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L'apoptose des cellules bêta pancréatiques est une cause du diabète de type 2. La glycosylation par la voie des hexosamines modifie l'activité de protéines régulatrices. La déacétylase Sirt1 est connue pour son rôle dans la survie cellulaire et pour sa sensibilité face au métabolisme glucidique. Cette étude visait à montrer que l'activation directe de la voie des hexosamines stimule la mort de ces cellules par l'implication de Sirt-1. Le traitement des cellules Nit-1 avec la glucosamine a causé une augmentation temporelle significative de l'apoptose, jumelée à l'expression de facteurs pro-apoptotiques, la réduction des niveaux protéiques de Sirt-1 ainsi que sa glycosylation. De plus, l'attténuation génétique de Sirt1 a accentué la vulnérabilité des cellules à l'apoptose. Ces résultats montrent pour la première fois que Sirt1 joue un rôle important dans la survie de la cellule bêta et que sa glycosylation serait impliquée dans la perturbation de son rôle protecteur.

Le diabète est associé à une réduction de la masse des cellules β. Par conséquent, la régénération des cellules β est un champ d'étude important. Nous avons testé l'hypothèse selon laquelle le GLP-1, un médicament anti-diabète, stimule la differentiation de cellules progénitrices en cellules β matures (néogenèse) et étudié les mécanismes impliqués dans le processus. Nos résultats indiquent que le GLP-1 induit l'expression de marqueurs spécifiques à la cellule β (Pdxl, Glut2 et le gène de l'insuline) dans un modèle de cellules progénitrices (lignée AR42J). Cette action est précédée de l'expression de Ngn3, un gène contrôlant la differentiation des cellules endocrines du pancréas au cours du développement embryonnaire. De plus, notre étude suggère que la voie Pi3k et Hnf1-α/Hnf3-β participent à l'effet du GLP-1. Nos résultats pourraient mener à la découverte de cibles moléculaires permettant l'expansion de la masse de cellules β

La transplantation d’îlots de Langerhans microencapsulés est un traitement prometteur du diabète de type 1. La microcapsule protège l’îlot du système immunitaire, tout en permettant la diffusion de petites molécules. Comme la microcapsule empêche la revascularisation des îlots, leur oxygénation se fait par diffusion d’oxygène et ils sont exposés à l’hypoxie. Le manque d’oxygène est un facteur limitant dans la survie des îlots microencapsulés. Il est connu que les plus petits îlots sont plus résistant à l’hypoxie à cause d’une meilleure diffusion de l’oxygène. À cette fin, les agrégats de cellules dispersées d’îlots seront étudiés. Lorsque les cellules des îlots sont dispersées, elles ont la propriété de se ré-assembler dans une structure semblable à celle des îlots. La présente étude a permis de mettre au point une technique de formation des agrégats, de les caractériser et de comparer la résistance à l’hypoxie des îlots et des agrégats. Ceux-ci ont une structure semblable aux îlots et ils sont de plus petite taille. Pour cette raison, ils sont plus viables après un choc hypoxique tout en renversant efficacement l’hyperglycémie de souris diabétiques. Les agrégats sont une alternative intéressante pour la transplantation d’îlots microencapsulés puisque leur oxygénation est plus efficace. / Transplantation of microencapsulated islets of Langerhans is a promising treatment for type 1 diabetes mellitus. The microcapsule allows the diffusion of small molecules, while protecting the islet from the antibodies and immune cells. However, microcapsule prevents islet revascularization, thus oxygenation depends on diffusion and islets are exposed to hypoxia. Poor oxygenation is a major limitation in microencapsulated islet survival. It was shown that smaller islets are more resistant to hypoxia because of a better oxygen diffusion. In this study, dispersed islet cell aggregates will be used to improve the oxygenation. When islet cells are dispersed into single cells, they have the ability to re-associate into an islet-like structure. This study allowed to set up a technique to form aggregates, to characterized them and to compare the resistance to hypoxia of islets and aggregates. Aggregates have a similar structure than islets and they are smaller. For this reason, they survive better to a hypoxic treatment, while restoring efficiently normoglycemia in diabetic mices. Aggregates are an interesting solution for microencapsulated islet transplantation because they have a better oxygenation.

