Nas abelhas sociais Apis mellifera a determinação de castas está relacionada à nutrição diferencial durante o desenvolvimento larval. Os indivíduos são alimentados com geléia real até o terceiro estágio larval, quando aqueles que são destinados a se tornarem operárias passam a receber uma mistura de secreções glandulares, mel e pólen. O conteúdo da dieta recebida após o terceiro estágio larval ativará respostas endócrinas diferenciais que resultarão no estímulo de vias distintas de expressão gênica que culminarão no desenvolvimento de rainhas e operárias. Vários modelos de determinação de castas foram propostos envolvendo diferentes fatores que atuam sobre o desenvolvimento de cada uma, em especial o Hormônio Juvenil (HJ), as vias de sinalização por insulina/IGF e TOR (target of rapamycin) a metilação diferencial e a proteína recentemente descoberta, royalactin, que favorecem o desenvolvimento de rainhas. Para o desenvolvimento de operárias foi sugerido estímulo de outras vias de sinalização, que possivelmente envolveria a participação dos genes ultraspiracle (usp), cryptocephal (crc) e retinoid- and fatty acid-binding protein (RfaBp). Utilizando diferentes abordagens avaliamos a participação destes genes no processo que culmina no desenvolvimento das castas. Através da análise de expressão gênica em larga escala utilizando microarrays, observamos a existência de genes diferencialmente expressos em rainhas e operárias, sendo a maior que parte deles apresentou expressão preferencial em operárias. Muitos destes genes, inclusive esterase do hormônio juvenil (jhe), failed axon connections (fax), activating transcription factor-3 (atf-3), cathepsin-D (cath-D) e peptidoglycan recognition protein-SC2 (pgrp-sc2), preferencialmente expressos em operárias, estão envolvidos, segundo análises de função por Gene Ontology, em processos essenciais no desenvolvimento das castas como crescimento, reprodução, apoptose, neurogênese, degradação do hormônio juvenil, entre outros. A partir destes resultados, incluímos o gene da esterase do hormônio juvenil (jhe) em nossas análises, como um possível candidato a determinante do desenvolvimento diferencial das operárias. Além disto, foi determinado o perfil de expressão de usp, crc, RfaBp e jhe, durante o desenvolvimento de rainhas e operárias. Observamos que os maiores níveis de expressão de cada um são encontrados em fases posteriores ao período crítico de determinação de castas e que em geral, os maiores níveis de expressão são encontrados em operárias, especialmente crc, RfaBp e jhe. Para usp, os níveis são distintos em rainhas e operária apenas em pontos específicos entre o quinto estágio larval e a fase pré-pupal. Adicionalmente avaliamos a influência da diminuição, através de interferência por RNA (RNAi), dos níveis de expressão de cada um destes genes sobre os níveis dos outros genes estudados, e também sua atuação no desenvolvimento. Vimos que mesmo pequenas modificações nestes níveis inibem ou estimulam a expressão de outros genes e, em alguns casos causam alterações no desenvolvimento das abelhas. Sabendo da importância dos microRNAs (miRNAs) na regulação da expressão gênica e do desenvolvimento, avaliamos os níveis de expressão dos miRNAs preditos como reguladores de jhe. Os resultados obtidos mostraram que alguns deles, como let-7, miR-2796 e miR-263b, por apresentarem correlação negativa com os níveis do gene alvo, são realmente fortes candidatos a seus reguladores. Além disto, alterações nos níveis do gene alvo, mostraram a capacidade de alterar os níveis de expressão da maioria dos miRNAs preditos. Este resultado foi corroborado por sequenciamento em larga escala das amostras tratadas com dsjhe e controle, que apontou também outros possíveis reguladores de jhe, entre eles miR-100, miR-306 e mi-13b. Analisando os resultados obtidos de forma conjunta podemos sugerir que o desenvolvimento de operárias está sob complexa regulação que envolve a participação dos genes aqui estudados, além de outros fatores como os miRNAs. Estes genes agem de maneira coordenada, inclusive com os miRNAs, em momentos específicos do