No description available.

Monodansylcadavarine (MDC) was used to synthesise a fluorescent derivative of cyclosporin A and the product of the reaction was isolated by preparative thin layer chromatography (TLC) and purified by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The fluorescent derivative was shown to bind with a polyclonal antibody to cyclosporin A by submitting the derivative for analysis by cyclosporin radioimmunoassay (RIA). However this derivative did not bind with a monoclonal antibody used in a RIA specific for the parent compound. To achieve this fluorescent derivatives were synthesised using cyclosporin-C-hemisuccinate as the staring material with MDC, 4-bromomethyl-7-methoxycoumarin (BMMC), 4-bromomethyl-6,7-dimethoxycoumarin (BMDC) and tetramethyl rhodaminecadavarine (TRC) as the labels. All derivatives were isolated and purified by TLC and HPLC and shown to have antibody binding in the parent compound specific RIA. The fluorescent properties of the derivatives were investigated and the most promising, BMMC and TRC used in the immunoassay development.

No description available.

No description available.

Organ‐transplant recipients (OTRs) on a new class of immunosuppressants, rapamycin and its analogues, have reduced cutaneous Squamous Cell Carcinomas (cSCCs). Rapamycin, an mTORC1 inhibitor, is also a known autophagy inducer in experimental models. Autophagy, which literally means self‐eating, is a cell survival mechanism but can also lead to cell death. Therefore, the main hypothesis behind this work is that rapamycin prevents epidermal tumourigenesis by either affecting epidermal mTOR regulation of autophagy and/or selectively affecting epidermal AKT isoform activity. Epidermal keratinocytes move from the proliferating basal layer upwards to the granular layers where they terminally differentiate, forming a layer of flattened, anucleate cells or squames of the cornified layer which provides an essential environmental barrier. However, epidermal terminal differentiation, a specialised form of cell death involving organelle degradation, is poorly understood. The work presented in this thesis shows that analysis of the autophagy marker expression profile during foetal epidermal development, indicates autophagy is constitutively active in the terminally differentiating granular layer of epidermis. Therefore, I hypothesize that autophagy is a mechanism of organelle degradation during terminal differentiation of granular layer keratinocytes. In monolayer keratinocytes, activation of terminal differentiation is accompanied by autophagic degradation of nuclear material, nucleophagy. This suggests that constitutive autophagy is a pro‐death mechanism required for terminal differentiation. In cultured keratinocytes and in epidermal cultures, rapamycinmediated mTORC1 inhibition strongly increases AKT1 activity as well as up‐regulates constitutive granular layer autophagy promoting terminal differentiation. Therefore, autophagy is an important fundamental process in keratinocytes which may be the mechanism by which terminally differentiating keratinocytes of the epidermal granular layer degrade their organelles required for barrier formation. This may have implications for the treatment of patients with barrier defects like psoriasis. In immunosuppressed OTRs, rapamycin may promote epidermal autophagy and AKT1 activity adding to its anti‐tumourigenic properties.

Background: Cyclosporine is an immunosuppressive agent used to treat immune-mediated and inflammatory diseases in dogs. We have developed a pharmacodynamic (PD) assay that measures interleukin-2 (IL-2) produced by activated T cells to measure the immunosuppressive effects of cyclosporine. Hypothesis/objectives: Our retrospective study extracted data from samples submitted to our laboratory to obtain descriptive statistics, to determine whether assay results predicted treatment effectiveness, and to determine whether cyclosporine formulation or breed affected PD responses. Animals: 1,110 samples were analyzed over 4 years. Methods: Extracted data was analyzed to determine whether there was a relationship between assay results and clinical control, and whether either formulation or breed affected results. Results: We found no relationship between assay results and control of signs, and found that breed did not affect results. At comparable doses, proprietary modified cyclosporine was more immunosuppressive than proprietary non-modified cyclosporine, and both proprietary and generic modified formulations had similar efficacy.

No description available.

