Orientador: Heitor Moreno Junior / Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-23T22:07:27Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Silva_ThiagoQuinagliaAraujoCosta_D.pdf: 1420649 bytes, checksum: e60823c9257fdc54d91d49f992550d11 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013 / Resumo: Objetivo: A falha no controle da pressão arterial (PA), apesar do uso de três ou mais antihipertensivos caracteriza hipertensão arterial resistente (HAR). A disfunção endotelial está intrinsecamente associada a esta condição e inibidores da fosfodiesterase 5 (iPDE5)-inibindo a degradação de GMP cíclico (GMPc)-reduzem a PA em pacientes com HAR. A administração aguda de iPDE5 poderia melhorar parâmetros hemodinâmicos, endoteliais e de função diastólica do ventrículo esquerdo (FDVE) em pacientes com HAR e o polimorfismo T-786C da sintase de óxido nítrico (NO) endotelial (eNOS) modularia essas respostas. Métodos: Os pacientes (n = 26) foram dispostos em três grupos de acordo com o genótipo da eNOS T-786C: CC (n = 8), a CT (n = 9) e TT (n = 9). Doses crescentes de sildenafil oral (37,5, 50 e 100 mg) e placebo (em datas separadas por pelo menos 2 semanas) foram administradas a intervalos de 30 minutos, enquanto parâmetros hemodinâmicos (não invasivos e contínuos) foram obtidos. Também foram determinados: FDVE; vasodilatação mediada por fluxo (VMF); e nitrito e GMPc plasmáticos ao início e término do protocolo. Resultados: PA média (PAM) e resistência periférica total (RPT) diminuíram no grupo total (n=26) após o sildenafil (84,17 ± 21,04-75 ± 17,21 mmHg, 1149 ± 459,7-1,037 dyn.s/cm-5 ± 340, respectivamente; p<0,05). Similarmente, o sildenafil melhorou a FDVE (volume atrial esquerdo: 25 ± 5,8-20 ± 4,4; Tempo de relaxamento isovolumétrico: 104 ± 19,33-88 ± 15,22; E/e'septal: 9,7 ± 3,8-7,9 ± 2,9; E/e' lateral: 7,7 ± 3,4-6,4 ± 3,2; p<0,05). Os grupos TT e TC obtiveram redução sustentada da RPT ao longo do protocolo. No CC, os valores da RPT retornaram aos basais após as doses. Não houve alterações significativas da VMF, nitrito e GMPc após a administração do sildenafil. Conclusão: A administração aguda de iPDE5 melhora o perfil hemodinâmico e função diastólica em HAR e o polimorfismo T-786C da eNOS modula a resposta hemodinâmica, mas não a FDVE / Abstract: Purpose: Failure to control blood pressure (BP) despite the use of three or more drugs characterizes resistant hypertension (RHTN). Impaired endothelial function is associated to this condition and phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors (PDE5i)-inhibiting cGMP breakdown-reduce BP in RHTN patients. We hypothesized that acute administration of PDE5i could ameliorate hemodynamic, endothelial parameters and left ventricular diastolic function (LVDF) in RHTN patients and that the T-786C nitric oxide (NO) endothelial synthase (eNOS) polymorphism could modulate these responses. Methods: Subjects (n= 26) were arranged into three groups: CC (n= 8), TC (n= 9) and TT (n= 9) according to T-786C eNOS genotype. Increasing doses of oral sildenafil (37.5, 50 and 100 mg) and placebo (in protocols at least 2 weeks apart) were given at 30 minute intervals while continuous non-invasive hemodynamic measures were assessed. LVDF, Flow Mediated Dilation (FMD), plasma nitrite and cGMP were also determined. Results: Mean arterial pressure (MAP) and total peripheral resistance (RPT) decreased in all patients (84.17 ± 21.04 to 75 ± 17.21 mmHg; 1149 ± 459.7 to 1037 ± 340 dyn.s/cm-5, respectively; p<0.05). Likewise, sildenafil