desenvolvimento atuando sobre cascatas de expressão gênica de forma a ativar ou inibir a expressão uns dos outros e também de outros genes, o que culminará no desenvolvimento diferencial de rainhas e operárias em A. mellifera. / In Apis mellifera, a eusocial bee, caste determination during larval development is regulated by differential nutrition. All female larvae are fed royal jelly until the third larval stage, when the workerdestined ones have their diet switched to a gland secretion mix, honey and pollen, Queen-destined larvae, however, are provisioned with a rich diet throughout development. Changes in diet after the third developmental stage modulate larval endocrine responses and different nutritional regimes trigger distinct patterns of gene expression. Thus, nutritional regulation of specific signaling pathways controls development of worker and queen phenotypes. Several proposed models of this process involve caste-specific regulation of hormonal and nutritional factors and/or molecular processes including Juvenile Hormone (JH), insulin/IGF and TOR (target of rapamycin) signaling pathways, differential methylation and the newly discovered protein royalactin, which facilitates queen development. Previous research has also suggested the stimulus of other factors in signaling pathways that acts towards workers development, and they possibly involves the participation of some genes like ultraspiracle (usp), cryptocephal (crc), and retinoid- and fatty acid-binding protein (RfaBp). Using diverse molecular approaches, we evaluate the role of these genes in caste differentiation. We used microarrays to characterize global differences in gene expression between queen and worker larvae. Functional analysis of significantly, differentially expressed genes identified fundamental biological processes including growth, reproduction, apoptosis, neurogenesis and JH degradation that are involved in caste differentiation. Based on these findings, we selected several candidate genes including juvenile hormone esterase (jhe), failed axon connections (fax), activating transcription factor-3 (atf-3), cathepsin-D (cath-D), and peptidoglycan recognition protein-SC2 (pgrp-sc2) for investigation. Notably, these genes were preferentially upregulated in workers. In a separate experiment, we monitored expression of usp, crc, RfaBp and jhe, in queen and worker larval during stages critical to caste determination. In general, workers expressed crc, RfaBp and jhe at higher levels than queens. For usp, distinct expression levels between worker- and queen-destined larvae were observed only at specific points between the 5th larval stage and pre-pupal phase. Additionally we used RNA interference (RNAi) to monitor the impact of decreased levels of select candidate genes on larval development. We found that even small modification of gene expression levels inhibited or triggered expression of other genes, and, in some cases, caused developmental alterations. Furthermore, microRNAs (miRNAs) are also important regulators of gene expression during development and we identified miRNAs that were predicted jhe regulators and assessed their levels. Results determined that some miRNAs including let-7, miR-2796 e miR-263b were strong candidates for jhe regulation because they were significantly and negatively correlated with target gene expression levels. Furthermore, manipulation of target gene expression levels altered expression of most predicted miRNAs. These results were confirmed by deep sequencing of RNAi samples treated with double-stranded RNA for jhe gene (dsjhe) and controls (with no treatment) which also identified other candidate jhe regulators, like miR-100, miR-306 and mi-13b. Taken together, these results suggest that worker development is regulated by complex interactions that involve usp, crc, RfaBp and jhe in addition to other molecules, including miRNAs. These molecular participants coordinate development at specific time points by regulating activity of gene networks and each other, producing the differential development of workers and queens in A. mellifera.

