The meiotic cell cycle is modified from the mitotic cell cycle by having a premeiotic S phase which leads to high levels of recombination, two rounds of nuclear division with no intervening DNA synthesis, and a reductional pattern of chromosome segregation. Rem1 is a cyclin that is expressed only during meiosis in the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe. Cells in which rem1 has been deleted show a decreased intragenic meiotic recombination and a delay at the onset of meiosis I. When ectopically expressed in mitotically growing cells, Rem1 induces a G1 arrest followed by severe mitotic catastrophes. Here we show that rem1 expression is regulated at the level of both transcription and splicing, encoding for two proteins with different function depending on the intron retention. We have determined that the regulation of rem1 splicing is not dependent on any transcribed region of the gene. Furthermore, when the rem1 promoter is fused to other intron-containing genes, the chimeras show a meiotic-specific regulation of splicing, exactly as endogenous rem1. This regulation is dependent on two transcription factors of the forkhead family, Mei4 and Fkh2. While Mei4 induces both transcription and splicing of rem1, Fkh2 is responsible for the intron retention of the transcript during vegetative growth and pre-meiotic S phase. / El ciclo meiótico se diferencia del ciclo mitótico por tener una fase S pre-meiótica caracterizada por altos niveles de recombinación, dos rondas de división nuclear sin síntesis de DNA entre las dos y una segregación cromosómica reduccional. Rem1 es una ciclina que sólo se expresa en meiosis en la levadura de fisión Schizosaccharomyces pombe. Celulas con rem1 deleccionado presentan una tasa de recombinación intragénica disminuida y un retraso en el inicio de meiosis I. Cuando se expresa ectópicamente en células creciendo vegetativamente, Rem1 induce un arresto en G1 seguido de catástrofe mitótica. Este trabajo describe que la expresión de rem1 está regulada a nivel de la trascripción y el procesamiento, codificando para dos proteínas con funciones diferentes dependiendo de la retención intrónica.. Hemos determinado que la regulación del splicing de rem1 no depende de ninguna región transcrita del gen. Además, cuando el promotor se fusiona a otros genes que contienen intrones, las quimeras presentan una regulación específica de meiosis como el rem1 endógeno. Esta regulación depende de dos factores de transcripción de la familia Forkhead, Mei4 y Fkh2. Mientras Mei4 induce la transcripción y el splicing de rem1, Fkh2 es responsable de la retención intrónica del tránscrito durante crecimiento vegetativo y fase S pre-meiótica.

We have identified a novel Cyclin, called Cyclin O, which is able to bind and activate Cdk2 in response to intrinsic apoptotic stimuli. We have focused on the study of Cyclin Oα and Cyclin Oβ, alternatively spliced products of the gene. Upon treatment with different stress stimuli, transfected Cyclin Oα accumulates in dense aggregations in the cytoplasm compatible with being Stress Granules (SGs). Furthermore, we have seen that Cyclin Oβ and a point mutant of the N-terminal part of the protein constitutively localize to the SGs. Although both alpha and beta isoforms are proapoptotic, only Cyclin Oα can bind and activate Cdk2. On the other hand, we have demonstrated that Cyclin O is upregulated by Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER) stress and is necessary for ER stress-induced apoptosis. Cyclin O activates specifically the PERK pathway and interacts with the PERK inhibitor protein p58IPK. Moreover, Cyclin O participates in the activation of other eIF2α kinases. We have also observed that a pool of Cyclin O is located in active mitochondria, suggesting a function of the protein linked to oxidative metabolism.Hemos identificado una nueva Ciclina, llamada Ciclina O, que es capaz de unirse y activar Cdk2 en respuesta a estímulos apoptóticos intrínsecos. Nos hemos centrado en el estudio de la Ciclina Oα y la Ciclina Oβ, productos de splicing alternativo del gen. En respuesta a diferentes tipos de estrés, la Ciclina Oα se acumula en agregaciones citoplásmicas densas que podrían corresponder a Gránulos de Estrés (SGs). Además, hemos visto que la Ciclina Oβ y un mutante puntual de la parte N-terminal de la proteína se localizan constitutivamente en los SGs. Aunque las dos isoformas alfa y beta son proapoptóticas, solo la Ciclina Oα es capaz de unirse y activar Cdk2. Por otro lado, hemos demostrado que los niveles de Ciclina O se incrementan en respuesta al estrés de Retículo Endoplásmico (RE) y que esta proteína es necesaria para la inducción de apoptosis dependiente de estrés de RE. La Ciclina O activa específicamente la vía de PERK e interacciona con la proteína inhibidora de PERK p58IPK. Además, la Ciclina O participa en la activación de otras quinasas de eIF2α. La Ciclina O se localiza en mitocondrias activas, lo que sugiere una función de la proteína ligada al metabolismo oxidativo.

