D Cyclins play an essential role connecting exogenous stimulation to the intrinsic cell cycle machinery. This family of proteins is composed of three members sharing a highly homologous domain, the cyclin box (coded by exons 1-3), which is responsible for their redundant role in the phosphorylation of the retinoblastoma protein upon association with cydin-dependent kinases Cdk4/6. Both mature T and B-cells have a remarkable division capability after antigen stimulation, essential to the generation of efficient immune responses, raising the interest of D Cyclins in lymphopoiesis. Cyclin Dl, although weakly expressed by lymphocytes, is the D Cyclin most commonly implicated in lymphoid cancers and as having a Cdk-independent transcriptional role. To study the role of Cyclin Dl, we used mice deficient for the Dl cyclin box but sparing exons 4-5. Surprisingly, individual mice have very different phenotypes that we subdivided into four arbitrary groups. Group I mice show the most precocious block in lymphoid lineage differentiation, illustrated by a low cellularity of common lymphoid progenitor cells (CLP). The thymi showed very few CD4*CD8*, double positive (DP) cells, while the CD4 CD8TCR, triple negative (TN) populations were found to be mostly constituted by the early CD44*CD25' (TNI) and few CD44*CD25* (TN2). TNl's early thymocyte progenitors (ETP) were virtually absent. At the B-cell lineage level in the bone marrow (BM) there was a major block in pre-proB differentiation. The number of peripheral T-cells was severely reduced, mainly in LN, since group I T-cells lack CCR7 expression. Group II mice presented moderate thymus atrophy. The block on TN differentiation occurs at a later stage, i.e., in the TN3 to TN4 transition, and the TNI population was characterized by a less severe depletion of the ETP. Group II mice showed a partial pre-proB block and a reduction in pre-B-cells. CLPs were also reduced but to a lesser extent than in group I mice. Group ill and group IV mice appear to have a normal thymocyte population distribution but showed an increase on ETP compartment. Group IV mice displayed thymic hyperplasia while group III mice possessed normal thymus cellularity. B-cell differentiation on both groups appeared to be normal but BM precursors had an increase in both CLP and early haematopoietic progenitor's (LSK) levels as compared with wild type mice. Cyclin Dl involvement in G1 to S transition led us to analyse in vivo division rates. Strikingly, group I mice were virtually devoid of cycling cellsin all lymphoid compartments, explaining why lymphoid lineage cells do not differentiate in these mice. In contrast, in all other groups we observed an increased BrdU incorporation. These contradicting phenotypes correlated with the expression or absence of a truncated Dl protein coded by exons 4-5. The presence of the cyclin Dl truncated mRNA was not found in group I mice but high levels of expression are consistently observed in the remaining groups. In the absence of the Dl truncated protein only trace values of Cyclins D2 and D3 were found, highlighting the role of this protein as a master D cyclin regulator, which further supports the profound aplasia and arrest in lymphoid lineage division on cells that predominantly express Cyclin D2. These results suggest that, while the function of the Dl cyclin box is redundant, the regulatory domain coded by exons 4-5 is fundamental for lymphopoiesis. Full Dl protein was also eliminated by RNA interference both in vitro and in vivo. These experiments reproduced the phenotype of group I mice. We have developed a lentiviral vector with a truncated Dl (exons 4-5) and conditional knockout (KO) mice by floxing exons 4-5 of cyclin Dl. These tools will allow us to show Cyclin Dl Cdk-independent role as a transcription regulator in lymphopoiesis and to attribute this function to exons 4-5. Understanding how exons 4-5 regulate different transcription factors might be a key in...

