Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) represent a heterogeneous population of stromal cells with a pluripotent differentiation potential. They can be isolated from multiple tissues of mesodermal origin, such as bone marrow, adipose tissue, umbilical cord blood and peripheral blood and afterwards externally expanded according their adherence to the plastic surfaces. These cells show remarkable immunomodulatory properties, suppressing T-, B- and NK-cell functions, and also modulating dendritic cell activities and influencing immune responses during tissue repair and recovery. MSCs have been shown to possess ability to migrate to sites of inflammation and tissue injury. All these properties make MSCs a promising tool for clinical application. Our primary goal was to identify processes that may influence immunoregulatory effects of MSCs. In order to promote immunossupressive qualities of MSCs we established the scheme comprising MSCs precultivated with various cytokines and Toll-like receptors (TLR) ligands in vitro, with the final aim to improve the therapeutic effect of MSCs on wound healing in vivo. We studied modulation of MSCs properties and consequently the effect of influenced MSCs on cells of the immune system. The immunosuppression is mainly mediated through secreted factors that MSCs produced after...

8 Abstract Introduction: Celiac disease is indentified as the loss of oral tolerance to gluten, it is an organ-specific autoimmune disease in which both, adaptive and innate immunity participate. Monocytes are important part of immune system; they have many functions and express very diverse membrane receptors including Toll-like receptors (TLRs). TLRs are involved in the innate immune response, specifically TLR2 and TLR4 are crucial for recognition of bacterial components and TLR7 recognizes virus's ssRNA. Monocytes also produce prolaktin (PRL), which acts as a cytokine that modulates immune responses. To clarify the role of innate immunity and circulating monocytes in pathogenesis of celiac disease, we focused on changes in expression of selected Toll-like receptors (TLR2, TLR4, TLR7), prolactin, some pro- a anti-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-6, IL-12, IL-10). We monitored the influence of the SNP - 1149 G/T on the expression of PRL mRNA. Another objective of this work was the introduction and optimization of in vitro methods for cultivation and stimulation of peripheral monocytes. Material and Methods: This pilot study includes 21 patients with celiac disease and 40 healthy controls. For determination of mRNA levels of the studied genes we isolated RNA from monocytes that were isolated by...

Introduction: Communication between neuroendocrinne and immune system is arranged by hormones and cytokines in endocrinne, paracrinne and autocrinne manner. One of the factors involved is also prolactin, a pituitary hormone and an immune cytokine. Sepsis is a system reaction to inflammation mediated by Th1 immune response, which is supported by prolactin as well. Primary protection against sepsis is mediated by innate immunity. Toll- like receptors distinguish molecules, which are connected with pathogens. Afterwards this identification of a specific pathogen toll-like receptors trigger immune reaction with the main goal of destroying this pathogen and also with the goal of renewing the balance of the organism. It is supposed that in the organism that is hardly attacked by a pathogen, the PRL, TLR2 and TLR4 gene expression is on the increase. We studied the levels of PRL, TLR2 and TLR4 mRNA production in circulating monocytes derived from septic patients. Simultaneously, the effect of PRL -1149 G/T SNP on physiological levels of PRL mRNA and its expression in the course of sepsis was evaluated. Materials and methods: As a source of monocytes, blood specimens from 43 septic patients and 40 healthy controls were used. The blood of septic patients was taken three times with some time difference and...

The main mammalian circadian pacemaker stored in suprachiasmatic nuclei of the hypothalamus (SCN) is adapted to changes in the external environement by synchronization of its endogenous period with periodic changes of light and dark during day and night. The information about light travels via glutamatergic retinohypothalamic tract to the ventrolateral part of the SCN. Activation of ionotropic glutamate receptors in this area provably mediates the transfer of information about light on the transcriptional mechanism of light-sensitive cells. The role of the NMDA type of ionotropic glutamate receptors is well studied in this field and it is known that some NMDA receptor subunits show a circadian rhythm and an increased expression after a light pulse. Signalization via AMPA type receptors is much less elucidated. The aim of this thesis was to determine which AMPA receptor subunits are expressed in the SCN of the rat and if these subunits show a daily rhythm of expression and a reactivity to light pulse, as well as to outline the possible roles of distinct AMPA receptor subunits in the SCN. Keywords: circadian rhythms, suprachiasmatic nuclei, glutamate receptors, AMPA

Introduction: Diabetes mellitus is a polygenic disease and its development is influenced to some extent by environmental factors as well. Innate immunity triggers nonspecifically first defense reactions after penetration of the pathogen into the body, while overstimulation components of innate immunity may give rise to autoimmune diseases, including diabetes type 1. The components of innate immunity are, among others, Toll-like receptors (TLRs) belonging to a group of the structures recognizing preserved molecular structures characteristic of pathogens. Toll-like receptors are abundantly expressed by monocytes which produce prolactin (PRL) having an immunostimulatory function. To clarify the role of innate immunity in the pathogenesis of diabetes, we focused on the expression of mRNA and protein expression of TLR2 and TLR4. The expression of PRL was studied only at the level of mRNA. Monocytes were separated by flow cytometry into classical (CD14++) and nonclassical (CD14+). We monitored their percentages and the degree of expression of CD14 antigen on their surface.The operational objective of this dissertation was to optimize the stimulation of monocytes for the planned study of the function of non-pituitary prolactin in vitro and determine the appropriateness of the use of healthy donors' buffy...