Nas abelhas sociais Apis mellifera a determinação de castas está relacionada à nutrição diferencial durante o desenvolvimento larval. Os indivíduos são alimentados com geléia real até o terceiro estágio larval, quando aqueles que são destinados a se tornarem operárias passam a receber uma mistura de secreções glandulares, mel e pólen. O conteúdo da dieta recebida após o terceiro estágio larval ativará respostas endócrinas diferenciais que resultarão no estímulo de vias distintas de expressão gênica que culminarão no desenvolvimento de rainhas e operárias. Vários modelos de determinação de castas foram propostos envolvendo diferentes fatores que atuam sobre o desenvolvimento de cada uma, em especial o Hormônio Juvenil (HJ), as vias de sinalização por insulina/IGF e TOR (target of rapamycin) a metilação diferencial e a proteína recentemente descoberta, royalactin, que favorecem o desenvolvimento de rainhas. Para o desenvolvimento de operárias foi sugerido estímulo de outras vias de sinalização, que possivelmente envolveria a participação dos genes ultraspiracle (usp), cryptocephal (crc) e retinoid- and fatty acid-binding protein (RfaBp). Utilizando diferentes abordagens avaliamos a participação destes genes no processo que culmina no desenvolvimento das castas. Através da análise de expressão gênica em larga escala utilizando microarrays, observamos a existência de genes diferencialmente expressos em rainhas e operárias, sendo a maior que parte deles apresentou expressão preferencial em operárias. Muitos destes genes, inclusive esterase do hormônio juvenil (jhe), failed axon connections (fax), activating transcription factor-3 (atf-3), cathepsin-D (cath-D) e peptidoglycan recognition protein-SC2 (pgrp-sc2), preferencialmente expressos em operárias, estão envolvidos, segundo análises de função por Gene Ontology, em processos essenciais no desenvolvimento das castas como crescimento, reprodução, apoptose, neurogênese, degradação do hormônio juvenil, entre outros. A partir destes resultados, incluímos o gene da esterase do hormônio juvenil (jhe) em nossas análises, como um possível candidato a determinante do desenvolvimento diferencial das operárias. Além disto, foi determinado o perfil de expressão de usp, crc, RfaBp e jhe, durante o desenvolvimento de rainhas e operárias. Observamos que os maiores níveis de expressão de cada um são encontrados em fases posteriores ao período crítico de determinação de castas e que em geral, os maiores níveis de expressão são encontrados em operárias, especialmente crc, RfaBp e jhe. Para usp, os níveis são distintos em rainhas e operária apenas em pontos específicos entre o quinto estágio larval e a fase pré-pupal. Adicionalmente avaliamos a influência da diminuição, através de interferência por RNA (RNAi), dos níveis de expressão de cada um destes genes sobre os níveis dos outros genes estudados, e também sua atuação no desenvolvimento. Vimos que mesmo pequenas modificações nestes níveis inibem ou estimulam a expressão de outros genes e, em alguns casos causam alterações no desenvolvimento das abelhas. Sabendo da importância dos microRNAs (miRNAs) na regulação da expressão gênica e do desenvolvimento, avaliamos os níveis de expressão dos miRNAs preditos como reguladores de jhe. Os resultados obtidos mostraram que alguns deles, como let-7, miR-2796 e miR-263b, por apresentarem correlação negativa com os níveis do gene alvo, são realmente fortes candidatos a seus reguladores. Além disto, alterações nos níveis do gene alvo, mostraram a capacidade de alterar os níveis de expressão da maioria dos miRNAs preditos. Este resultado foi corroborado por sequenciamento em larga escala das amostras tratadas com dsjhe e controle, que apontou também outros possíveis reguladores de jhe, entre eles miR-100, miR-306 e mi-13b. Analisando os resultados obtidos de forma conjunta podemos sugerir que o desenvolvimento de operárias está sob complexa regulação que envolve a participação dos genes aqui estudados, além de outros fatores como os miRNAs. Estes genes agem de maneira coordenada, inclusive com os miRNAs, em momentos específicos do desenvolvimento atuando sobre cascatas de expressão gênica de forma a ativar ou inibir a expressão uns dos outros e também de outros genes, o que culminará no desenvolvimento diferencial de rainhas e operárias em A. mellifera. / In Apis mellifera, a eusocial bee, caste determination during larval development is regulated by differential nutrition. All female larvae are fed royal jelly until the third larval stage, when the workerdestined ones have their diet switched to a gland secretion mix, honey and pollen, Queen-destined larvae, however, are provisioned with a rich diet throughout development. Changes in diet after the third developmental stage modulate larval endocrine responses and different nutritional regimes trigger distinct patterns of gene