Made available in DSpace on 2015-04-20T12:31:17Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 rodolfo.pdf: 816515 bytes, checksum: e22fa8b8a75851c23c61ffb380635b34 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012-12-13 / The goiters stand out among the hyperplastic thyroid pathologies by high prevalence in the Amazon region. Manaus, in recent decades, receives patients with goiter from the states of Pará to Acre in search of treatment of their pathologies. This work evaluated the immunoexpression of cyclin D1 in a qualitative way in surgical specimens with histopathologic diagnosis of goiter patients undergoing thyroidectomy in Manaus / AM. Forty-one selected patients with a histopathologic diagnosis of goiter, and from the paraffin blocks of histopathology, immunohistochemistry analysis submitted to the expression of cyclin D1. Data were analyzed according to the association between the expression of cyclin D1 and the diagnosis of goiter adopting the index of statistical significance (p <0.05) and the odds ratio (OR). Of the 41 patients, 36 (87.8%) were women, with a mean age of 48 years. Twenty (48.8%) patients were positive for the expression of cyclin D1 and the observed correlation between histopathology and the results were positive for cyclin D1 (Pearson correlation = 26.1%) for goiters. The chance of a female patient have resulted positive for cyclin D1 is 4.5 times higher than in male patients (OR = 4.5). But even if the absolute majority of cases positive for cyclin D1 is female, a statistical correlation was not significant for the genre - Fisher exact test (p-value = 0.16). Commonly regarded as a marker of cell differentiation in malignant thyroid lesions, where may perform a function the cell multiplication, this study showed that cyclin D1 may be present also in benign hyperplastic lesions, such as goiters on Amazon. / Os bócios destacam-se entre as patologias hiperplásicas tireoidianas pela elevada prevalência na região Amazônica. Manaus, nas últimas décadas, recebe pacientes portadores de bócio oriundos dos estados do Pará até o Acre em busca do tratamento de suas patologias. Este trabalho avaliou a imunoexpressão de ciclina D1 de forma qualitativa em peças cirúrgicas com o diagnóstico histopatológico de bócio de pacientes submetidos à tireoidectomia na cidade de Manaus/AM. Selecionados quarenta e um pacientes com diagnóstico histopatológico de bócio, e, a partir dos blocos de parafina da histopatologia, submetidos a análise imunohistoquímica da expressão da ciclina D1. Os dados foram analisados segundo a associação entre a expressão da ciclina D1 e o diagnóstico de bócio adotando-se o índice de significância estatística (p<0,05) e o odds ratio (OR). Dos 41 pacientes, 36 (87,8%) eram mulheres, com média de idade de 48 anos. Vinte (48,8%) pacientes apresentaram positividade para a expressão de ciclina D1 e a correlação observada entre o diagnóstico histopatológico e os resultados para ciclina D1 foi positiva (Correlação de Pearson = 26,1%) para bócios. A chance de um paciente feminino ter resultado positivo para ciclina D1 é 4,5 vezes maior do que em pacientes masculinos (OR = 4,5). Mas, mesmo que a maioria absoluta dos casos positivos para ciclina D1 seja do gênero feminino, a correlação estatística não se mostrou significante para o gênero - teste Exato de Fisher (p-valor = 0,16). Comumente considerada como marcador de diferenciação celular nas lesões tireoidianas malignas, onde pode exercer uma função de multiplicação celular, este estudo mostrou que a ciclina D1 pode estar presente, também, em lesões hiperplásicas benignas, como os bócios no Amazonas.

