Nosso grupo tem estudado uma estratégia alternativa de tratamento para a deficiência de hormônio de crescimento (DGH), utilizando a administração in vivo do plasmídeo pUC-UBI-hGH, seguida de eletroporação, no músculo quadríceps de camundongos anões e imunodeficientes (lit/scid), que proporcionou níveis sustentáveis de hGH na circulação durante 60 dias e um aumento significativo de peso dos animais tratados. Visando investigar os efeitos autócrinos/parácrinos e endócrinos derivados deste tipo de tratamento, e compará-los aos da administração diária por via parenteral do hormônio de crescimento humano recombinante (r-hGH) neste modelo animal, os seguintes parâmetros de crescimento foram avaliados no presente trabalho: peso corpóreo, comprimento total do corpo e da cauda, pesos de órgãos (fígado, rins, coração, baço, músculos quadríceps e gastrocnêmio) e os níveis plasmáticos de mIGF-I (fator de crescimento semelhante à insulina I de camundongo) e de glicose. Em um primeiro experimento, foram observados aumentos altamente significativos (P<0,001) do peso corpóreo e do comprimento total do corpo e da cauda, após 50 dias de tratamento. Todos os órgãos analisados para o grupo tratado, exceto os músculos gastrocnêmios apresentaram aumentos de peso altamente significativos. O quadríceps direito, o que recebeu a injeção do DNA plasmidial, apresentou um aumento de peso de 48,1% em comparação com o controle injetado com salina (P<0,001), enquanto o aumento de peso dos quadríceps esquerdo, não injetados, dos animais tratados foi de 31% (P<0,005). Estes dados sugerem efeitos locais (autócrino e / ou parácrinos) e sistêmicos (endócrinos) resultantes da injeção do plasmídeo contendo o gene do hGH e da consequente expressão e secreção do hGH. Em outro experimento, a comparação da administração única de DNA plasmidial com injeções diárias de r-hGH proporcionou aumentos significativos dos pesos corpóreos, em relação ao grupo controle, de 23,1% (P<0,01) e de 35,5% (P<0,001) para os grupos tratados com DNA e proteína, respectivamente, enquanto as inclinações das curvas de crescimento foram praticamente idênticas: 0,094 g / animal / dia para a injeção de DNA e 0,095 g / animal / dia para a proteína. Entre os dois grupos tratados, não houve diferenças significativas entre o peso dos seguintes órgãos: rins direito e esquerdo, baço e músculo quadríceps direito. Os níveis de glicose no plasma dos grupos tratados e controle não apresentaram diferenças significativas ao final dos tratamentos de 28 e 50 dias. As diferenças das concentrações de mIGF-I entre os grupos tratados foram significativas apenas após 7 dias de tratamento. Os valores foram sempre maiores para o grupo tratado com DNA plasmidial em relação ao grupo do r-hGH, e os níveis de ambos os grupos tratados foram significativamente superiores ao do grupo controle. Apesar da necessidade de outros estudos para confirmar a segurança e a viabilidade deste tratamento, este tipo de terapia gênica para a DGH pode vir a ser uma alternativa viável ao tratamento padrão desta doença, baseado em repetidas injeções de r-hGH altamente purificado. / Our group has studied an alternative strategy for the treatment of growth hormone deficiency (GHD), using the in vivo administration of the plasmid pUC-UBI-hGH, followed by electroporation, into the quadriceps muscle of immunodeficient dwarf mice (lit/scid), that provided sustainable levels of hGH in the circulation during 60 days and a significant increase of body weight in the treated animals. In order to investigate the autocrine / paracrine and endocrine effects derived from this type of treatment, and compare them to the parentheral daily administration of the recombinant human growth hormone (r-hGH) in this animal model, the following growth parameters were evaluated in this study: body weight, total body length, tail length, organ weights (liver, kidneys, heart, spleen, quadriceps and gastrocnemius muscles) and the plasmatic levels of mIGF-I (mouse insulin-like growth factor I) and glucose. In a first experiment, higly significant increases of body weight, total body length and tail length were observed, after 50 days of treatment. All the analised organs of the treated group, except the two gastrocnemius muscles, presented a highly significant weight increase. The right quadriceps, that received the DNA injection, presented a 48.1% weight increase versus saline injected control (P<0.001), whereas the weight increase of left quadriceps, non injected, of treated animals was 31.0% (P<0.005). These data suggest local (autocrine and / or paracrine) and systemic (endocrine effects as a result of hGH DNA injection and the consequent hGH expression and secretion. In a second experiment, the comparison between single plasmid DNA administration with daily r-hGH injections provided significant body weight increases (P<0.001) of both treated groups, compared to control group, of 23.1% (P<0.01) and 35.5% for DNA and protein treated groups respectively, while the slopes of the growth curves were practically identical: 0.094 g / mouse / day for DNA and 0.095 g / mouse / day for protein injection. In both treated groups, the weights of the following organs did not present significant differences: right and left kidneys, spleen and right quadriceps muscle. The levels of glucose in the plasma of treated and control groups showed no significant differences after 28 and 50 days. The differences in mIGF-I concentration, among the treated groups, were significant only 7 days after treatment. The values were always higher in the group treated with plasmid DNA in relation to the r-hGH group, and the levels of both treated groups were significantly higher than the control group. Despite the need for further studies to confirm the safety and feasibility of this treatment, this type of gene therapy for DGH can be a viable alternative to the standard treatment for this disease, based on repetitive injections of highly purified r-hGH.

