Le syndrome de Bardet-Biedl (BBS) est considéré comme l’une des causes les plus fréquentes de rétinopathie pigmentaire dite syndromique. Il a été démontré une connexion entre les protéines BBS et les structures du cil primaire. Le cil primaire est un organelle formé par une fine évagination de la membrane plasmique soutenu par une ossature de microtubules. Dans la rétine, le photorécepteur (PR) est une cellule ciliaire composée d’un segment interne et d’un segment externe reliés par un cil primaire modifié. Au cours de ce travail, nous avons mis en évidence que le stress du réticulum endoplasmique est à l’origine du processus apoptotique car un défaut ciliaire dans le PR entraine l’accumulation de protéines dans le segment interne et déclenche une réponse au stress cellulaire appelé unfolded protein response. Nous avons développé un traitement pharmacologique modulant ce stress cellulaire afin de ralentir l’apoptose des PR dans un modèle murin BBS. Cette approche pharmacologique a montré son efficacité dans le maintien et la fonctionnalité des PR. Elle pourrait potentiellement être applicable à d’autres ciliopathies rétiniennes. / Bardet-Biedl syndrome (BBS) is one of the most frequent cause of syndromic retinitis pigmentosa. BBS proteins are related to primary cilium structure and function. The primary cilium is microtubule-based antenna-like structure at the surface of the cell. In the retina, the photoreceptor (PR) is a ciliated cell composed of an inner and an outer segment linked by a modified primary cilium. In this study, we demonstrated that endoplasmic reticulum stress induces unfolded protein response due to protein accumulation in the inner segment in case of ciliary defect in the PR leading to apoptosis. We designed a pharmacological treatment to alleviate PR apoptosis in a BBS mouse model. This pharmacological approach was efficient to protect PR from apoptosis and maintain their functionality. This treatment could be applicable to others retinal ciliopathies.

Les mutations de la protéolipide-protéine (PLP) entraînent la mort des oligodendrocytes (OL) et les pathologies de la myéline. Pour contribuer à l'élucidation des mécanismes impliqués, ce travail de thèse, qui a utilisé des lignées d'OL 158N (normale) et 158JP (porteuse de PLP mutée), démontre une mortalité élevée des cultures 158JP comparées aux témoins. Une hausse du ratio Bax (pro-)/Bcl2 (anti-apoptose) est observée chez les 158JP. La protéine BiP, marqueur de stress du réticulum endoplasmique (SRE), est surexprimée chez les 158JP. L'exposition au SRE induit par la tunicamycine a révélé que la DE50 pour les 158JP est 67 fois plus faible que la DE50 pour les 158N. Les 158JP surexpriment aussi les protéines CHOP et caspase-12 qui déterminent le basculement des processus intracellulaires vers l'apoptose. Le 4-Phénylbutyrate, inhibiteur du SRE, améliore la survie des 158JP et diminue les marqueurs du SRE et de l'apoptose. Des perspectives intéressantes sont ouvertes pour l'exploration de stratégies efficaces contre les pathologies dysmyélinisantes. / Mutations of proteolipid-protein (PLP) cause oligodendrocyte (OL) death and myelin disorders. To contribute to the elucidation of the mechanisms involved, the present PhD work has used 158N (normal) and 158JP (mutated PLP) OL lines, to show the occurrence of a high cell death percentage in 158JP OL cultures compared to the controls. An increased Bax (pro-)/Bcl2 (anti-apoptosis) ratio is evidenced in 158JP cells. Also, the endoplasmic reticulum stress marker (SRE) BiP is overexpressed in 158JP OL. Exposure of 158N and 158JP cells to tunicamycin-induced SRE revealed that the ED50 for 158JP OL is 67 times lower than the ED50 for 158N OL. Proteins CHOP and caspase-12, that pivotally determine the switching from survival to apoptotic pathways, are upregulated in 158JP cells. 4-Phenylbutyrate, a SRE inhibitor, which improves 158JP cell survival, also decreases the levels of SRE and apoptosis markers in 158JP OL. The thesis opens promising perspectives for the development of effective strategies against myelin disorders.