Introdução: A ciclina D1 constitui um importante regulador do ciclo celular e pode funcionar como co-regulador de transcrição. A superexpressão da ciclina D1 tem sido associada ao desenvolvimento e progressão do câncer. A degradação irregular da ciclina D1 pode ser responsável pelos seus níveis elevados em algumas neoplasias malignas. A ciclina D1, além disso, modula indiretamente a estrutura da cromatina e transcrição de genes envolvidos na proliferação e diferenciação. Mutações, amplificação e superexpressão da ciclina D1, que alteram a progressão do ciclo celular, são observadas frequentemente em várias apresentações de neoplasias malignas, incluindo o carcinoma epidermóide de laringe, e as elucidações inferidas destas observações podem trazer melhor entendimento à oncogênese. Objetivo: O objetivo deste estudo foi comparar a expressão imunoistoquímica de ciclina D1 e a ocorrência de metástase linfática em estádios III e IV de carcinoma epidermóide de laringe. Métodos: Estudo retrospectivo, coorte longitudinal, por avaliação imunoistoquímica e quantificação digital da imunoexpressão nuclear e citoplasmática de ciclina D1 em espécimes de tumor preservados em parafina oriundos de pacientes consecutivos submetidos à cirurgia oncológica radical, entre 1999 e 2004. A sobrevida global dos pacientes foi avaliada, bem como a idade, sexo, tabagismo, estado de comprometimento linfático, grau de diferenciação e estadiamento (pTNM). A análise estatística teve como significância valores de p< 0.05. A curva de sobrevida foi elaborada utilizando o método de Kaplan-Meier. Resultados: Houve imunomarcação citoplasmática em 566 (1,2%) células, imunomarcação nuclear em 13788 (29,6%) células, a relação do IPc e IPn foi de 0,007 (0,7%), ausência de imunomarcação celular foi observada em 32210 (69,1%) células, perfazendo um total de 46554 (100%) células investigadas. Entre os 28 (59,5%) casos que não apresentaram metástase linfática, o IPn foi de 26,8 (9,7 - 46,9) e o IPc foi de 0,1 (0 0,3); naqueles 19 (40,4%) em que foi observada metástase linfática, o IPn foi de 26,7 (16,7 39,0) e o IPc foi de 0,3 (0 - 1,0). Conclusões: Não houve associação estatisticamente significante entre expressão nuclear e citoplasmática de ciclina D1, em carcinoma epidermóide primário de laringe, e ocorrência de metástase linfática cervical, graus de diferenciação histológica, bem como recidiva loco-regional e metástase hematogênica. O presente estudo não subsidia a superexpressão de ciclina D1 como fator limitante de sobrevida global / Background: Cyclin D1 is an important regulator of cell cycle progression and can function as a transcriptional co-regulator. The overexpression of cyclin D1 has been linked to the development and progression of cancer. Abnormal cyclin D1 degradation appears to be responsible for the increased levels of cyclin D1 in several cancers. Recent findings have identified novel mechanisms involved in the regulation of cyclin D1 stability. Cyclin D1 belongs to the family of cyclin proteins which function as the regulatory subunits of cyclin/cyclin dependent kinase (Cdk) holoenzymes that regulate entry into and progression through the cell cycle. Cyclin D1 expression is induced upon stimulation by growth factors (e.g. EGF, IGF-I/II), aminoacids, hormones, and oncogenes such as Ras, Src, ErbB2, and SV40 T antigen. Cdk4 and Cdk6 can partner with cyclin D1 in early to mid-G1 phase to phosphorylate and inactivate the cell cycle inhibitory function of the retinoblastoma protein (pRB) in cooperation with cyclin E/Cdk2. Cyclin D1 is also known to modulate local chromatin structure and transcription of genes involved in proliferation and differentiation through CDK-independent association with histone acetylases (e.g. CBP, P/CAF) and deacetylases. Mutations, amplification or overexpression of cyclin D1, which alters cell cycle progression, are observed frequently in a variety of tumors, including laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma, and may contribute to oncogenesis. Methods: This was a retrospective study by immunohistochemical determination of cyclin D1 in fixated and paraffin-embedded tumour especimens from 47 consecutive patients with squamous cell carcinoma in larynx treated by curative oncological surgery from 1999 to 2004. Survival of patients was related to age, gender, nodal status and stage at termination of treatment. Significant differences were considered for p<0.05. Results: Cytoplasmic immunostain was observed in 566 (1,2%) cell, nuclear immunostain in 13788 (29,6%) cell, relationship between PIc and PIn was 0,007 (0,7%), absent cell immunostain was observed in 32210 (69,1%), and total 46554 (100%). Among 28 (59,5%) cases with no lymph node metastasis, PIn was 26,8 (9,7 - 46,9) and PIc was 0,1 (0 0,3); those 19 (40,4%) with lymph node metastasis, had a PIn of 26,7 (16,7 39,0) and PIc of 0,3 (0 -1,0). Conclusions: According to these results, it has been concluded that cyclin D1 showed nuclear and cytoplasmic expression in larynx squamous cell carcinoma; however, tumor cyclin D1 expression was not significantly associated with lymph node metastasis when quantified by quantitative or semiquantitative methods. Besides, cyclin D1 expression showed no influence in overall survival

There is emerging evidence that the oncogenic potential of hdm2 (human and/or murine double minute-2 protein) stems not only from its ability to counteract tumor suppressor p53 but also from its less understood p53-independent functions. Surprisingly, little is known about the role and regulation of hdm2 in pancreatic tumors, a large proportion (50-75%) of which contain mutant p53. In this study, we determined that hdm2 was expressed in a Ras-signaling-dependent manner in various pancreatic cancer cell lines. As p53 was mutated and inactive in these cells, the expression of hdm2 was seemingly redundant. Indeed, the proliferation and survival of cell lines such as Panc-1 and Panc-28 could be inhibited by PRIMA-1 (mutant p53 activator) but not by Nutlin-3 (inhibitor of the hdm2-p53 interaction). Unexpectedly, however, the proliferation of both cell lines was strongly inhibited by hdm2-specific RNAi. Our data also revealed cyclin D1, c-Jun and c-Myc to be novel targets of hdm2 and suggested that they might mediate hdm2's role in cellular proliferation and/or survival. We conclude from our results that hdm2 is expressed in pancreatic cancer cells as a result of activated Ras signaling, and that it regulates cellular proliferation and the expression of three novel target genes by p53-independent mechanisms.