HMb, metabólito da leucina, utilizado para aumentar a síntese protéica. Investigamos o efeito do HMb sobre o eixo somatotrófico, bem como o mRNA de IGF-I e miostatina muscular. Ratos tratados com HMb (320 mg/Kg de peso corporal /mL de salina-0,9%), ou salina (controle), gavagem, 4 semanas, decapitados, sangue para avaliação sérica: insulina (RIE), glicose (colorimetria) e IGF-I (RIE). Extração de RNA total, para avaliação do mRNA de IGF-I e miostatina (Fígado, músculo extensor digital longo, Sóleo), avaliação da expressão do mRNA do GH, por Northern Blot, e expressão do GH ,Western blotting (hipófise). Dados analisados pelo teste-T de Student (P<0,05). Tratamento aumentou o conteúdo de mRNA de GH (> 60%), da proteína GH (>20%), do mRNA do IGF-I (~24%), da concentração sérica de IGF-I (p<0,05), indicando uma ativação do eixo somatotrófico pelo HMb, sem alterações no mRNA de miostatina e IGF-I muscular, ainda um aumento da insulina (~2x), sem alterações na glicose sérica, resultado do efeito hiperglicemiante do GH, ou um efeito direto do HMb na secreção de insulina. / HMb, metabolite of leucine, used to increase protein synthesis. Evaluate the effect HMb on the somatotrophic axis activity, as well as muscle mRNA IGF-I and myostatin. Rats treated with HMb (320 mg / kg body weight / mL of saline-0, 9%) or saline (control), gavage, 4 weeks, decapitated, blood for evaluation of serum: insulin (RIA), glucose (colorimetric) and IGF-I (RIA). Extraction of RNA total, for evaluation the mRNA IGF-I and myostatin (liver, muscle extensor digitalis longus (EDL) and soleus), evaluation of the GH mRNA expression of by Northern blot, and GH content, western blotting (pituitaries). Data analyzed by Student t-test (P <0.05). HMb treatment increased the content of GH mRNA (> 60%), GH (> 20%), IGF-I mRNA (~ 24%), IGF-I (p <0.05), indicates that the somatotrophic axis activity is increased by the HMb, without changes in mRNA of myostatin and muscle IGF-I, insulin also increased (~ 2x), without changes in serum glucose, hyperglycemiant result of the effect of GH or a direct effect of HMb in the secretion of insulin.

Lai Kit Ching Jan. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2004. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 121-141). / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / Abstract --- p.i / 摘要 --- p.iv / Acknowledgements --- p.vi / List of abbreviations --- p.vii / List of figures --- p.ix / Table of contents --- p.xi / Chapter Chapter 1 --- Introduction --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1 --- "The structure, function and regulation of growth hormone" --- p.1 / Chapter 1.2 --- Historical perspective of growth hormone secretagogues --- p.5 / Chapter 1.3 --- Ghrelin and growth hormone secretagogue receptor --- p.7 / Chapter 1.4 --- Calcium signalling of growth hormone secretagogues --- p.12 / Chapter 1.5 --- Pancreas and functions of exocrine pancreas --- p.15 / Chapter 1.6 --- Regulation of exocrine pancreatic function --- p.22 / Chapter 1.7 --- Functions of ghrelin in pancreas --- p.32 / Chapter 1.8 --- Aims of study --- p.34 / Chapter Chapter 2 --- Materials and methods --- p.35 / Chapter 2.1 --- Experimental animal and cell line models --- p.35 / Chapter 2.1.1 --- Rat model --- p.35 / Chapter 2.1.2 --- Isolation of pancreatic lobules and acinar cells --- p.35 / Chapter 2.1.3 --- Omeprazole-induced gastric acid inhibition --- p.36 / Chapter 2.1.4 --- Cerulein-induced acute pancreatitis --- p.37 / Chapter 2.1.5 --- Starvation rat model --- p.37 / Chapter 2.1.6 --- AR42J cell line --- p.38 / Chapter 2.2 --- Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction --- p.39 / Chapter 2.2.1 --- Total RNA extraction and quantification --- p.39 / Chapter 2.2.2 --- Reverse transcription --- p.40 / Chapter 2.2.3 --- Polymerase chain reaction --- p.40 / Chapter 2.2.4 --- Gel electrophoresis --- p.41 / Chapter 2.2.5 --- Optimization of semi-quantitative RT-PCR --- p.42 / Chapter 2.3 --- Western blot analysis --- p.43 / Chapter 2.3.1 --- Extraction of total protein and quantification --- p.43 / Chapter 2.3.2 --- Sodium Dodecyl-sulphate Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) --- p.43 / Chapter 2.3.3 --- Tricine Sodium Dodecyl-sulphate Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis (Tricine-SDS-PAGE) --- p.44 / Chapter 2.3.4 --- Electroblotting and immunodetection of proteins --- p.45 / Chapter 2.4 --- Immunocytochemistry --- p.47 / Chapter 2.4.1 --- Preparation of isolated acinar cells for paraffin sections --- p.47 / Chapter 2.4.2 --- Preparation of AR42J cells slices --- p.47 / Chapter 2.4.3 --- Immunofluorescent double staining --- p.47 / Chapter 2.5 --- Functional studies of digestive enzyme secretion from pancreatic isolated acini and lobules --- p.49 / Chapter 2.5.1 --- Incubation of pancreatic isolated acini and lobules with different peptides --- p.49 / Chapter 2.5.2 --- Quantification of protein content --- p.50 / Chapter 2.5.3 --- Measurement of a-amylase secretion by α-amylase assay --- p.50 / Chapter 2.6 --- Spectrofluorimetric measurement --- p.52 / Chapter 2.6.1 --- Incubation of AR42J cells with Fluo-4/AM --- p.52 / Chapter 2.6.2 --- Pretreatment of antagonist or blockers and Ca2+-free treatment --- p.52 / Chapter 2.6.3 --- Calcium mobilization assay --- p.53 / Chapter 2.7 --- Statistics and data analysis --- p.54