Introdução: Os imunossupressores das classes inibidores da calcineurina (tacrolimo) e da rapamicina (sirolimo) requerem controle terapêutico por apresentarem grande variabilidade farmacocinética que tem sido atribuída a fatores genéticos, entre outros. Poucos estudos avaliaram a expressão de genes alvo de imunossupressores e sua relação com a resposta terapêutica. Objetivo: Estudar a relação entre o perfil de expressão de genes alvos de tacrolimo e sirolimo e de microRNAs reguladores e a resposta à imunossupressores utilizados na profilaxia de rejeição ao transplante renal. Métodos: Participaram deste estudo 37 indivíduos submetidos ao transplante renal, no Hospital do Rim e Hipertensão da UNIFESP, de ambos os sexos, com idade acima de 18 anos e de qualquer etnia. Os pacientes foram tratados com esquema imunossupressor contendo tacrolimo, micofenolato de sódio e prednisona até o 3º mês quando foram randomizados para manter a terapia inicial (grupo TAC) ou para a conversão para sirolimo (grupo SRL). Os pacientes com disfunção renal ou suspeita de rejeição, no 3º mês, seguiram o tratamento inicial e foram avaliados em separado (grupo TACex). Os parâmetros de função renal e concentração sanguínea dos fármacos foram utilizados para monitoramento da terapia. A expressão de mRNA de MTOR, PPP3CA, PPP3CB, FKBP1A, FKBP1B e FKBP5, em leucócitos do sangue periférico, foi analisada por PCR em tempo real; e a expressão de miR-99a, miR-100, miR-145, miR-30a, miR-10b e miR-103a foi avaliada por PCR Array. Resultados: No primeiro mês de tratamento, a expressão diferencial de mRNA de MTOR, PPP3CA e FKBP1B diminuiu em relação ao pré-transplante (pre-Tx) (p<0,05). Esse efeito se manteve, no 3º mês, para MTOR e PPP3CA (p<0,05). A expressão diferencial de PPP3CB, FKBP1A e FKBP5 não foi alterada pelos tratamentos (p>0,05). No 6º mês, os grupos TAC, TACex e SRL apresentaram perfil de expressão diferencial de mRNA similar à do pre-Tx (p>0,05). No 3º mês, foram encontradas correlações positivas entre a expressão relativa de PPP3CB e creatinina sérica (r=0,49, p=0,04), e entre a expressão de FKBP1A e ureia (r=0,49, p=0,04), HDL colesterol (r= 0,53; p=0,02) e triglicérides (r=0,68, p=0,003) no soro. O perfil de expressão relativa de mRNA não se correlacionou com a concentração sanguínea de tacrolimo (p>0,05). Houve redução na expressão diferencial de miR-99a, no 3º mês, comparado com o pre-Tx (p<0,05) e a dos outros miRNAs não foi alterada. Não foi observada correlação entre o perfil de expressão relativo de miRNAs e mRNAs alvo, no 3º mês (p>0,05). Conclusão: A expressão diferencial de mRNA de MTOR, PPP3CA e FKBP1B e de miR-99a que tem como alvo o mRNA de MTOR, em leucócitos do sangue periférico, é modulada pelo tratamento imunossupressor a base de tacrolimo. A expressão diferencial de genes da via da calcineurina e do mTOR é sugestiva de sua potencial aplicação no monitoramento da terapia a base de tacrolimo. / Background: Immunosuppressive classes like calcineurin inhibitors (tacrolimus) and rapamycin (sirolimus) require therapeutic control because they have great pharmacokinetic variability that has been attributed to genetic factors, among others. Few studies have evaluated the expression of immunosuppressive target genes and their relation to therapeutic response. Objective: To study the relationship between the gene expression profile of tacrolimus and sirolimus targets and regulatory microRNAs with the response to immunosuppressive agents used in the prophylaxis of renal transplant rejection. Methods: This study included 37 patients undergoing kidney transplantation at the Hospital do Rim e Hipertensao/UNIFESP, age over 18 year old, both gender and any ethnicity. Patients were treated with an immunosuppressive regimen containing tacrolimus, mycophenolate sodium and prednisone during 3 months, when they were randomized to maintain the initial therapy (TAC group) or to convert to sirolimus (SRL group). Patients with renal dysfunction or signals of rejection in the 3rd month followed the initial treatment and were evaluated separately (TACex group). Parameters of renal function and blood concentration of immunosuppressive drugs were used to monitor therapy. The mRNA expression of MTOR, PPP3CA, PPP3CB, FKBP1A, FKBP1B and FKBP5 in peripheral blood leukocytes was analyzed by real-time PCR; and the expression of miR-99a, miR-100, miR-145, miR-30a, miR-10b and miR-103a was evaluated by PCR array. Results: In the first month of treatment, the differential mRNA expression of MTOR, PPP3CA and FKBP1B decreased relative to pre-transplant (pre-Tx) (p <0.05). This effect was maintained up to 3 month to MTOR and PPP3CA (p <0.05). The differential expression of PPP3CB, FKBP1A and FKBP5 was not affected by treatments (p> 0.05). On the 6th month, the TAC groups, TACex and SRL showed differential expression profile of mRNA similar to the pre-Tx (p> 0.05). On the 3rd month, positive correlations were found between the relative expression PPP3CB and serum creatinine (r =0.49, p =0.04) and between the expression of FKBP1A and urea (r=0.49, p=0.04), HDL cholesterol (r=0.53; p=0.02) and triglycerides (r = 0.68, p = 0.003) in serum. The relative mRNA expression profile was not correlated with tacrolimus blood concentrations (p> 0.05). There was a reduction in the differential expression of miR-99a, on the 3rd month, compared to the pre-Tx (p <0.05) and the other miRNAs has not changed. There was no correlation between the expression profile of miRNAs and mRNAs on target, on the 3rd month (p> 0.05). Conclusions: The differential expression of mRNA of MTOR, PPP3CA and FKBP1B and miR-99a which targets MTOR mRNA in peripheral blood leukocytes, is modulated by the immunosuppressant tacrolimus treatment base. The differential expression of genes of the calcineurin and mTOR is suggestive of their potential application in monitoring therapy tacrolimus base.