expression. Thus, nutritional regulation of specific signaling pathways controls development of worker and queen phenotypes. Several proposed models of this process involve caste-specific regulation of hormonal and nutritional factors and/or molecular processes including Juvenile Hormone (JH), insulin/IGF and TOR (target of rapamycin) signaling pathways, differential methylation and the newly discovered protein royalactin, which facilitates queen development. Previous research has also suggested the stimulus of other factors in signaling pathways that acts towards workers development, and they possibly involves the participation of some genes like ultraspiracle (usp), cryptocephal (crc), and retinoid- and fatty acid-binding protein (RfaBp). Using diverse molecular approaches, we evaluate the role of these genes in caste differentiation. We used microarrays to characterize global differences in gene expression between queen and worker larvae. Functional analysis of significantly, differentially expressed genes identified fundamental biological processes including growth, reproduction, apoptosis, neurogenesis and JH degradation that are involved in caste differentiation. Based on these findings, we selected several candidate genes including juvenile hormone esterase (jhe), failed axon connections (fax), activating transcription factor-3 (atf-3), cathepsin-D (cath-D), and peptidoglycan recognition protein-SC2 (pgrp-sc2) for investigation. Notably, these genes were preferentially upregulated in workers. In a separate experiment, we monitored expression of usp, crc, RfaBp and jhe, in queen and worker larval during stages critical to caste determination. In general, workers expressed crc, RfaBp and jhe at higher levels than queens. For usp, distinct expression levels between worker- and queen-destined larvae were observed only at specific points between the 5th larval stage and pre-pupal phase. Additionally we used RNA interference (RNAi) to monitor the impact of decreased levels of select candidate genes on larval development. We found that even small modification of gene expression levels inhibited or triggered expression of other genes, and, in some cases, caused developmental alterations. Furthermore, microRNAs (miRNAs) are also important regulators of gene expression during development and we identified miRNAs that were predicted jhe regulators and assessed their levels. Results determined that some miRNAs including let-7, miR-2796 e miR-263b were strong candidates for jhe regulation because they were significantly and negatively correlated with target gene expression levels. Furthermore, manipulation of target gene expression levels altered expression of most predicted miRNAs. These results were confirmed by deep sequencing of RNAi samples treated with double-stranded RNA for jhe gene (dsjhe) and controls (with no treatment) which also identified other candidate jhe regulators, like miR-100, miR-306 and mi-13b. Taken together, these results suggest that worker development is regulated by complex interactions that involve usp, crc, RfaBp and jhe in addition to other molecules, including miRNAs. These molecular participants coordinate development at specific time points by regulating activity of gene networks and each other, producing the differential development of workers and queens in A. mellifera.

Introdução: O carcinoma espinocelular (CEC) representa 7% de todos os novos casos de câncer no mundo, sendo o carcinoma espinocelular o tipo mais frequente. Tanto o comportamento biológico quanto o crescimento dos tumores devem ser melhores entendidos, uma vez que a sobrevida dos pacientes apresentou discreta melhora nas últimas décadas. Os modelos PDX foram desenvolvidos para estudar a biologia tumoral e principalmente os mecanismos de crescimento e proliferação através da manutenção da arquitetura e microambiente tumoral do tumor original. Os retinóides possuem a capacidade de restaurar o crescimento e a diferenciação de células normais através da ação dos receptores retinóides nucleares (RARs e RXRs) que são os principais mediadores destas ações que ao sofrerem alterações na sua expressão podem levar ao desenvolvimento e manutenção de tumores. No estudo da carcinogênese o modelo PDX é uma importante ferramenta pois mantém a arquitetura e microambiente do tumor original melhorando a compreensão de algumas vias, entre estas o processo de EMT/MET, na diferenciação das células tronco tumorais e quais receptores nucleares podem estar influenciando nestas vias. Objetivos: Analisar os padrões de comportamento biológico - tempo de formação e expansão do tumor e a manutenção dos padrões histológicos e de arquitetura do tumor original - em F0 e F1 no modelo PDX (xenoenxerto derivado de paciente) das amostras de centro de tumor e epitélio adjacente em camundongos Balb C/nude e avaliar a expressão gênica dos receptores retinóides, ALDH1 