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La peau est un « avant poste » fascinant du système immunitaire. Elle forme une barrière entre l'environnement extérieur et l’organisme. Elle est aussi le point d'entrée pour les agents pathogènes, contre lesquels le système immunitaire organise des réponses adaptatives. Les acteurs de l'immunité innée de la peau contrôlent l'invasion des pathogènes et perçoivent également des changements environnementaux physiques et chimiques directs. Plusieurs composants du système immunitaire, tels que des cellules dendritiques (DCs), les macrophages (MΦ) et les mastocytes (MCs), participent à l'éradication des pathogènes et à l'initiation des réponses mémoires adaptatives. Ce qui permet une mobilisation rapide des cellules T effectrices ainsi que la sécrétion des anticorps par les cellules B à la suite d’une seconde exposition aux agents pathogènes. Les MCs qui sont des cellules résidentes du derme, jouent un rôle déterminant dans la libération de signaux d’alertes et sont classiquement considérés comme des cellules effectrices de la réaction allergique cutanée liée à l'IgE. Plusieurs observations récentes indiquent que les MCs seraient aussi impliqués dans les processus immunorégulateurs lors de l'initiation des réponses immunitaires adaptatives, dans le maintien de la tolérance périphérique aux composants de la peau et dans la régénération de la peau au cours des processus de cicatrisation. Cependant, les interactions entre les MCs et d'autres cellules immunitaires innées et adaptatives recrutées dans des conditions inflammatoires cutanées n'ont pas été élucidées en détail. Dans ce travail, nous décrivons l'utilisation d'une nouvelle souris possédant des MCs fluorescents (RMB), dans laquelle nous avons marqué les MCs FcεRI+ avec un marqueur fluorescent rouge tomato (TdT) et avec un système d'ablation conditionnelle basé sur l'expression concurrente du récepteur de la toxine diphtérique (DTR). Avec ces souris RMB, nous avons visualisé la dynamique des MCs et nous avons suivi les interactions entre les MCs et les lymphocytes T régulateurs (Tregs) après l'activation des MCs par l'IgE, dans une réaction inflammatoire typique de l'anaphylaxie cutanée passive (PCA). Dans un second volet d’étude, nous avons évalué le rôle des MCs lors d'un modèle expérimental de la greffe de peau de l'oreille, afin de révéler leur influence dans la cinétique de rejet ou prise de greffe du transplant. Nous avons constaté que 1) l'activation et la dégranulation des MCs induites par le pontage du récepteur FcεRI via des IgE couplées à un antigène multivalent sont les seules responsables de la réaction de PCA, et induisent le recrutement de Tregs ayant une grande motilité sur le site de l'inflammation. Nous avons constaté dans ces conditions, que les MCs restent immobiles, et que les Tregs établissent des contacts dynamiques avec les MCs dans le derme. 2) En outre, nous avons mis en place un modèle pour identifier les paramètres moléculaires de l'interaction MC-Treg et avons constaté que le complexe de l'antigène avec l'IgE peut être présenté aux Tregs en association avec les molécules du complexe majeur d'histocompatibilité de classe II, permettant la formation des contacts stables MC-Treg. 3) En utilisant un modèle de transplantation de la peau in vivo, nous avons montré que l'ablation conditionnelle des MCs conduit à une accélération du rejet du greffon dans le cas d'une transplantation en présence d’une disparité d’antigènes d’histocompatibilité mineurs depuis une souris mâle sur une souris femelle. Nous avons également constaté un impact inattendu de l'ablation des MCs dans la greffe de peau en l’absence de disparité antigénique d'une souris femelle sur une souris femelle, conduisant à un rejet rapide. Les MCs semblent donc être essentiels pour la cicatrisation et la régénération tissulaire après greffe. (...) / The skin is a fascinating outpost of the immune system. It performs a barrier function between the outside environment and the inner body and is also a port of entry for pathogens against which the immune system mounts adapted responses. The skin innate immune defenses control pathogen invasion and perceive also direct physical and chemical environmental changes. Several component of the immune system such as dendritic cells (DC), macrophages (MΦ) and mast cells (MC) participate in initial pathogen clearance and in initiating adaptive memory responses, allowing rapid mobilization of effector T cells and secretion of B cellderived antibodies after secondary pathogen challenge. MCs residing in the dermis exert a determinant alert function through the liberation of various factors and are classically considered as effector cells in the IgE-mediated cutaneous allergic reaction. As emerging now, MC are also involved in immunoregulatory processes during the initiation of adaptive immune responses, the maintenance of peripheral tolerance to skin components and skin regeneration during wound healing. Yet, the crosstalks between MCs and other innate and adaptive immune cells recruited during cutaneous inflammatory conditions have not been elucidated in detail. Here, we report the use of a novel Mast cell fluorescent reporter mouse (RMB), in which we tagged FcεRI+ MCs, with red fluorescence marker tomato (Tdt) and with a conditional ablation system based on concurrent diphtheria toxin receptor (DTR) expression. Using these RMB mice, we visualized MC dynamics and monitored MC interactions with regulatory T lymphocytes (Tregs) after IgE-mediated activation of MCs, in a typical passive cutaneous anaphylaxis (PCA) inflammatory reaction. Using another setting, we further assessed the role of MC during experimental ear skin grafting to reveal their potential influence in skin grafting and rejection. We found that 1) the activation and degranulation of MCs induced by FcεRI crosslinking by multivalent IgE is solely responsible for the PCA reaction and induces the recruitment of highly motile regulatory T cells (Tregs) to the site of inflammation. In these conditions, we found that MC remain sessile and Tregs establish dynamic contacts with MC in the dermis. 2) Further we set up a model system to reveal the molecular requirement for MC-Treg interaction and found that antigen complexed with IgE were able to be presented to Treg in association with major histocompatibility complex class II molecules allowing the formation of stable MC-Treg contacts. 3) Using in vivo skin transplantation model, we showed that conditional ablation of MCs leads to an acceleration of skin transplant rejection in sex-mismatched model (male skin transplant to female). We also found an unexpected impact of MC conditional ablation in sex-matched skin graft (female skin transplant to female) leading to rapid rejection, implying that MCs are essential for the wound healing reaction and the regeneration of tissue continuity after grafting. The aforementioned results point out to an important immunoregulatory role of MC beyond their classically described activator functions in inflamed tissues. The fact that MC constantly interact with Treg during inflammatory processes suggest that MCs could participate in skin homeostasis by exerting tolerogenic functions. These functions remain to be elucidated at the molecular level as presented in the discussion.

