A fosfoetanolamina sintética (FO-S), um fosfomonoéster, apresenta relevante atividade antitumoral. Contudo, a utilização de um carreador para encapsular a FO-S em lipossomas poderia favorecer a sua disponibilidade no microambiente tumoral, possibilitando o aumento da sua eficácia. Desta forma, o presente estudo avaliou a eficiência de encapsulamento da FO-S em lipossomas de DODAC e o seu potencial antitumoral. Os lipossomas foram preparados por ultrasonicação e caracterizados físicoquimicamente. A citotoxidade foi avaliada nas linhagens tumorais B16F10 (melanoma murino), Hepa1c1c7 (hepatocarcinoma murino) e Skmel-28 (melanoma humano) e nas células normais HUVEC, após o tratamento com diferentes concentrações dos lipossomas DODAC/FO-S, no tempo de 24 horas. A internalização dos lipossomas e o potencial elétrico mitocondrial foram analisados por microscopia confocal a laser. Adicionalmente, a expressão das proteínas caspases 3 e 8 ativas, receptor DR4, citocromo c, p53, p21, Bax, p27, CD44, CD90, Bcl-2 e ciclina D1 foi quantificada por citometria de fluxo. Para os estudos in vivo, os camundongos C57BL/6J portadores de hepatocarcinoma foram tratados com FO-S, DODAC/FO-S e DODAC, pelas vias intraperitoneal (IP) e intrahepática (IH), durante 20 dias. Os resultados demonstraram que os lipossomas apresentaram aspecto esférico e alta eficiência de encapsulação da FO-S, como também promoveram maior citotoxicidade nas linhagens tumorais estudadas, em comparação com FO-S. Além disto, nas células B16F10 e Hepa1c1c7, ocasionou parada nas fases S e G2/M do ciclo celular. A linhagem Hepa1c1c7 foi a mais sensível ao tratamento com os lipossomas DODAC/FO-S, os quais foram internalizados em até 6 horas e promoveram a diminuição de CD90, CD44, ciclina D1 e Bcl-2, o aumento de p53, p21, p27, Bax e caspases 8 e 3 ativas e a liberação do citocromo c. O aumento significativo das caspases 8 e 3 ativas, expressão do receptor DR4 e a liberação do citocromo c também ocorreu nas linhagens B16F10 e Skmel-28. Os resultados in vivo mostraram que os lipossomas DODAC/FO-S e a FO-S não induziram hepatotoxicidade, nefrotoxicidade e caquexia. Os lipossomas DODAC/FO-S não ocasionaram mielossupressão e hemólise, apresentando menor toxicidade em relação a FO-S, administrada pelas vias IP e IH. Além disto, os tratamentos com DODAC/FO-S (IH) e FO-S (IH e IP) foram efetivos em diminuir o número de células na fase S. Contudo, apenas os lipossomas DODAC/FO-S (IH) reduziram significamente os focos tumorais, aumentando as áreas de necrose, promovendo também o aumento da expressão gênica da p53, ciclina B1 e caspases 8 e 3. O conjunto dos resultados in vivo e in vitro demonstraram que a formulação lipossomal DODAC/FO-S foi capaz de maximizar os efeitos antitumorais da FO-S, ativando as vias intrínsecas e extrínsecas da apoptose / Synthetic phosphoethanolamine (PHO-S) - a phosphomonoester - has shown relevant anticancer effects. However, the utilization of a carrier to encapsulate the PHOS in liposomes can maximize its availability in the tumor microenvironment, allowing an increase in its effectiveness. Thus, the present study has evaluated efficiency of PHO-S encapsulation in DODAC liposomes and its antitumor potential. The liposomes were prepared by ultrasonication and physico-chemically characterized. The cytotoxic effects were evaluated on B16F10 cells (murine melanoma), Hepa1c1c7 cells (murine hepatocellular carcinoma), Skmel-28 (human melanoma) and in endothelial cells HUVEC, after treatment with DODAC/PHO-S liposomes at different concentrations for 24 hours. The internalization of the liposomes and mitochondrial electrical potential were analyzed by confocal laser microscopy. Additionally, the expression of active caspases 3 and 8, receptor DR4, cytochrome c, p53 p53, p21, Bax, p27, CD44, CD90, Bcl-2 and cyclin D1 proteins was quantified by flow cytometry. For in vivo studies, C57BL/6J mice with hepatocellular carcinoma were treated with PHO-S, DODAC/PHO-S and DODAC, by intraperitoneal (IP) and intratumoral (IT) routes for 20 days. The results demonstrated that liposomes presented spherical aspect and high PHO-S encapsulation efficiency, as also promoted high cytotoxic effect - compared with PHO-S. Furthermore, in B16F10 and Hepa1c1c7 cells, the liposomes induced S and G2/M cell cycle arrest. Hepa1c1c7 cells showed greater sensitivity to the DODAC/PHO-S formulation, which were internalized until 6 hours and promoted a decrease in the expression of CD90, CD44, cyclin D1 and Bcl-2, an increase of de p53, p21, p27, Bax and active caspases 8 and 3 and the liberation of cytochrome c. The significant increase in the expression of active caspases 3 and 8, DR4 receptor and liberation of cytochrome c also occurred in B16F10 and Skmel-28 cells. In vivo results showed that DODAC/PHO-S liposomes and PHO-S did not induce nephrotoxicity, hepatotoxicity and cachexia. DODAC/PHO-S liposomes did not cause myelosuppression and hemolysis, presenting lower toxicity in relation to PHO-S - when administered by IP and IT routes. Moreover, treatment with DODAC/PHO-S (IT) and PHO-S (IT and IP) effectively decreased the number of cells in S phase. However, only DODAC/PHO-S liposomes significantly reduced the number of tumor foci, increasing area of necrosis, and also promoting an increase in gene expression of p53, cyclin B1 and caspases 8 and 3. The set of in vitro and in vivo results demonstrated that DODAC/PHO-S liposomal formulation was capable of maximizing the PHO-S antitumor effects, activating the intrinsic and extrinsic pathways of the apoptosis