La division cellulaire est influencée par les différents stimuli provenant de l’extérieur ou de l’intérieur de la cellule. Plusieurs réseaux enzymatiques élaborés au cours de l’évolution relayent l’information générée par ces signaux. Les modules MAP kinases sont extrêmement importants au sein de la cellule. Chez l’humain, 14 MAP kinases sont regroupées en sept voies distinctes intervenant dans le contrôle d’une myriade de processus cellulaires. ERK3/4 sont des homologues de ERK1/2 pour lesquelles on ne connaît que très peu de choses concernant leurs fonctions et régulation. Ces MAP kinases sont dites atypiques puisqu’elles ont des particularités structurales et des modes de régulation qui diffèrent des autres MAP kinases classiques. Ainsi, notre laboratoire a démontré que l’activité de ERK3 est régulée par le système ubiquitine-protéasome et qu’elle pourrait avoir un rôle à jouer dans le contrôle de la différenciation et la prolifération cellulaire. La première étude présentée décrit la régulation de ERK3 au cours du cycle cellulaire. Nous avons observé que ERK3 est hyperphosphorylée et s’accumule spécifiquement au cours de la mitose. Des analyses de spectrométrie de masse ont mené à l’identification de quatre sites de phosphorylation situés à l’extrémité du domaine C-terminal. Nous avons pu démontrer que la kinase mitotique CDK1/cycline B phosphoryle ces sites et que les phosphatases CDC14A et CDC14B les déphosphorylent. Finalement, nous démontrons que la phosphorylation mitotique de ERK3 a pour effet de la stabiliser. Au début de mes études doctorales, la kinase MK5 fut identifiée comme premier partenaire et substrat de ERK3. MK5 a très peu de fonctions connues. Des données dans la littérature suggèrent qu’elle peut moduler le cycle cellulaire dans certaines conditions. Par exemple, MK5 a récemment été identifié comme inducteur de la sénescence induite par l’oncogène Ras. Dans la deuxième étude, nous décrivons une nouvelle fonction de MK5 dans le contrôle du cycle cellulaire. Nous démontrons par des expériences de gain et perte de fonction que MK5 ralentit l’entrée en mitose suite à un arrêt de la réplication. Cette fonction est dépendante de l’activité enzymatique de MK5 qui régule indirectement l’activité de CDK1/cycline B. Finalement, nous avons identifié Cdc25A comme un nouveau substrat in vitro de MK5 dont la surexpression supprime l’effet de MK5 sur l’entrée en mitose. En conclusion, nos résultats décrivent un nouveau mécanisme de régulation de ERK3 au cours de la mitose, ainsi qu’une nouvelle fonction pour MK5 dans le contrôle de l’entrée en mitose en réponse à des stress de la réplication. Ces résultats démontrent pour la première fois l’implication de ces protéines au cours de la transition G2/M. Nos travaux établissent de nouvelles pistes d’études pour mieux comprendre les rôles encore peu définis des kinases ERK3/4-MK5. / The process of cell division is largely influenced by extracellular and intracellular cues. Many enzymatic pathways refined during evolution propagate the information generated by those cues. MAP kinase modules are extremely important within the cells. Human genome encodes 14 MAP kinases genes grouped into seven distinct pathways involved in the control of many cellular processes. ERK3/4 are kinases homologous to ERK1/2. Very little is known about their regulation and molecular functions. These MAP kinases are described as being atypical based on their unique structural characteristics and mode of regulation. Our laboratory was the first to demonstrate that the activity of ERK3 is mainly regulated by the ubiquitin-proteasome system in proliferating cells. In addition, several lines of evidence suggest a role for ERK3 in the control of cell differentiation and proliferation. The first study presented herein documents the regulation of ERK3 during the cell cycle. We observed that ERK3 is hyperphosphorylated and accumulated specifically during mitosis. Mass spectrometry analyses led to the identification of four phosphorylation sites located in the C-terminal domain. We demonstrate that mitotic kinase CDK1/cyclin B phosphorylates these sites which are dephosphorylated by Cdc14A and Cdc14B phosphatases. Finally, we show that mitotic phosphorylation of ERK3 controls its stability. At the beginning of my Ph.D. training, the kinase MK5 was the first identified binding partner and substrate of ERK3. MK5 is implicated in very few cellular functions. Data suggest that under certain conditions it modulates cell cycle progression. For example, MK5 was recently identified as a tumor suppressor gene essential for ras-induced senescence. In the second study of this thesis, we describe a novel function of MK5 in cell cycle progression. Gain and loss of function experiments demonstrate that MK5 delays G2/M transition following replicative stress. This function depends on its catalytic activity to indirectly regulates CDK1/cyclin B. Finally, we identified Cdc25A as a good in vitro substrate for MK5. Interestingly, Cdc25A expression inhibits MK5-induced delay of entry into mitosis. In conclusion, our results described a novel mechanism of regulation of ERK3 during mitosis and a novel function of MK5 in the control of G2/M transition after replicative stress. These data demonstrate for the first time the relation between these kinases and the G2/M transition. Our work should contribute to a better understanding of the roles of ERK3/4-MK5 kinases.

