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No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertação - Barbara Hess Rodrigues Gonçalves - 2016.pdf: 1742093 bytes, checksum: 80bd9955d0b421c59b1e6faf6d41f773 (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-12-13 / Conselho Nacional de Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico - CNPq / Canine atopic dermatitis (CAD) is the second most frequent disease in dermatological clinical routine of dogs. It is defined as a pruritic allergic skin disease, with genetic predisposition and clinical features, being related to the response to environmental allergens. Interleukin 31 (IL) 31 is a cytokine that participates in inflammatory processes and it is associated with pruritic diseases, especially those involving chronic inflammation such as allergic dermatitis. Produced by mononuclear cells, IL-31 is described to play an important role in the pathogenesis of atopic dermatitis. Two studies were performed in order to correlate clinical features, histopathological changes and the presence of IL-31 in the skin of dogs with atopic dermatitis. 34 dogs were selected from clinical routine, which 31 animals were diagnosed with CAD and three were healthy. The animals were evaluated for pruritus level by the owners' report and by clinical examination according to the CAD extent and severity index (CADESI-4). The dogs were grouped in discreetly, moderately and markedly compromised by CAD following the sum of scores’ values assigned in the clinical examination. Cutaneous samples from the axillary and interdigital regions of each dog were collected and submitted to histopathological (HE and toluidine blue) and immunohistochemical analyzes (IL-31). There was a correlation between the clinical score and the microscopic changes. As well, there was correlation among all the microscopic changes, but not between the degree of pruritus and the clinical score of CAD. Also, the inflammatory infiltrate was more intense in the axillary region in relation to interdigital skin. An increased numbers of cells immunostained for IL-31 was observed in dogs severely compromised by CAD. There was a correlation between the clinical score and the amount of interdigital mast cells, with an amount of cells immunostained for IL-31 in the axilla. It was also verified correlation between the amount of mast cells and cells immunostained for IL-31 in the axilla, as well as between acanthosis and all other histopathological alterations of the skin in the axillary region. We concluded that there is a correlation between severity of dermathological lesions, IL-31 immunostaining, mast cell count and histopathological changes in dogs with atopic dermatitis, but there is no correlation between the degree of pruritus reported by owners and severity of cutaneous lesions in animals with CAD. Moreover, the intensity of the inflammatory process may vary depending on the anatomical site of the lesion. / A dermatite atópica canina (DAC) é a segunda doença mais incidente na rotina de atendimento clínico dermatológico de cães. É definida como doença cutânea alérgica pruriginosa, de predisposição genética e características clínicas definidas, estando relacionada a resposta a alérgenos ambientais. A interleucina 31 (IL) 31 é uma citocina que participa de processos inflamatórios e está associada a doenças pruriginosas, principalmente as que envolvem inflamação crônica como as dermatites alérgicas. Produzida por células mononucleares, a IL-31 é descrita por desempenhar papel importante na patogênese da dermatite atópica.Com o objetivo de correlacionar as alterações clínicas, histopatológicas e a presença da IL-31 na pele de cães com dermatite atópica foram realizados dois estudos. Para isso, foram selecionados 34 cães da rotina de atendimento clínico, sendo 31 com diagnóstico de DAC e três hígidos. Os animais foram avaliados quanto ao nível de prurido a partir do relato de seus proprietários e quanto ao índice de extensão e severidade da DAC (CADESI-4) a partir do exame clínico. Os cães foram agrupados em discretamente, moderadamente e acentuadamente comprometidos pela DAC após somatório dos valores de escores atribuídos no exame clínico. Amostras cutâneas da região axilar e interdigital de cada cão foram colhidas e submetidas às análises histopatológica (HE e azul de toluidina) e imunoistoquímica (IL-31). Houve correlação entre o escore clínico e as alterações microscópicas, assim como entre as alterações microscópicas, mas não entre o grau de prurido e o escore clínico da DAC. Também o infiltrado inflamatório foi mais intenso na região axilar em relação a interdigital. Maior número de células imunomarcadas para IL-31 foi observado nos cães acentuadamente comprometidos pela DAC. Houve correlação entre o escore clínico e a quantidade de mastócitos no interdígito, do mesmo modo com a quantidade de células imunomarcadas para IL31 na axila. Também foi verificada correlação entre a quantidade de mastócitos e células imunomarcadas para IL-31 na axila, assim como entre acantose e todas as demais alterações histopatológicas da pele na região axilar. Conclui-se que há correlação entre a gravidade das lesões, a imunomarcação de IL-31, a contagem de mastócitos e as alterações histopatológicas em cães com dermatite atópica, mas não há correlação entre o grau de prurido relatado pelos proprietários e a gravidade das lesões cutâneas em animais com DAC. Ainda, a intensidade do processo inflamatório pode variar em função do sítio anatômico da lesão.

