Dissertation (Ph.D.) -- University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, 2008. / Vita. Bibliography: p. 158-174.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington, 2005. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 154-192).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Missouri--Columbia, 2005. / "July 2005." Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 196-211). Also issued on the Internet.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:32:58Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2010-01-20Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T20:04:47Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 safilho_og_dr_botfmvz.pdf: 780633 bytes, checksum: a3331bb4d14fe517521b9c8184662c1e (MD5) / Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) / Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP) / O objetivo desse experimento foi avaliar a histomorfometria uterina, a expressão gênica endometrial de ER, PR, OTR, COX-1 e COX-2, e a expressão protéica de ER e PR (porcentagem de núcleos positivos e intensidade de coloração dos núcleos positivos, em unidades arbitrárias [UA], à imunohistoquímica) em vacas em anestro ao longo do desenvolvimento da onda folicular. Vacas Nelore primíparas em anestro pós-parto foram avaliadas diariamente por ultrassonografia ovariana, visando acompanhar o desenvolvimento folicular, e submetidas à histerectomia quando o folículo dominante atingiu o diâmetro de 7,0 mm (FP; n = 4), 8,5 mm (FM; n = 4) ou 10,0 mm (FG; n = 4). Um grupo adicional (PRO; n = 4) consistiu em vacas submetidas a remoção de bezerros (RB; 48 h) quando o folículo dominante atingiu o diâmetro de 9,5 mm e histerectomizadas ao final da RB. Os dados foram analisados pelo PROC GLM do programa SAS. A concentração sérica de estradiol no dia da histerectomia foi maior nas vacas do grupo PRO em relação aos demais grupos (FP: 0,7 pg/mL; FM: 0,8 pg/mL; FG: 1,1 pg/mL; PRO: 2,9 pg/mL; P < 0,05). Não houve efeito de grupo (P > 0,1) nas variáveis histomorfométricas e na expressão gênica endometrial de ER, PR, OTR, COX-1 e COX-2. As vacas do grupo PRO apresentaram maior intensidade de coloração dos núcleos positivos para ER nas células epiteliais glandulares superficiais (FP: 75,9 UA; FM: 75,2 UA; FG: 71,5 UA; PRO: 88,5 UA), intensidade de coloração dos núcleos positivos para PR nas células epiteliais glandulares profundas (FP: 70,2 UA; FM: 73,1 UA; FG: 69,2 UA; PRO: 85,7 UA) e porcentagem de núcleos positivos para PR no estroma subepitelial superficial (FP: 58,2%; FM: 58,0%; FG: 57,3%; PRO: 63,4) em relação às vacas dos demais grupos (P < 0,05). As vacas dos grupos FG e PRO apresentaram maior porcentagem de núcleos positivos para ER no estroma... / The objective of this study was to evaluate the uterine histomorphometry, gene expression of ER, PR, OTR, COX-1 and COX-2, and protein expressions of ER and PR (percentage of positive nuclei and staining intensity of positive nuclei, in arbitrary units [AU], at immunohistochemistry) in anestrous cows throughout the development of a follicular wave. Primiparous postpartum anestrous Nelore cows were evaluated daily by ovarian ultrasonography and submitted to hysterectomy when the dominant follicle reached the diameter of 7.0 mm (FP; n = 4), 8.5 mm (FM; n = 4), or 10.0 mm (FG; n = 4). An additional group (PRO; n = 4) consisted in cows submitted to temporary weaning (TW; 48 h) when the dominant follicle reached 9.5 mm and hysterectomized at the end of TW. Data were analyzed by