The immunoproteasome, known to play an important role in MHC class I antigen processing and presentation, have been linked to neurodegenerative diseases and hematological cancers. However, the pathophysiological functions of the immunoproteasome in these diseases are still not very well established. This can be attributed mainly to the lack of appropriate molecular probes that selectively target the immunoproteasome catalytic subunits. Herein, we report the development of a small molecular inhibitor (AM) that selectively targets the major catalytic subunit, LMP2, of the immunoproteasome. We show that the compound covalently modifies the LMP2 subunit with high specificity in human prostate cancer cell. AM was also shown to selectively inhibit the chymotrypsin-like activity of LMP2 subunit. More importantly, the anti-proliferative activity of AM is more pronounced in prostate cancer cells that highly express LMP2 without inducing toxicity in normal cells. These results implicate an important role of LMP2 in regulating cell growth of malignant tumors that highly express LMP2. Subsequently, the modes of action of AM were investigated. Prostate cancer cells that highly express LMP were shown to induce G2/M cell cycle arrest and apoptosis via PARP cleavage when treated with the compound. Similar to epoxomicin, the treatment of AM induced the accumulation of poly-ubiquitination in prostate cancer cells, which indicates the inhibition of proteolysis. However, unlike epoxomicin, the treatment of AM did not appear to inhibit the activation of inflammation. In conclusion, these results suggest that the LMP2 inhibitor, AM, may induce cytotoxicity prostate cancer cells that highly express LMP2 catalytic subunit in similar modes of action as epoxomicin but it does not involve the inflammatory pathway.

Production of ammonia by the colonies of mutants and aging of wrinkled colonies of Saccharomyces cerevisiae The aim of this diploma thesis is to observe the development, respectively the aging of cells in yeast colonies Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Yeast cells S. cerevisiea form multicellular organized structures on a solid substrate, i.e. colonies, which the intercellular interactions occur in. These interactions influence forming, morphology and aging of yeast colonies. This diploma thesis is focused partly on the changes in ammonia production by giant colonies of deletion mutants and partly on the aging of colonies with the wrinkled morphology. I characterized mutant strains of S. cerevisiae with the deletion in RTG1, RTG2, RTG3, FIS1, CIT2 genes. Their products play an important role in the colony development. The transcription of these genes changes during the transition from the acidic to alkali phase during developmental process of the colonies. I have found out that the ammonium production rate was in accordance with the results of the alkalization in giant colonies surroundings and mentioned mutants derived from the BY strain has been producing ammonia since the 15th day. The rate of the ammonia production by rtg3∆ strain was comparable to the parental strain. Compared to parental strain, lower...

Vaccines are a highly effective means of preventing infectious disease. However, for many diseases of livestock the available vaccines are ineffective or sub-optimal. This is partly due to challenges surrounding the specific targeting of antigen presenting cells (APCs). In order to improve the delivery of protective antigens to host APCs, a novel lentiviral vector derived from visna / maedi virus (VMV) has been developed. Initial characterisation using an enhanced green fluorescent protein (eGFP) reporter transgene found that the novel VMV vector efficiently transduced a wide range of cell lines including cells of ovine, human, murine, bovine and caprine origin. In addition, the VMV vector was found to elicit sustained transgene expression for at least 4 weeks in rapidly dividing cell lines. One of the most important factors for acceptable vaccines is their safety. Therefore, in order to increase the bio-safety of the VMV vector, integration-defective and self-inactivating forms were produced. Integration-defective VMV lentiviral vectors (IDLVs) were found to produce 1-LTR circular episomes favourably over integrated provirus following the transduction of target feline and ovine cell lines. This led to a decrease in transgene expression over time in dividing cells. In contrast, in non-dividing cells transgene expression was maintained at a similar level to integration-competent VMV vectors. Self-inactivating (SIN) VMV vectors were constructed and found to have a significant decrease in LTR activity. Transgene expression was