Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento CientÃfico e TecnolÃgico / Objective: To evaluate the protective effect of the heme-oxygenase 1 (HO-1)/biliverdin/CO pathway in models of gastropathy in mice, evaluating the role of the soluble guanylate cyclase (GCs) and of the constitutive NOS in this event. Methods: Protocol 1: Mice were pre-treated with hemin (HO-1 inducer; 1,3,10 mg/Kg, i.p.), biliverdin (HO-1 product; 1,3 or 10 mg/Kg., i.p.), DMDC (CO donor; 2.5, 7.5, 12.5 or 10 Âmol/Kg, i.p.) or ZnPP IX (HO-1 antagonist; 0,3, 1 or 3 mg/kg. i.p.), one hour before, gastric damage was induced by ethanol 50% (hemin, biliverdin, DMDC) or 25% (ZnPP IX). In another group, the animals were pre-treated with ODQ (12.5 mg/kg, v.o) or L-NAME (3 mg/Kg, v.o), thirty minutes before of the treatments cited previously. After 1h, the mice were sacrificed and the stomachs removed for evaluation of the gastric lesions (Image J). Protocol 2: Mice were pre-treated with hemin (3 mg/Kg, i.p.), biliverdin (3 mg/Kg., i.p.), DMDC (12,5 Âmol/Kg) or ZnPP IX (3,0 mg/kg), one hour before of the administration of INDO 30 mg/Kg (hemin, biliverdin, DMDC) or 10 mg/Kg (ZnPP IX). In another group, the animals were pre-treated with ODQ (12.5 mg/kg, v.o) or L-NAME (3 mg/Kg, v.o), thirty minutes before of the treatments cited previously. Three hours after, the mice were sacrificed and the stomachs removed for evaluation of the gastric lesions, utilizing a digital paquimetry. In all of the experimental groups, fragments of the gastric mucous were collected for determination of the concentration of MDA, GSH or bilirubin. Another samples of tissue was removed for microscopic analyzes and HO-1 expression by immunohistochemistry. The detection of the TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-10 and MPO activity were evaluated only in the INDO gastropathy. Results: Ethanol increased the expression of HO-1 and the levels of bilirrubin in the gastric tissue. Hemin, biliverdin and DMDC reduced gastric damage, MDA levels and GSH consume in ethanol 50%- induced gastropathy. The histological parameters, edema, hemorrhage and loses of epithelial cells, were diminished in the presence of hemin, biliverdin or DMDC. ZnPP IX amplified the ethanol-induced gastric lesion, increased MDA formation and decreased the GSH concentration in gastric mucosa. The histological parameters also were amplified after the handling with ZnPP IX. Bilirubin concentration was elevated during the protection induced by hemin and biliverdin, but not DMDC. INDO increased the HO-1 expression and the bilirrubin levels in the gastric mucosa. Hemin, biliverdin or DMDC reduced the gastric lesion, the MPO activity, and the MDA levels and increased the GSH concentration in the gastropathy INDO- induced. The histological parameters, edema, hemorrhage, loss of epithelial cells and the presence of inflammatory cells, were inhibited by hemin, biliverdin or DMDC. ZnPP IX amplified the effect of the INDO increasing the gastric lesion, the MPO activity, the MDA levels and the GSH consume. The histological parameters also were amplified after the handling with ZnPP IX. Bilirubin was shown elevated during the protection induced by hemin and biliverdin, but not DMDC. Hemin, biliverdin and DMDC diminished the TNF-α and IL-1β concentrations and increased the IL-10. ODQ and L-NAME completely abolished the DMDC protective gastric effect, but not biliverdin in the gastropathy ethanol or INDO- induced. Conclusion: HO-1/biliverdin/CO pathway plays a protective effect against ethanol or INDO-induced gastric damage. In the gastropathy by ethanol, the protection is dependent of the anti-oxidant action by bilirubin and CO. However, in the model of INDO gastropathy, we observe an anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory action. The mechanism of gastro protective action