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Metastatic cancers are problematic because they spread throughout the body. A crucial step in cancer metastasis is the separation of the cancer cells from their surrounding normal cells. This occurs due to suppression or destruction of cell adhesion molecules such as E-cadherin, occludin, and various claudins. The Snail and Slug transcription factors play a direct role in suppressing these cell adhesion molecules through their SNAG repression domain. We explored the possibility of developing an ELISA diagnostics capable of detecting soluble E-cadherin, occludin, and claudin fragments in the serum of cancer patients. Using several bioinformatics tools, unique extracellular antigenic sequences were identified on claudins-1, 4, 16, occludin, and E-cadherin. These sequences were cloned as GST fusion proteins, expressed, and purified in large quantities to raise antibodies. In parallel, expression profiling of metastatic cancer cell lines was carried out to derive a correlation between Snail-Slug expression and suppression of cell adhesion molecules. / by Michael Irvine. / Thesis (M.S.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2009. / Includes bibliography. / Electronic reproduction. Boca Raton, Fla., 2009. Mode of access: World Wide Web.

O presente estudo teve como objetivo caracterizar a expressão da família SIBLING (Small Integrin-Binding Ligand, N-linked Glycoproteins) após tratamento regenerativo de furca com enxerto de tecido reparativo de alvéolos dentários. Para isto, os 2os e 3os pré-molares superiores foram extraídos em quatro cães s.r.d. Cinco dias após as extrações, defeitos padronizados de furca classe II foram criados nos 2os, 3os e 4os pré-molares inferiores, bilateralmente. Estes defeitos foram tratados imediatamente com raspagem, alisamento e polimento corono-radicular (RAPCR) e retalho deslocado coronariamente (RDC) (Grupo Controle) ou com RAPCR + RDC + enxerto de tecido reparativo de alvéolos dentários (Grupo Teste) em um experimento de boca-dividida. Após um período de 6 semanas de reparação, os animais foram sacrificados e foi realizada análise imuno-histoquímica para avaliar a localização dos membros da família de proteínas SIBLING, composta pelas seguintes proteínas nãocolágenas da matriz extracelular: osteopontina (OPN), sialoproteína óssea (BSP), proteína da matriz dentinária 1 (DMP1), sialofosfoproteína da dentina (DSPP) e fosfoglicoproteína da matriz extracelular (MEPE). Não foram encontradas diferenças na expressão da família SIBLING entre os grupos teste e controle. Todas as proteínas foram expressas no novo osso, novo cemento e novo ligamento periodontal, em ambos os grupos. Os osteoclastos demonstraram imunolocalização intracelular intensa somente para a OPN. Cementócitos e o novo ligamento periodontal demonstraram, particularmente, marcação intensa para a MEPE. Houve uma diferença evidente entre o padrão de marcação entre o lado tratado (vestibular) e o não-tratado (lingual) de todos os espécimes, com presença de maior marcação do lado vestibular, para todos os anticorpos testados. Podemos concluir que não houve diferenças no padrão de expressão da família SIBLING após o uso do enxerto de tecido reparativo de alvéolos dentários. A família de proteínas SIBLING é expressa durante o processo de reparação de defeitos de furca, indicando possíveis papéis e funções para as proteínas OPN, BSP, DMP1, DSP e MEPE como moléculas alvo em terapias de regeneração periodontal. / The present study aimed in characterizing the expression of the SIBLING (Small Integrin- Binding Ligand, N-linked Glycoproteins) family in a regenerative treatment of furcation defects with a reparative tissue graft obtained from extraction sockets. The second and third upper premolars were extracted in four mixed breed dogs. Five days later, standardized class II furcation defects were created in the second, third and fourth mandibular premolars, bilaterally. The defects were immediately treated with either debridement and root planning (DRP) combined with a coronally positioned flap (CPF) (Control Group), or with DRP+CPF + a reparative tissue graft derived from the second and third premolar extraction sockets (Experimental Group) in a split-mouth design. After 6 weeks period of healing, the animals were sacrificed and immunohistochemistry was carried out to assess the localization of members of the SIBLING family of noncollagenous extracellular matrix proteins, namely osteopontin (OPN), bone sialoprotein (BSP), dentin matrix protein 1 (DMP1), dentin sialophosphoprotein (DSPP) and matrix extracellular phosphoglycoprotein (MEPE). No differences in the SIBLING family of proteins expression were noted between the control and experimental group. All proteins were expressed in new bone, new cementum and new periodontal ligament in both groups. Osteoclasts exhibited intense intracellular localization only for OPN. Cementocytes and the newly formed periodontal ligament demonstrated particularly intense staining for MEPE. There was an evident difference between the staining pattern between the treated (buccal side) and non-treated (lingual) side of the specimens, with a more intense staining pattern in the buccal side, for all the tested antibodies. In conclusion, there were no differences in the pattern of SIBLING expression following the use of a reparative tissue graft obtained from extraction sockets. The SIBLING family of proteins is expressed during the healing process of furcation defects indicating possible roles and functions of OPN, BSP, DMP1, DSPP and MEPE as target molecules in periodontal regeneration therapies.

Tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs) comprise a family of four proteins in humans that modulate the turnover of the extracellular matrix by regulating the activities of endopeptidases that catalyze its degradation, especially the matrix metalloproteinases (MMP). In general, the four TIMPs are broad-spectrum tight binding inhibitors of MMPs with individual differences in specificity. In this study, we attempted to understand the basis of such variation by using membrane type-1 MMP (MT1-MMP) as a model, since it is inefficiently inhibited by TIMP-1 in contrast with the other TIMPs. We designed and engineered mutations in the N-domain of TIMP-1, based on current knowledge of TIMP interactions. By measuring inhibition levels of each mutant against several MMPs, including MT1-MMP, we were able to obtain a triple mutant with an vii improved affinity for MT1-MMP. / Our results, along with previous data, confirm that multiple residues in the critical interface segments between TIMPs and MMPs, namely at positions 2, 4, 5, 6, and 98, are key in determining the basic interaction between the two molecules. The second part of this work focused on naturally occurring mutations in TIMP-3 which cause an early form of macular degeneration called Sorsby's Fundus Dystrophy (SFD). The TIMP-3 mutants identified so far share certain features but the mechanism by which they result in macular disease is not yet understood. As an initial step, we expressed recombinant TIMP-3 carrying a truncation mutation, glutamic acid 139 to a stop codon (E139X), and assessed its activity towards representative MMPs and tumor necrosis factor-(Sa (Bconverting enzyme, another metalloproteinase normally inhibited by TIMP-3. Our results indicate that this mutation does not impair the inhibitory activity of TIMP-3. / Expression of this mutant in mammalian retinal cells revealed a difference in localization between wild-type and E139X mutant TIMP-3. Therefore, we concluded that the SFD mutations may actually influence the processing and/or binding properties of TIMP-3 in the retina. / by Asmaa Bilal Hamze. / Vita. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2008. / Includes bibliography. / Electronic reproduction. Boca Raton, Fla., 2008. Mode of access: World Wide Web.

