O desenvolvimento em insetos é coordenado majoritariamente pela ação de dois grandes hormônios: HJ e 20E. Esses hormônios desencadeiam cascatas gênicas resultando em mudanças fenotípicas, fisiológicas e comportamentais. Além dos hormônios, os miRNAs também atuam sobre a expressão desses genes componentes das cascatas de resposta aos hormônios durante o desenvolvimento nos insetos. Neste estudo objetivamos analisar a relação entre hormônios e genes, hormônios e miRNAs e genes e miRNAs, em estágios finais do desenvolvimento de Apis mellifera. O perfil de expressão dos fatores de transcrição Usp, ftz-f1, EcR, chd64, inr2, Kr-h1, gce e os regulares putativos miR-34, miR-281 e miR-252b foram avaliados a partir do 5 estagio larval até adultos recém emergidos, por meio de RT-qPCR. Também avaliamos o efeito de doses exógenas de HJ III e 20E sobre o desenvolvimento pupal (Pw e Pb). A maioria dos genes testados mostraram responder as variações hormonais nos estágios pupais tal qual respondem em estágios larvais. Contudo, gce e chd64 mostraram responder diferente as variações hormonais em estágios pupais, sugerindo assim, que estes podem desempenhar papel diferente nos estágios finais do desenvolvimento. O gce que é um receptor nuclear de HJ em insetos, mostrou rápida resposta ao tratamento com 20E e não respondeu ao tratamento com HJ, semelhantemente o chd64 também não respondeu aos tratamentos com HJ. Nossos dados ainda apontam Usp como um gene de resposta imediata (early gene). O miR-34 e o miR-281 são fortes candidatos a reguladores chave na metamorfose, uma vez que estes apresentam interações (in silico) com a maioria dos genes aqui estudados, além de responderem ao tratamento hormonal para ambos os hormônios. Este estudo caracteriza componentes da rede regulatória do desenvolvimento pupal em abelhas melíferas. / The development in honeybees is mainly controlled by the action of two major hormones, juvenile hormone (JH) and 20-hidroxyecdysone (20E). These hormones trigger gene cascades, which results in phenotypic, physiological and behavioral changes. Besides hormones, a class of non-coding RNAs, the microRNAs, regulates gene expression at a post-transcriptional level during insect development. In this study we aimed to analyze the relationship between developmental genes and morphogenetic hormones, in final stages of the development of Apis mellifera. The expression profile of the orphan nuclear receptor Usp, ftz-f1, EcR, chd64, inr2, Kr-h1), gce, early-trypsin, and their putative regulators miRNA-34, miRNA-281, miRNA-252a and miRNA-252b were assessed from 5? instar larvae to newly emerged adults by qPCR. The effect of exogenous doses of both hormones applied on white eyed pupae (Pw) and brown eyed pupae (Pb) was also tested. Most of the genes seem to respond to hormonal variation in pupal stages as they do in larval stages. However, gce and chd64 showed a different response to hormonal treatment in pupal states, thus suggesting they play different roles in final stages of development. Unexpectedly gce, which is a nuclear receptor of JH in insects, showed a quick response to 20E treatment and no response to JH in pupal stages of honeybees, as well as chd64 which also responded only to the 20E treatment. In addition, we recognized Usp as an Immediate Early Gene, for it responded rapidly to hormonal treatments and quickly restored its level. In addition, we find the miR-34 and miR-281 as strong candidates of regulators since they presented many putative interactions in the 3\'UTR of the candidate genes and showed to be affected by the hormonal treatment. This study describes new components to the regulatory network that regulates bee development.