of the CO, but not of the biliverdin, is dependent of the CO/ NOS/ GMPc pathway. / Objetivo: Avaliar o efeito protetor da via hemeoxigenase 1 (HO-1)/ biliverdina/ CO em modelos de gastropatia em camundongos e o papel da guanilato ciclase solÃvel (GCs) e da NOS constitutiva neste evento. MÃtodos: Protocolo 1: Camundongos foram prÃ-tratados hemina (indutor da HO-1; 1,3 ou 10mg/Kg, i.p.), biliverdina (produto da HO-1; 1,3 ou 10mg/Kg, i.p.), DMDC (doador de CO; 2,5, 7,5, 12,5 ou 25 μmol/Kg, i.p.) ou ZnPP I(inibidor da HO-1; 0,3, 1,0 ou 3,0 mg/kg. i.p.) uma hora antes da administraÃÃo por gavagem de etanol 50% (hemina, biliverdina, DMDC) ou 25% (ZnPP IX). Em outro grupo, os animais foram prÃ-tratados com ODQ (12,5 mg/kg, v.o) ou L-NAME (3 mg/Kg, v.o), trinta minutos antes dos tratamentos citados anteriormente. Depois de 1h, os camundongos foram sacrificados e os estÃmagos removidos para avaliaÃÃo das lesÃes gÃstricas (Image J). Protocolo 2: Camundongos foram prÃ-tratados hemina (3,0 mg/kg), biliverdina (3,0 mg/kg), DMDC (12,5 μmol/Kg) ou ZnPPIX (3,0 mg/Kg) uma hora antes da administraÃÃo de INDO 30 mg/Kg (hemina, biliverdina, DMDC) ou 10 mg/Kg (ZnPP IX). Em outro grupo os animais foram prÃ-tratados com ODQ (12,5 mg/kg, v.o) ou L-NAME (3 mg/Kg, v.o), trinta minutos antes dos tratamentos citados anteriormente. TrÃs horas depois, os camundongos foram sacrificados e os estÃmagos removidos para avaliaÃÃo das lesÃes gÃstrica, utilizando um paquÃmetro digital. Em todos os grupos experimentais, fragmentos da mucosa gÃstrica foram coletados para determinaÃÃo da concentraÃÃo de MDA, GSH e bilirrubina. Outra amostra de tecido foi retirada para analise microscÃpica e imunohistoquÃmica. A detecÃÃo das citocinas TNF-α, IL-1β e IL-10, bem como a atividade de MPO foram avaliados somente na gastropatia por INDO. Resultados: O etanol aumentou a expressÃo de enzima HO-1 e dos nÃveis de bilirrubina no tecido gÃstrico. Hemina, biliverdina ou DMDC reduziram a lesÃo gÃstrica, os nÃveis de MDA e o consumo de GSH induzido por etanol 50%. Os parÃmetros histolÃgicos, edema, hemorragia e perda de cÃlulas epiteliais, foram diminuÃdos na presenÃa de hemina, biliverdina ou DMDC. ZnPP IX amplificou o efeito do etanol 25%, aumentando a lesÃo gÃstrica, os nÃveis de MDA e o consumo de GSH. Os parÃmetros histolÃgicos tambÃm foram amplificados apÃs o tratamento com ZnPP IX. A concentraÃÃo de bilirrubina se mostrou elevada apenas na gastroproteÃÃo induzida por hemina e biliverdina, mas nÃo pelo DMDC. INDO aumentou a expressÃo da HO-1 e os nÃveis de bilirrubina na mucosa gÃstrica. Hemina, biliverdina ou DMDC reduziram a lesÃo gÃstrica, a atividade de MPO, os nÃveis de MDA e aumentaram a concentraÃÃo de GSH na gastropatia por INDO. Os parÃmetros histolÃgicos, edema, hemorragia, perda de cÃlulas epiteliais e a presenÃa de cÃlulas inflamatÃrias, foram inibidas pela hemina, biliverdina ou DMDC. ZnPP IX amplificou o efeito da INDO aumentando a lesÃo gÃstrica, a atividade de MPO, os nÃveis de MDA e o consumo de GSH. Os parÃmetros histolÃgicos tambÃm foram amplificados apÃs o tratamento com ZnPP IX. Bilirrubina se mostrou elevada apenas na gastroproteÃÃo induzida por hemina e biliverdina, mas nÃo pelo DMDC. Hemina, biliverdina e DMDC diminuÃram as concentraÃÃes de TNF-α e IL-1β e aumentaram a IL-10. ODQ e L-NAME reverteram o efeito protetor do DMDC, mas nÃo da biliverdina, na gastropatia induzida por etanol ou INDO. ConclusÃo: A via HO-1/biliverdina/CO participa do processo de defesa da mucosa gÃstrica contra lesÃes induzidas por etanol ou INDO. Na gastropatia por etanol, a proteÃÃo à dependente da aÃÃo antioxidante da bilirrubina e CO. Entretanto, no modelo de gastropatia por INDO, observamos uma aÃÃo antioxidante e antiinflamatÃria. Evidenciamos ainda que o mecanismo de aÃÃo gastroprotetor do CO, mas nÃo da biliverdina à dependente da via CO/GMPc/NOS.

