Tissue engineering applies principles of biology and engineering to the development of functional substitutes for damaged or lost tissues. Tools for the neo-generation of tissue in tissue engineering research include cells, biomaterials and soluble factors. One main obstacle in tissue engineering is the limited availability of autologous tissue specific progenitor cells. This has led to interest into using autologous cells with stem cell plasticity. Bone marrow derived stem cells were the first adult stem cells shown to have multilineage potential. Since, several reports have been published indicating that cells from other tissues; fat, muscle, connective tissue e.g., possess potential to differentiate into lineages distinct from their tissue of origin. The optimal cell type for use in tissue engineering applications should be easy to obtain, cultivate and store. The human dermal fibroblast is an easily accessible cell source, which after routine cell expansion gives a substantial cell yield from a small skin biopsy. Hence, the dermal fibroblast could be a suitable cell source for tissue engineering applications.The main aim of this thesis was to investigate the differentiation capacity of human dermal fibroblasts, and their possible applications in bone and cartilage tissue engineering applications. Human dermal fibroblasts were shown to differentiate towards adipogenic, chondrogenic, and osteogenic phenotypes upon subjection to specific induction media. Differentiation was seen both in unrefined primary cultures and in clonal populations (paper I). Fibroblasts could be used to create three-dimensional cartilage- and bone like tissue when grown in vitro on gelatin microcarriers in combination with platelet rich plasma (paper II). 4 weeks after in vivo implantation of osteogenic induced fibroblasts into a fracture model in athymic rats, dense cell clusters and viable human cells were found in the gaps, but no visible healing of defects as determined by CT-scanning (paper III). After the induction towards adipogenic, chondrogenic, endotheliogenic and osteogenic lineages, gene expression analysis by microarray and quantitative real-time-PCR found several master regulatory genes important for lineage commitment, as well as phenotypically relevant genes regulated as compared to reference cultures (paper IV). In conclusion, results obtained in this thesis suggest an inherent ability for controllable phenotype alteration of human dermal fibroblasts in vitro. We conclude that dermal fibroblasts could be induced towards adipogenic, chondrogenic, endotheliogenic or osteogenic novel phenotypes which suggest a genetic readiness of differentiated fibroblasts for lineage-specific biological functionality, indicating that human dermal fibroblasts might be a suitable cell source in tissue engineering applications.

The thesis presents a rational path for the optimization of the selection of optical treatment parameters in photobiomodulation of human skin fibroblasts. The project begins with an extensive analysis of 90 bibliographic reports in photobiomodulation published between 1985 and 2015, and revealed major inconsistencies in optical parameters selected for clinical applications. Seeking greater clarity for optimal parameter choice, a systematic approach to disentangle the multiple factors underpinning the response of human dermal fibroblasts in vitro to visible and near-infra red (NIR) light was employed. Light-based devices were constructed to specifically and systematically screen the optical parameter window (i.e. wavelength, irradiance and dose) observed in literature. Additionally, critical culture and treatment conditions that have dramatic impact on the outcome of specific light treatment of these human skin dermal cells were identified. In particular, environmental oxygen concentration, cell confluency and serum concentration were all found to have a great effect on the response of dermal fibroblasts to light. In parallel, the induction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) by short visible wavelengths on two dermal fibroblast sub-populations or lineage, reticular and papillary, was monitored by live-cell imaging. The ROS species were found to be created in or close to mitochondria. Lastly, gene expression studies revealed a strong impact of short visible wavelengths, as compared to long and NIR wavelengths on both subpopulations of human dermal fibroblasts. In particular, blue light (450 nm) specifically down-regulated proliferation, metabolism and protein synthesis molecular pathways. At the protein level, 450-nm light inhibited the production of procollagen I in human reticular and papillary fibroblasts in a dose-dependent manner. Gene expression results were in agreement i.e., the same light parameter down-regulated collagen fiber genes, integrins and up-regulated collagenase MMP1. This thesis concludes with a chapter presenting a characterization of the accuracy of a potential translation tool for the prediction of optical photon density inside human skin.