e marcadores do processo de EMT/MET por RT-PCR em PDX de carcinoma espinocelular oral em comparação com a amostra dos pacientes doadores nas passagens F(0) e F(1). Método: 24 camundongos Balb C/Nude, divididos em 2 grupos TG(I) – tumor graft paciente (I) e TG(II) – tumor graft paciente (II), subdivididos em 4 grupos de 3 animais: (A) – receberam PDX do centro do tumor; (B) – receberam PDX de epitélio adjacente ao tumor (margem de segurança cirúrgica); (C) receberam PDX de um animal do grupo (A); (D) receberam PDX de um animal do grupo (B). E Após estas fases, as amostras coletadas serão avaliadas por RT-PCR para comparação das expressões gênicas entre a amostra original (CT e EA) com os PDX´s nas passagens F(0) e F(1). Resultados: formação de tumores em todos os grupos – tanto do PDX de fragmento de centro do tumor quanto do PDX do epitélio adjacente. E A expressão gênica dos parâmetros observados não diferem no tumor original e passagem F(0) significativamente diferentes em F(1) (p<0,05). Conclusões: A técnida do PDX para o CEC é possível de ser realizada em menor tempo com a implantação de apenas um fragmento do tumor. Os tumores resultantes do PDX apresentaram tamanho suficiente para novas passagens, bem como para seu 6 uso em estudos de comportamento biológico das células neoplásicas. Quanto ao epitélio adjacente ao tumor (margem de segurança cirúrgica) constatou-se a presença de células tumorais com potencial de promover o crescimento de tumores devendo portanto ser melhor observada nas ressecções. O PDX de primeira passagem F(0) é o que mais se assemelha com o tumor original sendo o melhor para testes terapêuticos e estudos da carcinogênese do CEC oral. Keywords: CECP, modelo PDX, xenoenxerto, margem de segurança cirúrgica, , receptores retinóides, microdissecção a laser. / Introduction: Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) represents 7% of all new cases of cancer in the world, with squamous cell carcinoma being the most frequent type. Both the biological behavior and the growth of the patients should be better understood, since the patients' survival show unobtrusive improvement in the last decades. PDX models were developed to study a tumor biology and especially the mechanisms of growth and proliferation through maintenance of the architecture and tumor microenvironment of the original tumor. Retinoids have a capacity to restore normal cell growth and differentiation through the action of nuclear retinoid receptors (RARs and RXRs) that are the main mediators and maintenance actions of tumors. In the study of carcinogenesis, the PDX model is an important tool because it maintains an architecture and microenvironment of the original tumor, improving an understanding of some pathways, among them in the EMT / MET process, the difference in tumor stem cells and which nuclear receptors may be influencing these routes. Objectives: To analyze changes in methodology and patterns of biological behavior - time of tumor formation and expansion and maintenance of histological and architectural patterns of the original tumor - in F0 and F1 without PDX model (patient derived xenograft) tumor and adjacent epithelium in Balb C / nude mice and to evaluate the gene expression of retinoid receptors, ALDH1 and EMT / MET process markers by RT-PCR in PDX of oral squamous cell carcinoma compared to a sample of donor patients in F ( 0) and F (1). Method: 24 Balb C / Nude mice, divided into 2 groups TG (I) - patient tumor graft (I) and TG (II) - patient tumor graft (II) subdivided into 4 groups of 3 animals: (A) - received PDX from the center of the tumor; (B) - received epithelial PDX adjacent to the tumor (surgical margin of safety); (C) received PDX from one animal of group (A); (D) received PDX from one animal of group (B). E After these phases, as samples collected for RT-PCR evaluation for comparison of gene expressions between an original sample (CT and EA) with F passages of PDX F (0) and F (1). Results: tumor formation in all groups - both the PDX of the tumor center fragment and the PDX of the adjacent epithelium. E The gene expression of the observed parameters did not differ without original tumor and F (0) differential passage in F (1) (p <0.05). Conclusions: The PDX technique for CPB is possible to be performed in a shorter time with a tumor fragment implantation. Tumors resulting from PDX presented the solution for new passages, as well as for their use in studies of the biological behavior of neoplastic cells. As for the epithelium adjacent to the tumor (surgical margin of safety), a presence of tumor cells with the potential to promote the growth of tumors has been observed and should therefore be better observed in the resections. The first pass PDX F (0) is the one that most closely resembles the 8 original tumor being the best for therapeutic tests and studies of oral SCC carcinogenesis.

