CoordenaÃÃo de AperfeiÃoamento de Pessoal de NÃvel Superior / A guanilina e a uroguanilina foram recentemente descobertas, respectivamente, no intestino e na urina, (Currie et al., 1992; Hamra et al., 1993). Fazem parte da famÃlia de peptÃdeos que ativam a guanilato ciclase de membrana (GC-C), aumentando os nÃveis intracelulares de cGMP (Schulz et al., 1990). EstÃo presentes em diversos tecidos, como respiratÃrio, linfonodos, testÃculos, cÃrebro e medula adrenal (Field et a.l., 1978; Forte et al., 1988, 1989; Hamra et al., 1993; Schulz et al., 1992). Foi comprovado que adicionando uma lisina na porÃÃo N-terminal, obtÃm-se um anÃlogo mais estÃvel e potente que a guanilina. O objetivo desse estudo à pesquisar os efeitos renais de um novo anÃlogo, ser-thr-lys-guanilina em sistema de perfusÃo. Os rins foram perfundidos com a soluÃÃo de Krebs-Henseleit modificada com 6g% de albumina bovina. Os dados foram comparados atravÃs de teste t de Student e ANOVA, com significÃncia p<0,05. Na dose de 0,1 Âg/mL, esse peptÃdeo apresentou efeitos similares aos da uroguanilina, na dose de 0,5 Âg/mL, em todos os parÃmetros testados. Ambas causaram aumento na pressÃo de perfusÃo (PP: de 101,5Â3,7 para 111Â2,9mmHg; de 101,2Â2,6 para 113,4Â2,5mmHg), no fluxo urinÃrio (FU: de 0,158Â0,016 para 0,223Â0,01 mL.g-1.min-1; de 0,16Â0,016 para 0,226Â0,2mL.g-1.min-1) e diminuiÃÃo no transporte tubular total e proximal de sÃdio (%TNa+: de 0,774Â0,06 para 0,724Â0,035; de 0,735Â0,065 para 0,773Â0,084), potÃssio (%TK+: de 66,89Â2,77 para 47,29Â3,34; de 63,54Â3,82 para 42,54Â8,14) e cloreto (%TCl-: de 85,69Â1,19 para 73,59Â2,63). Esses resultados foram similares aos previamente descritos apÃs a administraÃÃo da toxina termo-estÃvel da Escherichia coli (STa), guanilina, uroguanilina e lys-guanilina no mesmo sistema (Lima et al., 1992; Fonteles et al., 1996 e 1998). A dose maior (1 Âg/mL) causou aÃÃo antidiurÃtica (FU: de 0,165Â0,004 para 0,111Â0,009mL.g-1.min-1) e nenhum efeito sobre o transporte de sÃdio, embora a diminuiÃÃo na reabsorÃÃo tubular de potÃssio (%TK+: de 72,29Â1,2 para 49,73Â6,75) e cloreto (%TCl-: de 85,96Â0,79 para 81,9Â1,47) continuassem presentes. Nesta dose, nÃo apenas bloqueou o efeito diurÃtico da uroguanilina, como continuou causando um efeito antidiurÃtico significativo (FU: de 0,168Â0,004 para 0,116Â0,006). No entanto, nÃo foi capaz de bloquear os efeitos natriurÃticos da uroguanilina (%TNa+: de 85,35Â2,55 para 79,92Â1,05). O mecanismo de aÃÃo renal preciso dos peptÃdeos da famÃlia das guanilinas ainda nÃo foi completamente esclarecido. Sabe-se que esses peptÃdeos se ligam aos receptores GC-C (Schulz et al., 1990), porÃm hà indÃcios de que existam outras vias de aÃÃo renal, independentes desse receptor. Hà ainda a possibilidade de que haja duas entidades agindo de modo antagÃnico no sistema. Talvez haja a necessidade de isolÃ-los. A descoberta dos peptÃdeos da famÃlia das guanilinas promoveu avanÃos significativos na compreensÃo da regulaÃÃo endÃgena dos transportes de Ãgua e eletrÃlitos. O completo esclarecimento do seu mecanismo de aÃÃo renal oferece perspectivas reais para o tratamento de doenÃas como a hipertensÃo arterial. / Guanylin and uroguanylin are members of a family of peptides that stimulates cGMP production in several organic tissues, as intestine, kidney, airway, linfonodes, testis, brain and adrenal medulla (Field et a.l., 1978; Forte et al., 1988, 1989; Hamra et al., 1993; Schulz et al., 1992). Their 15 amino acid structures have been identified from rat intestine and opossum urine, respectively (Currie et al., 1992; Hamra et al., 1993), and they seem to be the link between intestine and kidney functions in controling blood pressure, as the âintestinal natriuretic hormoneâ suggested by some authors (Carey, 1978; Lennane et al., 1975). It was demonstrated that a Lysine-1 analog of guanylin is a more potent natriuretic and kaliuretic peptide. The aim of this study was to evaluate the renal effects of a novel analog of guanylin: ser-thr-lys-guanylin. Its effects were examined using isolated perfused kidneys from Wistar rats. All experiments were preceded by a 30 minutes internal control period and an external control group (C), in which the kidneys were perfused only with Krebs-Henseleit solution containing 6g% of a previously dialysed bovine albumine serum. The data was analyzed by Student t-test and ANOVA. The level of significance was set at p<0,05. Ser-thr-lys-guanylin, at the lowest dose (0.1 Âg/mL) and uroguanylin (0.5Âg/mL) caused similar effects. Both groups were able to increase perfusion presure (PP: 101.5Â3.7 to 111Â2.9mmHg; 101.2Â2.6 to 113.4Â2.5 mmHg), urinary flow (UF: 0.158Â0.016 to 0.223Â0.019 