Mammalian oocytes undergoing meiotic maturation are transcriptionally silent and gene expression is therefore regulated at the level of translation. One of the well established mechanisms employed in translational regulation of maternal mRNAs in oocytes is cytoplasmic polyadenylation. This process is generally controlled by phosphorylation and activation of cytoplasmic polyadenylation element binding protein (CPEB). The aim of this thesis is to determine the role of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) in regulation of CPEB-mediated cytoplasmic polyadenylation in maturing mouse and porcine oocytes. For this purpose, MAPK activity was inhibited using its specific inhibitor, GDC-0994 and the effect of MAPK inhibition on cyclin B1 mRNA polyadenylation was monitored. In mouse oocytes, MAPK inhibition impaired neither cyclin B1 mRNA polyadenylation nor its translation and MAPK is thus unlikely to be involved in regulation of cytoplasmic polyadenylation in this species. Based on the results of experiments performed using porcine oocytes, the possible role of MAPK in CPEB-mediated cytoplasmic polyadenylation can neither be confirmed nor ruled out. Keywords: cytoplasmic polyadenylation, mouse oocyte, porcine oocyte, mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), cyclin B1, GDC-0994 inhibitor

Made available in DSpace on 2014-07-29T15:21:56Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 DIS J V S FILHO 2006.pdf: 804840 bytes, checksum: 74be1a5db70d292dc48c7621acb661f3 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2006-11-27 / Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is the most common malignant neoplasm of the bucal cavity, and one of its variants is verrucous carcinoma (VC), of low degree malignancy. The diagnosis of VC is difficult from the clinical as well as from the histopathological point of view, and an effective diagnosis is vital when deciding on the treatment and prognosis of this tumor. The aim of this research was to evaluate cell proliferation and investigate the presence of HPV in spindle cell carcinoma of the mouth so as to check for possible differences in the aetiopathogenesis and biological behavior of these lesions. Forty-seven samples were selected and divided as follows: 39 SCCs, 8 VCs and 9 control (CT). Cell proliferation was qualitatively evaluated according to the location of the expression of the immunomarker in the cell and epithelium layers and by quantitatively considering the percentage of positive cells expressed. The analysis of HPV+ carcinomas was undertaken by means of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR), having GP5+/6+ as primers for identification of the virus. The qualitative analysis showed that the immunomarking in the VC as well as in the control group was concentrated mainly in the basal and parabasal layers and the counting of the positive cells at the base of the epithelium showed a significant statistical difference in the expressions of all three markers (p<0,05). The quantitative analysis of the cell proliferation markers was calculated by means of the Mann-Whitney and Kruskal Wallis tests and through the Pearson and Spermans correlation. They pointed to differences between the SCC and VC groups for the PCNA and cyclin B1 markers (p<0,05). On considering the three groups, it was proved that there was a positive correlation between Ki67 and the cyclin B1 (r=0,56) but not between the PCNA and the Ki67. The PCNA immunomarking was greater in the control group (average=100%), and the Ki67 showed itself to be effective as a proliferation cell marker although it showed no significant difference between the carcinoma variants. Whereas the cyclin B1 showed a significant difference in the comparison between the SCC and the VC groups (p<0,05), and a positive correlation to the extent that the histological grading of the malignancy (WHO model) of the carcinomas increased (r=0,44). All tumor samples were negative for HPV. Although the lesions showed different biological behaviors, the cell proliferation index in both types of mouth carcinoma was higher than in the control group, as shown by the analysis of the Ki67 and cyclin B1 markers. On considering the total sample of carcinomas, independently of the tumor variety, cyclin B1 showed a positive correlation with the histological degree of malignancy according to WHO. There is a need for further study to be carried out in the field of cell proliferation and detection of HPV especially with regard to VC, because it is a rare variant of SCC. / O carcinoma espinocelular (CEC) é a neoplasia maligna mais comum na cavidade bucal, e uma de suas variantes é o carcinoma verrucoso (CV), considerado de baixo grau de malignidade. O diagnóstico do CV é difícil, tanto do ponto de vista clínico quanto histopatológico e um efetivo diagnóstico é fundamental para estabelecer o tratamento e o prognóstico desse tumor. Neste estudo foi avaliada a proliferação celular e investigada a presença de HPV em carcinomas espinocelulares de boca com intuito de verificar possíveis diferenças na etiopatogênese e comportamento biológico destas lesões. Foram selecionadas 47 amostras de CEC assim distribuídas: 39 CECs, 8 CVs e 9 controles (CT). A proliferação celular foi avaliada qualitativamente de acordo com a localização da expressão do imunomarcador na célula e nas camadas do epitélio e quantitativamente considerando o percentual de células positivas expressas. A análise de carcinomas HPV+ foi realizada por meio da reação em cadeia da polimerase (PCR), tendo como primers GP5+/6+ na identificação do vírus. A análise qualitativa revelou que a imunomarcação tanto no CV como no controle concentrava se principalmente nas camadas basal e parabasal e a contagem das células positivas na base do epitélio mostraram diferença estatisticamente significativa na expressão dos três marcadores (p<0,05). A análise quantitativa dos marcadores de proliferação celular foi calculada pelos testes estatísticos Mann-Whitney, Kruskal Wallis, correlação de Pearson e Spermans, que revelaram diferenças entre o grupo CEC e CV para os marcadores PCNA e ciclina B1 (p<0,05). Considerando os três grupos, verificou-se correlação positiva entre Ki67 e a ciclina B1 (r=0,56) e inexistência de correlação entre o PCNA e Ki67. A imunomarcação do PCNA foi maior no grupo controle (média=100%), e o Ki67, mostrou-se efetivo como marcador de proliferação celular, entretanto, não mostrou diferença significativa entre as variantes de carcinomas. Já a ciclina B1 apresentou diferença significativa na comparação entre o grupo CEC e o grupo CV (p<0,05) e correlação positiva na medida em que a gradação histológica de malignidade (padrão OMS) dos carcinomas aumentava (r=0,44). Todas as amostras de tumores foram negativas para o HPV. Embora as lesões apresentem comportamento biológico diferente, o índice de proliferação celular nos dois tipos de carcinomas de boca mostrou ser superior ao do grupo controle, por meio da análise dos marcadores Ki67 e ciclina B1. Quando considerada a amostra total de carcinomas, independente da variante tumoral, a ciclina B1 mostrou correlação positiva com o grau histológico de malignidade segundo a OMS. Há necessidade que mais estudos possam ser empreendidos na área de proliferação celular e detecção de HPV em especial com relação ao CV, por se tratar de uma variante rara do CEC.