A doença enxerto contra hospedeiro (GVHD) é uma complicação comum nos pacientes submetidos ao transplante de células-tronco hematopoiéticas (TCTH), sendo considerada a maior causa de morbidade e mortalidade nesses pacientes. O principal objetivo do presente estudo foi relacionar a concentração de células de Langerhans em mucosa bucal de pacientes com GVHDc bucal com a expressão da quimiocina CCL20 e de seu receptor CCR6 no epitélio bucal, a fim de elucidar os mecanismos biológicos envolvidos no recrutamento das células de Langerhans na GVHDc. Foram selecionados fragmentos obtidos por biópsia de mucosa bucal de 60 pacientes onco-hematológicos e hematológicos submetidos previamente ao transplante de células tronco hematopoiéticas no Hospital Amaral Carvalho, Jaú SP, onde 30 pacientes desenvolveram GVHDc em mucosa bucal (Grupo 1) e 30 não desenvolveram GVHDc (Grupo 2). Amostras obtidas a partir de 30 biópsias de lesões não inflamatórias em mucosa bucal constituíram o Grupo Controle (Grupo 3). Cortes microscópicos foram avaliados em coloração de rotina Hematoxilina e Eosina, e submetidos à técnica imuno-histoquímica, utilizando-se anticorpos monoclonais anti-CD1a e anti-CCR6, e anticorpos policlonais anti-CCL20. As células de Langerhans CD1a+ foram quantificadas no epitélio da mucosa bucal, e os resultados demonstraram um maior número destas células nos pacientes com GVHDc quando comparados àqueles sem GVHDc e ao Grupo Controle (p<0,001). A análise da imunomarcação das moléculas CCR6 e CCL20 foi subjetiva com aplicação de escores. Quanto à molécula CCR6, houve maior expressão no Grupo 1 (p<0,001) em comparação aos outros Grupos; porém, quanto à expressão de CCL20, não houve diferença estatística entre os três Grupos (p=0,108). Estes resultados sugerem que o aumento das células de Langerhans, na doença enxerto contra hospedeiro crônica, em mucosa bucal, pode estar associado a maior expressão do receptor CCR6. Possivelmente, o maior recrutamento de células de Langerhans até a mucosa bucal, em pacientes transplantados de medula óssea, colabora para o desenvolvimento da GVHDc bucal. / The graft versus host disease (GVHD) is a common complication in patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), and considered a major cause of morbidity and mortality in these patients. The main objective of this study was to compare the concentration of Langerhans cells in oral mucosa of patients with oral chronic GVHD (GVHDc) with the expression of the chemokine CCL20 and its receptor CCR6 in oral epithelium, in order to clarify the biological mechanisms involved in the recruitment of Langerhans cells in GVHDc. We selected 60 biopsies of oral mucosa from onco-hematological and hematological patients submitted to prior hematopoietic stem cell transplantation at Hospital Amaral Carvalho, Jaú - SP from which 30 patients developed GVHDc in the oral mucosa (Group 1) and 30 did not develop GVHDc (Group 2). The Control Group (Group 3) was obtained from 30 biopsies of non-inflammatory lesions of oral mucosa. Microscopic sections were evaluated in routine Hematoxylin and Eosin staining, and submitted to immunohistochemistry using anti-CD1a and anti-CCR6 monoclonal antibodies, and anti-CCL20 polyclonal antibody. The Langerhans cells (CD1a+) were quantified in the epithelium of the oral mucosa, and the results showed a greater number of these cells in patients with GVHDc compared to those without GVHDc and the Control Group (p<0.001). Analysis of immunostaining of molecules CCL20 and CCR6 were subjective with application of scores. The expression of CCR6 molecule was more significant in Group 1 (p<0.001) compared to other groups, but in relation to CCL20 expression, there was no statistical difference between the three groups (p=0.108). These results suggest that the increase of Langerhans cells in GVHDc affecting oral mucosa may be associated with increased expression of the receptor CCR6. We suggest that the increased recruitment of Langerhans cells to the oral mucosa in patients with transplanted bone marrow contributes to the development of oral GVHDc.

