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Ce travail de thèse a eu pour thème principal le protéoglycane syndecan-1 au cours du myélome multiple, une hémopathie maligne caractérisée par la présence d'un clone de plasmocytes tumoraux au sein de la moelle osseuse. Syndecan-1 est un élément majeur de la physiopathologie du myélome multiple, ce protéoglycane étant au coeur d'un réseau complexe d'interactions moléculaires conditionnant le devenir des cellules plasmocytaires tumorales.Les chaînes de glycosaminoglycanes présentes sur le core protéique de syndecan-1sont responsables d'une grande partie de son activité. Nous avons ainsi caractérisé, par une approche transcriptomique, 100 gènes codant les protéines impliquées dans la synthèse et la modification de ces chaînes. Nous avons de cette manière identifié des cibles moléculairesen vue de moduler, voire d'inhiber leur activité.Dans le but d'identifier les métalloprotéinases des familles ADAM et ADAMTS susceptibles d'interagir avec syndecan-1, nous avons réalisé l'étude du profil d'expression des gènes codant ces reprolysines et leurs inhibiteurs dans les cellules de la différentiation lymphocytaire B, les cellules plasmocytaires normales et tumorales ainsi que dans l'environnement médullaire.Dans une dernière partie, nous avons évalué l'efficacité d'une approche d'inhibitiondes chaînes héparanes sulfates via l'utilisation de l'héparine. Nous observons que certaines lignées myélomateuses sont inhibées par l'héparine et ses dérivés et que ces mêmes lignées sont stimulées par l'antidote de l'héparine, le sulfate de protamine. Les mécanismes mis enjeu sont en relation avec la modulation de la biodisponibilité des facteurs permettant la croissance des cellules. / Multiple myeloma is a hematological malignancy characterized by the expansion of aclone of malignant plasma cells in the bone marrow compartment. Syndecan-1 is a majorproteoglycan involved in a complex network of molecular interactions in multiple myelomaphysiopathology. As heparan sulfate and chondroitin sulfate chains are the bioactive components ofsyndecan-1, we first analysed the signature of genes encoding 100 proteins involved in thesynthesis of these chains, from precursor uptake to post-translational modifications, usingAffymetrix microarrays.In order to identify the metalloproteinases belonging to ADAM and ADAMTS familiespotentially implicated in the interactions with syndecan-1, we performed a gene expressionprofile focused on the genes encoding these reprolysines and their inhibitors.In a last part, we evaluated the efficacy of an inhibitory approach based on theutilization of heparin in human myeloma cell lines in vitro, inhibitory effects being in relationwith a modulation of the biodisponibility of heparin-binding factors.This work led us to identify targets of interest in relation with syndecan-1 biology inmultiple myeloma. They could be used to design new therapeutic strategies.

Lam Shi Ying Joyce. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2005. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 107-114). / Abstract in English and Chinese. / Chapter CHAPTER 1 --- GENERAL INTRODUCTION --- p.1-19 / Chapter CHAPTER 2 --- EXPRESSION OF PROTEIN KINASE C (PKC) ISOFORMS IN THE VENTRAL TEMPORAL (VT) AND DORSAL NASAL (DN) RETINAL GROWTH CONES OF MOUSE EMBRYOS / INTRODUCTION --- p.20-22 / MATERIALS AND METHODS --- p.22-24 / RESULTS --- p.24-31 / DISCUSSION --- p.31-37 / FIGURES --- p.38-46 / Chapter CHAPTER 3 --- EFFECTS ON MOUSE NASAL AND TEMPORAL RETINAL NEURITES TO CHONDROITIN SULPHATES (CS) AFTER ALTERATION OF PKC ACTIVITY / INTRODUCTION --- p.47-48 / MATERIALS AND METHODS --- p.49-51 / RESULTS --- p.51-59 / DISCUSSION --- p.60-67 / FIGURES --- p.68-74 / Chapter CHAPTER 4 --- EFFECTS ON AXON ROUTING AFTER ALTERATION OF PKC ACTIVITY ON GUIDANCE OF RETINAL GANGLION CELL AXONS AT THE OPTIC CHIASM OF MOUSE EMBRYOS / INTRODUCTION --- p.75-76 / MATERIALS AND METHODS --- p.77-80 / RESULTS --- p.80-89 / DISCUSSION --- p.89-95 / FIGURES --- p.96-103 / Chapter CHAPTER 5 --- GENERAL CONCLUSION --- p.104-106 / REFERENCES --- p.107-114

