During recent years, significant advances have been made in the field of molecular therapy in urologic oncology, mainly for advanced renal cell carcinoma. In this hitherto largely treatment-refractory disease, several agents have been developed targeting the von Hippel-Lindau metabolic pathway which is involved in carcinogenesis and progression of the majority of renal cell carcinomas. Although cure may not be expected, new drugs, such as the multikinase inhibitors sorafenib and sunitinib and the mammalian target of rapamycine inhibitor temsirolimus, frequently stabilize the disease course and may improve survival. Fewer data are available supporting molecular therapies in prostate, bladder, and testicular cancers. Preliminary data suggest a potential role of high-dose calcitriol and thalidomide in hormone-refractory prostate cancer, whereas targeted therapies in bladder and testicular cancers are still more or less limited to single-case experiences. The great theoretical potential and the multitude of possible targets and drug combinations, however, support further research into this exciting field of medical treatment of urologic malignancies. / Dieser Beitrag ist mit Zustimmung des Rechteinhabers aufgrund einer (DFG-geförderten) Allianz- bzw. Nationallizenz frei zugänglich.

In a 4-cell C. elegans embryo the ventral blastomere EMS requires polarity signaling from its posterior sister cell, P2. This signaling event enables EMS to orient its division spindle along the anterior-posterior (A/P) axis and to specify the endoderm fate of its posterior daughter cell, E. Wnt pathway components have been implicated in mediating P2/EMS signaling. However, no single mutants or various mutant combinations of the Wnt pathway components disrupt EMS polarity completely. Here we describe the identification of a pathway that is defined by two tyrosine kinase related proteins, SRC-1 and MES-1, which function in parallel with Wnt signaling to specify endoderm and to orient the division axis of EMS. We show that SRC-1, a C. elegans homolog of c-Src, functions downstream of MES-1 to specifically enhance phosphotyrosine accumulation at the P2/EMS junction in order to control cell fate and mitotic spindle orientation in both the P2 and EMS cells. In the canonical Wnt pathway, GSK-3 is conserved across species and acts as a negative regulator. However, in C. elegans we find that GSK-3 functions in a positive manner and in parallel with other components in the Wnt pathway to specify endoderm during embryogenesis. In addition, we also show that GSK-3 regulates C. elegans germline development, a function of GSK-3 that is not associated with Wnt signaling. It is required for the differentiation of somatic gonadal cells as well as the regulation of meiotic cell cycle in germ cells. Our results indicate that GSK-3 modulates multiple signaling pathways to regulate both embryogenesis and germline development in C. elegans.

The studies presented in this thesis addressed mainly two aspects of Piwi-interacting RNA (piRNA) biology in the Drosophilagermline. We investigated the role of the piRNA pathway in embryonic axis specification. piRNAs mediate silencing of retrotransposons and the Stellate locus. Mutations in the Drosophila piRNA pathway genes armitage and aubergine disrupt embryonic axis specification, triggering defects in microtubule polarization and asymmetric localization of mRNA and protein determinants in the developing oocyte. Mutations in the ATR/Chk2 DNA damage signal transduction pathway dramatically suppress these axis specification defects, but do not restore retrotransposon or Stellatesilencing. Furthermore, piRNA pathway mutations lead to germline-specific accumulation of γ-H2Av foci characteristic of DNA damage. We conclude that piRNA based gene silencing is not required for axis specification, and that the critical developmental function for this pathway is to suppress DNA damage signaling in the germline. We have also identified a new member of the piRNA pathway. We show that mutations in rhino, which encodes a rapidly evolving Heterochromatin Protein 1 (HP1) chromo box protein, lead to germline specific DNA break accumulation, trigger Chk2 kinase dependent defects in axis specification, and disrupt germline localization of Piwi proteins. Mutations in rhino and the piRNA pathway gene armitage disrupt silencing of all major transposon families, but do not alter expression of euchromatic or heterochromatic protein coding genes. Deep sequencing studies show that rhino mutations significantly reduce or eliminate anti-sense piRNAs derived from the majority of transposable elements in the Drosophila genome, and lead to a dramatic reduction in piRNAs derived from major piRNA production clusters on chromosomes 2R and 4. Rhino protein localizes to distinct nuclear foci, and associates with the chromosome 2R and 4 clusters by chromatin immunoprecipitation. The Rhino HP1 homologue is therefore required for piRNA biogenesis, transposon silencing, and maintenance of germline genome integrity.