A leptospirose é uma zoonose de distribuição mundial causada por espiroquetas patogênicas do gênero Leptospira. Resultados experimentais demonstraram que a patogênese pode estar relacionada com a capacidade destas bactérias em aderir a proteínas da matriz extracelular, escapar da resposta imune do hospedeiro e de produzir toxinas. Este trabalho teve como objetivo identificar proteínas secretadas por Leptospira interrogans sorovar Pomona estirpe Fromm kennewicki (patogênica) e Leptospira biflexa sorovar Patoc estirpe Patoc I (saprófita), através de análise proteômica. As leptospiras foram cultivadas em meio EMJH suplementado com soro de coelho ou albumina bovina. Os sobrenadantes foram filtrados, dialisados e liofilizados para aplicação das tecnologias de análise proteômica utilizando gel bidimensional e análise em solução. A análise dos peptídeos obtidos, nos dois procedimentos, foi realizada utilizando-se LC/MS/MS. Foi possível a identificação de 159 proteínas diferentes nas amostras de L.interrogans, entre as quais 64 foram positivas em pelo menos uma das ferramentas usadas para a predição. Em L. biflexa, 104 proteínas diferentes foram identificadas, entre elas 43 proteínas foram positivas pela análise in silico. Entre as proteínas identificadas, estão aquelas que possuem peptídeo sinal sec ou tat dependentes. Em outras, a predição da localização celular é desconhecida ou podem ter múltiplos sítios de localização, e ainda, proteínas que não possuem peptídeo sinal e que podem ser secretadas por mecanismos não convencionais. Muitos destas são proteínas hipotéticas sem domínios conservados detectados. No que diz respeito à atividade proteolítica, foi identificada a presença de metaloproteases no secretoma de L.interrogans. Não houve detecção da presença significativa de proteases bacterianas em amostras de L. biflexa. A identificação e a caracterização funcional de proteínas secretadas poderão contribuir para a elucidação dos mecanismos patogênicos e no desenvolvimento de novas estratégias para o tratamento e prevenção de leptospirose. / Leptospirosis is a zoonosis of worldwide distribution caused by pathogenic spirochetes of the genus Leptospira. The mechanisms by which leptospires invade the host and cause the disease are not yet fully understood. Experimental results have shown that the pathogenesis may be related to the ability of these bacteria to bind to extracellular matrix proteins, to escape hosts immune responses and to produce toxins. This work aimed to identify secreted proteins by Leptospira interrogans serovar Pomona strain Fromm kennewicki (pathogenic) and Leptospira biflexa serovar strain Patoc Patoc I (saprophyte) through proteomic analysis. The leptospires were grown in EMJH supplemented with rabbit serum or BSA. Supernatants were filtered, dialyzed and lyophilized to proteomic technology, two-dimensional gel and non-gel. The analysis of the obtained peptides in two procedures was performed using LC/MS/LC. It was possible to identify 159 different proteins in the samples of L.interrogans; among them, 64 were positive proteins in at least one of the tools used for prediction. In L. biflexa, 104 different proteins were identified; among them, 43 positive proteins were positive by in silico analysis. Among the identified proteins are those that possess sec or tat dependent signal peptide. In others, the prediction of the cellular location is unknown or may have multiple sites of localization, and even proteins which have no signal peptide can be secreted by unconventional mechanisms. Many of these are hypothetical proteins with no detected putative conserved domains. The presence of metalloproteases has been identified in the L.interrogans´ secretome, using proteolytic assay. There was no significant detection of the presence of bacterial proteases in samples of L. biflexa. The identification and functional characterization of secreted proteins may contribute to the elucidation of pathogenic mechanisms and in the developing of new strategies for the treatment and prevention of leptospirosis.

