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L’injection de cellules immunologiquement compétentes à un hôte histo-incompatible amène une réaction qui peut se traduire par la maladie du greffon-contre-l’hôte (GVHD). La GVHD demeure une barrière importante à une utilisation plus répandue de la greffe allogénique de cellules hématopoïétiques (AHCT), pourtant un traitement efficace pour traiter de nombreuses maladies. Une meilleure compréhension des mécanismes qui sous-tendent cette pathologie pourrait en faciliter le traitement et la prévention. L’Interféron-gamma (IFN-γ) et le Transforming Growth Factor-béta (TGF-β) sont deux cytokines maîtresses de l’immunité impliquées dans la fonction et l’homéostasie des cellules greffées. Nous démontrons chez la souris que l’IFN-γ limite la reconstitution lympho-hématopoïétique de façon dose-dépendante en mobilisant des mécanismes d’apoptose et en inhibant la prolifération cellulaire. Le TGF-β est quant à lui généralement connu comme un immunosuppresseur qui contrôle l’immunité en utilisant plusieurs voies de signalisation. Le rôle relatif de ces voies en AHCT est inconnu. Nous avons étudié une de ces voies en greffant des cellules provenant de donneurs déficients pour le gène SMAD3 (SMAD3-KO), un médiateur central de la voie canonique du TGF-β, à des souris histo-incompatibles. Bien que l’absence de SMAD3 ne cause aucune maladie chez nos souris donneuses, l’injection de cellules SMAD3-KO amène une GVHD du colon sévère chez le receveur. Cette atteinte est caractérisée par une différenciation Th1 et une infiltration massive de granulocytes témoignant d’un rôle central de SMAD3 dans la physiologie des lymphocytes T CD4 et des cellules myéloïdes. Nous avons focalisé ensuite nos efforts sur le rôle de SMAD3 chez les lymphocytes T CD4 en sachant que SMAD3 était actif chez les lymphocytes T CD4 tolérants. Nous avons découvert que SMAD3 était rapidement inactivé après une activation des cellules T, suggérant que l’inactivation de SMAD3 était fonctionnellement importante pour briser l’état de tolérance. Des études de micro-puces d’ADNc nous ont montré que SMAD3 contrôlait en effet l’expression de nombreux transcrits de gènes connus comme étant reliés à la tolérance et/ou à des processus biologiques dont les rôles dans le maintien de la tolérance sont plausibles. / The injection of immuno-competent cells into a histo-incompatible host can result in the development of Graft-versus-Host disease (GVHD). GVHD is the most significant barrier to a more widespread use of allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (AHCT), a potent treatment for several diseases. A better understanding of the pathophysiological underpinnings of GVHD would facilitate the design of rational approaches to treat and prevent this complication of AHCT. Gamma-interferon (IFN-γ) and Transforming Growth Factor-beta (TGF-β) are master cytokines of immunity and have a role in the function and homeostasis of transplanted cells. Using a murine model, we show that IFN-γ curtails lympho-hamatopoitic reconstitution in a dose-dependent fashion by increasing apoptosis and by limiting donor cell proliferation. TGF-β is an immunosuppressive cytokine that controls immune cells through multiple signaling pathways. The relative contribution of these pathways in AHCT is unknown. We specifically studied the role of one of these pathways by transplanting SMAD3 deficient cells (SMAD3-KO) in histo-incompatible hosts. SMAD3 is a key mediator of the so-called canonical TGF-β signaling pathway. Although SMAD3-KO donor mice are healthy, the injection of SMAD3-KO cells leads to severe GVHD in the hosts, characterized by intestinal involvement associated with Th1 skewing and massive granulocyte infiltration. These findings hint at a crucial role for SMAD3 in CD4 T-cell and myeloid cell biology. We then focalized on the role of SMAD3 in CD4 T cells knowing that SMAD3 is active in tolerant, resting CD4 T cells. We found that SMAD3 was rapidly inactivated upon T cell activation, suggesting that SMAD3 inactivation was functionally important to break the state of tolerance. Our cDNA microarray experiments show that indeed, SMAD3 regulates the transcript levels of multiple genes known to be involved in T cell tolerance and in biological processes plausibly related to immune tolerance.

