Thesis advisor: Thomas Seyfried / Lipids, in all their forms from structural components of the membranes (phosphoglycerides, glycolglycerolipids) to signaling molecules (IP3, DAG, prostaglandins, etc.,) post-translational modification of proteins (palmitoylated, farnesylated, prenylated, and GPI anchoring) play an essential role in cancer cell survival, proliferation, and metastasis. Alteration in structural lipids can impair transport, and signaling cascades. Abnormalities in lipids, such as cardiolipin (Ptd2Gro), impair mitochondrial function, bioenergetics, and could play a role in precipitatting the high incidence of spontaneous tumors in VM/Dk mice. This thesis explores the role of glucose and glutamine in their incorporation into lipids in the VM-M3 murine glioblastoma cell line as well as the inheritance of brain cardiolipin fatty acids abnormalities in VM/Dk mice. I used labeled [14C]-U-D-glucose and [14C]-U-L-glutamine to examine the profile of de novo lipid biosynthesis in the VM-M3 cell line. The major lipids synthesized included phosphatidylcholine (PtdCho), phosphatidylethanolamine (EtnGpl), phosphatidylinositol (PtdIns), phosphatidylserine (PtdSer), sphingomyelin (CerPCho), bis(monoacylglycero)phosphate (BMP) / phosphatidic acid (PtdOH), cholesterol (C), Ptd2Gro, and the gangliosides. The data show that the incorporation of labeled glucose and glutamine into synthesized lipids was dependent on the type of growth environment, and that the VM-M3 glioblastoma cells could acquire lipids, especially cholesterol, from the external environment for growth and proliferation. In addition, this thesis also explores and evaluates the abnormality of Ptd2Gro fatty acid composition in VM mice in comparison to B6 mice. Although previously reported, I confirmed the finding in the abnormal cardiolipin fatty acid composition in the VM mice. The abnormal brain cardiolipin fatty acid composition was found to be inherited as an autosomal dominant trait in reciprocal B6 x VM F1 hybrids for both male and female. Impaired cognitive awareness under hypoxia observed for the VM mice and reciprocal F1 hybrids is associated with abnormalities in neural lipid composition. / Thesis (PhD) — Boston College, 2014. / Submitted to: Boston College. Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. / Discipline: Biology.

O glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) é uma doença grave e sem tratamento eficaz, especialmente pelos agentes terapêuticos disponíveis causarem reações adversas importantes nas doses terapêuticas. O metotrexato (MTX) é um fármaco citotóxico utilizado para tratar diversas neoplasias, no entanto, sua utilização é limitada pela baixa biodisponibilidade e reações adversas. A nanotecnologia tem sido utilizada para aumentar a eficácia dos medicamentos antitumorais, com o intuito de direcioná-los para o sítio de ação e reduzir os efeitos adversos. Nesse sentido, realizamos ensaios com nanocápsulas lipídicas de MTX (LNC MTX) para avaliar os mecanismos de captação em linhagens celulares de glioblastoma e micróglia, além investigar a eficácia terapêutica da LNC MTX em ensaios in vitro e in vivo. Inicialmente, ensaios de microscopia de fluorescência, empregando bloqueadores farmacológicos específicos para transportes de membrana, mostraram que as LNC MTX marcadas com Rodamina B penetram em células tumorais GL261 por endocitose, dependente de caveolinas, e em células de micróglia da linhagem BV2 por fagocitose e macropinocitose. Os tratamentos com LNC MTX ou solução de MTX (em concentrações correspondentes) em células GL261 inibiram a proliferação; aumentaram a fragmentação de DNA, mas, somente as LNC induziram a morte celular por necrose e diminuíram o número de células na fase G1/G0 do ciclo celular. Na linhagem celular BV2, os tratamentos com LNC MTX ou solução de MTX inibiram a proliferação, reduziram a quantidade de células na fase G1/G0 do ciclo celular, aumentaram a fragmentação de DNA e induziram morte celular por apoptose e apoptose tardia. Os ensaios in vivo de microscopia intravital mostraram que a LNC MTX atravessa a barreira Hematoencefálica (BHE) de camundongos fêmea C57Bl/6 após administração intravenosa ou oral, sem danificar a sua estrutura. O tamanho do glioblastoma in vivo foi reduzido em animais tratados com LNC MTX por via oral em relação aos animais tratados com salina. Esta redução não foi detectada em animais tratados com solução de MTX. Em conjunto, os dados obtidos mostram que a LNC MTX penetram em células de glioma e da glia e causam toxicidade, atravessam a BHE in vivo e sugerem que a nanoencapsulação do MTX pode ser uma estratégia importante para o tratamento do glioblastoma. / Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is a serious disease and no effective treatment is availabe, especially because the drugs cause significant adverse reactions in therapeutic doses. Methotrexate (MTX) is a cytotoxic drug used to treat many neoplasms, however, their use is limited by the low bioavailability and adverse reactions. Nanotechnology has been used to increase the effectiveness of antitumor drugs in order to direct them to the site of action and to reduce adverse effects. Accordingly, we carried out an experimental approach with MTX lipid nanocapsules (MTX LNC) to evaluate the uptake mechanisms in glioblastoma and microglia cell lines, and the therapeutic efficacy of MTX LNC in vitro and in vivo systems. Initially, fluorescence microscopy assays employing specific pharmacological blockers for membrane transport showed that the MTX LNC stained with Rhodamine B penetrated into GL261 tumor cells by caveolae-mediated endocytosis, and in BV2 microglia cells by phagocytosis and macropinocytosis. Treatment with MTX solution or MTX LNC (at corresponding concentrations) on GL261 cells inhibited the proliferation; increased DNA fragmentation, but only the LNC induced cell death by necrosis and decreased the number of cells in the G1/G0 phase of the cell cycle. In BV2 cells, treatment with MTX solution or MTX LNC inhibited proliferation, reduced number of cells in the G1/G0 phase of the cell cycle, increased DNA fragmentation and cell death, induced by apoptosis and late apoptosis. Intravital microscopy study showed that the MTX LNC across the Blood-Brain Barrier (BBB) of C57BL/6 female mice after intravenous or oral administrations, without damaging its structure. The area of glioblastoma in vivo was reduced in animals oral treated with MTX LNC comparing to saline treated mice. This reduction was not observed in animals treated with MTX solution. Together, the data herein obtained show that MTX LNC penetrate the cell membrane and cause cell toxicity on glioma and neurons lineage, cross the BBB and suggest that the nanoencapsulation of MTX can be an important strategy for the treatment of glioblastoma.

O glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) é uma doença grave e sem tratamento eficaz, especialmente pelos agentes terapêuticos disponíveis causarem reações adversas importantes nas doses terapêuticas. O metotrexato (MTX) é um fármaco citotóxico utilizado para tratar diversas neoplasias, no entanto, sua utilização é limitada pela baixa biodisponibilidade e reações adversas. A nanotecnologia tem sido utilizada para aumentar a eficácia dos medicamentos antitumorais, com o intuito de direcioná-los para o sítio de ação e reduzir os efeitos adversos. Nesse sentido, realizamos ensaios com nanocápsulas lipídicas de MTX (LNC MTX) para avaliar os mecanismos de captação em linhagens celulares de glioblastoma e micróglia, além investigar a eficácia terapêutica da LNC MTX em ensaios in vitro e in vivo. Inicialmente, ensaios de microscopia de fluorescência, empregando bloqueadores farmacológicos específicos para transportes de membrana, mostraram que as LNC MTX marcadas com Rodamina B penetram em células tumorais GL261 por endocitose, dependente de caveolinas, e em células de micróglia da linhagem BV2 por fagocitose e macropinocitose. Os tratamentos com LNC MTX ou solução de MTX (em concentrações correspondentes) em células GL261 inibiram a proliferação; aumentaram a fragmentação de DNA, mas, somente as LNC induziram a morte celular por necrose e diminuíram o número de células na fase G1/G0 do ciclo celular. Na linhagem celular BV2, os tratamentos com LNC MTX ou solução de MTX inibiram a proliferação, reduziram a quantidade de células na fase G1/G0 do ciclo celular, aumentaram a fragmentação de DNA e induziram morte celular por apoptose e apoptose tardia. Os ensaios in vivo de microscopia intravital mostraram que a LNC MTX atravessa a barreira Hematoencefálica (BHE) de camundongos fêmea C57Bl/6 após administração intravenosa ou oral, sem danificar a sua estrutura. O tamanho do glioblastoma in vivo foi reduzido em animais tratados com LNC MTX por via oral em relação aos animais tratados com salina. Esta redução não foi detectada em animais tratados com solução de MTX. Em conjunto, os dados obtidos mostram que a LNC MTX penetram em células de glioma e da glia e causam toxicidade, atravessam a BHE in vivo e sugerem que a nanoencapsulação do MTX pode ser uma estratégia importante para o tratamento do glioblastoma. / Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is a serious disease and no effective treatment is availabe, especially because the drugs cause significant adverse reactions in therapeutic doses. Methotrexate (MTX) is a cytotoxic drug used to treat many neoplasms, however, their use is limited by the low bioavailability and adverse reactions. Nanotechnology has been used to increase the effectiveness of antitumor drugs in order to direct them to the site of action and to reduce adverse effects. Accordingly, we carried out an experimental approach with MTX lipid nanocapsules (MTX LNC) to evaluate the uptake mechanisms in glioblastoma and microglia cell lines, and the therapeutic efficacy of MTX LNC in vitro and in vivo systems. Initially, fluorescence microscopy assays employing specific pharmacological blockers for membrane transport showed that the MTX LNC stained with Rhodamine B penetrated into GL261 tumor cells by caveolae-mediated endocytosis, and in BV2 microglia cells by phagocytosis and macropinocytosis. Treatment with MTX solution or MTX LNC (at corresponding concentrations) on GL261 cells inhibited the proliferation; increased DNA fragmentation, but only the LNC induced cell death by necrosis and decreased the number of cells in the G1/G0 phase of the cell cycle. In BV2 cells, treatment with MTX solution or MTX LNC inhibited proliferation, reduced number of cells in the G1/G0 phase of the cell cycle, increased DNA fragmentation and cell death, induced by apoptosis and late apoptosis. Intravital microscopy study showed that the MTX LNC across the Blood-Brain Barrier (BBB) of C57BL/6 female mice after intravenous or oral administrations, without damaging its structure. The area of glioblastoma in vivo was reduced in animals oral treated with MTX LNC comparing to saline treated mice. This reduction was not observed in animals treated with MTX solution. Together, the data herein obtained show that MTX LNC penetrate the cell membrane and cause cell toxicity on glioma and neurons lineage, cross the BBB and suggest that the nanoencapsulation of MTX can be an important strategy for the treatment of glioblastoma.