INTRODUÇÃO: O carcinoma basocelular (CBC) é o tipo de câncer cutâneo mais comum no ser humano. O aparecimento de CBC na maioria das vezes se dá de forma esporádica em indivíduos que se expõem cronicamente ao sol. Eventualmente pode estar associado a síndromes, como: Bazex-Dupré- Christol, Rombo e Gorlin-Goltz. Diferente do que ocorre nas síndromes, os casos de CBCs múltiplos familiares não sindrômicos(CBCMFNS) são poucos estudados, tendo na literatura somente cinco relatos de famílias com a doença. O fenótipo é de múltiplos CBCs superficiais sem presença de outras anormalidades. Devido os CBCs esporádicos e os CBCs presentes na Síndrome de Gorlin-Goltz apresentarem mutações no gene PTCH1, possivelmente os CBCs múltiplos também estejam associados a alterações neste gene. Este gene esta localizado na região 9q22.3 possuindo 23 éxons, tem um papel importante na formação embrionária e de supressão tumoral. OBJETIVO: Análise genética dos éxons 9,11, 16, 17 e 23 do PTCH1 de oito componentes da mesma família, pertencentes a três diferentes gerações, sendo três portadores de CBCs múltiplos, e dentre estes dois suspeitos de CBCMFNS. MÉTODOS: Extração de DNA dos leucócitos do sangue periférico; PCR; clonagem dos produtos de amplificação (pGEM T Easy Vector) e seqüenciamento (Big Dye Terminator Kit). As mutações e polimorfismos encontrados foram comparados com a literatura e banco de dados de mutação do gene PTCH1 (www.cybergene.se/PATCH). RESULTADOS: Duas novas mutações foram encontradas nos pacientes suspeitos de CBCMFNS: uma frameshift nt4130(del C) e uma missense nt4261(A->G). Nos familiares foram encontradas cinco novas mutações: Em um primeiro indivíduo uma missense nt1420(G->T); em um segundo a mesma missense nt1420(G->T) e mais uma missense nt2873(C->T); em um terceiro duas frameshift nt1443 (ins T) e nt1468 (ins T), em dois outros indivíduos, irmãos, uma outra mutação missense nt4130(C->T). Foram encontradas ainda dezoito mutações, não descritas anteriormente, nos íntrons 10,15,16 e 17, algumas se repetindo em todos os indivíduos analisados. CONCLUSÃO: Pela primeira vez estão sendo descritas mutações em éxons e íntrons do gene PTCH1 em indivíduos portadores de CBCMFNS e em alguns de seus familiares. / INTRODUCTION: Basal cell carcinomas (BCC) are the most usual skin cancer that affects human beings. Sporadic BCCs are prevalent, often arising in people chronically exposed to UV radiation from the sun. Eventually BCCs may be associated to different syndroms like Bazex-Dupré-Christol, Rambo and Gorlin. Contrarily to syndromic BCCs, the cases of multiple familiar nonsydromic BCCs(MFNSBCC) have only few studies found in the literature. Only five families have been described to date with the disease. Since sporadic and Gorlin BCCs are associated to many mutations in the PTCH1 gene, we hypothesized that the multiple BCCs phenotype is also associated with mutations in this same gene. The PTCH1 tumor suppressor gene is located in the 9q22.3 chromosomal region, contains 23 exons, and has an important role in embryogenesis. OBJETIVE: To perform genetic analysis of PTCH1 exons 9, 11, 16, 17 e 23. METHODS: Eight individuals belonging to different generations from the same family were studied. Three of them bore multiple BCCs, and two of those were suspect to have MFNSBCC. DNA was extracted from blood leukocytes, submitted to PCR, and the PCR products were cloned (pGEM T Easy Vector, Promega) and sequenced (Big Dye Terminator Kit; ABI Prism 3100 sequencer; Applied Biosystems). The polymorphisms and mutations found were analyzed and compared to literature and PTCH1database (www.cybergene.se/PTCH/). RESULTS: In the patients suspect of MFNSBCC were found two new mutation: one frameshift nt4130(del C) and one missense nt4261(A->G). In the relatives were found five new mutation: Three missense nt1420(G->T); nt2873(C->T); nt4130(C->T); and two frameshift nt1443 (ins T) and nt1468 (ins T). In the introns 10,15,16 and 17 were found eighteen new mutations that were not previously reported. CONCLUSION: For the first time mutation in exons and introns of PTCH1 gene have been described in patients bore MFNSBCC and some of their relatives.