Introdução: Várias são as propostas descritas para tratar farmacologicamente a lesão traumática da medula espinal. A metilprednisolona já foi padronizada para uso clínico. O fator estimulador de colônia de granulócitos (G-CSF) tem sido promissor em estudos experimentais e clínicos. Não há pesquisas quanto ao efeito da associação dos dois fármacos. Objetivo: Avaliar o efeito do tratamento com o fator estimulador de colônia de granulócitos associado a metilprednisolona na lesão medular aguda experimental em ratos. Material e métodos: Foram avaliados 40 ratos Wistar submetidos a lesão medular moderada com o NYU-Impactor. Os animais foram divididos em quatro grupos de 10 ratos. O Grupo Controle não recebeu tratamento; o Grupo G-CSF, foi tratado com G-CSF no momento da lesão e diariamente ao longo dos cinco dias subsequentes; o Grupo Metilprednisolona, com metilprednisolona durante 24 horas; e o Grupo G-CSF/Metilprednisolona, com metilprednisolona durante 24 horas e G-CSF no momento da lesão e ao longo de cinco dias. Os animais foram mantidos vivos durante 42 dias; a avaliação funcional foi realizada com a aplicação da escala funcional de Basso, Beattie e Bresnahan (BBB) nos dias 2, 7, 14, 21, 28, 35 e 42 subsequentes à lesão. A avaliação dos potenciais evocados motores foi realizada no dia 42 e a avaliação histológica da lesão da região da medula espinal lesada, realizada logo após a eutanásia ocorrida no dia 42. Resultados e conclusões: A associação de metilprednisolona e G-CSF no tratamento do traumatismo medular contuso experimental em ratos promoveu melhora neurológica avaliada pela escala BBB superior à melhora promovida pela metilprednisolona e G-CSF quando utilizadas isoladamente. A associação teve também efeito sinérgico que resultou em melhora nos parâmetros histológicos no local da lesão. Não houve diferença entre os grupos quanto à avaliação neurofisiológica / Introduction: There are several proposals to pharmacologically treat traumatic spinal cord injury. Methylprednisolone has already been standardized for clinical use. Granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) has been promising in experimental and clinical studies. There is no research on the effect of the association of the two drugs. Objective: to evaluate the effect of combined treatment of the granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) associated with methylprednisolone in experimental acute spinal cord injury in rats. Material and methods: Forty male Wistar rats were submitted to a moderate spinal cord injury with the NYU-Impactor. The animals were divided into four groups of ten rats each. The Control Group was not treated; the G-CSF Group was treated with G-CSF at the time of injury and daily over the next five days; the Methylprednisolone Group was treated with methylprednisolone for 24 hours; the G-CSF/methylprednisolone Group, was treated with methylprednisolone for 24 hours and G-CSF at the time of injury and daily over the next five days. The animals were kept alive for 42 days; Functional evaluation was performed using the Basso, Beattie and Bresnahan (BBB) score on days 2, 7, 14, 21, 28, 35 and 42 following the spinal cord injury. Evaluation of motor evoked potentials was held and histological examination of the lesion of the spinal cord was done immediately after euthanasia on day 42. Results and conclusions: The combination of methylprednisolone and G-CSF in the treatment of experimental spinal cord injury in rats promoted neurological improvement as assessed by BBB scale with greater improvement than with methylprednisolone or G-CSF when used alone. The combination of treatment had also a synergistic effect resulting in improvement in histological parameters at the injury site. There was no difference between groups regarding neurophysiological evaluation

Mobilização inadequada de células progenitoras hematopoéticas (CPH) tem sido observada em 10 - 30% dos pacientes submetidos a transplante de medula óssea (TMO) autogênico para tratamento de doenças onco-hematológicas. Os fatores relacionados com má resposta à mobilização ainda não estão totalmente estabelecidos. Apresentamos uma análise retrospectiva de pacientes submetidos à TMO autogênico com o objetivo de identificar variáveis associadas com resposta ruim ao regime de mobilização utilizado. Casuística e Métodos: Fizeram parte desta análise 307 pacientes com diferentes diagnósticos, tratados com TMO autogênico em uma única Instituição, no período de Abril de 2001 a Abril de 2007. Todos os pacientes incluídos no estudo foram submetidos a um único regime de mobilização baseado na administração de ciclofosfamida (dose total de 60-120 mg/kg de peso IV) e fator estimulador de colônias de granulócitos (G-CSF) (dose diária de 6 - 17 ug/(kg de peso)/dia SC). O sucesso na resposta ao regime de mobilização foi definido quando um número maior ou igual a 2,0x10 (6) células CD34 + /(kg de peso) foi coletado do sangue periférico com até três procedimentos de leucaférese. Resultados: Dos pacientes analisados, 