Thesis (MSc)--University of Stellenbosch, 2007. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNFα) is a pleiotropic cytokine and has a wide variety of dose dependent cellular effects ranging from cell growth and differentiation, to inducing apoptosis. It has long been implicated in muscle and non-muscle inflammatory disorders, such as muscle wasting in chronic disease states, and rheumatoid arthritis. However, a physiological role for TNFα in muscle regeneration has been proposed as elevated levels of the cytokine are present when muscle regeneration processes are initiated: TNFα is secreted by infiltrating inflammatory cells, and by injured muscle fibres. Adult skeletal muscle contains a population of resident stem cell-like cells called satellite cells, which become activated, proliferate and differentiate following muscle injury to bring about repair of damaged muscle. Much research on the effects of TNFα on satellite cell differentiation has been conducted in recent years. It is however difficult to get a complete characterisation of the cytokine’s action as all models used slightly differ. We aimed therefore at providing comprehensive assessment of the effects of increasing doses of chronically supplemented TNFα on differentiating C2C12 cells. Cells were allowed to differentiate with or without TNFα supplementation for 7 days. Differentiation was induced at day 0. The effect on differentiation was assessed at days 1, 3, 5, and 7 by western blot analysis, and supplementary immunohistochemical analysis at days 1, 4, and 7 of markers of differentiation - muscle regulatory factors: MyoD and myogenin, markers of the cell cycle p21, PCNA, and the integral signalling molecule, p38MAPK. TNFα supplementation at day 1 tended to positively regulate early markers of differentiation. With continued supplementation however, markers of differentiation decreased dose dependently in treated cultures as the initial effect appeared to be reversed: A trend towards a dose dependent decrease in MyoD, myogenin and p21 protein existed in treated cultures at days 3, 5, and 7. These findings were significant at day 5 (p21, p<0.05), and day 7 (myogenin, p<0.05). A significant dose dependent decrease in p38 phosphorylation was evident at day 3 (p<0.05), while phospho-p38 was dose dependently increased at day 7 (p<0.05). Taken together, these data show that TNFα supplementation for 24 hours following the induction of differentiation in vitro, tends to increase levels of early markers of differentiation, and with continued TNFα supplementation decrease markers of differentiation in a dose dependent fashion. This study provides a comprehensive characterisation of the dose and time dependent effects of TNFα on satellite cell differentiaton in vitro. The model system used in the current study, allows us to make conclusions on more chronic disease states. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Tumor nekrose faktor alfa (TNFα) is ‘n pleiotropiese sitokien wat ‘n wye verskeidenheid, dosis afhanklike, sellulêre effekte te weeg bring. Hierdie sellulêre effekte sluit sel groei en differensiasie tot sel dood in. TNFα is by beide spier en niespier inflammatoriese stoornisse soos spier tering in kroniese siektetoestande, en rumatiese artritis betrek. ‘n Fisiologiese rol vir TNFα is egter voorgestel aangesien verhoogde vlakke van die sitokien tydens inisiasie van spier herstel meganismes teenwoordig is: TNFα word deur infiltrerende inflammatoriese selle, asook deur beseerde spier vesels afgeskei. Volwasse skeletspier bevat ‘n populasie stamselagtige selle, sogenoemde satelliet selle. Laasgenoemde word geaktiveer, prolifereer en differensieër volgende spierbesering, om sodoende herstel van beskadigde spier te weeg te bring. Baie navorsing op die effekte van TNFα op satelliet sel differensiasie is onlangs uitgevoer. Dit is egter aansienlik moeilik om volgens hierdie navorsing‘n algehele beeld van TNFα se aksies te vorm aangesien alle modelle wat gebruik word verskil. Ons doel was daarom om ‘n omvangryke assessering van