improved LVDF parameters (Left atrial volume: 25 ± 5.8 to 20 ± 4.4; Isovolumetric relaxation time: 104 ± 19.33 to 88 ± 15.22; E/e' septal: 9.7 ± 3.8 to 7.9 ± 2.9; E/e' lateral: 7.7 ± 3.4 to 6.4 ± 3.2; p<0.05). While TT and TC genotype groups sustained RPT reduction during the increasing sildenafil doses, CC group failed to sustain the RPT drop, by the end of the protocol. No statistical changes were found in FMD, nitrite and cGMP after PDE5i administration. Conclusion: Our data suggest PDE5i acutely improves hemodynamic profile and diastolic function in RHTN, also T-786C eNOS polymorphism modulates the hemodynamic response, but not diastolic function / Doutorado / Farmacologia / Doutor em Farmacologia

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Abstract Reactive nitrogen species (RNS) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) have been linked with the pathogenesis of lung malignancies and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). In vitro studies indicated that mesothelioma and lung carcinoma cell lines synthesize nitric oxide synthases (NOS) mRNA. The Comet-assay indicated that asbestos fibers caused DNA single -strand breaks in mesothelial cells, and this effect was enhanced by glutathione depletion. The use of FPG in the Comet assay indicated that the asbestos induced DNA strand breaks were oxidant mediated. In vivo non-neoplastic pleura was mostly negative for inducible NOS (iNOS), while inflamed pleura was positive. The immunohistochemical expression of iNOS was detected in 74% and 96% of malignant mesotheliomas and metastatic pleural adenocarcinomas, respectively. Epithelial and mixed mesotheliomas expressed more often intense iNOS immunoreactivity compared to the sarcomatoid subtype. Normal mesothelial cells showed occasional positivity for endothelial NOS (eNOS), but reactive mesothelial cells were strongly stained. eNOS was found in 89% of mesotheliomas. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) was identified in 47%, a VEGF receptor FLK1 in 69% and the VEGF receptor, FLT1, in 71% of mesotheliomas. FLK1 or FLT1 immunoreactivities were more often seen in epithelioid and biphasic mesotheliomas than in sarcomatoid mesotheliomas. In lung samples of non-smokers, smokers and COPD patients, the levels of nitrotyrosine were higher in alveolar macrophages of smokers and COPD patients than in the non-smokers and in the alveolar epithelium of smokers and COPD patients than in the non-smokers. The iNOS expression was weak in the bronchial and alveolar epithelium in all groups but eNOS was most prominently expressed in alveolar macrophages while neuronal NOS (nNOS) was negative in all of the major cell types of the lung. Bronchial metaplasia-dysplasia-sequence was clearly positive for iNOS, nNOS and nitrotyrosine. Thus, smoking can cause protein nitration also in normal lung. Prominent iNOS and nNOS immunoreactivity in metaplasia-dysplasia-lesions suggests a divergent role of NOSs in carcinogenesis and destruction of alveolar epithelium in emphysematous lung. In lung cancer samples, iNOS was detected in 40% cases, while 89% and 81% cases were positive for eNOS and nNOS, respectively. Intense eNOS staining was seen more often in adenocarcinomas than in squamous cells carcinomas, and iNOS immunoreactivity was seen more often in grade I-II tumors than in grade III tumors. The patients with tumors showing high expression of iNOS, eNOS and nNOS, exhibited better survival, but this was not an independent prognostic factor.