O carcinoma espinocelular de cabeça e pescoço (CECP) é um problema de saúde pública que apresenta alta taxa de mortalidade, frequentemente relacionado à presença de recorrências locais e metástases. A descoberta de um pequeno subconjunto de células tumorais com características semelhantes às células-tronco, conhecidas como células-tronco tumorais (CTTs), tem sido relatadas como as principais responsáveis pelo início, progressão e recidiva do CECP. O processo de metástase nestas neoplasias é bastante complexo e envolve o desprendimento de células epiteliais tumorais do local de aparecimento primário devido à subexpressão ou superexpressão de algumas proteínas específicas nestas células, caracterizando um processo conhecido como transição epitélio-mesenquimal (EMT). A compreensão dos mecanismos envolvidos no processo de EMT têm sido investigados para o desenvolvimento de terapias específicas. O ácido retinoico (AR) vem sendo empregado em diversas terapias devido a sua capacidade de controlar a proliferação e promover diferenciação celular, entretanto, anormalidades na expressão ou função de seus receptores são relatadas em muitos tipos de células do câncer. Este estudo tem por objetivo correlacionar a expressão de marcadores do processo de EMT, marcador de célula tronco tumoral (ALDH1) e receptores do ácido retinoico e de retinoide X (isoformas α e β) em amostras teciduais provenientes de portadores de CECP primários, além, de correlacionar os resultados obtidos com os parâmetros clínicos, características histopatológicas e prognóstico destes pacientes em um período de acompanhamento de 7 anos. / The head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is a public health problem that presents high mortality rates in relation to the presence of local recurrences and metastases. A finding of a small subset of tumor cells with stem like-cells characteristics, known as cancer stem cells (CTTs), has been reported as being primarily responsible for the onset, progression and recurrence of CECP. The metastasis process in these neoplasms is quite complex and involves the tumor epithelial cells detachment from the primary site of appearance due to underexpression or overexpression of some specific proteins in these cells, characterizing the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) process. An understanding of the mechanisms involved in the EMT process has been investigated for the development of specific therapies. Retinoic acid (AR) has been used in several therapies because its ability to control the proliferation and promote cell differentiation, however, abnormalities in the expression and function of its receptors are reported in many types of cancer cells. The aim of this study was to correlate the expression EMT process markers, tumor stem cell marker (ALDH1), retinoic acid and retinoic acid X receptors (α and β isoforms) in tissue samples from primary CECP, in addition, to correlate the results with the clinical parameters, histopathological and prognostic characteristics of these patients in a 7 years follow-up.

<p>Vitamin A and metabolites (retinoids) are crucial for normal epidermal maturation. Physiological effects are mediated by retinoic acid (RA) that activates nuclear retinoic acid receptors (RARs) in complexes with retinoid X receptors (RXRs), resulting in altered gene transcription.</p><p>Psoriasis is a common disease with unknown etiology. Lesions display inflammation, hyperproliferation, and disturbed epidermal maturation. Treatments include topical or oral synthetic retinoids that allegedly bind to and activate the RARs.</p><p>The mRNA expression of retinoid receptors RARα/γ and RXRα was studied in normal and psoriatic skin samples. RARα and RXRα were significantly reduced in psoriatic plaques as compared to non-lesional and normal skin. <i>In situ</i> immunofluorescence detection revealed altered distribution patterns of the receptor proteins in lesional skin. All three receptor proteins were more intensely detected in the lower half of the epidermis but were significantly reduced in the superficial epidermis compared to both normal and non-lesional skin. </p><p>In order to evaluate the retinoid signaling system in psoriatic lesions, we compared the effect of topical RA on the expression of the cellular RA-binding protein II (CRABPII) in psoriatic and normal skin. CRABPII was induced by RA on mRNA and protein level in non-lesional and normal skin but not in lesional skin, where the basal expression of CRABPII was already up-regulated.</p><p>Changes in retinoid signaling during keratinocyte differentiation <i>in vitro </i>were studied by measuring retinoid receptor and RAR-ligand levels<i>.</i> Exposure to differentiation-inducing levels of calcium, phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) or interferon-γ (IFNγ) led to increased RAR-ligand levels but PMA and IFNγ caused receptor protein loss due to increased proteasomal degradation. Since an increased IFNγ level is a hallmark of psoriatic inflammation, this might be a cause of altered retinoid signaling in lesional epidermis.</p><p><i>Conclusion:</i> Keratinocyte differentiation is accompanied by alterations in the retinoid signaling system. In psoriatic lesions, this system appears to be dysfunctioning due to reduced retinoid receptor levels, which might be an important event in the pathogenesis of the disease.</p>