Nosso grupo tem estudado uma estratégia alternativa de tratamento para a deficiência de hormônio de crescimento (DGH), utilizando a administração in vivo do plasmídeo pUC-UBI-hGH, seguida de eletroporação, no músculo quadríceps de camundongos anões e imunodeficientes (lit/scid), que proporcionou níveis sustentáveis de hGH na circulação durante 60 dias e um aumento significativo de peso dos animais tratados. Visando investigar os efeitos autócrinos/parácrinos e endócrinos derivados deste tipo de tratamento, e compará-los aos da administração diária por via parenteral do hormônio de crescimento humano recombinante (r-hGH) neste modelo animal, os seguintes parâmetros de crescimento foram avaliados no presente trabalho: peso corpóreo, comprimento total do corpo e da cauda, pesos de órgãos (fígado, rins, coração, baço, músculos quadríceps e gastrocnêmio) e os níveis plasmáticos de mIGF-I (fator de crescimento semelhante à insulina I de camundongo) e de glicose. Em um primeiro experimento, foram observados aumentos altamente significativos (P<0,001) do peso corpóreo e do comprimento total do corpo e da cauda, após 50 dias de tratamento. Todos os órgãos analisados para o grupo tratado, exceto os músculos gastrocnêmios apresentaram aumentos de peso altamente significativos. O quadríceps direito, o que recebeu a injeção do DNA plasmidial, apresentou um aumento de peso de 48,1% em comparação com o controle injetado com salina (P<0,001), enquanto o aumento de peso dos quadríceps esquerdo, não injetados, dos animais tratados foi de 31% (P<0,005). Estes dados sugerem efeitos locais (autócrino e / ou parácrinos) e sistêmicos (endócrinos) resultantes da injeção do plasmídeo contendo o gene do hGH e da consequente expressão e secreção do hGH. Em outro experimento, a comparação da administração única de DNA plasmidial com injeções diárias de r-hGH proporcionou aumentos significativos dos pesos corpóreos, em relação ao grupo controle, de 23,1% (P<0,01) e de 35,5% (P<0,001) para os grupos tratados com DNA e proteína, respectivamente, enquanto as inclinações das curvas de crescimento foram praticamente idênticas: 0,094 g / animal / dia para a injeção de DNA e 0,095 g / animal / dia para a proteína. Entre os dois grupos tratados, não houve diferenças significativas entre o peso dos seguintes órgãos: rins direito e esquerdo, baço e músculo quadríceps direito. Os níveis de glicose no plasma dos grupos tratados e controle não apresentaram diferenças significativas ao final dos tratamentos de 28 e 50 dias. As diferenças das concentrações de mIGF-I entre os grupos tratados foram significativas apenas após 7 dias de tratamento. Os valores foram sempre maiores para o grupo tratado com DNA plasmidial em relação ao grupo do r-hGH, e os níveis de ambos os grupos tratados foram significativamente superiores ao do grupo controle. Apesar da necessidade de outros estudos para confirmar a segurança e a viabilidade deste tratamento, este tipo de terapia gênica para a DGH pode vir a ser uma alternativa viável ao tratamento padrão desta doença, baseado em repetidas injeções de r-hGH altamente purificado. / Our group has studied an alternative strategy for the treatment of growth hormone deficiency (GHD), using the in vivo administration of the plasmid pUC-UBI-hGH, followed by electroporation, into the quadriceps muscle of immunodeficient dwarf mice (lit/scid), that provided sustainable levels of hGH in the circulation during 60 days and a significant increase of body weight in the treated animals. In order to investigate the autocrine / paracrine and endocrine effects derived from this type of treatment, and compare them to the parentheral daily administration of the recombinant human growth hormone (r-hGH) in this animal model, the following growth parameters were evaluated in this study: body weight, total body length, tail length, organ weights (liver, kidneys, heart, spleen, quadriceps and gastrocnemius muscles) and the plasmatic levels of mIGF-I (mouse insulin-like growth factor I) and glucose. In a first experiment, higly significant increases of body weight, total body length and tail length were observed, after 50 days of treatment. All the analised organs of the treated group, except the two gastrocnemius muscles, presented a highly significant weight increase. The right quadriceps, that received the DNA injection, presented a 48.1% weight increase versus saline injected control (P<0.001), whereas the weight increase of left quadriceps, non injected, of treated animals was 31.0% (P<0.005). These data suggest local (autocrine and / or paracrine) and systemic (endocrine effects as a result of hGH DNA injection and the consequent hGH expression and secretion. In a second experiment, the comparison between single plasmid DNA administration with daily r-hGH injections provided significant body weight increases (P<0.001) of both treated groups, compared to control group, of 23.1% (P<0.01) and 35.5% for DNA and protein treated groups respectively, while the slopes of the growth curves were practically identical: 0.094 g / mouse / day for DNA and 0.095 g / mouse / day for protein injection. In both treated groups, the weights of the following organs did not present significant differences: right and left kidneys, spleen and right quadriceps muscle. The levels of glucose in the plasma of treated and control groups showed no significant differences after 28 and 50 days. The differences in mIGF-I concentration, among the treated groups, were significant only 7 days after treatment. The values were always higher in the group treated with plasmid DNA in relation to the r-hGH group, and the levels of both treated groups were significantly higher than the control group. Despite the need for further studies to confirm the safety and feasibility of this treatment, this type of gene therapy for DGH can be a viable alternative to the standard treatment for this disease, based on repetitive injections of highly purified r-hGH.

