<p>Hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) self-renewal, proliferation and differentiation are regulated by signaling through protein tyrosine kinases (PTK) such as c-kit, Flt-3 and Tie2. PTKs work in concert with receptor protein tyrosine phosphatases (PTPs) to maintain cellular equilibrium. The functions of PTPs in counterbalancing PTK signaling in HSCs however remain incompletely understood. Our laboratory has demonstrated that a heparin binding growth factor, Pleiotrophin (PTN), promotes the expansion of murine long-term (LT)-HSCs via binding to a PTP, protein tyrosine phosphatase receptor type Z (PTPRZ). The addition of PTN to murine PTPRZ-/- c-Kit+Sca-1+Lineage- (KSL) cells caused no expansion of HSCs in culture, suggesting that PTPRZ mediates PTN effects on HSC growth. We subsequently screened for the expression of other receptor PTPs in murine HSCs. Among 21 different receptor PTPs, we found that protein tyrosine phosphatase receptor type S (PTPRS) was significantly overexpressed in mouse and human HSCs compared to more mature hematopoietic cells. Ptprs-/- mice displayed no difference in mature blood counts or phenotypic HSC frequency compared to Ptprs+/+ mice. However, competitive transplantation of bone marrow (BM) cells from Ptprs-/- mice resulted in more than 8-fold increased multilineage hematopoietic repopulation in primary and secondary recipient mice compared to mice transplanted with BM cells from Ptprs+/+ mice. While Ptprs-/- mice displayed no differences in cell cycle status, HSC survival or homing capability compared to Ptprs+/+ mice, PTPRS-/- BM cells expressed significantly increased levels of activated Rac1, a RhoGTPase which regulates HSC engraftment capacity, compared to PTPRS+/+ BM cells. PTPRS-/- BM cells displayed significantly increased transendothelial migration capacity and cobblestone area forming cells (CAFC), consistent with increased Rac1 activation. Furthermore, inhibition of Rac1 abrogated the increased transendothelial migration capacity of PTPRS-/- BM cells, suggesting that the augmented engraftment capacity of PTPRS-/- BM cells was mediated via Rac1. Translationally, we demonstrated that negative selection of human cord blood Lin-CD34+CD38-CD45RA- cells for PTPRS expression yielded a 15-fold enrichment for human long term HSCs compared to Lin-CD34+CD38-CD45RA- cells or Lin-CD34+CD38-CD45RA- PTPRS+ cells. These data suggest that PTPRS regulates HSC repopulating capacity via inhibition of Rac1 and selection of human PTPRS - negative HSCs is a translatable strategy to significantly enrich human cord blood HSCs for transplantation.</p> / Dissertation

Umbilical cord blood (UCB) is a source of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPC) used for allogeneic transplantation. Ex vivo expansion of HSPC can improve the slow platelet and neutrophil engraftment associated with UCB transplants. HSPCs reside in niches, some of which are near the endosteal bone surface, where they can associate with immature osteoblasts. Interestingly, osteoblasts can enhance the growth of HSPC in culture and their platelet engraftment activity. Using a proteomics approach, I identified 47 differentially expressed proteins between mesenchymal stem cells and immature osteoblasts. Several of these were previously implicated in HSPC maintenance such as IGF2, IGFBP2, DCN, GAS6 and VCAM1. Moreover, several other proteins belong to the alternative and classical complement pathways. Finally, I discovered that microvesicles found in osteoblast conditioned medium may also modulate the growth of HSPC, at least in ex vivo cultures.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:31:08Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2006-06-13Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T20:41:25Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 godoy_rf_dr_jabo.pdf: 1788688 bytes, checksum: 4ccc9b3b87b86597a8dc9255e154fe46 (MD5) / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) / Apesar da importância do sangue do cordão umbilical (SCU) como fonte de células tronco e do advento da imunofenotipagem de linfócitos, não existem estudos sobre a imunofenotipagem de linfócitos do sangue do cordão umbilical eqüino. Este estudo visou determinar