En raison de l’efficience des traitements, le taux de survie globale à 5 ans des patients avec un cancer gastrique (CG) est d’environ 15%. A l’heure actuelle, il n’existe pas de stratifications des patients permettant de prescrire un protocole de traitements efficace. Durant ma thèse, j’ai établi le rôle de HDAC4 dans la sensibilité des cellules de CG au Cisplatine. J’ai montré que cette réponse semble dépendre du type de CG (intestinal ou diffus) et du statut p53 des cellules cancéreuses. J’ai souligné l’intérêt de combiner un inhibiteur des HDACs (SAHA) avec les chimiothérapies à base de dérivés de platine (PDC : Cisplatine, Oxaliplatine) afin de promouvoir leurs effets cytotoxiques. De manière intéressante, j’ai observé que la réponse aux traitements combinés est différente suivant le statut p53 des cellules cancéreuses. Ces résultats permettent d’ouvrir de nouvelles perspectives dans l’utilisation des traitements combinés PDC + SAHA dans la thérapie du CG. En particulier, le facteur p53 qui est souvent muté dans les CG, pourrait être un marqueur thérapeutique pour un tel protocole de traitement. / Due to the efficiency of treatments, the 5-year overall survival rate for patients with gastric cancer (GC) is approximately 15%. Currently, there is no stratification of patients to prescribe an effective treatment protocol.During my thesis, I established the role of HDAC4 in the sensitivity of GC cells to Cisplatin. I have shown that this response seems to depend on the type of GC (intestinal or diffuse) and the p53 status of cancer cells. I emphasized the interest of combining an HDAC inhibitor (SAHA) with platinum derivative chemotherapies (PDC: Cisplatin, Oxaliplatin) to promote their cytotoxic effects. Interestingly, I observed that the response to combination treatments is different depending on the p53 status of the cancer cells.These results open new perspectives in the use of PDC + SAHA combination therapies in GC. The p53 factor that is often mutated in GC could be a therapeutic marker for a such treatment protocol.

A remodelação óssea é um processo fisiológico que mantém a integridade do esqueleto através da substituição do osso antigo por uma matriz óssea jovem. No entanto, na osteoporose a formação óssea, comparada à reabsorção, fica prejudicada em virtude da queda do número de osteoblastos e redução de suas atividades, levando a uma perda da microarquitetura do tecido ósseo, tornando-o frágil e com suscetibilidade à fratura. O objetivo deste trabalho foi comprovar diferenças comportamentais em células osteoblásticas provenientes da medula óssea e da calvária de ratas induzidas à osteoporose por meio de expressão gênica em larga escala. Foram utilizadas 18 ratas Wistar divididas em grupos controle e overiectomizadas. Após 150 dias da cirurgia, as ratas de ambos os grupos foram sacrificadas para coleta dos fêmures e fragmentos da calvária. As células recolhidas a partir da medula óssea e calvária foram cultivadas em placas de 24 poços (n=5) para avaliação da proliferação e viabilidade celular e em garrafas de cultura para a extração do RNA total dessas células. Em seguida, o RNA total foi quantificado e sua integridade analisada por meio do sistema de eletroforese microfluídica. Foi realizada a identificação da modulação de genes e avaliação dos microRNAs envolvidos na inibição gênica por meio de cDNA microarray. As células da medula óssea do grupo controle (MC) mostraram uma diminuição significativa na proliferação quando comparado com às células do grupo controle da calvária (CC) em todos os períodos (p < 0,05). Por outro lado, as células da medula óssea de ratas ovariectomizadas (MO) revelaram um aumento significativo na taxa de proliferação após 7 e 10 dias (p < 0,01) em comparação às células da calvária de ratas ovariectomizadas (CO). A viabilidade celular foi maior em todos os períodos estudados dos grupos CC e CO em relação aos grupos MC e MO (p < 0,05). Os dados de microarray foram normalizados utilizando-se quantil e após análise estatística por teste-t não pareado com p-value &le; 0,005 e posterior fold change &ge; 2,0, foram evidenciados 5447 mRNAs diferencialmente expressos nas células da calvária e 4399 mRNAs nas células da medula óssea. Os dados de miRNAs foram normalizados utilizando-se também o quantil e após análise estatística por teste-t moderado com p-value &le; 0,05 e posterior fold change &ge; 1.5, foram evidenciados 84 miRNAs diferencialmente expressos nas células de calvária e 55 miRNAs nas células da medula óssea. No grupo de genes reprimidos da CC destacam-se Notch1, Dlx5, Fgf1, Il6 e Fgfr2 como reguladores da proliferação celular e as Caspases 6 e 12 como resposta a substâncias orgânicas. Já no grupo de genes induzidos da CC encontramos os genes Gli1 e Bmp7 como reguladores da proliferação celular, Gli1, Bmp3 e Mmp2 no processo biológico de desenvolvimento ósseo e Lrp1, Mmp2 e a família Tgf&beta;1, 2 e 3 no envelhecimento, entre outros. Dentre os genes reprimidos do grupo da MO encontram-se o Csf1, Sparc e Tnf como reguladores da proliferação celular e Anxa5, Col1a1, Spp1, Sparc, Tnf e