maintained by the insertion of an internal promoter derived from human cytomegalovirus (CMV) acting directly on the transgene. When self-inactivating and integration-defective modifications were incorporated into the same vector particle, a 4-fold decrease in transduction relative to the parent vector was observed. Ovine monocyte-derived dendritic cells (MDDCs) and macrophages (MDMs) were found to be efficiently transduced by the VMV vector, whereas lentiviral vectors derived from HIV-1 poorly transduced both of these primary cell populations. Following this work, the ability to deliver pathogen genes into APCs was studied using the Chlamydia abortus (C. abortus) major outer membrane protein (MOMP) as the transgene. C. abortus is the most common infectious cause of ovine abortion worldwide and MOMP has previously been shown to stimulate strong antibody responses after vaccination. Unexpectedly, the VMV vector encoding either eGFP or MOMP was found to induce apoptosis in MDDCs and MDMs using Annexin V staining. Apoptotic cells were detectable as early as 6 hours post-transduction of cells. Furthermore, release of the pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-1β was associated with the formation of late apoptotic cells. Apoptotic bodies produced post-transduction were able to be phagocytosed by immature MDDCs and the transgene efficiently cross-presented to T-cells. The ability of the novel VMV vector to induce a suitable recall immune responses was investigated using an in vitro model. Here, an autologous population of MDDCs were cultured with the apoptotic bodies produced post-transduction before the addition of autologous PBMC. Proteins from the apoptotic bodies were presented by the MDDCs to PBMC leading to a strong, antigen specific recall immune response against C. abortus MOMP. This was proven by the detection of cytokines IFNγ and IL-10 in the co-culture supernatant from PBMC activated by the MOMP transgene cross-presented by MDDCs. No release of IL-4 or IL-17A could be detected. These data presented in this thesis show the potential for improving delivery of antigens in livestock vaccines by the use of lentiviral vectors. In addition, this vector system provides a strong base for the study of other potential protective antigens in vitro.

Efficient removal of apoptotic cells is critical for development, tissue remodelling, maintenance of homeostasis, and response to injury. Phagocytosis of apoptotic cells is mediated by many phagocytic receptors, soluble bridging molecules, and pro-phagocytic ligands on the surface of apoptotic cells. Macrophage phagocytosis in general is controlled by stimulatory and inhibitory mechanisms. An example of the latter mechanism is that mediated by the cell surface glycoprotein CD47, which by binding to the inhibitory receptor Signal Regulatory Protein alpha (SIRPα) on macrophages, is known to inhibit phagocytosis of viable host cells. The studies of the present thesis aimed at investigating possible changes to CD47 on apoptotic cells, which could influence their elimination by macrophages. The endoplasmatic protein calreticulin (CRT), in conjunction with Low density lipoprotein Receptorrelated Protein 1 (LRP1) on the phagocyte, can act as a receptor for collectin family members and mediate uptake of apoptotic cells. However, CRT itself was found to also be expressed on the surface of many viable cell types, and the CRT expression increased on apoptotic cells. By using antibodies to LRP1 or receptor‐associated protein (RAP), an antagonist blocking LRP1 ligand binding, we found that CRT on target cells could interact in trans with LRP1 on a phagocyte and stimulate phagocytosis. CD47 on the target cell inhibited LRP1‐mediated phagocytosis of viable cells (e.g. lymphocytes or erythtocytes), but not that of apoptotic cells. The inability of CD47 on apoptotic cells to inhibit LRP1‐ mediated phagocytosis could be explained in two ways: 1) Some apoptotic cell types (fibroblasts and neutrophils, but not Jurkat T cells) lost CD47 from the cell surface, or 2) CD47 is evenly distributed on the surface of viable cells, while it was redistributed into patches on apoptotic cells, segregated away from areas of the plasma membrane where the pro‐phagocytic ligands CRT and phoaphatidylserine (PS) were concentrated. Apoptotic murine thymocytes also showed a patched distribution of CD47, but no significant loss of the receptor. However, both PS‐independent and PS‐dependent macrophage phagocytosis of apoptotic CD47‐/‐ thymocytes was less efficient than uptake of apoptotic wild‐type (wt) thymocytes. This contradictory finding was explained by the fact that CD47 on apoptotic thymocytes did no longer inhibit