toenemende konsentrasies kronies gesupplementeerde TNFα op differensieërende C2C12 selle op ‘n enkele model uit te voer. Selle was vir 7 dae met of sonder TNFα supplementasie gedifferentieër. Differensiasie was by Dag 0 geïnduseer. TNFα se effek op differensiasie is op dae 1, 3, 5, en 7 deur middel van western blot analise geassesseer. Aanvullende immunohistochemiese bepalings op dae 1, 4, en 7 is verder deurgevoer. Merkers vir differensiasie het die spier regulatoriese faktore MyoD en miogenien, sel siklus merkers p21 en PCNA, asook die integrale sein transduksie molekule p38MAPK ingesluit. TNFα supplementasie by dag 1 het geneig om vroeë merkers van differensiasie positief te reguleer. Met voortdurende supplementasie is die vroeë positiewe effekte (op ‘n dosis afhanklike manier) egter omgekeer: ‘n neiging teenoor (‘n dosis afhanklike) vermindering in MyoD, miogenien en p21 proteïen het in behandelde kulture op dae 3, 5, en 7 bestaan. Hierdie bevindinge was beduidend by dag 5 (p21, p<0.05), en dag 7 (miogenien, p<0.05). A beduidende dosis afhanklike afname in p38 fosforilasie was duidelik by dag 3 (p<0.05), terwyl fosfo-p38 by dag 7 verhoog het met verhoogde konsentrasie TNFα (p<0.05). Bogenoemde saamgevat, dui aan dat TNFα supplementasie 24h volgende die induksie van differensiasie in vitro, verhoogde vlakke van vroeë differnsiasie merkers te weeg bring. Met voortdurende TNFα supplementasie, word differensiasie merkers egter met toenemende dosis verminder. Hierdie studie voorsien ‘n omvattende karakterisering van die dosis- en tyd afhanklike effekte van TNFα op satelliet sel differesiasie in vitro. Die model sisteem in hierdie studie gebruik, maak afleidings oor meer kroniese siektetoestande moontlik.

There is scarce information on the fate of cardiac progenitor cells (CPC) in the embryonic heart after chamber specification. Furthermore, the role of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) during heart development is unknown, despite record of its presence in the myocardium. Although three molecular variants of AChE (R, H and T) exist due to alternate splicing, temporal and spatial distribution of these splice variants during cardiac ontogeny is not well characterized. We hypothesized that the AChE “R” splice variant (AChE-R) is involved in directing lineage commitment of mouse ventricular CPCs to the conduction cell phenotype. It is possible that AChE may promote the breakdown of ACh and block the effects of ligand-binding via M2 receptors present on the surface of CPCs. Our study has also provided a platform to suggest that AChE may play a role in the molecular mechanisms underlying functional diversification of myocardial cells into conduction system cells during ontogenesis.

Ph.D. Thesis abstract: Diabetes mellitus is a chronic disease characterized by a metabolic disorder in which there is a low level or complete lack of the insulin. Diabetes mellitus type 1 (DM1) is caused by an autoimmune reaction leading to the destruction of the insulin producing beta cells in the pancreas. In consequence, low or non-existent insulin production leads to a complete dependence on exogenous insulin supplementation. DM1 causes serious long-term complications. Although strict control of blood sugar could prevent the onset and development of diabetic complications only 5% of diabetic patients are able to achieve such control. Hence it is evident that the current methods of treatment are neither sufficient to treat this disease, nor prevent late complications in most patients. The most promising therapeutic approach in the treatment of diabetes is the restoring of insulin production. One such method is the transplantation of insulin-producing tissue. However, a lack of available insulin- producing tissue limits such therapeutic approach. Therefore an alternative source of insulin producing cells have to be found to obtain a sufficient amount of safe and efficient insulin producing tissue. Pancreatic stem/progenitor cells could represent such an available alternative source. Despite the evidence...