Vitamin A and metabolites (retinoids) are crucial for normal epidermal maturation. Physiological effects are mediated by retinoic acid (RA) that activates nuclear retinoic acid receptors (RARs) in complexes with retinoid X receptors (RXRs), resulting in altered gene transcription. Psoriasis is a common disease with unknown etiology. Lesions display inflammation, hyperproliferation, and disturbed epidermal maturation. Treatments include topical or oral synthetic retinoids that allegedly bind to and activate the RARs. The mRNA expression of retinoid receptors RARα/γ and RXRα was studied in normal and psoriatic skin samples. RARα and RXRα were significantly reduced in psoriatic plaques as compared to non-lesional and normal skin. In situ immunofluorescence detection revealed altered distribution patterns of the receptor proteins in lesional skin. All three receptor proteins were more intensely detected in the lower half of the epidermis but were significantly reduced in the superficial epidermis compared to both normal and non-lesional skin. In order to evaluate the retinoid signaling system in psoriatic lesions, we compared the effect of topical RA on the expression of the cellular RA-binding protein II (CRABPII) in psoriatic and normal skin. CRABPII was induced by RA on mRNA and protein level in non-lesional and normal skin but not in lesional skin, where the basal expression of CRABPII was already up-regulated. Changes in retinoid signaling during keratinocyte differentiation in vitro were studied by measuring retinoid receptor and RAR-ligand levels. Exposure to differentiation-inducing levels of calcium, phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) or interferon-γ (IFNγ) led to increased RAR-ligand levels but PMA and IFNγ caused receptor protein loss due to increased proteasomal degradation. Since an increased IFNγ level is a hallmark of psoriatic inflammation, this might be a cause of altered retinoid signaling in lesional epidermis. Conclusion: Keratinocyte differentiation is accompanied by alterations in the retinoid signaling system. In psoriatic lesions, this system appears to be dysfunctioning due to reduced retinoid receptor levels, which might be an important event in the pathogenesis of the disease.

Retinoic Acid Metabolism Blocking Agents (RAMBAs) increase the endogenous levels of all-trans retinoic acid (RA) by inhibiting CYP26 enzymes. Thus they are believed to mimic the effects of retinoid treatment. Their mechanism of action and effects on vitamin A metabolism in keratinocytes are however uncertain. To explore this and the function of CYP26 in human skin was the main purpose of the project. The effects of two RAMBAs (talarozole and liarozole) on the expression of retinoid biomarkers in epidermis were studied in vivo and in vitro. Normal human skin (n=16) exposed to topical talarozole for 9 days showed similar response as previously reported for topical RA, even though no skin inflammation occurred. Lamellar ichthyosis patients (n=11) treated systemically with liarozole showed variable clinical improvement after 4 weeks with only mild effects on the retinoid biomarkers and the expression did not always correlate at the protein and mRNA levels. In these studies the proinflammatory transcripts IL-1α and TNFα were down-regulated by RAMBAs. In vitro, using an organotypic epidermis model we first studied how the RA metabolism was affected by adding RA and/or RAMBAs. We next examined the effects of the same agents on the expression of vitamin A metabolising enzymes in monolayer cultures of proliferating and differentiating keratinocytes. The results show among other things that CYP26 A1 and B1 are both involved in the catabolism of RA, and that talarozole potently increases the level of endogenous RA, primarily by inhibiting CYP26B1. However the drug´s biological effects cannot be solely attributed to increased RA levels. In conclusion, RAMBAs are promising new drugs for treatment of skin disorders, but further studies on their mechanism of action are needed.

