Escherichia coli enterotoxigênica (ETEC) é frequentemente associada com diarreia dos viajantes, e é uma das principais causas de mortalidade infantil em países em desenvolvimento. Para melhor colonizarem os diferentes nichos em que se encontram, essas bactérias precisam se adaptar às diferentes condições impostas pelo ambiente regulando assim, a expressão dos seus genes. ETEC adere-se aos enterócitos por meio de fatores de colonização (CFA) e provoca diarreia aquosa pela secreção das toxinas termolábil (LT) e termoestável (ST). Não há um padrão único de secreção das toxinas LT e ST pelos isolados de ETEC. Sendo assim, decidimos investigar como seria o perfil de expressão dos genes que regulam a produção e secreção dessas toxinas. O objetivo do presente trabalho é comparar o perfil de secreção e produção das proteínas LT e ST, bem como analisar a expressão dos genes envolvidos na produção dessas toxinas em isolados de ETEC. Os resultados obtidos nesse estudo permitiram concluir que os genes eltA, sta1 e sta2 presentes nas cepas H10407 e 5 são expressos diferencialmente nas bactérias cultivadas em caldo EC. Apesar da semelhança, não há correlação entre a expressão gênica e secreção e produção das toxinas, sugerindo que há outros mecanismos envolvidos no controle da produção dessas toxinas. / Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) is often associated with travelers diarrhea, and is a major cause of infant mortality in developing countries. To better colonize different niches in which they are, these bacteria need to adapt to different conditions imposed by the environment thus regulating the expression of their genes. ETEC adhere to the enterocytes by colonization factors (CFs) and causes watery diarrhea for secretion of heat-labile toxin (LT) and heat-stable (ST). There is no single pattern of secretion of toxins LT and ST by isolates of ETEC. Therefore, we decided to investigate how would the expression profile of genes that regulate the production and secretion of these toxins. The objective of this study is to compare the profile of secretion and production of proteins LT and ST, as well as to analyze the expression of genes involved in the production of toxins in isolated ETEC. The results of this study showed that the eltA, sta1 and sta2 genes present in strains H10407 and 5 are differentially expressed in bacteria grown in EC broth. Despite the similarity, there is no correlation between gene expression and secretion and production of toxins, suggesting that there are other mechanisms involved in controlling the production of these toxins.

Ácidos graxos são requeridos para a manutenção da função celular e atuam como moduladores da secreção de insulina induzida. Os importantes sítios de formação de EROs são a mitocôndria e a NAD(P)H oxidase, a primeira pode alterar a produção de EROs em função da atividade metabólica e a segunda tem sua atividade regulada por diversos fatores, dentre eles a PKC .O ácido oléico, junto com o palmítico, é um dos AGs mais abundantes na circulação. O tratamento agudo (1 hora) com 100 µM de ácido oléico aumentou a secreção de insulina associado ao aumento no metabolismo do AG. A oxidação desse ácido graxo induziu aumento no conteúdo de EROs em 16,7 mM de glicose com participação da NAD(P)H oxidase. Apesar da reconhecida função da EROs como sinalizadores, a diminuição de EROs induzida pela inibição da NAD(P)H oxidase promoveu aumento relativo na oxidação da glicose. A secreção relativa de insulina aumentou após inibição da NAD(P)H oxidase, sugerindo função regulatória das EROs no metabolismo da glicose e, conseqüentemente, da secreção de insulina. Dessa forma, o ácido oléico é capaz de aumentar a secreção de insulina com participação da NAD(P)H oxidase e as EROs produzidas por essa enzima promovendo a regulação do metabolismo da glicose. / Fatty acids are required to maintain cellular functioning and are able to modulate insulin secretion from pancreatic islets. The important sites of ROS production are the mitochondria and the NAD(P)H oxidase. The mitochondrial ROS release depends on cellular activity and NAD(P)H oxidase activity depends on many factors, including PKC. Acute (1 hour) exposure to oleic acid increased insulin secretion at 16.7 mM glucose. The insulin secretion induced by OA was associated to increased fatty acid oxidation and decreased glucose metabolism. Also, at 16.7 mM glucose, OA oxidation increased ROS production mediated by NAD(P)H. ROS decreased content induced by NAD(P)H oxidase inhibition induced glucose oxidation re-establishment after OA stimulus. The relative secretion was stimulated by NAD(P)H oxidase inhibition after OA stimulus. This suggests that ROS produced by NAD(P)H oxidase act as glucose metabolism regulators in the pancreatic cell. In consequence of glucose metabolism re-establishment the insulin secretion was increased. In conclusion, ROS produced by NAD(P)H oxidase are regulators of glucose metabolism. The glucose metabolism regulation may be in part responsible for the increased insulin secretion induced by ROS.

A leptospirose é uma zoonose de distribuição mundial causada por espiroquetas patogênicas do gênero Leptospira. Resultados experimentais demonstraram que a patogênese pode estar relacionada com a capacidade destas bactérias em aderir a proteínas da matriz extracelular, escapar da resposta imune do hospedeiro e de produzir toxinas. Este trabalho teve como objetivo identificar proteínas secretadas por Leptospira interrogans sorovar Pomona estirpe Fromm kennewicki (patogênica) e Leptospira biflexa sorovar Patoc estirpe Patoc I (saprófita), através de análise proteômica. As leptospiras foram cultivadas em meio EMJH suplementado com soro de coelho ou albumina bovina. Os sobrenadantes foram filtrados, dialisados e liofilizados para aplicação das tecnologias de análise proteômica utilizando gel bidimensional e análise em solução. A análise dos peptídeos obtidos, nos dois procedimentos, foi realizada utilizando-se LC/MS/MS. Foi possível a identificação de 159 proteínas diferentes nas amostras de L.interrogans, entre as quais 64 foram positivas em pelo menos uma das ferramentas usadas para a predição. