PI3Ks (phosphoinositide 3-kinases), a family of enzymes expressed in immune cells, are activated in response to a wide variety of stimuli by generating second lipid messengers. A subset of singnaling molecules containing lipid-binding pleckstrin homology (PH) domains are downstream molecules of PI3K signaling pathway, essential to mediate the functional outcomes of PI3Ks. Bam32 / DAPP1 is a PH domain-containing adaptor protein, which was discovered from human tonsil germinal centers (GCs); however, its biological function related to GCs, where efficient T-cell-dependent (TD) antibody responses are generated, is unknown. This thesis is focused on the effect of genetic or pharmacological blockade of PI3K p110delta activity on T and B cells, and the role of Bam32 in GC responses. Type 2 cytokine responses are significantly decreased in p110delta-inactivated mice, whereas Type 1 cytokine responses are increased or comparable after primary and secondary immunization. Hallmarks of asthma, airway inflammation and respiratory hyper-responsiveness are dramatically reduced in those mice. Adoptive transfer of OVA-primed splenocytes from normal, but not p110delta-inactivated mice could induce airway eosinophilia in naïve, airway-challenged recipient mice. These data demonstrate a novel functional role for p110delta signaling in induction of Type 2 responses in vivo and may offer a new therapeutic target for Th2-mediated airway disease. Paradoxically, serum IgE levels are markedly increased in OVA-immunized p110delta-inactivated mice despite lower level of swich factor IL-4. In vitro studies showed that p110delta is required to restrain IgE class switch recombination in a B-cell intrinsic manner. Blockade of PI3K activity using broad-spectrum PI3K inhibitors PIK-90 and PI-103 generates similar results. In vivo administration of p110delta-selective inhibitor IC87114 into OVA-immunized mice results in selective elevation of antigen-specific IgE production. Disruption of p110delta signaling leads to increased germline transcription at the epsilon locus (epsilon GLT) and increased induction of activation induced cytidine deaminase (AID) enzyme, suggesting deregulation at the level of the isotype switch process. Moreover, p110delta signaling selectively regulates the expression level of transcription factor Bcl6 and IRF4, which may be responsible for the regulation of AID and epsilon GLT. PI3K signaling regulates multiple steps of GC development, and Bam32 may be involved. GCs dissipate prematurely in Bam32-deficient mice after immunization with OVA/alum. In vitro, Bam32-deficient B cells are functional competent in proliferation, chemotaxis, isotype switching and plasma cell differentiation in response to signals present in GCs. In vivo, Bam32-deficient GC B cells proliferate normally; however, they are more apoptotic. Adoptive transfer studies indicated that intrinsic defect of Bam32-/- B cells leads to premature GC dissolution. Additionally, GCs formed by Bam32-/- B cells contain fewer T cells, implying that Bam32 is required for B cell-dependant T cell accumulation within established GCs. Treatment of Bam32-/- mice with agonistic anti-CD40 fully restored GC persistence and IgG1 isotype switching, demonstrating that Bam32-deficient GC B cells are functionally competent when access to cognate signals is not limiting. Collectively, those data demonstrate that Bam32 is not required for GC initiation, but rather functions in a late checkpoint of GC progression associated with T cell recruitment and GC B cell survival. In general, by focusing on PI3K p110delta and its downstream adaptor protein Bam32, my studies clearly indicate that p110delta is a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of Th2-induced airway inflammation. The unexpected immunomodulatory acitivity on IgE switching associated with multiple PI3K inhibitor compounds is first discovered in this thesis, suggesting that more need to be investigated in this aspect before those inhibitor compounds are widely used in the clinic. Furthermore, the specific regulatory role of Bam32 in GCs represents a unique model for us to study the late GC checkpoint in regarding to in vivo GC B cell and T cell interaction, which is an important issue need to be clarified in order to fully understand GC responses.

The complex PI3K/mTOR pathway regulates tumor progression via effects on cellular proliferation, apoptosis, autophagy, and motility. New drugs that inhibit the catalytic site of both PI3K and mTOR have shown promise in clinical trials. Here, we report the first use of a novel, dual PI3K/mTOR catalytic site inhibitor (PF-04691502, PF1502) in a xenograft model of breast cancer metastasis to bone. Metastatic MDA-MB-1833 cells showed PI3K/mTOR activation relative to parental MDA-MB-231. Low-dose PF1502 significantly impaired tumor cell motility and invasion in vitro without causing cell cycle arrest, apoptosis, or reduced proliferation. Pre-treatment of tumor cells at this dose reduced bone metastatic outgrowth in vivo. The atypical tumor suppressor, p27KIP1, is phosphorylated in its C-terminal region by multiple AGC kinases downstream of PI3K/mTOR. These phosphorylation events promote cytoplasmic mislocalzation of p27 which, in turn, facilitates inhibition of the RhoA cytoskeletal regulatory protein. The resulting turnover of the actin cytoskeleton is thought to underlie the increased cellular motility attributed to cytoplasmic p27. In MDA-MB-1833 cells, PI3K/mTOR inhibition reduced p27 C-terminal phosphorylation at T157 and T198 and reduced cytoplasmic p27 levels. Overexpression of a p27T157D/T198D phospho-mimetic mutant conferred resistance to the anti-motility effects of PF1502 in vitro. MDA-MB-1833 cells demonstrate p27-dependent inhibition of RhoA-ROCK signaling, as well as p27-dependent motility and invasion in vitro, however, RhoA knockdown did not confer resistance to the anti-motility effects of PF1502. p27shRNA dramatically impaired the bone metastatic outgrowth of MDA-MB-1833 in vivo. In an effort to explore potentially novel RhoA-independent mechanisms whereby cytoplasmic p27 might drive tumor cell motility and metastasis, we turned to the process known as epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT). The EMT program has been implicated as a critical driver of tumor metastasis in a variety of cancer models. PI3K/mTOR inhibition and shRNA p27 treatment both reversed expression of EMT markers in MDA-MB-1833. Thus, PI3K/mTOR appears to drive p27-dependent motility and metastasis at least in part by induction of an EMT-like phenotype, a novel mechanism through which p27 might act to promote tumor progression. These results provide an important new clinical rationale supporting the use of PI3K/mTOR inhibitors as anticancer agents via their inhibition of tumor invasion and metastasis.

Les plaquettes sanguines jouent un rôle essentiel dans le maintien de l'intégrité des vaisseaux sanguins. En cas de brèche vasculaire, elles conduisent à la formation d'un clou hémostatique via des étapes successives d'adhésion, sécrétion et agrégation finement régulées et préviennent alors un saignement excessif. Les plaquettes jouent également un rôle critique dans les pathologies thrombotiques comme l'athérothrombose, ce qui en fait des cibles pharmacologiques majeures dans ces situations. Au cours de ma thèse, deux axes de recherche ont été abordés : (i) l'étude du rôle de la PI3-kinase de classe III (Vps34) dans la formation et l'activation des plaquettes et (ii) l'étude de l'impact de nouvelles drogues ciblant les kinases en thérapie anti-cancéreuse sur les fonctions plaquettaires et l'hémostase. Dans un premier temps, je me suis concentrée sur la caractérisation du rôle de Vps34 et de son produit lipidique, le phosphatidylinositol 3 monophosphate (PtdIns3P), dans la physiologie plaquettaire à l'aide d'un modèle de souris présentant une délétion de Vps34 spécifiquement dans la lignée mégacaryocyte/plaquette (PF4-Cre/Vps34lox/lox). Nous avons observé une microthrombopénie modérée associée à un défaut de migration des mégacaryocytes ainsi que des anomalies morphologiques des granules de sécrétion. Ce phénotype apparaît lié à une diminution de taux de PtdIns3P associé à un trafic vésiculaire perturbé. De plus, nous avons mis en évidence une altération des fonctions prothrombotiques des plaquettes, ex vivo en conditions de flux mais aussi in vivo en conférant aux souris une protection contre la thrombose induite à la carotide par lésion au chlorure ferrique. La contribution de Vps34 dans les mécanismes d'activation plaquettaire, indépendamment de son rôle dans le mégacaryocyte, a été montrée ex vivo via l'utilisation de nouveaux inhibiteurs spécifiques de Vps34 (SAR405 et INH1) récemment développés pour une application en oncologie, notamment pour réduire la résistance de certains cancers aux chimiothérapies. Dans un second temps, je me suis intéressée à l'impact des nouvelles thérapies ciblées anticancéreuses sur les plaquettes afin de comprendre la majoration du risque hémorragique associée à ces molécules. Nous avons étudié l'effet de l'ibrutinib, un inhibiteur des tyrosine-kinases de la famille BTK activées en aval des PI3-kinases de classe I, utilisé en clinique dans le traitement des hémopathies lymphoïdes B (lymphomes et leucémie lymphoïde chronique). L'exploration des fonctions plaquettaires au sein d'une cohorte de patients du service d'hématologie du CHU-Toulouse a permis de corréler les signes hémorragiques de certains patients traités par ibrutinib avec un défaut de signalisation plaquettaire en aval des récepteurs GPVI et GPIb, se traduisant par une diminution de l'agrégation au collagène et au CRP et par un défaut d'adhésion sur matrice de facteur von Willebrand en conditions de flux. En conclusion, mes travaux de thèse (i) apportent de nouvelles données fondamentales sur la participation de Vps34 dans les mécanismes de production et d'activation plaquettaires et (ii) ont permis de proposer des recommandations quant à l'utilisation clinique des nouvelles thérapies ciblées anti-cancéreuses. / Blood platelets play an essential role in the maintenance of vascular integrity. They prevent excessive blood loss after vessel injury by orchestrating haemostatic clot formation through successive steps of adhesion, secretion and aggregation. Platelets are also major pharmacologic targets as they participate in thrombotic pathologies such as atherosclerosis. My thesis work was focused on two axis: (i) the role of class III PI3-kinase (Vps34) in platelet formation and activation and (ii) the impact of new anticancer drugs targeting kinases on platelet functions and haemostasis. First, I studied the role of Vps34 and its lipid product, phosphatidylinositol 3 monophosphate (PtdIns3P), in platelet physiology using a unique mouse model of Vps34 deletion specifically in megakaryocyte lineage (PF4-Cre/Vps34lox/lox). We observed a moderate microthrombocytopenia associated to a defect in megakaryocyte migration and morphologic abnormalities in secretion granules. This phenotype is linked to a decrease in PtdIns3P level associated with defective vesicular trafficking. Moreover, PF4-Cre/Vps34lox/lox mice exhibit altered prothrombotic functions, ex vivo in shear conditions and in vivo by conferring a protection against ferric chloride-induced carotid thrombosis. A role for Vps34 in platelet activation, independently from its role in megakaryocyte, was shown ex vivo using two specific Vps34 inhibitors (SAR405 and INH1) recently developed to reduce autophagy-mediated resistance to chemotherapy. Secondly, I assessed the impact of new targeted drugs used in cancer therapy on platelets in order to understand the increased bleeding risk associated to these molecules. We studied the effect of ibrutinib, a specific inhibitor of BTK family tyrosine kinases recently approved for the treatment of B malignancies (mantle cell lymphoma, chronic lymphocytic leukemia). By exploring platelet functions of ibrutinib-treated patients treated from Hematology department of Toulouse, we correlated bleeding symptoms to a defective platelet signaling downstream GPVI and GPIb receptors as shown by a strongly reduced platelet aggregation in response to collagen and CRP and by a defect in platelet adhesion on von Willebrand matrix under flow conditions. In conclusion, my thesis work (i) brings fundamental insights about Vps34 contribution in mechanisms of platelet production and functions and (ii) allows recommendations about clinical use of new targeted molecules in cancer therapy.

Les plaquettes jouent un rôle majeur dans l'hémostase mais également dans les maladies cardiovasculaires qui représentent une des principales causes de mortalité dans les pays industrialisés. Au cours de l'activation plaquettaire, les phosphoinositides 3-kinases (PI3Ks) de classe I génèrent des seconds messagers lipidiques (D3-phosphoinositides) participant activement à la transmission des signaux en aval des principaux récepteurs plaquettaires. Comme l'inhibition de la PI3Kbeta protège des thromboses occlusives sans augmenter le risque de saignement, cette kinase a été proposée comme nouvelle cible antithrombotique. Toutefois, le rôle de la PI3Kbeta dans des modèles de thrombose in vivo et ex vivo, dans des conditions de forces de cisaillement élevées, restait mal documenté au début de ma thèse. Le rôle de la PI3Kalpha?était également mal connu bien que l'utilisation d'inhibiteurs peu spécifiques suggérait son implication en aval du récepteur GPVI. L'objectif de ma thèse a été d'étudier le rôle de la PI3Kbeta dans la formation du thrombus in vivo et ex vivo, et de caractériser la fonction de la PI3Kalpha plaquettaire. Grâce à des souris présentant une invalidation de la PI3Kbeta ou alpha spécifiquement dans la lignée mégacaryocytaire, j'ai montré que la PI3Kbeta plaquettaire jouait un rôle essentiel dans la stabilité du thrombus dans des conditions de forces de cisaillement élevées. Son inhibition affecte l'activation d'Akt et empêche l'inhibition de son effecteur GSK3 au sein même du thrombus. De façon intéressante, l'inhibition de GSK3 restaure la stabilité du thrombus. Ainsi, la PI3Kbeta joue un rôle critique dans le maintien de l'intégrité du thrombus exposé à des forces de cisaillement élevées et cet effet ne peut être compensé par la PI3Kalpha. D'autre part, l'absence de la PI3Kalpha plaquettaire se traduit par un défaut d'agrégation et d'activation d'Akt lors d'une stimulation de faible intensité de GPVI. In vivo, le thrombus formé par les plaquettes invalidées pour la PI3Kalpha consécutivement à une lésion superficielle des artères, est de plus petite taille que chez les souris sauvages. En condition de flux ex vivo, il est noté un retard de formation du thrombus sur les fibres de collagène suggérant l'implication de la PI3Kalpha dans la phase d'adhésion des plaquettes à la matrice. En effet, des études d'adhésion en flux sur une matrice de facteur de von Willebrand (vWF) montrent que la PI3Kalpha est essentielle pour l'adhésion stable des plaquettes à cette matrice via la signalisation outside-in de l'intégrine alphaIIbbeta3. En conclusion, mes travaux de thèse mettent à jour un rôle spécifique des PI3Ks alpha et beta de classe I dans les plaquettes. La PI3Kbeta? est cruciale dans la régulation de la croissance et de la stabilité du thrombus dans des conditions de forces de cisaillement élevées, tandis que la PI3Kalpha?est requise dans la phase initiale d'adhésion des plaquettes sur une matrice de vWF. Ce travail apporte des nouvelles données qui seront utiles notamment dans le contexte du développement d'inhibiteurs sélectifs de PI3Ks en thérapie anticancéreuse et antithrombotique. / Platelets play a major role in cardiovascular diseases which is one principal cause of worldwide death. Class I phosphoinositide 3-kinases (PI3Ks) are important signaling enzymes in the process of blood platelet activation, producing lipid second messengers (D3-phosphoinositides) that are actively involved downstream of major platelet receptors. PI3Kbeta has been proposed as a potential drug target to treat arterial thrombosis. Indeed, inhibition of this lipid kinase leads to protection against occlusive thrombosis without bleeding risk. Nevertheless, nothing is known regarding the role of this kinase in vivo and ex vivo during growth, stabilization, and resistance upon elevation of shear rate. One study, using pharmacological inhibitors, has suggested that both PI3Kalpha and beta are required, in a non redundant way, for full platelet activation through collagen receptor GPVI, but the role of PI3Kalpha still remains elusive in platelets. The aim of my thesis was to study the role of PI3Kbeta during thrombus formation in vivo and ex vivo, and to characterize the role of PI3Kalpha in platelets. For that, I used pharmacological approach and mice with selective deletion of PI3Kbeta?or?PI3Kalpha in the megakaryocyte lineage (PF4-Cre/p110betaflox/flox and PF4-Cre/p110alphaflox/flox). I showed that PI3Kbeta is essential for thrombus growth and stability at high shear rates. Within the growing platelet thrombus, PI3Kbeta inactivation impairs the activating phosphorylations of Akt and the inhibitory phosphorylation of GSK3. In line with these data, pharmacological inhibition of GSK3 restores thrombus stability. Thus, platelet PI3Kbeta has a critical role in maintaining the integrity of the formed thrombus upon elevation of shear rate. In this condition, I showed that PI3Kbeta absence cannot be compensated by PI3Kalpha. In vitro, PI3Kalpha depletion in platelets leads to a light defect of aggregation and Akt activation in response to CRP showing implication of PI3Kalpha downstream GPVI. I observed that, in vivo, thrombi formed by PI3Kalpha depleted platelets after superficial lesion of mesenteric arterial are smaller, and ex vivo, thrombus formation under flow conditions on collagen matrix is delayed. Furthermore, perfusion of these platelets on von Willebrand factor matrix (vWF) shows that PI3Kalpha is required for stable adhesion of platelets through "outside in" signaling. Altogether, these results show an involvement of PI3Kalpha in the course of early step of platelet adhesion. In conclusion, my thesis work highlights an isoform specific role of PI3Ks in platelets. PI3Kbeta is crucial in the regulation of thrombus growth and stability at a high shear rate and PI3Kalpha is required in initial stages of platelet adhesion. Since class I PI3Ks selective inhibitors are under development as cancer treatment, these results may help to anticipate the potential side effects of such treatment on haemostasis.