Usando incorporação \"in vivo\" de 35S metionina tradução \"in vitro\" de RNA e eletroforese bidimensional, iniciamos um estudo do controle da síntese de proteínas durante duas fases distintas de diferenciação celular, a esporulação e a germinação, do fungo Blastocladiella emersonii. Durante a esporulação ocorre uma intensa variação no padrão de síntese proteica. Foi analisada a síntese de 108 proteínas, sendo verificado que o aumento na síntese de várias proteínas está associado com estágios definidos da esporulação. Um grande número de proteínas básicas é sintetizado exclusivamente no final da esporulação, que corresponde à fase de diferenciação dos zoósporos. Também foram detectadas drásticas variações na população de mRNAs ao longo de toda a esporulação. A síntese de várias proteínas típicas da esporulação parece ser controlada ao nível da transcrição. Além disso a maioria dos RNAs mensageiros específicos da esporulação não é conservada nos zoósporos maduros; o zoósporos contém mRNAs armazenados que provavelmente são sintetizados nos últimos 30 minutos da esporulação. Durante a transição dos zoósporos a células redondas, que ocorre nos primeiros 25 minutos após a indução da germinação em meio inorgânico, não foram verificadas diferenças qualitativas no padrão de síntese proteica, tanto na ausência como na presença de actinomicina D, indicando que os eventos precoces da germinação são inteiramente pré-programados pelo mRNA que está armazenado nos zoósporos. Contudo, na germinação tardia são verificadas profundas variações no padrão de síntese proteica. A síntese de algumas dessas proteínas (seis polipeptídios), provavelmente corresponde a uma tradução seletiva de mensagens armazenadas nos zoósporos, enquanto que a maioria das novas proteínas expressas (vinte e dois polipeptídios) corresponde a tradução de novos mRNAs. Assim, durante a germinação dos zoósporos, ocorrem múltiplos níveis de regulação da síntese proteica, envolvendo controles ao nível da tradução e transcrição. Durante o início da germinação também foi observado um controle ao nível de pós-traduçãoo, com várias proteínas dos zoósporos sendo especificamente degradadas ou modificadas. Também analisamos o padrão das proteínas sintetizadas durante a germinação em meio nutriente sendo observada a síntese de polipeptídios específicos desta condição de germinação e crescimento. Algumas proteínas cuja síntese é controlada pelo desenvolvimento foram identificadas. Utilizando anticorpos monoclonais comerciais contra actina, &#945; e &#946;-turbulinas foip-tubulinas foi possível identificar estas proteínas no perfil eletroforético de proteínas sintetizadas durante a esporulação. Comparando a cinética da síntese \"oin vitro\" destas proteínas com o acúmulo de seus respectivos mRNAs traduzidos \"in vitro\", o, foi possível demonstrar que o intenso aumento na síntese de actina, &#945; e &#946;-tubulinas que ocorre durante a esporulação apresenta uma correlação temporal com o aumento dos mRNAs correspondentes. Em paralelo ao aumento da síntese destas três proteínas citoesqueLéticas pôde ser detectado um aumento dos seus conteúdos em massa. Durante a germinação e crescimento ocorre uma sensível diminuição no conteúdo destas proteínas. Além disso, verificamos que as proteínas identificadas como &#945; e &#946;-tubulinas estão presentes no flagelo dos zoósporos. Muito interessante foi a observação de que três proteínas sintetizadas durante a esporulação correspondiam aparentemente a três proteínas, Hsp70, Hsp76 e Hsp39a, cuja síntese é induzida pelo choque térmico. Esta verificação decorreu do fato de estarmos investigando se em Blastocladiella a resposta ao choque térmico teria algum controle do desenvolvimento, uma vez que alguns dados da literatura sugeriam o envolvimento de certas proteínas de choque térmico (Hsps) no desenvolvimento normal de alguns organismos. Em Blastocladiella a resposta ao choque térmico é dependente do estágio do desenvolvimento. Células expostas a temperaturas elevadas nos diferentes estágios do desenvolvimento (esporulação, germinação e crescimento) mostram uma síntese diferencial de proteínas de choque térmico. Conjuntos específicos de Hsps (de um total