Le Tea Party entre en scène en février 2009 aux États-Unis. C’est notamment la tirade d’un journaliste qui s’insurge contre les plans de sauvetage de l’économie votés par le Président Barack Obama, en direct sur la chaîne CNBC le 19 février, et invite à organiser une « Tea Party » dans le port de Chicago, qui déclenche ce phénomène sans précédent. S’ensuivent de nombreux rassemblements protestataires de masse à travers le pays, puis la création de dizaines, puis de centaines de groupes Tea Party locaux. La rapidité et l’ampleur de ce mouvement surprennent les spécialistes. D’autant que dès 2010, le Tea Party affirme des objectifs politiques et une volonté d’institutionnalisation, se révélant une menace pour l’establishment républicain. Mais en 2012, la réélection du Président Obama peut être lue comme une défaite colossale pour le mouvement, et des chroniques de mort annoncée sont publiées par la presse libérale (au sens américain). Des résultats peu spectaculaires aux élections de mi-mandat en 2014 semblent confirmer ce pronostic, surtout que le Parti républicain réussit à tenir le mouvement en respect jusqu’aux primaires pour l’investiture présidentielle en 2015. C’est alors qu’on assiste à un retournement de situation ; la radicalisation du Grand Old Party est nette, visible entre autres dans la plate-forme très conservatrice des candidats républicains. En novembre 2016, l’élection de l’outsider Donald Trump à la présidence, conjonction de nombreux facteurs électoraux, est également le résultat d’efforts organisationnels de la Droite auxquels le Tea Party a largement contribué. Pour appréhender ce mouvement, il faut comprendre qu’il combine des forces top-down et bottom-up. Certes, le Tea Party bénéficie depuis son émergence de ressources inestimables de la part de groupes de pression et de think tanks comme FreedomWorks, American Majority, Americans for Prosperity ou Heritage Foundation, ainsi que des médias conservateurs. De nature organisationnelle ou rhétorique, ces ressources sont fondamentales car elles permettent au mouvement de s’organiser et de mener ses actions militantes. Il n’en reste pas moins qu’à la base se trouvent des acteurs bénévoles, qui consacrent leur temps et leur énergie au Tea Party, et revendiquent leur caractère grassroots. Des organisations nationales comme Tea Party Patriots s’imposent pour fédérer les groupes qui leur sont affiliés, cependant certains groupes locaux cherchent à protéger leur indépendance. Autour des groupes Tea Party gravitent des organisations libertariennes et conservatrices, l’ensemble formant une nébuleuse complexe, qui fonctionne par réseaux à différents niveaux et selon diverses configurations. L’objet de cette étude de terrain est donc d’apporter un éclairage de l’intérieur du mouvement Tea Party, par l’observation en immersion de groupes locaux situés dans les régions de Philadelphie en Pennsylvanie, et de Boston dans le Massachusetts. Il s’agit d’abord de comprendre les motivations et l’idéologie des militants, principalement d’orientation conservatrice, libertarienne et populiste. Ce sont les notions de souveraineté individuelle, d’anti-fédéralisme, et de respect de la Constitution qui dictent toute lecture des Tea Partiers. Ensuite, l’analyse des modes opératoires des groupes permet de clarifier le fonctionnement de l’ensemble. Le Tea Party se démarque en tant que mouvement de droite recourant à des stratégies organisationnelles jusqu’ici plutôt réservées aux mouvements progressistes - la façon dont il applique les principes de l’organisation communautaire est l’une de ses forces indéniables, en particulier à l’ère des nouvelles technologies, et des réseaux sociaux. Son utilisation de ressources Web et d’outils concrets pour l’action militante est remarquable. Enfin, il est essentiel de saisir que le Tea Party veut s’implanter dans le tissu décisionnel local. Pour y parvenir, l’une de ses tactiques consiste à infiltrer progressivement le Parti républicain / The Tea Party enters the scene in February 2009 in the United States. On February 19, a CNBC journalist protests on-air against the economic