os valores eritroleucométricos e quantificar as subpopulações de linfócitos-T no SCU e no sangue obtido por venipunção da jugular de eqüinos neonatos da raça Brasileiro de Hipismo. Para tanto, foram realizadas as colheitas de SCU e da jugular de 20 potros ao nascimento. As amostras foram submetidas às determinações dos valores eritroleucométricos e à quantificação de subpopulações de linfócitos-T, pela técnica citofluorométrica. Não foram verificadas diferenças significativas (p>0,05) entre os valores médios obtidos para tais parâmetros quando comparados o sangue central e o SCU de neonatos eqüinos. Os valores eritrométricos encontrados no SCU e da jugular de neonatos equinos, exceto o VCM, se situaram na faixa de normalidade para animais adultos e foram inferiores aos valores reportados para eqüinos neonatos. O valor absoluto para neutrófilos segmentados, no SCU e no sangue da jugular dos neonatos, foi inferior ao reportado para eqüinos ao nascimento. As contagens de linfócitos CD5+ e CD4+ no SCU e jugular de neonatos eqüinos foram inferiores àquelas reportadas para o sangue periférico de eqüinos adultos, indicando um componente imunológico imaturo. No entanto, a contagem de linfócitos CD8+ foi semelhante à reportada para o sangue periférico de eqüinos adultos. A proporção CD4:CD8 obtida neste ensaio, tanto para o SCU (2,64l0,91) quanto para o sangue obtido por venipunção jugular (2,41l0,81), em eqüinos neonatos demonstrou dominância das células T CD4+ sobre os linfócitos T CD8+. / Although the importance of umbilical cord blood as source of stem cells and the advent of Iymphocytes immunophenotyping, no studies have been performed on the immunophenotyping of equine UCB Iymphocytes. The objective of the present work was to determine erythrometric and leukometric values and quantify subpopulations of Iymphocytes in UCB and jugular blood of neonatal horses. UCB and jugular blood were collected from 20 foals of the Brasilian of Hipism breed at birth and processed for determination of erythrometric and leukometric values and quantification of subpopulations of T Iymphocytes by cytofluorometry. No significant difterences (p<0.05) were observed between average values in jugular blood of neonates and UCB of horses. Erythrometric values, except for mean corpuscular volume (MCV), were within the normal range seen in adult animais and below those reported for foal's circulating blood. Total values observed for segmented neutrophils in UCB and jugular blood of neonates were below those reported for horses at birth. CD5+ and CD4+ Iymphocytes were in lower frequencies in UCB and jugular blood of neonates than in peripheral blood of adult horses, indicating an immature immunological component. The frequency of CD8+ Iymphocytes, however, was similar to that described for the peripheral blood of adult horses. The CD4:CD8 proportion observed in the present study, for UCB (2.64:1:0.91) as well as for neonatal jugular blood (2.41:1:0.81), showed predominance of CD4+ T cells over CD8+ T Iymphocytes.

Orientador: Aureo Evangelista Santana / Banca: Ana Paula Massae Nakage Canesin / Banca: Maria Angélica Dias / Banca: Márcia Rita Fernandes Canola / Banca: Julio Carlos Canola / Resumo: Apesar da importância do sangue do cordão umbilical (SCU) como fonte de células tronco e do advento da imunofenotipagem de linfócitos, não existem estudos sobre a imunofenotipagem de linfócitos do sangue do cordão umbilical eqüino. Este estudo visou determinar os valores eritroleucométricos e quantificar as subpopulações de linfócitos-T no SCU e no sangue obtido por venipunção da jugular de eqüinos neonatos da raça Brasileiro de Hipismo. Para tanto, foram realizadas as colheitas de SCU e da jugular de 20 potros ao nascimento. As amostras foram submetidas às determinações dos valores eritroleucométricos e à quantificação de subpopulações de linfócitos-T, pela técnica citofluorométrica. Não foram verificadas diferenças significativas (p>0,05) entre os valores médios obtidos para tais parâmetros quando comparados o sangue central e o SCU de neonatos eqüinos. Os valores eritrométricos encontrados no SCU e da jugular de neonatos equinos, exceto o VCM, se situaram na faixa de normalidade para animais adultos e foram inferiores aos