mL.g-1.min-1; 0.16Â0.016 to 0.226Â0.2mL.g-1.min-1) and to decrease sodium (%TNa+: 0.774Â0.06 to 0.724Â0.035; 0.735Â0.065 to 0.773Â0.084), potassium (%TK+: 66.89Â2.77 to 47.29Â3.34; 63.54Â3.82 to 42.54Â8.14) and cloride (%TCl-: 85.69Â1.19 to 73.59Â2.63) tubular reabsorption. Similar effects were also found in response to the Escherichia coli heat-stable enterotoxin (STa), guanylin, uroguanylin and lys-guanylin in the same system (Lima et al., 1992; Fonteles et al., 1996 e 1998). However, a greater dose (1Âg/mL), not only caused signifcantly decrease in the urinary flow (UF: 0.165Â0.004 to 0.111Â0.009 mL.g-1.min-1), but was also able to block the diuretic effects of uroguanylin (UF: 0.168Â0.004 to 0.116Â0.006 mL.g-1.min-1), although it still decreased potassium (%TK+: 72.29Â1.2 to 49.73Â6.75) and cloride(%TCl-: 85.96Â0.79 to 81.9Â1.47) tubular reabsorption. The precise renal mecanism of action of this family of peptides has not yet been fully elucidated. Deletion of GC-C genes in transgenic mice reveals that intestinal fluid secretion responses to STa are completely lost (Schulz et al., 1997 & Mann et al., 1997), but the natriuretic responses to STa and uroguanylin are retained (Carrithers et al., 1999), suggesting that other receptors are envolved. There is a possibility that there are to peptides causing antagonic effects. Further isolation may be necessary. Further studies are required to elucidate the specific renal mechanism of action of this new peptide. The discovery of guanylin and its family has promoted significant advances in the understanding of endogenous control of salt, water and eletrolites. The study of its analogs in perfused rat kidneys could help in elucidating their specific renal mecanism of action and bring great perspectives in the control of blood pressure.

Πολλές παθήσεις του καρδιαγγειακού συστήματος σχετίζονται με την λειτουργία του ενζύμου της διαλυτής γουανυλικής κυκλάσης (soluble guanylate cyclase, sGC). Η sGC εμπλέκεται στο μονοπάτι ΝΟ-sGC-cGMP το οποίο ενεργοποιείται από το βιολογικά διαθέσιμο μονοξείδιο του αζώτου (nitric oxide, ΝΟ). Πολλές παθολογικές καταστάσεις αντιμετωπίστηκαν για πάνω από 140 χρόνια με τη χρήση φαρμάκων που παρέχουν NO (ΝΟ-φάρμακα), χωρίς ωστόσο να είναι γνωστός ο μηχανισμός δράσης τους. Αν και τα φάρμακα αυτά συνεισέφεραν στη βελτίωση των παθολογικών καταστάσεων, ωστόσο παρουσίαζαν σημαντικά μειονεκτήματα. Για την αντιμετώπιση αυτών, το ενδιαφέρον στράφηκε στον σχεδιασμό και την σύνθεση ενώσεων των οποίων η δράση θα ήταν ανεξάρτητη από το ΝΟ. Μεταξύ αυτών, τα παράγωγα BAY 58-2667 και η HMR 1766 αποδείχθηκαν ενεργοποιητές της sGC. Στα πλαίσια της παρούσας μελέτης, σχεδιάσθηκαν και συντέθηκαν έξι νέα βενζοφουρανικά ανάλογα του HMR-1766, σε μία προσπάθεια ανακάλυψης νέων ενώσεων, ενεργοποιητών της sGC με ενισχυμένη δραστικότητα και εκλεκτικότητα δράσης. Η προσέγγιση που ακολουθήθηκε για την σύνθεση των τελικών προϊόντων περιελάμβανε την ανοικοδόμηση του βενζοφουρανικού δακτυλίου από υποκατεστημένα παράγωγα σαλικυλικού οξέος και την μετέπειτα σύζευξη αυτού με κατάλληλους δομικούς λίθους για τον σχηματισμό μίας σουλφοναμιδικής και μίας αμιδικής πλευρικής αλυσίδας. Στα πλαίσια της μελέτης, διερευνήθηκαν και βελτιστοποιήθηκαν όλα τα συνθετικά στάδια για την παραλαβή των ενδιάμεσων και των τελικών προϊόντων. Η μελλοντική αποτίμηση της βιολογικής δράσης των νέων ενώσεων αναμένεται να διευκρινίσει αν οι ενώσεις αυτές είναι ικανές να δράσουν ως ενεργοποιητές της sGC, αλλά και αν μπορούν να αποτελέσουν χρήσιμα χημικά εργαλεία για την διευκρίνιση δομικών πληροφοριών του ενζύμου. Το δεύτερο τμήμα της παρούσας εργασίας, αφορά στον σχεδιασμό και την σύνθεση νέων αναλόγων του φυσικού προιόντος Hymenialdesine (HMD). Η HMD είναι ένα φυσικό προϊόν το οποίο έχει αποδειχθεί αναστολέας πολλών πρωτεϊνικών κινασών, όπως των κυκλινο-εξαρτώμενων κινασών (CDKs), η υπερλειτουργία των CDKs ενέχεται στην εμφάνιση παθολογικών καταστάσεων (καρκίνος, νευροεκφυλιστικές παθήσεις, διαβήτης). Στόχος της μελέτης ήταν ο σχεδιασμός και η διερεύνηση της σύνθεσης νέων σπειρανικών ινδολοαζεπινικών αναλόγων της HMD, με ενισχυμένη ανασταλτική και εκλεκτική δράση έναντι των CDKs. Για το σκοπό αυτό, μελετήθηκε η μετατροπή της 5-κετονομάδας της αζεπινο[3,4-b]ινδολο-1,5-διόνης σε ένα αμινο-υποκατεστημένο στερεογονικό κέντρο μέσω νουκλεόφιλης προσβολής της πρόδρομης χειρόμορφης t-βουτυλοσουλφινυλ-ιμίνης. Διερευνήθηκαν ποικίλες πειραματικές συνθήκες για τη βελτιστοποίηση σχηματισμού τόσο της ενδιάμεσης σουλφινυλ-ιμίνης, όσο και της υποκατάστασης αυτής. Τα συνθετικά αυτά στάδια θεωρούνται κρίσιμα και η βελτιστοποίηση τους απαραίτητη για την ομαλή εξέλιξη του συνθετικού σχήματος. Τα αποτελέσματα που