Thesis (Ph. D.)--Lehigh University, 2001. / Includes bibliographical references and vita.

This thesis reports the results of a large number of experiments which were designed to elucidate the mechanisms whereby Gambian children, suffering from acute Plasmodium falciparum malaria may eventually control their infections. These experiments were carried out in vitro and success or failure of the various test systems was judged by their effect on parasite multiplication. Early in the course of these investiqations it was demonstrated that mononuclear cells from these children could cooperate with antibodies present in their serum to bring about a marked reduction in parasite growth. The efficiency of this antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) mechanism was related to levels of parasitaemia in the children, being greater in convalescent children than in those with acute malaria. Attempts were now made to identify the effector cells in this ADCC. Purified T and B cells were ineffective and although purified adherent cells (A) had an effect, it was much less than that mediated by the undepleted mononuclear cell population. Adherent cells were, however, fully effective in ADCC if they were exposed to the supernatant from T cells non-specifically activated by PHA. Thus cell cooperation leading to activation appears to play an important role in this system. Finally, experiments were set up to determine whether activated mononuclear cells could exert an inhibitory effect on parasite multiplication which was independent of anti-malarial antibody. It was shown that depression of parasite growth could be achieved by mononuclear cells, either from the children or from Europeans, if these cells were exposed to supernatants of previously stimulated mononuclear cells. These findings can be assembled to provide a tentative model of the development of protective responses in vivo. Perhaps following phagocytosis of parasite antigens and their presentation on the cell surface, T cells become activated: they may cooperate with B cells to produce parasite specific antibodies; they may also activate other mononuclear cells (non T, non B) to become effector cells. These cells, either alone, or perhaps more efficiently in cooperation with antibody, are able to kill parasites by the release of toxic factors, and the infection is brought under control. Finally, large amounts of specific antibodies of appropriate isotypes are synthesized. Acting as opsonins or by activating complement, they may serve to destroy remaining parasites. Their continued presence, by preventing merozoite penetration, may provide at least a temporary defense against reinfection. It is assumed that Gambian adults who have suffered repeated malaria infections and are now immune are defended by their possession of circulating IgG antibodies and B memory cells of all appropriate specificities.

Submitted by Ana Maria Fiscina Sampaio (fiscina@bahia.fiocruz.br) on 2016-05-11T16:05:45Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Barbara Maria Nascimento de Oliveira Produção... 2016.pdf: 2363764 bytes, checksum: ec48ade14eccf109aecb436eec7cd66a (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Ana Maria Fiscina Sampaio (fiscina@bahia.fiocruz.br) on 2016-05-11T16:05:58Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 Barbara Maria Nascimento de Oliveira Produção... 2016.pdf: 2363764 bytes, checksum: ec48ade14eccf109aecb436eec7cd66a (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-05-11T16:05:58Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Barbara Maria Nascimento de Oliveira Produção... 2016.pdf: 2363764 bytes, checksum: ec48ade14eccf109aecb436eec7cd66a (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016 / Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Centro de Pesquisas Gonçalo Moniz. Salvador, BA, Brasil / INTRODUÇÃO. A interleucina 7 (IL-7) é uma citocina pleiotrópica produzida principalmente por células estromais da medula óssea, células epiteliais tímicas e intestinais. IL-7 e que promove o desenvolvimento de linfócitos T e B e diferenciação de células T memória, especialmente CD4+. Por isso, diversos autores têm estudado a capacidade de IL-7 promover a restauração da população de linfócitos em situações de linfopenia e resposta imune de memória. Cães que desenvolvem leishmaniose visceral e recebem tratamento especfico apresentam cura clínica. No entanto, após a interrupção do tratamento, a maioria dos animais exibe recaída da doença, mesmo na ausência de reinfecção. É possível que esse fenômeno esteja associado a uma