Thesis (MSc)--Stellenbosch University, 2015. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Targeted therapy for prostate cancer may offer potential improvement over current conventional therapies because of its specificity. Although conventional treatments are effective, they are not curative and have several limitations. In prostate cancer, activation of both the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and the phosphatidylinositol 3 – kinase (PI3K)/Akt/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway have been implicated in tumorigenesis and resistance to both conventional and targeted anticancer therapies. Having a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms involved in PCa development, progression and resistance to therapy, could assist in the design of novel therapeutic strategies. The objective of this study was to inhibit key molecular targets of the human epidermal growth factor receptor signalling pathway and expose prostate cell lines to doses of radiation, so as to establish potential therapeutic targets that may be amenable to combined modality therapy, and formulate a cocktail of inhibitors to evaluate its radiosensitising capability. The EGFR/PI3K/mTOR pathway plays an important role in the radiosensitivity of the human prostate carcinoma cell line (DU145) and the normal cell line (1542N). In our study we have shown that AG-1478, an EGFR inhibitor, and BEZ-235, a dual inhibitor of the PI3K/mTOR pathway, singly or in combination, at low and relatively high radiation doses, resulted in radiosensitisation of DU145 cells. Radio-protection was achieved in 1542N cells. AG-1478 had no effect on radiosensitivity. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Geteikende terapies wens hul spesifisiteit teenoor konvensionele terapies vir prostaat kanker, mag potensieel verbetering offer. Konvensionele behandeling is wel effektief maar nie genesend nie wens ‘n aantal beperkings, sowel as die toksisiteit vir normale selle. In prostaat kanker is die aktivering van beide die epidermiese groei faktor reseptor (EGFR) en fosfatidielinositol 3-kinase/Akt/soogdier teiken vir rapamisien (mTOR) seingewing baan sterk betrek by tumor groeisel en weerstand teen konvensionele en geteikende anti-kanker terapies. Beter begrip van die molekulêre meganismes betrokke by prostaat kanker ontwikkeling, bevordering en weerstand teen terapie, kan die ontwerp van nuwe terapeutiese strategies ondersteun. Die doelwit van hierdie studie was om sleutel molekulêre teikens van die epidermiese groei faktor reseptor seingewing baan te inhibeer en om prostaat selle bloot te stel aan dosisse bestraling, om potensiële terapeutiese teikens te vestig wat vatbaar is vir gekombineerde modaliteit terapie, om ‘n mengsel van stremmiddels te formuleer, en om die straling gevoeligmaking bekwaamheid daarvan te evalueer. Die EGFR/PI3K/mTOR seingewingbaan speel ‘n belangrike rol in the radiosensitiwiteit van die menslike prostaat kanker sellyn (DU145) en die normale prostaat sellyn (1542N). Die studie bevind dat AG-1478, ‘n EGFR stremmer, en BEZ-235, ‘n tweevoudige beperker van die fosforinositied 3-kinase (PI3K) en soogdier teiken vir rapamisien (mTOR) seingewingbaan, enkel of in kombinasie die DU145 selle radiosensitiseer vir straling dosisse van 2 en 6 Gy. Stralings beskerming was verkry met die 1542N sellyn. AG-1478 het geen effek getoon op radiosensitiwiteit nie.