260 apresentaram sucesso na mobilização (84,7%). Nestes pacientes, um número mediano de 3,67 (2,0 - 46,0) células CD34+ /(kg de peso) foi coletado por paciente com um número mediano de 1 (1-3) procedimento de leucaférese. O insucesso na mobilização foi observado em 47 pacientes (15,3%): 24 (7,8%) que foram submetidos à coleta de CPH de sangue periférico, porém não coletaram número maior ou igual 2,0x10 (6) células CD34+/(kg de peso) com pelo menos três procedimentos de leucaférese; e, 23 (7,5%) foram submetidos à coleta de CPH por punção da medula óssea, por não terem atingido número mínimo de 10 células CD34+/mm3 no sangue periférico para realização de leucaférese. De acordo com análise univariada, os fatores associados com o insucesso foram: diagnóstico (P < 0,0001), tempo de doença (P < 0,0001), número prévio de ciclos de quimioterapia (P = 0,0001), exposição prévia a agentes alquilantes (P = 0.0003) e a mitoxantrone (P = 0,0006), contagem de plaquetas pré-mobilização <150.000/mm3 (P = 0,0006) e intervalo entre o início da mobilização e o pico de células CD 34+ no sangue periférico (P < 0,0001). Idade, sexo, atividade da doença e envolvimento medular ao início da mobilização, tratamento prévio com radioterapia e exposição a análogos da platina não mostraram correlação significativa na resposta à mobilização. Após análise multivariada, as variáveis que permaneceram associadas com insucesso na mobilização foram: diagnóstico (P = 0,0232), número prévio de ciclos da quimioterapia (P = 0,0167), tratamento prévio com mitoxantrone (P = 0,0285) e contagem de plaquetas pré-mobilização < 150.000/mm3 (P = 0,0423). Conclusão: A carga cumulativa de quimioterapia administrada, exposição prévia à mitoxantrone, contagem de plaquetas pré-mobilização e diagnóstico foram os fatores independentes relacionados com a falha na resposta à mobilização. Os achados obtidos podem auxiliar no reconhecimento de pacientes de risco para resposta ruim à mobilização e permitir um planejamento alternativo ou mais agressivo no regime de mobilização para este grupo de pacientes. / Inadequate stem cells mobilization is seen in 10-30% of patients undergoing autotransplantation for hematologic malignancies. Factors affecting peripheral blood progenitor cell (PBSC) mobilization have not been clearly established. We retrospectively reviewed the data of patients treated by autologous bone marrow transplantation (BMT) with the aim to identify factors associated with poor PBSC mobilization. Design and Methods: We evaluated 307 patients with different diagnoses, submitted to autologous BMT between April 2001 and April 2007. PBSC were collected following mobilization with cyclophosphamide (60-120 mg/kg of weight IV) and granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) (dose of 6-17 ug/kg of weight/day SC). Success in mobilization was defined when > ou = a 2,0x10(6) CD34+ cells/(kg weight) could be collected from the peripheral blood with a maximum of three leukapheresis procedures. Clinical and laboratory parameters at the time of mobilization were analyzed for correlations with the number of CD34+ cells collected. Results: Two hundred and sixty patients (84.7%) presented success in mobilization. In this group, a median of 3.67 (2.0-46.0) CD34+ cells/(kg weight) was collected per patient in a median of 1(1-3) leukapheresis procedure. Poor response to mobilization was observed in 47 patients (15.3%): 24 (7.8%) were submitted to PBSC collection but didn\'t collected at least 2.0 x 106 CD34+ cells/(kg weight) with three leukapheresis procedures and 23 (7.5%) didn\'t reach an absolute number count of 10 CD34+ cells/mm3 in the peripheral blood to start collection by leukapheresis. In univariate analysis poorer PBSC mobilization was associated with diagnosis (Pp < 0.0001), time interval from the diagnosis to mobilization (P < 0.0001), number of cycles of previous chemotherapy (P = 0.0001), previous treatment with alkylating agents (P = 0.0003) and mitoxantrone (P = 0.0006), platelet count <150.000/mm3 before mobilization (P = 0.0006) and interval between mobilization and peak of CD34+ cells in peripheral blood (P < 0.0001). No significant correlation was found with age, gender, disease status, marrow involvement at mobilization, prior radiation therapy and exposition to platin analogues. In the stepwise regression model, diagnosis (P = 0.0232), number of cycles of previous chemotherapy (P = 0.0167), previous treatment with mitoxantrone (P = 0.0285) and platelet count <150.000/mm3 before mobilization (P = 0.0423) were found to be independent negative predictive factors for CD34+ cells mobilization. Conclusion: Cumulative load of chemotherapy, exposition to Mitoxantrone, platelet count just prior to mobilization and diagnosis were independent factors related to poor progenitor cells mobilization. These results could help in the previously recognition of patients at risk for poor or no response to mobilization and allow to plan an alternative or more aggressive regimen for this group of patients.