CoordenaÃÃo de AperfeiÃoamento de Pessoal de NÃvel Superior / FundaÃÃo de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado do Cearà / Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento CientÃfico e TecnolÃgico / A LesÃo Central de CÃlulas Gigantes dos maxilares (LCCG) à intra-Ãssea, nÃo tem predileÃÃo por sexo, classifica-se em agressivas e nÃo-agressivas, histologicamente consistem tecido fi-broso e celularizado fusiforme associado a cÃlulas gigantes multinucleadas (CGM), focos de hemorragia e neovascularizaÃÃo, tendo na cirurgia seu habitual tratamento. Novas abordagens terapÃuticas foram propostas, sendo a principal delas o uso de corticÃides intralesionais. Este trabalho analisa retrospectivamente 21 pacientes portadores de LCCG que foram tratados por hexacetonido de triancinolona intralesional, atravÃs do seguinte protocolo: injeÃÃo de hexace-tonido de triancinolona 20mg/ml diluÃdo na soluÃÃo anestÃsica de lidocaÃna 2%/epinefrina 1:200.000 numa proporÃÃo de 1:1; infiltrando 1ml de soluÃÃo para cada 1cm3 de lesÃo, totali-zando 06 aplicaÃÃes em intervalos quinzenais. Estabeleceu-se 04 critÃrios clÃnicos para classi-ficar a resposta ao tratamento: 1- estabilizaÃÃo ou regressÃo clÃnica da lesÃo 2- ausÃncia de sintomas 3- aumento da densidade nos controles radiogrÃficos 4- aumento da resistÃncia a infiltraÃÃo intralesional da droga, bem como, fez-se uma anÃlise imunohistoquÃmica quanto à expressÃo dos Receptores de corticÃides (GCR) e Calcitonina (CTR), Cox-2, proteÃna p16 e amplificaÃÃo gÃnica da Ciclina D1 por CISH, comparando quanto a agressividade e a resposta terapÃutica a corticoterapia intralesional. Dos 21 pacientes incluÃdos neste estudo, 11 eram homens e 10 mulheres, 09 tinham lesÃo em maxila, 12 em mandÃbula. Dez eram lesÃes agres-sivas e 11 nÃo-agressivas, 15 (71,4%) apresentaram uma boa resposta ao tratamento, 04(19%) moderada e 02(9,1%) negativa. Das 11 nÃo agressivas, 10(90,9%) apresentaram boa resposta e 01 (9,1%) resposta moderada, das 10 agressivas 05(50%), 03(30%) e 02(20%) apresentaram boa, moderada e negativa resposta respectivamente, nenhuma apresentou recidiva apÃs o tra-tamento, com preservaÃÃo que variou entre 04 a 08 anos. Os achados histopatolÃgicos mos-traram uma reduÃÃo da densidade e do tamanho das CG, e um estroma fibro-colagenoso das lesÃes. Dentre os marcadores pesquisados, apenas GCR em CG antes do tratamento mostrou significÃncia estatÃstica (p<0,004) com relaÃÃo a uma boa resposta terapÃutica. O CTR ex-pressou-se em cÃlulas gigantes e mononucleares de forma variada. A p16 apresentou-se ex-pressa em 30% da amostra, COX2 nÃo apresentou expressÃo na lesÃo e 33% da amostra apre-sentou amplificaÃÃo gÃnica da ciclina D1. NÃo mostraram significÃncia estatÃstica nem quanto à agressividade, nem quanto resposta ao tratamento, nenhum dos marcadores, exceto o GCR. O estudo mostrou que a corticoterapia intralesional à efetiva e segura para o tratamento das LCCG, com tendÃncia a melhor resposta nas lesÃes nÃo-agressivas do que nas agressivas. Mostrou ainda que a marcaÃÃo para GCR em CG demonstrou ser um parÃmetro confiÃvel para prever a resposta à terapÃutica com a corticoterapia intralesional e que 33% das LCCG tÃm comportamento neoplÃsico pela amplificaÃÃo gÃnica da ciclina D1. / Central Giant Cells Lesion (CGCL) of the jaws is an intra-bone lesion with no predilection for sex and clinically divided into aggressive and non-aggressive subtypes. Histological, it shows as fibrous tissue with fusiform cells, as well as multinucleated giant cells (GC) clusters, he-morrhagic foci and neovascularization. Surgery is the regular treatment option. As new the-rapeutic approaches have been proposed, intralesional glucocorticoid injection is the main option. This paper assesses retrospectively 21 patients presenting CGCL, treated with intrale-sional triamcinolone hexacetonide by using the following protocol: intralesional injection of triamcinolone hexacetonide 20mg/mL, diluted in a solution of lidocain 2% plus epinephrine 1:200000, at a 1:1 proportion; 1mL of this final solution for each 1cm3 of lesion volume was the injected, with a total of 06 injections, one in every 15 days. Four clinical criteria were sta-bilished to evaluate treatment outcome: 1- Clinical regression or stabilization of the lesion; 2- Absence of symptoms; 3- Raising in density on radiographic controls; 4-Increased resistence when injecting the drug intralesionally. It was also performed immunohistochemical assess-ment for glucocorticoid receptor (GCR) expression, calcitonin receptor (CTR) expression, COX-2 expression, p16 expression and Ciclin D1 gene amplification by CISH, making com-parisons related to aggressivity and to therapeutic outcome. Eleven out of 21 patients of this study were women, and 10 were men. Nine of the patients had lesion located in the maxilla, 12 in the mandible. Ten patients showed aggressive lesions and 11 non-aggressive lesions. Fifteen patients showed good treatment outcome, four patients showed moderate outcome, and two patients showed negative answer to the treatment. Among the 11 patients with non-aggressive lesions, ten showed good