Dans le cadre de situations pathologiques, le rein peut être soumis à de multiples agressions toxiques, ischémiques et immunologiques pouvant favoriser la survenue d’une maladie rénale chronique et le développement d’une insuffisance rénale. En réponse à ces stress, les cellules du parenchyme rénal vont activer des processus biologiques adaptatifs permettant le maintien de la viabilité cellulaire et l’homéostasie de l’organe. Ces réponses adaptatives peuvent également activer l’immunité innée et induire le remodelage tissulaire (fibrogenèse et angiogenèse). Cependant, les mécanismes précis de cette régulation sont mal connus. L’objectif de ce travail a été de caractériser les mécanismes de régulation et les conséquences microenvironnementales (inflammation et angiogenèse) de l’activation de la réponse UPR (Unfolded Protein Response) et de l’autophagie, en réponse à des stress ischémiques et immunologiques. Dans un premier travail, nous avons montré que la réponse UPR est impliquée dans la génération d’une réponse inflammatoire induite par un stress métabolique dans des cellules tubulaires rénales. Le stress métabolique, caractérisé par une carence en glucose, induit un stress du RE et active la réponse UPR. Ce stress active le facteur NF-.B et favorise la transcription de cytokines et chimiokines pro-inflammatoires. La voie PERK/eIF2 : - n’est pas nécessaire à l’activation de l’inflammation mais amplifie l’expression des cytokines alors que la voie IRE1 - est impliquée dans la génération de cette réponse inflammatoire. De plus, l’ischémie aigue active le stress du RE et l’inflammation dans les reins de rat. Enfin, à partir de biopsies de déclampage de greffons rénaux, l’expression de GRP78, marqueur du stress du RE, et de NF-.B p65/RelA dans les tubules rénaux, est significativement plus élevée en comparaison avec des biopsies de greffons rénaux stables, à distance de la greffe. Dans un second travail, nous avons montré que la réponse UPR régule l’angiogenèse dans les cellules tubulaires rénales lors d’une carence en glucose. La voie PERK est un régulateur majeur de l’expression des facteurs angiogéniques (VEGFA, bFGF et angiogénine). De plus, l’expression de l’angiogénine est modulée par les voies PERK et IRE1.. Enfin, l’ischémie aigue induite chez le rat, active la réponse UPR parallèlement à l’augmentation de l’expression de VEGFA, bFGF et de l’angiogénine. Dans un troisième travail, nous avons mis en évidence un nouveau mécanisme par lequel l’interféron. (IFN.) active l’autophagie dans les cellules tubulaires rénales. Nous avons montré que l’IFN. entraine une déplétion en tryptophane, active la voie GCN2, une kinase eIF2., ce qui conduit à l’augmentation du flux autophagique. De plus, la supplémentation entryptophane et l’utilisation d’ARN interférence dirigés contre GCN2 inhibent l’autophagie induite par l’IFN. Enfin, l’autophagie intervient dans la régulation de la sécrétion de cytokines inflammatoires et de facteurs de croissance en réponse à l’IFN.. En conclusion, nous avons caractérisé dans ce travail des mécanismes originaux de régulation d’une réponse inflammatoire et angiogénique par la réponse UPR et l’autophagie en réponse à des stress ischémiques et immunologiques au sein de l’épithélium tubulaire rénal humain. / Under pathological conditions, kidney is subjected to multiple toxic, ischemic and immunological failures that promote the occurrence of chronic kidney disease and the development of acute kidney injury. In response to stress, renal parenchymal cells activate biological adaptive processes permitting the maintenance of cell viability and renal homeostasis. These adaptive responses can also activate innate immunity and induce tissue remodeling (fibrogenesis and angiogenesis). However, accurate mechanisms of this regulation are still unclear. The aim of this work was to characterize regulation mechanisms and micro environmental consequences(inflammation and angiogenesis) of the activation of the UPR (Unfolded Protein Response) and autophagy, in response to ischemic and immunological stress. In a first study, we demonstrated that the UPR is involved in the generation of inflammatory response induces by metabolic stress in tubular renal cells. Metabolic stress, characterized by glucose deprivation, induces an ER stress and activates the UPR. This stress activates NF-.B and promotes the transcription of pro inflammatory cytokines and chemokines. The PERK signaling is not required for the induction of inflammation but amplifies cytokine expression whereas IRE1 is involved in the generation of inflammatory response. Moreover, acute ischemia activates ER stress and inflammation in rat kidneys. Finally, from kidney transplant biopsies performed before implantation, the expression of GRP78, an ER stress marker, and NF-.B p65/RelA in renal tubules is significantly increased in comparison with stable human kidney transplant biopsies. In a second study, we showed that the UPR regulates angiogenesis in tubular renal cells during glucose deprivation. The PERK pathway is a major regulator of angiogenic factors expression (VEGFA, bFGF and angiogenin). Furthermore, angiogenin expression is modulated by PERK and IRE1. pathways. Finally, acute ischemia activates the UPR and, in parallel, increases VEGFA, bFGF and angiogenin expression in rat kidneys. In a third work, we identified a novel mechanism by which IFN. activates autophagy in human kidney epithelial cells. We showed that IFN. promotes tryptophan depletion, activates the eIF2. kinase GCN2, and leads to an increase of the autophagic flux. Moreover, tryptophan supplementation and RNA interference directed against GCN2 inhibit IFN.-induced autophagy. Finally,autophagy regulates the secretion of inflammatory cytokines and growth factors in response to IFN..In conclusion, we characterized in this work original mechanisms that regulate inflammatory and angiogenic responses by the UPR and autophagy in response to ischemic and immunological stress in tubular renal human epithelium.

