Mémoire numérisé par la Division de la gestion de documents et des archives de l'Université de Montréal

Skeletal muscle is a complicated and heterogeneous striated muscle tissue that serves critical mechanical and metabolic functions in the organism. The process of generating skeletal muscle, myogenesis, is elaborately coordinated by members of the protein kinase family, which transmit diverse signals initiated by extracellular stimuli to myogenic transcriptional hierarchy in muscle cells. Mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) including p38 MAPK, c-Jun N terminal kinase (JNK) and extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (ERK) are components of serine/threonine protein kinase cascades that play important roles in skeletal muscle differentiation. The exploration of MAPK upstream kinases identified mitogen activated protein kinase kinase kinase kinase 4 (MAP4K4), a serine/threonine protein kinase that modulates p38 MAPK, JNK and ERK activities in multiple cell lines. Our lab further discovered that Map4k4 regulates peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) translation in cultured adipocytes through inactivating mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), which controls skeletal muscle differentiation and hypotrophy in kinase-dependent and -independent manners. These findings suggest potential involvement of Map4k4 in skeletal myogenesis. Therefore, for the first part of my thesis, I characterize the role of Map4k4 in skeletal muscle differentiation in cultured muscle cells. Here I show that Map4k4 functions as a myogenic suppressor mainly at the early stage of skeletal myogenesis with a moderate effect on myoblast fusion during late-stage muscle differentiation. In agreement, Map4k4 expression and protein kinase activity are declined with myogenic differentiation. The inhibitory effect of Map4k4 on skeletal myogenesis requires its kinase activity. Surprisingly, none of the identified Map4k4 downstream effectors including p38 MAPK, JNK and ERK is involved in the Map4k4-mediated myogenic differentiation. Instead, expression of myogenic regulatory factor Myf5, a positive mediator of skeletal muscle differentiation is transiently regulated by Map4k4 to partially control skeletal myogenesis. Mechanisms by which Map4k4 modulates Myf5 amount have yet to be determined. In the second part of my thesis, I assess the relationship between Map4k4 and IGF-mediated signaling pathways. Although siRNA-mediated silencing of Map4k4 results in markedly enhanced myotube formation that is identical to the IGF-induced muscle hypertrophic phenotype, and Map4k4 regulates IGF/Akt signaling downstream effector mTOR in cultured adipocytes, Map4k4 appears not to be involved in the IGF-mediated ERK1/2 signaling axis and the IGF-mediated Akt signaling axis in C2C12 myoblasts. Furthermore, Map4k4 does not affect endogenous Akt signaling or mTOR activity during C2C12 myogenic differentiation. The results presented here not only identify Map4k4 as a novel suppressor of skeletal muscle differentiation, but also add to our knowledge of Map4k4 action on multiple signaling pathways in muscle cells during skeletal myogenesis. The effects that Map4k4 exerts on myoblast differentiation, fusion and Myf5 expression implicate Map4k4 as a potential drug target for muscle mass growth, skeletal muscle regeneration and muscular dystrophy.