Les carbohydrates font partie des trois grandes classes de biopolymères présents dans la nature. Ils représentent 75% de la biomasse. Les glycosaminoglycanes font partie des carbohydrates, ils sont présents à la surface des cellules et sont responsables de la signalisation cellulaire. Ils sont importants dans de nombreux processus biologiques. Vu leur importance en biologie et en santé, il est nécessaire de comprendre leur fonctionnement. Dans cette thèse nous avons étudié deux types de tétrasaccharides de glycosaminoglycanes (chondroïtine sulfate et dermatane sulfate) avec une nouvelle méthode qui couple la spectrométrie de masse à la spectroscopie vibrationnelle (MS/IR). Nous avons montré qu’avec cette méthode la signature de l’empreinte OH fonctionne pour les glycosaminoglycanes qui présentent des groupements Coo- et des groupements sulfate contrairement aux oses simples. Cette méthode a également validé la pertinence du séquençage pour l'élucidation de profils de sulfate et la nature de l’hexuronique dans les oligosaccharides de glycosaminoglycanes. L’approche du séquençage améliore considérablement la résolution structurelle par rapport à la simple analyse spectroscopique de l'ion précurseur. Elle permet d’avoir plus d’information sur les oligosaccharides. Et pour finir nous avons proposé un protocole pour l’analyse de mélanges afin de déterminer le ratio des différents éléments présents dans le mélange / Carbohydrates are among the three major classes of biopolymers found in nature. They represent 75% of the biomass. Glycosaminoglycans are carbohydrates, they are present on the surface of cells and are responsible for cell signaling. They are important in many biological processes. Given their importance in biology and health, it is necessary to understand their mechanism. In this thesis we studied two types of glycosaminoglycan tetrasaccharides (chondroitin sulfate and dermatan sulfate) with a new method that combines mass spectrometry with vibrational spectroscopy (MS / IR). We have shown that with this method the signature of the OH-fingerprint works for glycosaminoglycans which have COO- groups and sulfate groups in contrast to simple carbohydrates. This method also validated the relevance of sequencing for the elucidation of sulfate profiles and the nature of hexuronic in oligosaccharides of glycosaminoglycans. The sequencing approach significantly improves the structural resolution compared to the simple spectroscopic analysis of the precursor ion. It provides more information on oligosaccharides. And finally we proposed a protocol for the analysis of mixtures to determine the ratio of the different elements present in the mixture

Several studies have shown that complement and thrombotic events co-exist. Platelets have been suspected to act as the bridge between the two cascade systems. To study the platelet-induced complement activation we developed a system in which platelets were activated by thrombin receptor activating peptide (TRAP) in platelet rich plasma (PRP) or whole blood anti-coagulated using the specific thrombin inhibitor, lepirudin. TRAP-activated platelets induced a fluid-phase complement activation measured as generation of C3a and sC5b-9, triggered by released chondroitin sulphate-A (CS-A) which interacted with C1q and activated the complement system through the classical pathway. Complement components C1q, C3, C4 and C9 were also shown to bind to TRAP-activated platelets but this binding did not seem to be due to a complement activation since blocking of complement activation at the C1q or