Chronic inflammation in the brain results in the development of several CNS diseases, including Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases, multiple sclerosis, and tumors. IL-1, a pro-inflammatory cytokine released by activated microglia and astrocytes, instigates the expression of factors promoting the progression of these CNS disorders, including cytokines, chemokines, and components of matrix remodeling systems, such as the plasminogen activator system. IL-1 also increases the mRNA expression and activity of SphK, the enzyme that phosphorylates Sph to form S1P, a bio-active sphingolipid. This thesis demonstrates that IL-1 and S1P enhance the mRNA and protein expression of PAI-1 and uPAR, two key components of the plasminogen activator system, in glioblastoma cells. The S1P-induced mRNA expression of PAI-1 and uPAR is mediated by the S1P2 receptor, and requires Rho-kinase and MEK1. However, IL-1 regulation of PAI-1 and uPAR mRNA expression is independent of SphK, and thus S1P. IL-1- and S1P-induced mRNA expression of PAI-1 and uPAR results in the increased in vitro invasion of glioblastoma cells. Since significant amounts of IL-1 are secreted from gliomas, and it increases the production of S1P via inciting the activity and mRNA expression of SphK, we propose a mechanism by which S1P and IL-1 influence the invasion of glioblastoma cells by increasing the mRNA and protein expression of uPAR and PAI-1. IL-1 and S1P also influence the mRNA expression of chemokines implicated in the development and progression of multiple sclerosis, namely IP-10 and RANTES, in primary human astrocytes. IP-10 and RANTES attract T cells, which are the major pathological cause of multiple sclerosis. This thesis demonstrates a novel mechanism by which S1P significantly inhibits the IL-1-induced mRNA expression of these chemokines. The mechanism by which S1P reduces IL-1-induced IP-10 and RANTES mRNA expression involves the prolonged hyperphosphorylation of TAK1, as well as the inhibition of IL-1-stimulated IFN beta production and the phosphorylation of STAT1 and STAT2. In summary, this dissertation describes the mechanisms by which S1P and IL-1 control the mRNA expression of two chemokines associated with multiple sclerosis, and the components of the plasminogen activator system, which are critical for the invasion of glioblastoma cells; thus, indicating future therapeutic targets for destructive CNS disorders.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-07-29T15:07:55Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 dissertacao mariana faleiro part 1.pdf: 60728 bytes, checksum: 82e5bf30cd60c4752f1de660f88797ed (MD5) Previous issue date: 2010-03-02 / Humans and dogs show dysplastic lesions in the prostate, such as prostatic intraepithelial neoplasms (PIN) and proliferative inflammatory atrophy (PIA), which are studied due to their malignance potential. The matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) are a family of proteolytic enzymes thought to play an important role in tumor invasion and metastasis in face of their ability to degrade the extracellular matrix (ECM) and basement membrane. The plasminogen activator (PA) system has been suggested to play a central role in cell adhesion, migration, wound healing, angiogenesis, inflammation, regulation of growth factors and tumor invasion. The receptor of plasminogen activator type activator (uPAR) is a component of the PA, with a range of expression in tumor cell and stromal cells. So, this study was aimed to evaluated the expression and correlation between MMP-2 (gelatinase A) and MMP-9 (gelatinase B) as well as the expression of uPAR in normal canine prostate tissue and also in tissue with proliferative disorders, including benign prostatic hyperplasia (HPB), PIA, PIN and carcinoma. And therefore establish relation among the role of these enzymes in the remodeling of the extracellular matrix (ECM) and in the process of tumor invasion and metastasis. For this, it was performed immunohistochemical staining in tissue microarray of 149 paraffin-embedded fragments of prostate tissue selected from 57 prostates of non-castrated adult dogs with or without prostatic diseases. A total of 298 cores were analyzed and it was made 363 diagnoses: 36 (9.9%) normal, 49 (13.5%) BPH, 132 (36.3%) PIA, 75 (20.7%) PIN and 71 (19.6%) carcinomas. It was observed differences in cytoplasmatic immunohistochemical staining by MMP-2 and MMP-9 antibodies in relation to the cell number and intensity of labeling of the acinar epithelial and stromal perilobular cells between normal tissue and in those with proliferative disorders. A correlation between MMP-2 and MMP-9 antibodies occurred just in canine prostates with PIA in relation to the number of labeled cells in acinar epithelium