καταγράφηκαν στα πλαίσια της μελέτης αναμένεται να συμβάλλουν ουσιαστικά στην επιτυχή ολοκλήρωση της σύνθεσης των νέων σπειρανικών αναλόγων της HMD. / Many cardiovascular diseases are connected with the activity of soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC). sGC is part of the NO-sGC-cGMP pathway, which is activated by the biologically available nitric oxide (NO). Many drugs that release NO (NO-drugs) have been used for more than 140 years. Although these drugs have contributed to the treatment of these diseases, they have presented some disadvantages. Thus, new compounds have been discovered whose activity is independent of NO. Compounds BAY 58-2667 and HMR-1766 belong to this new class of compounds and are characterized as sGC activators. In the first part of this study, six new benzofuran derivatives of HMR-1766 were designed and synthesized, aiming at the discovery of new compounds, activators of sGC with enhanced activity and selectivity against sGC. The synthetic approach involves the initial formation of benzofuran ring from substituted derivatives of salicylic acid and its coupling with selected building blocks. The optimazation of all synthetic steps for the synthesis of the intermediate and final products was also part of this study. The biological evaluation of the new compounds is expected to reveal their biological activity as sGC activators and/or their role as chemical tools for the structural elucidation of the enzyme. The second part of this study, concerns the design and synthesis of new derivatives of Hymenialdesine (HMD). HMD is a natural product with inhibitory activity against many protein kinases, such as cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs). Hypeactivation of CDKs is implicated in pathological disorders such as cancer, neurodegenerative diseases and diabetes. The aim of the study was the synthesis of new spiro-indolazepino derivatives of HMD with potential enhanced inhibitory activity and selectivity against CDKs. The transformation of the 5-ketogroup of the azepino[3,4-b]indol-1,5-dione to a new amino-substituted stereogenic center by nucleophilic attack of the intermediate chiral tert-sulfinylimine was the key-step of the synthetic approach. The results of this study are expected to contribute substantially to the synthesis of new spiro HMD derivatives.

Soluble guanylyl/guanylate cyclase (sGC), the primary receptor for nitric oxide (NO), is a heme containing heterodimeric enzyme involved in numerous physiological events in animals. The small molecule YC-1 stimulates sGC, but the mechanism behind and the location of binding are unknown. I have developed a prokaryotic expression system for insect ( <italic>Manduca sexta</italic>) sGC. The recombinant holoenzyme, like its mammalian counterpart, is responsive to NO, CO and YC-1, displaying a 175-fold increase in activity on binding. Truncated constructs containing the N-terminal two-thirds of both subunits (msGC-NT) were designed to facilitate expression. With the highly pure material, we investigated NO and CO binding, reaction kinetics and regulation. Binding of NO to msGC-NT heme forms a six-coordinate intermediate followed by release of the proximal histidine to yield a five-coordinate nitrosyl complex. The conversion rate is insensitive to nucleotides, YC-1 and changes in NO concentration up to ~30 micromolar. In contrast, NO release from msGC-NT is biphasic in the absence of YC-1, while binding of YC-1 eliminates the fast phase but has little effect on the slower phase. CO binding to msGC-NT is also regulated by YC-1. The CO release rate is reduced by YC-1 while the on rate remains unchanged, which leads to an ~50-fold increase in binding affinity. YC-1 binding leads to a substantial geminate recombination of CO to msGC-NT upon photolysis. Our data are consistent with a model for allosteric activation in which (1) YC-1 binds away from the catalytic site and (2) sGC undergoes a conformational switch between two states of an open and a closed heme pocket. The final catalysis results from the integration of the influence of numerous allosteric effectors on the equilibrium between these two states.<italic>S </italic>-nitrosoglutathione (GSNO) exists <italic>in vivo </italic> and plays important roles in NO signaling. We have developed a model cell line, in which inducible NO synthase and human sGC genes were included. GSNO stimulation of sGC has been investigated using recombinant insect and human enzymes. GSNO can activate sGC as efficiently as gaseous NO, but apparently with a distinct mechanism. GSNO or endogenous NO could <italic>S </italic>-nitrosylate sGC, which might regulate the enzyme function.