phagocytosis, but rather mediated binding of the apoptotic cell to the macrophage. These effects could in part be dependent on the apoptotic cell type, since uptake of experimentally senescent PS+ wt or CD47‐/‐ erythrocytes by macrophage in vitro, or by dendritic cells (DC) in vivo, were the same. In vivo, PS+ erythrocytes were predominantly trapped by marginal zone macrophages and by CD8+ CD207+ DCs in the splenic marginal zone. DCs which had taken up PS+ erythrocytes showed a slight increase in expression levels of CD40, CD86 and MHC class II. These findings suggest that PS+ erythrocytes may be recognized by splenic macrophages and DCs in ways similar to that reported for apoptotic T cells. Uptake of senescent erythrocytes by DCs may serve as an important mechanism to maintain self‐tolerance to erythrocyte antigens, and defects in this function may facilitate development of AIHA. Glucocorticoids are used to treat inflammatory conditions and can enhance macrophage uptake of apoptotic cells. We found that the glucocorticoid dexamethasone time‐ and dose‐dependently stimulated macrophage cell surface LRP1 expression. Dexamethasone‐stimulated macrophages also showed enhanced phagocytosis of apoptotic thymocytes and unopsonized viable CD47‐/‐ erythrocytes. In summary, LRP1 can mediate phagocytosis of both viable and apoptotic cells by binding CRT on the target cell. Macrophage expression of LRP1 is increased by glucocorticoids, which could be one explanation for the anti‐inflammatory role of glucocorticoids. While CD47 on viable cells efficiently inhibits phagocytosis in macrophages, CD47 on apoptotic cells does not and can sometimes even promote their removal.

Since the discovery of anti-tumor activity of cisplatin in 1960, significant progress has been made in treating metastatic or advanced cancer with cisplatin and platinum compounds. Platinum compounds covalently bind to DNA and disrupt DNA function. They are also known to bind with amino acids like methionine, histidine and cysteine to form cisplatin-protein adducts which are responsible for most of its cytotoxicity and side effects. Recent articles on cisplatin-protein have shown that adding bulky adjuncts to cisplatin or using different platinum compounds varies the degree and extent of reaction thus possibly reducing cisplatin resistance and side effects. One of the proteins to study is cytochrome C, which is an intermediate in apoptosis (a controlled form of cell death used to kill cells in the process of development or in response to infection or DNA damage). Cytochrome C activates caspase 9, a cysteine protease, which in turn goes on to activate caspases 3 and 7, which are responsible for destroying the cell from within. In this study, we tried to examine how various platinum compounds like cis-Pt(NH3)2Cl2, cis-Pt(NH3)2(NO3)2, Pt(en)(NO3)2, Pt(Me4en)(NO3)2, Pt(NH3)2 (oxalate), Pt(en)(oxalate),Pt(Me4en)(oxalate), which have different ligands/bulk, react with cytochrome C in different physiological conditions. This research project subsequently focused on three main aspects: 1) to determine whether the concentration of platinum compounds made a difference in the reaction rate, 2) to determine whether the pH of the buffer shows any difference in the reaction rate, 3) to determine how the ligands coordinated to the platinum affected the rate. We used 1) HPLC with vitamin B12 (cyanocobalamin) as an internal standard. 2) Separate samples of platinum compounds with bovine serum albumin were then subjected to dialysis and were then sent to the Materials Characterization Center for analysis by ICP-AES spectroscopy. In summary, the following conclusions are stated: •The leaving group, pH, bulk and the concentration play a very vital role in determining the reaction rate for platinum-cytochrome C interactions. •Chlorides form excellent leaving groups followed by oxalates then nitrates. •Pt(en) reacts faster than Pt(NH3)2 which reacts faster than Pt(Me4en). •Nitrates, Pt(en) and few oxalate form multiple products showing non-specific binding. Only cis-Pt(NH3)2Cl2 and Pt(Me4en)(oxalate) formed predominately a single product showing target specific binding. •cis-Pt(NH3)2Cl2 showed an increased reaction rate at lower pH while cis-Pt(NH3)2(NO3)2 and Pt(Me4en)(NO3)2 showed higher reactions at higher pH. •Despite platinum compound was present in significant molar excess relative to cytochrome C, at the end of 21 hrs there was a significant amount of unreacted cytochrome C left except in case of cis-Pt(en)Cl2 which reacted with the whole cytochrome C in less than ten minutes. •We saw the rate of reaction in order of cis-Pt(en)Cl2 > Pt(en)(oxalate) > cis-Pt(NH3)2Cl2 > Pt(en)(NO3)2 > cis-Pt(NH3)2(NO3)2 > cis-Pt(NH3)2(oxalate) > Pt(Me4en)(oxalate) > Pt(Me4en)(NO3)2

