The exact role of opioid receptors in drug addiction and modulatory mechanism of action of monovalent cations on these receptors are still not fully understood. Our results support the view that the mechanism of addiction to morphine is primarily based on desensitization of μ- and δ-opioid receptors. Desenzitization of agonist response proceeds already at the level of G protein functional activity. Long-term exposure of rats to morphine resulted in increase of number of δ-opioid receptors and change of their sensitivity to sodium ions. Analysis of the effect of different monovalent ions on agonist binding in δ-OR- Gi1α (Cys351 -Ile351 )-HEK293 cell line confirmed the preferential sensitivity of δ-opioid receptor to sodium ions. We have distinguished the high- and low-affinity Na+ sites. Biophysical analysis of interaction of lithium, sodium, potassium and cesium ions with plasma membranes isolated from HEK293 cells with the help of fluorescent probes indicated that monovalent ions interact, in low-affinity manner, with the polar, membrane-water interface of membrane bilayer. Key words: morphine, forebrain cortex, opioid receptors, G proteins, monovalent ions, plasma membrane, fluorescence spectroscopy.

5 Abstract Genetic mechanisms of regulation of gene expression form the basis for proper development, function of organisms and their responses to variable life conditions. However, they are relatively slow. Life processes that require a fast response to the changing environmental and metabolic conditions are mostly executed on the level of proteins especially their posttranslational modifications and protein- protein interactions.The goal of the experimental work that led to the presented thesis consisted in exploitation of the model organism Caenorhabditis elegans for analysis of regulation of gene expression by transcription factors from the protein family of nuclear receptors. The model system C. elegans enables very efficient experimental procedures in the field of genetics, genomics and functional analysis of phenotypes. In the experimental work connected with this thesis, I studied the regulation of gene expression under specific experimental conditions from the perspective of advanced functional proteomics and I focused on the employment of separation methods and methods of advanced proteomics, especially by mass spectrometry.In the first part of the work, I characterized the nuclear receptor NHR-60 on the protein level. This nuclear receptor is expressed as two protein forms with a mass of 50 kDa...

Spinal cord injury is a serious trauma and despite intensive research there is still no effective treatment for patients. The aim of this thesis is to study new possibilities of spinal cord injury therapy in animal models. We have focused on the use of natural materials, stem cells, gene therapy and the possibility of combining these approaches. The effect of extracellular matrix (ECM) based materials prepared by decellularization of porcine spinal cord and porcine urinary bladder on tissue regeneration after acute hemisection of the spinal cord was investigated. Another tested material was a hydrogel based on hyaluronic acid modified with RGD adhesion peptide, which was applied acutely and subacutely into the hemisection lesion. We have shown that both types of biomaterials have positive effect on regeneration of the spinal cord tissue by bridging the lesion and promotion of axonal ingrowth. In addition, ECM hydrogels promote the growth of blood vessels into the lesion site. The combination of hydrogels with mesenchymal stem cells derived from human umbilical cord (hWJ-MSCs) had synergistic effect, but since only a limited number of cells could be incorporated into hydrogels, this effect was not associated with improvement in motor skills. The limitation of ECM hydrogels is their rapid...

IL-1 receptor/Toll-like receptor (IL-1R/TLR) supefamily represents a group of proteins that share highly conserved TIR domain in their cytoplasmic region. Signal transduction mediated by TIR-containing proteins involves the activation of NF-κB transcription factor and thus the members of this superfamily play a key role in many physiological responses related to innate immune defense and inflammation. SIGIRR (single immunoglobulin IL1R-related molecule) is a recently discovered member of the IL-1R family, however it differs from the other group members by its unique structural features. SIGIRRhas been so far considered to be an 'orphan' receptor as no SIGIRR ligand has been identified yet. Moreover, SIGIRR itself is not capable to induce the NF-κB activation. Instead, SIGIRR is supposed to act as a negative regulator for IL- 1Rs/TLRs mediated inflammation. Its inhibitory function has been implemented in several signalling pathways in various cell types and tissues including the kidney, the digestive tract and the lung. Recent reports also suggest that SIGIRR could play a role in early embryonic development. The main aim of this thesis is to characterize the mechanism how SIGIRR negative regulatory function in IL-1R/TLR signalling pathway is delivered. Here we describe the establishment of...

Klasické schéma vývoje hematopoetických buněk předpokládá časné oddělení lymfoidního a myeloidního prekurzoru. V poslední době jsou navrhovány složitější modely, které předpokládají větší flexibilitu hematopoezy a navrhují existenci progenitorů s lymfoidním i myeloidním potenciálem. Akutní hybridní leukémie jsou malignity, které podle různých kritérií nelze jednoznačně zařadit k lymfoidní nebo k myeloidní linii a jejichž chování spíše dává za pravdu novým modelům hematopoezy. Předkládaná práce se zabývala především výzkumem dětských leukémií s přesmykem z lymfoidní do myeloidní linie během indukční léčby. Jedná se o rozsáhlý projekt, v jehož rámci si diplomová práce si kladla za úkol určit liniové zařazení leukemických blastů pomocí detekce přestaveb genů pro imunoglobuliny a T-buněčné receptory (TCR). Potvrdili jsme, že myeloidní buňky derivované v průběhu léčby pochází u všech pacientů z původního lymfoidního klonu. Dále jsme u těchto případů zkoumali expresi vytipovaných genů ve srovnání s běžnými druhy leukémií. Třetí částí práce byl výzkum prognostického významu přítomnosti přestaveb TCR (a tedy příslušnosti k lymfoidní linii) u leukémií z T-lymfoidní řady.

