Angiotensin II (Ang II) plays a very important role in regulating cardiac and vascular contraction and proliferation/hypertrophy via stimulation of AT1 receptors. A few studies have demonstrated that 5-lipoxygenase (5-LO) derived cysteinyl leukotrienes (CysLT) contribute to Ang II evoked tension responses in rat aortic rings. Whether CysLT would contribute to Ang II evoked Ca2+ mobilization in neonatal rat cardiomyocytes (NRC) and rat aortic smooth muscle cells (ASMC) has not been investigated. In the present study, using primary cultures of NRC and minimally passaged cultures of rat ASMC, an effort was made to address this key issue. The agonists evoked increase in cytosolic free calcium ([Ca2+]i) level was determined by fura-2 fluorescence measurement in NRC and ASMC. Total CysLT levels in the culture medium were determined using an ELISA kit. CysLT1/CysLT2 receptor mRNA levels of NRC and ASMC were quantified by Northern blot analysis. In NRC, the AT1 but not the AT2 selective antagonist, attenuated the elevations in [Ca2+]i and CysLT levels evoked by Ang II. Vasopressin (AVP) and endothelin-1 (ET-1) increased [Ca2+]i but not CysLT levels. The 5-LO inhibitor, AA861, and the CysLT1 selective antagonist, MK-571, reduced the maximal [Ca2+]i responses (Emax) to Ang II but not to AVP and ET-1. While CysLT1 antagonist reduced the Emax to leukotriene D4, (LTD4), the dual CysLT1/CysLT2 antagonist, BAY u9773, completely blocked the [Ca2+]i elevation to both LTD4 and leukotriene C4 (LTC4). Both CysLT1 and CysLT2 mRNA were detected in NRC. The inositol 1,4,5 triphosphate (InsP3) antagonist, 2-aminoethoxyphenyl borate (2-APB), attenuated the [Ca2+]i responses to Ang II and LTD4. In ASMC, Ang II, ET-1 and AVP evoked [Ca2+]i responses were significantly higher in the cultured ASMC isolated from spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) compared to ASMC derived from age-matched normotensive Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) strain. Addition of either MK571 or BAY u9773, reduced the Emax values to Ang II (but not to ET-1and AVP) in both strains. While BAY u9773 abolished the [Ca2+]i responses evoked by both LTD4 and LTC4, MK571, the CysLT1 antagonist reduced the responses evoked by LTD4 but not LTC4. The basal CysLT levels were higher in the ASMC of SHR. Ang II but not ET-1 and AVP evoked time and concentration dependent increases in CysLT levels in ASMC of both WKY and SHR strains. The AT1 selective antagonist, losartan, but not the AT2 antagonist, PD123319, attenuated the increases in [Ca2+]i and CysLT levels evoked by Ang II. The InsP3 antagonist, attenuated the [Ca2+]i responses to Ang II, LTD4 and LTC4. Both CysLT1 and CysLT2 mRNA were detected in the ASMC of either strain; but they were significantly higher in SHR. These data suggest that AT1 mediated CysLT production contributes to Ang II evoked Ca2+ mobilization in NRC and that elevated CysLT production along with increased expression of both CysLT1/CysLT2 receptors may account for the exaggerated [Ca2+]i responses to Ang II in ASMC of SHR due to enhanced mobilization of Ca2+ from InsP3 sensitive intracellular Ca2+ stores.