A subgroup of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cases harbour mutations in classical oncogenes, which can affect therapy response and prognosis. By therapeutically targeting the corresponding proteins with inhibitory drugs, the clinical outcome for these lung cancer patients may be improved. One of these oncogenes is the phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate 3-kinase, catalytic subunit alpha (PIK3CA) which encodes the catalytic subunit of the phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase (PI3K). PIK3CA is a central regulator in the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway, which controls cell growth and apoptosis. Mutations in the PIK3CA gene are considered to up-regulate the kinase activity in tumour cells and through that dysregulate fundamental cellular processes. PI3K inhibitors are currently tested in clinical trials and present a promising therapy option in lung cancer patients. In this study, a pyrosequencing assay for detection of PIK3CA mutations in tumours from patients with NSCLC was established. The three "hot-spot" codons 542, 545 and 1047 of the PIK3CA gene were analysed. The sensitivity of this assay was determined to the presence of 5 % of mutant alleles. In agreement with previous reports, three of the 60 lung cancer cases revealed PIK3CA mutations (5 %). All mutations occurred in exon 9 codon 542 or 545. In line with previous reports, two of the three samples harboured concurrent mutation in the EGFR or KRAS gene. The established pyrosequencing analysis for PI3KCA mutations provides a reliable and cost-effective assay for clinical diagnostics. The determination of the PI3KCA mutation status may help to distinguish patients for treatment targeting the PI3K pathway.

Les neutrophiles produisent plusieurs médiateurs peptidiques contribuant à l'inflammation lors de la réponse immunitaire contre les agents infectieux. Ces médiateurs sont encodés par des gènes dont la transcription est strictement régulée. Alors que ces facteurs de transcription sont bien connus, les voies de signalisation causant l'activation transcriptionnelle, ainsi que l'initiation de la traduction des chimiokines, sont moins bien caractérisées chez les neutrophiles humains. En conséquence, nous avons caractérisé le rôle de la PI3K dans cette réponse. L'inhibition de la PI3K par le LY294002 a considérablement réduit la sécrétion de chimiokines. La nucléofection de dominant-négatifs des sous-unités de la PI3K dans la lignée cellulaire PLB-985 différenciée en neutrophiles a confirmé ces résultats. D'autre part, le LY294002 a drastiquement inhibé l'expression génique de certaines chimiokines sans influencer l'activation des facteurs de transcription. Ceci a aussi été confirmé par la double nucléofection des dominants-négatifs et de promoteurs couplés à la luciférase. Ainsi, la PI3K affecte sélectivement la transcription de certaines chimiokines et module la traduction puisque le LY294002 inhibe la phosphorylation de protéines impliquées dans l'initiation de la traduction. Puisque les mécanismes contrôlant l'initiation de la traduction sont à peu près inconnus chez les neutrophiles, nous avons donc étudié la contribution de MNK I. Le CGP57380, un inhibiteur de MNK I, a fortement réduit la sécrétion de chimiokines. Ces données ont été confirmées par la nucléofection d'un dominant-négatif de MNK I dans la lignée cellulaire PLB-985 différenciée en neutrophiles. De plus, le CGP57380 n'influence pas l'expression génique des chimiokines. L'utilisation d'une coiffe synthétique mimant celle des ARNms nous a permis de déterminer que MNK I n'y est pas recrutée. Par contre, le CGP57380 diminue la phosphorylation de protéines impliquées dans le contrôle de l'initiation de la traduction. Nos résultats montrent que MNK I participe au contrôle de la traduction des chimiokines. Pour terminer, nous avons étudié la contribution de l'IL- 18 à la production de chimiokines. Nous avons tout d'abord détecté l'expression de l'IL- 18 en ARNm et au niveau protéique. De plus, bien que l'ARNm de l'IL- 18 soit inductible en réponse à plusieurs stimuli inflammatoires, seul le LPS peut induire sa sécrétion. Les neutrophiles sécrètent de façon constitutive l'IL-18 BP, l'inhibiteur naturel de l'IL-18, bien que cette sécrétion ne soit pas modulable. L'IL- 18 sécrété en réponse au LPS agit de façon autocrine sur les neutrophiles. En effet, le blocage de l'IL- 18 réduit considérablement l'expression et la sécrétion des chimiokines. En accord avec ces données, l'ajout d'IL-18 exogène induit l'expression et la sécrétion de plusieurs chimiokines en activant une signalisation intracellulaire semblable aux autres stimuli inflammatoires déjà étudiés. Dans leur ensemble, nos résultats dévoilent de nouvelles interactions entre l'IL-18 et les neutrophiles. En conclusion, les travaux présentés dans cette thèse ont montré que les stimuli inflammatoires utilisent en partie la voie de la PI3K au niveau de la transcription; et, au niveau de la traduction, les kinases MNK I et PI3K pour induire la production de chimiokines par les neutrophiles humains. Ces molécules de signalisation pourraient donc représenter des cibles prometteuses pour des interventions thérapeutiques visant à abaisser la production de chimiokines dans des pathologies chroniques dans lesquelles les neutrophiles et leurs produits jouent un rôle prédominant.