Mmp2 no processo biológico de resposta a substâncias orgânicas e no grupo de genes induzidos os genes Notch1, Bmp4, Dlx5 e Stat6 como reguladores da proliferação celular e os genes Alpl, Bmp4 e Casp6 no processo de resposta a substâncias orgânicas, entre outros. Dentre os miRNAs encontrados, membros da família 30 (miR-30a, 30c e 30d) apresentaram-se induzidos tanto na CO quanto na MO, sendo que estes miRNAs atuam como reguladores negativos da diferenciação osteoblástica. Já o miR-17 que está relacionado com a regulação positiva da osteogênese apresentou-se reprimido tanto na CO quanto na MO. O miR-542-3p suprime a diferenciação osteogênica e promove a apoptose dos osteoblastos reprimindo o gene Bmp7 e a sua via de sinalização. Esse miRNA está induzido tanto no grupo da CO quanto na MO. Esses dados confirmam que nas ratas ovariectomizadas há uma menor atividade osteoblástica e maior atividade osteoclástica. Os dados encontrados no trabalho sugerem uma diferença na expressão gênica não só das células diferenciadas da calvária, mas também aquelas ainda presentes na medula óssea, influenciando, assim, a formação adequada de tecido ósseo em uma situação de osteoporose. / Bone remodeling is a physiological process which maintains skeleton integrity replacing old bone by a young bone matrix. In some diseases such as osteoporosis bone formation is impaired due to the decrease in the number of osteoblasts and reduction of their activities leading to a loss of bone tissue microarchitecture, making it fragile and susceptible to fracture. The objective of this study was to evaluate behavioral differences in osteoblast-like cells from calvaria and bone marrow of rats induced to osteoporosis by ovariectomy through large-scale gene expression analysis. Eighteen Wistar rats were used and divided into control and ovariectomized groups. After 150 days of surgery, the rats of both groups were sacrificed for collection of femurs and calvaria fragments. The cells collected from bone marrow and calvaria were grown in 24-well plates (n = 5) for cell proliferation and viability analysis, as well as grown in culture bottles for total RNA extraction of these cells. The RNA was quantified and its integrity assessed by gel electrophoresis in a microfluidic system. Identification of gene modulation as well as microRNAs involved in gene inhibition was performed by cDNA microarray. Bone marrow cells from the control group (MC) showed a significant decrease in proliferation compared with cells from the calvaria control group (CC) in all periods (p <0.05). On the other hand, bone marrow cells of ovariectomized rats (MO) revealed a significant increase in the proliferation rate after 7 and 10 days (p<0.01) compared to calvaria cells of ovariectomized rats (CO). Cell viability was higher in all periods of CC and CO groups compared to MC and MO groups (p <0.05). Microarray data were normalized using quantile and after statistical analysis by unpaired t-test with p-value &le; 0.005 and subsequent fold change &ge; 2.0, 5.447 differentially expressed mRNAs were detected in calvaria cells and 4.399 mRNAs in bone marrow cells. The miRNAs data were also normalized using the quantile and after statistical analysis by moderate ttest with p-value &le; 0.05 and subsequent fold change &ge; 1.5, 84 miRNAs differentially expressed in calvaria cells were detected and 55 miRNAs in bone marrow cells. In CC group, there may be highlighted repressed genes such as Notch1, Dlx5, Fgf1, Fgfr2 and Il6 as regulators of cell proliferation and caspases 6 and 12 in response to organic substances. The same group showed induced genes such as Gli1 and Bmp7 genes as regulators of cell proliferation, Gli1, Bmp3 and Mmp2 involved in the biological process of bone development and Lrp1, Mmp2 and Tgf&beta;1, 2 and 3 family linked to aging. Among the genes repressed in the MO group are Csf1, Sparc and Tnf as regulators of cell proliferation and Anxa5, Col1a1, Spp1, Sparc, Tnf and Mmp2 associated to biological process of response to organic substances. In the group of induced genes of MO group we found Notch1, Bmp4, Dlx5 and Stat6 as regulators of cell proliferation and Alpl, Bmp4 and Casp6 genes related to the process of response to organic substances. Among the miRNAs found, members of 30 family (miR-30a, 30c and 30d) were induced in the CO and MO groups and these miRNAs act as negative regulators of osteoblastic differentiation. The miR-17 is associated with upregulation of osteogenesis and it is repressed in both ovariectomized groups. MiR- 542-3p suppresses osteogenic differentiation and promotes osteoblast apoptosis repressing Bmp7 gene and its signaling pathway. This miRNA was induced in the CO and MO group. These data confirm that in ovariectomized rats there is a decrease in osteoblastic activity and increased osteoclastic activity. The data found in the present investigation suggest a difference in gene expression not only of differentiated cells from calvaria but also those still present in the bone marrow, thus affecting the proper formation of bone tissue in a situation of osteoporosis.