Les néoplasmes neuroendocrines gastro-entéro-pancréatiques (NNE GEP) représentent un groupe de tumeurs rares se développant à partir des cellules neuroendocrines de l'organisme. L'arsenal thérapeutique disponible aujourd'hui pour les NNE GEP reste faible, même s'il s'est étoffé au cours de ces dix dernières années avec l'arrivée des thérapies ciblées (inhibiteurs de mTOR et de tyrosine-kinase). Cependant, ces traitements présentent des résistances qui conditionnent leur efficacité et aucun biomarqueur permettant de sélectionner les patients répondeurs à ces traitements ou d'anticiper le développement de résistances n'est connu. Identifier de nouvelles cibles thérapeutiques et comprendre les mécanismes de résistance est donc un enjeu dans le traitement des NNE GEP. Nos travaux montrent que les cellules de NNE GEP soumises à l'hypoxie ou la déplétion en glucose activent l'Unfolded Protein Response (UPR) et que la voie PERK favorise la survie cellulaire. De plus, la modulation de la réponse UPR (via des inhibiteurs ou inducteurs de l'UPR) diminue la croissance tumorale dans un modèle murin de dissémination métastatique de NNE GEP. Nous avons également découvert qu'un inhibiteur de mTOR, la rapamycine, permet d'activer préférentiellement la voie PERK de l'UPR, favorisant la survie des cellules traitées par la rapamycine. Ces résultats montrent l'intérêt de cibler la réponse UPR dans le traitement des NNE GEP. De plus, nous suggérons la mise en place d'un mécanisme de résistance aux inhibiteurs de mTOR impliquant la voie PERK. Si ces résultats se confirment in vivo et ex vivo, l'association d'un inhibiteur de mTOR et d'un inhibiteur de PERK pourrait palier aux phénomènes de résistance rencontrés avec les inhibiteurs de mTOR dans les NNE GEP / Gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms (GEP NEN) are defined as rare neoplastic lesions developing from neuroendocrine cells. Therapeutic options available for GEP NEN are scarce, although targeted therapies such as mTOR or tyrosine-kinase inhibitors provide new opportunities. However, tumor cells develop resistances to these treatments, which reduce their effectiveness. To date, no biomarker is available to select patients responding to these treatments or to anticipate the development of resistances. Identifying new therapeutic targets and understanding mechanisms of resistance are therefore a relevant issue in the treatment of GEP NEN.We found that GEP NEN cells induce the Unfolded Protein Response (UPR) when subjected to hypoxia or glucose depletion, and that PERK pathway promotes cell survival. Modulation of the UPR thanks to UPR inhibitors or inducers decreases tumor growth in a murine model of metastatic dissemination of GEP NEN. Moreover, the mTOR inhibitor rapamycin preferentially induces PERK arm of the UPR, thereby promoting survival of rapamycin-treated cells. These results show the interest in targeting the UPR in the treatment of NNE GEP. In addition, we here suggest a new resistance mechanism to mTOR inhibitors involving PERK pathway. If these results are confirmed in vivo and ex vivo, the combination of mTOR inhibitor and PERK inhibitor could overcome mTOR inhibitors resistances in GEP NEN

La progression tumorale repose sur l'acquisition progressive d'anomalies génétiques qui vont conduire à la prolifération dérégulée de ces cellules. Il existe cependant des systèmes de protection contre cette progression tumorale que l'on appelle systèmes de sauvegarde. Ainsi, pour se transformer, la cellule tumorale doit franchir ces barrières anti-tumorales. Les résultats de mon travail de thèse, qui avait pour objectif initial d'identifier les altérations moléculaires précoces de l'oncogenèse, m'ont permis de mettre en évidence un nouveau mécanisme de sauvegarde anti-tumoral. Pour cette étude, un modèle d'étude in vitro de l'initiation et de la progression tumorale déclenchée par l'oncogène RET développé par notre équipe a été utilisé. Grâce à l'utilisation de ce système, nous avons pu montrer que le Réticulum Endoplasmique (RE) est un senseur efficace de l'altération du métabolisme glucidique déclenchée par les signalisations oncogéniques, et que le stress qu'il subit alors, conduit à l'apoptose. Ce travail a permis de mettre mis en évidence que les cellules malignes qui franchissent cette barrière peuvent alors bénéficier d'un effet pro-tumorale du SRE. Ainsi, les résultats présentés dans ce manuscrit offrent une meilleure compréhension du rôle complexe que joue le SRE dans la cancérogénèse / Carcinogenesis involves not only inactivation of tumourigenesis barriers, but also alterations in energy metabolism to fulfil the synthetic and bioenergetic requirements for fast and uncontrolled growth. Our study supports a model in which the ER acts as a node between altered glucose metabolism and tumourigenesis barriers. This major site in the cell for protein folding and maturation, can sense glucose limitation that results from oncogenic-mediated increased glucose demand, and consequently trigger unfolded protein response-dependent apoptosis. As such, the ER functions as a surveillance mechanism that suppresses the emergence of tumour cells. Overcoming this early barrier involves a specific attenuation of the pro-apoptotic PERK-CHOP branch of the unfolded protein response, a cellular adaptation that in turn may favour malignant progression. These observations bring new insights into the complex role of the unfolded protein response during tumourigenesis