dificuldade de estabelecimento de linfócitos T de memória específicos para Leishmania em cães. Em nosso laboratório, tentativas prévias foram realizadas para produzir a IL-7 canina em Escherichia coli, no entanto, o rendimento da proteína biologicamente ativa foi pequeno. OBJETIVO. Por isso, resolveu-se avaliar a viabilidade de produzir IL-7 do sistema baculovírus-células de inseto. MATERIAL E MÉTODOS. No presente trabalho, uma construção de DNA foi concebida contendo uma sequência de nucleotídeos que codificam o peptídeo sinal da proteína GP64 do baculovírus da Autographa californica (AcMNPV), a IL-7 canina (proteína madura) com códons otimizados para a tradução em Trichoplusia ni, um espaçador com 23 aminoácidos e uma cauda de seis histidinas. A construção de DNA elaborada foi sintetizada quimicamente, inserida em um plasmídeo de clonagem (pUC57-GP64caIL-7), subclonada em um plasmídeo carreador (pFastBac1- GP64caIL-7), adequado para o sistema baculovirus-célula de inseto, e transferida para o cromossoma artificial do baculovírus recombinante (bacmídeo). RESULTADOS. A produção de IL-7 recombinante canina (rcaIL-7) em células de inseto infectadas com baculovírus recombinante foi otimizada. Em seguida, a rcaIL-7 foi produzida em células High-five cultivadas em suspensão utilizando multiplicidade de infecção (MOI) de 5 e tempo de infecção (TOI) de 48 h. A proteína recombinantes foi purificada por cromatografia de afinidade em Sepharose-níquel, obtendo-se um rendimento médio de 5,5 mg por litro de cultivo. CONCLUSÃO. RcaIL-7 purificada, avaliada a 40 ng/mL, mostrou-se capaz de promover a proliferação de células mononucleares de sangue periférico de cães sadios, sem estímulo prévio ou concomitante, indicando que a proteína foi produzida biologicamente ativa. Futuros estudos serão realizados para avaliar a capacidade imunomoduladora da rcaIL-7 em cães e determinar a utilidade dessa citocinas no tratamento de enfermidades caninas, como por exemplo, na leishmaniose visceral canina. / INTRODUCTION. The interleukin 7 is a pleiotropic cytokine produced mainly by bone marrow stromal cells, thymus and intestinal epithelial cells. IL-7 promotes the development of T and B limphocytes and differentiation T cells to memory cells, especially T CD4+ cells. For these reasons, several authors have studied the ability of IL- 7 to promote restoration of the lymphocyte population in cases of lymphopenia and memory imune responses. Dogs which develop visceral leishmaniasis and are treated with specific drugs develop only transient clinical cure. After treatment withdrawal, most animals show disease relapse, even in the absence of reinfection. One possible explanation for the lack of control of the infection after treatment in dogs is a difficulty to develop/maintain specific memory T cells. Therefore, it is possible that effective treatments for canine visceral leishmaniasis be developed by manipulating the immune system. Previously, in our laboratory, it was attemped to produce recombinant canine IL- 7 (rcaIL-7) in Escherichia coli, however there was a low yield of biologically active protein. OBJECTIVE. In the current project, the baculovírus-insect cell system was evaluated to produce rcaIL-7. MATERIAL AND METHODS. In this study, a construction of DNA was designed to encode nucleotides of Autographa californica GP64 signal peptide, canine IL-7 (mature protein) with optimized codons for Trichoplusia ni, a 23-amino acid spacer and a six histidine tail. The DNA construct was chemically synthesized, inserted into a cloning plasmid (pUC57-GP64caIL-7), subcloned into a carrier plasmid (pFastBac1-GP64caIL-7), suited to the baculovirus-insect cell expression system, and transfered to an artificial chromosome of the recombinant baculovirus (bacmid). RESULTS. Recombinant protein expression was optimizatized, then, the rcaIL-7 was produced in a cell culture in suspension using multiplicity of infection (MOI) 5 and time of infection (TOI) 48 hours. Subsequently rcaIL-7 was purified by Nickel Sepharose-Affinity chromatography, obtaining an average yield of 5.5 mg per liter of culture. CONCLUSION. The purified recombinant rcaIL-7 at 40 ng/mL was able to induce prolifereation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells of heath adult dog, suggesting it was biologically active. Given the results, the rcaIL-7 may be used in further studies to assess its ability to modulate canine immune system, that would be useful for the development immunotherapy