A fosfoetanolamina sintética é uma molécula fosforilada artificialmente, com síntese inédita realizada pela primeira vez pelo nosso grupo, diferindo-se das moléculas atuais pelo seu nível de absorção de aproximadamente 90%, com diversas propriedades antiinflamatórias e apoptóticas. O objetivo principal desse estudo e avaliar os efeitos antitumorais \"in vitro\" e \"in vivo\" da fosfoetanolamina sintética em células de melanoma B16F10 implantados em camundongos Balb-c. Foram utilizados grupos de 60 camundongos Balb-c, fêmeas com aproximadamente 20 g, tratados com água e ração \"ad libidum\". A atividade citotóxica do composto foi testada em linhagens tumorais pelo método colorimétrico MTT, e determinada à concentração inibitória (IC50%), sua toxicidade foi também testada em linfócitos T normais, em ensaios de proliferação celular, estimulados por mitógeno. Os animais portadores de tumores foram tratados após o 14º dia do implante tumoral com solução aquosa (i.p) de fosfoetanolamina sintética e o grupo controle recebeu solução salina, e foram avaliados os seguintes parâmetros: volume tumoral, área e número de metástases em órgãos internos. Foi também realizada a comparação da fosfoetanolamina sintética em relação aos quimioterápicos comerciais Taxol e Etoposideo separados nas diferentes fases do ciclo celular. Os resultados do tratamento com a fosfoetanolamina sintética \"in vitro\" mostraram que o composto induz citotoxicidade seletiva para as células tumorais com IC50% de 1.69 ug/ml sem afetar a capacidade proliferativa de células normais. Os animais portadores de tumores dorsais de melanoma B16F10 apresentaram significativa redução carga tumoral, mostrando inibição da capacidade de crescimento e a metastatização. A avaliação hematológica não demonstrou alterações relevantes após a administração da fosfoetanolamina sintética pela via intraperitoneal nos animais portadores de melanoma. Conclui-se que a fosfoetanolamina sintética diminuiu significativamente o tamanho de tumores de forma seletiva, sem alterações em células normais, com vantagem em relação aos quimioterápicos comerciais, pois a mesma não apresentou os terríveis efeitos colaterias dos mesmos. Neste trabalho ficou evidente a capacidade inibitória da fosfoetanolamina sintética na inibição da progressão e disseminação das células tumorais. / The synthetic phosphoethanolamine is a phosphorilad artificially molecule, with unknown synthesis carried through for the first time for our group, differing itself from current molecules for its level of absorption of approximately 90%, with diverse anti-inflammatory and apoptotic as properties. The main objective of this study and to evaluate the anti tumor effect \"in vitro\" and \"in vivo\" of the synthetic phosphoethanolamine in cells of melanoma B16F10 implanted in mice Balb-c. Groups of 60 Balb-c mice had been used, females with approximately 20 g, treated with water and ration \"ad libidum\". The cytotoxic activity of the composition was tested in lives tumor or normal cells for colorimetric method MTT, and determined to the inhibitory concentration (IC50%) its toxicid also it was tested in normal linphocytes T, in assays of cellular proliferation, stimulated for mitogen. The bearing animals of tumors had been dealt with after 14º day the tumor inoculation with watery solution (i.p) of synthetic phosphoethanolamine and the group control received solution saline, and had been evaluated the following parameters: tumor volume, area and number of metastases in internal agencies. Also the comparison of the synthetic phosphoethanolamine in relation to the convencionaly treatment with quimioterapics separate Taxol and Etoposideo in the different phases of the cellular cycle was carried through. The results of the treatment with the synthetic phosphoethanolamine \"in vitro\" had shows that the composition induces selective citotoxicity for the tumor cells with IC50% of 1.69 ug/ml without affecting the proliferative capacity of normal cells. The bearing animals of dorsal tumors of melanoma B16F10 had presented significant reduction tumor load, showing to inhibition of the capacity of growth and the metastatization. The hematological evaluation did not show alterations the administration of the synthetic phosphoethanolamine by the intraperitoneal way in the bearing animals of melanoma. The synthetic phosphoethanolamine significantly reduced the size of tumors of selective form, without alterations in normal cells; with advantage in relation to the commercial quimioterapics therefore the same one did not present the terrible collaterals effect of the same ones. In this work it was evident the inhibitory capacity of the synthetic phosphoethanolamine in the inhibition of the progression and dissemination of the tumor cells.