bailout plans voted by President Barack Obama, and invites viewers to organize a « Tea Party » in the Chicago harbor. This contributes to trigger an unprecedented phenomenon, as numerous mass protest rallies soon organize throughout the country, followed by the creation of dozens, then hundreds of local Tea Party groups. Experts are astonished at the swiftness and magnitude of the movement. All the more so in 2010, when the Tea Party starts claiming political objectives and shows intent of institutionalizing, proving a threat to the Republican Establishment. However, President Obama is reelected in 2012 and this is interpreted as a devastating loss for the movement, for which obituaries are published in several liberal media. Lackluster results in the 2014 mid-term elections seem to confirm this forecast, especially since the Republican Party succeeds at keeping the movement at bay until the primaries for the presidential candidate nomination in 2015. But then there is a reversal; the Grand Old Party clearly radicalizes, as the extremely conservative Republican platform notably shows. And the election of outsider Donald Trump to the presidency in November 2016, a conjunction of numerous electoral factors, is also the result of organizational efforts on the right side of the political spectrum, to which the Tea Party largely contributed. To better apprehend this movement, it is necessary to understand that it combines top-down and bottom-up forces. From its appearance, the Tea Party has indisputably benefitted from colossal resources from interest groups and think tanks such as FreedomWorks, American Majority, Americans for Prosperity or The Heritage Foundation, but also from conservative media. Either organizational or rhetorical, these resources are primeval for the movement’s organization and activism. Nevertheless, there are voluntary activists working at the basis of the movement, who devote their time and energy to the Tea Party, and claim its grassroots nature. National organizations such as Tea Party Patriots try to establish themselves as federations for the groups affiliated to them, while some local groups seek to remain independent. Libertarian and conservative organizations gravitate around Tea Party groups, the whole forming a complex cluster that operates at different levels and following diverse configurations. Thus the object of this field study is to shed light on the Tea Party movement from the inside, thanks to the observation of local groups from an embedded position. These groups are located in the Philadelphia and Boston areas, respectively in Pennsylvania and Massachusetts. First, it is necessary to understand activists’ motivations and ideologies, which are mainly conservative, libertarian and populist; and that Tea Partiers interpret everything though the lens of individual sovereignty, anti-Federalism, and respect of the Constitution. Then, analyzing the modi operandi of the groups allows to illuminate how the whole system works. The Tea Party distinguishes itself as a right-wing movement that recurs to organizational strategies that were predominantly used by progressive movements until recently – the way the movement applies the principles of community organizing is undeniably one of its strengths, particularly considering the new media revolution, and social networks. Its use of Web resources and concrete tools to encourage activism is impressive. Lastly, it is indispensable to grasp that the Tea Party aims for local decision-making positions. To this end, one of its tactics consists in progressively infiltrating the Republican Party