The discovery of biomarkers for Parkinson's disease (PD) is challenging due to the heterogeneous nature of this disorder, and a poor correlation between the underlying pathology and the clinically expressed phenotype. An ideal biomarker would inform on PD-relevant pathological changes via an easily assayed biological characteristic, which reliably tracks clinical symptoms. Human dermal (skin) fibroblasts are accessible peripheral cells that constitute a patient-specific system, which potentially recapitulates the PD chronological and epigenetic aging history. Here, we compared primary skin fibroblasts obtained from individuals diagnosed with late-onset sporadic PD, and healthy age-matched controls. These fibroblasts were studied from fundamental viewpoints of growth and morphology, as well as redox, mitochondrial, and autophagic function. It was observed that fibroblasts from PD subjects had higher growth rates, and appeared distinctly different in terms of morphology and spatial organization in culture, compared to control cells. It was also found that the PD fibroblasts exhibited significantly compromised mitochondrial structure and function when assessed via morphological and oxidative phosphorylation assays. Additionally, a striking increase in baseline macroautophagy levels was seen in cells from PD subjects. Exposure of the skin fibroblasts to physiologically relevant stress, specifically ultraviolet irradiation (UVA), further exaggerated the autophagic dysfunction in the PD cells. Moreover, the PD fibroblasts accumulated higher levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) coupled with lower cell viability upon UVA treatment. In essence, these studies highlight primary skin fibroblasts as a patient-relevant model that captures fundamental PD molecular mechanisms, and supports their potential utility to develop diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers for the disease.

The thesis presents a rational path for the optimization of the selection of optical treatment parameters in photobiomodulation of human skin fibroblasts. The project begins with an extensive analysis of 90 bibliographic reports in photobiomodulation published between 1985 and 2015, and revealed major inconsistencies in optical parameters selected for clinical applications. Seeking greater clarity for optimal parameter choice, a systematic approach to disentangle the multiple factors underpinning the response of human dermal fibroblasts in vitro to visible and near-infra red (NIR) light was employed. Light-based devices were constructed to specifically and systematically screen the optical parameter window (i.e. wavelength, irradiance and dose) observed in literature. Additionally, critical culture and treatment conditions that have dramatic impact on the outcome of specific light treatment of these human skin dermal cells were identified. In particular, environmental oxygen concentration, cell confluency and serum concentration were all found to have a great effect on the response of dermal fibroblasts to light. In parallel, the induction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) by short visible wavelengths on two dermal fibroblast sub-populations or lineage, reticular and papillary, was monitored by live-cell imaging. The ROS species were found to be created in or close to mitochondria. Lastly, gene expression studies revealed a strong impact of short visible wavelengths, as compared to long and NIR wavelengths on both subpopulations of human dermal fibroblasts. In particular, blue light (450 nm) specifically down-regulated proliferation, metabolism and protein synthesis molecular pathways. At the protein level, 450-nm light inhibited the production of procollagen I in human reticular and papillary fibroblasts in a dose-dependent manner. Gene expression results were in agreement i.e., the same light parameter down-regulated collagen fiber genes, integrins and up-regulated collagenase MMP1. This thesis concludes with a chapter presenting a characterization of the accuracy of a potential translation tool for the prediction of optical photon density inside human skin. / Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions.

L’objectif de ce projet est d’étudier l’interaction de nanoparticules polymères avec les membranes, soit directement sur des cellules entières ou grâce à des modèles membranaires biomimétiques, dans l’optique de valider leur utilisation dans le cadre d’applications biologiques. Des nanoparticules (NPs) polymères cœur/enveloppe avec un diamètre inférieur à 100 nm ont été synthétisés. Cette taille a été choisie afin de leur permettre de pénétrer à travers les membranes plasmiques. Des nanoparticules ayant la même composition chimique mais avec un diamètre hydrodynamique supérieur, de l’ordre de 250 nm, ont été également préparées afin de mettre en évidence l’effet de la taille des particules sur le processus d’internalisation cellulaire. Dans cette thèse, une méthode innovante de synthèse monotope a été développée pour obtenir des NPs coeur-enveloppe, compatibles en milieu aqueux et présentant à leur surface des résidus iniferter. Le coeur est composé de polystyrène avec une taille d’environ 30 nm. Un large éventail de fonctionnalités peut être greffé sur la surface du coeur par polymérisation radicalaire contrôlée en faisant varier différents types de monomères. L’épaisseur de l’enveloppe peut être ajustée en fonction de la concentration en monomère et du temps de polymérisation. Les nanoparticules synthétisées ont été caractérisées par diffusion dynamique de la lumière, par spectroscopie infrarouge à transformée de Fourier, par analyse micro-élémentaire et par microcopie à transmission électronique. Les interactions