Immunotherapy has revolutionized the treatment of certain cancers by facilitating the antitumor immune response and represents today one of the mainstays of cancer therapy. However, only a subset of patients responds to immunotherapy, which can also lead to serious complications. The tumor microenvironment is composed of multiple and complex cellular and molecular interactions providing to cancer cells not only a supportive framework but promoting also many steps of immunosuppression and tumor progression. To date, the mechanisms that drive the acquisition of these immunosuppressive features are still poorly defined. Tumor-associated macrophages can be highly represented in the tumor microenvironment where they are shaped and become key players in the innate and adaptive immune escape of the tumor cells.Heme oxygenase-1 is the rate-limiting enzyme that catabolizes heme into three major biologically active byproducts which display cytoprotective, antioxidant and immunomodulatory effects. We hypothesized that tumor-associated macrophages might suppress anti-tumor T-cell response through heme oxygenase-1 induction in the tumor microenvironment and macrophage polarization. We showed that heme oxygenase-1 is highly expressed in tumor-associated macrophages. By using a subcutaneous EG7-OVA lymphoma model on genetically engineered mice with a conditional deletion of heme oxygenase-1 in macrophages, our data show that myeloid-restricted heme oxygenase-1 deficiency improves the effect of a therapeutic antitumor immunization by enhancing tumor-infiltrating antitumor CD8+ T-cell proliferation and cytotoxicity and represses tumor growth. Our data suggest a major role of myeloid heme oxygenase-1 in the differentiation and the phenotypic, functional, transcriptional and epigenetic reprograming of tumor-associated macrophages. Myeloid HO-1 inhibition might be considered as a new myeloid HO-1-mediated immune checkpoint blockade. Targeting myeloid compartment could reprogram the tumor microenvironment and synergize with other cancer therapies. / Doctorat en Sciences médicales (Médecine) / info:eu-repo/semantics/nonPublished

Le système de l’hème oxygenase-1 (HO-1) constitue un système essentiel pour la vie grâce à ses activités anti-inflammatoire et anti-oxydante lui conférant une capacité de protection importante face à une multitude de pathologies. Les produits de dégradation de l’hème par l’hème oxygénase, essentiellement le CO, participent activement dans la protection procurée par le système de l’HO-1. Par conséquence, l’exploitation pharmacologique de ce système s’est montrée d’un intérêt particulier pour une application clinique potentielle. Dans ce contexte, le but de ce travail était la caractérisation de nouvelles molécules qui activent ce système de protection.Tout d’abord, CORM-401, une nouvelle molécule ayant le Mn comme métal et qui libère 3CO/mole de la molécule, a été caractérisée dans un contexte cardiovasculaire. CORM-401 a induit une relaxation significative et immédiate des anneaux aortiques pré-contractés avec de l’épinéphrine. En parallèle, CORM-401 s’est montré sensible au stress oxydant et la libération du CO par CORM-401 s’est accélérée significativement en présence des oxydants comme H2O2, ce qui s’est traduit par une relaxation plus poussée des anneaux aortiques. En plus, CORM-401 a induit la migration des cellules endothéliales EA.hy926, l’augmentation d’expression de différents facteurs angiogéniques ainsi que la phosphorylation de p38 MAPK et Akt. P38 MAPK et HO-1 se sont montrés impliqués dans la signalisation de l’angiogenèse induite par CORM-401.En parallèle, une nouvelle classe de molécule nommée HYCOs a été récemment synthétisée par notre groupe. Ces molécules sont formées par la liaison d’un inducteur de Nrf2/HO-1 à un CO-RM dans le but d’induire une réponse immédiate à la libération du CO et une réponse plus tardive à l’induction de Nrf2/HO-1. Les deux premières molécules de cette classe, HYCO-1 et HYCO-2, ont libéré du CO en solution d’une manière concentration-dépendante et HYCO-1 s’est