Angiotensin II (Ang II) plays a very important role in regulating cardiac and vascular contraction and proliferation/hypertrophy via stimulation of AT1 receptors. A few studies have demonstrated that 5-lipoxygenase (5-LO) derived cysteinyl leukotrienes (CysLT) contribute to Ang II evoked tension responses in rat aortic rings. Whether CysLT would contribute to Ang II evoked Ca2+ mobilization in neonatal rat cardiomyocytes (NRC) and rat aortic smooth muscle cells (ASMC) has not been investigated. In the present study, using primary cultures of NRC and minimally passaged cultures of rat ASMC, an effort was made to address this key issue. The agonists evoked increase in cytosolic free calcium ([Ca2+]i) level was determined by fura-2 fluorescence measurement in NRC and ASMC. Total CysLT levels in the culture medium were determined using an ELISA kit. CysLT1/CysLT2 receptor mRNA levels of NRC and ASMC were quantified by Northern blot analysis. In NRC, the AT1 but not the AT2 selective antagonist, attenuated the elevations in [Ca2+]i and CysLT levels evoked by Ang II. Vasopressin (AVP) and endothelin-1 (ET-1) increased [Ca2+]i but not CysLT levels. The 5-LO inhibitor, AA861, and the CysLT1 selective antagonist, MK-571, reduced the maximal [Ca2+]i responses (Emax) to Ang II but not to AVP and ET-1. While CysLT1 antagonist reduced the Emax to leukotriene D4, (LTD4), the dual CysLT1/CysLT2 antagonist, BAY u9773, completely blocked the [Ca2+]i elevation to both LTD4 and leukotriene C4 (LTC4). Both CysLT1 and CysLT2 mRNA were detected in NRC. The inositol 1,4,5 triphosphate (InsP3) antagonist, 2-aminoethoxyphenyl borate (2-APB), attenuated the [Ca2+]i responses to Ang II and LTD4. In ASMC, Ang II, ET-1 and AVP evoked [Ca2+]i responses were significantly higher in the cultured ASMC isolated from spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) compared to ASMC derived from age-matched normotensive Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) strain. Addition of either MK571 or BAY u9773, reduced the Emax values to Ang II (but not to ET-1and AVP) in both strains. While BAY u9773 abolished the [Ca2+]i responses evoked by both LTD4 and LTC4, MK571, the CysLT1 antagonist reduced the responses evoked by LTD4 but not LTC4. The basal CysLT levels were higher in the ASMC of SHR. Ang II but not ET-1 and AVP evoked time and concentration dependent increases in CysLT levels in ASMC of both WKY and SHR strains. The AT1 selective antagonist, losartan, but not the AT2 antagonist, PD123319, attenuated the increases in [Ca2+]i and CysLT levels evoked by Ang II. The InsP3 antagonist, attenuated the [Ca2+]i responses to Ang II, LTD4 and LTC4. Both CysLT1 and CysLT2 mRNA were detected in the ASMC of either strain; but they were significantly higher in SHR. These data suggest that AT1 mediated CysLT production contributes to Ang II evoked Ca2+ mobilization in NRC and that elevated CysLT production along with increased expression of both CysLT1/CysLT2 receptors may account for the exaggerated [Ca2+]i responses to Ang II in ASMC of SHR due to enhanced mobilization of Ca2+ from InsP3 sensitive intracellular Ca2+ stores.

The eis gene of M. tuberculosis is believed to play a role in the intracellular survival of this pathogen. Significantly higher levels of antibodies to Eis were detected by ELISA in the sera of patients with tuberculosis as compared to healthy controls. PBMCs from recovered TB donors were also found to demonstrate significantly higher levels of proliferation in response to stimulation with the Eis protein than PBMCs from either active TB cases or healthy controls. Neither the active TB population nor the healthy controls showed significant levels of IFN- or IL-4 secretion in response to stimulation of PBMC with Eis or ESAT-6. Far Western analysis determined that Eis interacts with a ~65 kDa protein that localizes to the cytoplasmic fraction of M. tuberculosis lysate. Real-time PCR analysis of M. tuberculosis infected U-937 macrophages showed that the eis gene is constitutively expressed during infection. Using immunofluorescence microscopy (IF), the Eis protein was detected within the cytoplasm of M. tuberculosis infected macrophages indicating that the protein was being released/secreted from the mycobacterium containing phagosomes. Western blot analysis of the cytoplasm of macrophages infected with M. tuberculosis expressing green fluorescent protein confirmed these results. Western blot analysis also detected the presence of native Eis both in the culture supernatant of infected macrophages and vesicles released from the macrophages. IF also detected the presence of Eis in uninfected macrophages. The Eis protein in the cytoplasm of M. tuberculosis infected macrophages was also found to colocalize with EEA1, an endosomal marker, indicating a possible association of the protein with early endosomes. Eis was also shown to elicit higher levels of IL-10 secretion than PPD in human monocytes. Infection of monocytes from healthy tuberculin reactors with M. tuberculosis wild type and eis mutant demonstrated that eis plays a role in modulation of IL-10/TNF- secretion in response to infection. Bioinformatic analysis of the amino acid sequence of Eis indicates that Eis is an acetyltransferase of the GCN5 related family of N-acetyltransferases. Further work is required to determine the role Eis plays in the survival of M. tuberculosis within the macrophage.