O sistema de expressão baseado nos promotores PL ou PR do fago lambda que usualmente é regulado pelo repressor termo lábil (cIts) é amplamente utilizado para produzir proteínas recombinantes em células procarióticas. No entanto, o aumento da temperatura requerido neste sistema para promover a inativação do repressor apresenta algumas limitações, como o aumento da expressão de proteínas de HSP (Heat Shock Proteins), por exemplo, proteases, que dependendo da natureza da proteína expressa podem ser prejudiciais ou não. Uma outra limitação é a ativação da resposta SOS, resultando na parada da replicação do DNA celular ou dependendo da cepa pode ocorrer lise celular. Nesse trabalho nós descrevemos o uso do promotor &lambda;PL para expressão constitutiva, isto é, sem a regulação do repressor. Nós otimizamos diferentes condições de cultura para aumentar a secreção no espaço periplásmico de Escherichia coli de cinco proteínas: o hormônio do crescimento humano (hGH), que tem sido amplamente utilizado no tratamento de crianças com deficiência e/ou resistência ao hGH, síndrome de Turner, entre outras desordens; prolactina humana (hPRL), um hormônio polipeptídico conhecido por estimular a lactação e por exercer ação regulatória no crescimento e na diferenciação da glândula mamária, dois antagonistas de hPRL, estudados como potenciais fármacos para o tratamento de alguns tipos de cânceres e por fim o interferon &alpha;2a (IFN-&alpha;2a), que é uma citocina produzida pelas células, em resposta a diferentes estímulos, incluindo ácidos nucléicos virais, células estranhas (particularmente as neoplásicas), antígenos de bactérias, protozoários e vírus. No caso do IFN-&alpha;2a, essa citocina de alto valor agregado e de importante aplicação terapêutica, foi desenvolvida em nosso laboratório como parte desse trabalho, incluindo o desenvolvimento e a validação da metodologia de análise por HPLC de fase reversa para determinação do IFN presente no fluído periplásmico bacteriano ou na sua forma pura. As principais estratégias utilizadas para melhorar a expressão foram iniciar a indução junto à densidade óptica máxima do crescimento bacteriano e otimizar a temperatura de indução para controlar a expressão da proteína heteróloga. Essa metodologia pode ser utilizada nos casos onde o produto não será tóxico para a célula hospedeira ou quando a instabilidade do plasmídeo não é problema. A possibilidade de cultivo em temperaturas mais baixas, já que o repressor termo-sensível não se encontra presente, colaborou para o aumento significativo da expressão, mesmo para proteínas menos sensíveis à temperatura de cultivo, como o hGH. / The expression system based on the PL or PR promoters of the lambda phage that is usually regulated by the term labile repressor (clts) is widely used to produce recombinant proteins in prokaryotic cells. However, the temperature increase required in this system to promote the repressor inactivation shows some limitations, like the increase of the HSP (Heat Shock Proteins) proteins expression, proteases e.g., that depending on the nature of the expressed protein can be harmful or not. Another limitation is the activation of SOS response, resulting on the stop of the DNA cell replication or depending on the strain can occur cell lysis. In this paper we describe the use of the &lambda;PL promoter for constitutive expression, without the repressor regulation. We optimized different cultivation conditions to increase the secretion in the periplasmic space of Escherichia coli of five proteins: the human growth hormone (hGH), that is being widely used in the treatment of children with disabilities and/or resistance to hGH, Turner syndrome, within another disorders; human prolactin (hPRL), a polypeptide hormone known for stimulating the lactation and for exercising regulatory action on growth and on the differentiation of the mammary gland; two hPRL antagonists, studied as potential medicine to the treatment of some kinds of cancers and finally the interferon &alpha;2a (IFN-&alpha;2a), that is a cytokine produced by the cells, in response to different actions, including viral nucleic acids, neoplastic cells, antigens of bacteria, protozoa and viruses. In the case of IFN-&alpha;2a, this high value added and important therapeutic application, was developed in our laboratory as a part of this paper, including the development and the validation of the analysis methodology by reversed-phase HPLC to determine the IFN present in the bacterial periplasmic fluid or in its pure form. The main strategies used to improve the expression were to start the induction with the maximum optical density of bacterial growth and optimize the induction temperature to control the expression of heterologous protein. This methodology can be used in cases where the product wont be toxic to the host cell or when the instability of the plasmid is not a problem. The possibility of cultivation in lower temperatures, since the heat-sensitive repressor is not present, contributed to the significant increase of the expression, even to proteins that are less sensitive to the cultivation temperature, like the hGH.