A fosfoetanolamina sintética é uma molécula fosforilada artificialmente, com síntese inédita realizada pela primeira vez pelo nosso grupo, diferindo-se das moléculas atuais pelo seu nível de absorção de aproximadamente 90%, com diversas propriedades antiinflamatórias e apoptóticas. O objetivo principal desse estudo e avaliar os efeitos antitumorais \"in vitro\" e \"in vivo\" da fosfoetanolamina sintética em células de melanoma B16F10 implantados em camundongos Balb-c. Foram utilizados grupos de 60 camundongos Balb-c, fêmeas com aproximadamente 20 g, tratados com água e ração \"ad libidum\". A atividade citotóxica do composto foi testada em linhagens tumorais pelo método colorimétrico MTT, e determinada à concentração inibitória (IC50%), sua toxicidade foi também testada em linfócitos T normais, em ensaios de proliferação celular, estimulados por mitógeno. Os animais portadores de tumores foram tratados após o 14º dia do implante tumoral com solução aquosa (i.p) de fosfoetanolamina sintética e o grupo controle recebeu solução salina, e foram avaliados os seguintes parâmetros: volume tumoral, área e número de metástases em órgãos internos. Foi também realizada a comparação da fosfoetanolamina sintética em relação aos quimioterápicos comerciais Taxol e Etoposideo separados nas diferentes fases do ciclo celular. Os resultados do tratamento com a fosfoetanolamina sintética \"in vitro\" mostraram que o composto induz citotoxicidade seletiva para as células tumorais com IC50% de 1.69 ug/ml sem afetar a capacidade proliferativa de células normais. Os animais portadores de tumores dorsais de melanoma B16F10 apresentaram significativa redução carga tumoral, mostrando inibição da capacidade de crescimento e a metastatização. A avaliação hematológica não demonstrou alterações relevantes após a administração da fosfoetanolamina sintética pela via intraperitoneal nos animais portadores de melanoma. Conclui-se que a fosfoetanolamina sintética diminuiu significativamente o tamanho de tumores de forma seletiva, sem alterações em células normais, com vantagem em relação aos quimioterápicos comerciais, pois a mesma não apresentou os terríveis efeitos colaterias dos mesmos. Neste trabalho ficou evidente a capacidade inibitória da fosfoetanolamina sintética na inibição da progressão e disseminação das células tumorais. / The synthetic phosphoethanolamine is a phosphorilad artificially molecule, with unknown synthesis carried through for the first time for our group, differing itself from current molecules for its level of absorption of approximately 90%, with diverse anti-inflammatory and apoptotic as properties. The main objective of this study and to evaluate the anti tumor effect \"in vitro\" and \"in vivo\" of the synthetic phosphoethanolamine in cells of melanoma B16F10 implanted in mice Balb-c. Groups of 60 Balb-c mice had been used, females with approximately 20 g, treated with water and ration \"ad libidum\". The cytotoxic activity of the composition was tested in lives tumor or normal cells for colorimetric method MTT, and determined to the inhibitory concentration (IC50%) its toxicid also it was tested in normal linphocytes T, in assays of cellular proliferation, stimulated for mitogen. The bearing animals of tumors had been dealt with after 14º day the tumor inoculation with watery solution (i.p) of synthetic phosphoethanolamine and the group control received solution saline, and had been evaluated the following parameters: tumor volume, area and number of metastases in internal agencies. Also the comparison of the synthetic phosphoethanolamine in relation to the convencionaly treatment with quimioterapics separate Taxol and Etoposideo in the different phases of the cellular cycle was carried through. The results of the treatment with the synthetic phosphoethanolamine \"in vitro\" had shows that the composition induces selective citotoxicity for the tumor cells with IC50% of 1.69 ug/ml without affecting the proliferative capacity of normal cells. The bearing animals of dorsal tumors of melanoma B16F10 had presented significant reduction tumor load, showing to inhibition of the capacity of growth and the metastatization. The hematological evaluation did not show alterations the administration of the synthetic phosphoethanolamine by the intraperitoneal way in the bearing animals of melanoma. The synthetic phosphoethanolamine significantly reduced the size of tumors of selective form, without alterations in normal cells; with advantage in relation to the commercial quimioterapics therefore the same one did not present the terrible collaterals effect of the same ones. In this work it was evident the inhibitory capacity of the synthetic phosphoethanolamine in the inhibition of the progression and dissemination of the tumor cells.