A história natural do câncer cervical invasivo começa com uma infecção produtiva pelo Papiloma vírus humana (HPV) na camada basal do epitélio. Infecções persistentes por vírus de HPVs de alto risco poderão provocar lesões que eventualmente darão origem ao carcinoma invasivo. Sabe-se que o infiltrado inflamatório pode ter um papel importante na evolução da doença. Neste trabalho, quantificamos e caracterizamos fenotipicamente linfócitos T, macrófagos e neutrófilos nas lesões precursoras assim como no carcinoma invasivo. Além disso, para determinar se existia alguma relação entre as populações foi realizada uma análise de correlação entres as populações descritas. Por outro lado, tentando determinar o efeito sistêmico do tumor avaliou-se a frequência de subtipos de monócitos circulantes e através de ensaios alogênicos foi avaliada a capacidade estimuladora das células dendríticas diferenciadas de monócitos circulantes. Os dados apresentados ajudarão a entender o papel que as células do sistema imune podem ter sobre a progressão da doença. / The natural history of cervical cancer begins with a human papilloma virus (HPV) infection of the cells of the basal layer of the epithelium. Persistent infection by high risk HPVs can originate precancerous lesions that may progress to invasive cancer. It has been established the role of the infiltrated inflammatory cells on the progression of the disease. In this work, the phenotype and the frequency of T lymphocytes, macrophages and neutrophils were characterized both in precursor lesions as in invasive carcinoma. In order to stablish a possible relation between the characterized cells, we made a correlation analysis. On the other hand, trying to determine the systemic effect of the tumor we evaluated the frequency of circulating monocyte subtypes and the capacity of dendritic cells to stimulate allogeneic T cells. The data presented will help to understand the role of the immune system cells on the progression of the disease.

Solid tumors are complex structures comprising besides the cancer cells vasculature, extracellular matrix (ECM), soluble molecules and a plethora of various other cell types. These components form a so-called tumour microenvironment. From the numerous cell types that are part of tumor microenvironment, tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) play a major role in patient prognosis. Their presence is also of major importance with regard to new biological therapies based on immune checkpoint inhibitors. Crucial role of TILs is also reflected by the new approaches in cancer diagnostics namely by Immunoscore method (currently used in clinical settings). Immunoscore is based on localization and quantification of CD3+ and CD8+ TILs in thin histological sections of tumor tissue. The question remains to which extent the information obtained from 2D slices reflects the situation in tumor microenvironment considering its spatial heterogeneity. The development of new methodological approaches allowing evaluation of histological information in 3D is the key to answer this question. The theoretical part of this work first describes the heterogeneity of the tumor microenvironment and the role of immune cells within it. Then, the role of spatial heterogeneity and its possible influence on the histopathological...

Made available in DSpace on 2014-12-17T15:32:28Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 MartaRP.pdf: 1904281 bytes, checksum: 2912c6b8ea9a773c553d0776245f93a5 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2009-02-27 / Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cient?fico e Tecnol?gico / The Oral Epithelial Dysplasia (OED) is the lesion that precedes or co-exists with the Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma (OSCC), presenting molecular and/or histological similar alterations. The divergences about the malignization potential of OEDs and the role of inflammation in this process make hard the early diagnosis and evaluation of OSCCs aggressiveness. Thus, it became the goal of this study to evaluate the role of inflammation in oral carcinogenesis and tumoral aggressiveness. For this purpose a morphological study was performed in 20 OED cases and 40 OSCC cases to detect the malignization potential of OEDs and the histologic malignancy grading (HMG) of OSCCs, analyzing superficial masses for dismorphism evaluation and the invasive front for evaluation of tumoral growing; and immunohistochemical, using anti-CD8, anti-FOXP3, anti-TGF?, anti-TNF? and anti-NF-?B antibodies, comparing their with the types lesion, histological degree