outcome and the other, moderate outcome. Among the ten aggressive lesions, five patients showed good outcome, three patients showed moderate outcome and the remaining two patients showed negative answer to the treatment. None of them showed reicidive in a four to eight years follow-up period. Morphologic analysis found positive correlation between volume density of GC/mm2 and lesion aggressiveness, as well as significant reduction in number of GC/mm2 after treatment. Among the markers, only GCR in GC showed statistical relevance associated to the treatment. CTR was espresse in GC and in mononuclear cells in a varying way; p16 was expressed in 30% of the sample; COX-2 was not expressed at all in lesion samples and 33% of the sample showed gene amplification in Ciclin D1. None of the markers showed any statistical significant difference related to aggres-siveness nor to treatment outcome, except for GCR. The study showed the feasibility of the adopted treatment, with tendency to better outcomes in non-aggressive lesion, if compared to the aggressive ones. It also showed evidence pointing to GCR expression in GC as a reliable parameter to predict therapeutic responsiveness to glucocorticoids; and it showed that 33% of CGCL have neoplastic behaviour by Ciclin D1 gene amplification.

A deficiência de vitamina D (dVD) aumenta o risco de morte em pacientes hospitalizados. A injúria de isquemia/reperfusão renal (Isq) ativa vias de necrose e/ou apoptose e proliferação celular. A injúria renal aguda (IRA) induz a ativação de inibidores do ciclo celular, incluindo a p21, uma inibidora de kinase dependente de ciclina, a qual possui efeito protetor na IRA. A p21 é um alvo genômico da 25-hidroxivitamina D [25 (OH) D], a qual, atuando através de receptores de vitamina D (VDRs), possui efeitos imunomoduladores potentes e antiproliferativos, sugerindo a participação deste hormônio na fisiopatologia da doença renal. Desta forma, o objetivo deste estudo foi verificar a participação da deficiência de vitamina D no modelo de isquemia/reperfusão renal em ratos. Foram utilizados ratos Wistar que foram divididos em quatro grupos: controle (C), animais que receberam dieta padrão por 30 dias; dVD, animais que receberam dieta livre de vitamina D por 30 dias; Isq, animais que receberam dieta padrão por 30 dias e no 28º dia foram submetidos ao insulto de isquemia/reperfusão em ambos os rins por 45 minutos; e dVD+Isq, animais que receberam dieta livre de vitamina D por 30 dias e no 28º dia foram submetidos ao insulto de isquemia/reperfusão em ambos os rins por 45 minutos. Ao final dos 30 dias e após 48 horas da realização da isquemia/reperfusão, os animais foram submetidos à eutanásia e amostras de sangue, urina e tecido renal foram coletados para o estudo dos mecanismos de lesão renal. A injúria renal aguda associada à deficiência de vitamina D levou a uma queda da filtração glomerular e aumento da proteinúria; aumento da relação peso renal/peso corporal, sugerindo maior proliferação e hipertrofia; induziu uma diminuição na ativação dos receptores de vitamina D e da expressão da proteína p21 e aumento da expressão de caspase-3; observou-se déficit de concentração urinária com diminuição da expressão da AQP2; e um maior dano morfológico caracterizado pela análise da área intersticial e presença de necrose tubular. Nossos dados mostraram que alterando os níveis da p21 na IRA isquêmica, a vitamina D, via VDRs, controla a inflamação renal, a proliferação e a lesão celular / Vitamin D deficiency (VDD) increases the risk of death in hospitalized patients. Ischemia/reperfusion injury activates pathways of necrosis and/or apoptosis and cell proliferation. Acute kidney injury (AKI) induces the activation of cell cycle inhibitors, including p21, an inhibitor of cyclin-dependent kinase, which has a protective effect on the IRA. The p21 is a genomic target of 25-hydroxyvitamin D [ 25 (OH) D], which, acting through vitamin D receptors (VDRs), has potent antiproliferative and immunomodulatory effects, suggesting the involvement of this hormone in the pathophysiology of renal disease. Thus, the aim of this study was to assess the role of vitamin D deficiency in rats submitted to renal ischemia/reperfusion. Wistar rats were divided into four groups: control (C), animals that received a standard diet for 30 days; VDD, animals that received vitamin D-free diet for 30 days; IRI, animals that received standard diet for 30 days and on day 28 were subjected to the ischemia/reperfusion insult (IRI) in both kidneys for 45 minutes; and VDD+IRI, animals that received vitamin D-free diet for 30 days and on day 28 were subjected to the IRI in both kidneys for 45 minutes. At the end of 30 days and 48 hours after the IRI insult, the animals were euthanized and samples of blood, urine and kidney tissue were collected to study the mechanisms of renal injury. Acute kidney injury associated with vitamin D deficiency led to a decrease in glomerular filtration rate and increased proteinuria; increased relative kidney weight/body weight, suggesting greater proliferation and hypertrophy; induced a decrease in the activation of vitamin D receptors and the p21 protein expression and, increased caspase-3 expression; renal concentration impairment with decreased AQP2 expression, as well as greater morphological damage characterized by interstitial area analysis and presence of tubular necrosis. Our data showed that altering the levels of p21 in ischemic-AKI, vitamin D via VDRs, controls kidney inflammation, proliferation and cell injury