Philosophiae Doctor - PhD / In this thesis typical homogeneous and dendritic immobilized catalysts derived from salicylaldimines were investigated as catalysts for the oxidation of hydrocarbons using hydrogen peroxide as oxidant under aerobic conditions. This research work thus describes the synthesis of several new N-(aryl)salicylaldimines as well as peripheral functionalised salicylaldimine poly(propyleneimine) dendrimers. The dendritic ligands were obtained by modifying the peripheral groups of Generation 1 and Generation 2 poly(propyleneimine) dendrimer, (DAB-(NH2)n) which are commercially available. Both types of ligands were utilized to synthesize Cu(II) and Co(II) complexes using appropriate acetate salts. The ligands systems and metal complexes prepared were fully characterized using a range of physical techniques. The Cu(II) and Co(II) complexes were evaluated as catalysts for the oxidation of phenol and cyclohexene using hydrogen peroxide as oxidant under an oxygen atmosphere. The catalytic oxidation of phenol to the dihydroxybenzenes, catechol (CT) and hydroquinone (HQ), was investigated in aqueous media at various pH values. All the complexes investigated were active for the hydroxylation process producing CT as major product. The pH of the reaction medium was found to have much more of an influence on the activity and product selectivity of the Co(II) complexes as compared to the case for the Cu(II) complexes. All the catalysts investigated were also found to exhibit good activity for the oxidation of cyclohexene producing predominantly the allylic oxidation products 2-cyclohexene-1-one and 2-cyclohexene-1-ol. However the formation of the epoxide, cyclohexene oxide was also observed as minor product or in trace quantities. It was found that the cobalt catalysts produced 2-cyclohexene-1-one as major product, however higher levels of 2-cyclohexene- 1-ol was produced by all catalysts in catalytic runs where the oxidant to substrate ratio was reduced and when the metal loading was increased. In the case of the copper catalysts 2- cyclohexene-1-ol was produce in slightly higher levels than 2-cyclohexene-1-one.

Moxifloxacin is considered to be a broad-spectrum fluoroquinolone due to its activity against both gram positive and gram negative bacteria. Importantly this agent is currently being evaluated in ongoing clinical trials in South Africa and South America as a treatment for Moxifloxacin is considered to be a broad-spectrum fluoroquinolone due to its activity against both gram positive and gram negative bacteria. Importantly this agent is currently being evaluated in ongoing clinical trials in South Africa and South America as a treatment for pulmonary tuberculosis, with the specific objective of decreasing the duration of chemotherapy. However, relatively little is known about the effects of moxifloxacin on host defenses, particularly innate protective mechanisms, involving neutrophils. The primary theme of the laboratory research presented in this dissertation was to investigate the role of moxifloxacin in modulating the host immune system, specifically neutrophil protective functions, as well as lymphocyte proliferation and cytokine production (IL-1, IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-7, IL-10, IL-12, IL13, IL-17, IFN-γ, GM-CSF, G-CSF, TNF-α, and MCP-1). The generation of reactive oxidants and elastase release by neutrophils activated with the chemoattractant, fMLP, or the phorbol ester, PMA, were assayed using luminol- and lucigenin-enhanced chemiluminescence (LECL) and colorimetric procedures, while alterations in cytosolic Ca2+ concentrations were monitored by radiometric (45Ca2+) procedures. Moxifloxacin (1-20 ㎍/ml) was found to have no significant priming or inhibitory effects on oxidant generation by human neutrophils activated with fMLP or PMA, while elastase release was increased at the highest concentrations of the antibiotic. The magnitude of efflux or store-operated Ca2+ influx was unaffected following activation of neutrophils with fMLP. Moxifloxacin at all concentrations tested, did not affect either lymphocyte proliferation or CD25 expression by PHA-activated mononuclear leukocytes (MNLs). Similarly, none of the cytokines measured were significantly affected by moxifloxacin, either in the absence or presence of PHA, compatible with a lack of effect of this agent on Th1 and Th2 lymphocytes. In conclusion, this study suggests that moxifloxacin, at therapeutic doses, does not affect the protective functions of human neutrophils and lymphocytes. / Dissertation (MSc (Medical Immunology))--University of Pretoria, 2007. / Immunology / unrestricted

No description available.