montré plus efficace que HYCO-2 en termes d’induction de Nrf2 dans différentes lignées cellulaires. HYCO-1 a réduit significativement la production de nitrite par les cellules microgliales BV2 et les macrophages RAW 264.7 stimulées avec du LPS. Par conséquence, ces deux molécules ont prouvé la réussite du concept des HYCOs. / The heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) pathway has emerged as a vital multifaceted system with important capacities of protection during pathological conditions characterized by oxidative stress and inflammation. The byproducts of this pathway, CO, BV and BR, were shown to contribute actively in mediating these protective effects. Thus the exploitation of the HO-1 pathway by different pharmacological tools seems to have interesting potential in clinical application. In this context, we aimed to characterize the biochemical and pharmacological activities of molecules targeting this pathway.First, a new Mn-based CO-RM named CORM-401 that releases 3CO/mole of compound with a slow kinetic was characterized in a cardiovascular context. CORM-401 induced immediate and significant relaxation in pre-contracted isolated aortic rings. Interestingly, CORM-401 has also shown to be susceptible to an oxidative environment since H2O2 potently enhanced the CO release by this compound and enhanced its vasodilatory effect. In addition, CORM-401 promoted the migration of EA.hy926 endothelial cells and induced the expression of different angiogenic factors along with the phosphorylation of P38 MAPK and Akt. HO-1 and p38 MAPK both participated in mediating the angiogenic effect of CORM-401.In parallel, a new class of hybrid molecules, named HYCOs, was recently synthesized by our group. These molecules were designed to possess an Nrf2 inducer moiety coordinated to a CO-RM in the purpose of inducing a prompt effect by the CO release and a delayed induction of Nrf2/HO-1 by the Nrf2 inducer moiety. HYCO-1 and HYCO-2, the first two compounds of this class, both released CO in solution in a concentration-dependent manner and HYCO-1 was more potent than HYCO-2 in inducing Nrf2 in different cell lines. HYCO-1 also significantly reduced nitrite production in BV2 microglia and RAW 264.7 macrophages stimulated with LPS. With these two molecules, the concept of designing HYCOs has proven its feasibility and its success.

Les statines sont des molécules hypocholestérolémiantes, inhibiteurs compétitifs de l'hydroxyméthylglutaryl-CoA réductase, possédant des propriétés anti-inflammatoires et anti-oxydantes dépendantes et indépendantes de leur capacité à réduire le cholestérol. L'hème-oxygénase-1, une enzyme responsable du catabolisme de l'hème participe à la résolution de l'inflammation, notamment via ses propriétés anti-oxydantes. Le système enzymatique cyclooxygénase-2/prostaglandine synthase-1 microsomale catalyse la transformation de l'acide arachidonique en prostaglandine E2, médiateur biologique important dans la régulation de l'hémostase des vaisseaux, la croissance cellulaire, l'inflammation et la douleur. La cyclooxygenase-2 et l'heme-oxygenase-1 étant des cibles des statines, et jouant un rôle majeur dans l'inflammation et la fibrose, le but de ce travail a été d'élucider les mécanismes moléculaires impliqués dans la régulation de l'expression de ces enzymes par les statines dans les macrophages et les fibroblastes. Dans les fibroblastes, nous avons démontré que l'induction de l'hème-oxygénase-1 par deux statines différentes, la simvastatine et la fluvastatine, est dépendante de la voie du mévalonate et de la géranygéranylation des protéines. Nous avons pu également démontrer le rôle des facteurs de transcription CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein beta et gamma et upstream stimulatory factor 1 ou 2 dans cette induction, en utilisant des ARN interférants. Dans les macrophages, nous avons mis en évidence que les statines induisent l'hème-oxygénase-1 par un mécanisme dépendant du monoxyde d'azote. La petite protéine G Rho A/C semble être impliquée dans cette régulation ainsi