Introdução: Os imunossupressores das classes inibidores da calcineurina (tacrolimo) e da rapamicina (sirolimo) requerem controle terapêutico por apresentarem grande variabilidade farmacocinética que tem sido atribuída a fatores genéticos, entre outros. Poucos estudos avaliaram a expressão de genes alvo de imunossupressores e sua relação com a resposta terapêutica. Objetivo: Estudar a relação entre o perfil de expressão de genes alvos de tacrolimo e sirolimo e de microRNAs reguladores e a resposta à imunossupressores utilizados na profilaxia de rejeição ao transplante renal. Métodos: Participaram deste estudo 37 indivíduos submetidos ao transplante renal, no Hospital do Rim e Hipertensão da UNIFESP, de ambos os sexos, com idade acima de 18 anos e de qualquer etnia. Os pacientes foram tratados com esquema imunossupressor contendo tacrolimo, micofenolato de sódio e prednisona até o 3º mês quando foram randomizados para manter a terapia inicial (grupo TAC) ou para a conversão para sirolimo (grupo SRL). Os pacientes com disfunção renal ou suspeita de rejeição, no 3º mês, seguiram o tratamento inicial e foram avaliados em separado (grupo TACex). Os parâmetros de função renal e concentração sanguínea dos fármacos foram utilizados para monitoramento da terapia. A expressão de mRNA de MTOR, PPP3CA, PPP3CB, FKBP1A, FKBP1B e FKBP5, em leucócitos do sangue periférico, foi analisada por PCR em tempo real; e a expressão de miR-99a, miR-100, miR-145, miR-30a, miR-10b e miR-103a foi avaliada por PCR Array. Resultados: No primeiro mês de tratamento, a expressão diferencial de mRNA de MTOR, PPP3CA e FKBP1B diminuiu em relação ao pré-transplante (pre-Tx) (p<0,05). Esse efeito se manteve, no 3º mês, para MTOR e PPP3CA (p<0,05). A expressão diferencial de PPP3CB, FKBP1A e FKBP5 não foi alterada pelos tratamentos (p>0,05). No 6º mês, os grupos TAC, TACex e SRL apresentaram perfil de expressão diferencial de mRNA similar à do pre-Tx (p>0,05). No 3º mês, foram encontradas correlações positivas entre a expressão relativa de PPP3CB e creatinina sérica (r=0,49, p=0,04), e entre a expressão de FKBP1A e ureia (r=0,49, p=0,04), HDL colesterol (r= 0,53; p=0,02) e triglicérides (r=0,68, p=0,003) no soro. O perfil de expressão relativa de mRNA não se correlacionou com a concentração sanguínea de tacrolimo (p>0,05). Houve redução na expressão diferencial de miR-99a, no 3º mês, comparado com o pre-Tx (p<0,05) e a dos outros miRNAs não foi alterada. Não foi observada correlação entre o perfil de expressão relativo de miRNAs e mRNAs alvo, no 3º mês (p>0,05). Conclusão: A expressão diferencial de mRNA de MTOR, PPP3CA e FKBP1B e de miR-99a que tem como alvo o mRNA de MTOR, em leucócitos do sangue periférico, é modulada pelo tratamento imunossupressor a base de tacrolimo. A expressão diferencial de genes da via da calcineurina e do mTOR é sugestiva de sua potencial aplicação no monitoramento da terapia a base de tacrolimo. / Background: Immunosuppressive classes like calcineurin inhibitors (tacrolimus) and rapamycin (sirolimus) require therapeutic control because they have great pharmacokinetic variability that has been attributed to genetic factors, among others. Few studies have evaluated the expression of immunosuppressive target genes and their relation to therapeutic response. Objective: To study the relationship between the gene expression profile of tacrolimus and sirolimus targets and regulatory microRNAs with the response to immunosuppressive agents used in the prophylaxis of renal transplant rejection. Methods: This study included 37 patients undergoing kidney transplantation at the Hospital do Rim e Hipertensao/UNIFESP, age over 18 year old, both gender and any ethnicity. Patients were treated with an immunosuppressive regimen containing tacrolimus, mycophenolate sodium and prednisone during 3 months, when they were randomized to maintain the initial therapy (TAC group) or to convert to sirolimus (SRL group). Patients with renal dysfunction or signals of rejection in the 3rd month followed the initial treatment and were evaluated separately (TACex group). Parameters of renal function and blood concentration of immunosuppressive drugs were used to monitor therapy. The mRNA expression of MTOR, PPP3CA, PPP3CB, FKBP1A, FKBP1B and FKBP5 in peripheral blood leukocytes was analyzed by real-time PCR; and the expression of miR-99a, miR-100, miR-145, miR-30a, miR-10b and miR-103a was evaluated by PCR array. Results: In the first month of treatment, the differential mRNA expression of MTOR, PPP3CA and FKBP1B decreased relative to pre-transplant (pre-Tx) (p <0.05). This effect was maintained up to 3 month to MTOR and PPP3CA (p <0.05). The differential expression of PPP3CB, FKBP1A and FKBP5 was not affected by treatments (p> 0.05). On the 6th month, the TAC groups, TACex and SRL showed differential expression profile of mRNA similar to the pre-Tx (p> 0.05). On the 3rd month, positive correlations were found between the relative expression PPP3CB and serum creatinine (r =0.49, p =0.04) and between the expression of FKBP1A and urea (r=0.49, p=0.04), HDL cholesterol (r=0.53; p=0.02) and triglycerides (r = 0.68, p = 0.003) in serum. The relative mRNA expression profile was not correlated with tacrolimus blood concentrations (p> 0.05). There was a reduction in the differential expression of miR-99a, on the 3rd month, compared to the pre-Tx (p <0.05) and the other miRNAs has not changed. There was no correlation between the expression profile of miRNAs and mRNAs on target, on the 3rd month (p> 0.05). Conclusions: The differential expression of mRNA of MTOR, PPP3CA and FKBP1B and miR-99a which targets MTOR mRNA in peripheral blood leukocytes, is modulated by the immunosuppressant tacrolimus treatment base. The differential expression of genes of the calcineurin and mTOR is suggestive of their potential application in monitoring therapy tacrolimus base.