by Lee Juon Kiu. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2002. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 139-152). / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / Thesis committee --- p.i / Statement --- p.ii / Acknowledgements --- p.iii / Abstract --- p.v / Table of contents --- p.ix / List of figures --- p.xv / List of tables --- p.xvii / List of graphs --- p.xviii / List of abbreviations --- p.xix / Chapter Chapter 1: --- General Introduction --- p.1 / Chapter Chapter 2: --- Literature Review --- p.4 / Chapter 2.1 --- Human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (hG-CSF) --- p.4 / Chapter 2.1.1 --- Physiological roles --- p.4 / Chapter 2.1.2 --- Molecular properties --- p.8 / Chapter 2.1.3 --- Biochemical properties --- p.9 / Chapter 2.1.4 --- Comparison to G-CSF of other specie --- p.10 / Chapter 2.1.5 --- Clinical application --- p.11 / Chapter 2.1.6 --- Economic value --- p.13 / Chapter 2.2 --- Expression systems producing recombinant hG-CSF --- p.15 / Chapter 2.2.1 --- Bacteria --- p.15 / Chapter 2.2.2 --- Yeasts --- p.17 / Chapter 2.2.3 --- Animal cell lines --- p.18 / Chapter 2.2.4 --- Transgenic animals --- p.19 / Chapter 2.2.5 --- Transgenic plants --- p.20 / Chapter 2.3 --- Plant as bioreactors --- p.21 / Chapter 2.3.1 --- Characteristics of using plant as bioreactors --- p.22 / Chapter 2.3.2 --- Transgenic plants producing hematopoietic growth factors --- p.24 / Chapter 2.3.2.1 --- Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) --- p.24 / Chapter 2.3.2.2 --- Erythropoietin (Epo) --- p.26 / Chapter 2.3.3 --- Arabidopsis and tobacco as model plants --- p.27 / Chapter 2.3.3.1 --- Arabidopsis --- p.28 / Chapter 2.3.3.2 --- Tobacco --- p.28 / Chapter 2.3.4 --- Phaseolin and its regulatory sequences --- p.29 / Chapter 2.4 --- Plant transformation methods --- p.31 / Chapter 2.4.1 --- Agrobacterium-mediated transformation --- p.31 / Chapter 2.4.1.1 --- Tissue culture methods --- p.31 / Chapter 2.4.1.2 --- Non-tissue culture (In planta) methods --- p.32 / Chapter 2.4.2 --- Direct DNA uptake transformation --- p.33 / Chapter 2.4.2.1 --- Chemical methods --- p.33 / Chapter 2.4.2.2 --- Electrical methods --- p.34 / Chapter 2.4.2.3 --- Physical methods --- p.34 / Chapter Chapter 3: --- Materials and Methods --- p.36 / Chapter 3.1 --- Introduction --- p.36 / Chapter 3.2 --- Chemicals --- p.37 / Chapter 3.3 --- Bacterial strains --- p.37 / Chapter 3.4 --- Chimeric gene construction --- p.37 / Chapter 3.4.1 --- Cloning of pTZ/Phas/His/EK/hG-CSF --- p.41 / Chapter 3.4.2 --- Cloning of pBK/Phas/SP/His/EK/hG-CSF --- p.44 / Chapter 3.4.3 --- Cloning of pBK/Phas/SP/hG-CSF --- p.47 / Chapter 3.4.4 --- Confirmation of sequence fidelity of chimeric genes --- p.50 / Chapter 3.4.5 --- Cloning of chimeric genes into Agrobacterium binary vector --- p.51 / Chapter 3.5 --- Expression in Arabidopsis --- p.52 / Chapter 3.5.1 --- Agrobacterium GV3101/pMP90 transformation --- p.52 / Chapter 3.5.2 --- Arabidopsis transformation --- p.53 / Chapter 3.5.2.1 --- Plant materials --- p.53 / Chapter 3.5.2.2 --- Vacuum infiltration --- p.54 / Chapter 3.5.3 --- Screening of successful R1 transformants --- p.55 / Chapter 3.5.4 --- Screening of hemizygous and homozygous transgenic Arabidopsis --- p.56 / Chapter 3.5.5 --- GUS assay --- p.57 / Chapter 3.5.6 --- Genomic DNA extraction --- p.57 / Chapter 3.5.7 --- Southern blot analysis --- p.58 / Chapter 3.5.8 --- Total RNA extraction from developing siliques --- p.59 / Chapter 3.5.9 --- Northern blot analysis --- p.60 / Chapter 3.5.10 --- Protein extraction and Tricine SDS-PAGE --- p.61 / Chapter 3.5.11 --- Western blot analysis --- p.62 / Chapter 3.5.12 --- Functional analysis --- p.63 / Chapter 3.5.12.1 --- Culture ofNFS-60 cells --- p.64 / Chapter 3.5.12.2 --- MTT assay --- p.65 / Chapter 3.6 --- Expression in tobacco --- p.67 / Chapter 3.6.1 --- Agrobacterium LBA4404/pAL4404 transformation --- p.67 / Chapter 3.6.2 --- Tobacco transformation --- p.68 / Chapter 3.6.2.1 --- Plant materials --- p.68 / Chapter 3.6.2.2 --- Tobacco transformation using leaf-disc technique --- p.68 / Chapter 3.6.3 --- Regeneration of transgenic tobacco --- p.69 / Chapter 3.6.4 --- GUS assay --- p.70 / Chapter 3.6.5 --- Genomic DNA extraction --- p.70 / Chapter 3.6.6 --- Southern blot analysis --- p.70 / Chapter 3.6.7 --- Total RNA extraction from immature seeds --- p.70 / Chapter 3.6.8 --- Northern blot analysis --- p.71 / Chapter 3.6.9 --- Protein extraction and Tricine SDS-PAGE --- p.71 / Chapter 3.6.10 --- Western blot analysis --- p.71 / Chapter 3.6.11 --- Functional analysis --- p.71 / Chapter 3.6.11.1 --- Culture of NFS-60 cells --- p.72 / Chapter 3.6.11.2 --- MTT assay --- p.72 / Chapter Chapter 4: --- Results --- p.73 / Chapter 