La peau est un « avant poste » fascinant du système immunitaire. Elle forme une barrière entre l'environnement extérieur et l’organisme. Elle est aussi le point d'entrée pour les agents pathogènes, contre lesquels le système immunitaire organise des réponses adaptatives. Les acteurs de l'immunité innée de la peau contrôlent l'invasion des pathogènes et perçoivent également des changements environnementaux physiques et chimiques directs. Plusieurs composants du système immunitaire, tels que des cellules dendritiques (DCs), les macrophages (MΦ) et les mastocytes (MCs), participent à l'éradication des pathogènes et à l'initiation des réponses mémoires adaptatives. Ce qui permet une mobilisation rapide des cellules T effectrices ainsi que la sécrétion des anticorps par les cellules B à la suite d’une seconde exposition aux agents pathogènes. Les MCs qui sont des cellules résidentes du derme, jouent un rôle déterminant dans la libération de signaux d’alertes et sont classiquement considérés comme des cellules effectrices de la réaction allergique cutanée liée à l'IgE. Plusieurs observations récentes indiquent que les MCs seraient aussi impliqués dans les processus immunorégulateurs lors de l'initiation des réponses immunitaires adaptatives, dans le maintien de la tolérance périphérique aux composants de la peau et dans la régénération de la peau au cours des processus de cicatrisation. Cependant, les interactions entre les MCs et d'autres cellules immunitaires innées et adaptatives recrutées dans des conditions inflammatoires cutanées n'ont pas été élucidées en détail. Dans ce travail, nous décrivons l'utilisation d'une nouvelle souris possédant des MCs fluorescents (RMB), dans laquelle nous avons marqué les MCs FcεRI+ avec un marqueur fluorescent rouge tomato (TdT) et avec un système d'ablation conditionnelle basé sur l'expression concurrente du récepteur de la toxine diphtérique (DTR). Avec ces souris RMB, nous avons visualisé la dynamique des MCs et nous avons suivi les interactions entre les MCs et les lymphocytes T régulateurs (Tregs) après l'activation des MCs par l'IgE, dans une réaction inflammatoire typique de l'anaphylaxie cutanée passive (PCA). Dans un second volet d’étude, nous avons évalué le rôle des MCs lors d'un modèle expérimental de la greffe de peau de l'oreille, afin de révéler leur influence dans la cinétique de rejet ou prise de greffe du transplant. Nous avons constaté que 1) l'activation et la dégranulation des MCs induites par le pontage du récepteur FcεRI via des IgE couplées à un antigène multivalent sont les seules responsables de la réaction de PCA, et induisent le recrutement de Tregs ayant une grande motilité sur le site de l'inflammation. Nous avons constaté dans ces conditions, que les MCs restent immobiles, et que les Tregs établissent des contacts dynamiques avec les MCs dans le derme. 2) En outre, nous avons mis en place un modèle pour identifier les paramètres moléculaires de l'interaction MC-Treg et avons constaté que le complexe de l'antigène avec l'IgE peut être présenté aux Tregs en association avec les molécules du complexe majeur d'histocompatibilité de classe II, permettant la formation des contacts stables MC-Treg. 3) En utilisant un modèle de transplantation de la peau in vivo, nous avons montré que l'ablation conditionnelle des MCs conduit à une accélération du rejet du greffon dans le cas d'une transplantation en présence d’une disparité d’antigènes d’histocompatibilité mineurs depuis une souris mâle sur une souris femelle. Nous avons également constaté un impact inattendu de l'ablation des MCs dans la greffe de peau en l’absence de disparité antigénique d'une souris femelle sur une souris femelle, conduisant à un rejet rapide. Les MCs semblent donc être essentiels pour la cicatrisation et la régénération tissulaire après greffe. (...) / The skin is a fascinating outpost of the immune system. It performs a barrier function between the outside environment and the inner body and is also a port of entry for pathogens against which the immune system mounts adapted responses. The skin innate immune defenses control pathogen invasion and perceive also direct physical and chemical environmental changes. Several component of the immune system such as dendritic cells (DC), macrophages (MΦ) and mast cells (MC) participate in initial pathogen clearance and in initiating adaptive memory responses, allowing rapid mobilization of effector T cells and secretion of B cellderived antibodies after secondary pathogen challenge. MCs residing in the dermis exert a determinant alert function through the liberation of various factors and are classically considered as effector cells in the IgE-mediated cutaneous allergic reaction. As emerging now, MC are also involved in immunoregulatory processes during the initiation of adaptive immune responses, the maintenance of peripheral tolerance to skin components and skin regeneration during wound healing. Yet, the crosstalks between MCs and other innate and adaptive immune cells recruited during cutaneous inflammatory conditions have not been elucidated in detail. Here, we report the use of a novel Mast cell fluorescent