C3 levels did not affect the binding of the complement proteins. The C3 which bound to activated platelets consisted of C3(H2O), indicating that bound C3 was not proteolytically activated. Binding of C1q was partially dependent on CS-A exposure on activated platelets. The abolished complement activation on the surface of activated platelets was suggested to be dependent on the involvement of several complement inhibitors. We confirmed the binding of C1INH and factor H to activated platelets. To this list we have added another potent complement inhibitor, C4BP. The binding of factor H and C4BP was shown to be dependent on exposure of CS-A on activated platelets. The physiological relevance of these reactions was reflected in an elevated expression of CD11b on leukocytes, and increased generation of platelet-leukocyte complexes. The platelets were involved in these events by at least two different mechanisms; generation of C5a which activated leukocytes and binding of C3(H2O)/iC3(H2O), a ligand to the intergrin CD11b/CD18 on their surface. These mechanisms add further to the understanding of how platelets interact with the complement system and will help us to understand the role of the complement system in cardiovascular disease and thrombotic conditions. / Platelet Mediated Complement Activation

Δύο από τα σημαντικότερα δομικά και λειτουργικά βιομόρια του εξωκυττάριου χώρου είναι το κολλαγόνο και οι γλυκοζαμινογλυκάνες (GAGs), ανιοντικοί πολυσακχαρίτες που αποτελούν το βασικό δομικό συστατικό των πρωτεογλυκανών. Οι κύριοι τύποι γλυκοζαμινογλυκανών είναι η θειική χονδροϊτίνη, η θειική δερματάνη, η ηπαρίνη, η θειική ηπαράνη, η θειική κερατάνη και το υαλουρονικό οξύ. Το κολλαγόνο τύπου Ι είναι η πιο άφθονη πρωτεΐνη στους ιστούς των θηλαστικών. Το κολλαγόνο τύπου ΙΙ αποτελεί το κύριο συστατικό του εξωκυττάριου χώρου του αρθρικού χόνδρου και άλλων ιστών. Τα παραπάνω μακρομόρια είναι υπεύθυνα για τη ρύθμιση διαφόρων διεργασιών των κυττάρων τόσο σε φυσιολογικές όσο και σε παθολογικές καταστάσεις, όπως παθήσεις των αρθρώσεων και νεοπλασματικές ασθένειες. Αντικείμενο της παρούσας εργασίας αποτέλεσε η ανάπτυξη μιας μεθοδολογίας για τον προσδιορισμό των αλληλεπιδράσεων μεταξύ γλυκοζαμινογλυκανών και των δύο τύπων κολλαγόνου, η οποία θα συνεισφέρει στη βαθύτερη κατανόηση της βιολογικής τους λειτουργίας. Μερικές από τις τεχνικές που έχουν χρησιμοποιηθεί για το συγκεκριμένο σκοπό είναι η χρωματογραφία συγγένειας, η ηλεκτροφόρηση και η φασματοσκοπία φθορισμού. Η φασματοσκοπία πυρηνικού μαγνητικού συντονισμού (NMR), η περίθλαση ακτίνων-Χ και ο κυκλικός διχρωισμός (Circular Dichroism, CD) προσφέρουν δομικές πληροφορίες για τις αλλαγές στη διαμόρφωση και τα σημεία πρόσδεσης μεταξύ γλυκοζαμινογλυκανών και πρωτεϊνών. Θερμοδυναμικές πληροφορίες για τις αλληλεπιδράσεις πρωτεϊνών-γλυκοζαμινογλυκανών αντλούνται από τη θερμιδομετρία ισόθερμης τιτλοδότησης (Isothermal Titration Calorimetry, ITC), ενώ με την τεχνική της διέγερσης επιφανειακών πλασμονίων (Surface Plasmon Resonance, SPR) μελετώνται η σταθερά σύνδεσης και η σταθερά διάστασης της αλληλεπίδρασης σε πραγματικό χρόνο. Το κυριότερο μειονέκτημα των παραπάνω τεχνικών είναι το ότι δεν προσφέρουν πληροφορίες για χημικούς δεσμούς, ενώ ο χρόνος ανάλυσης είναι μεγάλος και απαιτούνται μεγάλες ποσότητες δειγμάτων. Η τεχνική που χρησιμοποιήθηκε ήταν εκείνη της φασματοσκοπίας micro-Raman, μια μη καταστρεπτική τεχνική, η οποία προσφέρει πληροφορίες για τη χημική δομή του εξεταζόμενου δείγματος, ενώ παράλληλα είναι γρήγορη και ακριβής. Παρασκευάστηκαν δύο είδη μιγμάτων γλυκοζαμινογλυκανών με κολλαγόνο. Στην πρώτη περίπτωση, κολλαγόνο τύπου Ι ή τύπου ΙΙ εμβαπτίστηκε σε διάλυμα θειικής χονδροϊτίνης, ηπαρίνης ή μίγμα τους που παρασκευάστηκε με αναλογία όγκων 1:1. Στη δεύτερη περίπτωση, μίγματα των δύο ουσιών προέκυψαν με ανάμιξη ίσων ποσοτήτων των δύο ουσιών. Τα παραπάνω