des NPs à coeur polystyrène et avec des enveloppes de charge neutre et négative ont été étudiées avec des cellules kératinocytes épidermiques humaines néonatales (NHEK), des fibroblastes primaires humains et les cellules HACaT de kératinocytes humains. Les études de cytotoxicité réalisées en utilisant un marquage à l’iodure de propidium et un test à la lactate déshydrogénase n’ont relevé aucune toxicité sur les lignées testées. Cependant, le suivi de la prolifération cellulaire par impédance électrique de substrats cellulaires a indiqué que les nanoparticules anioniques induisent une forte diminution de la prolifération des kératinocytes. L’internalisation cellulaire des NPs a été confirmée par microscopie confocale qui n’indique pas leur colocalisation avec les endosomes précoces, les lysosomes et l’actine. De plus, les données obtenues par triage cellulaire par cytofluorométrie soutiennent qu’un mécanisme énergétiquement-dépendant est mis en œuvre pour l’internalisation des NP neutres, ce qui semble être moins le cas pour les nanoparticules négatives. Les membranes biomimétiques ont été employées afin d’étudier les spécificités des interactions entre nanoparticules et lipides dans des conditions contrôlées. L’étude sur des modèles de vésicules géantes couplée à de la spectroscopie de fluorescence a révélé que les nanoparticules coeur/enveloppe sont capables d’interagir profondément dans la région hydrophobe de la membrane, mais uniquement quand la bicouche lipide est en phase fluide désordonnée. Le mode de pénétration des NPs au travers de la bicouche des vésicules semblent engendrer la formation de pores. Un effet plus prononcé de rigidification de la bicouche a pu être observé lors de l’interaction de nanoparticules chargées négativement avec les bicouches de phosphatidycholines. Cet effet pourrait être attribué à un changement de l’orientation des têtes phosphocholines du à des interactions électrostatiques. En conclusion, les nanoparticules polymère que nous avons synthétisées apparaissent être des outils polyvalents pour les études d’interaction cellulaire et d’imagerie. Ces nanomatériaux peuvent être éventuellement être employés pour la délivrance de médicaments en incorporant les molécules actives dans une enveloppe polymère thermosensible par exemple. / This project’s aim was to study polymeric nanoparticle-membrane interactions using both live cells and biomimetic models with the idea to validate such nanoparticles for use in bio-applications. Core-shell polymeric nanoparticles below 100 nm, as this small size is capable of penetrating plasma membranes, were synthesised. Nanoparticles (NPs) with the same chemical composition but with hydrodynamic diameters of ~250 nm, were also prepared in an effort to highlight any effect of NP size on cell internalisation. In this thesis, an innovative method is presented for the synthesis of water-compatible, iniferter-bound polystyrene core shell NPs (~30 nm) using a one-pot synthetic method. A plethora of functionalities could be added to the nanoparticles via shell grafting from the surface of the polystyrene core in the presence of additional monomers via controlled living radical polymerisation. Shell thickness could be tuned as a function of monomer’s concentration and polymerisation time. The nanoparticles were fully characterised by dynamic light scattering, Fourier transform infra-red spectroscopy, microelemental analysis and transmission electron microscopy. Further, the interactions of polystyrene core NPs possessing neutral and anionic shells were investigated using neonatal human epidermal keratinocytes (NHEK), human primary fibroblasts and HaCaT cells. Cytotoxicity studies performed using propidium iodide and lactate dehydrogenase indicated no evidence of cytotoxicity in either cell line. However, cell proliferation monitored by electric cell substrate impedance sensing (ECIS) protocols indicated that anionic nanoparticles induced a dramatic decrease in cell proliferation in keratinocytes. The cellular internalisation of NPs was confirmed by confocal microscopy and no co-localisation was found with early endosomes, lysosomes or actin. Additionally, fluorescence activated cell sorting (FACS) data support the theory that an energy-dependent mechanism is employed for neutral NP internalisation but less so for negatively charged NPs. Biomimetic membrane models were used to investigate specific nanoparticle-lipid interactions under controlled conditions. Employing giant vesicles coupled with fluorescent spectroscopy techniques revealed that core-shell nanoparticles interact deep in the hydrophobic region of bilayers only when the membrane is in the fluid phase. Their mode of entering artificial cells (i.e giant vesicles) appears to cause the formation of pores. Anionic nanoparticles interact with the choline moiety of phosphatidylcholine and confer a rigidifying effect on phosphocholine containing bilayers. Therefore we conclude that the polymeric nanoparticles that we synthesized are versatile tools for cell interaction and imaging studies. These nanomaterials could eventually be applied to drug delivery studies by incorporation of the drug in for instance a thermoresponsive polymeric shell. Furthermore, it is clear that NPs coated with anionic and neutral polymeric shells present a lower toxicity profile than previously reported cationic nanoparticles. Both nanoparticles increase the order lipid bilayer vesicles composed of POPC (the most common glycerophospholipid) in animal and plants. Anionic nanoparticles in particular exhibit a rigidifying effect on POPC lipid bilayers and their mode of entry into cells may be due to the formation of pores which was determined to not induce cell death.