Introdução: O glioblastoma multiforme é a neoplasia maligna primária mais prevalente do sistema nervoso central. Enquanto apresenta aumento em sua incidência, mantém a perspectiva de sobrevida global aproximada de 14 meses. Objetivos: O presente estudo objetiva avaliar a expressão dos genes EGFR, PTEN, MGMT e IDH1/2 e dos microRNAs miR-181b, miR-145, miR-149 e miR-128a em neuroesferas (NE) e células aderidas (CA), a partir das linhagens celulares (T98G e U343) submetidas ao tratamento com temozolomida (TMZ) e com radiação ionizante (RI) isolados e em associação (TMZ+RI). Material e métodos: As linhagens celulares T98G e U343 foram tratadas com TMZ, RI e TMZ+RI. A verificação da expressão dos genes e miRNAs foi realizada utilizando o método de PCR em tempo real. Resultados: Observamos: a) o aumento na expressão do IDH1 após RI (4-fold) e TMZ+RI (5-fold) nas NE (T98G); o aumento na expressão do IDH2 (20-fold) nas NE (T98G), após TMZ, e do IDH2 (3-fold) nas CA (U343) submetidas à TMZ+RI; b) a redução na expressão do EGFR após TMZ; o aumento dessa expressão nas NE (T98G), após RI (2-fold) e TMZ+RI (3-fold), e a sua diminuição nas CA (U343) submetidas à TMZ e TMZ+RI; c) a redução na expressão PTEN nas NE (T98G), após TMZ e RI, e sua expressão nas NE (3-fold) frente à TMZ+RI; d) aumento na expressão de MGMT nas NE (T98G) nos grupos RI (10-fold) e TMZ+RI (25-fold). Quanto a expressão de miRNAs, foram identificados os seguintes resultados: a) as CA (U343) expressaram: miR-181b após TMZ (60-fold), RI (20-fold) e TMZ+RI (40- fold); e miR-128a após TMZ (500-fold), RI (200-fold) e TMZ+RI (600-fold); b) as NE (T98G) após TMZ+RI expressaram: miR-181b (30-fold), miR-149 (40-fold), miR-145 (300-fold) e miR-128a (40-fold); c) as NE (U343) após RI hiperexpressaram miR-149 e miR-145 (ambos em 4000-fold). Conclusão: A RI apresentou-se como fator independente e determinante para a radiorresistência das NE, entretanto não observamos ação de complementariedade de regulação dos oncomiRs observados sobre a expressão dos genes estudados. Esta é a primeira análise na literatura que correlaciona a expressão de genes e de miRNAs através das intervenções TMZ, RI e TMZ+RI sobre células aderidas e neurosferas. / Introduction: Glioblastoma multiforme is the most prevalent primary malignant neoplasm of the central nervous system. It has increased its incidence, while the overall survival remains over 14 months. Objectives: This study aims to evaluate the expression of the following genes EGFR, PTEN, MGMT and IDH1/2 and microRNAs miR-181b, miR-145, miR-149 and miR-128a in adhered cells (AC) and neurospheres (NS) from cell lines (T98G and U343) which were submitted to temozolomide (TMZ) and ionizing radiation (IR), isolated and associated (TMZ + IR). Methods: The cell lines T98G and U343 were treated with TMZ, IR and TMZ+IR. The analysis of gene expression and miRNAs was performed using the PCR in real time. Results: This study demonstrated: a) an improvement in the expression of IDH1 after IR (4-fold) and TMZ + IR (5-fold) in the NS (T98G); increased expression of IDH2 (20-fold) in the NS (T98G) after TMZ and IDH2 (3-fold) in AC (U343) submitted to TMZ + IR; b) reduction in EGFR expression after TMZ; increase this expression in NS (T98G) after IR (2-fold) and TMZ + IR (3-fold), and a decrease in AC (U343) submitted to TMZ and TMZ + IR; c) reduction in PTEN expression in NS (T98G) after TMZ and IR, and its improvement in NS (3-fold) when compared to TMZ + IR; d) increase in the expression of MGMT in NS (T98G) in IR groups (10-fold) and TMZ + IR (25-fold). It was also identified the expression of miRNAs results as: a) AC (U343) expressed more miR-181b after TMZ (60-fold), IR (20-fold) and TMZ + IR (40-fold); and miR- 128a improved after TMZ (500-fold), IR (200-fold) and TMZ + IR (600-fold); b) NS (T98G) after TMZ + IR expressed: miR-181b (30-fold); miR-149 (40-fold); miR-145 (300-fold) and miR-128a (40-fold); c) NS (U343) after IR huge expressed miR-149 and miR-145 (both in 4000-fold). Conclusion: IR was an independent and determining radio resistance factor in NS. However, we observed no complementarity action of oncomiRs regulation. This is the first study in the literature correlating gene expression, and miRNAs through TMZ, IR and IR + TMZ interventions in AC and NS.