Orientadores: Eliana Pereira de Araújo, Lício Augusto Velloso / Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-22T10:03:16Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Nunez_CarlaEvelynCoimbra_D.pdf: 6141570 bytes, checksum: e9e12c78d1c319b6c83160c2ebf9976b (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013 / Resumo: A obesidade e caracterizada pelo acumulo excessivo de gordura no organismo, podendo resultar em dano a saúde. Mudança socioeconômica, ocorrida nos últimos cinquenta anos tem contribuído para o aumento da prevalência da obesidade, a qual e hoje considerada um dos principais problemas de saúde publica no mundo. O acumulo progressivo de ácidos graxos no tecido adiposo, e eventualmente, em outros sítios anatômicos não especializados na estocagem de energia sob a forma de gordura como, por exemplo, o fígado e o músculo, e associado à ativação de uma resposta inflamatória subclinica que desempenha papel importante na indução da resistência a insulina. Esta, por sua vez, e considerada o mecanismo fisiopatogênico unificador de uma serie de doenças comumente associadas à obesidade, tais como o diabetes mellitus, a aterosclerose, a esteatohepatite nao-alcoolica, entre outros. A inflamação subclinica desempenha um papel central na indução da resistência a insulina em obesos. Atualmente o estresse de reticulo endoplasmático e a ativação da sinalização do TLR4 vêm sendo identificados como potenciais mecanismos ativadores da inflamação sub-clinica associada à obesidade. No ambiente intracelular a ativação dos sinais inflamatórios disparados por ambos, estresse de reticulo endoplasmático ou TLR4, podem associar-se, modulando ou sendo modulado por outros eventos. Um desses eventos e a autofagia que se caracteriza como um processo celular finamente regulado e desempenha um papel importante no controle de varias funções da célula, tais como, reciclagem de organelas, disponibilidade de nutrientes e diferenciação celular. Um estudo recente demonstrou a existência de aumento na atividade autofágica em tecido adiposo de pessoas obesas e propôs a associação causal entre autofagia e resistência a insulina. A redução da adiposidade e o mecanismo mais eficiente para reduzir à resistência a insulina em pessoas obesas. Entretanto, o impacto da redução de adiposidade sobre a regulação da autofagia no tecido adiposo não e conhecido. Neste estudo, a regulação da autofagia no tecido adiposo durante o emagrecimento foi observada em duas etapas distintas. Inicialmente, um modelo animal de obesidade induzida por dieta, submetido posteriormente, a restrição calórica de 40% durante quinze dias. Animais obesos alimentados ad libitum, apresentaram aumento dos marcadores de autofagia no tecido adiposo, o que foi revertido na restrição calórica. De forma diversa, a restrição ocasionou o aumento da autofagia nos animais magros. A reintrodução de alimentação ad libitum foi suficiente para reduzir a autofagia nos animais magros, mas não nos obesos, cuja supra-regulacao da autofagia foi mais uma vez observada. Na segunda parte do estudo, autofagia foi avaliada em fragmentos de tecido adiposo subcutâneo de pacientes obesos selecionados para cirurgia bariátrica colhidos no ato da cirurgia e apos um ano, aproximadamente. Foram incluídos no estudo nove pacientes obesos não-diabeticos e seis pacientes obesos diabéticos. Assim como no modelo animal, obesidade em humanos foi associada a um aumento dos marcadores de autofagia no tecido adiposo os quais foram reduzidos apos a perda de peso. Assim, na vigência da obesidade ocorre uma regulação anômala da autofagia, estando aumentada durante alimentação ad libitum e reduzindo-se com a restrição alimentar / Abstract: Obesity, defined as abnormal or excessive fat accumulation that may impair life quality, is one of the major public health problems in modern world. It results from an imbalance between food intake and energy expenditure leading to the progressive accumulation of fatty acids in the adipose tissue and in some tissues that are not specialized in energy storage, such as liver and muscle. Insulin resistance is one of the main outcomes of obesity and is regarded as the main mechanism connecting diseases that are commonly associated with obesity, such as, type 2 diabetes mellitus, atherosclerosis, and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, among others. Subclinical inflammation plays a major role in the induction of insulin resistance in obesity. Recently, endoplasmic reticulum stress and the activation of TLR4 signaling have been identified as potential triggering mechanisms for obesity-associated subclinical inflammation. At the intracellular environment activation of inflammatory signaling triggered by either endoplasmic reticulum stress or TLR4 signaling can integrate and modulate or be modulated by other cellular events. One such event is autophagy which is a highly regulated process that plays an important role in the control of a wide range of cellular functions such as organelle recycling, nutrient availability and tissue differentiation. A recent study has shown an increased autophagic activity in the adipose tissue of obese subjects, and a role for autophagy in obesity associated insulin resistance was proposed. Body mass reduction is the most efficient approach to tackle insulin resistance in over-weight subjects; however, the impact of weight loss in adipose tissue autophagy is unknown. In this study we used a two-step approach to evaluate adipose tissue autophagy during body mass reduction. First, a mouse model of diet-induced obesity and diabetes was submitted to a fifteen-day, 40% caloric restriction. At base-line, markers of autophagy were increased in obese mice as compared to lean controls. Upon caloric restriction, autophagy increased in the lean mice, while decreasing in the obese mice. The reintroduction of ad libitum feeding was sufficient to rapidly reduce autophagy in the lean mice and increase autophagy in the obese mice. In the second part of the study, autophagy was evaluated in the subcutaneous adipose tissue of nine obese-non-diabetic and six obese-diabetic subjects undergoing bariatric surgery for body mass reduction. Specimens were collected during the surgery, and approximately one year later. As in the mouse model, human obesity was associated with increased autophagy and body mass reduction led to an attenuation of autophagy in the adipose tissue. Thus, while caloric restriction leads to increased autophagy in the adipose tissue in lean subjects, in obesity, autophagy is defectively regulated, being increased during ad libitum feeding and reduced upon caloric restriction / Doutorado / Clinica Medica / Doutora em Ciências