and intensity of the inflammatory infiltrate. The results were statistically significant for the parameters: cell maturity (p=0,0001), masses presence (p=0,038) and dismorphism (p=0,037), when associated to HMG. To compare the expression of the markers with the types lesion, a significantly higher expression of CD8 (p=0,001) and NF-?B (p=0,002) in the OED, and also a smaller expression of the epithelial TGF? in the severe OEDs (p=0,011), without significant expression between OSCC degrees. By relating the expression of the studied markers with the inflammatory infiltrate intensity, a positive relation was observed with: inflammatory TNF?(p=0,003), epithelial TNF? and NF-?B (p=0,051 and p=0,004), in OEDs; and with CD8 (p=0,021) and TNF? (p=0,015) in conjunctive OSCCs; and a negative relation with epithelial TNF? (p=0,034) in OSCCs. No significant relation was found between FOXP3 with any of the studied variables. These findings lead to the conclusion that, the study of the invasive front is as important as the study of superficial masses for the evaluation of tumoral aggressiveness; the intensity of the inflammatory infiltrate has no use as a parameter for prognostic evaluation of OSCC in routine exams, but, the molecular events detected in this study may be necessary to give basis for determining the malignant potential in OEDs and aggressiveness in OSCCs / A Displasia Epitelial Oral (DEO) ? a les?o que precede ou co-existe com o Carcinoma Epiderm?ide Oral (CEO), apresentando altera??es moleculares e/ou histol?gicas semelhantes. As diverg?ncias sobre o potencial de maligniza??o das DEO e o papel da inflama??o nestes processos t?m dificultado o diagn?stico precoce e a avalia??o da agressividade dos CEO. Sendo assim, tornou-se objetivo deste estudo avaliar o papel da inflama??o na carcinog?nese oral e agressividade tumoral. Para isso foi realizado estudo morfol?gico em 20 casos de DEO e 40 casos de CEO para detectar o potencial de maligniza??o das DEO e o Grau Histol?gico de Malignidade (GHM) dos CEO, analisando as massas superficiais para avalia??o do dismorfismo e o front invasivo para avalia??o do crescimento tumoral; e imuno-histoqu?mico, utilizando os anticorpos anti-CD8, anti-FOXP3, anti-TGF?, anti-TNF-? e anti-NF-?B, para comparar a express?o dos mesmos com o tipo de les?o, grau histol?gico e intensidade do infiltrado inflamat?rio. Os resultados foram estatisticamente significantes para os par?metros, maturidade celular (p=0,0001), presen?a de massas (p=0,038) e dismorfismo (p=0,037), quando associados aos GHM. Ao comparar a express?o dos marcadores com o tipo de les?o, encontrou-se uma express?o significativamente maior do CD8 (p=0,001) e do NF-?B (p=0,002) nas DEO, assim como uma menor express?o do TGF? epitelial nas DEO severas (p=0,011), n?o tendo express?o significativa entre os graus dos CEO. Ao relacionar a express?o dos marcadores estudados com a intensidade do infiltrado inflamat?rio, observou-se uma rela??o positiva com o TNF? inflamat?rio (p=0,003), o TNF? e o NF-?B epiteliais (p=0,051 e p=0,004), nas DEO; com o CD8 (p=0,021) e o TNF? (p=0,015) no conjuntivo dos CEO; e uma rela??o negativa com o TNF? (p=0,034) epitelial dos CEO. N?o foi encontrada rela??o significativa da FOXP3 com nenhuma das vari?veis estudadas. Esses achados levaram a concluir que, o estudo do front invasivo ? t?o importante quanto o estudo das massas superficiais para avalia??o da agressividade tumoral; a intensidade do infiltrado inflamat?rio n?o pode ser utilizado como par?metro para avalia??o progn?stica do CEO no exame de rotina; mas os eventos moleculares detectados neste estudo podem ser necess?rios para embasar a determina??o do potencial de malignidade nas DEO e da agressividade nos CEO