O presente estudo teve como objetivo caracterizar a expressão da família SIBLING (Small Integrin-Binding Ligand, N-linked Glycoproteins) após tratamento regenerativo de furca com enxerto de tecido reparativo de alvéolos dentários. Para isto, os 2os e 3os pré-molares superiores foram extraídos em quatro cães s.r.d. Cinco dias após as extrações, defeitos padronizados de furca classe II foram criados nos 2os, 3os e 4os pré-molares inferiores, bilateralmente. Estes defeitos foram tratados imediatamente com raspagem, alisamento e polimento corono-radicular (RAPCR) e retalho deslocado coronariamente (RDC) (Grupo Controle) ou com RAPCR + RDC + enxerto de tecido reparativo de alvéolos dentários (Grupo Teste) em um experimento de boca-dividida. Após um período de 6 semanas de reparação, os animais foram sacrificados e foi realizada análise imuno-histoquímica para avaliar a localização dos membros da família de proteínas SIBLING, composta pelas seguintes proteínas nãocolágenas da matriz extracelular: osteopontina (OPN), sialoproteína óssea (BSP), proteína da matriz dentinária 1 (DMP1), sialofosfoproteína da dentina (DSPP) e fosfoglicoproteína da matriz extracelular (MEPE). Não foram encontradas diferenças na expressão da família SIBLING entre os grupos teste e controle. Todas as proteínas foram expressas no novo osso, novo cemento e novo ligamento periodontal, em ambos os grupos. Os osteoclastos demonstraram imunolocalização intracelular intensa somente para a OPN. Cementócitos e o novo ligamento periodontal demonstraram, particularmente, marcação intensa para a MEPE. Houve uma diferença evidente entre o padrão de marcação entre o lado tratado (vestibular) e o não-tratado (lingual) de todos os espécimes, com presença de maior marcação do lado vestibular, para todos os anticorpos testados. Podemos concluir que não houve diferenças no padrão de expressão da família SIBLING após o uso do enxerto de tecido reparativo de alvéolos dentários. A família de proteínas SIBLING é expressa durante o processo de reparação de defeitos de furca, indicando possíveis papéis e funções para as proteínas OPN, BSP, DMP1, DSP e MEPE como moléculas alvo em terapias de regeneração periodontal. / The present study aimed in characterizing the expression of the SIBLING (Small Integrin- Binding Ligand, N-linked Glycoproteins) family in a regenerative treatment of furcation defects with a reparative tissue graft obtained from extraction sockets. The second and third upper premolars were extracted in four mixed breed dogs. Five days later, standardized class II furcation defects were created in the second, third and fourth mandibular premolars, bilaterally. The defects were immediately treated with either debridement and root planning (DRP) combined with a coronally positioned flap (CPF) (Control Group), or with DRP+CPF + a reparative tissue graft derived from the second and third premolar extraction sockets (Experimental Group) in a split-mouth design. After 6 weeks period of healing, the animals were sacrificed and immunohistochemistry was carried out to assess the localization of members of the SIBLING family of noncollagenous extracellular matrix proteins, namely osteopontin (OPN), bone sialoprotein (BSP), dentin matrix protein 1 (DMP1), dentin sialophosphoprotein (DSPP) and matrix extracellular phosphoglycoprotein (MEPE). No differences in the SIBLING family of proteins expression were noted between the control and experimental group. All proteins were expressed in new bone, new cementum and new periodontal ligament in both groups. Osteoclasts exhibited intense intracellular localization only for OPN. Cementocytes and the newly formed periodontal ligament demonstrated particularly intense staining for MEPE. There was an evident difference between the staining pattern between the treated (buccal side) and non-treated (lingual) side of the specimens, with a more intense staining pattern in the buccal side, for all the tested antibodies. In conclusion, there were no differences in the pattern of SIBLING expression following the use of a reparative tissue graft obtained from extraction sockets. The SIBLING family of proteins is expressed during the healing process of furcation defects indicating possible roles and functions of OPN, BSP, DMP1, DSPP and MEPE as target molecules in periodontal regeneration therapies.

Includes bibliographical references (leaves 292-352) Determines the role of matrix metalloproteinases, MMP-2 and MMP-9 in reperfusion injury following skeletal muscle ischaemia; and, whether inhibition of MMPs by doxycycline protects against tissue damage.