La thérapie antirétrovirale (TAR) n'éradique pas le VIH de l'organisme. Le VIH persiste grâce à la prolifération de lymphocytes T CD4+ infectés de manière latente. De plus, bien que la plupart des provirus persistent sous une forme latente, un petit nombre de cellules infectées produisent des protéines virales et des virions. Les immunosuppresseurs administrés aux personnes subissant une greffe de rein, pour prévenir le rejet d’organe, inhibent la prolifération des lymphocytes T et l'activation immunitaire. Nous avons émis l'hypothèse que les immunosuppresseurs pourraient réduire à la fois la taille du réservoir viral latent ainsi que les marqueurs associés à la production résiduelle de VIH. Sept participants vivant avec le VIH sous TAR efficace et ayant subi une transplantation rénale suivie de la prise d’un traitement immunosuppresseur ont été recrutés. Des échantillons sanguins longitudinaux ont été prélevés avant et après la greffe (6-7 échantillons/participant, sur 2 ans). Les effets des immunosuppresseurs sur l'activation des lymphocytes T ainsi que les taux d’anticorps plasmatiques dirigés contre l'enveloppe du VIH (un reflet de la production virale résiduelle) ont été évalués par cytométrie en flux et ELISA, respectivement. L'ADN total du VIH et les transcrits d'ARN-gag-LTR associés aux cellules ont été quantifiés par qPCR et la fréquence des cellules p24+ par HIV-Flow. Pour confirmer les résultats obtenus in vivo, nous avons optimisé un protocole de culture cellulaire pour évaluer l'impact des immunosuppresseurs les plus fréquemment utilisés (MMF, tacrolimus, dasatinib) sur les cellules infectées dans un environnement contrôlé. Suite à la transplantation et à l’initiation du traitement immunosuppresseur, nous avons observé une diminution significative des niveaux d'expression des marqueurs d’activation et de prolifération HLA-DR et Ki67 dans les lymphocytes T CD4+, accompagnée d'une augmentation de la fréquence des cellules mémoires centrales et d'une forte diminution de la fréquence des lymphocytes T régulateurs. Les niveaux d'anticorps ciblant l'enveloppe du VIH ont également diminué pendant le traitement immunosuppresseur. Il y avait une diminution modeste et transitoire des niveaux d'ADN et d'ARN du VIH un mois après la transplantation rénale. Les résultats de HIV-Flow n'ont montré aucun impact significatif des immunosuppresseurs sur le réservoir inductible, avec de grandes variations entre les participants. Le modèle de culture cellulaire in vitro a révélé que de faibles doses d'immunosuppresseurs induisent généralement une diminution des marqueurs du VIH, alors que des doses plus élevées conduisent à des variations dépendantes des donneurs. Ainsi, nos résultats montrent que les traitements immunosuppresseurs diminuent la prolifération et l'activation des lymphocytes T CD4+, ce qui est concomitant avec une diminution modeste et transitoire des taux d'ADN et d'ARN du VIH. Nos résultats indiquent que la combinaison des traitements immunosuppresseurs actuels sont toutefois insuffisants pour affecter profondément et durablement le réservoir du VIH et suggèrent que la taille du réservoir est étroitement régulée par des forces homéostatiques difficiles à contrer. / Antiretroviral therapy (ART) does not eradicate HIV from the body. HIV persists through proliferation of latently infected CD4+T-cells. Moreover, although most proviruses persist in a latent form, a small number of infected cells produce viral protein and virions. Immunosuppressants given to people undergoing kidney transplants to prevent rejection inhibit T-cell proliferation and immune activation. We hypothesized that immunosuppressants could reduce both the size of the latent viral reservoir as well as markers associated with residual production of HIV. Seven participants living with HIV on suppressive ART who underwent kidney transplantation and initiated immunosuppressive therapy were enrolled. Longitudinal blood samples were collected before and after the transplant (6-7 samples/participant, over 2years). The effects of immunosuppressants on T-cell activation as well as plasma HIV-envelope antibody responses (a surrogate of residual viral production) were assessed by flow cytometry and ELISA, respectively. Total HIV-DNA and cell-associated LTR-gag-RNA transcripts were quantified by qPCR and the frequency of p24+ cells by HIV-Flow in isolated CD4+T-cells. To confirm the results saw in vivo, we optimized a cell culture protocol to assess the impact of frequently given immunosuppressants (tacrolimus, MMF and dasatinib) on infected cells in a controlled environment. Following organ transplant and initiation of immunosuppressive treatment, we observed a significant decrease in the expression levels of HLA-DR and Ki67 in CD4+T-cells, which was accompanied by an increase in the frequency of central memory cells and a sharp decrease in the frequency of regulatory T-cells. Antibody levels targeting HIV envelope also decreased during immunosuppressive therapy. There was a modest and transient decrease in HIV DNA and RNA levels one month following kidney transplantation. HIV-Flow results showed no significant impact of immunosuppressants on the inducible reservoir, with large variations between participants. The in vitro cell culture model showed that low doses of immunosuppressants generally induces a reduction in HIV markers, but higher doses lead to variations between donors. Immunosuppressive therapy decreases the proliferation and activation of CD4+ T-cells which is concomitant with a modest and transient decrease in HIV DNA and RNA levels. Our results indicate that current immunosuppressive drugs are insufficient to profoundly and durably affect the HIV reservoir and suggest that the size of the reservoir is tightly regulated by homeostatic forces that are difficult to counteract.