A fosfoetanolamina sintética (FO-S), um fosfomonoéster, apresenta relevante atividade antitumoral. Contudo, a utilização de um carreador para encapsular a FO-S em lipossomas poderia favorecer a sua disponibilidade no microambiente tumoral, possibilitando o aumento da sua eficácia. Desta forma, o presente estudo avaliou a eficiência de encapsulamento da FO-S em lipossomas de DODAC e o seu potencial antitumoral. Os lipossomas foram preparados por ultrasonicação e caracterizados físicoquimicamente. A citotoxidade foi avaliada nas linhagens tumorais B16F10 (melanoma murino), Hepa1c1c7 (hepatocarcinoma murino) e Skmel-28 (melanoma humano) e nas células normais HUVEC, após o tratamento com diferentes concentrações dos lipossomas DODAC/FO-S, no tempo de 24 horas. A internalização dos lipossomas e o potencial elétrico mitocondrial foram analisados por microscopia confocal a laser. Adicionalmente, a expressão das proteínas caspases 3 e 8 ativas, receptor DR4, citocromo c, p53, p21, Bax, p27, CD44, CD90, Bcl-2 e ciclina D1 foi quantificada por citometria de fluxo. Para os estudos in vivo, os camundongos C57BL/6J portadores de hepatocarcinoma foram tratados com FO-S, DODAC/FO-S e DODAC, pelas vias intraperitoneal (IP) e intrahepática (IH), durante 20 dias. Os resultados demonstraram que os lipossomas apresentaram aspecto esférico e alta eficiência de encapsulação da FO-S, como também promoveram maior citotoxicidade nas linhagens tumorais estudadas, em comparação com FO-S. Além disto, nas células B16F10 e Hepa1c1c7, ocasionou parada nas fases S e G2/M do ciclo celular. A linhagem Hepa1c1c7 foi a mais sensível ao tratamento com os lipossomas DODAC/FO-S, os quais foram internalizados em até 6 horas e promoveram a diminuição de CD90, CD44, ciclina D1 e Bcl-2, o aumento de p53, p21, p27, Bax e caspases 8 e 3 ativas e a liberação do citocromo c. O aumento significativo das caspases 8 e 3 ativas, expressão do receptor DR4 e a liberação do citocromo c também ocorreu nas linhagens B16F10 e Skmel-28. Os resultados in vivo mostraram que os lipossomas DODAC/FO-S e a FO-S não induziram hepatotoxicidade, nefrotoxicidade e caquexia. Os lipossomas DODAC/FO-S não ocasionaram mielossupressão e hemólise, apresentando menor toxicidade em relação a FO-S, administrada pelas vias IP e IH. Além disto, os tratamentos com DODAC/FO-S (IH) e FO-S (IH e IP) foram efetivos em diminuir o número de células na fase S. Contudo, apenas os lipossomas DODAC/FO-S (IH) reduziram significamente os focos tumorais, aumentando as áreas de necrose, promovendo também o aumento da expressão gênica da p53, ciclina B1 e caspases 8 e 3. O conjunto dos resultados in vivo e in vitro demonstraram que a formulação lipossomal DODAC/FO-S foi capaz de maximizar os efeitos antitumorais da FO-S, ativando as vias intrínsecas e extrínsecas da apoptose / Synthetic phosphoethanolamine (PHO-S) - a phosphomonoester - has shown relevant anticancer effects. However, the utilization of a carrier to encapsulate the PHOS in liposomes can maximize its availability in the tumor microenvironment, allowing an increase in its effectiveness. Thus, the present study has evaluated efficiency of PHO-S encapsulation in DODAC liposomes and its antitumor potential. The liposomes were prepared by ultrasonication and physico-chemically characterized. The cytotoxic effects were evaluated on B16F10 cells (murine melanoma), Hepa1c1c7 cells (murine hepatocellular carcinoma), Skmel-28 (human melanoma) and in endothelial cells HUVEC, after treatment with DODAC/PHO-S liposomes at different concentrations for 24 hours. The internalization of the liposomes and mitochondrial electrical potential were analyzed by confocal laser microscopy. Additionally, the expression of active caspases 3 and 8, receptor DR4, cytochrome c, p53 p53, p21, Bax, p27, CD44, CD90, Bcl-2 and cyclin D1 proteins was quantified by flow cytometry. For in vivo studies, C57BL/6J mice with hepatocellular carcinoma were treated