No presente trabalho avaliamos o potencial do BAY 41-2272 e sua via, como uma ferramenta para modulação da função dos linfócitos. Para isso, realizamos tratamentos farmacológicos com BAY 41-2272, avaliando a produção de citocinas e observamos que este fármaco, como ativador direto, não induz produção de IFN, IL-4 e IL-10 nos linfócitos. No entanto, o prétratamento por 24 horas com BAY 41-2272, com posterior ativação com PMA, mostrou que esta droga tem efeito inibitório na produção das citocinas. Em vista disto, avaliamos se este fármaco seria capaz de ativar estas células através da expressão de CD69. Vimos que por si só esta droga não foi capaz de aumentar a expressão de CD69, no entanto o pré-tratamento com BAY 41-2272 inibiu a ativação dos linfócitos T CD4. Assim, avaliamos se o fármaco seria capaz de inibir a expressão de fatores de transcrição FOXP3, RORT, Tbet e GATA3. Vimos que o BAY 41-2272 não induziu expressão desses fatores de transcrição e o pré-tratamento com este fármaco não alterou a expressão de FOXP3, RORT e GATA3, mas inibiu a expressão de Tbet quando comparado ao estimulado com PMA e Ionomicina sem o prétratamento. Observamos também que o pré-tratamento com BAY 41-2272 inibiu a linfoproliferação. Estes resultados sugerem que o BAY 41-2272 e sua via, têm um perfil inibitório sobre os linfócitos T CD4, e potencialmente podem ser utilizados como imunomodulador em pacientes com comprometimento do sistema imunológico e síndromes linfoproliferativas. / In this work, we evaluated the potential of BAY 41-2272 and its pathway as a tool for modulating lymphocyte function. For this, we performed pharmacological treatments with BAY 41-2272, evaluating the production of cytokines and observed that this drug, as a direct activator, does not induce production of IFN, IL-4 e IL-10. However, pre-treatment for 24 hours with BAY 41-2272 and subsequente activation with PMA showed that this drug has an inhibitory effect on cytokine production. Thus, we evaluated if this drug would be able to activate these cells through the CD69 expression. We saw that alone, BAY 41-2272 was not able to increase CD69 expression, however, pre-treatment inhibited activation of CD4 T lymphocytes. Then, we evaluated if this chemical compound would be able to inhibite the expression of transcription factors FOXP3, RORT, Tbet and GATA3. We have seen that BAY 41-2272 did not induce expression of these transcription factors and pretreatment with this drug did not alter expression of FOXP3, RORT and GATA3, but inhibited Tbet expression. We also observed that pre-treatment with BAY 41-2272 inhibited lymphoproliferation. These results suggest that BAY 41-2272 and its pathway have an inhibitory profile on CD4 T lymphocytes and can potentially be used as an immunomodulator in patients with impaired imune system and lymphoproliferative syndromes.

Thrombospondin-1 (TSP-1) binding to its membrane receptor CD47 results in an inhibtion of the nitric oxide (NO) receptor soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC) and a decrease in intracellular cGMP levels. This causes physiologic effects such as vasoconstriction and a rise in blood pressure. The mechanism by which TSP-1 binds to CD47 at the membrane to decrease sGC activity is largely unknown. CD47 can physically associate with a number of binding partners, including α(v)β₃ and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR2). Binding of a C-terminal fragment of TSP-1 called E3CaG1 to CD47 leads to a rise in intracellular calcium ([Ca²⁺](i)), which decreases sGC activity via a phosphorylation event. Binding of E3CaG1 is also known to disrupt the interaction between CD47 and VEGFR2, leading to a decrease in endothelial nitric-oxide synthase (eNOS) activity and cGMP levels through an Akt signaling pathway. However, it is not known whether other membrane proteins associated with CD47 are required for E3CaG1 binding and a subsequent [Ca²⁺](i) increase. Plasmon-waveguide resonance (PWR) spectroscopy was employed to elucidate the mechanism of TSP-1 inhibition of sGC activity through membrane complexes involving CD47. Using PWR, I found E3CaG1 can bind specifically to CD47 within native Jurkat membranes with picomolar and nanomolar dissociation constants (K(d)), suggesting multiple CD47 complexes are present. Among these complexes, CD47/VEGFR2 was found to bind E3CaG1 with a picomolar K(d)and CD47/α(v)β₃ was found to bind E3CaG1 with a nanomolar K(d). In addition, the presence of an anti-VEGFR2 antibody inhibited the E3CaG1-induced calcium response, which suggested CD47 in complex with VEGFR2 was responsible for TSP-1 reduction of sGC activity. I show that when both CD47 and VEGFR2 are returned to a HEK 293T cell line that does not contain these receptors, an increase in [Ca²⁺](i) upon E3CaG1 binding is restored. Interestingly, E3CaG1 was also found to bind to VEGFR2 in complex with the integrin α(v)β₃ on CD47-null cell lines and their derivations, causing a decrease in [Ca²⁺](i) levels. Therefore, the third type 2 repeat and C-terminal domains of TSP-1 can cause both increases and decreases in calcium based upon the availability of protein complexes to which it binds.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington, 1999. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves [106]-128).