que le facteur de transcription CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein beta. Finalement, nous avons analysé le rôle des statines dans la régulation des cyclooxygénase-2 et la prostaglandine synthase-1 microsomale dans des myofibroblastes hépatiques humains. Nous avons mis en évidence que les statines induisent l'expression de ces deux enzymes, par un mécanisme impliquant la voie de la Rho A/C. La conséquence de cette activation est une libération de la prostaglandine E2 qui inhibe la prolifération des myofibroblastes hépatiques. Au niveau transcriptionnel, l'élément de réponse nuclear factor-kappa B et cAMP response element/E box régions ainsi que GATA les régions riches en GC participent à la régulation des promoteurs de la cyclooxygénase-2 et de la prostaglandine synthase-1 microsomale, respectivement. En resumé, nos travaux confirment que les statines jouent un rôle protecteur dans les macrophages et les fibroblastes en induisant hème-oxygénase-1, la cyclooxygénase-2 et la prostaglandine synthase-1 microsomale, des enzymes qui jouent un rôle majeur dans le contrôle de l'inflammation et la fibrose. / Statins are selective competitive inhibitors of the 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase administered for the treatment of hypercholesterolemia. These molecules have multiple pleiotropic effects in addition to lowering cholesterol such as anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties. Heme-oxygenase-1 is responsible for the catabolism of heme and has important anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. Cylooxygenase-2, along with microsomal prostaglandin E synthase-1, metabolizes arachidonic acid into prostaglandin E2, a biological mediator with important effects on vascular tone, cell growth, inflammation and pain. Because cyclooxygenase-2 and heme-oxygenase-1 are targets for statins and play a key role in inflammation and fibrosis, we aimed to investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying the regulation of these enzymes by statins in macrophages and fibroblasts.In fibroblasts, simvastatin and fluvastatin induced HO-1 expression in a mevalonate and geranylgeranylated-dependent manner. We further demonstrated a role of the transcription factors CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein beta and gamma and upstream stimulatory factor 1 or 2 in statin-dependent induction of heme-oxygenase-1 using small interfering RNA and dominant-negative constructs.In macrophages, we showed that statins i- increase the level of expression of heme-oxygenase-1 and ii- nitric oxide can play a role in statin-dependent induction of heme-oxygenase-1 , iii- RhoA/C is one of the target of statins, iv- the transcription factor CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein beta is involved in the regulation of heme-oxygenase-1 by statins.Finally, since cyclooxygenase-2 and heme-oxygenase-1 play a role in fibrosis and inflammation, we analyzed the effect of statins in human hepatic myofibroblasts, the fibrogenic cells of the liver. Statins significantly upregulated cyclooxygenase-2 and microsomal prostaglandin E synthase-1 and inhibited cell proliferation in a PGE2-dependent manner via inhibition of RhoA/C activity. Further analysis of the transcription factors involved showed a role for nuclear factor kappa B and cAMP response element/Ebox regions of cyclooxygenase-2 promoter and GATA and GC rich box regions for microsomal prostaglandin E synthase-1.Overall, our thesis results highlight the molecular mechanisms of statin-dependent regulation of two important enzymes in inflammation and fibrosis, in macrophages and fibroblasts. They confirm that some of the protective effects of statins go through the upregulation of heme-oxygenase-1, cyclooxygenase-2 and microsomal prostaglandin E synthase-1.

No description available.

Liu, Jian. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2013. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 127-152). / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Abstracts also in Chinese.