4.1 --- Chimeric gene construction --- p.73 / Chapter 4.1.1 --- Cloning of pTZ/Phas/His/EK/hG-CSF --- p.73 / Chapter 4.1.2 --- Cloning of pBK/Phas/SP/His/EK/hG-CSF --- p.75 / Chapter 4.1.3 --- Cloning of pBK/Phas/SP/hG-CSF --- p.77 / Chapter 4.1.4 --- Cloning of chimeric genes into Agrobacterium binary vector --- p.79 / Chapter 4.2 --- Expression in Arabidopsis --- p.81 / Chapter 4.2.1 --- Agrobacterium GV3101/pMP90 transformation --- p.81 / Chapter 4.2.2 --- Arabidopsis transformation and screening of R1 transformants --- p.83 / Chapter 4.2.3 --- Screening of hemizygous transgenic R1 Arabidopsis --- p.84 / Chapter 4.2.4 --- Screening of homozygous transgenic R2 Arabidopsis --- p.86 / Chapter 4.2.5 --- GUS assay --- p.88 / Chapter 4.2.6 --- Genomic DNA extraction --- p.89 / Chapter 4.2.7 --- Southern blot analysis --- p.91 / Chapter 4.2.8 --- Total RNA extraction from developing siliques --- p.93 / Chapter 4.2.9 --- Northern blot analysis --- p.94 / Chapter 4.2.10 --- Protein extraction and Tricine SDS-PAGE --- p.96 / Chapter 4.2.11 --- Western blot analysis --- p.99 / Chapter 4.2.12 --- Functional analysis --- p.103 / Chapter 4.3 --- Expression in tobacco --- p.108 / Chapter 4.3.1 --- Agrobacterium LBA4404/pAL4404 transformation --- p.108 / Chapter 4.3.2 --- Tobacco transformation and regeneration of transformants --- p.109 / Chapter 4.3.3 --- GUS assay --- p.111 / Chapter 4.3.4 --- Genomic DNA extraction --- p.112 / Chapter 4.3.5 --- Southern blot analysis --- p.114 / Chapter 4.3.6 --- Total RNA extraction from immature seeds --- p.116 / Chapter 4.3.7 --- Northern blot analysis --- p.116 / Chapter 4.3.8 --- Protein extraction and Tricine SDS-PAGE --- p.118 / Chapter 4.3.9 --- Western blot analysis --- p.120 / Chapter 4.3.10 --- Functional analysis --- p.123 / Chapter Chapter 5: --- Discussion --- p.126 / Chapter 5.1 --- Introduction --- p.126 / Chapter 5.2 --- Successful in producing biologically active rhG-CSF from transgenic plants --- p.128 / Chapter 5.2.1 --- Production level --- p.129 / Chapter 5.2.2 --- O-glycosylation --- p.130 / Chapter 5.2.3 --- Phaseolin signal peptide --- p.131 / Chapter 5.2.4 --- Functional analysis --- p.131 / Chapter 5.3 --- Comparison of the productivity of other expression systems producing rhG-CSF --- p.132 / Chapter 5.4 --- Comparison of the productivity of plants producing different human proteins --- p.135 / Chapter 5.5 --- Future perspectives --- p.137 / Chapter Chapter 6: --- Conclusion --- p.138 / References --- p.139

by Ng Wing Man. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2005. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 156-174). / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / Acknowledgements --- p.iii / Abstract --- p.v / 摘要 --- p.vii / Table of Contents --- p.ix / List of Figures --- p.xiii / List of Tables --- p.xvi / List of Graphs --- p.xvii / List of Abbreviations --- p.xviii / Chapter Chapter 1 --- General Introduction --- p.1 / Chapter Chapter 2 --- Literature Review --- p.3 / Chapter 2.1 --- Human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (hG-CSF) --- p.3 / Chapter 2.1.1 --- Historical background --- p.3 / Chapter 2.1.2 --- Physiological Roles --- p.5 / Chapter 2.1.3 --- Molecular properties --- p.8 / Chapter 2.1.4 --- Biochemical properties --- p.9 / Chapter 2.1.5 --- Comparison to G-CSF of other species --- p.11 / Chapter 2.1.6 --- Biological Activities --- p.12 / Chapter 2.1.7 --- Clinical Applications --- p.14 / Chapter 2.1.7.1 --- Clinical use in myelosuppressive chemotherapy and neutropenic fever --- p.14 / Chapter 2.1.7.2 --- Clinical use in bone marrow transplantation (BMT) and peripheral blood progenitor cell (PBPC) transplantation --- p.14 / Chapter 2.1.7.3 --- Clinical use in HIV infection --- p.16 / Chapter 2.1.7.4 --- Clinical use in diabetes mellitus --- p.17 / Chapter 2.1.7.5 --- Clinical use in severe chronic neutropenia --- p.18 / Chapter 2.1.7.6 --- Future prospects --- p.18 / Chapter 2.1.7.7 --- Dosages and adverse effects --- p.19 / Chapter 2.1.8 --- Economic value --- p.20 / Chapter 2.2 --- Plant as bioractor --- p.20 / Chapter 2.2.1 --- Medical molecular farming --- p.20 / Chapter 2.2.2 --- Commercial biopharmaceutical proteins --- p.25 / Chapter 2.2.3 --- Transgenic plants producing hematopoietic growth factors --- p.25 / Chapter 2.2.3.1 --- Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) --- p.26 / Chapter 2.2.3.2 --- Interleukin-2 (IL-2) --- p.28 / Chapter 2.3 --- Rice as expression system --- p.29 / Chapter 2.3.1 --- Characteristics --- p.29 / Chapter 2.3.2 --- Advantages of using rice as bioreactor --- p.30 / Chapter 2.3.3 --- Previous studies --- p.31 / Chapter 2.3.4 --- Transformation method --- p.33 / Chapter 2.3.5 --- Super-binary vector --- p.34 / Chapter 2.4 --- Strategies for enhancing protein expression level --- p.36 / Chapter 2.4.1 --- Vacuolar targeting --- p.36 / Chapter 2.4.1.1 --- Protein targeting signals --- p.38 / Chapter 2.4.1.2 --- Binding protein of 80kDa (BP-80) --- p.39 / Chapter 2.4.1.3 --- a-Tonoplast intrinsic protein (α-TIP) --- p.39 / Chapter 2.4.1.4 --- Receptor homology region-transmembrane domain-Ring H2 motif (RMR) --- p.40 / Chapter 2.4.2 --- Fusion with glutelin in rice --- p.41 / Chapter 2.5 --- Hypotheses and aims of this study --- p.43 / Chapter Chapter 3 --- Materials and Methods --- p.45 / Chapter 3.1 --- Introduction --- p.45 / Chapter 3.2 --- Chemicals --- p.45 / Chapter 3.3 --- Bacterial strains --- p.46 / Chapter 3.4 --- Chimeric genes construction --- p.46 / Chapter 3.4.1 --- Protein targeting constructs --- p.51 / Chapter 3.4.2 --- Enterokinase site constructs --- p.60 / Chapter 3.4.3 --- Glutein signal peptide constructs --- p.65 / Chapter 3.4.4 --- Glutelin fusion constructs --- p.70 / Chapter 3.4.5 --- Sequence fidelity of chimeric genes --- p.77 / Chapter 3.4.6 --- Cloning of chimeric genes into rice super-binary vector --- p.77 / Chapter 3.5 --- Rice transformation --- p.79 / Chapter 3.5.1 --- Plant materials --- p.79 / Chapter 3.5.2 --- Agrobacterium transformation --- p.79 / Chapter 3.5.3 --- A grobacterium-mediated transformation of rice --- p.79 / Chapter 3.6 --- Transgenic expression --- p.81 / Chapter 3.6.1 --- Extraction of leaf genomic DNA --- p.81 / Chapter 3.6.2 --- Synthesis of DIG-labeled double-stranded DNA probe --- p.82 / Chapter 3.6.3 --- Southern blot analysis --- p.83 / Chapter 3.6.4 --- Extraction of total RNA from immature rice seeds --- p.84 / Chapter 3.6.5 --- Northern blot analysis --- p.85 / Chapter 3.6.6 --- Protein extraction --- p.86 / Chapter 3.6.7 --- Tricine SDS-PAGE --- p.86 / Chapter 3.6.8 --- Western blot analysis --- p.87 / Chapter 3.6.9 --- Enterokinase digestion of EK fusion proteins --- p.88 / Chapter 3.7 --- Confocal immunoflorescence studies of rhG-CSF in rice grain --- p.89 / Chapter 3.7.1 --- Preparation of sample sections --- p.89 / Chapter 3.7.2 --- Double-labeling of fluorescence probes --- p.89 / Chapter 3.7.3 --- Image collection --- p.90 / Chapter 3.8 --- Functional analysis of rhG-CSF --- p.91 / Chapter 3.8.1 --- Culture of NFS-60 cells --- p.91 / Chapter 3.8.2 --- MTT cell proliferation assay --- p.92 / Chapter 3.9 --- Bacterial expression of anti-hG-CSF --- p.93 / Chapter 3.9.1 --- pET expression in E. coli --- p.93 / Chapter 3.9.2 --- Purification of His-hG-CSF --- p.97 / Chapter 3.9.3 --- Immunization of rabbits --- p.97 / Chapter Chapter 4 --- Results --- p.99 / Chapter 4.1 --- Construction of chimeric genes for rice transformation --- p.99 / Chapter 4.2 --- "Rice transformation, selection and regeneration" --- p.103 / Chapter 4.3 --- Southern blot analysis --- p.105 / Chapter 4.4 --- Northern blot analysis --- p.109 / Chapter 4.5 --- Western blot analysis --- p.114 / Chapter 4.6 --- Enterokinase digestion of EK fusion proteins --- p.125 / Chapter 4.7 --- Confocal immunofluorescence studies of rhG-CSF in transgenic rice grain --- p.128 / Chapter 4.8 --- Functional analysis of rhG-CSF --- p.132 / Chapter 4.9 --- Bacterial expression of anti-hG-CSF --- p.135 / Chapter 4.9.1 --- Expression and purification of recombinant His-hG-CSF in E. coli --- p.135 / Chapter 4.9.2 --- Titer and specificity of the anti-serum --- p.137 / Chapter Chapter 5 --- Discussion --- p.139 / Chapter 5.1 --- Introduction --- p.139 / Chapter 5.2 --- Fusion of hG-CSF with protein sorting determinants --- p.141 / Chapter 5.3 --- Fusion of hG-CSF with rice glutelin --- p.145 / Chapter 5.4 --- Glutelin signal peptide --- p.146 / Chapter 5.5 --- O-glycosylation --- p.148 / Chapter 5.6 --- Enterokinase digestion --- p.148 / Chapter 5.7 --- Expression level of rhG-CSF --- p.149 / Chapter 5.8 --- Functional analysis of rhG-CSF --- p.151 / Chapter 5.9 --- Future perspectives --- p.151 / Chapter Chapter 6 --- Conclusion --- p.155 / References --- p.156

Mobilização inadequada de células progenitoras hematopoéticas (CPH) tem sido observada em 10 - 30% dos pacientes submetidos a transplante de medula óssea (TMO) autogênico para tratamento de doenças onco-hematológicas. Os fatores relacionados com má resposta à mobilização ainda não estão totalmente estabelecidos. Apresentamos uma análise retrospectiva de pacientes submetidos à TMO autogênico com o objetivo de identificar variáveis associadas com resposta ruim ao regime de mobilização utilizado. Casuística e Métodos: Fizeram parte desta análise 307 pacientes com diferentes diagnósticos, tratados com TMO autogênico em uma única Instituição, no período de Abril de 2001 a Abril de 2007. Todos os pacientes incluídos no estudo