Osteoarthritis (OA) can be debilitating and career-ending for horses. Current treatments offer temporary and symptomatic relief, but potentially deleterious side effects. Bone marrow mononuclear cells (BMNC) are a rich source of macrophage progenitors that are anti-inflammatory and promote inflammation resolution. The objective of this study was to evaluate the ability of intra-articular BMNC therapy to improve clinical signs of naturally occurring equine OA. Horses presenting with clinical and radiographic evidence of moderate OA in a single joint were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 treatments: saline (negative control), triamcinolone (positive control), or BMNC (treatment group). Horses were subjectively and objectively evaluated for lameness and synovial fluid collected (cytology and cytokine/growth factor quantification) at 0, 7, and 21 days post-injection. Data were analyzed using General Estimating Equations with significance set at P<0.05. There were no adverse effects noted in any treatment group. No significant differences in synovial fluid cytology parameters, objective/subjective lameness scores, nor joint circumference were found between treatment groups at any time point. Within treatment groups, joint circumference did not change over time for saline- and triamcinolone-treated horses. However, joint circumference and objective lameness decreased significantly within BMNC-treated horses between Days 0 and 21 and Days 7 and 21. Lameness improved in saline-treated horses from 0 to 21 days, but did not improve in triamcinolone-treated horses. The decreased lameness and lack of adverse effects in the BMNC-treated horses in our study support a larger clinical trial using BMNC. / Master of Science / Osteoarthritis (OA) is a common source of joint pain in people and horses. Current treatments provide only partial and/or temporary relief. As a result, there is an urgent need for more effective and long-lasting treatment options. Arthritis is characterized by uncontrolled joint inflammation and progressive cartilage and bone destruction. Macrophages are cells within normal joints that function to resolve mild inflammation, maintaining joint health. However, when physiologic functions are overwhelmed, macrophages perpetuate inflammation through the recruitment of additional cell types to cope with the increased demands for repair. If this process is appropriately accomplished, macrophages resolve the inflammation, thereby enabling recovery and repair within the joint. Bone marrow aspirate is an excellent source of bone marrow-derived macrophage precursors (bone marrow mononuclear cells or BMNC) that have been shown to reduce joint inflammation and lameness in people and horses. The objective of our clinical trial was to evaluate the ability of intra-articular BMNC to improve clinical signs of naturally occurring OA in horses. BMNC treatment was compared to a placebo injection of saline and a standard-of-care in horses, corticosteroids. There were no adverse effects of BMNC treatment and BMNC-treated horses had significantly reduced joint circumference and lameness after 21 days. Synovial fluid cytology parameters did not differ significantly between treatment groups at any time point. In summary, BMNC are exciting because a horse can be treated with its own cells without the need for specialized equipment, and have the potential to naturally benefit thousands of people and horses suffering from arthritis.