Made available in DSpace on 2014-12-17T15:32:34Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 ErickaJDS_tese.pdf: 814077 bytes, checksum: c31b79040c7db1898443078febad2a0d (MD5) Previous issue date: 2007-03-09 / Coordena??o de Aperfei?oamento de Pessoal de N?vel Superior / The progression of the oral squamous cells carcinomas (OSCCs) seems to suffer influence from related factors to the host, as local and systemic immunologic response, which are essential to the antineoplasic defenses. The purpose of this study was evaluate the local immunity in 30 tongue and 20 lower lip SCC by immunohistochemistry method, utilizing antibodies anti-CD3, CD4, -CD8, -CD25 e -ζ(zeta), which immunoexpressions were compared considering the anatomical localization, the intensity of the inflammatory infiltrate into the front of invasion and metastases. The CD4/CD8+ ratio was calculated for each case and associate with the mentioned variable, being the intensity of the inflammatory infiltrated also compared with the anatomical localization and metastase and for this the cases had been grouped in two categories: (n = 10) absent/scarce inflammatory infiltrate; and (n = 40) moderate/intense infiltrate. Fisher?s exact test was performed (α= 0.05) and it was not observed any significant correlation between these groups with anatomical sites and metastases. With regard to the immunoexpression, the CD3+, CD4+, CD8+ and CD25+ cells count was higher in the lower lip SCCs while the anti-ζimmunomarcation was more evident in the non metastatic cases. Through the statistical analyses, it was verified that the CD3 exhibited positive-significant correlation with the inflammatory infiltrate (p = 0.023). Furthermore, antibodies against CD8 and CD25 cells were also significantly correlated with the inflammatory infiltrate (p = 0.002 and 0.030, respectively) and with the anatomical site (p = 0.004 and p = 0.004) mainly in the lower lip SCCs. CD4/CD8 ratio did not show significant association with metastase nor with anatomical localization. We conclude that the inflammatory infiltrated of the Bryne s (1998) system did not constitute an indicator of aggressiveness in the tongue and lower lip SCCs analyzed and that clinical behavior of the SCCs studied was related in part to the immunohistochemical profile of infiltrated the inflammatory present in tumoral invasion front / A progress?o dos carcinomas epiderm?ides orais (CEOs) parece sofrer influ?ncia de fatores relacionados ao hospedeiro, como a resposta imunol?gica local e sist?mica, as quais parecem ser essenciais para a defesa anti-neopl?sica. O presente estudo teve por objetivo analisar a imunidade local em 30 casos de CEs de l?ngua e 20 de l?bio inferior, atrav?s do m?todo da imuno-histoqu?mica, utilizando os anticorpos anti-CD3, -CD4, -CD8, -CD25 e -ζ(zeta), comparando a imunomarca??o em ambas as localiza??es, com a intensidade de infiltrado inflamat?rio no front de invas?o e com presen?a ou n?o de met?stase. A raz?o de c?lulas CD4/CD8+ foi calculada para cada caso e associada com as vari?veis mencionadas, sendo a intensidade do infiltrado inflamat?rio comparada tamb?m com a localiza??o anat?mica e met?stase e para isso os casos foram agrupados em duas categorias (infiltrado escasso ou ausente E/A e infiltrado intenso ou moderado I/M), sendo encontrado 10 casos na categoria E/A e 40 na categoria I/M. Aplicado o teste exato de Fisher n?o verificamos associa??o significativa destes grupos com o s?tio anat?mico ou com met?stase. Em rela??o ? imunomarca??o, a contagem das c?lulas CD3+, CD4+, CD8+ e CD25+ foi maior nos CEs de l?bio inferior e sem met?stase, enquanto que o anti-ζfoi mais expresso apenas nos casos sem met?stase. Atrav?s da an?lise estat?stica verificou-se que os anticorpos anti-CD3, anti-CD8 e anti-CD25 exibiram associa??o significativa positiva com o infiltrado inflamat?rio (p=0.023, p=0.002 e p=0.030, respectivamente); e os anticorpos anti-CD8 a anti-CD25 estiveram associados de forma positiva com a localiza??o anat?mica, ambos com valores de p=0.004, estando estes mais presentes nos CEs de l?bio inferior. A raz?o CD4/CD8 n?o exibiu associa??o significativa com met?stase nem com localiza??o anat?mica. Conclu?mos que o padr?o infiltrado inflamat?rio da grada??o histol?gica de malignidade de Bryne (1998) n?o constituiu um indicador de agressividade nos CEs de l?ngua e l?bio inferior analisados, e que o comportamento cl?nico dos CEs estudados esteve relacionado em parte ao perfil imuno-histoqu?mico do infiltrado inflamat?rio presente no front de invas?o tumoral