valores reportados para eqüinos neonatos. O valor absoluto para neutrófilos segmentados, no SCU e no sangue da jugular dos neonatos, foi inferior ao reportado para eqüinos ao nascimento. As contagens de linfócitos CD5+ e CD4+ no SCU e jugular de neonatos eqüinos foram inferiores àquelas reportadas para o sangue periférico de eqüinos adultos, indicando um componente imunológico imaturo. No entanto, a contagem de linfócitos CD8+ foi semelhante à reportada para o sangue periférico de eqüinos adultos. A proporção CD4:CD8 obtida neste ensaio, tanto para o SCU (2,64l0,91) quanto para o sangue obtido por venipunção jugular (2,41l0,81), em eqüinos neonatos demonstrou dominância das células T CD4+ sobre os linfócitos T CD8+. / Abstract: Although the importance of umbilical cord blood as source of stem cells and the advent of Iymphocytes immunophenotyping, no studies have been performed on the immunophenotyping of equine UCB Iymphocytes. The objective of the present work was to determine erythrometric and leukometric values and quantify subpopulations of Iymphocytes in UCB and jugular blood of neonatal horses. UCB and jugular blood were collected from 20 foals of the Brasilian of Hipism breed at birth and processed for determination of erythrometric and leukometric values and quantification of subpopulations of T Iymphocytes by cytofluorometry. No significant difterences (p<0.05) were observed between average values in jugular blood of neonates and UCB of horses. Erythrometric values, except for mean corpuscular volume (MCV), were within the normal range seen in adult animais and below those reported for foal's circulating blood. Total values observed for segmented neutrophils in UCB and jugular blood of neonates were below those reported for horses at birth. CD5+ and CD4+ Iymphocytes were in lower frequencies in UCB and jugular blood of neonates than in peripheral blood of adult horses, indicating an immature immunological component. The frequency of CD8+ Iymphocytes, however, was similar to that described for the peripheral blood of adult horses. The CD4:CD8 proportion observed in the present study, for UCB (2.64:1:0.91) as well as for neonatal jugular blood (2.41:1:0.81), showed predominance of CD4+ T cells over CD8+ T Iymphocytes. / Doutor

Orientador: Carmino Antonio de Souza / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-17T18:40:20Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Bizzetto_Renata_M.pdf: 5388324 bytes, checksum: 8344246752d17626b3442925d28a5b44 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2010 / Resumo: O transplante com células tronco hematopeticas é a única opção curativa para os pacientes com síndromes de insuficiência medular hereditárias (SIMH). O sangue de cordão umbilical é uma fonte alternativa de células tronco hematopoéticas para o transplante alogênico. Pacientes e métodos: Este estudo retrospectivo e multicêntrico é baseado em dados do registro Eurocord sobre pacientes com SIMH, excluindo os paciente com anemia de Fanconi, que receberam transplante de sangue de cordão umbilical (TCU). Resultados: Sessenta e quatro pacientes com SIMH foram transplantados com doador aparentado (n=20) e não aparentado (n=44). Os diagnósticos foram: anemia de Blackfan Diamond (21 pacientes), trombocitopenia amegacariocítica congênita (16 pacientes), disqueratose congênita (8 pacientes), síndrome de Shwachman-Diamond (2 pacientes), neutropenia congênita grave (16 pacientes) e SIMH inclassificável (1 paciente). No grupo aparentado, 19 pacientes receberam transplante HLA compatível do irmão. A mediana de células nucleadas totais (CNT) infundidas foi 5x107/kg. A incidência cumulativa da recuperação de neutrófilos em 60 dias foi 95%, 2 pacientes tiveram doença do enxerto contra hospedeiro (DECH) grau II a IV e a incidência cumulativa em 2 anos de DECH crônica foi 11%. A sobrevida global (SG) em 3 anos foi 95%. No grupo não aparentado, 86% dos pacientes receberam enxerto com incompatibilidade HLA e 3 receberam duas unidades de cordão umbilical. A mediana de CNT infundidas foi 6,1x107/kg. A incidência cumulativa da recuperação de neutrófilos em 60 dias foi 55%; de DECH grau II a IV em 100 dias foi 24% e de DECH crônica em 2 anos foi 53%. A SG em 3 anos foi 61%; melhor SG foi associada com idade < 5 anos (p=0,01) e número CNT infundidas ? 