Introdução: A ereção peniana é um processo neurovascular complexo dependente do relaxamento da musculatura lisa dos corpos cavernosos. O etanol exerce diversos efeitos na atividade sexual masculina e a disfunção sexual induzida pelo etanol é causada pelo seu efeito no sistema nervoso central, principalmente pela sua ingestão aguda e crônica. Foi demonstrado que o etanol afeta significativamente tanto a contração quanto o relaxamento da musculatura lisa dos corpos cavernosos. Os relatos da ocorrência do mecanismo de apoptose nos corpos cavernosos estão associados à denervação, à castração e a doenças crônicas como o diabetes. Poucos são os estudos morfológicos sobre o efeito do etanol no tecido cavernoso; porém, não são descritos trabalhos relacionando as alterações morfológicas causadas pelo etanol no tecido cavernoso, a eventos moleculares e sua relação com o mecanismo de apoptose celular. Objetivos: avaliar e comparar o efeito do alcoolismo na morfometria e no mecanismo de apoptose dos corpos cavernosos de ratos submetidos a modelo de alcoolismo crônico. Material e métodos: Foram utilizados 24 ratos Wistar divididos em dois grupos: controle (C) e tratado com etanol (A) a 20% durante sete semanas. As amostras dos corpos cavernosos foram preparadas para o estudo morfométrico pela coloração de tricrômico de Masson, para o estudo da expressão protéica de CASPASE 3 (pró-apoptótica) por imunohistoquímica e para o estudo da expressão gênica sérica e no tecido cavernoso do miRNA-21 (anti-apoptótico). Resultados: O estudo morfométrico mostrou principalmente diminuição de fibras musculares lisas dos corpos cavernosos nos animais do grupo A. Também foi observado aumento significativo na expressão de CASPASE 3 nos animais do grupo A e baixa expressão gênica sérica e no tecido cavernoso do miRNA-21 nos grupos C e A. Conclusões: A análise morfométrica correspondente à área ocupada pelas fibras musculares lisas dos corpos cavernosos nos animais do grupo A mostrou correlação com os locais de maior expressão protéica de CASPASE 3 e, portanto, de apoptose. Neste estudo, a morte celular por apoptose não foi suprimida pela expressão do miRNA-21. / Introduction: Penile erection is a complex neurovascular process dependent smooth muscle relaxation in the corpus cavernosum. Ethanol exerts different effects on male sexual activity and sexual dysfunction induced by ethanol is caused by its effect on the central nervous system, primarily for its acute and chronic ingestion. Ethanol has been shown to significantly affect both the contraction and the relaxation of smooth muscle of the corpus cavernosum. The reports of the occurrence of the apoptosis mechanism in the corpus cavernosum are associated with denervation, castration and chronic diseases like diabetes. There are few morphological studies on the effect of ethanol in the cavernous tissue, but are not described studies correlating morphological changes caused by ethanol in the cavernous tissue, the molecular events and their relation to the mechanism of apoptosis. Objectives: To evaluate and compare the effect of alcoholism in the morphometry and mechanism of apoptosis in the corpus cavernosum of rats subjected to chronic alcoholism model. Material and methods: 24 Wistar rats were divided into two groups: Control (C) and treated with ethanol (A) diluted 20% for seven weeks. Samples of the corpus cavernosum were prepared for morphometric study by Masson\'s trichrome stain, study for protein expression of CASPASE 3 (pro-apoptotic) by immunohistochemistry and study for gene expression of miRNA-21 (anti-apoptotic) in serum and the cavernous tissue. Results: The morphometric study primarily showed a decrease in smooth muscle cells of the corpus cavernosum in group A. Significant increase for expression of CASPASE 3 in group A and low gene expression of miRNA-21 was also observed in serum and the cavernous tissue in groups C and A. Conclusions: The morphometric analysis corresponding to the area occupied by smooth muscle cells of the corpus cavernosum in group A showed correlation with the sites of increased protein expression of CASPASE 3 and thus apoptosis. In this study, cell death by apoptosis was not suppressed by the expression of miRNA-21.