Thirteen new dinuclear complexes of ligand 2,6-bis[(N-methylpiperazine-1- yl)methyl]-4-formyl phenol (L1) were prepared. Copper(II) and palladium(II) salts were used for the syntheses. Following compounds were prepared: [Cu2L1(CH3COO)2]ClO4, [Cu2L1(CF3COO)2(ClO4)][Cu2L1(CF3COO)2]ClO4, [Pd2L1(CH3COO)3], [Pd2L1(CF3COO)3], [Pd2L1(Cl)4]. These ones should act as anion receptors. The acetates were exchanged for phenylphosphinates in the case of the complex cation [Cu2L1(CH3COO)2]+ and the structure of [Cu2L1(phPO2H)2]ClO4 was obtained. Geometry of coordination shell of Cu2+ - ions in prepared complexes is tetragonal pyramid. The UV-VIS spectroscopy was used for study of interactions in system of the ligand - metal - anion. Interactions between the ligand and metals in oxidation state 2 were observed as well as interactions between the complex [Cu2L1(CH3COO)2]ClO4 and sodium salts.

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is one of the major causes of chronic and cancerous liver disease. Elimination of HBV from chronically infected patients by recombinant interferon α (IFNα) monotherapy shows that the mechanisms of the innate immunity play an important role in suppressing viral infection. However, the mechanisms of recognition of the HBV genome and its escape from the mechanisms of natural immunity are still little known. One of the principal factors enabling the virus to escape from cellular restriction mechanisms is the HBx viral protein. HBx is a 154 amino acid pleiotropic multifunctional protein affecting transcription, signal transduction, cell cycle, protein degradation, apoptosis, and chromosomal stability in the host cell. Previous results from our laboratory have shown that activation of the MEK1/2-ERK signaling pathway in plasmacytoid dendritic cells leads to inhibition of IFNα production. The aim of my work was to determine whether HBx activates the MEK1/2-ERK pathway and thus inhibits IFN type I production also in hepatocytes. For this purpose, I monitored HBx production in the Huh7 hepatoma cell line by transfecting the bicistronic plasmid pHBx- IRES-EGFP and Western blotting. Using the same method, I monitored activation of the MEK1/2-ERK signaling pathway by ERK...

Circadian system of mammals is generated in suprachiasmatic nuclei of hypothalamus. This system is synchronized with light conditions through phase shifts that occur after light exposition during the subjective night. Recent studies have shown that activation of endocannabinoid receptors attenuates the light-induced phase shifts and influences the ability of circadian system to light entrainment. The aim of this work is to examine this influence on behavioral level and on light-reactive cellular processes within the suprachiasmatic nuclei. Our results show that the activation of endocannabinoid system via CB1 receptor agonist modulates the light-induced phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) and the expression of c-Fos protein in neurons of suprachiasmatic nuclei in the rat's brain; these cellular processes correlate with the attenuation of light entrainment. Keywords: circadian system, suprachiasmatic nuclei, light entrainment, endocannabinoid system, CB1 receptors, extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2, ERK1/2, c-Fos

NK cells are innate lymphocytes which constitute the first line of organism's defence against infections through their receptor system. These cells represent an important part of antiviral and antitumor immunity, they also play a role in transplant immunity, autoimmunity and reproduction. This diploma thesis inquires into the structure of the transmembrane receptor NKR-P1B of mouse NK cells and the interaction with its ligand Clr-b. The aim was to prepare the expression vector coding the ligand-binding and whole extracellular region of the receptor NKR-P1B and to optimize its production and refolding in vitro. Purified protein samples were analyzed by size-exclusion chromatography, electrophoresis and mass spectrometry. Interaction between NKR-P1B and Clr-b proteins was tested using biophysical (size-exclusion chromatography and surface plasmon resonance) and biological methods (labelling of cellular sample with NKR-P1B proteins marked with fluorescent dye). In vitro binding experiments have not confirmed mutual interaction between NKR-P1B and Clr-b despite the prepared proteins binding to the bone marrow cells.

In last decades, with expansion of immunological and biological methods are developed new diagnostical and treatment processes, which enable stratification of patients into sanative groups and trend to individual therapy. Absolutely transparent are effects relevant to leukemia. Present treatment procedures enable not only longer survivance of patients, but often their stable sanation. In present time is in progress intesive research imunotherapy NK cells, which could be able to finish minimal residual disease after chemotherapeutical treatment, which is evoke by persistant malignant cells. Next advantage of this treatment procedure is elimination of system disease in cosequence of exactly pointed cure. In this work he attended in vitro testing to possibility of utilization imunotherapeutic treatment by NK cells acute and chronic myeloid leukemia and chronic lymfoblastic leukemia. Using flow cytometry methods we detected activation and inhibitory ligands which are recognized by NK cells on the cell surface of leukemia blasts. These are members of MHC complex HLA-E, molecules derived from MHC class I (MICA, MICB), UL16-binding proteins (ULBP-1, ULBP -2, ULBP -3, ULBP -4) and also Hsp70 protein according to the newest observation. We also atended to detection of expression inducible heat shock...