As ilhotas pancreáticas têm em sua constituição as células <font face=\"Symbol\">b pancreáticas, as quais têm como função secretar insulina. A melatonina é secretada pela glândula pineal. No entanto, a ausência da melatonina, por meio da pinealectomia (PINX), induz diversas alterações nas funções celulares. A NAD(P)H oxidase é responsável pela produção de ânions superóxido. Nosso estudo teve como objetivo avaliar uma possível modulação da NAD(P)H oxidase pela PINX no Zeitgeber Time 6 e 18. Os resultados demonstram que a PINX induz alterações na funcionalidade das ilhotas pancreáticas, alterando a secreção de insulina estimulada pela glicose, o metabolismo da glicose, e o conteúdo de espécies reativas de oxigênio (EROs). Entretanto, não induz alterações nos respectivos ZTs na expressão protéica das subunidades p22phox, p47phox e gp91phox. Demonstramos que a pinealectomia induz alteração no padrão rítmico metabólico e secretório nas ilhotas isoladas, tendo a NAD(P)H oxidase uma possível participação no desenvolvimento nas alterações observadas. / Pancreatic islets are constituted by pancreatic cells, which main function is to secrete insulin. Melatonin is secreted by the pineal gland. However, the absence of melatonin by pinealectomy (PINX) induces several changes in cellular functions. The NAD(P)H oxidase is responsible for producing superoxide. Our study aimed to evaluate the possible modulation of NAD(P)H oxidase by pinealectomy in Zeitgeber Time 6:18. Our results show that the absence of melatonin induced by pinealectomy induces changes in the functionality of pancreatic islets, such as the insulin secretion stimulated by glucose, the glucose metabolism, and the content of reactive oxygen species (ROS). However, it does not induce changes in their respective Zts in the protein expression of the subunits p22phox, p47phox and gp91phox. We demonstrated that pinealectomy induces changes in metabolic and secretory rhythm pattern in isolated islets, being the NAD(P)H oxidase a possibly responsible for the changes observed.

A radiação ultravioleta (UV) do sol é a principal responsável pelo desenvolvimento do câncer de pele não-melanoma. A radiação UV induz efeitos biológicos, que promovem a fotocarcinogênese, agindo diretamente sobre o DNA, provocando mutações. Porém, tudo indica que há um efeito indireto, que induz imunossupressão. O fenômeno fisiológico da imunotolerância, que é responsável pela prevenção de doenças autoimunes e pela modulação da resposta inflamatória, pode ser aproveitado por determinadas neoplasias para escaparem do controle imunológico e reforçado pela radiação UV. Os personagens principais da imunotolerância no ambiente tumoral são células dendríticas imaturas e linfócitos T reguladores (Treg), além de inúmeras citocinas imunossupressoras. Com o objetivo de avaliar a imunotolerância na fotocarcinogênese em lábio, foram analisadas, por meio da técnica de imuno-histoquímica, 75 amostras de material fixado e emblocado em parafina, sendo 44 casos de queilite actínica (QA) nos três graus de displasia epitelial (discreta, moderada e intensa), 18 casos de carcinoma epidermoide de lábio (CEL) e 12 espécimes representativos de lábio normal (LN). Tais amostras foram submetidas aos anticorpos anti-CD83, anti-DEC-205, anti-FOXP3, anti-CD1a e anti-CD207. Foi efetuada a contagem de células em 3 campos significativos, escolhidos aleatoriamente, e obtida a média de células contadas/campo. Assim, os resultados mostraram uma grande quantia de linfócitos Treg FOXP3+ tanto no CEL como na QA. Também houve uma expressão acentuada de DEC-205 nos casos estudados. Quanto à presença de células de Langerhans CD207+ e CD1a+, notou-se um acúmulo no epitélio das lesões de QA e nas ilhotas do CEL, além de algumas células estarem presentes no tecido conjuntivo. Já para o marcador CD83, a contagem de células positivas foi baixa em relação aos demais marcadores tanto no CEL como na QA. Portanto, sugere-se um microambiente imunotolerante tanto no início, quanto no estabelecimento do processo da fotocarcinogênese em lábio. / Ultraviolet radiation (UV) is the main cause of non-melanoma skin cancer and induces biological effects that promote photocarcinogenesis by causing mutations directly on DNA. However, there seems to be an indirect effect, which induces immunosuppession. The physiological phenomenon of immune tolerance, which is responsible for the prevention of autoimmune diseases and the modulation of inflammatory response, may be used by certain tumors to escape immune control. This phenomenon is enhanced by UV radiation. Immature dendritic cells, regulatory T cells (Treg), and also several immunosuppressive cytokines play a central role in immune tolerance associated to the tumor environment. In order to assess the immune tolerance in lip photocarcinogenesis, we analyzed 75 samples represented by 44 cases of actinic cheilitis (AC), 18 cases of lip squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) and 12 specimens of normal lip. Sections were submitted by means of immunohistochemistry, to the antibodies against CD83, DEC-205, FOXP3, CD1a and CD207. Positive cells for each marker were counted in three high-power fields in each section and the results expressed by the mean number of cells per field. The results showed a large amount of Treg FOXP3+ in both AC and LSCC. There was also a strong staining for DEC-205 in the cases studied. There were an increased number of CD1a+/CD207+ Langerhans cells in the AC epithelium and LSCC islets, as well as a few cells in the connective tissue. For the marker CD83, the count of positive cells was low compared to other markers for both lesions. Therefore, we suggest an immune tolerant microenvironment both at the beginning, and in the establishment of the lip photocarcinogenesis process.