A Síndrome de Marfan (SMF) é a enfermidade hereditária mais comum dentre as que afetam o sistema conjuntivo, causada por mutações da glicoproteína fibrilina-1, o principal componente estrutural das microfibrilas elásticas da matriz extracelular. As manifestações fenotípicas da SMF são sistêmicas e acometem tipicamente os sistemas ocular, esquelético e cardiovascular, este uma importante causa de morbi-mortalidade. Entretanto, não está claro como a mutação induz a doença. Estudos anteriores sugerem anomalias morfológicas do retículo endoplasmático (RE) ou retenção intracelular da fibrilina-1 nos estágios avançados da SMF. Entretanto, a contribuição do enovelamento da fibrilina-1 mutada e do estresse do RE na fisiopatologia celular da SMF não é conhecida. Proteínas mal-enoveladas podem levar à retenção intracelular e/ou aumento da degradação através da via de degradação associada ao RE (ERAD), além da indução da resposta a proteínas mal-enoveladas (UPR), ambas com potencial contribuição à fisiopatologia de doenças, incluindo a SMF. Assim, estudamos em fibroblastos embrionários isolados de camundongos (MEFs) com SMF se a fibrilina-1 mutada é reconhecida pelo controle de qualidade do RE pelo seu mal- enovelamento e induz estresse do RE por sua retenção intracelular. Demonstramos que a mutação na fibrilina-1 per se não promoveu chaperonas marcadoras de UPR ou geração de oxidantes. Além disso, não levou a uma maior sensibilização das células à indução exógena de estresse do RE, nem promoveu maior morte celular após inibição do proteassoma. Além disso, não foi observada retenção intracelular da fibrilina-1 nas células SMF, e mesmo após inibição da via secretora ou indução de estresse do RE, a inibição da secreção da fibrilina-1 foi similar nos MEFs SMF e wild-type (WT). A dissulfeto isomerase proteica (PDI), uma importante chaperona redox do RE, interage com fibrilina-1, e seu silenciamento levou a um aumento na secreção da fibrilina-1 pelos MEFs WT, mas não SMF. Além disso, o silenciamento da PDI promoveu a desorganização da matriz extracelular depositada de fibrilina-1 nos MEFs WT, enquanto nos MEFs SMF, a desorganização basal da matriz não foi adicionalmente alterada. Em paralelo, investigações in vivo mostraram que o estresse do RE não é induzido em camundongos SMF com 1 ou 3 meses de idade, apesar de manifestações fenotípicas evidentes. Entretanto, concomitante à progressão da doença, detectamos a ocorrência de estresse do RE nas aortas ascendentes dos camundongos aos 6 meses. Esta detecção foi exclusiva desta região da aorta e não ocorreu em outros órgãos afetados ou não afetados pela SMF. Assim, a manifestação do fenótipo clássico da SMF não requer uma perda da homeostase do RE diretamente induzida pela fibrilina-1 mutada. Ao contrário, esta é capaz de evadir mecanismos de controle de qualidade mediados pela PDI, sendo secretada normalmente. Assim, esta evasão do controle de qualidade pela PDI é uma condição permissiva essencial para o fenótipo da SMF. Por outro lado, o estresse do RE é uma característica evolutiva do aneurisma da aorta ascendente na SMF concomitante ao agravamento do fenótipo neste tecido / Marfan syndrome (MFS) is the most common connective tissue hereditary disease, caused by mutations in the glycoprotein fibrillin-1, the main structural component of extracellular matrix elastic microfibrils. MFS phenotypic manifestations are systemic and typically involve the ocular, skeletal and cardiovascular systems, the latter a major cause of morbidity/mortality. However, how gene mutation induxes disease is yet unclear. Previous studies suggest endoplasmic reticulum (ER) morphological abnormalities or fibrillin-1 intracellular retention in advanced MFS stages. However, the contribution of mutated fibrillin-1 folding and ER stress to MFS cellular pathophysiology is unknown. Un/misfolded proteins may associate with their intracellular retention and/or increased degradation through ER-associated degradation (ERAD), in addition to inducing the unfolded protein response (UPR), both sharing potential contributions to disease pathophysiology, including MFS. Thus, we studied in embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) isolated from WT and MFS mice, if mutated fibrillin-1 can be recognized by ER quality control as a misfolded protein, able to induce ER stress due to its intracellular retention. We showed that fibrillin-1 mutation by itself did not promote UPR chaperone markers or oxidant generation. Moreover, it did not sensitize cells to exogenous ER stress nor affected cell survival curves after proteasome inhibition. Furthermore, no intracellular retention of fibrillin-1 was observed in MFS cells, and even after secretory pathway inhibition or ER stress induction, fibrillin-1 secretion inhibition was similar in MFS and wild-type (WT) MEFs. Protein disulfide isomerase (PDI), an important ER redox chaperone, interacts with fibrillin-1 and its silencing induced an increased fibrillin-1 secretion in WT, but not MFS MEFs. Besides, PDI silencing promoted fibrillin-1 extracellular matrix disorganization in WT MEFs, whereas in MFS MEFs, the basal matrix disorganization was not further modified. Parallel in vivo evaluations demonstrated that ER stress is also not induced in 1 and 3 month-old mice MFS, despite evident phenotypical manifestations. However, concomitant to accelerated disease progression at 6 months, ER stress was detectable in ascendant aorta, but not in other disease-affected or unaffected organs. Thus, classic MFS phenotype manifestations do not require loss of ER homeostasis directly induced by mutated fibrillin-1. Contrarily, the latter can evade a PDI-mediated quality control mechanism to be normally secreted. Therefore, evading such PDI-mediated quality control is an essential permissive condition for enabling the MFS phenotype. On the other hand, ER stress is an evolutive feature of MFS ascendant aorta aneurysm concomitant to phenotype progression in this tissue