foram submetidos a um único regime de mobilização baseado na administração de ciclofosfamida (dose total de 60-120 mg/kg de peso IV) e fator estimulador de colônias de granulócitos (G-CSF) (dose diária de 6 - 17 ug/(kg de peso)/dia SC). O sucesso na resposta ao regime de mobilização foi definido quando um número maior ou igual a 2,0x10 (6) células CD34 + /(kg de peso) foi coletado do sangue periférico com até três procedimentos de leucaférese. Resultados: Dos pacientes analisados, 260 apresentaram sucesso na mobilização (84,7%). Nestes pacientes, um número mediano de 3,67 (2,0 - 46,0) células CD34+ /(kg de peso) foi coletado por paciente com um número mediano de 1 (1-3) procedimento de leucaférese. O insucesso na mobilização foi observado em 47 pacientes (15,3%): 24 (7,8%) que foram submetidos à coleta de CPH de sangue periférico, porém não coletaram número maior ou igual 2,0x10 (6) células CD34+/(kg de peso) com pelo menos três procedimentos de leucaférese; e, 23 (7,5%) foram submetidos à coleta de CPH por punção da medula óssea, por não terem atingido número mínimo de 10 células CD34+/mm3 no sangue periférico para realização de leucaférese. De acordo com análise univariada, os fatores associados com o insucesso foram: diagnóstico (P < 0,0001), tempo de doença (P < 0,0001), número prévio de ciclos de quimioterapia (P = 0,0001), exposição prévia a agentes alquilantes (P = 0.0003) e a mitoxantrone (P = 0,0006), contagem de plaquetas pré-mobilização <150.000/mm3 (P = 0,0006) e intervalo entre o início da mobilização e o pico de células CD 34+ no sangue periférico (P < 0,0001). Idade, sexo, atividade da doença e envolvimento medular ao início da mobilização, tratamento prévio com radioterapia e exposição a análogos da platina não mostraram correlação significativa na resposta à mobilização. Após análise multivariada, as variáveis que permaneceram associadas com insucesso na mobilização foram: diagnóstico (P = 0,0232), número prévio de ciclos da quimioterapia (P = 0,0167), tratamento prévio com mitoxantrone (P = 0,0285) e contagem de plaquetas pré-mobilização < 150.000/mm3 (P = 0,0423). Conclusão: A carga cumulativa de quimioterapia administrada, exposição prévia à mitoxantrone, contagem de plaquetas pré-mobilização e diagnóstico foram os fatores independentes relacionados com a falha na resposta à mobilização. Os achados obtidos podem auxiliar no reconhecimento de pacientes de risco para resposta ruim à mobilização e permitir um planejamento alternativo ou mais agressivo no regime de mobilização para este grupo de pacientes. / Inadequate stem cells mobilization is seen in 10-30% of patients undergoing autotransplantation for hematologic malignancies. Factors affecting peripheral blood progenitor cell (PBSC) mobilization have not been clearly established. We retrospectively reviewed the data of patients treated by autologous bone marrow transplantation (BMT) with the aim to identify factors associated with poor PBSC mobilization. Design and Methods: We evaluated 307 patients with different diagnoses, submitted to autologous BMT between April 2001 and April 2007. PBSC were collected following mobilization with cyclophosphamide (60-120 mg/kg of weight IV) and granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) (dose of 6-17 ug/kg of weight/day SC). Success in mobilization was defined when > ou = a 2,0x10(6) CD34+ cells/(kg weight) could be collected from the peripheral blood with a maximum of three leukapheresis procedures. Clinical and laboratory parameters at the time of mobilization were analyzed for correlations with the number of CD34+ cells collected. Results: Two hundred and sixty patients (84.7%) presented success in mobilization. In this group, a median of 3.67 (2.0-46.0) CD34+ cells/(kg weight) was collected per patient in a median of 1(1-3) leukapheresis procedure. Poor response to mobilization was observed in 47 patients (15.3%): 24 (7.8%) were submitted to PBSC collection but didn\'t collected at least 2.0 x 106 CD34+ cells/(kg weight) with three leukapheresis procedures and 23 (7.5%) didn\'t reach an absolute number count of 10 CD34+ cells/mm3 in the peripheral blood to start collection by leukapheresis. In univariate analysis poorer PBSC mobilization was associated with diagnosis (Pp < 0.0001), time interval from the diagnosis to mobilization (P < 0.0001), number of cycles of previous chemotherapy (P = 0.0001), previous treatment with alkylating agents (P = 0.0003) and mitoxantrone (P = 0.0006), platelet count <150.000/mm3 before mobilization (P = 0.0006) and interval between mobilization and peak of CD34+ cells in peripheral blood (P < 0.0001). No significant correlation was found with age, gender, disease status, marrow involvement at mobilization, prior