Interleukin-13 (IL-13) has been implicated as a critical inducer of a number of features of allergy and asthma including the induction of nonspecific airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR), eosinophilic inflammatory response, eotaxin production, excess mucus formation, and fibrosis. Determining the mechanism(s) of AHR, a hallmark of asthma, is crucial to our understanding of both the pathogenesis and successful treatment of asthma. After carrying out initial experiments to determine the effect of IL-13-induced AHR on murine and rat tracheal rings, mice tissues were chosen for subsequent experiments due to their consistent results and the fact that the mouse genetic map was completed in 1996, which will enable subsequent gene therapy work. Human and mouse share a high percentage of their genes with an average of 85% homology. Numerous IL-13 signalling studies have concentrated on the JAK/STAT6 pathway. IL-13 also activates phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) and downstream effector molecules. In experiments presented in this thesis pharmacological and genetic approaches implicate the involvement of PI3K and its individual isoform PI3Kδ in IL-13 induced AHR in vitro and this involvement was confirmed using a small interference RNA (siRNA) technology approach. However, IL-13 induced an early activation of PI3K, whereas increased responsiveness was not observed until overnight incubation. Arginase I induction was demonstrated to be another PI3K-dependent potential mechanism of IL-13-induced hyperresponsiveness. The epithelium is also implicated in IL-13-induced hyperresponsiveness, however, the induction of arginase I was demonstrated in both intact and denuded epithelium tracheal rings. The siRNA approach was also employed in 9HTEo-, A549 and BEAS-2B cell lines using different transfecting agents. From these findings, it is concluded that class IA p110δ could be a useful target for the treatment of asthma by preventing IL-13-induced airway smooth muscle hyperresponsiveness and also that arginase I may be involved in IL-13-induced hyperresponsiveness through PI3K- and epithelial-dependent pathways.

The PI3K/Akt/mTOR and MAPK pathways are frequently altered in ovarian cancer cells, making them potential candidates for targeted therapy. A more complete understanding of the complex interactions between the different proteins within the two pathways would assist in developing more effective treatment strategies to help overcome therapy resistance. The purpose of this project was to understand the phosphoproteomic changes in response to PI3K/mTOR inhibition in ovarian cancer cells and to identify potential mechanisms that may lead to targeted therapy resistance. To investigate the effect of inhibiting PI3K/mTOR at the cellular level in ovarian cancer, PI3K (LY294002), mTOR (rapamycin) and dual PI3K/mTOR (BEZ235) inhibitors were used to treat a panel of ovarian cancer cell lines. All tested cells, irrespective of PI3K/Akt/mTOR and MAPK pathways mutational status, responded to the three inhibitors. BEZ235 treatment produced greater cell inhibition than the monotargeted agents, while PTENmutated cell lines were more responsive to mTOR blockade than inhibition of PI3K alone. The phosphoproteomic changes in the cell lines were evaluated over a time course after treatment with the inhibitors, stimulated by heregulin, and studied using reverse phase protein array analysis. The results revealed that the decreased expression of pAkt (Thr308) appears to be a biomarker of sensitivity for LY294002 and BEZ235 in both PEO4 and A2780 cells, while upregulation of pAkt (Ser473) is an indicator for effective rapamycin treatment within the same cell lines. Increased pAkt (Ser473) expression after rapamycin treatment in PEO4 cells is believed to be due to the S6K1-mTORC2-Akt feedback loop. It was observed that pERK was upregulated upon BEZ235 treatment, which suggested the presence of cross talk between the PI3K/Akt/mTOR and MAPK pathways. A combination of BEZ235 and PD-0325901 (MEK inhibitor) treatments inhibited both pAkt (Ser473) and pERK, which also produced significant inhibition in cell proliferation compared to monotherapy treatment. The data also revealed a novel finding in ovarian cancer that prolonged (24h) treatment with rapamycin sensitises mTORC2 in PEO4 cells under heregulin stimulation. Moreover, network correlation and clustering analysis using the phosphoproteomic data identified significant correlations between the expression of pmTOR (Ser2481), and both p-cRaf (Ser259 and Ser338). Sin1 knockdown was performed in PEO4 cells and showed significant downregulation in the expression of pAkt (Ser473) and upregulation in pERK expression, indicating the role of Sin1 to regulate both the PI3K/Akt/mTOR and MAPK pathways potentially via mTORC2 and Ras. Phosphoproteomic profiling was performed on 469 ovarian cancer tissue samples using TMA and IHC analysis. Several significant associations were discovered between the phosphoproteomic data and the different clinicopathological parameters. High expression of pmTOR (Ser2448) was correlated with poorer overall survival in patients with ovarian endometrioid carcinoma compared to patients with low expression (p < 0.024). This implies that pmTOR (Ser2448) expression may potentially be a prognostic marker for patients with ovarian endometrioid carcinoma. In conclusion, I present dynamic phosphoproteomic profiling of the PI3K/Akt/mTOR and MAPK pathways in ovarian cancer, suggesting novel feedback loops and cross talk that could play a role in resistance mechanisms to these therapies. Combination treatment showed an additive effect on cell growth offering an approach to overcome drug resistance.