6.1x107/kg (p=0,03). Conclusão: em pacientes com SIMH, TCU aparentado é associado com excelentes resultados enquanto no TCU não aparentado o aumento no número de células promove melhoresresultados / Abstract: Background: Allogeneic stem cell transplantation is the only curative option for patients with hereditary bone marrow failure syndromes (HBMFS). Umbilical cord blood (UCB) cells is an alternative stem cell source for allotransplantation. Design and Methods: This multicenter, retrospective study is based on data reported to Eurocord Registry about patients with HBMFS other than Fanconi anemia who received UCB transplantation (UCBT). Results: Sixty four patients with HBMFS were transplanted from related (n=20) or unrelated donors (n=44). Diagnoses were: Diamond-Blackfan anemia (21 patients), congenital amegakaryocytic thrombocytopenia (16 patients), dyskeratosis congenita (8 patients), Shwachman-Diamond syndrome (2 patients), severe congenital neutropenia (16 patients) and unclassified HBMFS (1 patient). In the related group, all patients but one received an HLA-matched sibling transplant. Median total nucleated cells (TNC) infused was 5x107/kg. Cumulative incidence (CI) of 60-day neutrophil recovery was 95%, 2 patients had grade II-IV acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), while the 3-year CI of chronic GVHD was 11%. The 3-year overall survival (OS) was 95%. In the unrelated group, 86% of patients had HLA mismatched grafts and 3 received two UCB units. Median TNC infused was 6.1x107/kg. Day-60 CI of neutrophil recovery was 55%; 100-day CI of grade II-IV acute GVHD was 24%, while 2-year CI of chronic GVHD was 53%. The 3-year OS was 61%; better OS was associated with age < 5 years (p=0.01) and a number of TNC infused ? 6.1x107/kg (p=0.03). Conclusion: in patients with HBMFS, related UCBT is associated with excellent outcomes while in unrelated UCBT increasing cell dose might provide better results / Mestrado / Clinica Medica / Mestre em Clinica Medica

Abstract Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection may be associated with the development of asthma and atopy. The aim of the present study was to investigate this association and the related immunological mechanisms. Seventy-six children admitted to Oulu University Hospital in 1991–1994 for an RSV infection at an age of less than 12 months and healthy controls were called for a visit at the age of 6–10 years. Twenty subjects (26%) had asthma compared with 12 controls (16%) (difference 11%, 95% confidence interval (CI) –3% to 24%). Asthma had been diagnosed significantly earlier in the subjects. Eight per cent of the subjects had at least one positive skin prick test as compared with 43% of the controls (difference –35%, 95% CI –50% to –19%). Serum concentrations of interferon-γ and soluble intercellular adhesion molecule -1 were significantly higher among the subjects than among the controls and among the subjects with asthma or current wheezing than among the corresponding controls. All children born in Finland in 1986–1995 were arranged in birth cohorts by month and year of birth and grouped by exposure to an RSV epidemic at age 0–6 months, resulting in 97 exposed and 23 unexposed cohorts. The proportions of children taking asthma medication or receiving special reimbursement for asthma medication in 1995–2002 were similar in the unexposed and exposed cohorts. Altogether 47 children born between August and November 2001 with a cord blood sample taken were admitted to hospital (n = 26) or seen in an outpatient department (n = 21) for RSV infection before the age of six months. Twenty-eight children had some other respiratory viral infection and 84 children formed a group of healthy controls. High scores on a factor combining the cord blood interleukin-6 and interleukin-8 responses (as derived by factor analysis) were shown in logistic regression analysis to predict hospitalization for RSV infection by comparison with the healthy controls (odds ratio 2.29, 95% CI 1.21 to 4.33). We suggest that RSV does not induce asthma but inborn features of immunity affect the severity of RSV infection and the postinfectious development of asthma.