No description available.

Graduate

[Truncated abstract] Cells need to be able to detect changes in their surrounding environment and transduce these signals into the appropriate cellular compartments. One of the major ways that the cell achieves this signal transduction is through the process of phosphorylation. Protein kinases are the enzymes responsible for catalysing this transfer of phosphate groups from ATP to amino acid residues of their specific substrates. A subfamily of serine/threonine kinases known as the Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases (MAPKs) is essential in a diverse range of cell processes including growth, metabolism, differentiation and death. The first identified MAPKs, the Extracellular Signal-Regulated Kinases (ERKs), were found to be activated in response to mitogenic stimuli such as growth factors. However, since the discovery of the ERKs, other pathways leading to the activation of related kinases have been recognised. These kinases are preferentially activated in response to stress, and are thus termed “Stress-Activated Protein Kinases” or SAPKs. They consist of the c-Jun N-terminal kinase isoforms 1, 2 and 3 (also called SAPK1γ, SAPK1α and SAPKβ respectively) and the p38 MAPKs, p38α, p38β, p38γ and p38δ (also called SAPK2a, SAPK2b, SAPK3 and SAPK4 respectively). A major challenge in this field has been to identify the substrates and functions of the SAPKs. This has been partly achieved by the development of inhibitors for the JNK MAPKs and SAPK2a/b. However, no inhibitors currently exist that specifically inhibit SAPK3 and SAPK4. Therefore, elucidating the function of these SAPKs has proved more difficult. Recent studies suggest that SAPK3 may play a unique role in the cell compared to other members of the p38 MAPK family. For example, several signalling proteins appear to specifically activate SAPK3 in certain circumstances while not activating other members of the p38 MAPK family. In addition, SAPK3 contains a unique sequence motif that allows it to bind to specialised domains known as PDZ domains. The interaction of SAPK3 with proteins containing these domains may regulate its subcellular localisation and interactions with other proteins in the cell. This project was undertaken to expand the knowledge on the expression, localisation, substrate specificity and binding partners of SAPK3. In Chapter 3 of this thesis, a SAPK3 monoclonal antibody was evaluated for its ability to specifically recognise endogenous SAPK3 protein. SAPK3 was found to be expressed in immortalised cell lines and primary cultures of neonatal rat myocytes, and to be colocalised with the mitochondria of these cells. This co-localisation remained unaltered in response to treatment with the nuclear export inhibitor Leptomycin B, and with exposure to osmotic shock, suggesting that SAPK3 substrates may be localised at the mitochondria