A maior parte dos casos de doença renal policística autossômica dominante (DRPAD) é causada por mutações no gene PKD1 (Polycystic Kidney Disease 1). O insulto por isquemia/reperfusão (IR) constitui-se em uma causa freqüente de lesão renal aguda, incluindo a população de pacientes com DRPAD, mas a relação entre policistina-1 e IR é essencialmente desconhecida. Uma vez que a policistina-1 modula proliferação, diferenciação celular e apoptose em sistemas de cultura de células, sua menor atividade biológica na DRPAD poderia favorecer um maior grau de lesão renal. Utilizamos uma linhagem endogâmica de camundongos 129Sv com uma mutação nula em Pkd1 para testar esta hipótese. Camundongos Pkd1+/- não apresentam cistos renais até 12 semanas de vida, constituindo-se em um modelo puro de haploinsuficiência para este gene. Um insulto IR bilateral de 32 min foi induzido em camundongos machos de 10-12 semanas de idade, heterozigotos e selvagens, por meio do clampeamento reversível de ambos os pedículos renais. Os animais foram analisados 48 h, 7 dias (d) e 14 d após o insulto. Camundongos Pkd1+/- apresentaram FENa, FEK e SCr mais elevadas que animais Pkd1+/+ 48 h após IR. O dano cortical residual foi mais severo em heterozigotos que em selvagens em todos os tempos avaliados. A marcação para PCNA também foi mais alta em camundongos Pkd1+/- que Pkd1+/+ 48 h e 7 d pós-IR, enquanto a taxa de apoptose e a infiltração inflamatória intersticial foram maiores em heterozigotos que em selvagens nos seguimentos de 48 h, 7 d e 14 d pós-IR. A expressão renal de p21 foi menor nos camundongos Pkd1+/- que Pkd1+/+ no tempo de 48 h pós-insulto, tanto no nível transcricional como traducional. Análises adicionais realizadas 6 semanas após o insulto IR revelaram dilatação tubular e formação de microcistos nos camundongos haploinsuficientes para Pkd1, assim como fibrose renal aumentada nesses animais, comparados aos camundongos selvagens. Por fim, um insulto de 35 min de isquemia/reperfusão acompanhou-se de uma mortalidade precoce substancialmente maior nos animais Pkd1+/-. Esses achados sugerem que isquemia/reperfusão induza uma lesão mais severa em rins de camundongos haploinsuficientes para Pkd1, um processo aparentemente dependente de uma deficiência relativa da atividade de p21, assim como dilatação tubular e formação de microcistos. Em conjunto, nossos resultados sugerem que a heterozigose para mutação nula em Pkd1 em camundongo (e talvez em humanos) esteja associada a um risco aumentado para lesão renal por isquemia/reperfusão e a um pior impacto desse insulto sobre a progressão da doença renal. / The majority of autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) cases are caused by mutations in the PKD1 gene. Ischemia/reperfusion is a frequent cause of acute kidney injury, including the ADPKD patient population, but the relationship between polycystin-1 and ischemia/reperfusion is essentially unknown. Since polycystin-1 modulates cell proliferation, cell differentiation and apoptosis in cell culture systems, its lower biological activity in ADPKD might amplify the degree of renal injury. Using an inbred 129Sv mouse line with a Pkd1-null mutation, 32-min renal ischemia/reperfusion was induced in 10-12 week-old male non-cystic mice, heterozygotes and wild types. The animals were analyzed at 48h, 7 days (d) and 14d after the insult. Pkd1+/- mice showed higher FENa, FEK and SCr than Pkd1+/+ animals at 48h of follow-up. The residual cortical damage was more severe in heterozygotes than wild types at all evaluated time points. The PCNA staining was also higher in Pkd1+/- than Pkd1+/+ mice at 48h and 7d, while cell apoptotic rates and the interstitial inflammatory infiltration were higher in heterozygotes than wild types at 48h, 7d and 14d postischemia/ reperfusion. The expression of p21 was lower in Pkd1+/- than Pkd1+/+ kidneys at 48h, both at the transcriptional and translational levels. Additional analyses performed 6 weeks after the insult showed tubular dilatation and microcyst formation in the haploinsufficient mice, and increased renal fibrosis in these animals compared to wild types. Thirty-fivemin ischemia/reperfusion, at last, was accompanied by a substantially higher early mortality of Pkd1+/- animals. These findings suggest that ischemia/reperfusion induces a more severe injury in kidneys of Pkd1- haploinsufficient mice, a process that is apparently dependent on a relative deficiency of p21 activity, as well as tubular dilatation and microcyst formation. Altogether, our results suggest that mouse Pkd1-null heterozygosity (and maybe human) is associated with a higher risk for renal ischemia/reperfusion injury and with a worse impact of this insult upon renal disease progression.