Orientador: Mary Anne Heidi Dolder / Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Biologia / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-17T22:42:21Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Gomes_MarcosdeLuccaMoreira_D.pdf: 17022356 bytes, checksum: 8f52bd976bb7a3f25e260b1c7c06dc69 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2011 / Resumo: A espécie Heteropterys aphrodisiaca é amplamente utilizada como afrodisíaca. Estudos mostram o potencial efeito estimulante sobre o tamanho das vesículas seminais e de populações de células de Leydig em ratos, ambos andrógenos dependentes. Neste trabalho foi proposto o tratamento com a infusão de H. aphrodisiaca aliado ao exercício de resistência física com o intuito de observar seus efeitos nos testículos de ratos. Foram utilizados ratos Wistar (90 dias) divididos em 4 grupos (n=10, cada): controles - água, sedentário e com treinamento físico; tratados com H. aphrodisiaca (104mg/kg/dia) sedentário e com treinamento físico. O experimento teve duração total de 56 dias. Foi realizada dosagem de testosterona plasmática e avaliados parâmetros morfométricos e estereológicos do parênquima testicular. No epitélio seminífero, foram contados os números de células germinativas e somáticas, calculando-se o rendimento da espermatogênese, índices mitótico e meiótico e eficiência e capacidade de células de Sertoli. Foi realizado Western Blotting para quantificação da concentração de receptores de andrógeno, e TUNEL para determinação de porcentagem de células apoptóticas. A concentração de testosterona circulante foi significativamente maior nos animais tratados e sedentários. Os diâmetros médios tubulares dos animais treinados foram maiores quando comparados aos dos animais sedentários. Não ocorreram variações significativas quanto ao volume do tecido intersticial, na proporção de macrófagos, espaço linfático e vasos sanguíneos. Entretanto, ocorreram diminuições significativas na proporção de tecido conjuntivo em ambos os grupos que receberam a infusão vegetal. Houve aumentos significativos do diâmetro e volume nucleares das células de Leydig dos animais treinados. Houve diminuição significativa do número de células de Leydig por grama de parênquima testicular nos animais controle/treinados quando comparados aos outros grupos experimentais. O grupo tratado/treinado apresentou o maior índice de mitoses espermatogoniais, sendo significativamente maior que a média do grupo sedentário/tratado. As curvas de rendimento e índice mitótico possuem mesmo padrão de distribuição, entretanto, para o índice meiótico, o grupo sedentário/tratado mostrou as maiores médias quando comparado aos dois grupos controle, sedentário e treinado. Não houve alteração de índices apoptóticos tampouco na concentração de receptores androgênicos entre os grupos experimentais. O protocolo de treinamento aplicado no presente experimento não acarretou em danos no parênquima testicular, como tem sido afirmado em outros experimentos envolvendo exercício aeróbico. Contudo, a infusão de nó-de-cachorro parece influenciar tanto no estímulo de células de Leydig, com aumento do volume celular, quanto no comportamento espermatogonial, induzindo mitoses e aumentando o rendimento geral do processo espermatogênico / Abstract: The species Heteropterys aphrodisiaca is traditionally used as an aphrodisiac. Some studies showed its stimulating potential of seminal vesicle and Leydig cell population growth, both androgen dependent. In this study, we proposed to observe the effects of H. aphrodisiaca infusion treatment combined with endurance exercise protocol. For this investigation, 40 adult Wistar rats (90 days) were used (4 groups, n = 10 each): two controls receiving water, sedentary and trained, and two treated with H. aphrodisiaca (104mg/kg/dia), sedentary and trained. The experiment lasted for 56 days. Plasma testosterone concentration was measured by radioimmunoassay. Morphometrical and stereological parameters were evaluated from the testicular parenchyma. The numbers of somatic and germ cells were estimated by counting the seminiferous epithelium cell population. Also, the spermatogenic yield, meiotic and mitotic index, efficiency and capacity of Sertoli cells were estimated. Western blotting was performed to quantify the concentration of androgen receptors, and TUNEL technique to determine the percentage of apoptotic cells within the seminiferous tubules. Control/trained animals showed a significant decrease in body mass gain compared to sedentary animals. The testosterone concentrations were significantly higher in treated/sedentary animals. The mean tubular diameters of trained animals were higher when compared to sedentary animals. There were no significant differences regarding the volume of interstitial tissue, the proportion and volume of macrophages, lymphatic space and blood vessels. However, the treated/sedentary group showed lower connective tissue content compared with the control/sedentary, as well as the diminished volume of Leydig cells, compared with the treated/trained group. There was a significant increase of both nuclear diameter and volume of Leydig cells in trained animals. On the other hand, there was a significant decrease of Leydig cell number per gram of testicular parenchyma in control/trained animals. Considering the spermatogenesis dynamics, both treated groups showed the highest spermatogenic yield, in relation to the control/trained group. The treated/trained group showed the highest index of spermatogonial mitosis - significantly higher than the sedentary/treated one. Spermatogenic yield and mitotic index showed the same distribution pattern when plotted on graphs; however, the meiotic index was significantly higher only in the sedentary/treated group. The apoptotic indexes, as well as the androgen receptor concentrations were not affected by the protocols employed. Treatment with the plant infusion did not lead to an increase of the parameters analyzed. However, the infusion seems to stimulate either the Leydig cell (increase of cell volume) or the spermatogonial behavior, inducing more mitosis and increasing the spermatogenic yield / Doutorado / Biologia Celular / Doutor em Biologia Celular e Estrutural

Submitted by Erika Demachki (erikademachki@gmail.com) on 2017-06-23T19:07:29Z No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertação - Yovani Adolfo Villanueva Herrera - 2017.pdf: 1975075 bytes, checksum: 4226bb99e3c16dbc26f70e7f7208e2c1 (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) / Rejected by Erika Demachki (erikademachki@gmail.com), reason: on 2017-06-29T18:25:12Z (GMT) / Submitted by Erika Demachki (erikademachki@gmail.com) on 2017-06-29T18:25:47Z No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertação - Yovani Adolfo Villanueva Herrera - 2017.pdf: 2011176 bytes, checksum: 4107b5d00ad34d3b4127265319a99868 (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Erika Demachki (erikademachki@gmail.com) on 2017-06-29T18:28:16Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertação - Yovani Adolfo Villanueva Herrera - 2017.pdf: 2011176 bytes, checksum: 4107b5d00ad34d3b4127265319a99868 (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-06-29T18:28:16Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertação - Yovani Adolfo Villanueva Herrera - 2017.pdf: 2011176 bytes, checksum: 4107b5d00ad34d3b4127265319a99868 (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-05-30 / Conselho Nacional de Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico - CNPq / The subject of this work is the theory of normal forms of smooth vector fields of constrained systems (systems of non-linear differential-algebraic equations). In this study we introduce the qualitative theory of ordinary differential equations, with topics such as stability, structural stability, bifurcations, limit cycles and catastrophes of differential equations, and the functional singularity theory. The goal of this work is classify and normalize constrained systems, first of all from the local point of view, we'll show an idea of the global one and our final objective will be extend this theory to differenciable manifolds of dimension $n \geq 2$. / O tema deste trabalho é a teoria das formas normais de campos vetoriais suaves de sistemas forçados (sistemas de equações diferenciais-algébricas não lineares). Neste estudo entram a teoria qualitativa de equações diferenciais ordinárias, com tópicos como estabilidade, estabilidade estrutural, bifurcações, ciclos limite e catástrofes de equações diferenciais e a teoria das singularidades de funções. O objetivo do trabalho é a classificação e normalização dos sistemas forçados, primeiramente do ponto de vista local, mostraremos uma ideia da análise global e será nossa finalidade estender esta teoria para variedades diferenciáveis de dimensão $n \geq 2$.