Seasonal and pandemic Influenza virus infections cause about three to five million cases of severe illness and about 250,000 to 500,000 deaths world-wide annually according to the WHO. Although investigated intensively, Influenza virus pathogenesis is still not very well understood and hard to predict. Influenza A viruses contain a segmented, single-(-) stranded RNA genome encoding at least 10 different proteins and are highly diverse due to hypermutation and reassortment. In previous work, 56 viral genes from six different influenza A virus isolates had been cloned and genome-wide screened for virus-host protein interactions using yeast-two hybrid technology and several human and chicken cDNA libraries, leading to the identification of 127 high-confidence cellular interactors of which 40 have also been identified by RNA interference in other studies. In this thesis, two of the cellular interactors identified which both bound to the viral multifunctional protein NS1, TRBP and PACT, were further investigated with regard to their role in virus life cycle. These two proteins are known to be involved in miRNA silencing and PKR regulation. Both interactions between NS1 and TRBP and NS1 and PACT were confirmed by co-immunoprecipitation, and both TRBP and PACT co-localized with NS1 in a cytosolic compartment. NS1 was also found to be present in the RISC complex in pull-down assays with the RISC core component Ago2. In functional assays, NS1 dose-dependently inhibited RNA silencing. Although no differences in TRBP-binding between NS1 proteins of various different influenza strains could be detected in direct mating Y2H assays, they varied with regard to their inhibitory activity on RNA silencing. TRBP and PACT alone were unable to restore NS1-induced inhibition of RNA silencing activity, however both together restored RNA silencing. Moreover, the siRNA knockdown of PACT abolished the association of NS1 with Ago2, and NS1 competitively inhibited the binding of TRBP and PACT to Ago2. The depletion of either TRBP or PACT led to an inhibition of influenza virus replication. The depletion of TRBP also lifted cellular IFNβ level without infection. However, the knockdown of TRBP but not PACT blocked IFNβ production and increased cell viability post infection. These results indicate that NS1 inhibits the binding of PACT and TRBP to the RISC complex and thereby inhibits miRNA-induced gene silencing. The hypothesis that TRBP supports influenza replication potentially by regulating PKR regulation and IFNβ induction requires further investigation. In conclusion, this study provides evidence for the complexity of virus-host interactions and the dual role of viral proteins in activating both positive and negative regulatory cellular mechanisms.

Este estudo investigou se o tratamento com glicocorticoide durante a gestação altera o metabolismo energético, hormonal e molecular materno, a função das ilhotas pancreáticas e mudanças correlativas sobre miRNAs. Foram utilizadas 80 ratas dividas em dois grupos de 40 animais, sendo um grupo destinado para envelhecimento até um ano após o desmame da prole, e o seguinte grupo destinado para experimentação no 20º dia de gestação, ambos dispostos em: CTL - controle, CTL-Dex - controle tratadas com dexametasona por 6 dias, P - prenhes e P-Dex - prenhes tratadas com dexametasona do 14º-19º dia de gestação. A expressão de miRNA das ilhotas foram analisadas em larga escala. Os genes alvos foram rastreados em banco de dados e confirmados. Por fim, investigou-se o mecanismo de modulação da homeostasia glicêmica. Inúmeras modificações resultaram da terapia com DEXA na gestação concluindo que a associação do tratamento ao período gravídico modula positivamente membros da família miRNA-29 ocasionando um desequilíbrio na homeostasia glicêmica por meio de falha na maquinaria exocitótica em longo prazo, desencadeado pela modulação negativa de progesterona e seu receptor promovendo prejuízo no processo de remodelação da ilhota pancreática na fase final da gestação. / This study investigated whether treatment with glucocorticoids during pregnancy alters the energetic, hormonal and molecular maternal metabolism, function of pancreatic islets and correlative changes of miRNAs. Were used 80 rats divided into two groups of 40 animals, one group designed to aging up one year after weaning, and the next group destined to experimentation at 20th day of gestation, both arranged: CTL - control, CTL-Dex - control treated with dexamethasone for 6 days, P - pregnant rats and P-Dex - pregnant rats treated with dexamethasone from 14th to 19th day of pregnancy. Pancreatic islets were collected for large-scale analysis of miRNA expression. The target genes were screened and confirmed by qPCR. Finally it was investigated the mechanism of modulation of glucose homeostasis through qPCR and Western Blot. We can be observed numerous changes resulting from therapy with DEXA in pregnancy concluded that the association of treatment to the pregnancy period modulates members of the miRNA-29 family causing an imbalance in glucose homeostasis through long-term failure in exocytotic machinery, triggered by the downregulation of the progesterone and its receptor promoting injury in the pancreatic islet remodeling process in late pregnancy.