reporter mouse (RMB), in which we tagged FcεRI+ MCs, with red fluorescence marker tomato (Tdt) and with a conditional ablation system based on concurrent diphtheria toxin receptor (DTR) expression. Using these RMB mice, we visualized MC dynamics and monitored MC interactions with regulatory T lymphocytes (Tregs) after IgE-mediated activation of MCs, in a typical passive cutaneous anaphylaxis (PCA) inflammatory reaction. Using another setting, we further assessed the role of MC during experimental ear skin grafting to reveal their potential influence in skin grafting and rejection. We found that 1) the activation and degranulation of MCs induced by FcεRI crosslinking by multivalent IgE is solely responsible for the PCA reaction and induces the recruitment of highly motile regulatory T cells (Tregs) to the site of inflammation. In these conditions, we found that MC remain sessile and Tregs establish dynamic contacts with MC in the dermis. 2) Further we set up a model system to reveal the molecular requirement for MC-Treg interaction and found that antigen complexed with IgE were able to be presented to Treg in association with major histocompatibility complex class II molecules allowing the formation of stable MC-Treg contacts. 3) Using in vivo skin transplantation model, we showed that conditional ablation of MCs leads to an acceleration of skin transplant rejection in sex-mismatched model (male skin transplant to female). We also found an unexpected impact of MC conditional ablation in sex-matched skin graft (female skin transplant to female) leading to rapid rejection, implying that MCs are essential for the wound healing reaction and the regeneration of tissue continuity after grafting. The aforementioned results point out to an important immunoregulatory role of MC beyond their classically described activator functions in inflamed tissues. The fact that MC constantly interact with Treg during inflammatory processes suggest that MCs could participate in skin homeostasis by exerting tolerogenic functions. These functions remain to be elucidated at the molecular level as presented in the discussion.

L’hémostase est un processus physiologique permettant de préserver l’intégrité du système vasculaire et de prévenir une perte de sang en réponse à une blessure. En situation pathologique, comme dans le cas de cancers, d’infections ou de maladies cardiovasculaires, il peut y avoir activation de la cascade de coagulation entraînant la formation d’un thrombus.Dans cette étude, nous avons utilisé la microscopie intravitale dans un modèle de blessure au rayon laser pour comprendre les mécanismes cellulaires et moléculaires mis en jeu dans la formation d’un thrombus plaquettaire en conditions physiologiques et pathologiques lors du développement d’un cancer. La première partie de ce travail a consisté à décrire l’implication des polynucléaires neutrophiles dans la formation d’un thrombus. Nous montrons que les neutrophiles sont les premières cellules à s’accumuler au niveau du site de blessure et représentent la principale source de facteur tissulaire menant à la génération de fibrine et à la formation du thrombus. Ces neutrophiles sont nécessaires au recrutement de cellules endothéliales progénitrices (Endothelial colony- forming cells, ECFCs), qui sont des cellules capables de jouer un rôle important dans la réparation vasculaire. Dans une seconde partie, nous avons déterminé, dans des modèles murins adaptés, l’implication de l’activation du FT et des plaquettes dans la thrombose associée au cancer. En conclusion, notre travail donne de nouvelles perspectives dans la compréhension du rôle pathophysiologique des neutrophiles, des cellules progénitrices endothéliales et des plaquettes. / Hemostasis is a physiological process to preserve the integrity of the vascular system and to prevent blood loss in response to injury. In pathological conditions, such as cancers, infections or cardiovascular diseases, the blood coagulation cascade can be activated, leading to the formation of a platelet thrombus.Using a laser-injury model coupled with a high-definition, high-speed camera, we explored the cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in thrombus formation in physiological and in pathological conditions associated with the development of a cancer. The first part of this work describes the role of polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs) in thrombus formation. We show that PMNs are the first cells to accumulate at the site of injury and represent the main source of blood-borne tissue factor (TF), leading to the generation of fibrin and thrombus formation. We also show that once present at the site of injury, PMNs recruit Endothelial Progenitor Cells (endothelial colony-forming cells, ECFCs), which play a key role in vascular repair. The second part of this work we determined, in dedicated mouse models, the involvement of TF and platelet activation in thrombosis associated with cancer. Together, our findings provide new perspectives in the understanding of the pathophysiological role of polymorphonuclear neutrophils, Endothelial Progenitor Cells and platelets.