High levels of the amino acid arginine and low levels of the product citrulline in the cerebrospinal fluid of Alzheimer's patients could mean that there is a decrease in the enzymes that metabolize this amino acid. One such enzyme is neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS). In this study, neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS), sourced from bovine brain was extracted and concentrated using two methods of precipitation: poly (ethylene glycol) 20 000 (PEG) and ammonium sulphate [(NH₄)₂S0₄). These two techniques gave no increase in yield nor fold purification and hence were abandoned in favour of ion exchange chromatography by DEAE-Sepharose. The enzyme was then successfully purified by anion-exchange and after dialysis produced a 38% yield and three fold purification and yielded the highest specific activity of 2.27 U/mg. Neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) was a heterodimeric protein with a total molecular mass of ± 225 kDa (95 and 130 kDa monomers). The temperature and pH optima of the enzyme were 40⁰C and 6.5, respectively. The kinetic parameters (KM and Vmax) of nNOS were 70 μM and 0.332 μmol.min⁻¹, respectively. Moreover neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) was relatively stable at 40⁰C (t½ = 3 h). It was also confirmed that β-amyloid peptides inhibited nNOS when bound to the enzyme and that nNOS behaved as a catalyst in fibril formation through association-dissociation between enzyme and β-amyloid peptide. It was further shown that Aβ₁₇₋₂₈ inhibited nNOS the most with a Ki of 1.92 μM and also had the highest Stern-Volmer value (Ksv) of 0.11 μM⁻¹ indicating tight binding affinity to nNOS and easier accessibility to fluor molecules during binding. Congo red, turbidity, thioflavin-T assays and transmission electron microscopy were successfully used to detect and visualize the presence of fibrils by studying the process of fibrillogenesis. Computerized molecular modeling successfully studied protein dynamics and conformational changes of nNOS. These results correlated with resonance energy transfer (FRET) results which revealed the distance of tryptophan residues from the arginine bound at enzyme active site. Both the aforementioned techniques revealed that in the natural state of the enzyme with arginine bound at the active site, the tryptophan residues (TRP₆₂₅ and TRP₇₂₁) were positioned at the surface of the enzyme 28 Å away from the active site. When the amyloid peptide (Aβ₁₇₋₂₈) was bound to the active site, these same two amino acids moved 14 Å closer to the active site. A five residue hydrophobic fragment Aβ₁₇₋₂₁ [Leu₁₇ - Val₁₈ - Phe₁₉ - Phe₂₀ - Ala₁] within Aβ₁₇₋₂₈ was shown by computer modeling to be critical to the binding of the peptide to the active site of nNOS.

The start of the amyloidogenic pathway in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) begins with the deposition of the Aβ₁₋₄₂ peptide surrounded by astrocytes. High levels of arginine and low amounts of neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) are associated with AD. These astrocytes store reserve arginine that is eventually metabolized by nNOS, within the vicinity of the Aβ₁₋₄₂ peptide. We propose the existence of an association vs. dissociation equilibrium between Aβ and nNOS such that nNOS is an amyloidogenic catalyst for fibrils. When Aβ binds to nNOS, it inhibits the activity of the enzyme (association phase). However when the amyloid peptide dissociates into a form that can no longer bind, later deduced as a fibril, the activity is restored. Thus, the interaction of Aβ with nNOS could serve to regulate the interaction between nNOS and arginine by restoring activity of the enzyme but at the same time promoting fibrillogenesis. Given this event occurring with the neuron, both nNOS and amyloid can serve as a biomarker for the early onset of AD. The enzyme nNOS catalyzed the formation of fibrils in the presence of Aβ peptides, while Ag nps were shown to reverse the fibril formation from Aβ peptides more so than Au and curcumin either through electrostatic or π-π stacking (aromatic) influences. Our studies have shown that the fragments of Aβ₁₋₄₂ i.e. the pentapeptide (Aβ₁₇₋₂₁) and the three glycine zipper peptides (Aβ₂₅₋₂₉, Aβ₂₉₋₃₃, Aβ₃₃₋₃₇) and the full length glycine zipper stretch (Aβ₂₅₋₃₇) all inhibited nNOS activity to varying