The objective of this study was to clarify the regulation of production and signal transduction of juvenile hormone (JH) in insects by experimentally examining the function and evolution of a putative receptor (USP/RXR) and a neuropeptide inhibitor (FGLamide allatostatin). To examine the role of USP/RXR, the cDNA sequence of the receptor was obtained from the cockroach Diploptera punctata. Transcript levels during developmentally critical periods for JH sensitivity may suggest USP/RXR is JH responsive. Comparative sequence analysis of evolutionary rates in the Mecopterida support current hypotheses which suggest some gain in function along this lineage, although this acquisition may have occurred more gradually than previously assumed. To examine allatostatin evolution within insects, ancestral peptides inferred using maximum likelihood ancestral reconstruction methods were assayed for in vitro inhibition of JH production in two cockroach species. Shifts in peptide potency in some ancestral peptides reconstructed may be related to peptide copy number evolution.

The objective of this study was to clarify the regulation of production and signal transduction of juvenile hormone (JH) in insects by experimentally examining the function and evolution of a putative receptor (USP/RXR) and a neuropeptide inhibitor (FGLamide allatostatin). To examine the role of USP/RXR, the cDNA sequence of the receptor was obtained from the cockroach Diploptera punctata. Transcript levels during developmentally critical periods for JH sensitivity may suggest USP/RXR is JH responsive. Comparative sequence analysis of evolutionary rates in the Mecopterida support current hypotheses which suggest some gain in function along this lineage, although this acquisition may have occurred more gradually than previously assumed. To examine allatostatin evolution within insects, ancestral peptides inferred using maximum likelihood ancestral reconstruction methods were assayed for in vitro inhibition of JH production in two cockroach species. Shifts in peptide potency in some ancestral peptides reconstructed may be related to peptide copy number evolution.

Vitamin D is a precursor to a steroid hormone, 1,25 dihydroxyvitamin D (1,25(OH)2D). After its discovery and the characterization of its receptor, the vitamin D receptor (VDR), it was initially thought only to be involved in calcium homeostasis, but further research revealed an important role for vitamin D in the regulation of cell growth and differentiation of such cells as osteoblasts and bone marrow adipocytes. 1,25(OH)2D has also been shown to be a strong inhibitor and pro-differentiator of keratinocytes. The anti-proliferative and pro-differentiative properties of this hormone have led to studies where 1,25(OH)2D anticancer properties were assessed and initial findings that showed a requirement of other factors beyond VDR to induce 1,25(OH)2D signaling led to the identification of the retinoid X receptor, a common heterodimeric partner for several hormone receptors. The focus of thesis was to further elucidate the structure-function relationship of both the vitamin D receptor and the retinoid X receptor. Additionally, contributions to work directed towards further identifying the effects of vitamin D on osteoblast differentiation and survival. Interactions of 1,25(OH) 2D3 with its cognate receptor, identifying a key amino acid (Tryptophan 286) required for ligand contact and transcriptional activation, are described in Chapter 2. Mechanisms of vitamin D action on mesenchymal stem cell differentiation, promotion of osteoblast induction and maturation, and inhibition of adipocyte differentiation, are eluicidated in Chapter 3. Chapter 4 illustrates the effects of RAS/RAF/Mitogen-activated protein kinase mediated RXRalpha phosphorylation on the three-dimensional structure of the RXR/nuclear receptor partner heterodimers. Furthermore, this chapter reveals the inhibitory effect of the phosphorylation of a critical amino acid (serine 260) on the interaction of the AF-2 domain of the RXR with several coactivators, resulting in a decrease in the signaling potential of multiple steroid hormone receptors. The findings of this thesis further the knowledge of several areas of vitamin D biology, including both the canonical areas of bone formation, and the non-canonical area of vitamin D and cancer.