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento CientÃfico e TecnolÃgico / FundaÃÃo Cearense de Apoio ao Desenvolvimento Cientifico e TecnolÃgico / Previamente, foi demonstrado que o tratamento via intravenosa com 1-nitro-2-feniletano (NFE) induziu hipotensÃo que resulta principalmente de sua aÃÃo vasodilatadora diretamente sobre o mÃsculo liso. Nesse estudo, estudamos o mecanismo subjacente ao efeito miorrelaxante do NFE em tecidos vasculares isolados de ratos. Registros isomÃtricos foram obtidos a partir de anÃis isolados de artÃria aorta e do segundo ramo da mesentÃrica de ratos atravÃs de sistema de aquisiÃÃo de dados. Experimentos in silico (docking) de simulaÃÃo da formaÃÃo de complexos entre o NFE e a enzima guanilato ciclase foram realizados. Em preparaÃÃes de aorta isolada com endotÃlio intacto, NFE (1-300 &#61549;g/mL) relaxou a contraÃÃo induzida por fenilefrina ou K+, com valores de CI50 de 35,0 [23,3â52,6] e 73,2 [39,5â134,3] &#61549;g/mL, respectivamente. Os efeitos vasorrelaxantes do NFE foram significativamente (P < 0,05, teste de Mann-Whitney) reduzidos pelo tratamento prÃvio com ODQ (10 ÂM), azul de metileno (10 ÂM), TEA (5 mM), glibenclamida (10 ÂM) ou 4-aminopiridina (1 mM), mas nÃo pela remoÃÃo do endotÃlio vascular ou pelo prÃ-tratamento com L-NAME (100 &#956;M), indometacina (10 &#956;M), MDL-12.330A (3 &#956;M), KT5823 (0.5 ÂM) ou KT5720 (1 &#956;M). A potÃncia do NFE para induzir efeito vasorrelaxante foi significantemente maior (p < 0,01, teste de Mann-Whitney) nas preparaÃÃes de artÃria mesentÃrica quando comparado à aorta, tanto nas contraÃÃes induzidas por K+ como por noradrenalina com valores de CI50 de 5,3 [2,6â10,5] e 6,5 [2,8â14,9] Âg/mL, respectivamente. Em um meio sem cÃlcio, na presenÃa de K+ 60 mM ou fenilefrina 1 ÂM, as contraÃÃes induzidas CaCl2 foram significativamente reduzidas e atà mesmo abolidas pelo NFE na concentraÃÃo de 100 Âg/mL, respectivamente. Em meio sem cÃlcio, contendo EGTA, a resposta contrÃtil da fenilefrina foi significantemente reduzida pelo NFE (100 Âg/mL ), efeito impedido pelo tratamento com ODQ (10 ÂM), enquanto nÃo teve efeito significativo sobre as contraÃÃes induzidas por cafeÃna. Resultados semelhantes foram obtidos com nitroprussiato de sÃdio. NFE tambÃm foi capaz de inibir a contraÃÃo induzida pela entrada capacitativa de cÃlcio e pelo Ãster de forbol. AlÃm disso, os resultados de docking revelam que existem clusters de provÃveis interaÃÃes do NFE com a enzima guanilato ciclase. O presente estudo sugere que a atividade vasorrelaxante do NFE em aorta de rato à causada por provÃvel estimulaÃÃo da guanilato ciclase e consequente ativaÃÃo da cascata enzimÃtica guanilato ciclase/GMPc/canais de K+. / It was early shown that intravenous treatment with 1-nitro-2-phenylethane (NPE) induced hypotension resulting mainly from its direct vasodilatory action on vascular smooth muscle. Here, it was sudied the underlying mechanism involved in the vasorelaxant effect of NPE in isolated rings of rat arteries. Isometric recordings were obtained from rings made from aorta or mesenteric artery using a digital acquisition system. Experiments in silico (docking) for simulation of molecular interactions between NPE and the enzyme guanylate cyclase were performed. In endothelium-intact aortic preparations, NPE (1-300 &#61549;g/mL) relaxed the phenylephrine or K+-induced contractions with IC50 values of 35.0 [23.3- 52.6] and 73.2 [39.5-134.3] &#61549;g/mL, respectively. Vasorelaxant effects of NPE were significantly (P <0.05, Mann-Whitney test) decreased by pretreatment with ODQ (10 ÂM), methylene blue (10 ÂM), TEA (5 mM), glibenclamide (10 ÂM) or 4-aminopyridine (1 mM) but not by vascular endothelium removal or by pretreatment with L-NAME (100 ÂM), indomethacin (10 ÂM), MDL-12.330A (3 ÂM), KT5823 (0.5 ÂM ) or KT5720 (1 ÂM). Pharmacological potency of NPE was significantly greater (p <0.01, Mann-Whitney test) in preparations of mesenteric artery compared to that of aorta, as in K+- and norepinephrine-induced contraction with IC50 values of 5.3 [2.6-10.5] and 6.5 [2.8-14.9] &#61549;g/mL, respectively. In calcium-free medium, in presence of K+ 60 mM or phenylephrine 1 &#956;M, the CaCl2-induced contractions were significantly reduced and almost abolished by NPE at 100 &#956;g/mL, respectively. In calcium-free medium, containing EGTA, the contractile response of phenylephrine was significantly reduced by NPE (100 &#61549;g/mL), an effect prevented by treatment with ODQ (10 ÂM), whereas NPE was deprived of any significant effect on caffeine-induced contractions. Similar results were obtained with sodium nitroprusside. NPE also inhibited the contractions induced by the capacitive calcium entry or by phorbol ester. In addition, docking results revealed clusters of interactions of NPE with the guanylate cyclase molecule. The present study suggests that vasorelaxant activity of NPE on rat aorta is due to its stimulatory properties on guanylate cyclase, which activates the guanylate cyclase/cGMP/K+ channels pathway.