Além dos receptores no sistema nervoso central (SNC), acoplados a receptores GABAA (CBR - central benzodiazepine receptor), outros sítios periféricos de ligação para os benzodiazepínicos (BDZ) foram descritos e denominados de \"periféricos\" (PBR peripheral benzodiazepine receptor) ou TSPO - Translocator protein. Sua função como modulador do sistema imune tem sido proposta, com a participação, pelo menos em parte, de glicocorticóides endógenos (GE). No entanto, os mecanismos da modulação dos TSPO sobre o processo inflamatório e a relação destes receptores com os GE ainda não estão totalmente estabelecidos. Desta forma, este trabalho visou investigar os efeitos de dois ligantes sintéticos de TSPO, um benzodiazepínico, Ro5-4864, e uma isoquinolona carboxamida, PK 11195, e suas relações com os GE, sobre os eventos da migração leucocitária. Para tanto, ratos Wistar machos foram tratados in vivo com RU 38486 (antagonista de receptor de GE) ou com veículo e, adicionalmente, os ligantes de TSPO, Ro5-4864 e/ou PK 11195, foram aplicados topicamente sobre a microcirculação do mesentério dos animais para avaliação do comportamento rolling e aderência de leucócitos, por microscopia intravital, em condições basais ou após estimulação pelo peptídeo formil-metionil-leucilfenilalanina (fMLP). Leucócitos periféricos foram coletados e tratados in vitro com os ligantes de TSPO para avaliação da expressão de moléculas de adesão, quimiotaxia e influxo de cálcio em condições basais ou após estimulação pelo fMLP. Ainda, culturas primárias de células endoteliais da microcirculação de ratos foram tratadas in vitro com os ligantes de TSPO para avaliação da expressão de moléculas de adesão em condições basais ou após estimulação pelo lipopolisacarídeo de E.coli (LPS). Os resultados obtidos mostraram que: 1) o ligante de TSPO, Ro5-4864, alterou a ação do fMLP, uma vez que inibiu a diminuição do rolling, o aumento de células aderentes, a clivagem de L-selectina, o aumento de expressão de PECAM-1 (platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule), a quimiotaxia e o influxo de cálcio em neutrófilos; não afetou a expressão de PECAM-1 e ICAM-1 (intracellular cell adhesion molecule) induzida pelo LPS em células endoteliais; 2) o PK 11195 aumentou o influxo de cálcio e a quimiotaxia de neutrófilos induzido pelo fMLP; 3) a co-administração dos ligantes de TSPO, Ro5-4864 e PK 11195, reverteu os efeitos do Ro5-4864 sobre a expressão de L-selectina e PECAM-1, o influxo de cálcio e a quimiotaxia de neutrófilos. A possível inter-relação dos TSPO e GE foi verificada uma vez que o Ro5-4864 inibiu o aumento do número de leucócitos rolling e aderidos à parede vascular in vivo causado pelo tratamento com RU 38486; inibiu o aumento da expressão de L-selectina em neutrófilos e de β2-integrina presente em linfócitos e de PECAM-1 em neutrófilos. Ainda, foi verificado que neutrófilos possuem expressões de TSPO maiores que linfócitos e células endoteliais e que esta expressão é aumentada em neutrófilos pela ação do fMLP. Em conjunto, os resultados obtidos neste trabalho sugerem que os ligantes de TSPO modulam diferentemente as funções de adesão e mobilidade de leucócitos e de adesão da célula endotelial e que uma relação alostérica de agonismo/antagonismo entre estes pode ser sugerida. Adicionalmente, os resultados mostram uma possível relação entre os TSPO e os receptores de citoplasmáticos de GE no controle da interação leucócito-endotélio. / Besides central benzodiazepine receptor (CBR) found on central nervous system (CNS) coupled to GABAA, another binding site for benzodiazepines was described and named peripheral benzodiazepine receptor (PBR) or Translocator protein (TSPO). The mainly function described to this TSPO is steroidogenesis. Additionally, its function as an immune modulator has been proposed with the involvement, at least in part, of endogenous glucocorticoids (EG). However, mechanisms of TSPO modulation on inflammatory process and the relation between the receptor and EG has not been totally established. This study aimed investigates effects of two synthetic TSPO ligands, a benzodiazepine, Ro5-4864, and an isoquinoline carboxamide, PK 11195, and their relation with EG on leukocyte migration. For this purpose, male Wistar rats were in vivo treated with RU 38486 (EG antagonist receptor) or vehicle and, in addition, TSPO ligands, Ro5-4864 and/or PK 11195, were topically applied on animal mesentery microcirculation to evaluate leukocyte rolling and adhesion, by intravital microscopy, under basal conditions or after stimulation by N-formyl-methionine-leucine-phenylalanine (fMLP). In addition, peripheral leukocytes were collected and in vitro treated with TSPO ligands to evaluate adhesion molecules expression, chemotaxis and calcium influx. Endothelial cells obtained from cremaster muscle were in vitro treated with TSPO ligands to evaluate adhesion molecules expression under basal conditions or after stimulation by lipopolysaccharide from E.coli (LPS). Our results showed that: 1) TSPO ligand, Ro5-4864, altered the fMLP action since TSPO ligand inhibited the decrease of rolling, the increase of adherent cells, L-selectin cleavage, the increase of PECAM-1 expression, neutrophil chemotaxis and calcium influx; did not affect expression of PECAM-1 and ICAM-1 induced by LPS on endothelial cells; 2) PK 11195 increased fMLP-induced neutrophil calcium influx and chemotaxis; 3) co-administration of TSPO ligands, Ro5-4864 and PK 11195, reverted Ro5-4864 effects on L-selectin and PECAM-1 expression, neutrophil and calcium influx, as well as PECAM-1 and ICAM-1 expression on endothelial cells; 3) a possible inter-relation between TSPO and EG was observed since Ro5-4864 inhibited the increase of in vivo leukocyte rolling and adhesion induced by RU 38486 in vivo treatment; it inhibited the increase of neutrophil L-selectin, lymphocyte β2-integrin and leukocyte PECAM-1 expressions; 4) It was showed that neutrophil have more TSPO than lymphocytes and endothelial cells, and this expression is increased by fMLP stimulation. Taken together, our results suggest that TSPO ligands differently modulate leukocyte adhesion and motility functions and endothelial cells adhesion, and further, they suggest an allosteric agonist/antagonist relation. Additionally, they showed a relation between TSPO and EG cytoplasmic receptor on the control of leukocyte-endothelial interaction.