Diversos estudos epidemiológicos mostram que nutrientes e outros compostos bioativos presentes nos alimentos (CBA) apresentam atividade quimiopreventiva contra o câncer. Assim, destaca-se o estudo dos isoprenóides devido a sua ação promissora tanto na prevenção quanto na terapia do câncer. Todavia, apesar dessas evidências, pouco se sabe a respeito da ação dessas substâncias nos processos de proliferação celular e apoptose in vivo. Assim, 141 ratos Wistar foram tratados durante duas semanas consecutivas com farnesol (grupo FR, 25 mg/100 g de peso corporal) ou óleo de milho (grupo OM; controle, 0,25 mL/100 g de peso corporal) e sacrificados em diferentes momentos após a hepatectomia parcial (HP; 0 h, 30 min, 2 h, 4 h, 8 h, 12 h, 18 h e 24 h). Os parâmetros hepáticos analisados foram a proliferação celular (núcleos marcados para PCNA/mm2), apoptose (corpúsculos apoptóticos [CA\'s] por mm2) e expressão de p65, ciclina D1 (\"western blot\") e HMG-CoA redutase (\"dot-blot\"). Os animais tratados com o isoprenóide, assim como o grupo controle, apresentaram reduzida taxa de proliferação celular até 8h após a cirurgia. No entanto, a partir desse momento, o grupo FR passou a apresentar taxa de proliferação celular inferior ao grupo OM, diferença esta que atingiu significância estatística (p<0,05) 24h após a HP. Com relação a apoptose, animais tratados com FR apresentaram maior número de CA\'s (p<0,05) do que o grupo OM 30 min após a HP. Já em relação à ação do FR em âmbito molecular, houve uma redução de 40% e 50% na expressão de p65 e ciclina D1 30min e 24h após a HP, respectivamente, embora essas diferenças não tenham atingido significância estatística (p>0,05). Além disso, animais tratados com o isoprenóide apresentaram maior (p<0,05) expressão do gene que codifica para HMG-CoA redutase 2 h e 12 h após a cirurgia. Assim, tanto a inibição da proliferação celular quanto a indução de apoptose podem ser reflexo das alterações da expressão hepática dos genes para HMG-CoA redutase, p65 e ciclina D1 por parte do isoprenóide. / Epidemiological data have shown that nutrients and others bioactive compounds in food have chemopreventive activities against cancer. Among these compounds, isoprenoids are suggested either as a chemopreventive or chemotherapy agents. However, despite these evidences, studies focused on the isoprenoids activities on cell proliferation and apoptosis in vivo are rare. Thus, the effect of the 15-carbon isoprenoid farnesol on liver regeneration after partial hepatectomy was evaluated. Wistar rats were treated for two consecutive weeks with farnesol (FR group, 25 mg/100 g body weight) or corn oil (OM group, control, 0,25 mL/100 g body weight) and killed at different time points after partial hepatectomy (HP; 0 h, 30 min, 2 h, 4 h, 8 h, 12 h, 18 h and 24 h). Still, hepatic cell proliferation (PCNA lebeled nuclei), apoptosis (quantification of apoptotic bodies), p65 and cyclin D1 protein expression (western blot) and HMG-CoA reductase mRNA expression (dot blot) were also evaluated. Comparing to OM group, farnesol treatment significantly inhibited (p<0,05) hepatic cell proliferation 24 h after HP. Regarding apoptosis, also compared to controls, farnesol treated rats presented more (p<0,05) apoptotic bodies at 30 min. Besides, there were a suggestion of a higher number of apoptotic bodies 2 and 12 hours after HP in FR group comparing to OM group. According to western blot analysis, comparing to controls, this 15-carbon isoprenoid reduced 40% and 50% p65 and cyclin D1 hepatic protein expression, 30 min and 24 h after partial hepatectomy, respectively, although the differences did not also reach the statistical significance. Furthermore, farnesol treated rats had higher (p<0,05) HMG-CoA reductase mRNA levels than controls 2 h and 12 h after the surgery. Theses data suggest that the alterations on p65, cyclin D1 and HMG¬-CoA reductase gene expression observed in FR group might be associated with the inhibition of cell proliferation and the induction of apoptosis by farnesol.