Charles University Faculty of Pharmacy in Hradec Králové Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology Student: Klára Dohnalová Supervisor: prof. PharmDr. Petr Pávek, Ph.D. Title of diploma thesis: Inhibitory effect of SPA70 on hPXR activation This work focuses on pregnane X receptor (PXR) and its antagonists. PXR is a ligand-activated nuclear receptor that plays a major role in detoxification of xenobiotics and protecting the organism from their toxic effects. Recent evidence also shows endogenous action of PXR in the metabolism of lipids, glucose and bile acids. However, PXR activation could be harmful, since induction of biotransformation enzymes by PXR agonists may result in reduced treatment efficacy, increased toxicity of drug metabolites and resistance to chemotherapeutic agents. Recent research has been intensively focused on PXR antagonists capable of abolishing these unfavourable effects. Recently discovered human PXR antagonist SPA70 has a promising potential for future usage. In this study, we investigated the inhibitory effect of SPA70 on activated PXR. To activate PXR we used agonists binding directly to PXR (rifampicin, hyperforin, SR12813) and also agonists activating PXR indirectly via cell signalling pathways (U0126, PD184352, PD0325901). Experiments were performed using luciferase...

The main goal of the thesis was to optimize the use of agonists of the FPR receptors for cancer therapy. The aim was: (1) to find the best anchor of ligands to the cancer cells and the optimal timing of the treatment, (2) to verify the universality of agonists of FPR receptors for different types of cancer, (3) to explain the synergy between ligands of FPR and ligands of TLR by flow cytometry and (4) to verify the applicability of cytotoxic test CD45+/ PI for f-MLF-DOPE ligand.

Impairment of the cholinergic neurotransmission system is regularly detected in animal models of Alzheimer's disease as well as in human patients suffering from this serious disease. Moreover, there is increasing amount of evidence suggesting that activation of individual mAChR subtypes specifically influences the cleavage of APP, the precursor for β-amyloid. APP can be processed in an amyloidogenic or non-amyloidogenic pathway and a relative abundance of these patways contributes to establishing the final concentration of neurotoxic β-amyloid in the brain. In this work, I have studied the acute and chronic effects of A β1-42 on binding and functional characteristics of mAChR. I have demonstrated that Aβ1-42 present in cell culture expressing the individual subtypes of mAChR negatively and specifically influences the function of the M1 mAChR subtype. I have also detected a decline in muscarinic receptor-mediated signal transduction in brain tissue of young adult APPswe/PS1dE9 mice, a commonly used animal model of Alzheimer's disease. Demonstration of the impairment of muscarinic transmissin in transgenic mice by soluble β-amyloid that occurs earlier than amyloid pathology and behavioral deficit, and its imitation by soluble Aβ1-42 in vitro lend strong support to the notion of the early involvement...

(in English): The aim of the work was to perform in-depth analysis of M2KO mice both at baseline and upon a challenge with a cold stress and to explore the role of opposing receptors (i.e. adrenoceptors) in adaptation to lacking M2-receptors in the heart. We have performed receptor binding studies, study of receptor gene expression, echocardiography, telemetric monitoring of heart rate, body temperature and activity, heart rate variability and biorhythm analysis, analysis of heart rate response to the application of drugs (carbachol, atropine, isoprenaline, propranolol), assessment of adenylyl cyclase and NO synthase activity, measurement of catecholamine blood concentration and gene expression of catecholamine-synthesizing enzymes. We have found that the disruption of M2-receptor gene caused a compensatory decrease of cardiostimulatory β1-adrenoceptors and β2-adrenoceptors with corresponding down-regulation of the gene expression, M3-receptors were down-regulated as well. Missing M2-receptors were functionally replaced by the main cardioinhibitory β3-adrenoceptors that were up-regulated, not by cardioinhibitory M4-receptors. β3-adrenoceptors were found to signal through adenylyl cyclase instead of NO synthase. All these changes were found in the left ventricle only, so heterologous regulation is...

Substance IEM 1460 is an antagonist of AMPA receptors in the brain. It is a derivative of adamantine, which has already been tested in several studies as a potential age-related anticonvulsant. In the research part of the thesis there is a summary of the knowledge about receptors, focusing on AMPA receptors, IEM 1460, epilepsy and ontogenetic development of laboratory rat. The research section evaluates the effect of IEM 1460 on motor skills of a rat in a few postnatal days of its life. To evaluate spontaneous animal motor skills, Open-Field tracking was used, and several specific tests were used to evaluate provoked motor skills. A total of 30 animals were included in the research. Substances (IEM 1460 at 3 mg / kg, IEM 1460 at 10 mg / kg or 2 ml / kg saline) were infused intraperitoneally on five consecutive days (ages P7-P11) and the animals were repeatedly tested at age 12, 15, 18, 21, 25, 31 and 60 days. In this study, IEM 1460 has not been shown to have significant effect on the gross rat motor skills and therefore the substance remains as a serious candidate for age-specific antiepileptic drugs.