Neste trabalho, nos concentramos no estudo da topologia da fibração de Milnor associada a um germe de aplicação polinomial f : (Rn , 0) → (Rp , 0) com uma singularidade isolada na origem. O primeiro resultado é uma extensão da caracterização de germes de aplicações triviais nos pares de dimensões (n; p) quando n - p = 3: Uma caracterização inicial foi apresentada por Church e Lamotke em 1975. O segundo resultado é a caracterização de NS-pares (S5 , K2), usando a topologia de espaços de configuração. Como uma consequência desta caracterização, mostramos a existência de germe de aplicação polinomial real nos pares de dimensões (6; 3) com uma singularidade isolada na origem tal que sua fibra de Milnor não é difeomorfa a um disco. A existência desses exemplos coloca um fim ao problema da não-trivialidade proposto por Milnor em 1968 e além disso, nos permite apresentar um novo resultado sobre a topologia da fibra de Milnor real nos pares de dimensões (2n; n) e (2n + 1; n); n ≥ 3: Tal resultado garante a existência de germes de aplicações polinomiais (Rn , 0) → (Rp, 0); n ≥ p ≥ 2; com uma singularidade isolada na origem tais que suas fibras de Milnor têm o tipo de homotopia de um buquê de um número positivo de esferas. / In this work, we focus on the study of the topology of the Milnor fibration associated with a polynomial map germ f : (Rn , 0) → (Rp , 0) with an isolated singularity at the origin. The first result is an extension of the characterization of trivial map germs in the pairs of dimensions (n; p) when n - p = 3: An initial characterization was presented by Church and Lamotke in 1975. The second result is a characterization of NS-pairs (S5 , K2), using the topology of configuration spaces. As a consequence of this characterization, we show the existence of real polynomial map germs in the pairs of dimensions (6; 3) with an isolated singularity at the origin such that its Milnor fibers are not diffeomorphic to a disc. The existence of such examples ends a non-triviality problem posed by Milnor in 1968 and furthermore, it allows us to show a new result about the topology of the real Milnor fibers in the pairs of dimensions (2n; n) and (2n + 1; n); n ≥ 3. This result ensure the existence of polynomial map germs (Rn , 0) → (Rp, 0); n ≥ p ≥ 2; with an isolated singularity at the origin such that its Milnor fibers has the homotopy type of a bouquet of a positive number of spheres.

Abstract Incidence of esophageal adenocarcinoma is rising rapidly in Western countries. The main risk factor for esophageal adenocarcinoma is Barrett’s esophagus. Barrett’s esophagus results from long-term gastroesophageal reflux disease. The gastrointestinal tract is colonized by bacteria, fungi and viruses forming the alimentary tract microbiome. Microbiome transformation is involved in pathogenesis of alimentary tract cancer and also in the development of Barrett’s metaplasia. Toll-like receptors (TLR) are molecules of the innate immune system and they are involved in bacterial and viral recognition and regulation of immune functions in the host and cancer cells. This thesis examined the effect of alimentary tract microbiome and cancer- on the function of TLRs in normal gastrointestinal epithelial cells. An additional focus of the thesis was also to assess the carcinogenetic effect of TLRs 1–9 in Barrett’s esophagus metaplasia – dysplasia – carcinoma sequence. Study material consisted of: a patient cohort, organ donors, conventional and germ-free mice. TLRs are expressed also in a “microbe-free” gut. There were significant differences in all TLRs between small- and large intestine of conventional mice and in humans. In germ-free mice that difference