PROC GLM of SAS. Serum concentration of estradiol at the day of hysterectomy was greater in cows from PRO group than in cows from the other groups (FP: 0.7 pg/mL; FM: 0.8 pg/mL; FG: 1.1 pg/mL; PRO: 2.9 pg/mL; P < 0.05). There were no effects of group (P > 0.1) on histomorphometrical variables and on endometrial gene expression of ER, PR, OTR, COX-1, and COX-2. Cows from PRO group had greater staining intensity of ER-positive nuclei in shallow glandular epithelium (FP: 75.9 AU; FM: 75.2 AU; FG: 71.5 AU; PRO: 88.5 AU), staining intensity of PR-positive nuclei in deep glandular epithelium (FP: 70.2 AU; FM: 73.1 AU; FG: 69.2 AU; PRO: 85.7 AU), and greater percentage of PR-positive nuclei in shallow subepithelial stroma (FP: 58.2%; FM: 58.0%; FG: 57.3%; PRO: 63.4%) than cows from the other groups (P < 0.05). Cows from FG and PRO groups had a greater percentage of ER-positive nuclei in deep subepithelial stroma than cows from the other groups (FP: 76.0%; FM: 76.4%; FG: 83.6%; PRO: 86.1%; P < 0.05). In the other endometrial areas, the protein expressions of ER and PR were similar among groups. We concluded that in anestrous... (Complete abstract click electronic access below)

Nos travaux ont permis d’étudier différents aspects des interactions hôte-pathogènes. L’étude de différents Pattern Recognition Receptors (PRR) autres que les TLR, ainsi que leurs associations a mis en évidence une redondance partielle entre les récepteurs des familles des Scavenger Receptors, lectines de type C et EMR1 in vitro et in vivo dans l’induction de la réponse immunitaire à Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Cette compensation entre les récepteurs contraste avec les rôles indépendants et non redondants des cytokines et de leurs voies associées comme le TNF, l’IL-1R1, L’IFNγR et MyD88, indispensables pour le contrôle de l’infection. Grâce à l’utilisation de nouvelles souris génétiquement modifiées, nous avons pu montrer un rôle minime de la lymphotoxine α dans le contrôle de l’infection par Mycobacterium tuberculosis contrairement au rôle primordial du TNF. Enfin, notre étude s’est poursuivie avec l’analyse de la modulation de la réponse immunitaire de l’hôte par des composants de la paroi des mycobactéries, les PIM. L’élaboration de PIM synthétiques a permis de montrer que ces molécules de faibles poids moléculaires inhibent l’induction des voies TLR4 et TLR2 et possèdent ainsi un potentiel anti-inflammatoire thérapeutique. / In these study, we aimed to investigate different aspects of the host-pathogen interactions. We investigated the involvement of various Pattern Recognition Receptors (PRR) other than TLR, and their associations for the control of M. tuberculosis infection. We highlighted a partial redundancy between members of the Scavenger Receptors family, C-type lectins and EMR1 in response to mycobacteria in vitro and in vivo. This is in sharp contrast with the cytokine pathways like TNF, IL-1R1, IFNγR and MyD88, essentials to control M. tuberculosis infection and which cannot compensate with each other. By using new genetically deficient mice, we showed a limited role for the lymphotoxin α in the control of the infection by Mycobacterium tuberculosis in contrast with the vital role for TNF. Finally, we analysed the modulation of the immune response by mycobacterial cell wall components, PIM. Use of synthetic PIM demonstrated that these small molecules exert an inhibitory activity on TLR4- and TLR2-signaling pathways and may have a therapeutic anti-inflammatory potential.