radiation therapy and exposition to platin analogues. In the stepwise regression model, diagnosis (P = 0.0232), number of cycles of previous chemotherapy (P = 0.0167), previous treatment with mitoxantrone (P = 0.0285) and platelet count <150.000/mm3 before mobilization (P = 0.0423) were found to be independent negative predictive factors for CD34+ cells mobilization. Conclusion: Cumulative load of chemotherapy, exposition to Mitoxantrone, platelet count just prior to mobilization and diagnosis were independent factors related to poor progenitor cells mobilization. These results could help in the previously recognition of patients at risk for poor or no response to mobilization and allow to plan an alternative or more aggressive regimen for this group of patients.

<p>In patients with sepsis, the activation of the cascade systems, for example the complement system with the generation of C5a, is followed by a state of immunosuppression with impaired bactericidal capacity caused by suppression of the neutrophil granulocytes. To inhibit the C5a-induced systemic inflammatory and the following anti-inflammatory responses, different anti-C5a strategies have been successful in experimental models of sepsis. In animals and in healthy volunteers after injection of lipopolysaccharide (LPS), an up-regulation of the C5a receptor (C5aR) has been reported. Before designing clinical studies, it was of importance to increase the knowledge of C5a and C5aR regulation in humans. </p><p>At the time when the diagnosis of severe sepsis or septic shock can be established clinically, granulocyte C5aR expression, analysed by flow cytometer, was shown to be reduced, whereas monocyte C5aR expression was unchanged. There was a correlation between granulocyte C5aR expression and the severity of disease, as measured by the APACHE II score. </p><p><i>Ex vivo</i> incubation of whole blood with LPS resulted in a reduction in granulocyte C5aR expression. Such a reduction was not found in isolated cells, indicating that the effect was mediated via plasma factors, such as C5a, IL-8 and TNF-α which all were shown to reduce C5aR expression <i>ex vivo</i>.</p><p>Although there was a trend between chemotaxis, as measured by migration in a modified Boyden chamber, and C5aR expression on granulocytes from patients with severe sepsis or septic shock or from healthy individuals, the correlation failed to reach statistical significance.</p><p>It is concluded that granulocyte C5aR expression is affected by several plasma factors and that a reduction is clinically evident at the time of the sepsis diagnosis. Reduced granulocyte C5aR expression is associated with an impaired chemotaxis but does not alone limit the chemotactic response.</p>

In patients with sepsis, the activation of the cascade systems, for example the complement system with the generation of C5a, is followed by a state of immunosuppression with impaired bactericidal capacity caused by suppression of the neutrophil granulocytes. To inhibit the C5a-induced systemic inflammatory and the following anti-inflammatory responses, different anti-C5a strategies have been successful in experimental models of sepsis. In animals and in healthy volunteers after injection of lipopolysaccharide (LPS), an up-regulation of the C5a receptor (C5aR) has been reported. Before designing clinical studies, it was of importance to increase the knowledge of C5a and C5aR regulation in humans. At the time when the diagnosis of severe sepsis or septic shock can be established clinically, granulocyte C5aR expression, analysed by flow cytometer, was shown to be reduced, whereas monocyte C5aR expression was unchanged. There was a correlation between granulocyte C5aR expression and the severity of disease, as measured by the APACHE II score. Ex vivo incubation of whole blood with LPS resulted in a reduction in granulocyte C5aR expression. Such a reduction was not found in isolated cells, indicating that the effect was mediated via plasma factors, such as C5a, IL-8 and TNF-α which all were shown to reduce C5aR expression ex vivo. Although there was a trend between chemotaxis, as measured by migration in a modified Boyden chamber, and C5aR expression on granulocytes from patients with severe sepsis or septic shock or from healthy individuals, the correlation failed to reach statistical significance. It is concluded that granulocyte C5aR expression is affected by several plasma factors and that a reduction is clinically evident at the time of the sepsis diagnosis. Reduced granulocyte C5aR expression is associated with an impaired chemotaxis but does not alone limit the chemotactic response.

Dissertation (Ph.D.)--University of South Florida, 2008. / Includes vita. Includes bibliographical references.