L'interférence par l'ARN est un processus selon lequel un petit ARN non codant se lie à un ARN messager cible dans la cellule pour moduler son expression. Ce mécanisme a été conservé au cours de l'évolution : il est retrouvé aussi bien chez les animaux que chez les végétaux. Nous savons aujourd'hui que le rôle de l'interférence par l'ARN est fondamental, dans le développement embryonnaire comme dans la progression tumorale. Les microARN (miARN) sont des ARN non codant endogènes dont l'une des particularités est leur capacité à réguler tout un ensemble de gènes par interférence avec les ARN messagers. Il est ainsi prédit qu'un seul miARN serait capable de réguler plusieurs centaines de gènes différents. La thèse a consisté en l'analyse de la corégulation médiée par les miARN grâce à l'inférence de réseau basée sur le partage de gènes cibles. La corégulation est un phénomène où plusieurs miARN différents interviennent sur les mêmes familles de gènes et donc sur les mêmes processus biologiques. Le travail a plus spécifiquement consisté en la mise en place d'un réseau de miARN, en son analyse topologique mais également en son interprétation biologique. Le but final était de proposer de nouvelles hypothèses biologiques à tester afin de mieux comprendre la corégulation des processus biologiques par les miARN. Au travers de ces travaux, deux groupes de miARN ont pu être mis en évidence, dont l'un impliqué dans la régulation de la signalisation par les petites GTPases – hypothèse par la suite validée par plusieurs expériences in vitro. Dans un second temps, une communauté de miARN impliquée dans le maintien de la pluripotence des cellules souches a pu également être mise en évidence. Pour compléter ces analyses, une étude systémique de la topologie des réseaux de miARN a été menée afin de mieux comprendre leur intégration dans les réseaux biologiques et leur rôle dans le devenir cellulaire. / RNA interference is a process in which a small non-coding RNA will bind to a specific messenger RNA and regulate its expression. This evolutionary conserved mechanism is found in all superior eukaryotes from plants to mammals. Nowadays, we know that RNA interference is a major regulatory process involved in developmental biology and tumor progression. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are endogenous (coded in and produced by the cell) non-coding RNAs which are able to regulate a whole set of genes, typically hundreds of genes. This doctoral thesis consisted in the analysis of the miRNA mediated coregulation through a network approach based on target sharing. Coregulation is the process where many different miRNAs will regulate the same set of genes and thus the same biological process. In particular, the work consisted in the inference of a miRNA network, in its topological analysis and also its biological interpretation. Indeed, the final aim of the work was to generate new biological hypothesis. As such, two different groups of miRNAs were first retrieved. One of them was predicted to be involved in the small GTPase signaling and was further validated in vitro. Moreover, a miRNA community involved in the maintenance of stem cells pluripotency was also discovered. Finally, a systemic analysis of the target-based miRNAs network was conducted to better understand their integration with biologic networks and their role in cell fate.