L'élastine est la protéine matricielle responsable de l'élasticité des tissus retrouvée dans des tissus soumis à de fortes contraintes mécaniques tels que les poumons, les artères ou la peau. La dégradation de cette protéine lors de processus physiopathologiques produit des peptides bologiquement actifs nommés peptides d'élastine portant le motif GXXPG essentiel à leur activité. Ces peptides régulent diverses fonctions biologiques telles que le chimiotactisme, la synthèse de protéases, la prolifération. Tous ces effets dépendent de la fixation des peptides d'élastine au complexe récepteur de l'élastine. Ce complexe est composé de trois sous-unités : une protéine périphérique de 67 kDa, l'Elastin Binding Protein (EBP), et deux protéines associées à la membrane, la Protective Protein/Cathepsin A (PP/CA) et la Neuraminidase-1 (Neu-1) de 55 et 61 kDa respectivement. L'activité sialidase de Neu-1 est responsable de l'activation de ERK 1/2 après fixation des peptides d'élastine au complexe récepteur de l'élastine.Dans cette étude, nous démontrons que l'EBP et les radeaux lipidiques sont colocalisés à la membrane plasmique. Nous montrons, de plus, que la déstructuration de ces microdomaines aussi bien que leur déplétion en glycolipides bloque la signalisation du récepteur. L'utilisation d'un anticorps monoclonal bloquant dirigé contre le GM3 montre qu'il est essentiel à la signalisation. Après traitement par les peptides d'élastine, le contenu cellulaire en GM3 diminue alors que celui en lactosylcéramide augmente suggérant une conversion du GM3 en lactosylcéramide. L'utilisation de lactose ou de siRNA Neu-1 bloque cette conversion ce qui tend à démontrer que le complexe récepteur de l'élastine est impliqué dans ce mécanisme. Une analyse par cytométrie en flux confirme cette production de lactosylcéramide induite par les peptides d'élastine.L'analyse par spectrométrie de masse mettrait en évidence deux lactosylcéramides (C23:0 et C24:1) potentiellement bioactifs dont la synthèse chimique a été entreprise. La purification des radeaux lipidiques par ultracentrifugation différentielle en gradient de saccharose ainsi que leur identification par Dot-blot couplé à la fluorescence montre un changement de densité de ces microdomaines après stimulation par les peptides d'élastine.L'évaluation biologique in vitro de ces lactosylcéramides montre qu'ils miment les effets des peptides d'élastine sur l'activation de ERK 1/2, la prolifération et la synthèse de MMP-1. Enfin, l'évaluation ex vivo des lactosylcéramides démontre une réduction de la zone de tissu cardiaque nécrosé suggérant un rôle cardioprotecteur de ces molécules. Ce travail propose un mécanisme original de transduction du signal à la membrane plasmique et nous laisse envisager le complexe récepteur de l'élastine, les peptides d'élastine et le lactosylcéramide comme de nouveaux agents thérapeutiques potentiels. / Elastin is the matrix protein responsible for the elasticity of tissues where resilience is required such as lung, arteries or skin. Elastin degradation during physiopathological processes produces biologically active peptides named elastin peptides bearing the GXXPG pattern essential for their activity. These peptides regulate various biological functions such as chemotaxis, proteases synthesis and proliferation. These effects are dependent of elastin peptide binding to the elastin receptor complex (ERC). This complex is composed of three subunits: a peripheral protein of 67 kDa called elastin binding protein (EBP) and two membrane-associated proteins, protective protein/cathepsin A (PP/CA) and neuraminidase-1 (Neu-1) of 55 and 61 kDa, respectively. The sialidase activity of Neu-1 is responsible for ERK 1/2 pathway activation following binding of elastin peptide on the elastin receptor complex.In this study, we demonstrate that EBP and lipid rafts colocalize at the plasma membrane. We also show that the disruption of these microdomains and their depletion in glycolipids block the receptor signaling. The use of a monoclonal anti-GM3 blocking antibody shows that this glycosphingolipid is essential for signaling. Following elastin peptide treatment, cellular GM3 level decreases while the lactosylceramide one increases consistently with a GM3/LacCer conversion. The use of lactose or Neu-1 siRNA blocks this process suggesting that the elastin receptor complex is involved in this mechanism. Flow cytometry analysis confirms this elastin peptide-driven LacCer generation.Mass spectrometry analysis of elastin peptide-stimulated cell membrane extracts identified two potentially bioactive lactosylceramides (C23:0 and C24:1) and their synthesis has been realized. Lipid rafts purification by differencial ultracentrifugation in sucrose gradient shows a variation of the microdomains density as well as their identification by fluorescence linked-Dot-blot following elastin peptide stimulation.In vitro biological evaluation of these lactosylceramides shows that they mimic the elastin peptide effects on ERK 1/2 activation, proliferation and MMP-1 synthesis. Finally, ex vivo lactosylceramides evaluation demonstrates a decrease of cardiac tissue necrosis area suggesting that these molecules could be cardioprotective agents. This work proposes an original mechanism of signal transduction at the plasma membrane and let us foresees the elastin receptor complex, elastin peptides and lactosylceramide as new potential therapeutical targets.