Além dos receptores no sistema nervoso central (SNC), acoplados a receptores GABAA (CBR - central benzodiazepine receptor), outros sítios periféricos de ligação para os benzodiazepínicos (BDZ) foram descritos e denominados de \"periféricos\" (PBR peripheral benzodiazepine receptor) ou TSPO - Translocator protein. Sua função como modulador do sistema imune tem sido proposta, com a participação, pelo menos em parte, de glicocorticóides endógenos (GE). No entanto, os mecanismos da modulação dos TSPO sobre o processo inflamatório e a relação destes receptores com os GE ainda não estão totalmente estabelecidos. Desta forma, este trabalho visou investigar os efeitos de dois ligantes sintéticos de TSPO, um benzodiazepínico, Ro5-4864, e uma isoquinolona carboxamida, PK 11195, e suas relações com os GE, sobre os eventos da migração leucocitária. Para tanto, ratos Wistar machos foram tratados in vivo com RU 38486 (antagonista de receptor de GE) ou com veículo e, adicionalmente, os ligantes de TSPO, Ro5-4864 e/ou PK 11195, foram aplicados topicamente sobre a microcirculação do mesentério dos animais para avaliação do comportamento rolling e aderência de leucócitos, por microscopia intravital, em condições basais ou após estimulação pelo peptídeo formil-metionil-leucilfenilalanina (fMLP). Leucócitos periféricos foram coletados e tratados in vitro com os ligantes de TSPO para avaliação da expressão de moléculas de adesão, quimiotaxia e influxo de cálcio em condições basais ou após estimulação pelo fMLP. Ainda, culturas primárias de células endoteliais da microcirculação de ratos foram tratadas in vitro com os ligantes de TSPO para avaliação da expressão de moléculas de adesão em condições basais ou após estimulação pelo lipopolisacarídeo de E.coli (LPS). Os resultados obtidos mostraram que: 1) o ligante de TSPO, Ro5-4864, alterou a ação do fMLP, uma vez que inibiu a diminuição do rolling, o aumento de células aderentes, a clivagem de L-selectina, o aumento de expressão de PECAM-1 (platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule), a quimiotaxia e o influxo de cálcio em neutrófilos; não afetou a expressão de PECAM-1 e ICAM-1 (intracellular cell adhesion molecule) induzida pelo LPS em células endoteliais; 2) o PK 11195 aumentou o influxo de cálcio e a quimiotaxia de neutrófilos induzido pelo fMLP; 3) a co-administração dos ligantes de TSPO, Ro5-4864 e PK 11195, reverteu os efeitos do Ro5-4864 sobre a expressão de L-selectina e PECAM-1, o influxo de cálcio e a quimiotaxia de neutrófilos. A possível inter-relação dos TSPO e GE foi verificada uma vez que o Ro5-4864 inibiu o aumento do número de leucócitos rolling e aderidos à parede vascular in vivo causado pelo tratamento com RU 38486; inibiu o aumento da expressão de L-selectina em neutrófilos e de β2-integrina presente em linfócitos e de PECAM-1 em neutrófilos. Ainda, foi verificado que neutrófilos possuem expressões de TSPO maiores que linfócitos e células endoteliais e que esta expressão é aumentada em neutrófilos pela ação do fMLP. Em conjunto, os resultados obtidos neste trabalho sugerem que os ligantes de TSPO modulam diferentemente as funções de adesão e mobilidade de leucócitos e de adesão da célula endotelial e que uma relação alostérica de agonismo/antagonismo entre estes pode ser sugerida. Adicionalmente, os resultados mostram uma possível relação entre os TSPO e os receptores de citoplasmáticos de GE no controle da interação leucócito-endotélio. / Besides central benzodiazepine receptor (CBR) found on central nervous system (CNS) coupled to GABAA, another binding site for benzodiazepines was described and named peripheral benzodiazepine receptor (PBR) or Translocator protein (TSPO). The mainly function described to this TSPO is steroidogenesis. Additionally, its function as an immune modulator has been proposed with the involvement, at least in part, of endogenous glucocorticoids (EG). However, mechanisms of TSPO modulation on inflammatory process and the relation between the receptor and EG has not been totally established. This study aimed investigates effects of two synthetic TSPO ligands, a benzodiazepine, Ro5-4864, and an isoquinoline carboxamide, PK 11195, and their relation with EG on leukocyte migration. For this purpose, male Wistar rats were in vivo treated with RU 38486 (EG antagonist receptor) or vehicle and, in addition, TSPO ligands, Ro5-4864 and/or PK 11195, were topically applied on animal mesentery microcirculation to evaluate leukocyte rolling and adhesion, by intravital microscopy, under basal conditions or after stimulation by N-formyl-methionine-leucine-phenylalanine (fMLP). In addition, peripheral leukocytes were collected and in vitro treated with TSPO ligands to evaluate adhesion molecules expression, chemotaxis and calcium influx. Endothelial cells obtained from cremaster muscle were in vitro treated with TSPO ligands to evaluate adhesion molecules expression under basal conditions or after stimulation by lipopolysaccharide from E.coli (LPS). Our results showed that: 1) TSPO ligand, Ro5-4864, altered the fMLP action since TSPO ligand inhibited the decrease of rolling, the increase of adherent cells, L-selectin cleavage, the increase of PECAM-1 expression, neutrophil chemotaxis and calcium influx; did not affect expression of PECAM-1 and ICAM-1 induced by LPS on endothelial cells; 2) PK 11195 increased fMLP-induced neutrophil calcium influx and chemotaxis; 3) co-administration of TSPO ligands, Ro5-4864 and PK 11195, reverted Ro5-4864 effects on L-selectin and PECAM-1 expression, neutrophil and calcium influx, as well as PECAM-1 and ICAM-1 expression on endothelial cells; 3) a possible inter-relation between TSPO and EG was observed since Ro5-4864 inhibited the increase of in vivo leukocyte rolling and adhesion induced by RU 38486 in vivo treatment; it inhibited the increase of neutrophil L-selectin, lymphocyte β2-integrin and leukocyte PECAM-1 expressions; 4) It was showed that neutrophil have more TSPO than lymphocytes and endothelial cells, and this expression is increased by fMLP stimulation. Taken together, our results suggest that TSPO ligands differently modulate leukocyte adhesion and motility functions and endothelial cells adhesion, and further, they suggest an allosteric agonist/antagonist relation. Additionally, they showed a relation between TSPO and EG cytoplasmic receptor on the control of leukocyte-endothelial interaction.