La protéine du TGF-[bêta]1 est une protéine multifonctionnelle qui agit dans plusieurs types cellulaires. Son action varie selon le type de cellulaire. Bien qu'elle ait un rôle inhibiteur chez les astrocytes normaux, elle posséderait un rôle principalement activateur de nombreuses voies carcinogéniques chez les tumeurs astrocytaires primaires malignes. L'isoforme du TGF-[bêta]1 est celle qui est la plus impliquée dans ces processus. Elle joue un rôle dans l'activation des voies d'invasion tissulaire et d'angiogenèse, mais inhibe des mécanismes d'apoptose et d'immunosuppression.La présente étude vise à évaluer l'effet de l'inhibition de la protéine du TGF-[bêta]1 sur le modèle cellules de glioblastome F98/Fischer sur la prolifération et la migration cellulaire. Pour ce faire, un inhibiteur sélectif au récepteur a d'abord été utilisé. Par la suite, des techniques d'inhibitions nucléotidiques (oligoantisens, siRNA, shRNA) ont été testées. Nous avons d'abord validé l'utilisation du modèle F98/Fischer dans l'étude des fonctions du TGF-[bêta]1 et de l'inhibition de la production de cette protéine. Nous avons observé la production importante de TGF-[bêta]1 par les cellules F98 avec des essais immunologiques (Western, ELISA). Avec l'essai ELISA, nous avons observé la production considérable de TGF-[bêta]1 actif d'emblée.La présence de notre protéine d'intérêt a été détectée dans le cerveau de rat Fischer implanté avec les cellules F98 contrairement aux animaux sains qui ne montrent aucune trace de TGF-[bêta]1. Ensuite, nous avons tenté de mettre au point une approche nucléotidique pour inhiber la production du TGF-[bêta]1. Pour les oligoantisens et les siRNA qui ont été couplés avec le vecteur liposomale Metafecten, nous n'avons pas réussi à obtenir de diminution significative du TGF-[bêta]1 dans les surnageants des cultures de F98 . Pour l'approche au shRNA/lentivirus, nous n'avons pas réussi à former de bactéries contenant la construction recherchée. Par la suite, nous avons testé sur notre modèle cellulaire un inhibiteur pharmacologique sélectif, le SB-431642, du récepteur permettant la phosphoryllation de la voie instracellulaire Smad, le T[bêta]R-I. Les essais de prolifération (WST-1) ont permis de constater un ralentissement dans la croissance des F98 traitées au SB-431542. Un essai immunologique western a permis de constater que la production de VEGF était d'ailleurs influencée par cette inhibition du TGF-[bêta]1. L'utilisation d'un vecteur luciférase couplé à un élément de réponse Smad a permis de constater que la voie du TGF-[bêta]1 était bel et bien affectée à la baisse par cet inhibiteur. En effet, le dosage luminescent de la luciférase a permis de noter une diminution significative de sa quantité. L'activité d'un tel vecteur est proportionnelle à l'activité Smad intracellulaire. Nous avons aussi testé cet inhibiteur sur le modèle de croissance tumorale tridimensionnelle de sphéroïdes F98.La croissance des sphéroïdes a été ralentie par la présence de l'inhibiteur et l'invasion de la matrice de collagène observée chez les sphéroïdes contrôles a été freinée par l'ajout de SB-431542. Bien que certains de nos essais n'aient pas donné les résultats escomptés, l'utilisation de l'inhibiteur SB-431542 nous a permis de voir l'implication à du TGF-[bêta]1 dans les mécanismes de progression tumorale chez la lignée cellulaire F98, tel que la prolifération et la migration cellulaire. Ces résultats sont le préalable à d'éventuels essais avec le modèle d'étude animal, le rat Fischer avec l'utilisation de cellules de glioblastomes F98.

BACKGROUND: Scythe/BAT3 is a member of the BAG protein family whose role in apoptosis has been extensively studied. However, since the developmental defects observed in Bat3-null mouse embryos cannot be explained solely by defects in apoptosis, we investigated whether BAT3 is also involved in cell-cycle progression. METHODS/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Using a stable-inducible Bat3-knockdown cellular system, we demonstrated that reduced BAT3 protein level causes a delay in both G1/S transition and G2/M progression. Concurrent with these changes in cell-cycle progression, we observed a reduction in the turnover and phosphorylation of the CDK inhibitor p21, which is best known as an inhibitor of DNA replication; however, phosphorylated p21 has also been shown to promote G2/M progression. Our findings indicate that in Bat3-knockdown cells, p21 continues to be synthesized during cell-cycle phases that do not normally require p21, resulting in p21 protein accumulation and a subsequent delay in cell-cycle progression. Finally, we showed that BAT3 co-localizes with p21 during the cell cycle and is required for the translocation of p21 from the cytoplasm to the nucleus during the G1/S transition and G2/M progression. CONCLUSION: Our study reveals a novel, non-apoptotic role for BAT3 in cell-cycle regulation. By maintaining a low p21 protein level during the G1/S transition, BAT3 counteracts the inhibitory effect of p21 on DNA replication and thus enables the cells to progress from G1 to S phase. Conversely, during G2/M progression, BAT3 facilitates p21 phosphorylation by cyclin A/Cdk2, an event required for G2/M progression. BAT3 modulates these pro- and anti-proliferative roles of p21 at least in part by regulating cyclin A abundance, as well as p21 translocation between the cytoplasm and the nucleus to ensure that it functions in the appropriate intracellular compartment during each phase of the cell cycle. / Dissertation