μίγματα μελετήθηκαν με φασματοσκοπία Raman και με την τεχνική της Διαφορικής Θερμιδομετρίας Σάρωσης (Differential Scanning Calorimetry, DSC) και συγκρίθηκαν με τα φάσματα των προτύπων ουσιών. Κάθε ουσία έχει ένα χαρακτηριστικό φάσμα Raman, η ερμηνεία του οποίου οδήγησε στην ταυτοποίηση χαρακτηριστικών ομάδων των μορίων, όπως οι δεσμοί C-OH, οι θειικές ομάδες (O-SO3-, N-SO3-), η Ν-ακετυλομάδα, οι δεσμοί C=O και οι δεσμοί C-Ν. Οι φασματικές περιοχές που παρουσιάζουν τα πιο έντονα χαρακτηριστικά στα φάσματα Raman των μιγμάτων GAG-κολλαγόνου είναι οι εξής: 800-920 cm-1, 900-1000 cm-1 και 980-1170 cm-1. Όσον αφορά στην τελευταία φασματική περιοχή, παρατηρήθηκε σημαντική μετατόπιση της χαρακτηριστικής κορυφής της δόνησης έκτασης των θειομάδων προς χαμηλότερους κυματάριθμους (από τους 1070 cm-1 περίπου στους 1062-1064 cm-1) και η εμφάνιση μιας κορυφής στους 1072 cm-1, σε σχέση με τα αντίστοιχα φάσματα των προτύπων ουσιών, στα φάσματα όλων των μιγμάτων που μελετήθηκαν. Η μετατόπιση της συγκεκριμένης κορυφής αποτελεί ένδειξη αλληλεπίδρασης μεταξύ των δύο ουσιών και καταδεικνύει το σημαντικό ρόλο των θειομάδων των γλυκοζαμινογλυκανών στις αλληλεπιδράσεις τους με τη συγκεκριμένη πρωτεΐνη. Τα αποτελέσματα της φασματοσκοπίας Raman βρίσκονται σε συμφωνία με εκείνα που προκύπτουν από την τεχνική της Διαφορικής Θερμιδομετρίας Σάρωσης (DSC), καθώς τα θερμογραφήματα DSC των μιγμάτων θειικής χονδροϊτίνης-κολλαγόνου τύπου Ι είναι διαφορετικά από εκείνο του μίγματος που προέκυψε από την ανάμιξη των δύο συστατικών, υποδεικνύοντας την ύπαρξη αλληλεπίδρασης μεταξύ των δύο ουσιών. Με την τεχνική της φασματοσκοπίας Raman διαπιστώθηκε ότι το κολλαγόνο τύπου Ι έδειξε μεγαλύτερη «χημική προτίμηση» προς την ηπαρίνη σε σχέση με τη θειική χονδροϊτίνη, ενώ το κολλαγόνο τύπου ΙΙ προτίμησε να αλληλεπιδράσει με τη θειική χονδροϊτίνη. / Collagen and glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) co-exist as major constituents of the extracellular matrix (ECM) in a variety of tissues. Collagen type I is the most abundant protein in the human body, whereas another important type of collagen is type II, which forms the extracellular matrix of cartilage and other tissues. Glycosaminoglycans are negatively charged polysaccharides that occur as a structural component of proteoglycans and can be divided in four major groups: i) chondroitin sulfate and dermatan sulfate, ii) heparin and heparin sulfate, iii) keratan sulfate, and iv) hyaluronic acid. Both GAGs and collagen not only regulate a variety of cellular functions but they also seem to be involved in many pathological conditions, including cancer and joint diseases. Therefore, a more detailed investigation of the interactions between them will result in a deeper understanding of their biological function. Most common methods for identifying GAG-collagen interactions include affinity chromatography, affinity electrophoresis and fluorescence spectroscopy. Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR), X-ray diffraction and Circular Dichroism (CD) provide structural data characterizing conformational changes and contact points between the interacting species. Using Isothermal Titration Calorimetry (ITC), information on the thermodynamics of glycosaminoglycan-protein interactions can be obtained. Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) allows the measurement of association and dissociation constants of glycosaminoglycan-protein interactions in real time. The major disadvantage of the techniques described above is the inability to identify specific chemical bonds. Other disadvantages are the long analysis time and that large amounts of the interacting substances are required. In the present work, Raman spectroscopy, a non-destructive, vibrational technique which yields information on the chemical composition of the specimen, was employed for the exploration of the interactions between collagen type I and type II and two glycosaminoglycans, chondroitin sulfate and heparin. Two sets of mixtures composed of glycosaminoglycans and each type of collagen were prepared: i) collagen type I or type II was immersed in aqueous solutions of chondroitin sulfate, heparin and a 1:1 mixture of both GAGs, and ii) GAG-collagen mixtures were obtained by blending suitable amounts of the two substances. Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) was also applied on the latter mixtures. From the Raman spectra identification of vibrational frequencies of the functional groups of the above molecules, such as C-OH linkages, sulfate groups (O-SO3-, N-SO3-), N-acetyl group, carboxyl group and C-Ν linkages is possible. The prominent features arising from the Raman spectra of GAG-collagen interactions are found in the regions 800-920 cm-1, 900-1000 cm-1 and 980-1170 cm-1. Processing of the spectra of all GAG-collagen mixtures has revealed that a shift of the most characteristic vibration of chondroitin sulfate’s and heparin’s spectrum from 1070 cm-1 to 1062-1064 cm-1, while a vibration at approximately 1072 cm-1 emerges. The sulfate band shift is indicative of an interaction between collagen and glycosaminoglycans and depicts the important role of the sulfate group of glycosaminoglycans in the interactions with the protein. This observation was in accordance with the results from Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), which demonstrated an interaction between collagen and chondroitin sulfate. A stronger preference of collagen type I to interact with heparin rather than chondroitin sulfate and of collagen type II to interact with chondroitin sulfate was also observed.

smig-1(ev809) is a novel suppressor of multiple distal tip cell (DTC) migration mutants in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. In the C. elegans hermaphrodite, the two U-shaped gonad arms develop and form as a result of the migration of two DTCs. smig-1(ev809) suppresses DTC migration defects of mutants encoding components of intracellular glycosylation pathways as well as extracellular basement membrane glycoproteins. The smig-1(ev809) mutation bypasses the requirement for a fully functional chondroitin pathway and MIG-17 metalloprotease in DTC pathfinding. I found that i) suppression of the hypomorphic chondroitin mutant mig-22(k141) is not completely dependent on MIG-17 activity; ii) the smig-1(ev809) mutant is likely to be a loss- of-function suppressor; and iii) SMIG-1 does not visibly affect the localization of poorly glycosylated MIG-17 on the gonad surface. Understanding SMIG-1 function will shed light on the role of glycosylation, the extracellular matrix and basement membranes in cell migration during development.

smig-1(ev809) is a novel suppressor of multiple distal tip cell (DTC) migration mutants in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. In the C. elegans hermaphrodite, the two U-shaped gonad arms develop and form as a result of the migration of two DTCs. smig-1(ev809) suppresses DTC migration defects of mutants encoding components of intracellular glycosylation pathways as well as extracellular basement membrane glycoproteins. The smig-1(ev809) mutation bypasses the requirement for a fully functional chondroitin pathway and MIG-17 metalloprotease in DTC pathfinding. I found that i) suppression of the hypomorphic chondroitin mutant mig-22(k141) is not completely dependent on MIG-17 activity; ii) the smig-1(ev809) mutant is likely to be a loss- of-function suppressor; and iii) SMIG-1 does not visibly affect the localization of poorly glycosylated MIG-17 on the gonad surface. Understanding SMIG-1 function will shed light on the role of glycosylation, the extracellular matrix and basement membranes in cell migration during development.