The intrinsic cardiac plexus represents a major peripheral integration site for neuronal, hormonal, and locally produced neuromodulators controlling efferent neuronal output to the heart. This study examined the interdependence of norepinephrine, muscarinic agonists, and ANG II, to modulate intrinsic cardiac neuronal activity. Intracellular voltage recordings from whole-mount preparations of the guinea pig cardiac plexus were used to determine changes in active and passive electrical properties of individual intrinsic cardiac neurons. Application of either adrenergic or muscarinic agonists induced changes in neuronal resting membrane potentials, decreased afterhyperpolarization duration of single action potentials, and increased neuronal excitability. Adrenergic responses were inhibited by removal of extracellular calcium ions, while muscarinic responses were inhibited by application of TEA. The adrenergic responses were heterogeneous, responding to a variety of receptor-specific agonists (phenylephrine, clonidine, dobutamine, and terbutaline), although α-receptor agonists produced the most frequent responses. Application of ANG II alone produced a significant increase in excitability, while application of ANG II in combination with either adrenergic or muscarinic agonists produced a much larger potentiation of excitability. The ANG IIinduced modulation of firing was blocked by the angiotensin type 2 (AT 2) receptor inhibitor PD 123319 and was mimicked by the AT 2 receptor agonist CGP-42112A. AT 1 receptor blockade with telmasartin did not alter neuronal responses to ANG II. These data demonstrate that ANG II potentiates both muscarinically and adrenergically mediated activation of intrinsic cardiac neurons, doing so primarily via AT 2 receptor-dependent mechanisms. These neurohumoral interactions may be fundamental to regulation of neuronal excitability within the intrinsic cardiac nervous system.

The ligand activated transcription factor retinoid X receptor (RXR) forms a DNA binding heterodimer with pregnane X rseceptor (PXR) in response to foreign xenobiotics. In addition to RXR and PXR there are other proteins involved in the RXR/PXR signaling pathway. Many proteins involved in this pathway are still unknown. This study documents the production of RXR and PXR in a bacterial recombinant fusion system. These proteins were expressed in a system that allowed purification with six histidine residues. Once the proteins were expressed and purified from E. coli, they were solublized and tested for function. Different strategies were employed including temperature and inducer studies and denaturing and renaturing techniques to solublize PXR. Following the solubilzation of each protein, all proteins were subjected to a method of functional analysis. RXR function was assessed by electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) and proved to effectively form a DNA binding heterodimer with PXR. These studies involving RXR and PXR demonstrate that these proteins can be efficiently produced in a functional manner utilizing an inexpensive bacterial system. In addition, this study documents various strategies for combating "inclusion body" formation in the overexpression ofPXR. Also, it describes the production of plasmid pCMV-RXR for transfection into the HepG2 cell line to monitor the levels of cellular RXR in various tissue types.

No description available.