<p>Inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) is a rare and highly aggressive form of breast cancer that is characterized by survival signaling through overexpression and/or activation of the epidermal growth factor receptors EGFR/ErbB1 and Her2/ErbB2 and defects in the apoptotic program. The development of therapeutic resistance is a significant barrier to successful treatment in IBC, and thus, strategies targeting the mechanisms that drive drug resistance could prevent or reverse therapeutic resistance, significantly improving patient prognosis. Based on analysis of previously developed models of therapeutic resistant IBC, we hypothesized that apoptotic dysregulation and redox adaptive mechanisms were central to the drug resistant phenotype in IBC cells, and that targeting of these mechanisms could overcome therapeutic resistance. Our objectives to address this hypothesis were: 1. to develop and characterize an isotype-matched IBC cellular model to investigate the mechanisms of acquired therapeutic resistance; 2. to characterize IAP-specific small molecule inhibitors as a means of targeting the mechanism of apoptotic dysregulation in IBC; and 3. to characterize a novel redox modulatory combination as a means of targeting redox adaptive mechanisms in IBC.</p><p>Analysis of cell viability, proliferation, and growth parameters, evaluation of protein expression and signaling via western immunoblot, and measurement of reactive oxygen species (ROS), antioxidants, and apoptosis in patient-derived IBC cell lines and isogenic derivatives revealed that resistance to the ErbB1/2 inhibitor lapatinib was protective against other targeted agents and chemotherapeutics. Additionally, reversal of resistance was associated with enhanced ability to accumulate ROS and downregulation of anti-apoptotic and antioxidant proteins. Targeting of resistance mechanisms using small molecule IAP inhibitors and a redox modulatory strategy both effectively induced apoptosis in therapy resistant IBC cells. Together, these results confirm XIAP and the redox adaptive phenotype as promising therapeutic targets for IBC and demonstrate the feasibility of targeting those mechanisms in order to reverse therapeutic resistance.</p> / Dissertation

Fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2) is a multifunctional protein translated as CUG-initiated, high molecular weight (hi FGF2) or AUG-initiated, low molecular weight (lo FGF2) isoforms with potentially distinct functions. Previous work showed that overexpression of hi- but not lo FGF2 elicited chromatin compaction resulting in cell death, by an intracrine route. A series of studies were undertaken aimed at extending our understanding of the intracrine action of Hi FGF2. Major findings are as follows: a. Hi FGF2 overexpression induces apoptotic cell death, as indicated by increased TUNEL staining, and mitochondrial participation (cytochrome c release to cytosol, rescue of the hi FGF2 phenotype by the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2. b. Increased expression of pro-survival signals/proteins that are known to upregulate Bcl-2, such as nuclear Akt; the PIM-1 kinase; and the heat shock protein hsp70, also rescued the hi FGF2-induced phenotype. c. The hi-FGF2 effect was associated with sustained, intracrine, activation of ERK, and was blocked by ERK inhibitors. d. FGF2 isoform specific affinity chromatography followed by mass spectroscopy identified several proteins as potentially interacting with hi FGF2; of these, the p68 RNA helicase and the hsp70 were further confirmed as interacting partners, by co-immunoprecipitation. e. Increased nuclear co-localization, and possibly interaction, between hi FGF2 and overexpressed hsp70 correlated with rescue from hi FGF2 induced cell death. f. Factors associated with cardiac pathology (isoproterenol, angiotensin II, endothelin I) also upregulated endogenous hi FGF2 in cardiac cells in culture. Adriamycin-induced cardiotoxicity in the rat, known to be linked to increased incidence of apoptosis, was also associated with increased endogenous hi FGF2. g. Hi FGF2 is expressed in the human heart (atria) and localizes in both cytosol and nuclei, suggesting a participation in human heart physiology and pathophysiology. Work presented here is consistent with the notion that endogenous hi FGF2 up-regulation may play a role in promoting cell death during prolonged tissue stress and dysfunction. It follows that processes related to hi FGF2 upregulation, hi FGF2-nuclear protein interactions and mechanisms of hi FGF2 induced cell death, represent potential therapeutic targets for modulating cell death.

Fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2) is a multifunctional protein translated as CUG-initiated, high molecular weight (hi FGF2) or AUG-initiated, low molecular weight (lo FGF2) isoforms with potentially distinct functions. Previous work showed that overexpression of hi- but not lo FGF2 elicited chromatin compaction resulting in cell death, by an intracrine route. A series of studies were undertaken aimed at extending our understanding of the intracrine action of Hi FGF2. Major findings are as follows: a. Hi FGF2 overexpression induces apoptotic cell death, as indicated by increased TUNEL staining, and mitochondrial participation (cytochrome c release to cytosol, rescue of the hi FGF2 phenotype by the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2. b. Increased expression of pro-survival signals/proteins that are known to upregulate Bcl-2, such as nuclear Akt; the PIM-1 kinase; and the heat shock protein hsp70, also rescued the hi FGF2-induced phenotype. c. The hi-FGF2 effect was associated with sustained, intracrine, activation of ERK, and was blocked by ERK inhibitors. d. FGF2 isoform specific affinity chromatography followed by mass spectroscopy identified several proteins as potentially interacting with hi FGF2; of these, the p68 RNA helicase and the hsp70 were further confirmed as interacting partners, by co-immunoprecipitation. e. Increased nuclear co-localization, and possibly interaction, between hi FGF2 and overexpressed hsp70 correlated with rescue from hi FGF2 induced cell death. f. Factors associated with cardiac pathology (isoproterenol, angiotensin II, endothelin I) also upregulated endogenous hi FGF2 in cardiac cells in culture. Adriamycin-induced cardiotoxicity in the rat, known to be linked to increased incidence of apoptosis, was also associated with increased endogenous hi FGF2. g. Hi FGF2 is expressed in the human heart (atria) and localizes in both cytosol and nuclei, suggesting a participation in human heart physiology and pathophysiology. Work presented here is consistent with the notion that endogenous hi FGF2 up-regulation may play a role in promoting cell death during prolonged tissue stress and dysfunction. It follows that processes related to hi FGF2 upregulation, hi FGF2-nuclear protein interactions and mechanisms of hi FGF2 induced cell death, represent potential therapeutic targets for modulating cell death.

L'efferocytose est un phénomène physiologique par lequel des millions de cellules apoptotiques sont efficacement éliminées par phagocytose sans provoquer une réaction inflammatoire. L'efficacité de ce processus nécessite une interaction rapide entre la cellule apoptotique et son phagocyte afin d'éviter l'entrée de la première dans une phase de nécrose secondaire. Cette interaction implique des motifs de la surface des 2 cellules qui peuvent interagir directement ou aussi indirectement via des molécules de pontage. Ce dernier rôle est associé à C1q, premier composant du système du complément. En effet, C1q favorise l'élimination des cellules apoptotiques et aussi la réponse tolérogène en interagissant avec des ligands présents de part et d'autre de la synapse efferocytaire. La calréticuline (CRT) de surface fait partie de ces ligands. Initialement connue comme co-récepteur, avec CD91, de la queue collagène de C1q à la surface du phagocyte, la CRT est aujourd'hui décrite comme un signal « eat-me » de la surface des cellules apoptotiques où elle peut aussi interagir avec les têtes globulaires de C1q. Des études récentes ont soulevé le potentiel immunogénique de la CRT, notamment au cours de la mort des cellules cancéreuses. Ainsi, la