A L-Asparaginase II de Escherichia coli (EcA II) é uma enzima amplamente utilizada no tratamento da Leucemia Linfoblástica Aguda (LLA), atuando na depleção do aminoácido L-asparagina, o qual é fundamental para a multiplicação das células cancerosas. Contudo, o tratamento com a EcA II está associado a altos índices de hipersensibilidade, devido à formação de anticorpos anti-L-asparaginase e à clivagem da enzima pelas proteases sanguíneas asparagina endopeptidase (AEP) e catepsina B (CTSB). Também ocorre neurotoxicidade associada ao efeito L-glutaminase da enzima. O principal objetivo do presente trabalho é a obtenção de mutantes da EcA II (gene ansB) com equivalente eficiência catalítica, maior resistência à clivagem proteolítica e menor atividade glutaminase. Para este propósito, através da reação em cadeia da polimerase propensa a erro (epPCR) do gene ansB, foi construída uma biblioteca de 1128 clones expressos no vetor pET15b em BL21(DE3). Nenhum mutante com atividade asparaginásica equivalente à EcA II selvagem apresentou atividade glutaminásica inferior à esta. Dentre os clones triados obtivemos um mutante (T161I) resistente à clivagem proteolítica pela CTSB e dois mutantes (Q190L e P40S/S206C) resistentes à clivagem proteolítica por ambas AEP e CTSB. Estes três mutantes apresentaram atividade asparaginásica e glutaminásica equivalentes a EcA II selvagem. Nossos resultados mostram promissoras possibilidades de EcA II mutantes com maior estabilidade frente às proteases sanguíneas humanas e possivelmente menos imunogênicas. / Escherichia coli L-asparaginase (EcA II) is an enzyme widely used in the treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), acting in the depletion of the amino acid L-asparagine, which is essential for cancer cells proliferation. However, treatment with L-asparaginase is associated with a high rate of hypersensitivity, due to formation of anti-L-asparaginase antibody and the enzyme cleavage by the serum proteases asparagine endopeptidase (AEP) and cathepsin B (CTSB). Furthermore, the neurotoxicity is associated with the effect of the enzyme L-glutaminase activity. The main aim of the current work is to obtain variants of EcA II (gene ansB) with an equivalent catalytic efficiency, greater resistance to proteolytic cleavage and a reduced glutaminase activity. For such purpose, through error-prone polymerase chain reaction (epPCR) of gene ansB, a library of 1128 clones was constructed in pET15b vector and expressed in BL21(DE3). None mutant with an asparaginase activity equivalent to EcA II wild type showed a reduced glutaminase activity. Among the screened clones, one mutant (T161I) was resistant to CTSB proteolytic cleavage and two mutants (Q190L e P40S/S206C) were resistant to both CTSB and AEP proteolytic cleavages. These three mutants were EcA II wild type equivalents in asparaginase and glutaminase activities. Our data show promising new possibilities of mutant EcA II presenting higher stability against human serum proteolytic cleavage and maybe lower immunogenicity.