Chau Shuk Ling. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2006. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 103-115). / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / DECLARATION --- p.i / ACKNOWLEDGEMENT --- p.ii / ABBREVIATIONS --- p.iii / ABSTRACT IN ENGLISH --- p.v / ABSTRACT IN CHINESE --- p.viii / TABLE OF CONTENTS --- p.xi / Chapter CHAPTER I - --- INTRODUCTION / Chapter 1.1 --- Fluid Transport in Human Colon --- p.1 / Chapter 1.2 --- C1' Secretion across the Colonic Epithelium --- p.2 / Chapter 1.3 --- Properties of T84 Cells --- p.7 / Chapter 1.4 --- General Introduction on Extracellular Calcium Sensing Receptor (CaSR) --- p.8 / Chapter 1.5 --- Molecular Structure of CaSR --- p.9 / Chapter 1.6 --- CaSR-mediated Intracellular Signaling --- p.13 / Chapter 1.7 --- Agonists of CaSR --- p.16 / Chapter 1.8 --- Functions of CaSR --- p.18 / Chapter 1.8.1 --- Homeostatic Functions of CaSR --- p.18 / Chapter 1.8.2 --- Non-Homeostatic Functions of CaSR --- p.18 / Chapter 1.9 --- Molecular and Functional Study of CaSR Expressed in Colon --- p.19 / Chapter 1.10 --- Objectives of the Present Study --- p.21 / Chapter CHAPTER II - --- MATERIALS AND METHODS / Chapter 2.1 --- Solutions and Drugs --- p.22 / Chapter 2.2 --- Cell Culture --- p.23 / Chapter 2.3 --- Western Blot --- p.26 / Chapter 2.4 --- Simultaneous Measurement of Short-Circuit Current (Isc) and Intracellular Calcium Concentration ([Ca2+]i) --- p.27 / Chapter 2.4.1 --- Measurement of Isc and Transepithelial Resistance with Ussing Chamber --- p.27 / Chapter 2.4.2 --- Simultaneous Measurement of Isc and [Ca2+]i --- p.29 / Chapter 2.5 --- Measurement of Isc with Conventional Ussing Chamber --- p.32 / Chapter 2.6 --- Measurement of Intracellular cAMP Accumulation with Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay --- p.34 / Chapter 2.7 --- Data Analysis --- p.34 / Chapter CHAPTER III - --- RESULTS / Chapter 3.1 --- Expression of CaSR in T84 Cell Monolayers --- p.36 / Chapter 3.2 --- Poly L-arginine Induced an Increase in Isc --- p.38 / Chapter 3.2.1 --- Simultaneous Measurement of Isc and [Ca2+ ]i in Response to Poly L-arginine --- p.38 / Chapter 3.2.2 --- Interaction Between Poly L-arginine and Forskolin --- p.50 / Chapter 3.2.3 --- Ionic Mechanism of Isc Stimulated by Poly L-arginine --- p.58 / Chapter 3.2.3.1 --- Involvement of C1- in Isc Stimulated by Poly L-arginine --- p.58 / Chapter 3.2.3.2 --- Involvement of Basolateral K+ Channels in Isc Stimulated by Poly L-arginine --- p.61 / Chapter 3.2.4 --- Signaling Pathways Underlying the Isc Response to Poly L-arginine --- p.73 / Chapter CHAPTER IV - --- DISSCUSION / Chapter 4.1 --- Presence of CaSR in T84 Cell Monolayers --- p.78 / Chapter 4.2 --- Simultaneous Measurement of Isc and [Ca2+ ]i upon Application of Poly L-arginine --- p.82 / Chapter 4.3 --- Ionic Mechanism Underlying the Increase in Isc Stimulated by Poly L-arginine --- p.87 / Chapter 4.4 --- Signaling Pathway Underlying the Action of Poly L-arginine --- p.93 / Chapter 4.5 --- Does CaSR Mediate Poly L-arginine-evoked C1- Secretion across T84 Cell Monolayers? --- p.96 / Chapter 4.6 --- Future Study --- p.101 / REFERENCES --- p.103

Lau, Ka Hoi. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2009. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 139-151). / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / DECLARATION --- p.i / ACKNOWLEDGEMENT --- p.ii / ABBREVIATIONS --- p.iii / ABSTRACT IN ENGLISH --- p.iv / ABSTRACT IN CHINESE --- p.vii / TABLE OF CONTENTS --- p.x / Chapter CHAPTER I - --- INTRODUCTION / Chapter 1.1 --- Regulation of human airway surface liquid --- p.1 / Chapter 1.2 --- Cysteinyl leukotrienes in asthma --- p.2 / Chapter 1.3 --- Cysteinyl leukotriene receptor in epithelial cells --- p.5 / Chapter 1.4 --- Particular interest on CysLT1 receptor --- p.7 / Chapter 1.5 --- Cysteinyl leukotrienes receptor antagonists --- p.10 / Chapter 1.6 --- Purinergic receptors in epithelial cells --- p.11 / Chapter 1.7 --- P2Y receptors in