À luz da concepção bakhtiniana de linguagem e do pressuposto de que ensinar a língua não é ensinar gramática normativa, o trabalho tem por objetivo analisar uma gramática considerada como modelo da indústria cultural, a Gramática da Língua Portuguesa, de Pasquale e Ulisses. Este exame parte de quatro eixos de investigação, a saber: concepções teóricas, abordagem didático-metodológica, enfoque relacional e dimensão mercadológica. Levando em conta a relevância dos estudos sobre os livros didáticos no ensino de língua materna, a pesquisa objetiva contribuir para os debates educacionais e para a revisão das concepções de ensino de língua portuguesa, com fundamentação na lingüística moderna e nos postulados de Giroux, Bakhtin, Bourdieu, Freire, Eco e Bonazzi, Nozella e Olson. A pesquisa visa também compreender a organização da mencionada gramática pedagógica, tanto no que diz respeito à proposta, ao objeto e ao referencial de ensino de português, bem como a tendências e significados assumidos por seus autores. Para tanto, examinam-se as concepções de linguagem e suas implicações, as exigências mercadológicas da indústria cultural e os atuais dilemas da formação do professor no Brasil. Desta forma, não se trata apenas de apontar as adequações e inadequações da referida gramática à luz da lingüística moderna, mas também de avaliar a coerência interna da obra pelo confronto entre seus princípios e as atividades práticas propostas. Igualmente, permeia esta dissertação o questionamento sobre os fatores que fazem a gramática pedagógica de Pasquale e Ulisses encontrar eco na escola, e como os autores organizam seu trabalho para contemplar estas demandas. As conclusões do estudo apontam para a aceitação desta obra, na escola e na sociedade, pautando-se significativamente nos fatores interferentes na produção do material didático, que nascem na indústria cultural e ganham força no mercado editorial. Evidencia-se também como o ensino da língua pode fortalecer concepções equivocadas, acirrando os mecanismos de discriminação lingüística. / In accordance to Backhtins conception of language, as well as the assumption that teaching language is not teaching normative grammar, the purpose of this study is to analyze a textbook considered as a model in cultural industry, Gramática da Língua Portuguesa, by Pasquale and Ulysses. We scrutinize that work taking on account four areas of research, namely: theoretical concepts, methodological-didactic approach, relational focus and marketing scale. Considering the relevance of the studies about mother tongue teaching textbooks, this research aims to contribute both to educational discussions as well as to the reexamination of Portuguese language teaching conceptions, based on modern linguistics and on the principles by Giroux, Backhtin, Bourdieu, Freire, Echo and Bonazzi, Nozella and Olson. Grounded on such a benchmark, the purpose of this research is also to understand that textbook organization as a school grammar, both with regard to the proposal, object and reference for Portuguese teaching, as well as the trends and meanings assumed by its authors. With that in mind, language conceptions and their implications, the cultural industry marketing requirements, and the current teacher training dilemmas in Brazil were investigated. Thus, it is not just bringing forward the adequacy and inadequacy of the above mentioned textbook according to modern linguistics, but also assessing the internal consistency of the work by the confrontation between its principles and the practical activities proposed. Our research is likewise prevailed by the questioning about the reasons which make Pasquale and Ulysses textbook find echo in the school environment and how the authors organize their work to cover these demands. Our study\'s findings indicate that textbook is well accepted both in school and society, what guides us up to the significantly interfering factors in the production of educational materials, which arise in the cultural industry and gain strength in the publishing market. It also offers evidence to how language teaching can strengthen mistaken conceptions, stirring up linguistic discrimination mechanisms.