with PHO-S, DODAC/PHO-S and DODAC, by intraperitoneal (IP) and intratumoral (IT) routes for 20 days. The results demonstrated that liposomes presented spherical aspect and high PHO-S encapsulation efficiency, as also promoted high cytotoxic effect - compared with PHO-S. Furthermore, in B16F10 and Hepa1c1c7 cells, the liposomes induced S and G2/M cell cycle arrest. Hepa1c1c7 cells showed greater sensitivity to the DODAC/PHO-S formulation, which were internalized until 6 hours and promoted a decrease in the expression of CD90, CD44, cyclin D1 and Bcl-2, an increase of de p53, p21, p27, Bax and active caspases 8 and 3 and the liberation of cytochrome c. The significant increase in the expression of active caspases 3 and 8, DR4 receptor and liberation of cytochrome c also occurred in B16F10 and Skmel-28 cells. In vivo results showed that DODAC/PHO-S liposomes and PHO-S did not induce nephrotoxicity, hepatotoxicity and cachexia. DODAC/PHO-S liposomes did not cause myelosuppression and hemolysis, presenting lower toxicity in relation to PHO-S - when administered by IP and IT routes. Moreover, treatment with DODAC/PHO-S (IT) and PHO-S (IT and IP) effectively decreased the number of cells in S phase. However, only DODAC/PHO-S liposomes significantly reduced the number of tumor foci, increasing area of necrosis, and also promoting an increase in gene expression of p53, cyclin B1 and caspases 8 and 3. The set of in vitro and in vivo results demonstrated that DODAC/PHO-S liposomal formulation was capable of maximizing the PHO-S antitumor effects, activating the intrinsic and extrinsic pathways of the apoptosis

A fosfoetanolamina é um dos principais constituintes de membranas neuronais de mamíferos e sua deficiência orgânica está intensamente relacionada com epilepsias e distúrbios do sistema nervoso central. Devido a estas evidências, é de suma importância o conhecimento da influência das propriedades físico-químicas, na forma sólida e líquida e suas inter-relações com possível efeito anticonvulsivo. Buscando elucidar algumas destas questões o presente trabalho teve por objetivos avaliar biologicamente os possíveis efeitos anticonvulsivantes e antiepiléticos da fosfoetanolamina sintética FS e FSI, frente a convulsões induzidas por PTZ e nos estados epiléticos, detectados em EEG, de ratos Wistar epiléticos. Foram utilizadas metodologias específicas para ambas as etapas do estudo, incorporando modelos pré-clínicos de avaliações neurológicas de medicamentos pró-anticonvulsivos. Os resultados apontaram efeito na diminuição da intensidade das crises e de óbitos frente ao modelo de indução de crises por PTZ, e efeito anticonvulsivo da forma líquida e sólida frente ao modelo de ratos geneticamente epiléticos, indicando provável ação neurológica da fosfoetanolamina aos eventos biológicos observados. / Phosphoethanolamine is one of mains the mammals membranes constituent and your organic deficiency is intensely related with nervous system central disturbances and epilepsies. Due to this evidences, it belongs to vanish importance knowledge the influence physicist-chemical properties, in the solid form and liquid form and your interrelations with possible effect anticonvulsive. The present work had for goals to evaluate biologically the possible effects anti convulsive and anti epilepticals of synthetical phosphoethanolamine SF and LF, front the convulsions induced for PTZ and in the epileptic state, detected in EEG, of epileptic Wistar mices. They were going used specific methodologies for both the study stages, incorporating models pre-clinical of anticonvulsivements medications neurological evaluations. The results pointed effect in the crises intensity decrease and of deaths front to the crises induction for PTZ, and effect anti convulsive of the liquid and solid form front the model of epileptic genetically mice, indicating phosphoethanolamine probable has neurological action to the observed biological events.