Ng, Siu Fung. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2008. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 206-211). / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / Acknowledgements --- p.i / Abstract --- p.iii / 摘要 --- p.v / Table of contents --- p.vii / List of figures --- p.xv / List of tables --- p.xix / List of abbreviations --- p.xx / Chapter / Chapter 1. --- Introduction / Chapter 1.1 --- Growth hormone --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1.1 --- Historic discovery of growth hormone --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1.2 --- Structural and functional study of GH --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1.2.1 --- Molecular evolution of GH --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1.2.2 --- Two-dimensional and three dimensional structures --- p.5 / Chapter 1.1.2.3 --- Heterogeneity of GH --- p.8 / Chapter 1.1.2.4 --- Regulation and secretion pattern of GH --- p.9 / Chapter 1.1.2.5 --- Circulation of GH in blood --- p.11 / Chapter 1.1.2.6 --- Biological activity of GH in human --- p.12 / Chapter 1.2 --- GH receptor and signal transduction --- p.12 / Chapter 1.3 --- GH disorder --- p.15 / Chapter 1.4 --- Treatment for GH disorder --- p.16 / Chapter 1.5 --- GH assay --- p.17 / Chapter 1.6 --- Aims of study --- p.19 / Chapter 2. --- SUMO-hGH expression vector construction / Chapter 2.1 --- Introduction --- p.21 / Chapter 2.2 --- Fusion partner - SUMO --- p.23 / Chapter 2.3 --- Materials --- p.24 / Chapter 2.3.1 --- Reagents for bacterial culture --- p.24 / Chapter 2.3.2 --- Reagents for agarose gel electrophoresis --- p.26 / Chapter 2.3.3 --- 2'-deoxyribonucleoside 5'-triphosphate mix for polymerase chain reaction --- p.26 / Chapter 2.3.4 --- Sonication buffer --- p.26 / Chapter 2.3.5 --- Modified solubilization buffer --- p.27 / Chapter 2.3.6 --- Reagents for sodium dodecylsulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis --- p.27 / Chapter 2.4 --- Methods --- p.29 / Chapter 2.4.1 --- General techniques in molecular cloning of hGH gene --- p.29 / Chapter 2.4.2 --- Expression of SUMO-hGH fusion protein - small scale --- p.42 / Chapter 2.4.3 --- General protein analysis --- p.43 / Chapter 2.5 --- Results --- p.45 / Chapter 2.5.1 --- Molecular cloning of hGH gene into expression vector --- p.45 / Chapter 2.5.2 --- Expression of SUMO-hGH --- p.46 / Chapter 2.5.3 --- Modification of the expression conditions --- p.46 / Chapter 2.6 --- Discussion --- p.50 / Chapter 2.6.1 --- Expression vector --- p.53 / Chapter 2.6.2 --- Protein expression --- p.53 / Chapter 2.7 --- Conclusion --- p.54 / Chapter 3. --- SUMO-hGH purification and downstream processing / Chapter 3.1 --- Introduction --- p.55 / Chapter 3.2 --- Immobilized-metal affinity chromatography --- p.55 / Chapter 3.3 --- SUMO protease --- p.57 / Chapter 3.4 --- Materials --- p.59 / Chapter 3.4.1 --- Reagents for IMAC purification of SUMO-hGH fusion protein --- p.59 / Chapter 3.4.2 --- Reagents for IMAC purification of mature rhGH --- p.60 / Chapter 3.4.3 --- Reagents for Western blotting --- p.60 / Chapter 3.4.4 --- Gel filtration running buffer --- p.62 / Chapter 3.5 --- Methods --- p.62 / Chapter 3.5.1 --- Purification of SUMO-hGH fusion protein by Ni2+-NTA affinity chromatography --- p.62 / Chapter 3.5.2 --- Cleavage of His-SUMO fusion partner to generate mature rhGH --- p.63 / Chapter 3.5.3 --- Purification of mature rhGH by 2nd round of Ni2+-NTA affinity chromatography --- p.64 / Chapter 3.5.4 --- Purification of rhGH by size exclusion chromatography - gel filtration chromatography --- p.64 / Chapter 3.5.5 --- General protein analysis --- p.65 / Chapter 3.6 --- Results --- p.67 / Chapter 3.6.1 --- Purification of SUMO-hGH fusion protein by Ni2+-NTA affinity chromatography --- p.67 / Chapter 3.6.2 --- Cleavage of His-SUMO fusion partner to generate mature rhGH --- p.69 / Chapter 3.6.3 --- Digestion efficiency of different constructs of SENP1C --- p.73 / Chapter 3.6.4 --- Purification of mature rhGH by 2nd round of Ni2+-NTA affinity chromatography --- p.77 / Chapter 3.6.5 --- Purification of rhGH by size exclusion chromatography -gel filtration chromatography --- p.78 / Chapter 3.7 --- Discussion --- p.81 / Chapter 3.7.1 --- Purification of SUMO-hGH fusion protein by Ni2+-NTA affinity chromatography --- p.81 / Chapter 3.7.2 --- Cleavage of His-SUMO fusion partner to generate mature rhGH --- p.82 / Chapter 3.7.3 --- Purification of mature rhGH by 2nd round of Ni2+-NTA