Introdução: raquitismo e osteomalácia hipofosfatêmicos de origem genética mediados por FGF23 (RQ/OM-FGF23) são caracterizados pelo aumento patológico dos níveis séricos de FGF23 com consequentes hiperfosfatúria e hipofosfatemia. A forma hereditária mais comum é a ligada ao X dominante (XLHR) ocasionada por mutações inativadoras no gene PHEX. Objetivos: identificar a etiologia molecular; avaliar a densidade mineral óssea (DMO) e a microarquitetura óssea e, determinar a prevalência de nefrocalcinose (NC), nefrolitíase (NL) e de alterações metabólicas urinárias em 47 pacientes com RQ/OM-FGF23 (16 crianças e 31 adultos). Métodos: as análises dos genes PHEX e FGF23 foram realizadas pelos métodos de Sanger e MLPA. A DMO areal (DMOa) foi avaliada por densitometria óssea (DXA), enquanto a DMO volumétrica (DMOv) e os parâmetros de microarquitetura óssea foram analisados por HR-pQCT. A NC foi classificada segundo uma escala de 0-3 (0 = ausência de NC; 3 = NC grave) pelas ultrassonografia (US) e tomografia computadorizada (TC) renais. A presença de NL foi analisada pela TC renal. Fatores de risco para NC e NL foram avaliados pela urina de 24 horas. Resultados: foram identificadas mutações no PHEX em 41 pacientes (87,2%). A avaliação óssea foi realizada em 38 pacientes com XLHR que foram comparados a controles saudáveis. Os pacientes tiveram maior DMOa em L1-L4 (p=0,03) e menor DMOa em 1/3 distal do rádio (p < 0,01). Em rádio distal, a DMOv total (Total.vBMD) e os componentes trabecular (Tb.vBMD) e cortical (Ct.vBMD) foram semelhantes entre os grupos. Na tíbia distal, os pacientes apresentaram menor Total.vBMD em relação aos controles devido ao déficit no Tb.vBMD (p < 0,01). Além do mais, ao separarmos por status metabólico, os pacientes descompensados tiveram menor Ct.vBMD em tíbia distal comparados aos controles (p=0,02). Quanto aos parâmetros estruturais, em rádio distal, os pacientes apresentaram menor número de trabéculas (Tb.N; p=0,01), maior espessura trabecular (Tb.Th; p < 0,01) e maior falta da homogeneidade trabecular (SD.1/Tb.N; p=0,02). Na tíbia distal, eles tiveram menor Tb.N (p < 0,01), maior separação trabecular (Tb.Sp; p < 0,01) e maior SD.1/Tb.N (p < 0,01). A avaliação renal foi feita em 39 pacientes com XLHR. A NC foi diagnosticada em 15 (38,5%) pacientes pelas US e TC, principalmente no grupo pediátrico em uso intensivo de fosfato. A US detectou NC em 37 (94,8%), majoritariamente como grau 1 (97%), enquanto a TC identificou NC medular em 15 (38,5%): 10 (66,7%) como grau 1 e cinco (33,3%) como grau 2. Quatro (10,2%) pacientes adultos tinham NL determinada pela CT. Além da hiperfosfatúria presente em todos os pacientes, a hipocitratúria foi a alteração metabólica mais comum (30,7%); somente dois pacientes apresentaram hipercalciúria (5,1%) e nenhum apresentou hiperoxalúria. Conclusões: nesta casuística, a XLHR foi a principal forma hereditária de RQ/OM-FGF23. A HR-pQCT foi mais informativa do que a DXA e o compartimento ósseo trabecular foi mais afetado pela doença, particularmente na tíbia distal. Finalmente, a NC foi mais prevalente que a NL; o principal fator de risco metabólico foi a hiperfosfatúria e o tratamento intensivo com fosfato parece ser um agravante na formação da NC / Background: FGF23-mediated hypophosphatemic rickets is a group of diseases characterized by a pathological increase of FGF23 serum levels, resulting in hyperphosphaturia and hypophosphatemia. In this group, the most common form of inheritance is the X-linked dominant (XLHR) caused by inactivating mutations in the PHEX gene. Aims: to identify the molecular basis; to evaluate the bone mineral density and bone microarchitecture; to determinate the prevalence of nephrocalcinosis (NC), nephrolithiasis (NL) and their related metabolic factors in 47 patients with FGF23-mediated hypophosphatemic rickets (16 children and 31 adults). Methods: PHEX and FGF23 were analyzed by conventional Sanger sequencing and MLPA. The areal BMD (aBMD) was evaluated by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA), while the volumetric BMD (vBMD) and the bone microarchitecture were analyzed by high-resolution peripheral quantitative computed tomography (HR-pQCT). NC was investigated by renal ultrasonography (US) and computed tomography (CT) and classified using a 0-3 scale (0= no NC and 3= severe NC). The presence of NL was determined by renal CT. Risk factors for NC and NL were evaluated by 24-hour urinary