A Fosfoetanolamina Sintética (FO-S), monoester-fosfolípide tem importante papel sobre a proliferação celular, indução da apoptose, em células tumorais, sem, contudo, afetar as células normais. Neste estudo foi avaliado o comportamento biológico e efeitos da toxicidade aguda da fosfoetanolamina sintética (FO-S), em experimentos de dose única e repetidas em camundongos sadios, contribuindo para validação pré-clínica. Os camundongos Balb-c de ambos os sexos receberam o composto FO-S via endovenosa nas doses de 50, 100, 250, 500 e 1000 mg/kg em dose única, e 50, 100 e 250 mg/kg em doses repetidas. No grupo dose única os animais que receberam 500 e 1000 mg/kg de FO-S apresentaram sinais de toxicidade, tais como: mortalidade de 33% dos animais; rebaixamento no sistema nervoso central e autônomo; flutuações das análises hematológicas; aumento dos níveis de TGO e TGP; diminuição de creatinina; análises da medula óssea mostraram diminuição das populações mieloides e linfoides; diminuição de células na fase G0/G1 do ciclo celular, assim como na fase S, e aumento na fase G2/M; alterações histológicas no coração, fígado e rins como necrose, esteatose, hialinização e hiperemia respectivamente. Tanto no grupo dose única, como no grupo doses repetidas, ocorreu aumento no número de reticulócitos no 7º dia após a aplicação, como resposta da medula óssea reativa, e as análises da sua celularidade revelaram atividade positiva do potencial elétrico mitocondrial. No grupo doses repetidas, os animais que receberam 50 mg/kg de FO-S apresentaram no 14º anemia leve, o grupo 100 mg apresentou aumento no número de leucócitos e linfócitos e o grupo 250 mg flutuações nos valores quantitativos de plaquetas, que retornaram à normalidade após 14 dias. As análises da medula óssea revelaram aumento de células no compartimento mieloide no grupo que recebeu 50 mg e aumento da celularidade no compartimento eritroide. A expressão dos marcadores de células precursoras hematopoiéticas da medula óssea, CD34, se mostrou aumentada no grupo que recebeu 250 mg aos 14 dias e diminuição do marcadores de células mielódes e subtipos de linfócitos, CD43, nos grupos que receberam 100 e 250 mg/kg aos 7 e 14 dias. Os animais que receberam 250 mg/kg apresentaram alterações no parênquima pulmonar. A análise de autofagia por citometria de fluxo que não revelou resposta negativa, como estresse oxidativo, apresentando produção normal de vacúolos autofágicos, assim como o teste de presença de micronúcleos não demonstrou danos às células por alterações genéticas induzidas por toxicidade / Synthetic Phosphoethanolamine (FO-S), a monoester phospholipid has an important role on cell proliferation, induction of apoptosis, in tumor cells, without, however, significantly affecting normal cells. In this study the biological behavior and effects of acute toxicity of synthetic phosphoethanolamine (FO-S) were evaluated in single dose and repeated experiments in healthy mice, contributing to the pre-clinical validation of this compound as antitumor phospholipid. Mice of both sexes received intravenous FO-S compound at doses of 50, 100, 250, 500 and 1000 mg / kg in single dose, and 50, 100 and 250 mg / kg in repeated doses. In the single dose group, animals receiving 500 and 1000 mg / kg FO-S showed signs of toxicity, such as: 33% mortality of animals; lowering in the central and autonomic nervous system; fluctuations in hematological analyzes; increased levels of TGO and TGP; decreased creatinine; bone marrow analysis showed decreased myeloid and lymphoid populations; decrease of cells in the G0 / G1 phase of the cell cycle, as well as in the S phase, and increase in the G2 / M phase; histological changes in the heart, liver and kidneys such as hyperemia, necrosis and hyalinization. In both the single dose and repeated dose groups, there was an increase in the number of reticulocytes on the 7th day after application, as a response of the reactive bone marrow, and the cellularity analysis showed positive mitochondrial electrical potential activity. In the repeated dose group, animals receiving 50 mg / kg FO-S presented in the 14th mild anemia, the 100 mg group showed an increase in the number of leukocytes and lymphocytes and the group 250 mg fluctuations in the quantitative platelet values, which returned to the normality at 14 days. Bone marrow analysis revealed increased cell count in the myeloid compartment in the 50 mg group and increased cellularity in the erythroid compartment. Expression of CD34 marrow hematopoietic precursor cell markers was shown to be increased in the 250 mg group at 14 days and a decrease in myelodystic cell markers and CD43 lymphocyte subtypes in the groups receiving 100 and 250 mg / kg at 7 and 14 days. Animals that received 250 mg / kg presented changes in the lung parenchyma. Autophagy analysis was performed by flow cytometry that revealed no negative response, such as oxidative stress, presenting normal production of autophagic vacuoles, as well as the presence of micronuclei test did not demonstrate damage to the cells by genetic changes induced by toxicity

Background: C-reactive protein (CRP) is an acute phase plasma protein. An important binding specificity of CRP is for the modified forms of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) in which the phosphocholine-binding sites of CRP participate. CRP, however, does not bind to native LDL. Methods: We investigated the interaction of CRP with native LDL using sucrose density gradient ultracentrifugation. Results: We found that the blocking of the phosphocholine-binding sites of CRP with phosphoethanolamine (PEt) converted CRP into a potent molecule for binding to native LDL. In the presence of PEt, CRP acquired the ability to bind to fluid-phase purified native LDL. Because purified native LDL may undergo subtle modifications, we also used whole human serum as the source of native LDL. In the presence of PEt, CRP bound to native LDL in serum also. The effect of PEt on CRP was selective for LDL because PEt-complexed CRP did not bind to high-density lipoprotein in the serum. Conclusions: The pharmacologic intervention of endogenous CRP by PEt-based compounds, or the use of exogenously prepared CRP-PEt complexes, may turn out to be an effective approach to capture native LDL cholesterol in vivo to prevent the development of atherosclerosis.