Dans la mucoviscidose (CF), Pseudomonas aeruginosa colonise les voies respiratoires, conduisant à une inflammation chronique de l’épithélium bronchique. Une analyse transcriptomique antérieure nous a permis d’identifier CHAC1 comme un gène différentiellement exprimé entre les cellules épithéliales bronchiques primaires de patients CF et non-CF, au niveau basal et au cours de l’infection à P. aeruginosa. CHAC1 est une protéine dégradant le glutathion et associée au stress du réticulum endoplasmique et à l’apoptose. L’objectif principal de ce travail était de comprendre la contribution de CHAC1, en particulier dans la réponse inflammatoire et l’apoptose des cellules épithéliales pulmonaires. Nous avons donc, dans un premier temps, confirmé que CHAC1 est surexprimé au niveau ARNm dans les cellules épithéliales bronchiques primaires non-CF par rapport aux cellules CF. Nous avons observé que P. aeruginosa et deux de ses facteurs de virulence, le LPS et la flagelline, induisent l’expression de CHAC1 dans les cellules non-CF. L’expression de CHAC1 induite par le LPS est indépendante de PERK mais implique ATF4. De plus, nous avons observé qu’une réduction de l’expression de CHAC1 est associée, après stimulation par du LPS et de la flagelline, à une modulation des marqueurs inflammatoires notamment l’IL-8, l’IL-6, CCL2 et PGE2. Enfin, nous avons montré que P. aeruginosa n’est pas capable d’induire de l’apoptose dans la lignée de cellules épithéliales bronchiques NCI-H292. Ces résultats suggèrent que la régulation de l’expression de CHAC1 dans les cellules CF pourrait contribuer à la réponse inflammatoire excessive et chronique observée chez les patients atteints de mucoviscidose. / In cystic fibrosis (CF), Pseudomonas aeruginosa colonizes the airways, leading to chronic inflammation of the bronchial epithelium. A previous transcriptomic analysis allowed us to identify CHAC1 as a gene differentially expressed between primary bronchial epithelial cells of CF and non-CF patients at the basal level and during P. aeruginosa infection. CHAC1 is a glutathione-degrading protein associated with endoplasmic reticulum stress and apoptosis. The main objective of this work was to understand the contribution of CHAC1, particularly in the inflammatory response and apoptosis of pulmonary epithelial cells. We therefore first confirmed that CHAC1 is overexpressed at the mRNA level in non-CF primary bronchial epithelial cells relative to CF cells. We observed that P. aeruginosa and two of its virulence factors, LPS and flagellin, induce CHAC1 expression in non-CF cells. The expression of CHAC1 induced by LPS is independent of PERK but involves ATF4. Moreover, we have observed that a reduction in the expression of CHAC1 is associated, after stimulation by LPS and flagellin, with a modulation of the inflammatory markers, in particular IL-8, IL-6, CCL2 and PGE2. Finally, we have shown that P. aeruginosa is not capable of inducing apoptosis in the NCI-H292 bronchial epithelial cell line. These results suggest that CHAC1 is involved in the regulation of bronchial cell inflammation during P. aeruginosa infection and the regulation of CHAC1 expression in CF cells may contribute to the observed excessive and chronic inflammatory response in patients with cystic fibrosis.

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is a deadly grade IV brain tumor characterized by a heterogeneous population of cells that are drug resistant, aggressive, and infiltrative. The current standard of care, which has not changed in over a decade, only provides GBM patients with 12-14 months survival post diagnosis. We asked if the addition of a novel endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress inducing agent, JLK1486, to the standard chemotherapy, temozolomide (TMZ), which induces DNA double strand breaks (DSBs), would enhance TMZ’s efficacy. Because GBMs rely on the ER to mitigate their hypoxic environment and DNA repair to fix TMZ induced DSBs, we reasoned that DSBs occurring during heightened ER stress would be deleterious. Treatment of GBM cells with TMZ+JLK1486 decreased cell viability and increased cell death due to apoptosis. We found that TMZ+JLK1486 prolonged ER stress induction, as indicated by elevated ER stress marker BiP, ATF4, and CHOP, while sustaining activation of the DNA damage response pathway. This combination produced unresolved DNA DSBs due to RAD51 reduction, a key DNA repair factor. The combination of TMZ+JLK1486 is a potential novel therapeutic combination and suggests an inverse relationship between ER stress and DNA repair pathways.