and perilobular stroma, as well as, the staining intensity in the perilobular stromal cells. In relation to uPAR, it was observed differences of immunohistochemical staining of uPAR antibodies in canine prostate. Likewise, there was over expression in dysplastic and neoplasic specimens, but not in normal and benign prostate tissue. A number of epithelial cells labeled for uPAR showed variation among the diagnoses, except between PIN and carcinoma. Less intensity of labeling was observed in acinar epithelial cells of normal prostates compared with PIA, PIN and carcinoma. However, in the normal cells and in those with PIA, there was a difference in the number of cells, as well as in the intensity of stromal labeling. The intensity of labeling of stromal perilobular cells was higher in the PIA. PIA-A (accentuated) and PIA-M (moderated) cells showed greater intensity staining stroma and stromal cells labeled for uPAR, respectively. Thus, this study concludes that there was variation in gelatinases and uPAR expression in canine prostate according to the lesion. Also, there was Less labeling in normal and BPH and higher in PIA, PIN and carcinoma prostate tissues. The correlation between MMP-2 and MMP-9 in canine prostates with PIA indicates that the inflammation likely influenced the activity of these enzymes with simultaneous increase in their expression. The uPAR high expression in inflammatory and neoplasic tissues suggests high ECM proteolytic activity in these situations / Nas espécies humana e canina lesões displásicas da próstata, como a neoplasia intra-epitelial prostática (PIN) e a atrofia inflamatória proliferativa (PIA), são estudadas quanto ao potencial de malignidade. As metaloproteinases (MMP) são enzimas proteolíticas envolvidas no processo de invasão tumoral e metástase, causando destruição de barreiras biológicas como a matriz extracelular (MEC) e a membrana basal (MB). O sistema ativador de plasminogênio (PA) compreende proteínas com ação na adesão celular, regulação da migração, cicatrização, angiogênese, inflamação, regulação de fatores de crescimento e invasão tumoral. O receptor de ativador de plasminogênio tipo uroquinase (uPAR) é um dos componentes do PA, com variação de expressão em células neoplásicas e estromais. Este trabalho teve por objetivo verificar a expressão e a correlação entre MMP-2 e MMP-9, assim como a expressão do uPAR no tecido prostático canino normal e com alterações proliferativas, incluindo a hiperplasia prostática benigna (HPB), a PIA, a PIN e o carcinoma, buscando avaliar o papel dessas proteínas no remodelamento da MEC e no processo de invasão tumoral e metástase. Para isso, foi realizada a imunoistoquímica em lâminas de microarranjo tecidual (TMA), com 149 cores selecionadas de 57 próstatas de cães adultos, não castrados, com ou sem histórico de afecções prostáticas. Foram analisados, para cada anticorpo, 298 cores, perfazendo 363 diagnósticos, sendo 36 (9,9%) normais, 49 (13,5%) HPB, 132 (36,3%) PIA, 75 (20,7%) PIN e 71 (19,6%) carcinomas. Foi possível observar diferença de imunomarcação citoplasmática de MMP-2 e MMP-9 em relação ao número de células e intensidade de imunomarcação nas células epiteliais acinares e estromais periacinares em relação aos diagnósticos. A correlação entre os anticorpos MMP-2 e MMP-9 ocorreu em próstatas caninas com PIA quanto ao número de células imunomarcadas no epitélio acinar e no estroma periacinar, bem como quanto à intensidade de imunomarcação nas células estromais periacinares. Quanto ao uPAR, houve diferença na imunomarcação em relação ao diagnóstico, com maior expressão nas displásicas e neoplásicas em relação ás normais e com HPB. O número de células epiteliais imunomarcadas para uPAR variou entre os diagnósticos, exceto entre PIN e carcinoma. Menor intensidade de imunomarcação epitelial foi constatada nas próstatas normais em relação às com PIA, PIN e carcinoma. Entre as normais e com PIA houve diferença no número de células e intensidade de imunomarcação estromal. A intensidade de imunomarcação estromal foi maior nas com PIA. As PIA-M (inflamação moderada) e PIA-A (inflamação acentuada) apresentaram maior intensidade de imunomarcação estromal e células estromais imunomarcadas para uPAR, respectivamente. Concluiu-se que há variação na expressão das gelatinases e do uPAR na próstata canina, de acordo com a lesão, com menor expressão nas normais e com HPB e maior naquelas com PIA, PIN e carcinoma. A correlação entre MMP-2 e MMP-9 em próstatas caninas com PIA indica que a inflamação influencia a atividade dessas enzimas, com aumento simultâneo na expressão de ambas no microambiente inflamatório. Ainda, o aumento na expressão do uPAR nos microambientes inflamatório e neoplásico sugere maior atividade proteolítica na MEC nesses casos