Modification of the lipid A domain of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is important for the pathogenesis and virulence of various Gram-negative bacteria. The major lipid A species of Helicobacter pylori is significantly different from that of Escherichia coli. H. pylori lipid A contains fewer acyl chains and phosphate groups with only one Kdo sugar attached to the disaccharide backbone. However, H. pylori produces a minor lipid A species that resembles E. coli lipid A, suggesting that the major lipid A species results from the action of specific modifying enzymes. This work describes two enzymes, a lipid A phosphatase and a phosphoethanolamine (pEtN) transferase, involved in modifying the 1-position of H. pylori lipid A. H. pylori lipid A contains a pEtN unit directly linked to the 1-position of the disaccharide backbone. This is in contrast to the pEtN units found in other pathogens, which are attached to the lipid A phosphate group to form a pyrophosphate linkage. Using in-vitro assay systems, we demonstrate that the modification of the 1-position of H. pylori lipid A is a two-step process involving the removal of the 1-phosphate group by LpxEHP followed by the addition of a pEtN residue catalyzed by EptAHP. As compared to wild-type H. pylori, lpxEHP mutants are extremely sensitive to the cationic peptide polymyxin, thus, demonstrating the importance of modifying the 1-position of lipid A. Furthermore, this work describes another enzyme, YeiU (renamed LpxT), which specifically utilizes the carrier lipid undecaprenyl pyrophsphate (C55-PP) to modify the 1-position of E. coli lipid A. Typically, E. coli lipid A is a hexa-acylated disaccharide of glucosamine in which monophosphate groups are attached at positions 1 and 4'; however, a small fraction contains a diphosphate moiety at the 1-position (lipid A 1-diphosphate). 32P-labeled lipid A obtained from lpxT deficient mutants produces only lipid A, and complementation with a plasmid expressing LpxT restores lipid A 1-diphosphate formation. Inhibition of lipid A 1-diphosphate synthesis was demonstrated by sequestering C55-PP with the cyclic polypeptide antibiotic bacitracin. In conclusion, this work describes two novel pathways for lipid A modification at the 1-position in Gram-negative bacteria.

Human C-reactive protein (CRP) increases survival of and decreases bacteremia in mice infected with Streptococcus pneumoniae. Such protection of mice against pneumococcal infection is seen only when CRP is administered into mice 6 hours before to 2 hours after the injection of pneumococci, but not when CRP is given to mice at a later time. Our first aim was to define the mechanism of CRP-mediated initial protection of mice against infection. It was proposed that CRP binds to phosphocholine (PCh) moieties present in the cell wall and activates the complement system on the pneumococcal surface that kills the pathogen. We generated a CRP mutant F66A/T76Y/E81A incapable of binding to PCh. Mutant CRP did not protect mice from pneumococcal infection. Thus, the proposed hypothesis was correct; the PCh-binding property of CRP contributes to the protection of mice against pneumococcal infection. Our second aim was to investigate why CRP was not protective during the late stages of infection. Pneumococci are known to recruit an inhibitor of complement activation, factor H, from the host to their surface to escape complement attack. We considered the ability of CRP, in its nonnative form, to bind to factor H, and generated a CRP mutant E42Q/F66A/T76Y/E81A capable of binding to factor H. In vivo experiments using the quadruple CRP mutant are in progress. We anticipate that the combination of wild-type and quadruple mutant CRP should be protective during the late stages of infection; wild-type CRP would bind to PCh and activate complement while mutant CRP would cover factor H to prevent its complement-inhibitory activity. Our long-term goal is to explore the possibility of developing a CRP-based strategy to treat pneumococcal infection.