As moléculas co-estimuladoras CD80 e CD86, expressas na superfície de células dendríticas (DCs), as principais células apresentadoras de antígenos profissionais (APCs), possuem participação fundamental na indução de resposta e manutenção de tolerância, motivo pelo qual são consideradas alvos terapêuticos promissores. Essas moléculas promovem o segundo sinal necessário à ativação e proliferação dos linfócitos T por meio da ligação ao receptor CD28, ou inibem a resposta por essas células por meio da ligação ao receptor CTLA-4, ambos expressos na superfície dos linfócitos. Muitos são os relatos da literatura indicando diferenças tanto quantitativas quanto qualitativas entre CD80 e CD86 na capacidade de ativação de linfócitos T, os mais relevantes apontando diferenças na capacidade de indução de diferenciação de linfócitos para os padrões Th1 e Th2 de secreção de citocinas. Porém, tais relatos são muitas vezes contraditórios, e o verdadeiro papel funcional dessas moléculas ainda está por ser estabelecido. Assim, propusemo-nos a estabelecer as metodologias necessárias para silenciar as moléculas CD80 e CD86 em células dendríticas (DCs) humanas, derivadas de monócitos do sangue periférico, por meio da tecnologia de RNA de interferência. Isso possibilitaria esclarecer o papel desempenhado por cada uma dessas moléculas na capacidade de ativação de linfócitos T. Para tanto, padronizou-se a transfecção reversa de DCs do quarto dia da cultura com siRNA fluorescente e os agentes de transfecção lipídicos siPORT e iMAX, tendo sido obtidas eficiências de transfecção de 64,7% ± 5,2 e 69,7% ± 14,5%, respectivamente. DCs do quarto dia de cultura foram transfectadas com siRNAs específicos para CD80, e o fenótipo avaliado após 48 horas da transfecção. Foi possível identificar, além do eficiente silenciamento de CD80 por dois dos três siRNAs testados, também uma diminuição, inesperada, de células CD86+. Para o silenciamento de CD86, células CD14+ selecionadas positivamente por beads magnéticas foram transfectadas com siRNAs específicos para CD86, ativadas após 24 horas da transfecção e o silenciamento avaliado após 24 horas da ativação. Embora o silenciamento conseguido por um dos dois siRNAs testados tenha sido muito pequeno, observou-se fenômeno equivalente, com diminuição de células CD80+. Embora inconclusivos, esses dados sugerem a possibilidade de modulação recíproca dessas moléculas. Assim, pudemos obter a transfecção eficiente de DCs com siRNAs de interesse e, através deles, modular a expressão de CD80 e CD86. Com estes instrumentos, portanto, podemos agora desenvolver estudos quanto ao papel de cada uma destas moléculas na fisiologia da apresentação antigênica pelas DCs. / The costimulatory molecules CD80 and CD86, expressed on surface of dendritic cells (DCs), are essential to trigger T cell activation and to maintain self tolerance, indicating that these molecules are promising therapeutic targets. They can either bind to CD28 on T cells, promoting T cell activation and leading to their proliferation and cytokine production, or to CTLA-4, which is expressed following T cell activation, and can inhibit T cell response. Though CD80 and CD86 are thought to provide equivalent T cell costimulation, a growing body of evidence suggests that there are different functional consequences of CD28 engagement by these two molecules. Many reports point to variations in their ability to stimulate different lymphocyte subsets. However, there is still controversy in the literature and the actual role of CD80 and CD86 remains to be elucidated. Therefore, the aim of this study was to establish the methodology necessary to silence, by small interfering RNAs (siRNAs), both CD80 and CD86 expression on monocyte-derived dendritic cells. These findings would be the base of studys that could better elucidate the function of these two coestimulatory molecules in T cell activation. Therefore, transfection of 4th day DCs with fluorescent siRNA and lipidic transfection agents siPORT and iMAX was established, an d transfection efficiency observed was 64,7% ± 5,2 e 69,7% ± 14,5%, respectively. 4th day DCs were transfected with specific CD80 siRNAs and phenotype was observed after 48 hours of transfection. Besides CD80 efficient silencing by two from three siRNAs tested, there was an unexpected decrease in CD86+ cells. To establish CD86 silencing, CD14+ cells were positively selected with magnetic beads and immediately transfected with CD86 specific siRNAs, activated after 24 hours of transfection, and phenotype was observed after 24 hours of activation. Despite the fact that silencing conferred by one of two siRNAs was very low, equivalent phenomenon was observed, with a decrease in CD80+ cells. Although the observed effects were inconclusive, these data suggests a possible reciprocal modulation by these two molecules. Therefore, we were able to obtain efficient DC transfection with siRNAs of interest, as well as modulate CD80 and CD86 expression. With these instruments we can now develop studies regarding the real physiological role of these two costimulatory molecules in DCs antigen presentation.