Einleitung: Verschiedene Erkrankungen gehen bei Pferden mit einer erhöhten Entzündungsbereitschaft einher. Das entzündliche Geschehen kann dabei in engem Zusammenhang mit dem Auftreten von Stress des endoplasmatischen Retikulums (ER) stehen. Im Zuge der Immunantwort entsteht eine Signalkaskade, die über Entzündungsmarker quantifiziert werden kann. Bei der Expression verschiedener Entzündungsmediatoren rückt insbesondere die Leber in den Fokus. Die anti-inflammatorische und ER-Stress-modifizierende Wirkung von oralen Polyphenolen aus einem Grüntee-Kurkuma-Extrakt (GKE) wurde bereits in anderen Tierspezies, wie z.B. Wiederkäuern oder Schweinen nachgewiesen. Ziel der Studie: Das Ziel der vorliegenden Studie war die Überprüfung der Effekte einer GKE-Supplementierung auf eine Lipopolysaccharid (LPS)-induzierte Entzündung bei Pferden und Ponys. Die Hypothese war, dass die Supplementierung des GKE zu einer Reduktion der entzündlichen Reaktion und des Zellstresses bei Pferden und Ponys führt. Tiere, Material und Methoden: In einer randomisierten, placebo-kontrollierten Studie wurden fünf gesunde adulte Warmblutpferde (Angaben in Mittelwert ± Standardabweichung, Alter 19 ± 5 Jahre; Körpermasse (KM) 589 ± 81 kg) und sechs gesunde adulte Shetlandponys (Angaben in Mittelwert ± Standardabweichung, Alter 9 ± 3 Jahre; KM 126 ± 8 kg) einbezogen. Die tägliche Basisration bestand aus Heu (2 kg/100 kg KM). Im Cross-over erhielten die Tiere für 21 Tage 10 g eines GKE (20% Polyphenolgehalt) nach Angaben des Herstellers, oder alternativ ein Placebo (Kalziumcarbonat) zusammen mit 1 kg (Pferde) oder 0,2 kg (Ponys) eines kommerziellen Ergänzungsfuttermittels für Pferde. Nach der 21-tägigen Supplementierungsphase wurde bei allen Tieren zur Induktion eines moderaten, generalisierten Entzündungsgeschehens LPS (10 ng/kg KM) intravenös appliziert. 24 Stunden vor und 12 Stunden nach der LPS-Challenge wurden Blutproben und Lebergewebe entnommen. Die Entnahme des Lebergewebes erfolgte minimalinvasiv unter Ultraschallkontrolle. Während der anschließenden 3-monatigen Wash-out Phase erhielten alle Tiere ausschließlich Heu zur freien Aufnahme. Hiernach fand im Cross-over Verfahren ein Wechsel der Fütterungsgruppen statt. Eine erneute LPS-Challenge und die anschließende Probennahme wurden nach den oben genannten Kriterien durchgeführt. In allen Blutproben wurden die Parameter Serum Amyloid A (SAA), Haptoglobin (Hp) und Retinol-bindendes Protein 4 (RBP4) gemessen. Mittels RT-qPCR wurden in allen Leberbioptaten die mRNA-Level ausgewählter Entzündungsmarker bestimmt (Hp, TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, CD68, FGF21, NF-kB, ATF4). Zusätzlich erfolgte eine histologische Untersuchung auf entzündliche Reaktionen im Gewebe. Die Daten, mit Ausnahme der immunhistochemischen Auswertungen, wurden unter Verwendung der kommerziellen Software Statistica® statistisch ausgewertet. Die Daten wurden mittels des Shapiro-Wilks-Testes auf Normalverteilung überprüft. Da die Daten nicht normalverteilt waren, wurde der Wilcoxon-Test für nicht-parametrische Daten angewendet. Das Signifikanzniveau lag bei p < 0,05. Die Darstellung der Daten erfolgt als Median und dem 25./75. Perzentil. Ergebnisse: Vor der LPS-Challenge lagen alle Werte für SAA ≤ 2,6 mg/l. Nach der LPS-Challenge stiegen die Werte signifikant an (Angabe Median und in Klammern 25./75. Perzentil, Placebo-Gruppe: 98,4 (70,2/118) μg/ml, Zeit p = 0,008; GKE-Gruppe: 70,7 (46,8/111) μg/ml, Zeit p = 0,003). Innerhalb der GKE-Gruppe stieg der Wert für Hp im Serum nach der LPS-Challenge signifikant an (Zeit p = 0,005). Es konnten keine weiteren signifikanten Unterschiede in den Blutparametern im Vergleich der GKE-Gruppe zur Placebogruppe nach LPS Stimulation gefunden werden. Im Lebergewebe zeigte sich nach der LPS-Challenge für die GKE-Gruppe eine 2,6-fach geringere mRNA-Expression für das pro-inflammatorische Zytokin IL-1β im Vergleich zur Placebogruppe (Supplementierung p = 0,04). Die mRNA-Level von CD68 (Zeit p = 0,04) und Hp (Zeit p = 0,03) zeigten nach der LPS-Challenge im Lebergewebe einen signifikanten Anstieg innerhalb der Placebogruppe. Innerhalb der GKE-Gruppe zeigten sich keine Veränderungen durch die LPS-Challenge. Ein signifikanter Unterschied zwischen der Placebo- und der GKE Gruppe nach LPS wurde nicht gefunden. Andere Parameter im Lebergewebe, wie z.B. Transkriptionsfaktor NF-κB und die Zytokine IL-6 und TNF-α, zeigten keine signifikanten Veränderungen nach der LPS-Challenge in beiden Fütterungsgruppen. Für die Ergebnisse der Immunhistochemie konnten keine signifikanten Unterschiede in Abhängigkeit zur LPS-Challenge oder der Fütterung gezeigt werden. Schlussfolgerung: Die LPS-Challenge induzierte eine generalisierte Entzündung bei Pferden und Ponys. Die Supplementierung eines GKE für 21 Tage zeigte über die Reduktion des Entzündungsmarkers IL-1β in der Leber ein anti-inflammatorisches Potential. Andere Blut- und Leberparameter zeigten keinen Supplementierungseffekt. Somit konnte kein umfassender anti-inflammatorischer Effekt der GKE Supplementierung festgestellt werden.:1 Introduction 2 Literature review 2.1 Inflammation 2.1.1 Acute phase reaction 2.1.1.1 Serum amyloid A 2.1.1.2 Haptoglobin 2.1.1.3 Retinol-binding protein 4 2.1.2 Transcription factor NF-κB 2.1.2.1 Pro-inflammatory cytokines (Il-1β, IL-6, TNF-α) 2.1.3 Macrophages 2.1.3.1 Cluster of differentiation 68 2.2 Stress of the endoplasmic reticulum 2.2.1 Fibroblast growth factor 21 2.2.2 Activating transcription factor 4 2.3 Oxidative stress 2.4 Polyphenols 2.4.1 Green tea 2.4.2 Curcuma 2.4.3 Bioavailability 2.4.4 Anti-inflammatory effects 2.4.5 Antioxidative effects 3 Publication 3.1 Effects of a blend of green tea and curcuma extract supplementation on lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammation in horses and ponies 4 Discussion 4.1 Effects of the LPS challenge 4.1.1 Induction of inflammation by LPS 4.1.2 Induction of ER stress and oxidative stress by LPS 4.2 Effects of the GCE supplementation 4.2.1 Anti-inflammatory effects 4.2.2 Reduction of ER stress and oxidative stress 4.2.3 Comparison of in vivo effects in equines and farm animals 4.3 Daily dosages of polyphenols 4.4 Conclusion 5 Zusammenfassung 6 Summary 7 References 8 Appendix 8.1 List of presentations as part of this thesis 8.2 Further publications 8.2.1 Published articles 8.2.2 Published conference