de 22 Hsps) são induzidos em cada fase, demonstrando uma expressão não coordenada dos genes de choque térmico. A proteína de 70 kDa, sintetizada espontaneamente durante um certo intervalo da esporulação, apresenta mobilidade eletroforética em géis bidimensionais idêntica à Hsp70. A confirmação da identidade entre estas proteínas foi obtida através de análise dos seus peptídios resultantes de digestão enzimática parcial bem como pelo reconhecimento de ambas as proteínas por anticorpos contra a proteína DnaK (homóloga à Hsp70> de E. coli e contra a proteína Hsp70 de Drosophila. Utilizando tradução o\"in vitro\"o de RNA e hibridização de RNA com uma sonda do gene hsp70 de Drosophila, demonstramos que o aumento de síntese da Hsp70 que ocorre durante o choque térmico e espontaneamente durante a esporulação, está associado com a acumulação do mRNA desta proteína. Embora a síntese de Hsps seja controlada pelo desenvolvimento em Blastocladiella, a aquisição de termotolerância pode ser induzida em qualquer estágio do seu ciclo de vida. A indução da termotolerância em Blastocladiella é dependente da síntese de proteínas e está correlacionada com o aumento da síntese de algumas Hsps: Hsp82a, Hsp82b, Hsp76, Hsp70, Hsp60,Hsp25 e Hsp17b. As outras Hsps parecem não estar envolvidas especificamente com a termotolerância. As observações anteriores de que o estado de fosforilação da proteína ribossômica 56, em Blastocladiella, varia durante o desenvolvimento e em resposta a alterações do meio ambiente (Bonato et al., 1984, Eur. J. Biochem. 144:597-606) e a verificação de que a resposta ao choque térmico, em Blastocladiella, também está sob o controle do desenvolvimento proporcionou a oportunidade de verificar se os diferentes níveis de fosforilação de 56 poderiam ser correlacionados com a tradução de mensageiros específicos isto é, mRNAs normais ou de choque térmico durante o choque térmico, recuperação do choque térmico e indução de termotolerância nos diferentes estágios do ciclo de vida deste fungo. Assim foi observado que, independente do estado inicial de fosforilação de 56 (máximo ou intermediário>, ocorre uma rápida e completa desfosforilação de 56 durante o choque térmico, sendo que a 56 permanece desfosforilada durante a termotolerância. Durante a recuperação do choque térmico, ocorre a refosforilação de 56 para os níveis característicos de cada estágio do desenvolvimento, coincidentemente com a interrupção da síntese de proteínas de choque térmico. / Using 35S methionine pulse labeling in vitro translation and two-dimensional gel electrophoresis, we investigated the regulation of protein synthesis during two distinct phases of cell differentiation, sporulation and germination, in the aquatic fungus Blastocladiella emersonii. We have found dramatic changes in the spectrum of proteins synthesized during sporulation. Synthesis of 108 polypeptides was analyzed and a large increase in the synthesis of several proteins is associated with particular stages. A large number of basic proteins are synthesized exclusively during late sporulation. Changes in translatable mRNA species were also detected by in vitro translation of RNA prepared at different stages of sporulation. The synthesis of several proteins during sporulation seems to be transcriptionally controlled. Most of the sporulationspecific messages are not present in the mature zoospores; the zoospores contain stored mRNA, which is apparently synthesized in the last 30 min of sporulation.We analyzed the pattern of proteins synthesized during zoospore germination in an inorganic solution, in both the presence and absence of actinomycin D. During the transition from zoospore to round cells (the first 25 min), essentially no qualitative differences were noticeable, indicating that the earliest stages of germination are entirely preprogrammed with stored RNA. Later in germination (after 25 min), however, changes in the pattern of protein synthesis were found. Some of these proteins (a total of 6 polypeptides) correspond possibly to a selective translation of stored messages, whereas the majority of the changed proteins (22 polypeptides) corresponds to newly synthesized mRNA. Thus, multiple levels