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:27:20Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2009-02-09Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T18:31:20Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 pavan_fr_me_arafcf.pdf: 465333 bytes, checksum: a257ef7f9c510b42345a93dc770ca838 (MD5) / Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) / Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) / O Mycobacterium tuberculosis, principal agente da tuberculose (TB), é responsável pela morte anual de dois a três milhões de pessoas no mundo e por prejuízos econômicos globais de aproximadamente 12 bilhões de dólares ao ano. Estima-se que 1/3 da população mundial esteja infectada com o bacilo na forma latente. Apesar disso, nenhuma nova droga específica contra o M. tuberculosis foi desenvolvida desde 1960. O presente trabalho objetivou a investigação do potencial anti-M. tuberculosis intra e extracelular juntamente com a citotoxicidade de 66 compostos envolvendo diferentes classes de ligantes como tiossemicarbazonas, semicarbazonas, hidrazonas, diiminas, fosfinas e bases de Schiff, juntamente com dois diferentes metais (vanádio e rutênio) formando diferentes e inéditos complexos. Para as diferentes análises biológicas in vitro, 3 técnicas já padronizadas foram utilizadas para a detecção da Concentração Inibitória Mínima (CIM), da Citotoxicidade (IC50) e da Atividade Intracelular. Dos 66 compostos analisados neste trabalho, 7 complexos contendo o rutênio, cis-[RuCl2(NO)(BPA)] (G1), cis- [Ru(pic)(dppe)2]PF6 (G6), [Ru(pic)(dppb)(bipy)]PF6 (G7), [Ru(pic)(dppb)(Mebipy)] PF6 (G8), [Ru(pic)(dppb)(Cl-bipy)]PF6 (G9), [Ru(pic)(dppb)(fen)] (G12), cis-[RuCl2(dppb)(bipy)] (G14), foram qualificados como potenciais agentes anti- TB, porque apresentaram atividade inibitória melhor do que algumas drogas comumente utilizadas no tratamento da tuberculose, baixa citotoxicidade e alta atividade inibitória intracelular. / The Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the major agent of tuberculosis (TB), is responsible for approximately 2-3 million deaths annually, with a global economic injury of approximately $12 billion per year. It is estimated that 1/3 of the worldwide population are infected with the latent form bacilli. Although, no new specific drug against M. tuberculosis was developed since 1960. The objective of this study was the investigation of intra and extracellular anti-M. tuberculosis activity and cytotoxicity of 66 compounds involving different class of ligants as thiosemicarbazones, semicarbazones, hydrazones, diimines, phosphines and Schiff bases with two different metals (vanadium and ruthenium) resulting different and unknown complexes. For the different biologicals in vitro analyses, three standardized techniques had been used for the detection of the Minimal Inhibitory Concentration (MIC), Cytotoxicity (IC50) and Intracellular Activity. Of 66 compounds analyzed in this study, 7 complexes containing the ruthenium, cis-[RuCl2(NO)(BPA)] (G1), cis-[Ru(pic)(dppe)2]PF6 (G6), [Ru(pic)(dppb)(bipy)]PF6 (G7), [Ru(pic)(dppb)(Me-bipy)]PF6 (G8), [Ru(pic)(dppb)(Cl-bipy)]PF6 (G9), [Ru(pic)(dppb)(fen)] (G12), cis- [RuCl2(dppb)(bipy)] (G14), were qualified as potential anti-TB agents, because they presented inhibitory activity better than some drugs commonly used in the TB treatment, low cytotoxicity and high intracellular inhibitory activity.

Abstract Stretch of the cardiac muscle activates several physiological processes leading to changes in the function of the muscle. These changes include increase of the contraction force accompanied by changes in the intracellular calcium concentration. This phenomenon is known as Frank-Starling relation of the heart. In addition to this, stretch also influences the membrane voltage of individual myocytes predisposing the cardiac muscle to arrhythmias. In atrial muscle stretch augments the secretion of the atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP). Although several cellular components are known to be sensitive to mechanical stimulus the precise mechanisms participating to these stretch-induced changes are not known in detail. Further it is not known if these changes are causally related or if they share a common causal factor. This research was aimed to study the stretch-induced changes in the rat atrium. The possible interactive mechanisms were studied by recording intracellular action potentials, changes in the intracellular calcium concentration, contraction force and ANP secretion during stretch. The plausible mechanosensitive cellular components were incorporated into a mathematical model that was used to further study the mechanisms. The role of intracellular acidosis as a possible modulator of the mechanotransduction was of special interest. In isolated rat left atrium moderate stretch produced by increasing the intra-atrial pressure increased the contraction force in a biphasic manner. The immediate increase of the force was caused by altered properties of the contractile element, but the following slow increase was accompanied by an increase of the Ca2+ transient. These changes were followed by lengthening of the late phase of action potentials and augmented secretion of the ANP. Intensive sustained stretch was also found to induce delayed afterdepolarizations (DADs). Gadolinium (Gd3+), blocker of stretch-activated ion channels reduced the stretch-dependent activation of the contraction and inhibited the stretch-induced DADs. The mathematical model simulated the experimental findings at best when stretch-activated channel (SA-channel) activation and increased troponin-C affinity were used to mimic the stretch. The modelling data suggested that the SA-channel current increases the sarcoplasmic reticulum calcium content in a time dependent manner leading to Ca2+ transient augmentation during systole. Bigger Ca2+ transients induce a depolarizing current during the late phase of the action potential (AP) repolarization via the Na+/Ca2+ exchanger causing the lengthening of the action potentials. A small reduction of the intracellular pH (0.18 units) with 20 mM propionate was found to modulate the stretch-induced changes in the rat atrium. Acidosis leads to an increase in the diastolic [Ca2+]i during stretch, inhibits the stretch-induced changes in action potentials and slows down the contraction development during stretch by inhibiting the fast component of the force increase. These changes in E-C-coupling (excitation-contraction-coupling) were accompanied by a simultaneous augmentation of the ANP secretion. Furthermore, it was shown that contraction force and diastolic [Ca2+]i of the stretched tissue are more sensitive to acidosis than in non-stretched tissue. In conclusion, the stretch-induced changes in rat atrial myocytes are mediated by at least two mechanisms; stretch-activated Ca2+ influx and change in the properties of the contractile element. The action potential changes can be largely explained by modulation of the membrane voltage by intracellular calcium via Na+/Ca2+-exchanger. The co-occurrence of the changes in the [Ca2+]i and ANP secretion suggests that the stretch-induced ANP secretion can be mediated by [Ca2+]i.