affinity chromatography --- p.82 / Chapter 3.7.4 --- Purification of rhGH by size exclusion chromatography -gel filtration chromatography --- p.85 / Chapter 3.8 --- Conclusion --- p.85 / Chapter 4. --- Fermentation expression of SUMO-hGH and scale-up of downstream process / Chapter 4.1 --- Introduction --- p.86 / Chapter 4.2 --- Bioreactor system for E.coli host cultivation --- p.87 / Chapter 4.3 --- Mechanical cell disruption for cell --- p.88 / Chapter 4.4 --- rhGH binding assay --- p.88 / Chapter 4.5 --- Materials --- p.89 / Chapter 4.5.1 --- Reagents for bacterial culture by fermenter --- p.89 / Chapter 4.5.2 --- Reagents for HEK293 Hi cultivation --- p.91 / Chapter 4.5.3 --- Reagents for Dual-Luciferase® Reporter Assay System --- p.92 / Chapter 4.5.4 --- Reagents for silver stain of SDS-PAGE mini-gel --- p.93 / Chapter 4.6 --- Methods --- p.94 / Chapter 4.6.1 --- Bioreactor system and fixed volume fed-batch fermentation --- p.94 / Chapter 4.6.2 --- Large scale mechanically disruption of cell membrane --- p.97 / Chapter 4.6.3 --- Downstream processing of SUMO-hGH --- p.97 / Chapter 4.6.4 --- Culture of HEK293 Hi cells --- p.97 / Chapter 4.6.5 --- Dual-Luciferase® Reporter Assay System --- p.98 / Chapter 4.6.6 --- Silver staining of SDS-PAGE mini-gels --- p.101 / Chapter 4.7 --- Results --- p.101 / Chapter 4.7.1 --- Fed-batch fermentation of E. coli BL21 --- p.101 / Chapter 4.7.2 --- Comparison on disruption methods and the purification of SUMO-hGH from cell lysate --- p.106 / Chapter 4.7.3 --- Optimization of His-MBP-SENP1C digestion condition --- p.108 / Chapter 4.7.4 --- Optimization of rhGH purification in 2nd round of IMAC --- p.110 / Chapter 4.7.5 --- Characterization of mature rhGH --- p.112 / Chapter 4.8 --- Discussion --- p.116 / Chapter 4.8.1 --- Fed-batch fermentation of E. coli BL21 --- p.118 / Chapter 4.8.2 --- Downstream processing of fermentation culture and characterization of rhGH --- p.120 / Chapter 4.8.3 --- M9 based defined medium fermentation study --- p.122 / Chapter 4.8.4 --- rhGH production yield estimation --- p.128 / Chapter 4.8.5 --- Comparison of our fermentation expression system to the published data --- p.130 / Chapter 4.9 --- Conclusion --- p.132 / Chapter 5. --- His-MBP-SENPIC expression and purification / Chapter 5.1 --- Introduction --- p.133 / Chapter 5.2 --- Materials --- p.134 / Chapter 5.2.1 --- Reagents for bacterial culture --- p.134 / Chapter 5.2.2 --- Reagents for immobilized metal affinity chromatography purification of His-MBP-SENP1C --- p.135 / Chapter 5.3 --- Methods --- p.136 / Chapter 5.3.1 --- Expression of His-MBP-SENP1C --- p.136 / Chapter 5.3.2 --- Semi-purification of His-MBP-SENP1C by Ni2+-NTA affinity chromatography --- p.138 / Chapter 5.4 --- Results --- p.139 / Chapter 5.4.1 --- Expression of His-MBP-SENP1C --- p.139 / Chapter 5.4.2 --- Digestion activity of His-MBP-SENP1C expressed --- p.139 / Chapter 5.5 --- Discussion --- p.141 / Chapter 5.5.1 --- Expression and purification of His-MBP-SENP1C --- p.141 / Chapter 5.5.2 --- His-MBP-SENP1C production yield estimation --- p.143 / Chapter 6. --- Production and characterization of monoclonal antibodies against rhGH / Chapter 6.1 --- Introduction --- p.145 / Chapter 6.2 --- Materials --- p.146 / Chapter 6.2.1 --- Reagents for Sp2/0-Ag14 cultivation --- p.146 / Chapter 6.2.2 --- Reagents for PEG fusion --- p.147 / Chapter 6.2.3 --- Reagents for enzyme linked immunosorbent assay --- p.149 / Chapter 6.2.4 --- Reagents for mAbs purification by HiTrap´ёØ Protein G HP Column --- p.150 / Chapter 6.3 --- Methods --- p.151 / Chapter 6.3.1 --- ELISA --- p.151 / Chapter 6.3.2 --- Immunization --- p.152 / Chapter 6.3.3 --- Culturing of myeloma fusion partner cells --- p.153 / Chapter 6.3.4 --- Isolation of splenocyte --- p.153 / Chapter 6.3.5 --- PEG fusion --- p.154 / Chapter 6.3.6 --- Limiting dilution --- p.155 / Chapter 6.3.7 --- Cryopreservation of hybridoma cell lines --- p.156 / Chapter 6.3.8 --- Mass production of monoclonal antibodies --- p.157 / Chapter 6.3.9 --- Purification of IgG mAbs from ascites --- p.157 / Chapter 6.3.10 --- MAbs isotyping --- p.159 / Chapter 6.3.11 --- Determination of kinetic parameters of mAbs --- p.159 / Chapter 6.4 --- Results --- p.162 / Chapter 6.4.1 --- Production of murine anti-rhGH monoclonal antibodies --- p.162 / Chapter 6.4.2 --- Characterization of anti-rhGH mAbs --- p.170 / Chapter 6.5 --- Discussion --- p.178 / Chapter 6.5.1 --- Mass production of mAbs --- p.179 / Chapter 