<p>MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small RNAs that have important roles in post-transcriptional gene regulation in a wide range of species. This regulation is controlled by having miRNAs directly bind to a target messenger RNA (mRNA), causing it to be destabilized and degraded, or translationally repressed. Identifying miRNA targets has been a large area of focus for study; however, a lack of generally high-throughput experiments to validate direct miRNA targeting has been a limiting factor. To overcome these limitations, computational methods have become crucial for understanding and predicting miRNA-gene target interactions.</p><p>While a variety of computational tools exist for predicting miRNA targets, many of them are focused on a similar feature set for their prediction. These commonly used features are complementarity to 5'seed of miRNAs and evolutionary conservation. Unfortunately, not all miRNA target sites are conserved or adhere to canonical seed complementarity. Seeking to address these limitations, several studies have included energy features of mRNA:miRNA duplex formation as alternative features. However, different independent evaluations reported conflicting results on the reliability of energy-based predictions. Here, we reassess the usefulness of energy features for mammalian target prediction, aiming to relax or eliminate the need for perfect seed matches and conservation requirement.</p><p>We detect significant differences of energy features at experimentally supported human miRNA target sites and at genome-wide interaction sites to Argonaute (AGO) protein family members, which are essential parts of the miRNA machinery complex. This trend is confirmed on data sets that assay the effect of miRNAs on mRNA and protein expression changes, where a statistically significant change in expression is noted when compared to the control. Furthermore, our method also allows for prediction of strictly imperfect sites, as well as non-conserved targets.</p><p>Recently, new methods for identifying direct miRNA binding have been developed, which provides us with additional sources of information for miRNA target prediction. While some computational target predictions tools have begun to incorporate this information, they still rely on the presence of a seed match in the AGO-bound windows without accounting for the possibility of variations. </p><p>We investigate the usefulness of the site level direct binding evidence in miRNA target identification and propose a model that incorporates multiple different features along with the AGO-interaction data. Our method outperforms both an ad hoc strategy of seed match searches as well as an existing target prediction tool, while still allowing for predictions of sites other than a long perfect seed match. Additionally, we show supporting evidence for a class of non-canonical sites as bound targets. Our model can be extended to predict additional types of imperfect sites, and can also be readily modified to include additional features that may produce additional improvements.</p> / Dissertation

Expression of the Tudor domain containing protein 6 (TDRD6), which is restricted to the male germ line, starts at day 16 of spermatogenesis, i.e. in pachytene spermatocytes. TDRD6 is a 250 kDa protein, which we recently found to be cleaved at the C-terminal end during germ cell development, resulting in a 230 kDa product. Neither is the process of cleavage itself nor are the functions of the two different forms known. The 230 kDa isoform is the most prominent form in round spermatids, where it localizes to the chromatoid body (CB), i.e. a single filamentous, perinuclear granule. One characteristic component of the CB is the RNA helicase MVH. CBs contain components of the microRNA (miRNA) pathway, including Piwi-interacting RNAs (piRNAs), as well as MIWI, MIWI2, and MILI, the mouse homologs of the Piwi proteins, which bind piRNAs and also act in transposon regulation. We showed that TDRD6 interacts with MIWI and MILI in vitro, and a direct interaction with MVH was shown before. To reveal the function of TDRD6, we generated Tdrd6-/- mice, which lack the protein. These mice are generally healthy but the males are sterile, due to the absence of mature spermatozoa. The most striking intracellular phenotype of Tdrd6-/- mice is the highly aberrant architecture of chromatoid bodies in round spermatids. Tdrd6-/- CBs appear as diffuse, disrupted, and less condensed structures. Their interior is largely missing, and only a “ghost”-like structure remains, expected to be significantly impaired in function. Other CB components like MVH, MIWI and MILI are expressed in Tdrd6-/- testes, but they cannot localize to the disrupted CBs. This suggests a role for TDRD6 in assembling the chromatoid body complex by recruiting other proteins. The CB is important for storage and translational regulation of mRNA, through interaction with miRNAs. In Tdrd6-deficient testes 10 % of all known murine miRNAs are differently expressed, whereas most of the mature miRNAs are up-regulated, indicating less turnover, and thus, accumulation of mature miRNAs. Since some precursor miRNAs are up-regulated as well, we assume, that TDRD6 affects miRNA transcription most likely by indirectly influencing transcriptional regulation of miRNA genes. In Tdrd6-/- mice an overall abnormal mRNA gene expression pattern was observed by microarray analyses. Of all mis-regulated genes 36 % are located to the centromer-proximal region of Chr 8, and 11 % are located to the distal end of Chr 1. This mis-regulation might be due to a common transcriptional regulation. The orthologous regions on the human chromosomes show altered chromosomal structures in many different carcinomas. If TDRD6 plays a role in carcinogenesis has to be investigated.