of protein synthesis regulation seem to occur during zoospore germination, involving both transcriptional and translational controls. We also analyzed the pattern of protein synthesis during germination in a nutrient medium; synthesis of specific polypeptides occurred during late germination. During early germination posttranslational control was also observed, several labeled proteins from zoospores being specifically degraded or charge modified. Some proteins whose expression is developmentally regulated were identified. Actin, &#945;- and &#946;-tubulin have been identified in the two-dimensional pattern of proteins synthesized during sporulation by using well characterized monoclonal antibodies and western blotting. We compared the kinetics of synthesis of these proteins, by pulse-labeling experiments with &#8204;35S&#8204;methionine, with the accumulation of their corresponding mRNAs, translated in a cell-free system. Large increases occur in the rates of actin and &#945;- and &#946;-tubulin biosynthesis during sporulation and there is an accumulation of the corresponding mRNAs. In parallel to the increased synthesis, these cytoskeletal proteins accumulate during the late stage of sporulation. During germination and early growth there is a strong decrease in the level of these proteins. We also verified that &#945;- and &#946;-tubulin are present in flagellar axonemes of zoopores. Very interesting was the observation that three proteins spontaneously expressed during sporulation correspond possibly to three heat shock-induced proteins CHsp70, Hsp76, Hsp39a). This fact was noticed when we were investigating the heat shock-response during the development of Blastocladiella. The heat-shock response in Blastocladiella is dependent on the developmental stage. Cells exposed to elevated temperatures at different stages of life cycle (sporulation, germination or growth) show a differential synthesis of heat-shock proteins (Hsps). Of a total af 22 polypeptides induced, particular subsets of Hsps appear in each phase, demonstrating a non-coordinate heat-shock gene expression. By the criteria of two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and partial proteolysis mapping, the 70-kDa protein, whose synthesis is induced spontaneously during sporulation, is indistinguishable from the heat-inducible hsp70. Additional evidence in support of the identity between the 70-kDa protein and Hsp70 was provided by immunological cross-reaction of both proteins with antibodies against DnaK protein from E.coli and Hsp70 from Drosophila. The techniques of in vitro translation, and Northern analysis using a Drosophila hsp70 probe, demonstrated that enhanced synthesis of hsp70, which occurs during heat-shock treatment and spontaneously during sporulation, is associated with an accumulation of Hsp70 mRNA. Although the Hsps synthesis is developmentally regulated in Blastocladiella, the acquisition of thermotolerance can be induced at any stage of the life cycle. lhe development of thermotolerance is correlated with the enhanced synthesis of some heat-shock proteins: Hsp82a, Hsp82b, Hsp76, Hsp70, Hsp60, Hsp25, Hsp17b. Other Hsps are not specifically involved in thermotolerance. In B. emersonii the state of 56 phosphorylation changes depending on the developmental stage and environmental conditions (Bonato et al., 1984, Eur. J. Biochem. 144, 597-606). On the other hand, we verified that the heat-shock response is developmentally regulated. Then, we examined the changes in 56 phosphorylation during heat shock, thermotolerance, and recovery from heat shock at different stages of life cycle in order to investigate whether the different levels of 56 phosphorylation might be correlated with the translation of specific message subsets. We observed that independently of the initial state of 56 phosphorylation (maximal or intermediate), a rapid and complete dephosphorylation of 56 is induced by heat shock and 56 remains unphosphorylated during the acquired thermotolerance. During recovery from heat shock rephosphorylation of 56 occurs always to the levels characteristic of that particular stage, coincidently with the turn off of heat shock protein synthesis.

