Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 2003. / Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 164-183). Also available on the Internet.

Orientador: Eloiza Helena Tajara da Silva / Banca: Dorotéia Rossi Silva Souza / Banca: Fábio César Gozzo / Banca: Victor Evangelista de Faria Ferraz / Banca: Elaine Sbroggio de Oliveira Rodini / Resumo: A Neurofibromatose Tipo 1 (NF1) é uma doença autossômica dominante causada por mutações no gene NF1, responsável pela síntese da proteína neurofibromina. Muitos estudos publicados sobre NF1 têm focado as alterações desse gene e de seu produto em indivíduos afetados, mas as análises de expressão protéica são escassas. No presente estudo, nós investigamos diferenças quantitativas e qualitativas da expressão de proteínas entre amostras de neurofibroma e pele adjacente histologicamente normal, utilizando abordagem proteômica. As proteínas de neurofibroma e pele normal foram separadas por eletroforese bidimensional (2-DE) e identificadas por peptide mass fingerprinting, utilizando espectrometria de massas por dessorção e ionização a laser auxiliada por matriz com base no tempo de vôo (MALDI-TOF). Cinco proteínas foram identificadas: a caspase 14 e a proteína de choque térmico 27/HSP 27, que exibiram expressão reduzida em neurofibromas; a imunoglobulina, a flavina redutase e a proteína de ligação a fosfatidiletanolamina/PEBP, com expressão elevada em neurofibromas. Do nosso conhecimento, este é o primeiro relato de análise comparativa de neurofibromas e pele normal de pacientes com neurofibromatose tipo 1. Das proteínas identificadas, a HSP27 e a PEBP estão conectadas com as vias de sinalização celular p21ras ou cAMP, também relacionadas com a atuação da neurofibromina. A caspase 14 não exibe um elo conhecido com essas cascatas e tal fato pode abrir novos caminhos para o estudo da neurofibromatose. Estudos adicionais ainda são necessários para elucidar o papel dessas proteínas no desenvolvimento da neurofibromatose. Nosso estudo é um passo inicial na descoberta de mecanismos moleculares desta doença e mostra o valor da utilização da análise proteômica na identificação de novos parceiros da neurofibromina relacionados com o desenvolvimento da NF1. / Abstract: Neurofibromatosis Type 1 (NF1) is a common autosomal dominant disorder caused by mutations in the NF1 gene. Many of the studies published on NF1 have focused attention on the gene level, but protein expression analyses are scarce. In the present study, we investigated quantitative and qualitative differences in neurofibroma and histologically normal surrounding skin protein expression of NF1 patients, using a proteomic approach. Proteins from neurofibroma and normal skin were separated by two-dimensional electrophoresis (2-DE) and identified by peptide mass fingerprinting, using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF). Five proteins were identified: caspase 14 and heat shock protein 27 kDa protein/HSP 27 (downregulated in neurofibroma), immunoglobulin, flavin reductase and phosphatidylethanolamine binding protein/PEBP (upregulated in neurofibroma). To our knowledge, this is the first report of a comparative analysis of neurofibromas and normal skin from neurofibromatosis type 1 patients. Of the proteins identified, HSP27 and PEBP have a connection with p21ras or cAMP signaling. Caspase 14 has no known link with these pathways and may open a new avenue for studying neurofibromatosis. Further studies are still needed to elucidate the actual roles of the differentially expressed proteins. Our work is an initial step toward uncovering the molecular mechanism of this disease and shows the value of using proteomic analysis to identify novel partners of neurofibromin related to the development of NF1. / Doutor

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) is a genetic disorder resulting from mutations in the tumor suppressor gene NF1. NF1 encodes the protein neurofibromin, which functions to negatively regulate p21Ras signaling. NF1 has a wide range of clinical manifestations, including vascular disease, which is characterized by neointima formation and subsequent vessel occlusion. Despite numerous clinical observations of NF1 vasculopathy, the pathogenesis of vascular lesion formation remains unclear. To determine the consequence of Nf1 haploinsufficiency in vascular disease, we generated an in vivo model for dissecting vascular lesion formation. In response to mechanical arterial injury, Nf1+/- mice have significantly enhanced neointima formation characterized by an accumulation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) and excessive cellular proliferation and Ras activation. Further, using the pharmacological antagonist, imatinib mesylate, we identified that neointima formation in Nf1+/- mice was directly dependent on Ras signaling through either the platelet derived growth factor β receptor (PDGF-βR) and/or the C-kit receptor activation. These observations identify a molecular mechanism of neointima formation given that our group has previously demonstrated that Nf1+/- VSMCs have hyperactive Ras signaling through PDGF-βR activation and Nf1+/- bone marrow derived cells (BMDCs) have increased recruitment and survival in response to C-kit activation compared to WT controls. In order to dissect the cellular contribution to neointima formation, we utilized cre/lox technology and adoptive hematopoietic stem cell transfer techniques to genetically delete one allele of Nf1 in endothelial cells, VSMCs or BMDCs individually to test which cell lineage is predominant in NF1 vasculopathy. Surprisingly, in response to carotid artery injury, heterozygous inactivation of Nf1 in BMDCs alone was necessary and sufficient for neointima formation. Specifically, Nf1 haploinsufficiency in BMDCs resulted in an infiltration of macrophages into the neointima, providing evidence of “vascular inflammation” as factor in NF1 vasculopathy. Further, we demonstrate for the first time that NF1 patients have evidence of chronic inflammation determined by increased concentrations of circulating monocytes and pro-inflammatory cytokines. In sum, we provide genetic and cellular evidence of vascular inflammation in NF1 patients and Nf1+/- mice and provide a framework for understanding the pathogenesis of NF1 vasculopathy and potential therapeutic and diagnostic interventions.