Aims There are few proven therapies that can protect against the inevitable ischaemia reperfusion injury (IRI) that occurs during renal transplantation. IRI increases the likelihood of delayed graft function (DGF), which negatively impacts on the long-term survival of a transplanted kidney. One enzyme of interest, heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), degrades heme and protects against the oxidative stress that occurs secondary to IRI. Clinical renal recipients with higher HO-1 levels have improved graft function post transplant. Heme arginate (HA), a form of hemin, which has been used to treat porphyria for over 30 years, has repeatedly been shown to induce HO-1 in in vivo and in vitro macrophages. It is one of the few HO-1 inducers approved for clinical use and healthy volunteer studies confirmed that HA could also safely induce HO-1 in humans. Prior to the formal start of the MD, the University of Edinburgh successfully applied to NHS Blood and Transplant for funding to investigate whether giving HA to recipients of deceased donor renal grafts prior to transplant could upregulate HO-1 and whether this had any effect on the function and health of the grafts. This MD aims to explain the background behind the proposed study, the process of study approval, planning and trial logistics and protocol. This thesis then describes the methods of sample analysis, the results and future directions for the HOT (Heme Oxygenase-1 in renal Transplantation) study. Methods The HOT study planning and approval process took eight months and the first participant was randomised in January 2012. The study was sponsored by ACCORD, a joint company from University of Edinburgh and NHS Lothian, and recruited patients from the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary Transplant Unit. The protocol was followed to ensure that 40 recipients were randomised blind to either active (two doses 3mg kg-1 HA: pre-operatively, day 2) or placebo (NaCl: same schedule). To ensure that the primary outcome was fulfilled, recipient blood was taken daily for peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) extraction. After further blinding steps, the PBMCs were analysed for HO-1 protein and mRNA. The secondary outcome measures involved collecting urine for analysis of urinary biomarkers (KIM-1 and NGAL), taking renal graft biopsies pre-op and day 5 for renal HO-1 analysis and collecting renal function data. DGF was calculated daily. To ensure that all adverse event data was captured, the recipients were closely reviewed for 7 days and their renal function was monitored for 90 days. Results The final participant was recruited in May 2013 within the predicted timescale and to budget. This participant completed follow-up in August 2013. Of the 40 participants, three received the infusion but did not receive a transplant and therefore could not give primary outcome data. The remaining 37 did and this was analysed. Adverse events were equivalent between groups and there were no adverse reactions to HA. HA upregulated PBMC HO-1 protein at 24 hours compared to placebo: HA 11.1ng/ml (1.0- 37.0) vs. placebo 0.14ng/ml (-0.7- 0.3)(p= < 0.0001). PBMC HO-1 mRNA was also increased: HA 2.73 fold (1.8- 3.2) vs. placebo 1.41 fold (1.2- 2.2) (p=0.02). HA increased HO-1 protein immunopositivity in day 5 renal tissue compared with placebo: HA 0.21 (-24- 0.7) vs. placebo -0.03 (-76- 0.15) (p=0.02) and the percentage of HO-1 positive renal macrophages also increased: HA 50.8 cells per HPF (40.0- 59.8) vs. placebo 22.3 (0- 34.8) (p=0.012). Renal HO-1 mRNA was also increased in HA group: 2.02 (0.20- 4.03) fold increase compared to 1.68 (0.75- 10.39) fold in the placebo group but it was not significant (p= 0.451). Urinary biomarkers were reduced after HA but not significantly so. Histological injury and DGF rates were similar between the groups. Conclusion HA is safe and effective in renal transplant recipients as reported in this phase II, randomised, placebo controlled, blinded, single-centre study. The primary outcome was achieved and demonstrated for the first time that HA induces HO-1 in peripheral and renal macrophages in kidney transplant recipients. There was also evidence that HA increased HO-1 expression in renal tissue. There was no evidence that HA improved renal function or reduced injury as seen in animal models but it is recognised that the sample size was small and the study was not powered to these endpoints. Larger studies are planned to determine the impact of HO-1 upregulation on clinical outcomes and evaluate the benefit to patients at risk of IRI. The plans for HOT2 are expanded in this thesis.

Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is an increasingly diagnosed constellation of injuries derived from acute mechanical trauma to the brain. With the rise of advanced neuroimaging techniques recent focus has oriented primarily towards the mild-moderate range of TBI which previously was missed diagnostically. Characteristically, these advances have shown increasing areas of micro-hemorrhage in susceptible areas of the brain and to date there are no treatment modalities targeting micro-hemorrhages or their sequelae. This dissertation explores the effects of the resulting heme processing response in the days following injury with a particular focus on inducing early heme clearance from the parenchyma using a rat central fluid percussion injury model in the mild-moderate injury range. Since heme is released ~24-48 hours post-injury and is known to be cytotoxic we observed there may be a critical window for treatment to clear heme before it is spontaneously released and to increase the buffering capacity of the tissue. We targeted heme clearance by using drugs known to increased expression of Nrf2, an upstream transcriptional regulator of the canonical heme processing protein heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1), and tracking expression of HO-1, the iron sequestration/storage proteins Lipocalin 2 (LCN2) and Ferritin (FTL), as well as the activity of matrix metalloproteinases 2 and 9 (MMP2, MMP9). We examined both tissue known to be frankly hemorrhagic (the neocortex) as well as tissue lacking any identifiable bleed (the hippocampus). We demonstrated that using the HO-1 inducers Hemin and Sulforaphane in a single dose paradigm given 1 hour post-injury heme clearance was accelerated in the neocortex with the majority of heme pigment processed by 24 hours post-injury. Further there was significant attenuation of protein expression in HO-1 and ferritin as well as the enzyme activity of MMP2 and MMP9 in both the neocortex and the hippocampus. Behavioral attenuation was also seen in both rotarod and Morris water maze tests. While we intended to target hemorrhagic processing after injury, and indeed demonstrated improved clearance of heme from post-injury hemorrhagic regions of the brain, in both tissues studied we observed remarkably similar responses to the drugs utilized in protein expression, enzyme activity, and behavioral improvement which may suggest a globally improved pathologic state or that there are unidentified pathologic micro-hemorrhages or leaky vessels which extend further into the brain parenchyma than currently identified.