Orientador: Edson Antunes / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-22T00:44:09Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Silverio_CamilaBitencourtMendes_M.pdf: 1655028 bytes, checksum: e42d500e98127c5551d4f94269778bcd (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013 / Resumo: O BAY 60-2770 constitui-se um novo ativador da guanilil ciclase solúvel (GCs) independente de óxido nítrico (NO). Há relatos de que ativadores da GCs independente de NO podem reativar esta enzima, mesmo em seu estado heme-oxidada, condição encontrada em doenças vasculares. Neste trabalho, temos por hipótese que a oxidação do grupamento heme da GCs pelo ODQ leva à potencialização dos efeitos antiplaquetários in vitro do BAY 60-2770. Foram utilizadas plaquetas humanas purificadas de voluntários sadios. Realizamos ensaios de agregação e de adesão plaquetária, bem como análise da ativação da integrina plaquetária, ?IIb?3, por citometria de fluxo. Realizamos Também ensaios de Western blotting para a quantificação protéica das subunidades ?1 e ?1 da GCs. Os níveis intracelulares de Ca2+ foram quantificados por fluorimetria, utilizando-se o fluoróforo FluoFort. O BAY 60-2770 (0,001 - 10 ?M) produziu inibição significativa da agregação plaquetária induzida pelo colágeno (2 ?g/mL) ou trombina (0,1 U/mL), sendo este efeito marcantemente potencializado pelo inibidor da GCs, ODQ (10 ?M). Em placas recobertas pelo fibrinogênio, o BAY 60-2770 (0,1 - 10 ?M) inibiu significativamente a adesão plaquetária, sendo esta inibição também potencializada pelo ODQ (10 ?M). O BAY 60-2770 (0,01 - 10 ?M) aumentou os níveis de GMPc e reduziu a mobilização de Ca2+, e ambos os efeitos foram potencializados pelo ODQ. O análogo permeável do GMPc, 8-Bromo-GMPc (8-Br-GMPc; 100 ?M), inibiu a agregação plaquetária e os níveis de Ca2+ de maneira ODQ-resistente. Os níveis de AMPc não foram alterados pelo BAY 60-2770. O colágeno (2 ?g/mL) e trombina (0,1 U/mL) ativaram a integrina ?IIb?3. Este efeito foi inibido pelo BAY 60-2770 (0,01 - 10 ?M), e potencializado pelo ODQ. Os efeitos antiplaquetários do nitroprussiato de sódio (SNP) foram totalmente revertidos pelo ODQ. O tratamento com ODQ (10 ?M) reduziu significativamente os níveis protéicos das subunidades ?1 e ?1 da GCs, os quais foram prevenidos pelo tratamento com BAY 60-2770. Os efeitos inibitórios do BAY 60-2770 sobre a agregação e adesão plaquetária, mobilização intracelular de Ca2+ e ativação da integrina ?IIb?3 foram todos potencializados em condições de heme-oxidação. O BAY 60-2770 impediu a diminuição dos níveis protéicos da GCs produzida por ODQ. Assim, o BAY 60-2770 pode ser de grande interesse terapêutico em doenças cardiovasculares associadas às complicações tromboembólicas / Abstract: Nitric oxide-independent soluble guanylyl cyclase (sGC) activators reactivate the haem-oxidized enzyme in vascular diseases. This study was undertaken to investigate the anti-platelet mechanisms of the haem-independent sGC activator BAY 60-2770 in human washed platelets. The hypothesis that sGC oxidation potentiates the anti-platelet activities of BAY 60-2770 has been tested. Human washed platelet aggregation and adhesion assays, as well as flow cytometry for ?IIb?3 integrin activation and Western blot for ?1 and ?1 sGC subunits were performed. Intracellular calcium levels were monitored in platelets loaded with a fluorogenic calcium-binding dye (FluoForte). BAY 60-2770 (0.001-10 ?M) produced significant inhibition of collagen (2 ?g/ml)- and thrombin (0.1 U/ml)-induced platelet aggregation that was markedly potentiated by the sGC inhibitor ODQ (10 ?M). In fibrinogen-coated plates, BAY 60-2770 (0.1 - 10 ?M) significantly inhibited platelet adhesion, an effect potentiated by ODQ. BAY 60-2770 (0.01 - 10 ?M) increased the cGMP levels and reduced the intracellular Ca2+ levels, both of which were potentiated by ODQ. The cell-permeable cGMP analogue 8-Br-cGMP (100 ?M) inhibited platelet aggregation and Ca2+ levels in an ODQ-insensitive manner. The cAMP levels remained unchanged by BAY 60-2770. Collagen- and thrombin-induced ?IIb?3 activation was markedly inhibited by BAY 60-2770 that was further inhibited by ODQ. The effects of sodium nitroprusside (3 ?M) were all prevented by ODQ. Incubation with ODQ (10 ?M) significantly reduced the protein levels of ?1 and ?1 sGC subunits, which were prevented by BAY 60-2770. The inhibitory effects of BAY 60-2770 on aggregation, adhesion, intracellular Ca2+ levels and ?IIb?3 activation are all potentiated in haem-oxidizing conditions. BAY 60-2770 prevents ODQ-induced decrease in sGC protein levels. BAY 60-2770 could be of therapeutic interest in cardiovascular diseases associated with thrombotic complications / Mestrado / Farmacologia / Mestra em Farmacologia

African horse sickness virus (AHSV) affects equine populations around the world. It is the cause of a high rate of morbidity and associated large economic losses in affected regions. The virus is a segmented double stranded RNA virus and a member of Orbivirus genus in the Reoviridae family. The prototype member of the orbiviruses is bluetongue virus (STY) and other members include Chuzan virus and St. Croix River virus. These viruses are all characterized by a genome of ten dsRNA segments that encode at least ten different proteins. Three of the minor core proteins are found within the core of BTV. These are all associated with the RNA transcription complex and the enzymatic activities with which they are associated include an RNA polymerase (VP1), an RNA capping enzyme (VP4) and an RNA helicase (VP6). Genes homologous to the BTV genes that encode these proteins are found in all members of the Orbivirus genus. The aim of this thesis is to characterize VP4 of AHSV, the capping enzyme candidate, and to compare it to other orbivirus capping enzymes. Possible functional motifs and regions of importance within the orbivirus capping enzymes