CRT de surface joue un rôle important dans l'efferocytose même si l'on ne sait pas exactement comment cette protéine chaperonne résidente du réticulum endoplasmique est exposée à la membrane plasmique. Dans un premier temps, j'ai démontré que la CRT augmente à la surface des cellules Jurkat rapidement après l'induction de l'apoptose, à un stade où la phosphatidylsérine, marqueur emblématique de l'apoptose, n'est pas encore détectée. D'une manière intéressante, C1q est capable d'interagir directement avec la CRT exposée à la surface des cellules à ce stade « pré-apoptotique », et de favoriser significativement leur phagocytose par les macrophages THP1. Dans un deuxième temps, j'ai mis en évidence la présence de la CRT dans le milieu extracellulaire et montré qu'elle varie avec l'évolution de l'apoptose. De plus, la CRT soluble est capable d'induire la migration des macrophages THP1, d'augmenter l'expression à leur surface de CD14, récepteur impliqué dans l'efferocytose, et de stimuler la macropinocytose, un processus utilisé par les phagocytes lors de la phagocytose des cellules apoptotiques. Cela suggère que la CRT extracellulaire peut moduler la biologie du phagocyte. Enfin, la CRT exogène peut se lier à la surface des macrophages et peut être ainsi une source externe de la CRT retrouvée à la surface des phagocytes. / Efferocytosis is a physiological phenomenon whereby millions of apoptotic cells are efficiently removed by phagocytosis without inducing an inflammatory response. The efficiency of this process requires rapid interaction between the apoptotic cell and the phagocyte in order to prevent the entry of the dying cell in a secondary necrosis phase. This interaction involves patterns of the surface of the 2 cells that can interact directly or indirectly via bridging molecules. The latter role is associated to C1q, the first component of the complement system. Indeed, C1q promotes the removal of apoptotic cells and the tolerogenic response by interacting with ligands present on either side of the efferocytic synapse. Surface exposed calreticulin (CRT) is one of these ligands. Initially known as the co-receptor, with CD91, to the collagenous tail of C1q on the phagocyte surface, CRT is now described as an “eat-me" signal of the apoptotic cell surface where it can also interact with the globular heads of C1q. Recent data have revealed the immunogenic potential of CRT, especially in the case of cancer cell death. Thus, surface exposed CRT plays an important role in efferocytosis even if it is not fully understood how this reticulum endoplasmic resident protein gets to the plasma membrane. I firstly demonstrated that CRT increases rapidly on the surface of Jurkat cells after the induction of apoptosis, at a stage where phosphatidylserine, emblematic marker of apoptosis, is not yet detected. Interestingly, C1q is capable of interacting directly with this “pre-apoptotic” cell surface exposed CRT, and promotes significantly the uptake of Jurkat cells by THP1 macrophages at this stage. Secondly, I demonstrated the presence of CRT in the extracellular medium whose content depends on the evolution of apoptosis. Furthermore, soluble CRT induces the migration of THP1 macrophages, increases their surface expression of CD14, a receptor involved in efferocytosis, and stimulates macropinocytosis, a process used by phagocytes during phagocytosis of apoptotic cells. These results suggest that the extracellular CRT can modulate the biology of the phagocyte. Finally, exogenous CRT binds to the surface of macrophages and can therefore be an external source of the CRT found on the phagocyte surface.