This study examines the motivation factors that make some individuals (terrorists) confidential informants. The study is based on the assumptions of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs and Herzberg’s motivation-hygiene theories. Accordingly, main assumption of the present study is that some individuals with unsatisfied needs in religion-abusing terrorist (RAT) networks choose to become confidential informants to satisfy their predominant needs. The main hypothesis for the purpose of this study is “The individuals’ decision-making processes to cooperate with law enforcement intelligence (LEI) as a confidential informant is affected by some motivation factors during recruitment process.” The present study tests 27 hypotheses in order to answer two main research questions. To meet its objectives the present study uses quantitative research methodology, constructs a cross-sectional research design, and employs secondary data analysis to test the hypotheses of the research questions. A dataset was formed based on official records of Turkish National Police by including all confidential informants within eight different RAT networks in Turkey. First, individual effect of each motivation factor on being a confidential informant is tested and discussed in detail. Then two group specific multivariate models for being an informant in Al-Qaeda and Turkish-Hezbollah are illustrated, compared and contrasted. Both bivariate and multivariate statistical analyses not only revealed the extent of individual effects of motivations among RAT groups, but also helped us to build fitting multivariate models that explain the probability of being informants in certain RAT networks. By doing so, the present study aims to make contributions to the literature and practice on this relatively unexplored phenomenon. Findings indicate that while some motivation factors are common among all RAT networks, the strength and direction of their effects vary among different RAT networks.

Einleitung: Ziel dieser Arbeit war es, das RENCA-Nierenzell-Karzinommodell anhand der Hypoxie-induzierten Nekrosen, der Makrophageninfitration sowie der iNOS-Expression und –aktivität zu charakterisieren. Methoden: Für die Erzeugung lokaler Tumoren, wurden Balb/c-Mäusen in vitro kultivierte RENCA-Zellen subkutan appliziert. Die Quantifizierung des Makrophageninfiltrates sowie die Charakterisierung der Hypoxie im Tumorgewebe erfolgten mittels immunhistochemischer Färbungen. Für die Darstellung der Stickstoffmonoxid-Aktivität kamen neben der Immunhistochemie die Reverse Transkriptase Polymerase-Kettenreaktion (RT-PCR) zur Anwendung. Der Nitrit-Gehalt der Tumorproben wurde mittels Griess-Reaktion bestimmt. Ergebnisse: Spontan hypoxische Tumornekrosen sind assoziiert mit einer signifikant geringeren Gefäßdichte. Das Ausmaß der Nekrosen korreliert mit dem Alter der Tumoren. Alte Tumoren (28 Tage) zeigen eine höhere Makrophageninfiltration als junge Tumoren (12 bis 19 Tage). Obwohl die iNOS-Expression auf Proteinebene keinen signifikanten Unterschied zwischen alten und jungen Tumoren ergab, findet sich auf mRNA-Ebene eine signifikant erhöhte iNOS-Expression in alten Tumoren. Hinsichtlich der αActinin-4-Expression konnte kein signifikanter Unterschied gesehen werden. Schlussfolgerung: Bei annähernd gleicher iNOS- und αActinin-4-Expression beziehungsweise erhöhter iNOS-mRNA-Expression ist die Konzentration an Nitrit in Tumoren mit hypoxischer Nekrose reduziert. Daraus kann man schließen, dass die Aktivität der NO-Synthase unter hypoxischen Bedingungen reduziert ist. Dies stützt wiederum die Vermutung, einer die iNOS-Aktivität steuernden normoxie-abhängigen Assoziation von αActinin-4 und iNOS. Die Aktivitätsinhibierung der iNOS könnte somit ein Mechanismus sein, durch den Hypoxie die Zytotoxizität von TAM inhibiert. Die abnehmende Gefäßdichte mit zunehmendem Tumoralter könnte möglicherweise auf eine Regression der Tumorgefäße zurückzuführen sein. Denkbar wäre, dass die Gefäßregression durch makrophagenabhängige Zytokine begünstigt wird.