The primordial follicle pool is the main source of developing follicles in the ovary. The length of reproductive life and the onset of menopause are governed by the amount of primordial follicles in the ovary. The genetic factors and molecular mechanisms that maintain the primordial follicles in a dormant and surviving state for the whole of reproductive life are not well understood. The phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase (PI3K) signaling pathways in the oocyte that control oocyte growth and early follicular development are largely unknown. The major aim of this thesis was to investigate the functional role of the intra-oocyte PI3K pathway in the regulation of primordial follicle activation and survival.  Phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted on chromosome ten (PTEN) is a major negative regulator of PI3K. The conditional deletion of Pten in the oocytes of primordial follicles led to the overgrowth of oocytes and activation of the entire pool of primordial follicles. There were higher numbers of activated primordial follicles at postnatal day 8 (PD8) in ovaries lacking PTEN in oocytes; by PD35 all the primordial follicles were activated and all the follicles were depleted by 12 weeks, causing premature ovarian failure (POF). In addition, the rate of follicular death that occurs during sexual maturity is reduced in ovaries that lack PTEN in oocytes. Further mechanistic studies revealed that loss of Pten in oocytes resulted in elevated Akt signaling and upregulation of both expression and activation of ribosomal protein S6 (rpS6). The overactivation of primordial follicles in ovaries that lack PTEN in oocytes is believed to be due to elevated expression and activation of rpS6. PTEN in oocytes is indispensable for the maintenance of primordial follicles in dormancy.  To study the role of the intra-oocyte PI3K signaling pathway in controlling the survival and maintenance of primordial follicles, 3-phosphoinositide-dependent protein kinase-1 (PDK1) was deleted in oocytes of primordial follicle. The loss of Pdk1 in oocytes led to the depletion of most primordial follicles around the onset of sexual maturity, causing POF during early adulthood. Furthermore, the activation of Akt, p70 S6 kinase 1 (S6K1), and rpS6 was impaired in oocytes that lacked PDK1. The suppressed PDK1–Akt–S6K1–rpS6 signaling in oocytes appears to be responsible for the loss of primordial follicles. The excessive activation of primordial follicles seen in the absence of Pten in oocytes could be reversed by concurrent deletion of Pdk1. In addition, the elevated activation of Akt and S6K1 in the absence of PTEN in oocytes was not observed in PTEN and PDK1 double mutant mice. Similarly, the hyperphosphorylation of rpS6 in oocytes that lack PTEN was prevented in double mutant mice, which was most likely due to downregulation of S6K1 activation. Thus, inactivation of rpS6 in double mutant mice might be the reason for the prevention of excessive primordial follicular activation and survival.  PTEN and PDK1 in oocytes are essential for the maintenance of quiescence and survival of primordial follicles. The molecular network involving PI3K/PTEN–PDK1 signaling in oocyte controls the survival, loss, and activation of primordial follicles, which together govern reproductive aging and determine the length of reproductive life in females. The results of the above studies indicate that the mammalian oocyte serves as the seat of programming of follicular activation and survival.