INTRODUÇÃO: O papilomavírus humano (HPV) encontra-se amplamente distribuído na população mundial. Apesar da grande maioria das infecções serem transientes, assintomáticas e passíveis de regressão espontânea, a infecção persistente por tipos de alto risco de HPV é necessária para o desenvolvimento de neoplasias intraepiteliais cervicais. Uma vez que apenas uma pequena parcela das infecções progride à lesões malignas após um longo período desde o diagnóstico inicial de lesões precursoras, tem-se iniciado a busca por fatores que possam influenciar na progressão ou na eliminação destas manifestações iniciais. A variabilidade genética viral tem sido apontada como um dos fatores que interagem neste processo. Embora virtualmente todos os tumores da cérvice uterina apresentem o DNA viral, neoplasias em outros sítios anatômicos têm sido apenas em parte correlacionadas com a presença viral, sendo o HPV proposto como um dos agentes causadores de tumores em sítios de cabeça e pecoço. MÉTODOS: Espécimens clínicos de tumores de cabeça e pescoço, fixados em formalina e contidos em parafina (FFPE), provenientes do Instituto do Câncer do Estado de São Paulo (n=79) e da Santa Casa de Misericórida de São Paulo (n=94), tiveram seu DNA extraído, seguido de diagnóstico e genotipagem de HPV pela metodologia de Inno-LiPA. Análises de linhagens moleculares foram realizadas nas amostras HPV-16 positivas. Análise imunohistoquímica de P16INK4a foi realizada em todas as amostras. RESULTADOS: A presença do DNA viral foi encontrada em 24,1% (19/79) dentre a série de tumores provenientes do ICESP, sendo a cavidade oral o sítio em que foi observada a maior proporção de DNA viral (27,1%), enquanto que 13,8% (13/94) dentre os espécimens provenientes da Santa Casa apresentaram-se positivos para HPV, sendo a cavidade oral o sítio em que foi observada a maior proporção do DNA viral (18,1%). O HPV-16 foi o tipo mais prevalente, detectado em 73,4% das amostras HPV positivas provenientes do ICESP e 61,5% das amostras provenientes da Santa Casa. Independente da Instituição, as amostras foram alocadas no clado das linhagens Asiático-Americana e Europeia em 50%, cada uma, entre os 18 tumores HPV-16 positivos em que as análises de linhagem foram possíveis. Não foi observada, nestas séries, correlação entre a superexpressão de P16INK4a e a presença do DNA viral. CONCLUSÃO: Nas amostras analisadas, o DNA de HPV foi detectado em 18,5% dos 173 espécimens. O HPV-16 foi o tipo mais prevalente. Isolados da linhagem Europeia e da linhagem Asiatico-Americano foram detectados em 50% dos casos, cada uma, dentre as amostras HPV-16 analisadas por este estudo / INTRODUCTION: Human papillomaviruses (HPV) are widely distributed worldwide. Although the majority of infections are usually transient, asymptomatic and frequently regress spontaneously, persistent infections by high-risk HPVs are necessary for the development of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia. Once only a small proportion of infections progress to malignant lesions after a long period of time since the initial diagnosis of precursor lesions, the search for factors that might influence the progression or clearence of these early manifestations are currently under way. Viral genetic variability has been proposed as one of the factors interacting in this process. Although virtually all cervix tumors present the viral DNA, neoplasias from other anatomical sites have been only in part correlated with viral presence, and HPV has been proposed as one causative agent in tumors from head and neck sites. METHODS: Clinical specimens of formalin-fixed paraffin embedded head and neck tumors, provided by the Cancer Institute of São Paulo (n=79) and also by the Santa Casa de Misericórdia de São Paulo (n=94), were submitted to DNA extraction and further HPV diagnostic and genotyping by the Inno-LiPA methodology. Molecular lineages analyses were performed in all HPV-16 positive samples. P16INK4a immunohistochemical analyses were conducted in all samples. RESULTS: HPV DNA was detected among 24.1% (19/79) of samples provided by ICESP, tumors from oral cavity presented the highest viral positivity (27.1%), whereas 13,8% (13/94) of the samples from Santa Casa presented HPV DNA, tumors from the oral cavity also presented the highest HPV positivity with 18.1% of viral DNA presence. HPV-16 was the most prevalent type detected in 73.4% and 61.5% of HPV positive ICESP and Santa Casa samples, respectively. Irrespective of the Institution, samples submitted to lineage analyzes were allocated in the Asiatic-American and European phylogenetic branches in 50%, each one, among the 18 tumors HPV-16 positive for which lineage analysis was possible. No correlation between P16INK4a overexpression and HPV DNA presence was observed. CONCLUSION: In this study, HPV DNA was detected in 18.5% among 173 head and neck tumor specimens. HPV-16 was the most prevalent type. The European and the Asiatic-American lineage were detected in 50% of the cases, each one, among the cases HPV-16 positive analyzed