No description available.

<p>The POZ-ZF transcription factor ZBTB4 was initially identified due to its sequence homology to the dual-specificity DNA-binding transcription factor Kaiso. Subsequent characterization of ZBTB4 revealed that it is also a dual-specificity DNA-binding protein; it recognizes a specific oligonucleotide sequence C^T/_CGCCATC, coined the <strong>Z</strong>BTB<strong>4</strong> <strong>B</strong>inding <strong>S</strong>equence (Z4BS) as well as methylated CpG-dinucleotides. Interestingly, ZBTB4 also binds to the highly similar consensus <strong>K</strong>aiso <strong>B</strong>inding <strong>S</strong>ite (KBS) <em>in vitro</em>.</p> <p>ZBTB4 is misexpressed in cancer, and follows a stage-specific pattern of expression in breast carcinoma tissues; low ZBTB4 levels are found in late stages while high ZBTB4 expression is detected in early stages of disease progression. Ongoing studies have begun to elucidate the molecular interactions that mediate ZBTB4’s apparent tumour suppressor role in tumourigenesis, however no study has investigated the nature of ZBTB4’s ability to interact with both the Z4BS and the KBS <em>in vivo</em>, and how this may expand ZBTB4’s repertoire of potential target genes.</p> <p>Recently Kaiso has been characterized as a transcriptional repressor of the cell cycle regulatory gene <em>cyclin D1</em>, and thus we used <em>cyclin D1 </em>as a model to investigate the nature of ZBTB4’s interaction with the KBS <em>in vivo</em>. The <em>cyclin D1</em> minimal promoter contains two partial Z4BS at the same location as the KBS sites and we found that ZBTB4 binds to the +69 Z4BS/KBS site, but not to the -1067 site. Because the +69 Z4BS/KBS is immediately flanked by a CpG dinucleotide, this interaction may be a methylation-dependent interaction. To determine the consequence of this interaction, we conducted minimal promoter luciferase assays, and observed that ZBTB4 mediates an activation of the -1748-CD1 minimal promoter activity.</p> / Master of Science (MSc)

<p> Kaiso is a unique member of the BTB/POZ (Broad complex, Tramtrak, Bric à brac,/Pox virus and zinc finger) zinc finger family of transcription factors with established roles in development and tumourigenesis. Kaiso was originally identified as a novel binding partner of the Armadillo catenin p120^ctn, a cytosolic co-factor and regulator of the cell-cell adhesion molecule and tumor suppressor E-cadherin. In addition to their roles in cell adhesion, the multifunctional Armadillo catenins also regulate gene expression, thus providing at least two mechanisms for their contribution to tumourigenesis. The discovery of a novel interaction between p120^ctn and the transcription factor Kaiso was therefore consistent with gene regulatory roles for Armadillo catenins. Interestingly, Kaiso represses transcription via a sequence-specific DNA binding site (TCCTGCnA) as well as through methylated CpG di-nucleotides, and one role of nuclear p120^ctn is to inhibit Kaiso DNA-binding and transcriptional repression. We recently identified sequence-specific Kaiso binding sites in a subset of Wnt/β-catenin/TCF tumour-associated target genes, and here we present data characterizing cyclin D1 as a putative Kaiso target gene.</p> <p> Kaiso binds the cyclin D1 promoter in vitro and in vivo, and artificial promoter assays revealed that Kaiso overexpression results in the repression of a cyclin D1 promoter luciferase reporter. Since cyclin D1 is highly amplified in ~50% of human breast tumours, and a cancer profiling array demonstrated that Kaiso is misexpressed in ~40% of human breast tumours, we hypothesized that Kaiso represses and regulates cyclin D1 expression to inhibit breast tumourigenesis. In fact, examination of Kaiso expression in human breast cell lines demonstrated that cyclin D1 mRNA levels were upregulated in Kaiso-depleted cells. My studies further revealed that methylation-dependent Kaiso-DNA binding may contribute to Kaiso's transcriptional repression of the cyclin D1 promoter. We also determined that Kaiso inhibits, while p120^ctn activates, β-catenin-mediated activation of the cyclin D1 promoter. These findings further support a role for Kaiso and p120^ctn in breast tumourigenesis via their modulation of the canonical Wnt signaling pathway which is highly implicated in human tumourigenesis. Together these findings support our hypothesis that Kaiso regulates cyclin D1 expression. However, further studies are required to elucidate the mechanism employed by Kaiso to elicit cyclin D1 repression and to examine how this activity may contribute to breast tumourigenesis.</p> / Thesis / Master of Science (MSc)