epithelial cells --- p.13 / Chapter 1.8 --- Signalling pathways of P2Y receptors by nucleotide stimulation --- p.15 / Chapter 1.9 --- The importance of P2Y6 receptor on inflammation --- p.17 / Chapter 1.10 --- Relation between CysLT1 receptor and P2Y receptor --- p.18 / Chapter 1.11 --- The properties of 16HBE14o- cell line --- p.21 / Chapter 1.12 --- Objectives of the present project --- p.22 / Chapter CHAPTER II - --- MATERIALS AND METHODS / Chapter 2.1 --- Solutions and chemicals --- p.23 / Chapter 2.2 --- Cell culture --- p.25 / Chapter 2.3 --- Measurement of intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca2+ ]i) with fluorescent imaging / Chapter 2.3.1 --- Preparation of 16HBE14o- cells for fluorescent imaging --- p.26 / Chapter 2.3.2 --- Measurement of [Ca2+]j with fluorescent imaging --- p.28 / Chapter 2.4 --- Measurement of short-circuit current (Isc) and transepithelial resistance with Ussing chamber / Chapter 2.4.1 --- Preparation of 16HBE14o- cells for Isc and transepithelial resistance measurement --- p.31 / Chapter 2.4.2 --- Measurement of Isc and transepithelial resistance with Ussing chamber --- p.33 / Chapter 2.5 --- Immunoblot analysis for CysLT1 and P2Y6 receptors --- p.35 / Chapter 2.6 --- Measurement of protein kinase A activity --- p.36 / Chapter 2.7 --- Data analysis --- p.37 / Chapter CHAPTER III - --- RESULTS / Chapter 3.1 --- Expressions of CysLTi and P2Y6 receptor in 16HBE14o- cell monolayers --- p.38 / Chapter 3.2 --- "Differential inhibitory effects of montelukast, pranlukast and zafirlukast to UDP on Isc and [Ca2+]i in 16HBE14o- cells" / Chapter 3.2.1 --- Effect of apical or basolateral application of UDP on Isc and [Ca2+]i --- p.41 / Chapter 3.2.2 --- Effect of montelukast to the application of UDP on Isc and [Ca2+]i --- p.48 / Chapter 3.2.3 --- Effect of pranlukast to the application of UDP on Isc and [Ca2+ ]i --- p.57 / Chapter 3.2.4 --- Effect of zafirlukast to the application of UDP on Isc and [Ca2+]j --- p.63 / Chapter 3.2.5 --- "Summary of the effects of montelukast, pranlukast, zafirlukast to UDP application on Isc and [Ca2+]i" --- p.69 / Chapter 3.3 --- Cellular mechanism(s) underlying the effect of montelukast to apical UDP application on 16HBE14o-cells / Chapter 3.3.1 --- Effect of various blockers inhibiting Ca2 226}Bؤdependent pathway on UDP-induced [Ca2+]i in the presence or absence of montelukast --- p.70 / Chapter 3.3.2 --- "Effects of montelukast, pranlukast and zafirlukast to PKA or Epac on Isc induced by apical UDP" --- p.86 / Chapter 3.4 --- "Effects of montelukast, pranlukast and zafirlukast on other P2Y receptor agonists on 16HBE14o- cells" / Chapter 3.4.1 --- "Effects of montelukast, pranlukast and zafirlukast on 2-methio-ADP-induced Isc and [Ca2+]i responses on 16HBE14o- cellsl" --- p.14 / Chapter 3.4.2 --- "Effects of montelukast, pranlukast and zafirlukast on UTP-induced Isc and [Ca2+]i responses on 16HBE14o- cells" --- p.116 / Chapter CHAPTER IV - --- DISCUSSION / Chapter 4.1 --- Differential effects of CysLT1 antagonists to P2Y6 agonist on Isc and [Ca2+]i in 16HBE14o-cells --- p.120 / Chapter 4.2 --- Possible cellular mechanism(s) underlying the effects of CysLT1 antagonists on UDP-induced [Ca2+]j increase in 16HBE14o- cells --- p.125 / Chapter 4.3 --- Possible cellular mechanism(s) underlying the effects of CysLT1 antagonists on UDP-induced Isc in 16HBE14o- cells --- p.129 / Chapter 4.4 --- Effects of CysLT1antagonists on other P2Y receptor subtypes in 16HBE14o- cells --- p.132 / Chapter 4.5 --- Summary: Possible interaction between CysLT1 antagonists and P2Y6 receptor --- p.135 / Chapter 4.6 --- Clinical implications and perspectives --- p.138 / Chapter CHAPTER V - --- REFERENCES --- p.139