degrees. The peptides Aβ₁₇₋₂₁ and Aβ₂₉₋₃₃ with their respective Ki values of 5.1 μM and 7.5 μM inhibited the enzyme the most. The Ki values for reversed sequenced peptides (Aβ₁₇₋₂₁r and Aβ₂₉₋₃₃r) were two fold greater than that of the original peptides while the Ki values for the polar forms (Aβ₁₇₋₂₁p and Aβ₂₉₋₃₃p) were between 3-4 fold greater than that of the original peptides. It was also found that Ag nps (Ki = 0.12 μM) inhibited the activity of nNOS the most compared to Au nps; (Ki = 0.15 μM) and curcumin (Ki = 0.25 μM). At 298K, all the ligands bound at a single site on the enzyme (n=1) and a single Trp residue (θ =1), (later identified as Trp678) was made available on the enzyme surface for quenching by the ligands. Increasing the temperature from 298K-313K, increased the value of Ksv and pointed to a dynamic quenching mechanism for Aβ peptides, nps and curcumin interaction with nNOS. The positive signs for entropy and enthalpy for all Aβ peptides nps and curcumin pointed to hydrophobic–hydrophobic interaction with the enzyme. The fact that Kd increased with temperature emphasized the endothermic nature of the binding reaction and the requirement of thermal energy to aid in diffusion of the ligand to the active site. It was concluded that the binding reaction between the ligands and nNOS was non-spontaneous and endothermic at low temperatures (+ΔG) but spontaneous at high temperatures (-ΔG). The two amino acids Tyr706 and Trp678 moved from their original positions, subject to ligand binding. Trp678 moved a minimum distance of 5 Å toward the heme while Tyr706 moved a maximum distance of 14 Å away from the heme. AutoDock 4.2 was a valuable tool in monitoring the distance of Trp678 within the enzyme interior and fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) was efficient in monitoring the distance moved by Trp residues on the enzyme surface.

Activation of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and oxidative stress have been shown to be associated with compromised cardiovascular function in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced type 1 diabetes. The aim of the project is to investigate cardiovascular abnormalities in a rat model of type 2 diabetes (Zucker diabetes fatty or ZDF rats) and two models of metabolic syndrome (fructose-fed rats and Zucker obese rats), and to provide direct evidence linking iNOS and oxidative stress to abnormal cardiovascular function in these disorders. Blood pressure, cardiac contractility, cardiac index, regional flow, vascular resistance and venous tone were measured in diseased as well as normal rats. Biochemical analyses such as activities of iNOS, immunostaining of iNOS and western-blot analysis of iNOS in the heart tissue were carried out. The results showed that cardiac contractile response to dobutamine was compromised in the ZDF rats, and this was associated with increased myocardial protein expression as well as activity of iNOS. The formation of peroxynitrite was increased in the heart tissue of the ZDF rats. Selective inhibition of iNOS by 1400W (N-3-aminomethyl-benzyl-acetamidine) did not alter responses to dobutamine in the control rats, but augmented the contractile effects of dobutamine in the diabetic rats. The regional blood flow was altered in the ZDF rats, and iNOS played a negligible role in regulating regional flow in the ZDF rats. Although venous response to noradrenaline was also altered in the Zucker obese rats, NOS may not be involved in venous tone regulation. Anti-oxidative treatment with N-acetylcysteine inhibited the development of insulin resistance, blood pressure elevation and the increase of 8-isoprostane formation in the fructose-fed rats. We conclude that heart function is compromised and regional blood flow is altered in the ZDF rats. Activation of iNOS plays an important role in suppressing heart dysfunction but does not affect regional blood flow. In Zucker obese rats with metabolic syndrome, iNOS may not be involved in changes of venous function. Oxidative stress is associated with both abnormality of heart dysfunction in type 2 diabetes (by formation of peroxynitrite due to iNOS activation) and development of hypertension and insulin resistance in metabolic syndrome. / Medicine, Faculty of / Anesthesiology, Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Department of / Graduate