Made available in DSpace on 2015-03-26T13:46:36Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 texto completo.pdf: 832157 bytes, checksum: b5d2369f96a82a9d4af7de68979a2dad (MD5) Previous issue date: 2006-04-11 / This work was developed in order to evaluate microscoply the influence of gallium arsenate (Ga-As) diodo laser associated with chondroitin sulfate and chitosan on the healing process of the articular surface of the humeral head of dogs following experimental osteochondroplasty. Sixteen adult dogs were randomly allocated into four groups of four animals. All animals had the left humeral head injured by a surgical procedure (osteochondroplasty) and those from the TG were submitted to Ga-As diode laser sessions and received orally chondroitin sulfate and chitosan. In order to analyze microscopically the surgical injury the animals of the subgroups (C1, C2, C3, C4, T1, T2, T3 and T4) were killed on the 7th, 21st, 35th and 60th days after the surgery, respectively. The histological assessment revealed an increased vascularization, repairing potential and local osteogenesis, increase of the activity synthesis and keeping the cartilage matrix and better healing of the defect with fibrocartilage tissue of TG compared to those from CG, such findings were attributed to the physiotherapeutic effects of the Ga-As diode laser and chondroitin sulfate and chitosan. / O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar, microscopicamente, a influência do laser a diodo de Arsenieto de Gálio (As-Ga) associado ao sulfato de condroitina e quitosana no processo de reparação da superfície articular da cabeça umeral de cães após defeito osteocondral experimental. Foram utilizados 16 cães adultos, distribuídos aleatoriamente em quatro subgrupos de quatro animais. Em todos os animais foi induzido um defeito cirúrgico na articulação escápulo-umeral esquerda sendo, posteriormente, submetido à aplicação de laser As-Ga (904nm) e administração oral de sulfato de condroitina e quitosana. Para realizar as análises microscópica do defeito cirúrgico, os animais de cada subgrupo (T1, T2, T3 e T4) foram eutanasiados aos sete, 21, 35 e 60 dias após a cirurgia, respectivamente. Foi evidenciado aumento da vascularização da área de reparação, potencialização da reparação e da osteogênese local, aumento da atividade de síntese e manutenção da matriz cartilaginosa e reparação do defeito por tecido fibrocartilaginoso. Os resultados foram atribuídos aos efeitos fisioterapêuticos do laser associado ao sulfato de condroitina e quitosana administrado via oral.

Submitted by isabela.moljf@hotmail.com (isabela.moljf@hotmail.com) on 2017-05-12T13:37:04Z No. of bitstreams: 1 pedroluizrodriguesguedes.pdf: 3448334 bytes, checksum: 3bac263ee478fd60c02c5d6036a0e81e (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Adriana Oliveira (adriana.oliveira@ufjf.edu.br) on 2017-05-12T15:44:09Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 pedroluizrodriguesguedes.pdf: 3448334 bytes, checksum: 3bac263ee478fd60c02c5d6036a0e81e (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-05-12T15:44:09Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 pedroluizrodriguesguedes.pdf: 3448334 bytes, checksum: 3bac263ee478fd60c02c5d6036a0e81e (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013-07-30 / CAPES - Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / Condroitim sulfato (CS) é um glicosaminoglicano (GAG), presente na matriz extracelular (MEC) de vários tecidos de mamíferos, utilizado para o tratamento da osteoartrite e, recentemente, tem despertado grande interesse devido ao seu potencial anti-inflamatório. Vários modelos experimentais in vivo de inflamação são empregados para o estudo da atividade anti-inflamatória, entre eles o modelo de fibrose induzida por colestase extra-hepática. A colestase produz lesão hepatocelular com edema do trato portal, infiltrado leucocitário, proliferação de células epiteliais biliares e fibrose do trato portal. O objetivo deste trabalho foi analisar os efeitos do CS no modelo de colestase extra-hepática emperimental induzido por laqueadura do