Lipid soluble carotenoids are micronutrients present in human milk that serve as precursors of vitamin A and also play an important role protecting cells from damage arising from photooxidative processes and reactive oxygen species. Fatty acids comprise about 3-5% of human milk and are mainly present as triglycerides. They are a major energy source for the infant and are necessary to support cell growth required for normal development and maturation of critical organs. Transport of carotenoids into milk has been little studied and there has been no previous investigation of the relationship of carotenoid transport with that of individual fatty acid secretion into milk. In the present study, levels of the carotenoids, lutein, zeaxanthin, b-cryptoxanthin, and b-carotene, in maternal serum, infant cord blood, and milk obtained from 74 Peruvian mothers were measured by HPLC methods. The fat content and fatty acid profile of maternal milk were determined by GC-FID and confirmed by GC-MS. Twenty nine fatty acids were identified and quantified after conversion to methyl esters. Statistical analysis was employed to investigate potential trends and relationships among the carotenoids in all three fluids as well as between carotenoids and fatty acids present. Concentrations of lutein in maternal serum and milk as well as maternal serum and infant cord blood were highly correlated (r =0.43, p

Adult neurogenesis, is a lifelong process by which relatively few cells are added into two restricted regions of the brain. Integration of the cells into the existing neuronal circulatory, with the unique properties involved in the maturation of these cells, is possibly critical to the acquisition and retrieval of new memories. With the chronological aging of the organism a process of cellular senescence occurs throughout the body; a portion of which is independent of primary alterations to the stem cells; instead, it appears to be dependent on the environment where the cells reside, and is in part regulated by inflammation. Microglia, the resident immune cells in the brain, are neuroprotective but chronic activation of the microglia, such as the chronic activation that occurs with advanced age, can promote neurotoxic inflammation. However, it not clear if the aged-related increase in neuroinflammation is at least partly responsible for the aged related decrease in neurogenesis. To address the involvement in neuroinflammation in regulating neurogenesis we used 3 different potential therapeutically relevant manipulations. The first was a targeted approach directed at disrupting the synthesis of Interleukin-1beta (IL-1B), which is a proinflammatory cytokine that is consistently found elevated in the aged brain. The second was a cell therapy approach in which human umbilical cord blood cells were injected into the systemic circulation. The final approach was directed at a chemokine system, fractalkine/CX3CR1, which has been shown as an important paracrine signal, from neurons that regulates the activation state of microglia. While the three approaches used to manipulate, aging-rodent model system were different, a consistent finding was reached in all three studies. In the aged brain, microglia which are the predominate produces of IL-1B, negatively regulate neurogenesis. When IL-1B is decreased or microglia activation is decreased, neurogenesis can be partially restored in the aged brain. The results of these studies, demonstrate a key role for microglia in regulating the neurogenic neiche, which are amendable to therapeutic manipulations.

Cord blood (CB) has emerged as a significant source of hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) for transplantation. Large distances between collection and processing sites combined with staff availability can lead to long processing delays of CB unit (CBU). Standard agencies limit CBU storage at room temperature (RT) to a maximum of 48 hours from collection to freezing. Slow-engraftment and graft failure are major issues related to CB transplantation. I hypothesized that prolonged storage at RT reduces the engraftment activities of CBU due to the loss in HSC numbers. I set to test my hypothesis by performing serial and limiting-dilution transplantation assays in immunodeficient mice. My results showed that the engraftment activity of CBU was significantly perturbed by prolonged storage (>40 hours) at RT. In line with my hypothesis, the transplantation assays suggested that the engraftment deficit originates from loss in HSC numbers. My findings provide results for CB banks to make an informed decision on how long CBU can be stored at RT before processing. Conversely, CBU must be cryopreserved before use, and loss of function can occur due to osmotic shock and mechanical damage from uncontrolled ice-crystal growth (ice-recrystallization) during freezing and thawing. Current cyroprotectants like dimethyl-sulfoxide fail to inhibit ice-recrystallization. However, a novel class of small ice-recrystallization inhibitor (IRI) molecules (N-aryl-D-aldonamides) have been developed. I hypothesized that supplementation of cryopreservation solution with IRIs will improve the post-thaw viability and engraftment activity of CBU. Herein, I identified two IRIs (IRI 2 and IRI 6) that improved the post-thaw recovery of hematopoietic clonogenic and multipotent progenitors. Moreover, supplementation of CB graft with IRI 2 was beneficial to engraftment and had no negative impact on the differentiation and self-renewal activities of HSCs. Taken together, my results demonstrate for the first time that IRI may be beneficial to the engraftment activity of HSC graft and support further investigation.

Vitamin-C (Vit-C) has been shown to modulate hematopoietic stem cells and leukemia stem cell frequency in-vivo. Herein, Vit-C analogue, L-ascorbic acid 2-phosphate (AA2P), was investigated as a new potential HSC expansion agonist. Cord blood CD34+ cells were expanded in cultures with or without AA2P. AA2P induced a 2-fold increase in the expansion of stem and progenitor subsets including lymphoid-primed multi-potential progenitors (p<0.05, n=3) and functional colony forming progenitors. The functional properties of AA2P grafts was evaluated with a xenotransplant model. Superior platelet levels in the periphery (p<0.05) and human bone marrow engraftment (median 75% hCD45+ cells for AA2P Vs. 48% for PBS control at week-22, n=3, p<0.05) was detected in AA2P cohorts Vs. control. In summary, my results demonstrate that AA2P is a new stem and progenitor expansion agonist with AA2P-expanded stem and progenitor cells capable of increased engraftment and higher platelet recovery. These findings may aid to overcome cord blood limitations; thereby, improving clinical relevance.