Orientadores: Jacqueline Mendonça Lópes de Faria, José Butori Lopes de Faria / Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-24T10:41:17Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Rosales_MarianaAparecidaBrunini_D.pdf: 28953374 bytes, checksum: e9a2824bad639c7cbd3628c24c4308ad (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014 / Resumo: A patogênese da retinopatia diabética (RD) está associada ao estresse nitrosativo. Alterações na barreira hemato-retiniana (BHR) externa, formada pelas células do epitélio pigmentar da retina (EPR), estão associadas às fases precoces da RD e podem acarretar no desequilíbrio da manutenção dos fotorreceptores e consequentemente promoverem mudanças nas células neuronais da retina. O estresse nitrosativo como conseqüência do aumento da produção de óxido nítrico (NO¿) produzido pela super expressão da óxido nítrico sintetase induzida (iNOS) esteve presente em todas as camadas da retina, inclusive no EPR em condições de RD experimental in vivo precoce ou na linhagem celular humana do EPR (ARPE-19) expostas à alta concentração de glicose. O tratamento com agentes químicos como a S-nitrosoglutationa (GSNO), ou naturais (cacau enriquecido com polifenol) atuaram em diferentes vias de inibição da iNOS, prevenindo o estresse nitrosativo. Para o estudo in vivo com o colírio de GSNO (artigo I) foram utilizados animais espontaneamente hipertensos (SHR) com 4 semanas de idade. O diabetes (DM) foi induzido por STZ. Após a confirmação do DM (48 horas), os animais foram divididos em 6 grupos: controles (CTs) veículo; GSNO 900nm e GSNO 10?m ou DMs veículo; GSNO 900nm e GSNO 10?m. O efeito do tratamento com colírio de GSNO foi dependente da presença ou ausência da condição do DM. Nos animais CT, o GSNO atuou como um agente nitrosativo e nos animais DM preveniu o aumento da expressão da iNOS, preservando a retina funcional. Os estudos in vitro, demonstraram que o efeito do GSNO foi deletério ou protetor dependente da concentração de glicose. Nas células ARPE-19 expostas a condições normais de glicose, o tratamento promoveu um aumento na produção de NO¿ sem aumentar a expressão de iNOS e nas células sob alta glicose induziu uma modificação pós-translacional de proteína, a S-glutationilação da iNOS prevenindo o estresse nitrosativo. No estudo do cacau (artigo II), foi avaliado in vitro (ARPE-19 exposta a alta concentração de glicose) o seu efeito protetor dependente da concentração de polifenóis. Para isso foram testadas duas formulações de cacau que diferiram somente na concentração de polifenol: 0,5% para o cacau com baixo teor de polifenol e 60,5% para o cacau com alto teor de polifenol. A epicatequina (EC), encontrada na concentração de 12% no cacau com alto teor de polifenol foi tão eficaz quanto o próprio e esteve envolvida no controle da expressão da iNOS através da estimulação do receptor ?-opióide (DOR) diminuindo os níveis de TNF-?. A modulação da iNOS, preveniu a S-nitrosilação da caveolina-1 (CAV-1) e diminuição da expressão das junções intercelulares claudina-1 e ocludina através da prevenção da interação CAV-1?junções. Em ambos os estudos, o alvo terapêutico foi a iNOS em duas diferentes modalidades: modificação pós-translacional de proteína e modulação do TNF-? via DOR no EPR em modelos experimentais de RD. Os tratamentos apresentados neste trabalho demonstraram a iNOS como alvo terapêutico e mostraram-se eficaz em conter danos funcionais e morfológicos promovidas pela situação de mimetismo do DM no EPR demonstrando o importante papel da iNOS no desenvolvimento da RD / Abstract: The pathogenesis of diabetic retinopathy (DR) is associated with nitrosative stress. Changes in outer blood-retinal barrier (BRB), formed by retinal pigment epithelium cells (RPE) are associated in the early stages of DR and can cause imbalance in the maintenance of photoreceptors and thereby cause changes on retinal neuronal cells. The nitrosative stress as a result of increased production of nitric oxide (NO) produced by overexpression of nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) was present in all layers of the retina and mainly in RPE cells in early in vivo experimental DR or in human RPE cell line (ARPE-19) exposed to high glucose condition. Therapy with chemical agents such as S-Nitrosoglutathione (GSNO) or natural compounds (enriched cocoa polyphenol) acted in different pathways of iNOS