O epitélio pulmonar é formado por uma grande diversidade celular, que incluí: células secretoras, ciliadas, basais e neuroendócrinas (NE). A distribuição balanceada destes tipos celulares é crucial para a função pulmonar e pode ser dramaticamente alterada em doenças como a asma. Neste trabalho, estudamos o papel de Notch no pulmão em desenvolvimento ao inativar condicionalmente Rbpjk ou Pofut1, componentes críticos da sinalização Notch. Pulmões mutantes apresentaram-se superpopulados por células ciliadas e NE, além da ausência de células de Clara. Nossos dados sugeriram que Notch suprime os programas de diferenciação de células ciliadas e NE para permitir a diferenciação de células de Clara, através de um mecanismo de inibição lateral. Identificamos também genes associados com a diferenciação de células secretoras e ciliadas através de microarrays. A heterogeneidade no padrão de expressão gênica sugeriu que a via de sinalização Notch estabelece múltiplos subtipos de células ciliadas e secretoras no epitélio pulmonar em desenvolvimento. / The airway epithelium comprises a diverse population of secretory, ciliated, basal and neuroendocrine cells (NE). The proper balance of these cell types is critical for normal lung function and can be altered dramatically in conditions, such as asthma. We studied the role of Notch in airway progenitor cell fate by conditionally inactivating Rbpjk or Pofut1, two critical Notch pathway components in mouse mutants. This resulted in airways overpopulated with ciliated and NE cells and absence of secretory Clara cells. We found that Notch suppresses the ciliated and the NE cell programs to allow secretory cell differentiation through a lateral inhibition mechanism. We also identified genes associated with the differentiation of secretory and ciliated cells through a microarray gene profiling experiment. The great heterogeneity of gene expression patterns suggested that Notch plays a role in establishing multiple subsets of secretory and ciliated cells in the developing lung.

En ingénierie tissulaire, les biomatériaux, les cellules et l'induction de la différenciation, sont des facteurs à prendre en compte. L'objectif de cette étude est de connaitre l'effet de la nature des biomatériaux et leurs propriétés mécaniques sur la différenciation des cellules souches mésenchymateuses de la moelle osseuse. Dans un premier temps, nous avons étudié l'effet d'un biomatériau de nature protéique (le collagène de type I) supplémenté en microparticules d'hydroxyaptatite (HAP). Nous avons constaté que l'ajout d'HAP améliore les propriétés mécaniques de ce biomatériau et engage la différenciation des cellules vers des phénotypes ostéoarticulaires. Dans un deuxième temps, nous avons étudié l'effet d'un biomatériau à base d'alginate supplémenté par de l'acide hyaluronique ou des microparticules d'HAP, en utilisant un plan d'expériences pour choisir les matrices convenables pour l'étude biologique en fonction de leurs propriétés mécaniques. Nous avons constaté que les composants de ce biomatériau ont un effet sur l'élasticité de ce dernier et sur la différenciation des cellules souches mésenchymateuses. En conclusion, cette étude montre que les cellules souches mésenchymateuses sont sensibles à la composition du biomatériau et ses propriétés mécaniques / In tissue engineering, biomaterials, cells and the induction of cell differentiation are factors to be studied. The aim of this study is to know the effect of biomaterials composition and mechanical properties on the differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells from bone marrow. At first, we studied the effect of a protein biomaterial (collagen type I) supplemented with hydroxyaptatite (HAP) particles. We found that the addition of HAP improves the mechanical properties of the biomaterial and conditione cell differentiation towards osteoarticular lineages. In a second step, we studied the effect of biomaterial composed of alginate supplemented with hyaluronic acid or HAP particles, using an experimental design to select suitable matrices for biological study based on their mechanical properties. We found that the components of this biomaterial have an effect on elasticity of the latter and the differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells. In conclusion, this study shows that mesenchymal stem cells are sensitive to the composition of the biomaterial and its mechanical properties

