three different dosages. The polymers tested were CA- 2577, CA-2581, CD-2592 and N1986. They have different structure and molecular weights, thus making wider the array of possibilities tested. The average values of turbidity, for the first stage of testing filtration, were 2.36 ± 0.28 and 1.12 ± 0.21 NTU for raw and settled water, respectively, 0.26 ± 0.07 NTU to the filter F1 with anthracite, 0.25 ± 0.08 NTU for the filter F3 with anthracite and addition of polymer, 0.29 ± 0.08 NTU for the filter F2 with sand and 0.26 ± 0.08 NTU for the filter F4 with sand and the addition of polymer. For the second stage of testing of the filter values of turbidity were 2.03 ± 0.36 NTU for raw water, 0.80 ± 0.21 NTU for settled water, 0.09 ± 0.03 for the filter F1, without the addition of polymer, and 0.15 ± 0.04, 0.16 ± 0.03 and 0.10 ± 0.04 NTU for filters F2, F3 and F4, respectively, all with the addition of polymer. The experimental results led us to conclusion that the adoption of anthracite as single media in deep bed filtration presents the advantage of a lower ascent backwash water velocity for any given bed expansion as compared to deep bed filtration through sand with the same granulometric characteristic. Application of cationic and anionic polymers as filter aids did not lead to any significant improvement in the behavior of pilot scale filters, regardless of applied polymer dosage. Any eventual improvement or worsening was not significant and was closely related to the settled water quality. Regarding the head loss, the filters with anthracite had longer filtration careers when compared to sand, regardless the use of polymers.

Le transport de composés à travers les membranes biologiques est crucial pour la physiologie des cellules eucaryotes. Cependant la fonction de nombreux transporteurs putatifs reste inconnue. C’est notamment le cas de nombreux transporteurs intracellulaires exportant les catabolites du lysosome. Le transporteur lysosomal de cystine, baptisé cystinosine, se caractérise par la présence d’un motif dupliqué appelé " boucle PQ ". Sa dysfonction entraîne une maladie lysosomale, la cystinose, caractérisée par l'accumulation de cystine dans les lysosomes. Les protéines possédant un motif PQ sont retrouvées plus souvent dans les cellules eucaryotes et, à l'exception de la cystinosine, leur fonction reste inconnue. Dans cette thèse, nous démontrons qu'une autre protéine à motif PQ, PQLC2 est le transporteur responsable de l'efflux lysosomal des acides aminés cationiques et qu'il est impliqué dans le traitement de la cystinose.L'hypothèse de départ était basée, d'une part, par sur des prédictions par analyse protéomique de la localisation lysosomale de PQLC2 et, d'autre part, sur des résultats chez S.cerevisiae impliquant les orthologues putatifs de PQLC2, situés à la membrane de la vacuole, dans l'homéostasie des acides aminés cationiques. En utilisant une approche consistant à délocaliser PQLC2 à la membrane plasmique et à acidifier le pH extracellulaire pour mimer la lumière acide du lysosome, nous avons pu, par mesure d'accumulation intracellulaire de composés radiomarqués et par mesure électrophysiologique sur cellule entière, faire la preuve du transport sélectif, actif à bas pH et de faible affinité des acides aminés cationiques par PQLC2. Dans une seconde partie, nous avons mis en évidence l'implication de ce transporteur dans l'efflux lysosomal du produit de réaction entre la cystine accumulée dans les lysosomes de cellules de patients cystinotiques et le principe actif (cystéamine) du traitement pharmacologique de la cystinose.Enfin, dans une dernière partie, nous avons effectué une analyse bioinformatique préliminaire des protéines à motif PQ qui exploitait la pseudo-symétrie de ces protéines pour identifier des résidus potentiellement impliqués dans l'activité de transport. / Transport of solutes across biological membranes is crucial to eukaryotic cell physiology. However, the function of many putative transporters remains unknown, such as the proteins responsible for lysosomal export of metabolites. Cystinosin, the lysosomal cystine exporter defective in cystinosis, is characterized by a duplicated motif termed the PQ loop. PQ-loop proteins are more frequent in eukaryotes than in prokaryotes, and, except for cystinosin, their molecular function remains unknown. Here we show that another PQ-loop protein, PQLC2, is a lysosomal transporter for cationic amino acids and that it is required for the treatment of cystinosis. The hypothesis that PQLC2 is a lysosomal metabolite transporter was based on a proteomic study predicting that PQLC2 is located at the lysosomal membrane and on a genetic study that linked putative yeast orthologues with cationic amino acid homeostasis. Using an approach that consisted in misrouting PQLC2 to the plasma membrane of frog oocytes and in acidifying the extracellular medium to mimic the acidic lysosomal lumen, we showed an accumulation of radiolabelled cationic amino acids into mRNA-injected oocytes and an electrogenic, inward current due to a selective, pH-dependent, low-affinity transport of cationic amino acids by PQLC2. Moreoever, we showed that PQLC2 exports a key chemical intermediate (cysteamine-cysteine mixed disulfide) from cystinotic lysosomes treated with the aminothiol drug cysteamine, thus explaining the mechanism underlying the current drug therapy of cystinosis. Finally, in a last chapter, we performed a preliminary bioinformatic study of the family of PQ-loop proteins that took advantage of the pseudo-symmetric structure of these proteins to identify residues potentially important for the transport activity.