Cylindrospermopsin (CYN) is a toxic alkaloid produced by several freshwater cyanobacterial species, the most prevalent in Australian waters being Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii. The occurrence of CYN-producing cyanobacteria in drinking water sources worldwide poses a potential human health risk, with one well-documented case of human poisoning attributed to the toxin. While extensive characterisation of CYN-induced toxicity has been conducted in rodents both in vivo and in primary cell cultures, little is known about mechanisms of toxicity in human cell types. This thesis describes studies undertaken to further define the molecular mechanisms of CYN toxicity in human cells. Concentration-response relationships were determined in various cultured human cell types using standard toxicity assays. As expected, CYN caused dose-dependent decreases in the growth of three cell lines, HepG2, Caco-2 and HeLa, and one primary cell type, human dermal fibroblasts, according to tetrazolium reduction assays. CYN treatment did not disrupt cellular membranes according to the lactate dehydrogenase release assay in HepG2 or Caco-2 cells after 24, 48 or 72 h exposure, but did cause membrane disruption in fibroblasts after 72 h exposure to relatively high concentrations of the toxin. Apoptosis occurred more readily in HeLa cells than HepG2 cells or fibroblasts, with 72 h exposure to 1 &mug/mL required before statistically significant rates of apoptosis occurred in the latter cell types. CYN did not appear to directly affect the structure of actin filaments or microtubules under the conditions used in the present study. The major portion of the work presented in this thesis comprises a large-scale interrogation of changes in gene expression induced by the toxin in cultured cells. To assess the effects of CYN on global gene expression, relative messenger RNA (mRNA) levels in human dermal fibroblasts and HepG2 cells after 6 h and 24 h exposure to 1 &mug/mL CYN were determined using oligonucleotide microarrays representing approximately 19 000 genes. Overall, the number of transcripts significantly altered in abundance was greater in fibroblasts than in HepG2 cells. In both cell types, mRNA levels for genes related to amino acid biosynthesis, carbohydrate metabolism, and protein folding and transport were reduced after CYN treatment, while transcripts representing genes for apoptosis, RNA biosynthesis and RNA processing increased in abundance. More detailed data analyses revealed the modulation of a number of stress response pathways—genes regulated by NF-&kappaB were induced, DNA damage response pathways were up-regulated, and a large number of genes involved in endoplasmic reticulum stress were strongly down-regulated. Genes for the synthesis and processing of mRNA, tRNA and rRNA were strongly up-regulated, indicating that CYN treatment may increase the turnover of all forms of cellular RNA. A small group of genes were differentially expressed in HepG2 cells and fibroblasts, revealing cell-specific responses to the toxin. Selected changes in transcript level were validated using real-time quantitative reverse transcriptase PCR (qRT-PCR). The modulation of stress response pathways by CYN, indicated by microarray analysis, was further investigated using other methods. The role of tumour suppressor protein p53 in CYN-mediated gene expression was confirmed by measuring the expression of known p53-regulated genes following CYN treatment of HepG2 cells and human dermal fibroblasts using qRT-PCR. Western blotting of protein extracts from CYNtreated cells showed that p53 protein accumulation occurred in HepG2 cells, providing additional evidence of the activation of the p53 pathway by CYN in this cell line. The immediate-early genes JUN and FOS were found to be induced by CYN in a concentration-dependent manner, and MYC was induced to a lesser extent. The mitogen-activated protein kinase c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase, implicated in the ribotoxic stress response initiated by damage to ribosomal RNA, appeared to become phosphorylated in HeLa cells after CYN exposure, suggesting that ribotoxic stress may occur in response to CYN in at least some cell types. The expression of a reporter gene under the control of a response element specific for NF-&kappaB was induced at the mRNA level but inhibited at the protein level. This shows that while transcription factors such as p53 and NF-&kappaB are apparently activated in response to the toxin, transactivation of target genes may not necessarily manifest a corresponding increase at the protein level. The current work contributes significantly to the current understanding of cylindrospermopsin toxicity in human-derived cell types, and provides further insight into putative modes of action.