Acute lung injury is marked by profound neutrophil influx along with fluid accumulation that impairs lung function at the cost of high mortality (up to 40%). Neutrophils are activated and their constitutive apoptosis is inhibited during this phase in order to be competent phagocytes over the next few hours. Activated neutrophils release copious amounts of toxic mediators that cause tissue damage leading to impaired barrier function and finally, impaired lung function. Therefore, one of the critical needs is to identify molecules that regulate neutrophil migration and silence activated neutrophils to prevent exuberant tissue damage. Angiostatin is an anti-angiogenic molecule highly expressed in lavage fluid of patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome. Angiostatin has recently been shown to inhibit neutrophil infiltration in mice peritonitis. However, the role of angiostatin in modulating neutrophil physiology and lung inflammation remains unknown. I studied the role of angiostatin, an anti-angiogenic molecule, in neutrophil activation and recruitment <i>in vivo</i> and <i>in vitro</i>. Angiostatin was endocytosed only by activated neutrophils, inhibited neutrophil polarity in fMLP-activated neutrophils probably through integrin &alpha;_V&beta;₃, and inhibited MAPK signalling in LPS-activated neutrophils. Angiostatin suppressed formation of reactive oxygen species and activated caspase-3 in neutrophils in both pre-and post-LPS treatments. Finally, angiostatin reduced adhesion and emigration of neutrophils in post-capillary venules of TNF&alpha;-treated cremaster muscle. The next study was designed to investigate the role of angiostatin in acute lung injury. I used <i>E. coli</i> lipopolysaccharide induced acute lung injury mouse model to test the effects of angiostatin through analyses of bronchoalveolar lavage and lung tissues. In addition, I made novel use of synchrotron diffraction enhanced imaging of mouse lungs to assess lung area and contrast ratios over 9 hours as surrogates for lung inflammation. Subcutaneous treatment with angiostatin reduced neutrophil influx, protein accumulation, lung Gr1+ neutrophils and myeloperoxidase activity, phosphorylated p38 MAPK without affecting the levels of MIP-1&alpha;, IL-1&beta;, KC and MCP-1 in lavage and lung homogenates. Diffraction enhanced imaging showed that angiostatin causes a time-dependent improvement in lung area and lung contrast ratios that reflect improvement in lung edema. Overall, the study shows that angiostatin is a novel inhibitor of acute lung injury in mice. Moreover, DEI offers a highly useful technique in evaluating dynamics of lung inflammation and to investigate the therapeutic impact of new drugs on lung inflammation. I conclude that angiostatin is a novel inhibitor of neutrophil migration, activation and acute lung injury.

Acute lung injury is marked by profound neutrophil influx along with fluid accumulation that impairs lung function at the cost of high mortality (up to 40%). Neutrophils are activated and their constitutive apoptosis is inhibited during this phase in order to be competent phagocytes over the next few hours. Activated neutrophils release copious amounts of toxic mediators that cause tissue damage leading to impaired barrier function and finally, impaired lung function. Therefore, one of the critical needs is to identify molecules that regulate neutrophil migration and silence activated neutrophils to prevent exuberant tissue damage. Angiostatin is an anti-angiogenic molecule highly expressed in lavage fluid of patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome. Angiostatin has recently been shown to inhibit neutrophil infiltration in mice peritonitis. However, the role of angiostatin in modulating neutrophil physiology and lung inflammation remains unknown. I studied the role of angiostatin, an anti-angiogenic molecule, in neutrophil activation and recruitment <i>in vivo</i> and <i>in vitro</i>. Angiostatin was endocytosed only by activated neutrophils, inhibited neutrophil polarity in fMLP-activated neutrophils probably through integrin &alpha;_V&beta;₃, and inhibited MAPK signalling in LPS-activated neutrophils. Angiostatin suppressed formation of reactive oxygen species and activated caspase-3 in neutrophils in both pre-and post-LPS treatments. Finally, angiostatin reduced adhesion and emigration of neutrophils in post-capillary venules of TNF&alpha;-treated cremaster muscle. The next study was designed to investigate the role of angiostatin in acute lung injury. I used <i>E. coli</i> lipopolysaccharide induced acute lung injury mouse model to test the effects of angiostatin through analyses of bronchoalveolar lavage and lung tissues. In addition, I made novel use of synchrotron diffraction enhanced imaging of mouse lungs to assess lung area and contrast ratios over 9 hours as surrogates for lung inflammation. Subcutaneous treatment with angiostatin reduced neutrophil influx, protein accumulation, lung Gr1+ neutrophils and myeloperoxidase activity, phosphorylated p38 MAPK without affecting the levels of MIP-1&alpha;, IL-1&beta;, KC and MCP-1 in lavage and lung homogenates. Diffraction enhanced imaging showed that angiostatin causes a time-dependent improvement in lung area and lung contrast ratios that reflect improvement in lung edema. Overall, the study shows that angiostatin is a novel inhibitor of acute lung injury in mice. Moreover, DEI offers a highly useful technique in evaluating dynamics of lung inflammation and to investigate the therapeutic impact of new drugs on lung inflammation. I conclude that angiostatin is a novel inhibitor of neutrophil migration, activation and acute lung injury.