O projeto consistiu em avaliar o emprego de polímeros catiônicos e aniônicos de diferentes pesos moleculares como auxiliares de filtração no tratamento de águas de abastecimento proveniente de mananciais com alto grau de eutrofização com vistas a possibilitar a otimização da remoção de material particulado e minimização da evolução da perda de carga. O aparato experimental é composto, principalmente, por 4 filtros em escala piloto de alta taxa do tipo camada profunda e fluxo descendente por gravidade operados em paralelo. Os filtros possuem 5 m de altura e diâmetro interno de 150 mm. O procedimento experimental foi dividido em três etapas, execução de ensaios de fluidificação e expansão do leito dos filtros e utilização de polímeros catiônicos e de polímero aniônico como auxiliares de filtração. A primeira etapa teve como objetivo definir parâmetros de dimensionamento do sistema de lavagem em contra-corrente com ar e água e nas duas etapas seguintes foram realizados os ensaios de filtração a uma taxa de 500 m³/m²/dia, com a utilização dos polímeros com três dosagens diferentes. Os polímeros utilizados foram CA-2577, CA-2581, CD-2592 e N1986. Estes possuem estrutura e pesos moleculares variáveis, de forma que o trabalho tivesse uma maior amplitude. Os valores médios de turbidez, para a primeira etapa dos ensaios de filtração, foram de 2,36 ± 0,28 UNT e 1,12 ± 0,21 UNT para água bruta e decantada, respectivamente, 0,26 ± 0,07 UNT para o filtro F1 com antracito, 0,25 ± 0,08 UNT para o filtro F3 com antracito e adição de polímero, 0,29 ± 0,08 UNT para o filtro F2 com areia e 0,26 ± 0,08 UNT para o filtro F4 com areia e adição de polímero. Para a segunda etapa dos ensaios de filtração os valores médios de turbidez foram de 2,03 ± 0,36 UNT para água bruta, 0,80 ± 0,21 UNT para água decantada, 0,09 ± 0,03 UNT para o filtro F1, sem adição de polímero, e 0,15 ± 0,04, 0,16 ± 0,03 e 0,10 ± 0,04 UNT para os filtros F2, F3 e F4, respectivamente, todos com adição de polímero. Os resultados experimentais possibilitaram concluir que a adoção do antracito como material filtrante do tipo camada única e profunda apresenta a vantagem de permitir uma menor velocidade ascensional de água de lavagem para uma determinada expansão quando comparado a um filtro de areia de idêntica granulometria. A aplicação dos polímeros catiônicos e do polímero aniônico como auxiliares de filtração não proporcionou para nenhuma dosagem utilizada melhora significativa no comportamento dos filtros. Uma eventual melhora ou piora foi insignificante e estava ligada à qualidade da água decantada. No que diz respeito à perda de carga, os filtros com antracito tiveram carreiras de filtração mais longas quando comparados com os de areia, independente da utilização dos polímeros. / The project was to evaluate the use of anionic and cationic polymers of different molecular weights as filter aids to treat drinking water treatment of surface water sources with high degree of eutrophication, particularly with regard to particulate matter removal optimization and head loss rate minimization. The experimental apparatus was composed of four pilot scale, deep bed, down flow rapid gravity filters, operated in parallel. The filter columns were 5 m high, had inner diameter of 150 mm. The experimental procedure was divided in three stages, conduction of media fluidization and media expansion tests and cationic and anionic polymers application as filter aid. The first stage aims was to define design parameters for the filter backwashing system with water and air and in the two next phases the tests were conducted at a filtration rate of 500 m³/m²/day, with the use of polymers with three different dosages. The polymers tested were CA- 2577, CA-2581, CD-2592 and N1986. They have different structure and molecular weights, thus making wider the array of possibilities tested. The average values of turbidity, for the first stage of testing filtration, were 2.36 ± 0.28 and 1.12 ± 0.21 NTU for raw and settled water, respectively, 0.26 ± 0.07 NTU to the filter F1 with anthracite, 0.25 ± 0.08 NTU for the filter F3 with anthracite and addition of polymer, 0.29 ± 0.08 NTU for the filter F2 with sand and 0.26 ± 0.08 NTU for the filter F4 with sand and the addition of polymer. For the second stage of testing of the filter values of turbidity were 2.03 ± 0.36 NTU for raw water, 0.80 ± 0.21 NTU for settled water, 0.09 ± 0.03 for the filter F1, without the addition of polymer, and 0.15 ± 0.04, 0.16 ± 0.03 and 0.10 ± 0.04 NTU for filters F2, F3 and F4, respectively, all with the addition of polymer. The experimental results led us to conclusion that the adoption of anthracite as single media in deep bed filtration presents the advantage of a lower ascent backwash water velocity for any given bed expansion as compared to deep bed filtration through sand with the same granulometric characteristic. Application of cationic and anionic polymers as filter aids did not lead to any significant improvement in the behavior of pilot scale filters, regardless of applied polymer dosage. Any eventual improvement or worsening was not significant and was closely related to the settled water quality. Regarding the head loss, the filters with anthracite had longer filtration careers when compared to sand, regardless the use of polymers.