samples. Results: 41 patients (87.2%) presented mutations in PHEX. The bone analysis was made in 38 XLHR patients compared to healthy controls. XLHR patients presented higher aBMD at L1-L4 (p=0.03) and lower aBMD at the distal third of the radius (p < 0.01). At the distal radius, HR-pQCT showed no differences in the vBMD neither in its trabecular (Tb.vBMD) and cortical (Ct.vBMD) components. At the distal tibia, the XLHR patients showed lower Total.vBMD (p < 0.01) compared to controls due to decreased Tb.vBMD (p < 0.01). Moreover, after XLHR patients were sorted by metabolic status, the noncompensated ones revealed lower Ct.vBMD at the distal tibia compared to their respective controls (p=0.02). Regarding to the microarchitectural parameters, at the distal radius, XLHR patients showed lower trabecular number (Tb.N; p=0.01), greater trabecular thickness (Tb.Th; p < 0.01) and more inhomogeneous trabecular network (SD.1/Tb.N; p=0.02). At the distal tibia, they had lower Tb.N (p < 0.01), larger trabecular separation (Tb.Sp; p < 0.01) and greater SD.1/Tb.N (p < 0.01). The renal assessment was done in 39 XLHR patients. NC was diagnosed in 15 (38.5%) patients by US and CT, mainly in the pediatric group that was in phosphate treatment. US identified NC in 37 (94.8%), mostly as grade 1 (97%), meanwhile CT determined medullary NC in 15 (38.5%) patients: 10 (66.7%) as grade 1 and five (33.3%) as grade 2. Four (10.2%) adults patients had NL determined by CT. Besides hyperphosphaturia present in all XLHR patients, hypocitraturia was the most common metabolic factor (30.7%); hypercalciuria occurred in only two patients (5.1%) and none had hyperoxaluria. Conclusions: in our cohort, XLHR was the most prevalent form of FGF23-mediated inherited hypophosphatemic rickets. HR-pQCT was more informative than DXA and the cancellous bone compartment was the most affected by the disease particularly at the distal tibia. Finally, NC was more prevalent than NL; the main metabolic risk factor was hyperphosphaturia and the intensive treatment with phosphate seems to be an aggravating factor in the formation of NC

<p>Anabolic-androgenic steroids (AAS) have been used in clinics for decades. The misuse of AAS has previously been attributed merely to sport athletes, taking AAS with intentions to increase muscle mass, enhance physical performance and to improve results in competitions. Today, the misuse of AAS has spread to adolescents and young adults not connected to sports. Alarmingly, many reports are pointing at severe psychiatric adverse effects among AAS abusers, which include mood swings, mania, anxiety, depression and aggression. Numerous examples of severe and often unprovoked violence and brutal crimes have been connected to AAS abuse and there is a strong need for a better understanding of the underlying biochemical events that might account for the adverse behaviors induced by AAS. The general aim of this thesis was to study the effect of chronic AAS administration on neuropeptide circuits in the rat brain associated with the regulation of rewarding effects, memory, anxiety, depression and aggression, using nandrolone decanoate as a prototype AAS.</p><p>Results demonstrated that daily administration of AAS to rats in doses comparable to those taken by AAS abusers, in certain brain structures significantly affected, <i>a</i>) the levels of the opioid peptides dynorphin B and Met-enkephalin-Arg⁶Phe⁷, <i>b</i>) the levels of the tachykinin substance P (SP), <i>c</i>) the density of the SP neurokinin 1 (NK1) receptor, <i>d</i>) the level of the SP metabolite SP_1-7that frequently exerts opposite effects to SP, <i>e</i>) the SP_1-7generating enzyme substance P endopeptidase (SPE) and finally, <i>f</i>) the levels of the neuropeptide calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) often co-localized with SP. The alterations seen in the levels and activities of these neurochemical components are in many aspects compatible with behaviors typified among AAS abusers.</p>