<p>In plants, S-adenosyl-L-methionine-dependent phospho-base <em>N</em>-methyl transferases catalyze the three sequential methylations of phosphoethanolamine to phosphocholine, the precursor for choline and the major membrane phospholipid phosphatidylcholine. The enzyme phosphoethanolamine <em>N</em>-methyltransferase (PEAMT) catalyzes the first and committing step in choline synthesis, a step for which no known by-pass has been found. In <em>Arabidopsis thaliana</em> there are two loci annotated as encoding PEAMT and a putative PEAMT, At3g18000 (<em>NMT1</em>) and<em> </em>At1g73600 (<em>NMT3</em>), respectively. A related gene product that catalyzes the last two methylations is encoded by locus At1g48600 (<em>NMT2</em>). The objective of this study was to investigate the role of <em>NMT3 </em>in <em>Arabidopsis</em>. Three SALK lines carrying independent T-DNA insertions in At1g73600 were used: SALK_062703, SALK_016929c and SALK_120703c.</p> <p>Genomic DNA was used for PCR and sequence analysis of the products established the insertion of T-DNA in the protein coding region of At1g73600 for all three lines. Gene expression was analyzed by q-PCR. Primer design was particularly important for <em>NMT3 </em>transcript quantification by q-PCR. In SALK_062703 <em>nmt3 </em>mutants, the T-DNA is in exon 8 and in the SALK_120703c line it is in intron 6. In both cases, no <em>NMT3 </em>transcripts were detected using primers that annealed to sites 3’ to the position of the T-DNA in the gene. However, low levels of transcripts were detected using primers that annealed at positions 5’ to the site of T-DNA insertion. In the SALK_016929c line the position of the T-DNA insertion was in exon 2 and primers annealing near the site of the T-DNA insertion showed no <em>NMT3 </em>expression in this mutant but amplifying the mid portion of the gene showed WT levels of <em>NMT3 </em>transcripts. Thus all the mutants produce truncated <em>NMT3 </em>transcripts and by avoiding areas that overlap truncated transcript regions we could differentiate between <em>NMT3</em> knock-out or knock-down expression.</p> <p>Wild-type (<em>NMT3</em>) and <em>nmt3 </em>seedlings from the three lines grown on defined media plates showed no difference with respect to primary root length, number or density of lateral roots, and total root length. Exposing seedlings to salt (50 or 75 mM NaCl) led to reductions in root growth but again, roots of wild-type plants were indistinguishable from the mutant seedlings. One anomaly relates to the <em>nmt3</em> SALK_120703c<em> </em>line which showed two root phenotypes. On saline media most of the seedlings had longer roots that resembled the wild-type and other mutant lines and about a third had shortened roots. Whether the seedlings had long or short roots on salt, they all lacked <em>NMT3 </em>transcripts. This line is likely carrying another insertion that yields a salt-sensitive root phenotype. Mutant plants at four-weeks looked like wild-type plants and time of flowering was not reproducibly delayed or accelerated in mutant plants relative to wild-type.</p> <p>In wild-type seedlings the relative expression level of the three <em>NMT </em>genes is similar at day or night with transcript abundance ranked in the order <em>NMT3</em> > <em>NMT2 </em>> <em>NMT1. nmt3 </em>seedlings harvested midday showed no detectable <em>NMT3</em> expression but the abundance of <em>NMT1 </em>transcripts was 6.2-fold and 1.7-fold higher relative to wild-type in shoots and roots, respectively. At night, <em>NMT1 </em>expression in shoots of<em> nmt3 </em>seedlings decreased 4.8-fold relative to the level of <em>NMT1 </em>expression at midday while transcripts detected in roots increased slightly (1.3-fold). Using SALK_036291 <em>nmt1 </em>seedlings we found that <em>NMT3 </em>expression in shoots and roots was modestly up-regulated in the absence of <em>NMT1 </em>expression and the expression of <em>NMT3 </em>is lower at night than during the day. Also, regardless of the genotype or time of day, <em>NMT2 </em>expression remained constant even when <em>NMT1 </em>and <em>NMT3 </em>transcripts underwent several-fold changes in abundance. Interestingly, four-week old <em>nmt3 </em>plants of the SALK_062703 line showed that <em>NMT3 </em>expression is knocked-out in leaves but only knocked-down in roots.</p> <p><em> NMT3 </em>was the most highly expressed of the three <em>NMT </em>genes monitored by q-PCR. Nonetheless, three independent T-DNA insertion lines defective for <em>NMT3</em> expression were wild-type by appearance and as such, offer compelling evidence that NMT3 is not required by <em>Arabidopsis. </em>The increased expression of <em>NMT1 </em>in <em>nmt3 </em>plants and <em>NMT3</em> in <em>nmt1 </em>plants strongly suggests that plants compensate for the loss of one gene by up-regulating, to varying extents, the expression of the remaining <em>NMT </em>gene. If this is the case, a reasonable prediction made for a cross between <em>nmt1 </em>and <em>nmt3 </em>plants is that it would be lethal unless plants have yet another way to circumvent the loss of an essential enzyme for this committing metabolic bottleneck in choline synthesis.</p> / Master of Science (MSc)