Submitted by Luciana Sebin (lusebin@ufscar.br) on 2016-10-10T19:45:24Z No. of bitstreams: 1 DissKES.pdf: 1491828 bytes, checksum: c6a58b88ab03eb7890e0b182f08a3ab3 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Marina Freitas (marinapf@ufscar.br) on 2016-10-13T20:15:20Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 DissKES.pdf: 1491828 bytes, checksum: c6a58b88ab03eb7890e0b182f08a3ab3 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Marina Freitas (marinapf@ufscar.br) on 2016-10-13T20:15:29Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 DissKES.pdf: 1491828 bytes, checksum: c6a58b88ab03eb7890e0b182f08a3ab3 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-10-13T20:15:42Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 DissKES.pdf: 1491828 bytes, checksum: c6a58b88ab03eb7890e0b182f08a3ab3 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-02-16 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / Counting the number of leukocytes present in the blood vessels is an important task to understand inflammation mechanisms and to assess the effects of drugs that are being developed for the treatment of inflammatory diseases. In general, leukocyte counting is done by an observer (laboratory technician or specialist) using a sequence of intravital microscopy images obtained from blood vessel of an animal testing. However, this procedure is time-consuming, prone to errors, due to visual fatigue of the observer, and biased, due to inter and intra-observer variability. Thus, the objective of this work was the development of computational technique for the automatic detection of leukocytes in intravital video microscopy images. For this, the detection of leukocytes was performed in two main stages. In stage 1, the phase congruency measure, which is invariant to changes of contrast and lighting images, was used to calculate a blobness measure used to detect circular structures in intravital microscopy images. In stage 2, the circular structures detected in stage 1 were analyzed locally to identify only those corresponding to true leukocytes. The results were evaluated using the precision, recall and F1-measure metrics and the area under the precision-recall curves. Furthermore, the proposed technique was compared with the template matching technique. / Contar o número de leucócitos presentes em vasos sanguíneos é uma tarefa fundamental para entender mecanismos de inflamações e avaliar efeitos de drogas que estão sendo desenvolvidas para o tratamento de doenças inflamatórias. Em geral, a contagem de leucócitos é feita por um observador (técnico laboratorial ou especialista) usando uma sequência de imagens de microscopia intravital, obtidas do vaso sanguíneo de um animal de teste. Entretanto, a tarefa de contagem é demorada, propensa à erros, devido à fadiga visual do observador, e viesada, devido à variabilidade inter e intra-observador. Sendo assim, o objetivo deste trabalho foi o desenvolvimento de uma técnica computacional para a detecção automática de leucócitos em imagens de vídeo de microscopia intravital. Para isso, a detecção dos leucócitos foi realizada em dois principais estágios. No estágio 1, a medida de congruência de fase, que é invariante a mudanças de contraste e iluminação em imagens, foi utilizada para o cálculo de uma medida de blobness usada na detecção de estruturas circulares nas imagens de microscopia intravital. No estágio 2, as estruturas circulares detectadas no estágio 1 foram analisadas localmente a fim de identificar apenas aquelas correspondentes aos leucócitos verdadeiros. Os resultados foram avaliados utilizando as métricas de precisão, revocação e medida-F1 e a área sob as curvas precisão-revocação. Além disso, a técnica proposta foi comparada com a técnica casamento de padrões.