Anabolic-androgenic steroids (AAS) have been used in clinics for decades. The misuse of AAS has previously been attributed merely to sport athletes, taking AAS with intentions to increase muscle mass, enhance physical performance and to improve results in competitions. Today, the misuse of AAS has spread to adolescents and young adults not connected to sports. Alarmingly, many reports are pointing at severe psychiatric adverse effects among AAS abusers, which include mood swings, mania, anxiety, depression and aggression. Numerous examples of severe and often unprovoked violence and brutal crimes have been connected to AAS abuse and there is a strong need for a better understanding of the underlying biochemical events that might account for the adverse behaviors induced by AAS. The general aim of this thesis was to study the effect of chronic AAS administration on neuropeptide circuits in the rat brain associated with the regulation of rewarding effects, memory, anxiety, depression and aggression, using nandrolone decanoate as a prototype AAS. Results demonstrated that daily administration of AAS to rats in doses comparable to those taken by AAS abusers, in certain brain structures significantly affected, a) the levels of the opioid peptides dynorphin B and Met-enkephalin-Arg6Phe7, b) the levels of the tachykinin substance P (SP), c) the density of the SP neurokinin 1 (NK1) receptor, d) the level of the SP metabolite SP1-7 that frequently exerts opposite effects to SP, e) the SP1-7 generating enzyme substance P endopeptidase (SPE) and finally, f) the levels of the neuropeptide calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) often co-localized with SP. The alterations seen in the levels and activities of these neurochemical components are in many aspects compatible with behaviors typified among AAS abusers.

Les acides aristolochiques (AA) présents dans les aristoloches sont impliqués dans le développement d’une insuffisance rénale progressive chez l’homme, appelée néphropathie aux plantes chinoises (CHN). Elle se caractérise par une atrophie tubulaire sévère et une fibrose interstitielle associée à une fréquence élevée de cancers urothéliaux. L’observation en clinique d’une protéinurie tubulaire a suggéré que le tubule proximal était la cible des AA.<p><p>\ / Doctorat en sciences biomédicales / info:eu-repo/semantics/nonPublished

p53, known as the “guardian of the genome”, is the most well-characterized tumor suppressor gene. The central role of p53 is to prevent genome instability. p53 is the central node in an incredibly elaborate genome defense network for receiving various input stress signals and controlling diverse cellular responses. The final output of this network is determined not only by the p53 protein itself, but also by other p53 cooperating proteins. p300 and CBP (CREB-Binding Protein) act as multifunctional regulators of p53 via acetylase and ubiquitin ligase activities. Prior work in vitro has shown that the N-terminal 595 aa of p300 encode both generic ubiquitin ligase (E3) and p53-directed E4 functions. Analysis of p300 or CBP-deficient cells revealed that both coactivators were required for endogenous p53 polyubiquitination and the normally rapid turnover of p53 in unstressed cells. Unexpectedly, p300/CBP ubiquitin ligase activities were absent in nuclear extracts and exclusively cytoplasmic. In the nucleus, CBP and p300 exhibited differential regulation of p53 gene target expression, C-terminal acetylation, and biologic response after DNA damage. p300 activated, and CBP repressed, PUMA expression, correlating with activating acetylation of p53 C-terminal lysines by p300, and a repressive acetylation of p53 lysine-320 induced by CBP. Consistent with their gene expression effects, CBP deficiency augmented, and p300 deficiency blocked, apoptosis after doxorubicin treatment. Subcellular compartmentalization of p300/CBP’s ubiquitination and transcription activities reconciles seemingly opposed functions—cytoplasmic p300/CBP E4 activities ubiquitinate and destabilize p53, while nuclear p300/CBP direct p53 acetylation, target gene activation, and biological outcome after genotoxic stress. p53 is a prominent tumor suppressor gene and it is mutated in more than 50% of human tumors. Reactivation of endogenous p53 is one therapeutic avenue to stop cancer cell growth. In this thesis, we have identified S5as a critical regulator of p53 degradation and activity. S5a is a non-ATPase subunit in the 19S regulatory particle of the 26S proteasome. Our preliminary data indicates that S5a is required for p53 instability and is a negative regulator of p53 tranactivation. As a negative regulator of p53, S5a may therefore also represent a new target for cancer drug development against tumors that specifically maintain wild type p53.

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