Listeria monocytogenes (L. monocytogenes) are Gram-positive, facultatively anaerobic and intracellular bacilli, occupying a wide range of ecological niches and are responsible for a number of serious infections in man. Primarily transmitted to humans through contaminated food stocks, L. monocytogenes invade mammalian cells in a phagosome, escaping and growing in the cell cytoplasm. Currently, there is a great deal of information about pathogenesis of L. monocytogenes, however, much less is known about the physiology of the bacteria. In particular, very little is known about the physiology during intracellular growth and even less about host cell physiology and changes in response to infection. The focus of this research was to address these issues using a multidisciplinary approach, utilising multiple biological techniques. The catabolic metabolism of L.monocytogenes was elucidated using mutagenesis and protein purification studies. The results are not completely conclusive; however, it was shown that unlike in Escherichia coli, L.moncytogenes may not be dependent on fermentation enzymes Ldh and Pflb during anaerobic growth. Instead anaerobic respiration is hypothesised, utilising a putative fumarate reductase with fumarate as a terminal electron acceptor. The putative fumarate reductase gene was purified and confirmed to have enzymatic activity.External and internal metabolism of HeLa cells, and the effect of L.monocytogenes infection was elucidated by mass spectrometry. The external metabolomic studies proved inconclusive. The internal metabolomic studies show that a number of key amino acids are being sequestered by L.monocytogenes during the course of an infection. Also, the studies show that a large number of carbon compounds are being sequestered by L.monocytogenes, pointing to a complex carbon metabolism for L.monocytogenes during intracellular growth. A targeted analysis of the nitrogen metabolism of L.monocytogenes has shown that L.monocytogenes may utilise a number of nitrogen compounds with glutamine and glutamate being particularly important. The ability to synthesise glutamine de novo is shown to be essential for normal intracellular growth.

A survey was conducted, from 2001 to 2004, of viruses spreading within certified grapevine material in South Africa. As far as possible, viruses were identified and detection methods established. However, unknown spherical virus-like particles were observed in samples that also contained Grapevine Leafroll Associated Virus-Type 3. The unknown spherical particles were thought to most likely be Grapevine Fleck Virus, which was previously found in South Africa. A PCR method to be used locally for the routine detection of Grapevine Fleck Virus was established and first used to determine whether any of the greenhouse and field samples with the unknown spherical viruses were infected with Grapevine Fleck Virus. During the 2001 to 2004 survey, plants with leafroll and reddening symptoms unlike classical grapevine leafroll disease were also observed. No grapevine leafroll-associated viruses could be detected in these, but the symptoms observed resembled symptoms induced by phytoplasmas in Europe. A PCR method for the routine universal detection of phytoplasmas was established and this method was used to determine if phytoplasmas were associated with the symptomatic plants found. Sequence information from PCR amplicons suggest the presence of Candidatus phytoplasma solani, found for the first time in South Africa. This important finding however requires conformation by a second laboratory. / Dissertation (MSc (Microbiology))--University of Pretoria, 2010. / Microbiology and Plant Pathology / unrestricted