La peau est un « avant poste » fascinant du système immunitaire. Elle forme une barrière entre l'environnement extérieur et l’organisme. Elle est aussi le point d'entrée pour les agents pathogènes, contre lesquels le système immunitaire organise des réponses adaptatives. Les acteurs de l'immunité innée de la peau contrôlent l'invasion des pathogènes et perçoivent également des changements environnementaux physiques et chimiques directs. Plusieurs composants du système immunitaire, tels que des cellules dendritiques (DCs), les macrophages (MΦ) et les mastocytes (MCs), participent à l'éradication des pathogènes et à l'initiation des réponses mémoires adaptatives. Ce qui permet une mobilisation rapide des cellules T effectrices ainsi que la sécrétion des anticorps par les cellules B à la suite d’une seconde exposition aux agents pathogènes. Les MCs qui sont des cellules résidentes du derme, jouent un rôle déterminant dans la libération de signaux d’alertes et sont classiquement considérés comme des cellules effectrices de la réaction allergique cutanée liée à l'IgE. Plusieurs observations récentes indiquent que les MCs seraient aussi impliqués dans les processus immunorégulateurs lors de l'initiation des réponses immunitaires adaptatives, dans le maintien de la tolérance périphérique aux composants de la peau et dans la régénération de la peau au cours des processus de cicatrisation. Cependant, les interactions entre les MCs et d'autres cellules immunitaires innées et adaptatives recrutées dans des conditions inflammatoires cutanées n'ont pas été élucidées en détail. Dans ce travail, nous décrivons l'utilisation d'une nouvelle souris possédant des MCs fluorescents (RMB), dans laquelle nous avons marqué les MCs FcεRI+ avec un marqueur fluorescent rouge tomato (TdT) et avec un système d'ablation conditionnelle basé sur l'expression concurrente du récepteur de la toxine diphtérique (DTR). Avec ces souris RMB, nous avons visualisé la dynamique des MCs et nous avons suivi les interactions entre les MCs et les lymphocytes T régulateurs (Tregs) après l'activation des MCs par l'IgE, dans une réaction inflammatoire typique de l'anaphylaxie cutanée passive (PCA). Dans un second volet d’étude, nous avons évalué le rôle des MCs lors d'un modèle expérimental de la greffe de peau de l'oreille, afin de révéler leur influence dans la cinétique de rejet ou prise de greffe du transplant. Nous avons constaté que 1) l'activation et la dégranulation des MCs induites par le pontage du récepteur FcεRI via des IgE couplées à un antigène multivalent sont les seules responsables de la réaction de PCA, et induisent le recrutement de Tregs ayant une grande motilité sur le site de l'inflammation. Nous avons constaté dans ces conditions, que les MCs restent immobiles, et que les Tregs établissent des contacts dynamiques avec les MCs dans le derme. 2) En outre, nous avons mis en place un modèle pour identifier les paramètres moléculaires de l'interaction MC-Treg et avons constaté que le complexe de l'antigène avec l'IgE peut être présenté aux Tregs en association avec les molécules du complexe majeur d'histocompatibilité de classe II, permettant la formation des contacts stables MC-Treg. 3) En utilisant un modèle de transplantation de la peau in vivo, nous avons montré que l'ablation conditionnelle des MCs conduit à une accélération du rejet du greffon dans le cas d'une transplantation en présence d’une disparité d’antigènes d’histocompatibilité mineurs depuis une souris mâle sur une souris femelle. Nous avons également constaté un impact inattendu de l'ablation des MCs dans la greffe de peau en l’absence de disparité antigénique d'une souris femelle sur une souris femelle, conduisant à un rejet rapide. Les MCs semblent donc être essentiels pour la cicatrisation et la régénération tissulaire après greffe. (...) / The skin is a fascinating outpost of the immune system. It performs a barrier function between the outside environment and the inner body and is also a port of entry for pathogens against which the immune system mounts adapted responses. The skin innate immune defenses control pathogen invasion and perceive also direct physical and chemical environmental changes. Several component of the immune system such as dendritic cells (DC), macrophages (MΦ) and mast cells (MC) participate in initial pathogen clearance and in initiating adaptive memory responses, allowing rapid mobilization of effector T cells and secretion of B cellderived antibodies after secondary pathogen challenge. MCs residing in the dermis exert a determinant alert function through the liberation of various factors and are classically considered as effector cells in the IgE-mediated cutaneous allergic reaction. As emerging now, MC are also involved in immunoregulatory processes during the initiation of adaptive immune responses, the maintenance of peripheral tolerance to skin components and skin regeneration during wound healing. Yet, the crosstalks between MCs and other innate and adaptive immune cells recruited during cutaneous inflammatory conditions have not been elucidated in detail. Here, we report the use of a novel Mast cell fluorescent reporter mouse (RMB), in which we tagged FcεRI+ MCs, with red fluorescence marker tomato (Tdt) and with a conditional ablation system based on concurrent diphtheria toxin receptor (DTR) expression. Using these RMB mice, we visualized MC dynamics and monitored MC interactions with regulatory T lymphocytes (Tregs) after IgE-mediated activation of MCs, in a typical passive cutaneous anaphylaxis (PCA) inflammatory reaction. Using another setting, we further assessed the role of MC during experimental ear skin grafting to reveal their potential influence in skin grafting and rejection. We found that 1) the activation and degranulation of MCs induced by FcεRI crosslinking by multivalent IgE is solely responsible for the PCA reaction and induces the recruitment of highly motile regulatory T cells (Tregs) to the site of inflammation. In these conditions, we found that MC remain sessile and Tregs establish dynamic contacts with MC in the dermis. 2) Further we set up a model system to reveal the molecular requirement for MC-Treg interaction and found that antigen complexed with IgE were able to be presented to Treg in association with major histocompatibility complex class II molecules allowing the formation of stable MC-Treg contacts. 3) Using in vivo skin transplantation model, we showed that conditional ablation of MCs leads to an acceleration of skin transplant rejection in sex-mismatched model (male skin transplant to female). We also found an unexpected impact of MC conditional ablation in sex-matched skin graft (female skin transplant to female) leading to rapid rejection, implying that MCs are essential for the wound healing reaction and the regeneration of tissue continuity after grafting. The aforementioned results point out to an important immunoregulatory role of MC beyond their classically described activator functions in inflamed tissues. The fact that MC constantly interact with Treg during inflammatory processes suggest that MCs could participate in skin homeostasis by exerting tolerogenic functions. These functions remain to be elucidated at the molecular level as presented in the discussion.