Introdução: A Retinose Pigmentar (RP) é uma doença hereditária da retina, caracterizada por perda da função visual, principalmente devido à degeneração dos fotorreceptores (bastonetes e cones). Objetivo: Avaliar os efeitos de uma única injeção intravítrea de fração mononuclear de células da medula óssea (FMMO) CD34+ em pacientes portadores de RP. Métodos: Ensaio clínico aberto, não randomizado, prospectivo, observador mascarado, no qual 20 pacientes, portadores de RP, com boa fixação ao exame de campo visual, foram incluídos. Única injeção intravítrea (IIV) de FMMO foi aplicada em apenas um dos olhos de cada paciente, enquanto que os olhos contralaterais serviram como controle e foram submetidos à injeção simulada. As avaliações incluíram: melhor acuidade visual corrigida (MAVC); campo visual estático - estratégia 30-2 (Octopus 900); microperimetria (MAIA - Center Vue) para avaliar estabilidade de fixação e sensibilidade macular; eletrorretinografia de campo total (ERG) e multifocal (mfERG) - padrão da ISCEV usando aparelho Espion E2 (Diagnosys LLC) e tomografia de coerência óptica (OCT). Os exames foram realizados antes da injeção e 4, 16, 32 e 48 semanas após. Resultados: Não houve diferença significativa na MAVC durante o seguimento. A diferença entre MAVC medida após 48 semanas e a basal foi de -0,04 ? 0,02 logMAR nos olhos tratados frente a -0,03 ? 0,01 logMAR nos controles (p=0,3898). A melhora da sensibilidade macular foi discretamente maior nos olhos com FMMO: 1,0 ? 0,5 dB do que nos olhos contralaterais: 0,2 ? 0,5 dB, mas sem significância estatística (p=0,0569). Não se observou mudança na estabilidade de fixação. A perda de desvio médio (MD) do campo visual dos olhos tratados (0,33 ? 0,70 dB) foi discretamente menor do que nos olhos controle (1,12 ? 0,58 dB) (p=0,0761). Nenhuma diferença significativa foi observada nas amplitudes e latências das respostas eletrorretinográficas durante o período avaliado. Não se verificou nenhuma complicação e nem efeito colateral após a injeção. Conclusão: A aplicação intravítrea de FMMO contendo células CD34+ mostrou-se segura em pacientes com RP. Observou-se, ainda, discreta melhora na sensibilidade macular, mas esta não foi significativa estatisticamente. Estudos futuros são necessários para esclarecer o potencial uso dessas células em distrofias retinianas. / Introduction: Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is a hereditary disease of the retina, characterized by loss of visual function, mainly due to degeneration of the photoreceptors (rods and cones). Objective: To evaluate the effects of a single intravitreal injection of bone marrow mononuclear fraction (BMMF) containing CD34+ cells in patients with RP. Methods: Open trial, non-randomized, prospective, masked observer, in which 20 patients with RP with good fixation in visual field examination were included. Single intravitreal injection of BMMF was performed in only one eye of each patient, while the contralateral eyes served as control and underwent shaw injection. Evaluations included: best corrected visual acuity (BCVA); static visual field - strategy 30-2 (Octopus 900); microperimetry (MAIA - Center Vue) to evaluate fixation stability and macular sensitivity; full-field (ERG) and multifocal (mfERG) electroretinograms according to the ISCEV using Espion E2 (Diagnosys LLC) and optical coherence tomography (OCT). The exams were performed before the injection and 4, 16, 32 and 48 weeks after. Results: There was no significant difference in BCVA during follow-up. The difference measured in BCVA between 48 weeks and baseline was 0.04 ? 0.02 logMAR in treated eyes versus -0.03 ? 0.01 logMAR in controls (p=0.3898). The improvement in macular sensitivity was slightly higher in BMMF eyes: 1.0 ? 0.5 dB than in contralateral eyes: 0.2 ? 0.5 dB, but without statistical significance (p=0.0569). No change in fixation stability was observed. The mean deviation loss (MD) of the visual field in treated eyes (0.33 ? 0.70 dB) was slightly lower than in the control eyes (1.12 ? 0.58 dB) (p=0.0761). No significant difference was observed evaluating amplitudes and latencies of ERG and mfERG responses during the follow-up. No complications or side effects were observed after the injection. Conclusion: The intravitreal injection of BMMF containing CD34 + cells was shown to be safe in patients with RP. There was still a slight improvement in macular sensitivity, but this was not statistically significant. Future studies are needed to clarify the potential use of these cells in retinal dystrophies.