inhibition, preventing nitrosative stress. For the in vivo study with GSNO eye drops (article I), it were used spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) rats with 4 week old. Diabetes (DM) was induced by streptozotocin (STZ). After DM confirmation (48 hours), the animals were divided into 6 groups: controls (CTs) vehicle; GSNO 900nm and GSNO 10?m or DMs vehicle; GSNO 900nm e GSNO 10?m. The effects of treatments were dependent on glucose concentration. In CT animals, GSNO acted as a nitrosative agent and in DM rats prevented iNOS overexpression, preserving the retina function. In vitro study showed that GSNO protective or deleterious effects were dependent on the glucose concentration. In ARPE-19 cells exposed to normal glucose, the treatment promoted an increase of NO¿ production without increase iNOS expression and in cells under high glucose (HG) condition induced post-translational protein modification, S-glutationylation of iNOS, preventing nitrosative stress. In the study with cocoa (article II), it was evaluated its protective effect dependent on concentration of polyphenols in ARPE-19 cells under HG condition. For this study, the composition of cocoa was the same in both preparations with the only difference in the amounts of polyphenol, 0.5% for low polyphenol cocoa (LPC) and 60.5% for high polyphenol cocoa (HPC). Epicatechin (EC), found in 12% of HPC was similarly protective compare to HPC and it was involved in controlling iNOS expression by stimulation of the delta opioid receptor decreasing TNF- ? levels. The modulation of iNOS prevented S-nitrosylation of caveolin-1 (CAV-1) and decreased expression of claudin-1 and occluding tight junctions by preventing CAV-1/junctions interactions. The treatments presented here showed iNOS as a therapeutic target containing functional and morphological changes promoted by DM milieu in RPE showing the important role of iNOS in the development of DR / Doutorado / Clinica Medica / Doutora em Clínica Médica

Oxisteróis (por exemplo, 7hidroxicolesterol) são gerados por modificações oxidativas que ocorrem na molécula de colesterol. Podem ser encontrados em elevados níveis plasmáticos em pacientes com aterosclerose e como componentes da placa aterosclerótica. Considerando que o colesterol é o principal componente da cavéola (domínios específicos da membrana plasmática que ancoram diversas proteínas de sinalização) formulamos a hipótese que os oxisteróis podem ser incorporados a estes domínios, interferindo com as vias de sinalização aí localizadas. Células endoteliais de veia umbilical humana (HUVECs) em cultura foram expostas a 7hidroxicolesterol (10g/mL) por diferentes tempos. Analisamos a incorporação desse oxisterol à cavéola utilizando espectrometria de massa e a atividade das proteínas de sinalização presentes neste domínio: óxido nítrico sintase endotelial (eNOS), CD40/CD40L, receptor do fator de crescimento de fibroblastos (rFGF), utilizando PCR quantitativo e imunoblots. Inicialmente mostramos que o 7hidroxycholesterol, em concentrações fisiológicas, foi incorporado às cavéolas mais acentuadamente que em outros domínios de membrana. Esse fenômeno impediu o desligamento entre eNOS e caveolina, prejudicando a função dessa enzima. Também mostramos que o receptor CD40 apresentou uma maior incorporação à cavéola e o rFGF manteve uma ativação mais longa quando células foram expostas ao 7hidroxicolesterol. Esses efeitos gerados pelo oxisterol não estavam relacionados à sua ação sobre mediadores inflamatórios ou receptores nucleares, desde que nenhuma diferença foi observada no perfil de citocinas ou na expressão de genes dependentes da ativação de LXR. Assim, concluímos que a incorporação de 7hidroxycholesterol nos domínios de cavéola pode interferir com vias de sinalização sabidamente envolvidas na aterogênese ou na ruptura da placa / Oxysterols (for example, 7hidroxycholesterol) are generated by oxidative modifications to cholesterol molecules. They have been described in high levels in patients with atherosclerosis and as components of the atherosclerotic plaque. Since cholesterol is the main component of caveolae (plasma membrane domains that anchor several signaling proteins), we hypothesized that oxysterol could be incorporated to these domains, interfering with the signaling networks that use this pathway. Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) in culture were exposed to 7hidroxycholesterol (10g/mL) for different times. We analyzed incorporation of this oxysterol to caveolae using mass spectroscopy and the activity of signaling pathways present in these domains: endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), CD40/CD40L, fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFr), using quantitative PCR and immunoblots. Initially we showed that 7hidroxycholesterol, in physiological concentrations, was incorporated to caveolae more prominently than to other plasma membrane domains. This phenomenon caused a difficulty in eNOS release from caveolin, impairing its function. We also showed that the receptor CD40 presented a stronger incorporation to caveolae and FGFr maintained a longer activation when cells were exposed to 7hidroxycholesterol. These oxysterol effects were not related to its action in inflammatory mediators or nuclear receptors, since no difference could be observed in cytokine profiles or in the expression of genes dependent on LXR activation. Therefore we conclude that 7hidroxycholesterol incorporation in caveolae domains may interfere with signaling pathways known to be involved in atherogenesis or in plaque rupture

Alzheimer's disease is a neurodegenerative disorder with the highest prevalence in the population and for which we do not have a cure so far. The aim of this thesis was to test the mediator system of the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor and nitric oxide in an animal model of sporadic form of Alzheimer's disease (Samaritan Alzheimer's Rat Model; Taconic Pharmaceuticals, USA). Then compare these results with changes in hippocampal cholinergic system and cognitive tests. The Samaritan rat model is based on the unilateral in vivo application of β-amyloid42 and the pro-oxidative substances (ferrous sulfate heptahydrate and L-buthionine-(S,R)-sulfoximine). Neurochemical methods included testing of the NR1/NR2A/NR2B subunits of the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor and activity of nitric oxide synthases (neuronal, endothelial, inducible) in the cortex, in both cases in the right and left hemisphere separately. Our results show that Samaritan rats exhibited significant changes in expression of NR2A/NR2B subunits of the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor and activity of inducible nitric oxide synthase in cortex compared to control rats. The results of glutamatergic system are consistent with changes in activity of cholinergic transporter and cognitive tests (Morris water maze and active allothetic place avoidance)....

Dysfunction of the intrinsic cardiac nervous system is implicated in the genesis of atrial and ventricular arrhythmias. While this system has been studied extensively in animal models, far less is known about the intrinsic cardiac nervous system of humans. This study was initiated to anatomically identify neurotransmitters associated with the right atrial ganglionated plexus (RAGP) of the human heart. Biopsies of epicardial fat containing a portion of the RAGP were collected from eight patients during cardiothoracic surgery and processed for immunofluorescent detection of specific neuronal markers. Colocalization of markers was evaluated by confocal microscopy. Most intrinsic cardiac neuronal somata displayed immunoreactivity for the cholinergic marker choline acetyltransferase and the nitrergic marker neuronal nitric oxide synthase. A subpopulation of intrinsic cardiac neurons also stained for noradrenergic markers. While most intrinsic cardiac neurons received cholinergic innervation evident as punctate immunostaining for the high affinity choline transporter, some lacked cholinergic inputs. Moreover, peptidergic, nitrergic, and noradrenergic nerves provided substantial innervation of intrinsic cardiac ganglia. These findings demonstrate that the human RAGP has a complex neurochemical anatomy, which includes the presence of a dual cholinergic/nitrergic phenotype for most of its neurons, the presence of noradrenergic markers in a subpopulation of neurons, and innervation by a host of neurochemically distinct nerves. The putative role of multiple neurotransmitters in controlling intrinsic cardiac neurons and mediating efferent signaling to the heart indicates the possibility of novel therapeutic targets for arrhythmia prevention.