6.5.2 --- Future works on mAbs --- p.179 / Chapter 6.6 --- Conclusion --- p.181 / Chapter 7. --- Development of sandwich ELISA for rhGH / Chapter 7.1 --- Introduction --- p.182 / Chapter 7.2 --- Materials --- p.184 / Chapter 7.2.1 --- Reagents for sandwich ELISA --- p.184 / Chapter 7.3 --- Methods --- p.184 / Chapter 7.3.1 --- Production of rabbit polyclonal antiserum against rhGH --- p.184 / Chapter 7.3.2 --- Sandwich ELISA --- p.185 / Chapter 7.4 --- Results --- p.186 / Chapter 7.4.1 --- Production of rabbit antiserum against rhGH --- p.186 / Chapter 7.4.2 --- Sandwich ELISA --- p.188 / Chapter 7.4.3 --- Optimization of sandwich ELISA --- p.190 / Chapter 7.4.4 --- Specificity of sandwich ELISA --- p.194 / Chapter 7.4.5 --- Cross reactivity of sandwich ELISA to E.coli cell lysate --- p.196 / Chapter 7.4.6 --- Measurement of SUMO-hGH with sandwich ELISA --- p.198 / Chapter 7.5 --- Discussion --- p.201 / Chapter 7.5.1 --- Application of sandwich ELISA --- p.203 / Chapter 7.5.2 --- Future works on sandwich ELISA --- p.205 / Chapter 7.6 --- Conclusion --- p.205 / References --- p.206 / Appendix - pJ2:G01458 nucleotide sequence --- p.213

Indivíduos com Deficiência Isolada do Hormônio do Crescimento (IGHD), homozigotos para a mutação c.57+1G>A no gene do receptor do hormônio liberador do hormônio de crescimento (GHRH), apresentam maior chance de apresentarem perda de inserção periodontal devido a possível efeito direto da IGHD sobre os tecidos periodontais e/ou a repercussões locais ou sistêmicas da IGHD sobre a resposta imune. Este estudo teve como objetivos avaliar as repercussões locais e sistêmicas da IGHD sobre a resposta imune e comparar os níveis dos patógenos periodontais. Material e Métodos: Foi composto por uma amostra de 19 indivíduos com IGHD e 19 indivíduos no grupo controle, pareados por idade, gênero, condição sócio-econômica, tabagismo e diabetes. Todos foram submetidos a exame periodontal completo, em 6 sítios por dente, e entrevistados por meio de um questionário estruturado. Foi realizada coleta de biofilme subgengival (em sítios rasos e profundos, pareados pela PCS) para verificar os níveis dos microorganismos. Além disso, foram realizadas coletas do fluido gengival (dos mesmos sítios) e do sangue, de ambos os grupos, com a finalidade de analisar o perfil das citocinas inflamatórias. Resultados: Indivíduos com IGHD apresentaram maior quantidade de MMP-8 e CRP (p=0,026 e 0,002) no fluido gengival coletado dos sítios profundos, maior quantidade de IL-17 (p=0,02) no soro e mesmos níveis dos patógenos periodontais, em comparação com os controles (p>0,05). Conclusões: Mesmo com um perfil microbiológico semelhante, indivíduos com a IGHD apresentam alterações imunológicas moderadas (aumento de Interleucina 17 no soro e de metaloproteinase-8 e Proteína C-Reativa no fluido gengival coletado de sítios profundos), comparados aos controles. / Isolated Growth Hormone Deficiency (IGHD) subjects, homozygous to a mutation c.57+1G>A in the growth hormone releasing hormone receptor (GHRHR) gene, have a greater chance of having periodontal attachment loss (PAL) due to a possible direct effect of IGHD on the periodontal tissues and/or locals and systemic effects of IGHD on immune response. This aims of this study was evaluate local and systemic effects of IGHD on immune response and compare periodontal pathogens levels. Material and Methods: The sample was composed of 19 IGHD individuals and 19 controls, matched by age, gender, socio-economic condition, smoking and diabetes. Participants were submitted to a clinical full-mouth periodontal examination of six sites per tooth and were interviewed using a structured questionnaire. Subgingival biofilm was collected (in shallow and deep sites matched by probing clinical depth) to check the periodontal pathogens levels. Futhermore, gingival crevicular fluid (same sites) and blood samples were also collected from both groups to analyze inflammatory cytokines profile. Results: IGHD subjects had significantly higher amounts of MMP-8 and CRP (p= 0.026 e 0.002) in the gingival crevicular fluid collected from deep sites, higher amounts of IL-17 (p=0.02) in serum, and same levels of periodontal pathogens, compairing to the control group (p>0.05). Conclusions: Despite the same microorganism profile, IGHD subjects had moderate immunological alterations (increased serum Interleukin 17 and metalloproteinase 8 and C - reactive protein in deep sites gingival fluid), comparing to controls.