Includes bibliographical references (leaves 292-352) / xvi, 352 leaves : / Title page, contents and abstract only. The complete thesis in print form is available from the University Library. / Determines the role of matrix metalloproteinases, MMP-2 and MMP-9 in reperfusion injury following skeletal muscle ischaemia; and, whether inhibition of MMPs by doxycycline protects against tissue damage. / Thesis (M.D.)--University of Adelaide, Dept. of Surgery, 2002

<p>Granulocyte adhesion and release of their granule proteins are key steps during selective accumulation of a certain cell to an inflammatory site. Eosinophils are specifically recruited to sites of allergic inflammation and parasitic infection, whereas neutrophil influx predominates in bacterial infection and rheumatoid arthritis. </p><p>A simple, reliable and convenient method was developed for the measurement of granulocyte adhesion and release of granule proteins by using the normal population of granulocytes. The design allows simultaneous quantitative assessment of eosinophil and neutrophil adhesion to proteins and degranulation. </p><p>Using this method, manganese ions (Mn²⁺) induced a higher level of eosinophil adhesion to fibronectin, fibrinogen and albumin as compared with neutrophils. PMA induced comparable levels of eosinophil and neutrophil adhesion. F-MLP stimulated a rapid, short-term adhesion of neutrophils to fibrinogen. </p><p>In the same conditions PMA alone stimulated a dose-dependent release of ECP from cells that adhered to both fibronectin and fibrinogen. Meanwhile, Mn²⁺ amplified the release of ECP induced by PMA. Furthermore, release of ECP was shown to be associated with cell death.</p><p>PMA, in combination with Mn²⁺, induced a marked release of ~ 80%of the intracellular content of lactoferrin and HNL in neutrophils. PMA or f-MLP alone induced 30-40% release of lactoferrin and HNL. A maximal release of MPO of 15-20% was obtained from neutrophils stimulated by PMA and Mn²⁺. Release of lactoferrin and HNL showed a significant negative relationship to the viability of cells.</p><p>Stimulated by PMA, eosinophils from pollen-atopic patients during early pollen season displayed a markedly enhanced adhesion and release of ECP of eosinophils compared with eosinophils from the references. Priming with IL-5 caused a significantly higher adhesion and release of ECP by eosinophils in response to PMA. GM-CSF priming enhanced eosinophil adhesion in response to PAF and PMA plus Mn²⁺, but did not enhance the release of ECP.</p><p>In conclusion, the assay allows a simple quantification of eosinophil and neutrophil adhesion, as well as degranulation by using the normal population of granulocytes. Cellular adhesion plays an important role in the regulation of both eosinophil and neutrophil degranulation, but adhesion and degranulation can be induced separately.</p>

Granulocyte adhesion and release of their granule proteins are key steps during selective accumulation of a certain cell to an inflammatory site. Eosinophils are specifically recruited to sites of allergic inflammation and parasitic infection, whereas neutrophil influx predominates in bacterial infection and rheumatoid arthritis. A simple, reliable and convenient method was developed for the measurement of granulocyte adhesion and release of granule proteins by using the normal population of granulocytes. The design allows simultaneous quantitative assessment of eosinophil and neutrophil adhesion to proteins and degranulation. Using this method, manganese ions (Mn2+) induced a higher level of eosinophil adhesion to fibronectin, fibrinogen and albumin as compared with neutrophils. PMA induced comparable levels of eosinophil and neutrophil adhesion. F-MLP stimulated a rapid, short-term adhesion of neutrophils to fibrinogen. In the same conditions PMA alone stimulated a dose-dependent release of ECP from cells that adhered to both fibronectin and fibrinogen. Meanwhile, Mn2+ amplified the release of ECP induced by PMA. Furthermore, release of ECP was shown to be associated with cell death. PMA, in combination with Mn2+, induced a marked release of ~ 80%of the intracellular content of lactoferrin and HNL in neutrophils. PMA or f-MLP alone induced 30-40% release of lactoferrin and HNL. A maximal release of MPO of 15-20% was obtained from neutrophils stimulated by PMA and Mn2+. Release of lactoferrin and HNL showed a significant negative relationship to the viability of cells. Stimulated by PMA, eosinophils from pollen-atopic patients during early pollen season displayed a markedly enhanced adhesion and release of ECP of eosinophils compared with eosinophils from the references. Priming with IL-5 caused a significantly higher adhesion and release of ECP by eosinophils in response to PMA. GM-CSF priming enhanced eosinophil adhesion in response to PAF and PMA plus Mn2+, but did not enhance the release of ECP. In conclusion, the assay allows a simple quantification of eosinophil and neutrophil adhesion, as well as degranulation by using the normal population of granulocytes. Cellular adhesion plays an important role in the regulation of both eosinophil and neutrophil degranulation, but adhesion and degranulation can be induced separately.