Submitted by Ana Maria Fiscina Sampaio (fiscina@bahia.fiocruz.br) on 2013-04-05T17:16:52Z No. of bitstreams: 1 COSTA, Jaqueline França - 2009.pdf: 5023458 bytes, checksum: 0aad0e59a4ee55dd3db0b89317f4bd80 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2013-04-05T17:16:52Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 COSTA, Jaqueline França - 2009.pdf: 5023458 bytes, checksum: 0aad0e59a4ee55dd3db0b89317f4bd80 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2009 / Universidade Federal da Bahia. Faculdade de Medicina. Salvador, Bahia, Brasil / Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Centro de Pesquisas Gonçalo Moniz. Salvador, Bahia, Brasil / A Leishmaniose Cutânea Difusa (LCD) é uma manifestação clínica rara das Leishmanioses, caracterizada pela presença de inúmeros macrófagos intensamente parasitados e baixa reação inflamatoria. No Brasil, a espécie envolvida em casos de LCD é a Leishmania (Leishmania) amazonensis. Tem sido descrito na literatura a exposição e o reconhecimento de fosfatidílserina (PS) na superfície de células apoptóticas fagocitadas por macrófagos como mecanismo de desativação de macrófagos por urna via dependente de TGF-pi e PGE2 (Fadok et al. 1998). Foi demonstrado por Barcinski e colaboradores que formas amastigotas de L. amazonensis expõem PS em sua superfície, em um mecanismo chamado “Mimetismo Apoptótico”. Nesse contexto, nosso objetivo foi investigar a exposição de PS na superfície de isolados de L, amazonensis obtidos de pacientes com LCD e seu papel durante a infecção de macrófagos. Inicialmente, macrófagos peritoneais de camundongos Fl(BALB/c x C57BL/6) estimulados com tioglicolato foram infectados com os diferentes isolados obtidos de pacientes com Leishmaniose Cutânea Localizada (LCL) e LCD. A exposição de PS na superfície das amastigotas purificadas de macrófagos F1 foi determinada por citometria de fluxo. Os isolados obtidos de pacientes com LCD apresentaram maior expressão de PS do que os isolados de pacientes com LCL após 24 horas de infecção. Em seguida, avaliamos se a diferença observada na exposição de PS em amastigotas estaria relacionada à infectividade dos diferentes isolados. Os resultados indicaram que as amastigotas de pacientes com LCD apresentaram maior porcentagem de macrófagos infectados e índice de infecção, quando comparados com amastigotas de pacientes com LCL. Quanto ao mecanismo, 0 grupo infectado com os isolados de pacientes com LCD não apresentou diferença em relação ao grupo LCL quanto a produção de TGF-pl e óxido nítrico, sugerindo que outros mecanismos imunorregulatórios estejam envolvidos. Os resultados em conjunto, sugerem que 0 aumento na exposição de PS nos isolados de L. amazonensis de pacientes com a forma difusa pode representar um mecanismo de adaptação importante para a sobrevivência e estabelecimento da infecção. A elucidação de mecanismos supressores da LCD induzidos por isolados de L. amazonensis poderá ampliar 0 conhecimento sobre a imunorregulação dessa patologia / Diffuse Cutaneous Leishmaniasis (LCD) is a rare clinical manifestation of Leishmaniasis, characterized by a number of macrophages heavily parasitized and low inflammatory reaction. In Brazil, Leishmania (Leishmania) amazonensis is the main specie involved in LCD cases. It has been described that the exposure and recognition of phosphatidylserine (PS) on the surface of apoptotic cells phagocytosed by macrophages is a macrophage deactivation mechanism dependent on TGF-pi and PGE2 (Fadok et al. 1998). Morover, it was demonstrated by Barcinski and colleagues that L. amazonensis amastigotes expose PS on its surface, in a mechanism called ’’Apoptotic Mimicry." In this context, our goal was to investigate the exposure of PS on the surface of L. amazonensis isolates obtained from LCD patients and its role during the infection of macrophages. Initially, peritoneal macrophages from FI mice (BALB/c x C57BL/6) stimulated with thioglycolate were infected with different L. amazonensis strains isolated from patients with Localized Cutaneous Leishmaniasis (LCL) or LCD. The exposure of PS on the surface of amastigotes was determined by flow cytometry using staining to annexin V and propidium iodide. Isolates from LCD patients showed higher PS exposure than the isolates from LCL patients 24 hours after infection. Then, we evaluated whether the differences of PS exposure in amastigotes would correlate with the infectivity of different isolates. Percentage of infected macrophages and infection index were higher in cultures using amastigotes from LCD patients compared to the ones infected with amastigotes from LCL cases. Furthermore, cultures infected with LCD isolates showed no difference to the LCL isolates regarding TGF>pl and nitric oxide production, suggesting that other immuneregulatory mechanisms are involved in this process. These results suggest that the increased exposure of PS in L. amazonensis isolates from patients with diffuse form may represent an important mechanism for the establishment of infection. The elucidation of the LCD suppressing mechanisms induced by L. amazonensis strains may expand the knowledge about the immune regulation of this disease