was not observed. Normal tissue sampled adjacent to the tumors of cancer patients can be used as controls in immunohistochemical TLR studies in gastrointestinal cancer Clinical data indicate that TLRs linearly increase toward dysplasia in Barrett’s esophagus. High cytoplasmic and nuclear TLR4 expression and TLR1 and 8 nuclear immunoreactivity in esophageal adenocarcinoma are associated with metastatic disease and poor prognosis. Based on our results, bacteria seem to downregulate TLR expression of the intestine. TLRs 1–9 apparently have a role in malignant progression of Barrett’s dysplasia. TLR1, TLR4 and TLR8 may represent a novel therapeutic target in esophageal adenocarcinoma. / Tiivistelmä Ruokatorven adenokarsinooma on länsimaissa nopeasti yleistyvä syöpätyyppi. Tämän syöpätyypin tärkein riskitekijä on Barrettin ruokatorvi, joka kehittyy pitkään jatkuneen gastroesofageaalisen refluksitaudin pohjalta. Ruuansulatuskanavassa on suuri määrä bakteereja, sieniä ja viruksia, jotka muodostavat yhdessä ruuansulatuskanavan mikrobiomin. Normaalin mikrobiomin muutokset ovat yhteydessä usean eri ruuansulatuskanavan syövän patogeneesiin ja myös Barrettin ruokatorven muodostumiseen. Tollin kaltaiset reseptorit ovat luontaisen immuniteetin molekyylejä, jotka osallistuvat bakteerien ja virusten tunnistukseen ja sääntelevät immuunivastetta sekä normaalitilanteessa että syövissä. Väitöskirjassa tutkitaan ruuansulatuskanavan mikrobiomin ja syövän vaikutuksia normaalien epiteelisolujen TLR:ien toimintaan. Lisäksi selvitetään TLR:ien karsinogeneettisiä vaikutuksia Barrettin ruokatorven metaplasia- dysplasia -adenokarsinoomasekvenssissä. Tutkimusmateriaalina käytetään potilaskohortista ja elinluovutuksista peräisin olevia potilasnäytteitä sekä normaalien ja bakteerittomien hiirien näytteitä. Tuloksemme osoittavat, että TLR:t ilmentyvät myös bakteerittomassa ruuansulatuskanavassa, ja TLR:en ilmentyminen oli merkittävästi voimakkaampaa ohutsuolessa kuin paksusuolessa normaaleilla hiirillä ja ihmisillä. Tätä eroa ei havaittu bakteerittomilla hiirillä. Ruuansulatuskanavan syöpien viereistä ja sen altistamaa tervettä kudosta voidaan käyttää terveenä kontrollina immunohistokemiallisissa TLR- tutkimuksissa. Kliinisessä aineistossa TLR:ien ilmentyminen kasvaa lineaarisesti kohti dysplasiaa Barrettin ruokatorvessa. TLR4:n korkea ilmentyminen solulimassa ja tumassa sekä TLR8:n ilmentyminen tumassa ovat yhteydessä metastaattiseen tautiin ja huonoon ennusteeseen. Tulosten perusteella bakteerit näyttävät heikentävän TLR:ien toimintaa suolistossa. Lisäksi kaikilla tutkituilla TLR:illä (1–9) näyttää olevan osuutta Barrettin dysplasian etenemisessä kohti syöpää. TLR1, TLR4 ja TLR8 ovat mahdollisia terapeuttisia kohteita ruokatorven adenokarsinoomassa.

Recent research shows, that gut microbiome can influence various functions of the organism and is able to communicate with the brain. The data also show that changes in the composition of gut microbiome can influence behavior and stress reactions and vice versa, psychological state of the organism can cause changes in gut microbiome. The aim of this master's thesis was to examine changes of HPA activation and local metabolism of glucocorticoids caused by stress in the presence or absence of gut microbiome. We therefore used germ-free mice and studied the effect of stress in pituitary, adrenal gland, colon and spleen. We found that, stress has different impact on gene expression in adrenal gland, colon and spleen in the presence or absence of gut microbiome. In contrast, there wasn't any significant effect of stress on pituitary in germ free mice and their conventionaly colonized counterparts.

No description available.