contributions 9 Acknowledgement / Introduction: Different medical conditions are linked with an inflammatory status in horses and ponies. Inflammation can be induced by endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, leading to an immune response which can be measured by several markers of the signalling cascade. The liver plays an important role as production site of these inflammatory markers. The influence of feeding a polyphenol-rich supplement consisting of green tea and curcumin extract (GCE) on ER stress and inflammation has been already described in several species such as cattle and pigs. Aim of the study: The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of a GCE supplementation on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammation in horses and ponies. It was hypothesized that the GCE supplementation will reduce inflammatory reactions and cell stress compared to the placebo group. Animals, material and methods: In a randomized, placebo controlled study, five healthy adult warmblood horses (mean (±SD) age 19 ± 5 years, mean (±SD) body weight (BW) 589 ± 81 kg) and six healthy adult Shetland ponies (mean (±SD) age 9 ± 3 years and mean (±SD) BW 126 ± 8 kg) were included. Animals were fed daily with meadow hay (2 kg/ 100 kg BW). In a cross-over design, animals were supplemented for 21 days with 10 g of a GCE (20% total polyphenol content) according to manufacturer’s instructions or a placebo (calcium carbonate) in a mixture with 1 kg (horses) or 0.2 kg (ponies) of a commercial feed for horses. After supplementation for 21 days, all animals underwent an intravenous LPS (10 ng/kg BW) challenge to induce a moderate systemic inflammation. 24 hours before and 12 hours after the LPS challenge, blood and liver samples were collected. Liver tissue was taken transcutaneously under ultrasound control. Subsequently, a 3-months-lasting wash-out period was conducted where the animals were fed with meadow hay ad libitum. A change of feeding groups according to the cross-over design was performed. A second LPS challenge and sample collection were performed according to the above-mentioned protocol. All blood samples were analysed for serum amyloid A (SAA), haptoglobin (Hp) and Retinol-binding protein 4 (RBP4). RT-qPCR was used to analyse liver mRNA levels of selected markers of inflammation (Hp, TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, CD68, FGF21, NF-kB, ATF4). In addition, liver tissue was histologically examined for inflammatory responses. All data except for immunohistochemical results were statistically assessed with a commercial software package (Statistica). Data were checked for normal distribution using the Shapiro-Wilks test. As data set was not normally distributed the Wilcoxon test for non-parametric data was used for analyses. Level of significance was set at P < 0.05. Data are presented as median and 25./75. percentile. Results: All SAA values before LPS were ≤ 2.6 mg/L. After LPS challenge, all SAA values were significantly higher compared to baseline (data expressed as medians and 25./75. Percentile in brackets, placebo group: 98.4 (70.2/118) μg/mL, time P = 0.008; GCE group: 70.7 (46.8/111) μg/mL, time P = 0.003). GCE group showed a significant increase for serum Hp after LPS challenge (time P = 0.005). Other significant differences in blood parameters comparing placebo and GCE group after LPS could not be found. In the liver, the pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-1β showed a 2.6-fold lower mRNA level after LPS challenge in the GCE group compared to placebo group (supplementation P = 0.04). Hepatic mRNA levels of CD68 (time P = 0.04) and Hp (time P = 0.03) increased significantly in the placebo group, but not in the GCE supplementation group. A significant difference between the two feedings groups after LPS could not be found. Other liver parameters, such as transcription factor NF-κB and the cytokines IL-6 and TNF-α, were not different after LPS challenge in both feeding groups. Immunohistochemical results showed no difference between GCE and placebo group after LPS challenge. Conclusion: The LPS challenge induced inflammation in the horses and ponies. Feeding a GCE for 21 days showed some potential to alter LPS-induced systemic inflammatory responses by reducing mRNA levels of the inflammatory marker IL-1β in liver tissue. Nevertheless, an overall anti-inflammatory effect by GCE was missing, since other blood and liver parameters were not affected by the GCE supplementation.:1 Introduction 2 Literature review 2.1 Inflammation 2.1.1 Acute phase reaction 2.1.1.1 Serum amyloid A 2.1.1.2 Haptoglobin 2.1.1.3 Retinol-binding protein 4 2.1.2 Transcription factor NF-κB 2.1.2.1 Pro-inflammatory cytokines (Il-1β, IL-6, TNF-α) 2.1.3 Macrophages 2.1.3.1 Cluster of differentiation 68 2.2 Stress of the endoplasmic reticulum 2.2.1 Fibroblast growth factor 21 2.2.2 Activating transcription factor 4 2.3 Oxidative stress 2.4 Polyphenols 2.4.1 Green tea 2.4.2 Curcuma 2.4.3 Bioavailability 2.4.4 Anti-inflammatory effects 2.4.5 Antioxidative effects 3 Publication 3.1 Effects of a blend of green tea and curcuma extract supplementation on lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammation in horses and ponies 4 Discussion 4.1 Effects of the LPS challenge 4.1.1 Induction of inflammation by LPS 4.1.2 Induction of ER stress and oxidative stress by LPS 4.2 Effects of the GCE supplementation 4.2.1 Anti-inflammatory effects 4.2.2 Reduction of ER stress and oxidative stress 4.2.3 Comparison of in vivo effects in equines and farm animals 4.3 Daily dosages of polyphenols 4.4 Conclusion 5 Zusammenfassung 6 Summary 7 References 8 Appendix 8.1 List of presentations as part of this thesis 8.2 Further publications 8.2.1 Published articles 8.2.2 Published conference contributions 9 Acknowledgement