Endothelial inflammation is a pivotal early event in the development of atherosclerosis. Long term exposure to cardiovascular risk factors will ultimately exhaust those protective anti-inflammatory factors such as the heme oxygenase (HO) system. The HO system plays a critical role in cellular and tissue self-defense against oxidative stress and inflammation. Caveolae are membrane domains and are particularly abundant in endothelial cells, where they are believed to play a major role in the regulation of endothelial vesicular trafficking as well as the uptake of lipids and related lipophilic compounds, possibly including bioactive food components such as flavonoids. Research in this dissertation addresses the role of HO-1 and caveolae on dietary flavonoid epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) mediated protection against pro-inflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and linoleic acid-induced activation of endothelial cells. The data support the hypothesis that EGCG protects against TNF-α-induced monocyte recruitment and adhesion partially through the induction of HO-1 and bilirubin. The observed anti-inflammatory effects of EGCG are mimicked by the HO-1 inducer cobalt protoporphyrin (CoPP) and abolished by HO-1 gene silencing. Nrf2 is the major transcription factor of phase II antioxidant enzymes including HO-1. Results clearly show that EGCG-induced HO-1 expression and subsequent bilirubin productions are dependent on functional Nrf2. EGCG also can down-regulate the base-line level of caveolin-1. Furthermore, silencing of the caveolin-1 gene can markedly down-regulate linoleic acid-induced COX-2 and MCP-1, indicating that caveolae may be a critical platform regulating inflammatory signaling pathways. Similar to EGCG treatment, silencing of caveolin-1 can also result in the activation of Nrf2, up-regulation of HO-1 and bilirubin. This may be one of the mechanisms to explain the protection effect of caveolin-1 gene silencing against endothelial inflammation. Moreover, EGCG rapidly accumulates in caveolae, which is associated with caveolin-1 displacement from the plasma membrane towards the cytosol. Caveolin-1 gene silencing can significantly reduce the uptake of EGCG in endothelial cells within 30 min. These data suggest that caveolae may play a role in the uptake and transport of EGCG in endothelial cells. These studies provide a novel target through which EGCG functions to protect against inflammatory diseases such as atherosclerosis.

Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is an autoimmune disease whereby the insulin-producing β-cells of the pancreas are destroyed by the immune system, possibly related to an inappropriate immune reaction to dietary antigens and/or microbes in the gut. We previously observed a deficit in gut-resident CD163+ M2 anti-inflammatory macrophages in BioBreeding diabetes-prone (BBdp) rats. Heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) is the rate-limiting enzyme of the CD163 pathway and through the breakdown of toxic heme releases potent antioxidants. We hypothesized that the treatment of animals with cobalt protoporphyrin (CoPP), an inducer of HO-1 expression, would inhibit development of T1D through modulation of the CD163/HO-1 pathway and increase M2 macrophages. HO-1 expression was significantly increased in the pancreas and gut. T1D incidence was inhibited in CoPP-treated rats and these animals showed an unexpected increase in cells expressing CD68 (an M1 pro-inflammatory macrophage marker) in the pancreas and gut. CoPP induced the expression of cathelicidin anti-microbial peptide (CAMP) in the jejunum, which co-localized with CD163+ (M2) macrophages. KLF4, an M2 macrophage-specific transcription factor, was significantly upregulated in the pancreas and jejunum of CoPP-treated animals and co-localized with CD68 and HO-1 in the pancreas. We conclude that HO-1 induction prevented T1D through modulation of the gut immune system and potential recruitment of a unique population of anti-inflammatory M2 macrophages in the gut and pancreas