O estômago do rato completa sua maturação durante a fase de transição alimentar, em que ocorre ingestão de ração juntamente com leite materno. No desmame precoce (DP) esta fase é interrompida e provoca elevação da corticosterona (CORT). Nosso objetivo foi avaliar, através do tratamento com RU486 (RU), se a CORT elevada modifica a maturação gástrica. Grupos experimentais: amamentado (A), ARU, DP e DPRU. Resultados de PCRq, em filhotes: o DP elevou a expressão de Muc5ac, Bhlha15, Pgc e diminuiu a expressão de Pga5, enquanto que o RU486 reverteu os resultados para Pgc e Muc5ac,. Ainda em filhotes, DP aumentou o número de células mucosas do colo (CMCs), células Mist1-positivas e PGC-positivas, e o RU486 reverteu o resultado para as CMCs e para as PGC-positivas. Em adultos, obtivemos os seguintes dados: redução de Pga5, causada pelo RU486; manutenção dos efeitos do DP sobre Pgc; manutenção dos dados, tanto de DP quanto de RU486, sobre as CMCs; e dos efeitos do RU486 sobre as células PGC-positivas. Portanto, a CORT elevada pelo DP é fundamental na maturação gástrica. / Rat´s gastric mucosa completes their maturation throughout the food transition process, when pups ingest chow and maternal milk. Early weaning (EW) consists in an abrupt suckling (S) interruption that increases corticosterone (CORT) levels. Our aim was to evaluate, using RU486 (RU), if these increase in CORT levels could affect gastric maturation. Experimental groups: S, SRU, EW and EWRU. By RT-qPCR, in 17-d-old rats, EW increased Muc5ac, Bhlha15 and Pgc and decreased Pga5 expression, while RU486 reverted the results for Pgc and Muc5ac. In 17 and 18-d-old pups, EW increased mucous neck cells (MNC), Mist1-positive and PGC-positive cells, although CORT inhibition reverted the result for MNC and PGC. In 30-d-old rats, we had the following results: reduction on Pga5 expression provoked by RU486; the results over Pgc were maintained; the results, caused both by EW as RU486, over MNC were maintained, as well as the effects of RU486 over PGC-positive cells. We concluded that the increase in CORT levels, caused by EW, plays a fundamental role in gastric maturation.

The vertebrate eye lens functions to focus light onto the retina to produce vision. The lens is composed of an anterior monolayer of cuboidal epithelial cells that overlie a core of organelle free fiber cells. The lens develops and grows throughout life by the successive layering of lens fiber cells via their differentiation from lens epithelial cells. Lens developmental defect and damage to the lens are associated with cataract formation, an opacity of the lens that is a leading cause of visual impairment worldwide. The only treatment to date for cataract is by surgery. Elucidating those molecules and mechanisms that regulate the development and lifelong protection of the lens is critical toward the development of future therapies to prevent or treat cataract. To determine those molecules and mechanisms that may be important for these lens requirements we employed high-throughput RNA sequencing of microdissected differentiation statespecific lens cells to identify an extensive range of transcripts encoding proteins expressed by these functionally distinct cell types. Using this data, we identified differentiation state-specific molecules that regulate mitochondrial populations between lens epithelial cells that require the maintenance of a functional population of mitochondria and lens fiber cells that must eliminate their mitochondria for their maturation. In addition, we discovered a novel mechanism for how lens epithelial cells clear apoptotic cell debris that could arise from damage to the lens and found that UVlight likely compromises this system. Moreover, the data herein provide a framework to determine novel lens cell differentiation state-specific mechanisms. Future studies are required to determine the requirements of the identified molecules and mechanisms during lens development, lens defense against damage, and cataract formation. / Includes bibliography. / Dissertation (Ph.D.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2016. / FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection

Metastasis is the primary cause of mortality in women with breast cancer. Recently, elevated serum levels of a glycoprotein known as chitinase-3 likeprotein- 1 (CHI3L1) has been correlated with poor prognosis and shorter survival of patients with cancer and inflammatory diseases. The biological and physiological functions of CHI3L1 in tumor progression have not yet been elucidated. In this document, we describe the role of CHI3L1 in tumor growth and metastasis and its relationship with inflammation. Using well-established models of breast cancer, we show that CHI3L1 is increased in the serum of tumor bearing mice. We found that CHI3L1 levels are increased at both the “pre-metastatic” and “metastatic stage” and that tumor cells, splenic, alveolar and interstitial macrophages; and myeloid derived population produce CHI3L1. Furthermore, we demonstrated that CHI3L1 has an inhibitory role on the expression of interferon-gamma (IFN γ) by T cells, while enhancing the production of pro-inflammatory mediators by macrophages such as Cchemokine ligand 2 (CCL2/MCP-1), Chemokine CX motif ligand 2 (CXCL2/IL-8) and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), all of which promote tumor growth and metastasis. We demonstrated that in vivo treatment of tumor-bearing mice with chitin microparticles, a TH1 adjuvant and a substrate for CHI3L1, promoted immune effector functions with increased production of IFN-γ but decreased CCL2/MCP-1, CXCL2/IL-8 and MMP-9 expression by splenic and pulmonary macrophages. Significantly, in vivo administration of chitin microparticles decreased tumor growth and pulmonary metastasis in mammary tumor bearing mice. These results suggest that CHI3L1 may play a role in tumor progression. Inflammation plays a pivotal role during tumor progression and metastasis by promoting the production of pro-inflammatory molecules such as CHI3L1. However, little is known about how CHI3L1 expression can affect secondary sites to enhance metastasis. In these studies, we demonstrated that CHI3L1 alters the cellular composition and inflammatory mediators that aid in the establishment of a metastatic niche for the support of infiltrating tumor cells leading to accelerated tumor progression. Since previous studies showed that CHI3L1 modulates inflammation, we determined the role of CHI3L1 in the context of pre-existing inflammation and metastasis. We found that CHI3L1 deficient mice with preexisting inflammation had decreased pro-inflammatory mediators, and significant reduction in tumor volume and metastasis compared to wild type controls. Preexisting inflammation and CHI3L1 may be driving the establishment of a premetastatic milieu in the lungs and aiding in the establishment of metastasis. Understanding the role of CHI3L1 in inflammation during tumor progression could result in the design of targeted therapies for breast cancer patients. / Includes bibliography. / Dissertation (Ph.D.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2015. / FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection

Carbohydrate recognition is one of the most sophisticated recognition processes in biological systems, mediating many important aspects of cell-cell recognition, such as inflammation, cell differentiation, and metastasis. Consequently, lectin-glycan interactions have been intensively studied in order to mimic their actions for potential bioanalytical and biomedical applications. Galectins, a class of ß-galactoside-specific animal lectins, have been strongly implicated in inflammation and cancer. Galectin-3 is involved in carbohydrate-mediated metastatic cell heterotypic and homotypic adhesion via interaction with Thomsen-Friedenreich (TF) antigen on cancer-associated MUC1. However, the precise mechanism by which galectin-3 recognizes TF antigen is poorly understood. Our thermodynamic studies have shown that the presentation of the carbohydrate ligand by MUC1-based peptide scaffolds can have a major impact on recognition, and may facilitate the design of more potent and specific galectin-3 inhibitors that can be used as novel chemical tools in dissecting the precise role of galectin-3 in cancer and inflammatory diseases. Another lectin, odorranalectin (OL), has been recently identified from Odorrana grahami skin secretions as the smallest cyclic peptide lectin, has a particular selectivity for L-fucose and very low toxicity and immunogenicity, rendering OL an excellent candidate for drug delivery to targeted sites, such as: (1) tumor-associated fucosylated antigens implicated in the pathogenesis of several cancers, for overcoming the nonspecificity of most anticancer agents; (2) the olfactory epithelium of nasal mucosa for enhanced delivery of peptide-based drugs to the brain. / Includes bibliography. / Dissertation (Ph.D.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2015.