Submitted by ANA CAROLINA ORTEGAL ALMEIDA null (ortegalmedvet@gmail.com) on 2016-03-21T11:23:32Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertação_Ana_Carolina_Ortegal_Almeida.pdf: 2529882 bytes, checksum: 7d592a7135492a17094d124933d025a2 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Juliano Benedito Ferreira (julianoferreira@reitoria.unesp.br) on 2016-03-22T14:01:48Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 almeida_aco_me_jabo.pdf: 2529882 bytes, checksum: 7d592a7135492a17094d124933d025a2 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-03-22T14:01:48Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 almeida_aco_me_jabo.pdf: 2529882 bytes, checksum: 7d592a7135492a17094d124933d025a2 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-01-20 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / A inspeção da carcaça e órgãos nos abatedouros objetiva limitar o aproveitamento de produtos impróprios para consumo humano, protegendo a população contra doenças transmitidas pelos alimentos. O fígado é uma víscera nutritiva e bem aceita pelos consumidores, mas suas funções metabólicas o tornam susceptível a diversas lesões, fazendo com que seja condenado frequentemente na rotina de inspeção. Este estudo analisou fígados bovinos e relacionou as lesões macro e microscópicas com os sistemas de produção dos animais abatidos (sistemas intensivo, semi-intensivo e extensivo). Avaliou também a presença de lesão microscópica em fígados sem lesão macroscópica. Foram coletadas 450 amostras de fígado bovino dos diferentes sistemas de produção, as quais foram processadas para exame histológico. As alterações macroscópicas observadas nos fígados bovinos foram: fibrose capsular (32%), aderências/peri-hepatite (25,8%), teleangiectasia (24,4%), manchas pálidas ou amareladas (20,9%), hemorragia subcapsular (7,1%), abscessos (5,3%), granulomas (3,5%), congestão (1,8%) e cistos (0,9%). Os achados microscópicos foram: infiltrado inflamatório mononuclear (66,4%), macrófagos espumosos (40,9%), tumefação hepatocelular (30%), tumefação hepatocelular centrolobular (22,7%), fibrose capsular (26,4%), degeneração gordurosa (15,1%), peri-hepatite (13,8%), necrose (13,5%), teleangiectasia (12,2%), abscessos (2,9%), granulomas (1,8%), congestão (16%), hemorragia subcapsular (4,6%), infiltrado inflamatório polimorfonuclear (2,5%), infiltrado inflamatório misto (8,7%), hiperplasia ductal (4,9%) e cistos (0,9%). As lesões que apresentaram relação com os sistemas de produção (P<0,05) foram: infiltrado inflamatório mononuclear, macrófagos espumosos e tumefação hepatocelular. Os fígados de bovinos criados em sistema intensivo apresentaram mais lesões macroscópicas e os fígados de bovinos criados em sistema extensivo apresentaram mais lesões microscópicas. Somente 19,5% dos fígados sem lesão macroscópica não apresentaram nenhum tipo de lesão microscópica. Conclui-se que o sistema de produção pode influenciar na ocorrência de algumas lesões hepáticas e que fígados sem lesão macroscópica, liberados para consumo humano, podem apresentar várias lesões microscópicas importantes. / The inspection of cattle carcasses and organs at slaughterhouses aims at limiting the use of products with abnormalities that makes them improper for human consumption, thereby protecting the public from food-borne diseases. The liver is a nutritious viscera and it is well accepted by consumers. However, its metabolic functions make it susceptible to various injuries, which often condemn it during inspections routine. This study evaluated bovine livers and linked the macro and microscopic lesions found to the beef cattle production systems (intensive, semi intensive and extensive). Also evaluated the presence of microscopic lesions on livers without macroscopic findings. Some 450 samples of beef liver were collected from various production systems and were processed for histological examination. Macroscopic changes observed on the samples were: capsular fibrosis (32%), adhesions/perihepatitis (25.8%), telangiectasia (24.4%), pale or yellowish spots (20.9%), subcapsular hemorrhage (7.1%), abscesses (5.3%), granulomas (3.5%), congestion (1.8%) and cysts (0.9%). Microscopic findings were mononuclear cell infiltration (66.4%), foamy macrophages (40.9%), hepatocellular swelling (30%), centrilobular swelling (22.7%), capsular fibrosis (26.4%), fatty degeneration (15.1%), perihepatitis (13.8%), necrosis (13.5%), telangiectasia (12.2%), abscesses (2.9%), granulomas (1.8%) congestion (16%), subcapsular hemorrhage (4.6%), polymorphonuclear inflammatory infiltrate (2.5%), mixed inflammatory infiltrate (8.7%), ductal hyperplasia (4.9%) and cysts (0.9%). Those injuries related to production systems (P<0.05) were: mononuclear cell infiltration, foamy macrophages and cellular swelling. The livers of bovines raised in extensive system present more macroscopic lesions and the livers of bovines raised in intensive system present more microscopic lesions. Only 19.5% of livers without macroscopic findings did not show histopathological lesions. This study concludes that beef cattle production systems can influence the occurrence of some liver lesions and that liver without macroscopic findings, released for human consumption may have several important microscopic lesions.