No description available.

Neurofibromatosis type two (NF2) is a genetic disorder predisposing those affected to the development of multiple benign tumors in their central and peripheral nervous systems. This is due to the absence of the tumor suppressor protein merlin, which is encoded by the NF2 gene. In nearly all NF2 cases, patients present with bilateral schwannomas of the vestibulocochlear nerve, in addition to other schwannomas throughout the central and peripheral nervous systems, as well as meningiomas and ependymomas. Currently, no therapeutic alternatives to surgical removal and radiation therapy are available for NF2 patients. This study investigated cobimetinib, an inhibitor of the often-deregulated mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway in NF2 tumors, and its in vitro mechanism of action in both mouse and human NF2 schwannoma model cell lines. It was demonstrated that the drug decreased 70% and 60% of the viability at 10μM in the mouse and human merlin-deficient cell lines, respectively. It was further demonstrated that this decrease in viability was due to cytostatic and cytotoxic effects of cobimetinib in the case of the mouse NF2 schwannoma model but only due to cytostatic effects of cobimetinib in the human NF2 schwannoma model. These results show promise in targeting the MAPK pathway in NF2 tumors, and the promise of cobimetinib specifically, supporting further cytometric flow and in vivo testing of the inhibitor.

No description available.

No description available.

The Neurofibromatosis 2 (NF2) disorder affects approximately l in 40,000 individuals. The primary physical manifestations of the disease are formation of bilateral vestibular schwannomas that lead to hearing and balance impairment (Evans et al 1992). Mutations in the ef2 gene, located on chromosome 22 in humans, have been mapped to all 17 exons. The nj2 gene encodes merlin, a 595 amino acid tumor suppressor protein that is believed to regulate mitogenic signaling in Schwann cells (SCs ). An in-frame deletion of exon 2 has been shown to lead to a more severe form of the disorder (Baser et al 2005). Exon 2 encodes amino acids 40-80 that serve as a paxillin binding domain l (PBD l) that is necessary for merlin's localization to the plasma membrane (Fernandez-Valle et al 2002). An nf2flox2/flxo2 mouse model was developed for conditional deletion of nj2 exon 2 using the Cre-Lox system (Giovannini 2000). These mice developed schwannomas by l 0 months of age. The goal of this thesis was to develop an in vitro model for studying the loss of merlin expression in SCs. SCs were removed from nf2flox2/flxo2 mice, and were infected in vitro with an adenovirus expressing Cre-Recombinase (Adeno-Cre) to excise exon 2, or with an adenovirus expressing B-Gal (Adeno-B-Gal) as a control. SCs were studied for nine days after infection. The nf2flox2/flxo2 SCs expressed nuclear CreRecombinase (Cre) by two days post-infection, and underwent a change in morphology beginning at day three. SCs transitioned from a typically bipolar shape when confluent to either a rounded and spread morphology or extended many processes becoming multipolar. Also by three days post-infection, there was a decrease in the expression of merlin, and a loss of its plasma membrane localization in ere-expressing SCs. Furthermore, there was a persistent increase in erbB2 expression at the plasma membrane in filopodia and other membrane protrusions in ere-expressing SCs. Finally, nf2flox2/flxo2 SCs expressing Cre displayed disordered growth by nine days post-infection in sub confluent cultures. These results suggest that Adeno-Cre viral infection of nf2flox2/flxo2 SCs in vitro leads to phenotypic changes observed in human schwannoma cells, and therefore is a suitable model for the study of loss of merlin expression in SCs.

Noonan spectrum disorders belong to the RASopathies, a group of clinically related developmental disorders caused by dysregulation of the RAS-MAPK pathway. This thesis describes genetic and clinical investigations of six families with Noonan spectrum disorders. In the first family, the index patient presented with severe Noonan syndrome (NS) and multiple café-au-lait (CAL) spots, while four additional family members displayed multiple CAL spots only. Genetic analysis of four RAS-MAPK genes revealed a de novo PTPN11 mutation and a paternally inherited NF1 mutation, which could explain the atypically severe NS, but not the CAL spots trait in the family. The co-occurrence of two mutations was also present in another patient with a severe/complex NS-like phenotype. Genetic analysis of nine RASopathy-associated genes identified a de novo SHOC2 mutation and a maternally inherited PTPN11 mutation. The latter was also identified in her brother. Both the mother and the brother displayed mild phenotypes of NS. The results from these studies suggest that an additive effect of co-occurring mutations contributes to severe/complex NS phenotypes. The inherent difficulty in diagnosing Noonan spectrum disorders is evident in families with neurofibromatosis-Noonan syndrome (NFNS). An analysis of nine RASopathy-associated genes in a five-generation family with NFNS revealed a novel NF1 mutation in all affected family members. Notably, this family was initially diagnosed with NS and CAL spots. The clinical overlap between NS and NFNS was further demonstrated in three additional NFNS families. An analysis of twelve RASopathy-associated genes revealed three different NF1 mutations, all segregating with the disorder in each family. These mutations have been reported in patients with NF1, but have, to our knowledge, not been associated with NFNS previously. Together, these findings support the notion that NFNS is a variant of NF1. Due to the clinical overlap between NS and NFNS, we propose screening for NF1 mutations in NS patients negative for mutations in NS-associated genes, preferentially when CAL spots are present. In conclusion, this thesis suggests that co-occurrence of mutations or modifying loci in the RAS-MAPK pathway contributes to the clinical variability observed within Noonan spectrum disorders and further demonstrates the importance of accurate genetic diagnosis.

Diss. (sammanfattning) Göteborg : Göteborgs universitet, 2009. / Härtill 3 uppsatser.