Durante a gravidez, o pâncreas endócrino materno sofre alterações morfológicas e funcionais que resultam no aumento da massa de células beta e da secreção de insulina. Nos estágios finais da gestação ocorre aumento dos níveis plasmáticos de glicocorticóides que resulta na diminuição da secreção e da proliferação das células beta. Este fenômeno, que ocorre no período compreendido entre o final da gravidez e o inicio da lactação, promove a reversão fisiológica da adaptação funcional que se fez necessária durante a gravidez. Assim, estudamos mecanismos moleculares envolvidos na redução de proliferação destas células. As proteínas cinases reguladas por sinais extracelulares (ERK) estão envolvidas no crescimento e sobrevida celular. Os resultados mostram que o glicocorticóide sintético, dexametasona, diminui a proliferação de células beta e, para isto, induz diminuição da fosforilação das ERK-1/2 por meio do aumento da expressão de uma fosfatase de MAPK (MKP-1). Este mecanismo deve estar envolvido no remodelamento pancreático pós-natal induzido pelos glicocorticóides. / During pregnancy, maternal pancreatic islets undergo morphofunctional changes that increase beta cell mass and insulin secretion. At late stages of pregnancy there is an increase in plasma glucocorticoid levels that inhibit beta cell proliferation and beta cell function. This situation, which occurs in a period between late pregnancy and early stages of lactation, counteracts the functional gain established throughout pregnancy. In this work we studied the molecular mechanisms involved in the impaired beta cell proliferation. The extracellular regulated kinases (ERKs) are involved in cellular growth and survival. Our results show that dexametasone, a synthetic glucocorticoid, inhibits proliferation by a mechanism that includes up regulation of a dual specificity phosphatase (MKP1). This, by extension, impairs ERK1/2 activation. This mechanism could take part in the induced-glucocorticoid reestablishment of endocrine pancreatic mass after parturition.

O efeito de alterações no estado de óxido-redução (redox), tanto pelo aumento no estado oxidativo quanto pelo aumento no estado redutor, foi avaliado sobre a funcionalidade de ilhotas pancreáticas, através da análise da secreção de insulina estimulada pela glicose (GSIS), metabolismo da glicose e oscilações intracelulares de cálcio. O aumento no estado oxidativo inibiu a funcionalidade da célula pancreática. Entretanto, diminuição no estado oxidativo pela adição de antioxidantes exerceu efeito dual sobre a funcionalidade da célula <font face=\"Symbol\">&#946 pancreática, na qual pequenas alterações no estado redox estimularam a GSIS, enquanto alterações maiores suprimiram este efeito positivo. Adicionalmente, o conteúdo das espécies reativas de oxigênio (EROs) foi modulado por mudanças na concentração de glicose. Agudamente, o aumento na concentração de glicose suprimiu o conteúdo de EROs, que pôde ser correlacionada com o aumento na atividade da via de formação de NADPH, a via das pentoses-fosfato. Sob estes aspectos, alterações no estado redox podem ser parte do processo da GSIS. / The effect of changes in the oxidation/reduction (redox) state over pancreatic islet function was analyzed by shifts toward oxidative or reducing environments. Pancreatic cell function was analyzed by glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS), glucose metabolism and intracellular calcium oscillations. Redox modulation favoring the oxidative state inhibited pancreatic cell function. However, the suppression of the oxidative state by antioxidant treatment exerted a dual effect on pancreatic <font face=\"Symbol\">&#946 cell function, where small changes were positively correlated with an increase in insulin secretion, while higher changes suppressed GSIS. Additionally, the reactive oxygen species (ROS) content was modulated by changes in glucose concentration. Increasing concentrations of glucose acutely suppressed ROS content, what was correlated with the activation of the NADPH source, the pentose-phosphate pathway. Thus, the intracellular adjustment of ROS content may be part of the insulin secretion mechanism in response to glucose.