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / The bone marrow (BM)adult stem cell, mainly the mononuclear cell (MC) fraction, calls great interest in tissue regeneration researches in veterinary medicine, among those, works with experimental corneal ulcers. It is believed that the limbus represents the main stem cell source to replace damaged corneal cells, however, the number of animals showing limbal deficiency with subsequent conjunctivalization increases every day. This condition can be developed for several reasons, where the alkali burn is the most common. Aiming to conduct a study about transplanted BM MC presence confirmation, the homing process and to histopathologically compare the treated and sham groups, an experimental alkali corneal ulcer model, associated with the autologous MC transplant was used. Sixteen male or female, stray dogs, weithing around 10kg were submitted to experimental corneal ulcer, where the sodium hydroxide soaked filter discs alkali burn model was used. After the lesions, the animal were then submitted to subonjunctival autologous BM MC transplantation. The mononuclear fraction was isolated by density gradient centrifugation at 678G for 30 minutes and marked with nanocrystals to engrafment and homing follow-up. The pos-operatory evaluation was made with imunofluorescence exams in the sixth day after the transplant and for histopathology after 15 days of the same procedure where it could be noticed that the MC fixed in the damaged area, there was no homing phenomenom and despite they reduce the local inflamation, the MC did not help the corneal epithelium cicatrization process in this short term evaluation. Thus BM MC transplant studies in corneal wounds are indicated. / As células-tronco adulta da medula óssea (MO), em particular a fração de células mononucleares (CM), despertam grande interesse nas pesquisas que visam regeneração tecidual na medicina veterinária, dentre elas, estudos com úlceras de córnea experimentais. Atualmente, acredita-se que o limbo representa a fonte de células-tronco para a reposição de células corneanas lesadas, no entanto, o número de animais que apresentam deficiência límbica com conjuntivalização subseqüente aumenta a cada dia. Essa condição pode ser desenvolvida por diversas afecções, em que a queimadura por base é a mais comum. Visando realizar um estudo sobre a confirmação da presença das CM da MO transplantadas, da ocorrência de quimiotaxia (homing) das mesmas e comparar histopatologicamente os grupos tratados e controles, utilizou-se um modelo experimental de úlcera de córnea associado ao autotransplante de CM. Dezesseis cães machos ou fêmeas, sem raça definida, com peso ao redor de 10kg foram submetidos à ulceração experimental de córnea, em que o modelo de queimadura ocular por álcali com papel filtro embebido em hidróxido de sódio foi utilizado. Após a realização das lesões, os animais foram submetidos ao transplante subconjuntival de CM da MO, previamente isoladas. A fração mononuclear foi separada por centrifugação da MO com gradiente de densidade a 678G por 30 minutos e marcada com nanocristais para posterior acompanhamento dos processos de pega e quimiotaxia. A avaliação pós-operatória foi realizada por exames de imunofluorescência no sexto dia após o transplante e por histopatologia passados 15 dias do mesmo procedimento, quando pode se notar que as CM fixaram-se na região lesionada, não sofreram quimiotaxia e, apesar de diminuírem a inflamação do local, não auxiliaram no processo de cicatrização do epitélio corneano em curto prazo. Assim, sugere-se estudos adicionais no transplante de CM da MO na cicatrização da córnea .