will be identified. The gene will also be expressed and used to perform assays to characterize the different enzymatic activities of VP4. The VP4 cDNA of AHSV serotype 3 was cloned and sequenced. From the full-length verified nucleotide sequence an open reading frame was identified and used to predict the amino acid sequence. These were compared to other orbivirus species including STY, Chuzan virus and St. Croix River virus. These alignments identified a number of highly conserved regions, consisting of four or more amino acids conserved between all the sequences analyzed. A fibronectin type 3-like motif, containing 12 conserved amino acids, was identified which could be responsible for protein binding. This motif contains 12 conserved amino acids making it a good candidate for a functional motif. Conservation does not, however, always predict regions of importance. In BTV a lysine-containing motif was identified to be responsible for GMP binding. This region is not conserved between the different viruses. AHSV has a motif containing a lysine residue similar to the motif identified in rotavirus and reovirus. Two other motifs described in BTV were also not conserved in the other viruses. One of them, a leucine zipper, was shown to dimerize BTV VP4. Phylogenetically, AHSV and Chuzan virus are the most closely related while BTV is more distant and St. Croix River virus forms a distinct out-group when the different VP4 sequences are compared. AHSV-3 VP4 was expressed as a histidine-tagged protein in the baculovirus expression system. Not unexpectedly, the protein was found to be insoluble, similar to BTV VP4 produced by means of the same system. However, whereas BTV VP4 could be solubilized by the addition of salt the AHSV VP4 remained insoluble at high salt concentrations. Several adjustments were made. Cells were lysed in a high salt buffer, the pH of the buffers was adjusted and sucrose cushions were used but none of the methods was found to improve the yield of soluble VP4 significantly. However, the pellet containing VP4 was relatively empty of contaminating protein and, therefore, a number of enzymatic assays were performed with the pellet. Assays for inorganic phosphatase and nucleotide phosphatase were performed. Strikingly, both assays indicated the presence of active phosphatases in the WT and VP4 pellets. Also, an assay was performed for guanylyltransferase activity but no activity was observed for this assay. The sequence data therefore points to VP4 as the probable capping enzyme although it may have a different structural complex. The failure to produce a reliable source of soluble purified AHSV VP4 made it impossible to provide evidence to confirm the associated enzymatic activities. / Dissertation (MSc(Genetics))--University of Pretoria, 2005. / Genetics / unrestricted

Orientador: Edson Antunes / Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-26T14:39:41Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 BaldisseraJunior_Lineu_D.pdf: 1965195 bytes, checksum: 107b841684637a6a66bcdb7b9e929cef (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015 / Resumo: O recrutamento de eosinófilos para o pulmão inflamado é uma característica central da asma alérgica. Há relatos de que a ativação da guanilil ciclase solúvel (GCs) exerce atividade anti-inflamatória por inibir o recrutamento de leucócitos, e que o aumento de GMPc intracelular inibe a migração in vitro de eosinófilos humanos. A GCs é estimulada pelo NO, seu agonista fisiológico. Outros compostos são capazes de estimular a GCs de forma independente do NO, como as moléculas da família dos estimuladores NO-independentes e heme-dependentes, e, mais recentemente, por compostos estimuladores NO- e heme-independentes, chamados de ativadores da GCs. Neste contexto, o objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar os efeitos do BAY 60-2770 (ativador NO- e heme-independente da GCs) em modelo murino de asma alérgica e na quimiotaxia in vitro de eosinófilos humanos induzida pela eotaxina. Para tanto, camundongos machos C57Bl6 (25 g, 6 semanas de idade) foram sensibilizados (2 injeções s.c. de 100 ?g de ovalbumina, nos dias 0 e 7) e submetidos ao desafio intranasal com OVA (10 ?g; duas vezes por dia, com intervalos de 6 horas entre cada desafio) nos dia 14 e 15, na presença e/ou ausência (veículo) do tratamento crônico com BAY 60-2770 (1mg/Kg/gavage; 14 dias). Os animais foram anestesiados e sacrificados 48 horas após o primeiro desafio, e as amostras biológicas colhidas para análise. O perfil inflamatório alérgico foi avaliado através da contagem total e diferencial de leucócitos no lavado broncoalveolar (LBA), sangue periférico, perfusato de medula óssea (MO) e em corte histológico. Foram dosados os níveis de IgE sérica específica a OVA, citocinas Th1 (IFN-?), Th2 (IL-4, IL-5, IL-10), TNF-? e eotaxina no LBA. A expressão proteica da GCs (subunidades ?2 e ?1) e da iNOS foi quantificada no parênquima pulmonar. O desenho experimental foi dividido em quatro grupos, a saber: grupo tratado com Veículo e instilado com Salina (VS); grupo tratado com Veículo e desafiado com OVA (VO); grupo tratado com BAY 60-2770 e instilado com Salina (BS); grupo tratado com o BAY 60-2770 e desafiado com OVA (BO). Nossos resultados mostraram níveis elevados (p<0,05) de IgE em soro de animais sensibilizados comparados com animais naive, confirmando a eficácia da sensibilização, que não foi alterada pelo tratamento com BAY 60-2770. O desafio alérgico à OVA (grupo VO), como esperado, gerou uma resposta inflamatória alérgica pulmonar, caracterizada pela presença marcante de eosinófilos no pulmão e de níveis elevados de IL-4 no LBA, assim como eosinofilia sanguínea e eosinofilopoese na medula óssea. Esta resposta foi significativamente acompanhada da redução da expressão da GCs (subunidades ?1 e ?1) e aumento da expressão protéica da iNOS no parênquima pulmonar, comparada a animais não