In the studies about ovarian cancer cells, basal iNOS expression in the chemosensitive OV2008 cells was significantly higher than in the chemoresistant C13* cells. Cisplatin further increased iNOS expression in OV2008 cells, but had no effect in C13* cells. Furthermore, cisplatin dramatically reduced the expression levels of eNOS and nNOS, but again only in OV2008 cells. The data suggest that failure of cisplatin to upregulate iNOS and downregulate eNOS and nNOS in C13* cells could be an etiological factor in chemoresistance. Addition of exogenous NO at high levels, using SNAP, significantly increased p53 protein levels and caused apoptosis in both cell types. Specific iNOS inhibitor (1400W) partially blocked the pro-apoptotic effects of cisplatin in OV2008 cells, suggesting involvement of iNOS in cisplatin-induced apoptosis. However, blocking of all three isoforms of NOS with NG-amino-L-arginine in C13* cells dramatically changed these cells from chemoresistant to chemosensitive, greatly potentiating the pro-apoptotic effects of cisplatin. / Inhibition of Src-kinase activity reduces DNA synthesis in ovarian cancer cells. In an in vitro experiment, Src phosphorylated PKG on a tyrosine residue and PKG, presumable via serine-phosphorylation of Src, enhanced Src auto(tyrosine)phosphorylation. In ovarian cancer cells, inhibition of basal PKG activity with DT-2 decreased both basal and EGF-stimulated Src kinase activation and DNA synthesis. The data suggest that PKG at basal activity, is necessary for both basal and growth factor-stimulated Src kinase activation and enhanced DNA synthesis in human ovarian cancer cells. / The novel role of sGC/cGMP/PKG pathway on stimulating cell proliferation, potentially via interaction with the Src kinase pathway in human ovarian cancer cells, was demonstrated. ODQ dramatically reduced DNA synthesis rates, suggesting that basal sGC activity and basal cGMP levels are needed for ovarian cancer cell proliferation. DT-2 also reduced cell proliferation, suggesting the direct involvement of PKG. ANP and BNP had no effect on cell proliferation, suggesting that further activation of cGMP/PKG pathway above basal levels does not further enhance cell proliferation. / The present study also demonstrated that elevating cGMP slightly above the basal levels further protects pancreatic islet cells against spontaneous onset of apoptosis. The results showed that natriuretic peptides (both ANP and BNP) and low-level NO (i.e. physiological levels) as supply by NO donor, S-nitroso-N-acetylpenicilamine (SNAP) further prevented spontaneous apoptosis in pancreatic islets after isolation, whereas NO at high concentrations (i.e. pathological levels) promoted apoptosis in pancreatic islet cells. The commonly-used PKG inhibitor KT5823 and the newly-developed specific PKG inhibitor DT-2 completely prevented anti-apoptosic effect of ANP, suggesting the direct involvement of PKG in protection against spontaneous apoptosis. / The present study demonstrated that basal activity of sGC/cGMP/PKG signaling pathway is essential for partially limiting spontaneous apoptosis in pancreatic islet cells. The sGC inhibitor ODQ caused induction of apoptosis, which was completely blocked by co-treatment with ANP or BNP, agents that elevate cGMP via pGC, bypassing the ODQ block. Co-treatment with 8-Br-cGMP, a direct activator of PKG also completely prevented ODQ-induced apoptosis in islets. / Leung Lai-han. / "July 2006." / Adviser: Ronald Ray Fiscus. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 68-03, Section: B, page: 1483. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2006. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 175-191). / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Electronic reproduction. [Ann Arbor, MI] : ProQuest Information and Learning, [200-] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / School code: 1307.