O sistema de expressão baseado nos promotores PL ou PR do fago lambda que usualmente é regulado pelo repressor termo lábil (cIts) é amplamente utilizado para produzir proteínas recombinantes em células procarióticas. No entanto, o aumento da temperatura requerido neste sistema para promover a inativação do repressor apresenta algumas limitações, como o aumento da expressão de proteínas de HSP (Heat Shock Proteins), por exemplo, proteases, que dependendo da natureza da proteína expressa podem ser prejudiciais ou não. Uma outra limitação é a ativação da resposta SOS, resultando na parada da replicação do DNA celular ou dependendo da cepa pode ocorrer lise celular. Nesse trabalho nós descrevemos o uso do promotor &lambda;PL para expressão constitutiva, isto é, sem a regulação do repressor. Nós otimizamos diferentes condições de cultura para aumentar a secreção no espaço periplásmico de Escherichia coli de cinco proteínas: o hormônio do crescimento humano (hGH), que tem sido amplamente utilizado no tratamento de crianças com deficiência e/ou resistência ao hGH, síndrome de Turner, entre outras desordens; prolactina humana (hPRL), um hormônio polipeptídico conhecido por estimular a lactação e por exercer ação regulatória no crescimento e na diferenciação da glândula mamária, dois antagonistas de hPRL, estudados como potenciais fármacos para o tratamento de alguns tipos de cânceres e por fim o interferon &alpha;2a (IFN-&alpha;2a), que é uma citocina produzida pelas células, em resposta a diferentes estímulos, incluindo ácidos nucléicos virais, células estranhas (particularmente as neoplásicas), antígenos de bactérias, protozoários e vírus. No caso do IFN-&alpha;2a, essa citocina de alto valor agregado e de importante aplicação terapêutica, foi desenvolvida em nosso laboratório como parte desse trabalho, incluindo o desenvolvimento e a validação da metodologia de análise por HPLC de fase reversa para determinação do IFN presente no fluído periplásmico bacteriano ou na sua forma pura. As principais estratégias utilizadas para melhorar a expressão foram iniciar a indução junto à densidade óptica máxima do crescimento bacteriano e otimizar a temperatura de indução para controlar a expressão da proteína heteróloga. Essa metodologia pode ser utilizada nos casos onde o produto não será tóxico para a célula hospedeira ou quando a instabilidade do plasmídeo não é problema. A possibilidade de cultivo em temperaturas mais baixas, já que o repressor termo-sensível não se encontra presente, colaborou para o aumento significativo da expressão, mesmo para proteínas menos sensíveis à temperatura de cultivo, como o hGH. / The expression system based on the PL or PR promoters of the lambda phage that is usually regulated by the term labile repressor (clts) is widely used to produce recombinant proteins in prokaryotic cells. However, the temperature increase required in this system to promote the repressor inactivation shows some limitations, like the increase of the HSP (Heat Shock Proteins) proteins expression, proteases e.g., that depending on the nature of the expressed protein can be harmful or not. Another limitation is the activation of SOS response, resulting on the stop of the DNA cell replication or depending on the strain can occur cell lysis. In this paper we describe the use of the &lambda;PL promoter for constitutive expression, without the repressor regulation. We optimized different cultivation conditions to increase the secretion in the periplasmic space of Escherichia coli of five proteins: the human growth hormone (hGH), that is being widely used in the treatment of children with disabilities and/or resistance to hGH, Turner syndrome, within another disorders; human prolactin (hPRL), a polypeptide hormone known for stimulating the lactation and for exercising regulatory action on growth and on the differentiation of the mammary gland; two hPRL antagonists, studied as potential medicine to the treatment of some kinds of cancers and finally the interferon &alpha;2a (IFN-&alpha;2a), that is a cytokine produced by the cells, in response to different actions, including viral nucleic acids, neoplastic cells, antigens of bacteria, protozoa and viruses. In the case of IFN-&alpha;2a, this high value added and important therapeutic application, was developed in our laboratory as a part of this paper, including the development and the validation of the analysis methodology by reversed-phase HPLC to determine the IFN present in the bacterial periplasmic fluid or in its pure form. The main strategies used to improve the expression were to start the induction with the maximum optical density of bacterial growth and optimize the induction temperature to control the expression of heterologous protein. This methodology can be used in cases where the product wont be toxic to the host cell or when the instability of the plasmid is not a problem. The possibility of cultivation in lower temperatures, since the heat-sensitive repressor is not present, contributed to the significant increase of the expression, even to proteins that are less sensitive to the cultivation temperature, like the hGH.

Previous studies have shown growth hormone and therapeutic low intensity pulsed ultrasound can enhance mandibular growth separately. The aim of this study is to evaluate the concomitant effect of both of these applications on mandibular growth in rat. Methods: 24 male Sprague Dawley rats were divided into four groups, 6 in each. Groups 1, 2, 3, and 4 were designated as untreated control, recombinant rat growth hormone, Low Intensity Pulsed Ultrasound, and combination of both groups respectively. After 21 days of daily treatment on mandibular condylar, mandibles from euthanized rats are dissected, and scanned by MicroComputed Tomography to measure the mandibular bone volume, bone surface area, and condylar bone mineral density. Also Real-time Polymerase Chain Reaction was performed on the extracted livers’ C-fos, C-jun, and IGF-1 genes expressions. Results: Groups 2, 3 and 4 showed significant (p<0.05) growth stimulation when compared to the untreated control group. However, there was no statistical significant difference between groups 2, 3 and 4 with regard to bone volume or surface area. Conversely, condylar bone mineral density for group 4 was significantly reduced than groups 1, 2, and 3. Rats’ weights were not significantly different among the treatment groups after the treatment was performed. Additionally, gene expression study showed that the expression of C-jun, in harvested livers for Group 4 was less than that of Group 2 showing fewer side effects. Conclusion: When growth hormone was applied to rats’ mandible together with therapeutic ultrasound, preferential increase in bone volume, and surface area occurred with the expense of condylar bone mineral density and with less potential side effects. / Pharmaceutical Science

We used the GENECONV program, the Hsu et al. (2010) method and phylogenetic analyses to analyze the gene conversions which occurred in the growth hormone, folate receptor and trypsin gene families of six primate species. Significant positive correlations were found between sequence similarity and conversion length in all but the trypsin gene family. Converted regions, when compared to non-converted ones, also displayed a significantly higher GC-content in the growth hormone and folate receptor gene families. Finally, all detected gene conversions were found to be less frequent in conserved gene regions and towards functionally important genes. This suggests that purifying selection is eliminating all gene conversions having a negative functional impact.