No / A novel function of NF-KB in the development of most ectodermal appendages, including two types of murine pelage hair follicles, was detected in a mouse model with suppressed NF-KB activity (CI¿B¿¿N). However, the developmental processes regulated by NF-¿B in hair follicles has remained unknown. Furthermore, the similarity between the phenotypes of CI¿BA¿N mice and mice deficient in Eda A1 (tabby) or its receptor EdaR (downless) raised the issue of whether in vivo NF-KB regulates or is regulated by these novel TNF family members. We now demonstrate that epidermal NF-KB activity is first observed in placodes of primary guard hair follicles at day E14.5, and that in vivo NF-KB signalling is activated downstream of Eda A1 and EdaR. Importantly, ectopic signals which activate NF-KB can also stimulate guard hair placode formation, suggesting a crucial role for NF-KB in placode development. In downless and CI¿B¿¿N mice, placodes start to develop, but rapidly abort in the absence of EdaR/NF-KB signalling. We show that NF-KB activation is essential for induction of Shh and cyclin D1 expression and subsequent placode down growth. However, cyclin D1 induction appears to be indirectly regulated by NF-KB, probably via Shh and Wnt. The strongly decreased number of hair follicles observed in CI¿B¿¿N mice compared with tabby mice, indicates that additional signals, such as TROY, must regulate NF-KB activity in specific hair follicle subtypes.

No description available.

Avaliamos neste estudo as expressões da ciclina D1 e da proteína p21, pela técnica de Imuno-histoquímica, para detectar a presença destas proteínas nos núcleos das células do câncer de mama localmente avançado, com o objetivo de correlacionar a concentração destas proteínas com aresposta preditiva ao tratamento quimioterápico neo-adjuvante, utilizandoo esquema docetaxel associado à epirrubicina. A avaliação foi feita previamente e após a realização da quimioterapia neo-adjuvante. A avaliação pré-quimioterápica teve a finalidade de estabelecer um papel preditivo quanto à resposta ao tratamento primário. A avaliação pós-quimioterápica teve a finalidade de explorar a relação entre a persistência da proteína com intervalo livre de doença e sobrevida global. Foram selecionados 72 casos de 162 tumores localmente avançados de mama atendidos no período de janeiro de 1998 a dezembro de 2005, tratados por quimioterapia primária no Ambulatório de Mastologiado Hospital das Clínicas de Ribeirão Preto. Conclusão: a ciclina D1 está relacionada com tumores menores, bem diferenciados e hormônio-sensíveis. Já a proteína p21 está relaciona a tumores pequenos, com estádios iniciais menores, de baixo grau histológico e hormônio-sensíveis. A expressão da ciclina D1 no tumor pré-tratamento quimioterápico não foi capaz de predizer resposta à quimioterapia neo-adjuvante. No entanto, a presença da ciclina D1 e no tumor residual e da p21tanto no tumor pré-tratamento quanto no tumor residual, sugerem melhora no intervalo livre de doença e na sobrevida global. / We evaluate in this study the expressions of the cyclin D1 and the protein p21, with the technique of Immunohistochemistry, todetect the presence of these proteins in the cells of the local advanced breast cancer. The objective was correlate the concentration of these proteins with predictive response to the neo-adjuvant chemotherapy, using docetaxel associated with epirrubicina. The evaluation was performed before and after the neo-adjuvant chemotherapy. The evaluation before the neo-adjuvant treatment had the purpose to establish a predictive value of these proteins with primary treatment response. The evaluations after neo-adjuvant treatment had the purpose to explore the relation between the persistence of these proteins with disease-free survival and overall survival. We selected 72 of 162 cases of local advanced breast cancer who had treated for primary chemotherapy in Hospital das Clínicas de Ribeirão Preto in the period of January of 1998 to December of 2005. Conclusion: Our study concluded that the cyclin D1 is related with small tumors and well differentiated and hormone-sensitive tumors. The protein p21 is relates with small tumors, initial stage tumors, low grade tumors and hormone-sensitive tumors. The expression of cyclin D1 in the tumor before the treatment failed to predict response to the neo-adjuvant chemotherapy. However, the presence of the cyclin D1 in the residual tumor andthe protein p21 before the treatment and in the residual tumors suggest improvement in the disease- free survival and overall survival.