desafiados (grupo VS). Não foram observadas diferenças nos níveis de TNF-? e eotaxina no LBA entre os grupos. As citocinas IFN-? e IL-10 não foram detectadas no LBA em nenhum grupo experimental. O tratamento crônico com BAY 60-2770 (grupo BO) reduziu significativamente os níveis de IL-4 e IL-5 no LBA, inibiu a eosinofilia pulmonar (LBA), sanguínea e peri-bronquiolar, e suprimiu a eosinofilopoiese na medula óssea, os quais foram acompanhados da restauração da expressão da GCs (?1 e ?1) e da iNOS no parênquima pulmonar, comparado com o grupo desafiado tratado com veículo (grupo VO). Em experimentos separados, eosinófilos humanos de indivíduos saudáveis foram submetidos aos ensaios de quimiotaxia induzida por eotaxina (300 ng/mL) na presença do BAY 60-2770 individualmente e/ou co-incubado com inibidor da GCs, ODQ (10 ?M). Nas mesmas condições, foram determinados os níveis de GMPc intracelular, e realizado o teste de viabilidade celular por redução do MTT. A resposta quimiotática induzida por eotaxina foi significativamente inibida pelo BAY 60-2770 (10 ?M), de modo dependente de GMPc. O efeito inibitório do BAY 60-2770 foi potencializado pela prévia co-incubação com ODQ, que elevou marcantemente os níveis de GMPc intracelulares e inibiu significativamente a migração de eosinófilos frente à eotaxina nas concentrações de 1, 3 e 5 ?M de BAY 60-2770. A viabilidade celular não foi afetada pelo BAY 60-2770. Em conjunto, nossos resultados mostram que o BAY 60-2770 é capaz de reduzir a inflamação alérgica pulmonar murina, e de inibir de forma dependente de GMPc a migração de eosinófilos humanos induzida por eotaxina. Concluímos que o BAY 60-2770 apresenta potencial valor terapêutico na asma alérgica / Abstract: Eosinophil recruitment to inflamed lung is a hallmark of allergic asthma. The literature has shown that soluble guanylyl cyclase (sGC) plays a key antiinflammatory role by inhibiting leukocyte recruitment, and that increased cGMP intracellular levels inhibit human eosinophil chemotaxis in vitro. The soluble guanylyl cyclase is stimulated by NO, its physiological agonist. Other compounds are able to NO-independently stimulate sGC, such as the family of NO-independent and heme-dependent stimulators, and the NO- and heme-independent stimulators, known as sGC activators. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the effects of BAY 60-2770 (NO- and haem-independent sGC activator) in pulmonary allergic inflammation in mice and human eosinophil chemotaxis in vitro induced by eotaxin. Part I: Male C57BL6 mice were sensitized (100 ?g of ovalbumin, s.c.; day 0 and 7) and intranasally challenged with OVA (10 ?g; twice a day, 6 h between challenges) at days 14 and 15, with BAY 60-2770 (1 mg/Kg/gavage; 14 days) and/or its vehicle. Mice were anaesthetized and exsanguinated at 48 hours post first-OVA challenge, and biological samples were collected. The inflammatory profile was evaluated by total and differential cell counts in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluids, peripheral blood, bone marrow perfusate and histological slides. Serum OVA-specific IgE levels were measured and Th1 (IFN-?), Th2 (IL-4, IL-5, IL-10) cytokines, TNF-? and eotaxin levels were quantified in BAL fluids. Soluble guanylyl cyclase subunits (?1 and ?1) and iNOS protein expression were determined in lung parenchyma. The experimental design was divided in four groups, namely: Vehicle treated-instilled with Saline (VS group); Vehicle treated-challenged with OVA (VO group); BAY 60-2770 treated-instilled with Saline (BS group) and BAY 60-2770 treated-challenged with OVA (BO group). Our results showed seric elevated IgE levels (p<0.05) in OVA-sensitized mice compared with naive animals, confirming the efficiency of sensitization procedure, which was not affected under BAY 60-2770 treatment. As expected, the OVA-challenge in VO group triggered a pulmonary allergic inflammatory response, characterized by markedly eosinophil migration to lung, elevated IL-4 levels in BAL fluid, as well as blood eosinophilia and marrow eosinophilopoiesis in bone marrow. This response was significantly accompanied by reduced GCs (subunits ?1 and ?1) and increased iNOS expression in lung parenchyma, compared with non-challenged animals (VS group). No differences on TNF-? and eotaxin levels in BAL fluids were observed among studied groups. Levels of IFN-? and IL-10 were not detected in BAL fluids of any groups. Chronic oral treatment with BAY 60-2770 (BO group) significantly reduced IL-4 and IL-5 levels in BAL fluids, inhibited pulmonary (BAL), blood and peri-bronchiolar eosinophilia, and supressed bone marrow eosinophilopoiesis, which was accompanied by restoration of sGC and iNOS expression in lung parenchyma, compared with vehicle treated group (VO). In separate experiments, isolated human eosinophils from healthy volunteers were individually incubated with BAY 60-2770 and/or previously co-incubated with the sGC inhibitor, ODQ (10 ?M), and allowed to migrate toward eotaxin (300 ng/ml; 1 h, 37°C) in chemotaxis chamber. In the same conditions, intracellular cGMP levels were determinated and cell viability test were performed by MTT reduction. Our data showed that human eosinophil migration to eotaxin was significantly inhibited by BAY 60-2770 (10 ?M) in a cGMP-dependent manner. Inhibitory effect of BAY 60-2770 was potentiated by previous co-incubation with ODQ, which markedly elevated cGMP intracellular levels and inhibited eosinophils migration induced by eotaxin at 1, 3 and 5 ?M BAY 60-2770 concentrations. The cell viability was not affected by BAY 60-2770. Together, our results show that BAY 60-2770 is able to reduce murine pulmonary allergic inflammation, and to inhibit human eosinophil migration toward eotaxin in cGMP-dependent manner. In conclusion, the compound BAY 60-2770 presents potential therapeutic value in allergic asthma / Doutorado / Farmacologia / Doutor em Farmacologia