Les petits ARN interférents (siRNA) sont encore rarement utilisés chez les vertébrés transgéniques pour inhiber l'expression de gènes. En effet, les vecteurs contenant un promoteur de type ARN polymérase III comme ceux des gènes U6 et H1 qui permettent une expression élevée des gènes codant pour des ARNi dans des cellules sont souvent silencieux in vivo. Dans cette thèse, divers vecteurs exprimant des petits ARN double brins (shRNA) ont été testés dans des cellules en culture et chez des souris transgéniques pour inhiber l'ARN m du gène précoce IE du virus de la pseudo rage porcine responsable de la maladie d'Aujeszky. La quantité et la séquence des si RNA produits ont été étudiées par qPCR. Dans des cellules CHO transfectées pour une expression transitoire, les vecteurs contenant les gènes U6-shRNA ont été de loin les plus efficaces pour inhiber le gène IE en raison du niveau élevé de siRNA produit. Par ailleurs, deux constructions contenant le promoteur de type ARN polymérase II, le promoteur du gène eF1-α etune séquence de shRNA bordée par 5T ou introduite dans un gène de microARN (miRNA) le miR30 ont permis d'obtenir une inhibition significative mais limitée de l'ARNm du gène IE. Ceci parait être du au niveau relativement faible de siRNA produit. Le siRNA produit par le gène du miRNA s'est avéré aussi efficace que ceux obtenus à partir des constructions U6-shRNA bien que ces derniers soient un peu plus longs. Ces diverses constructions ont été utilisées pour obtenir des souris transgéniques. Des souris contenant la séquence du shRNA n'ont pu être obtenues qu'à partir de la construction miRNA. Ceci peut être du au fait que les siRNA produits par les autres constructions ont exercé un effet inhibiteur sur des cibles aspécifiques (off-targeting) qui ne s'est pas produit avec le siRNA provenant de la construction miRNA car il contient quelques nucléotides en moins. Les souris transgéniques contenant la construction miRNA ont été soumises à une infection par le virus de la pseudo rage porcine. Bien que les souris exprimaient le gène shRNA qu'à un faible niveau. Quelques souris transgéniques ont résisté à l'infection. La seconde partie de la thèse a consisté à sélectionner d'autres séquences de shRNA capables d'inhiber l'expression du gène IE sans exercer des effets aspécifiques. Deux séquences de shRNA ont permis une telle inhibition. L'une est dirigée contre la région 5'UTR du gène IE et l'autre contre la région 3'UTR. Ces données suggèrent que (1) l'efficacité d'un shRNA n'est pas déterminée par sa séquence d'une manière totalement prévisible (2) l'efficacité d'un siRNA est d'autant plus élevé que sa séquence cible dans l'ARNm est en structure double brin (3) un effet inhibiteur intense et optimum peut être obtenu avec des concentrations faibles d'un siRNA (4) les effets secondaires et en particulier le off-targeting peuvent avoir lieu à faible concentration du siRNA mais ils ont d'autant plus de chance de se produire que la concentration du si RNA est plus élevée (5) un siRNA destiné à être utilisé chez des animaux transgéniques devrait être choisi pour sa capacité à inhiber efficacement un gène à faible concentration pour réduire ses effets secondaires.

SMC1 and SMC3 form a high-affinity heterodimer, which provides an open backbone of the cohesin ring, to be closed by a kleisin protein. RNAi mediated knock-down of either one heterodimer partner, SMC1 or SMC3, is expected to cause very similar if not identical phenotypes. However, we observed highly distinct, protein-specific phenotypes. Upon knock-down of human SMC1, much of SMC3 remains stable, accumulates in the cytoplasm and does not associate with other cohesin proteins. Most of the excess nuclear SMC3 is highly mobile and not or only weakly chromosome-associated. In contrast, human SMC3 knock-down rendered SMC1 instable without cytoplasmic accumulation. As observed by differential protein extraction and in FRAP experiments the remaining SMC1 or SMC3 proteins in the respective SMC1 or SMC3 knock-down experiments constituted a cohesin pool, which is associated with chromatin with highest affinity, likely the least expendable. Expression of bovine EGFP-SMC1 or mouse EGFP-SMC3 in human cells under conditions of human SMC1 or SMC3 knock-down rescued the respective phenotypes, but in untreated cells over-expressed exogenous SMC proteins mis-localized. Paucity of either one of the SMC proteins causes RAD21 degradation. These results argue for great caution in interpreting SMC1 and SMC3 RNAi or over-expression experiments. Under challenged conditions these two proteins unexpectedly behave differently, which may have biological consequences for regulation of cohesin-associated functions and for human cohesin pathologies.

Dissertation (Ph.D.)--University of South Florida, 2009. / Includes vita. Includes bibliographical references. Also available online.

Dissertation (Ph.D.)--University of South Florida, 2009. / Title from PDF of title page. Document formatted into pages; contains 149 pages. Includes vita. Includes bibliographical references.