ducto biliar (BDL) em ratos Wistar. Para isso foram utilizados animais (n = 82) de 6 a 8 semanas de idade eutanasiados 2, 7 ou 14 dias após o procedimento cirúrgico divididos nos grupos: BDL, BDL tratado com CS, Sham e Sham tratado com CS. Foram avaliados peso corporal e do fígado dos animais, concentrações séricas de bilirrubina direta (BD), globulinas, atividades de gama glutamil transpeptidase (Gama GT), fosfatase alcalina (FA), alanina transaminase (ALT) e aspartato transaminase (AST), alterações morfológicas no tecido, atividade de mieloperoxidase (MPO), atividade de metaloproteases (MMP-9, MMP-2 e pró MMP-2) e conteúdo de GAGs no fígado dos animais, além da análise histopatológica do tecido hepático. O CS obtido para a realização do trabalho apresentou teores superiores a 92%, com peso molecular de aproximadamente 40 kDa e um conteúdo dissacarídico com predominância de Δdi4S (65%). BDL gerou vários sintomas relacionados à lesão celular e ao processo inflamatório como aumento dos níveis séricos de BD e globulinas, aumento das atividades de Gama GT, FA, ALT e AST, infiltrado inflamatório e modificação morfométrica, com proliferação ductular, e na MEC do fígado dos animais induzidos. CS levou a redução do aumento inicial das transaminases indicando proteção dos tecidos lesados no procedimento cirúrgico. O tratamento levou à redução do infiltrado inflamatório no tecido, expresso pela diminuição significativa da atividade de MPO no homogenato. A remodelação tecidual também foi reduzida, havendo diminuição da atividade de MMP-9, pró MMP-2 e MMP-2 e ainda dos níveis dos GAGs dermatam sulfato e heparam sulfato presentes, produzidos por células estreladas em resposta ao dano no tecido. Estes resultados mostram que o CS reduziu os efeitos da lesão hepática do modelo e foi capaz de retardar a fibrogênese hepática. / Chondroitin sulfate (CS) is a glycosaminoglycan (GAG) present in the extracellular matrix (ECM) of many mammalian tissue, used for osteoarthritis treatment and, recently, has aroused great interest due to its anti-inflammatory potential. Several in vivo inflammation experimental models are employed to study anti-inflammatory activity, including extra-hepatic cholestasis induced fibrosis. Cholestasis produces hepatocellular injury with portal tract edema, leukocyte infiltration, biliary epithelial cells proliferation and portal tract fibrosis. The aim of this work was to analyze CS effects on an extra-hepatic cholestasis experimental model induced by bile duct ligation (BDL) on Wistar rats. For this purpose 6 to 8 weeks old animals (n = 82) were euthanized 2, 7 or 14 days after surgical procedure, previously divided into groups: BDL, CS treated BDL, Sham, CS treated Sham. To analyze disease evolution body and liver weight, serum concentrations of direct bilirubin (BD), globulins, activities of gamma glutamyl transferase (Gama GT), alkaline phosphatase (FA), alanine and aspartate aminotransferases (ALT and AST), morphological changes on tissue, mieloperoxidase (MPO) activity, matrix metalloproteinases (MMP-9, pró MMP-2 and MMP-2) activities and liver GAGs content, besides histopathological analysis of the tissue. CS acquired presented over 92% tenor, molecular weight of approximately 40 kDa and disaccharide content of Δdi4S predominantly (65%).BDL caused many symptoms related to cellular damage and inflammatory process such as increasing BD and globulins, elevation of Gama GT, FA, ALT and AST activities, inflammatory infiltrate and changes on liver morphometry, with ductular proliferation, and on the ECM. CS reduced initial burst on aminotransferases, indicating protection of tissues injured on surgery procedure. Treatment led to reduction of inflammatory infiltrate, showed by significant decreasing on MPO activity. Tissue remodeling was also reduced, with decrease of MMP-9, pro MMP-2 and MMP-2 activities and also of GAGs dermatam sulfate and heparam sulfate levels, produced by hepatic stellate cells in response of tissue damage. These results show that CS reduced cholestasis hepatic injury effects, being capable to slow down liver fibrogenesis.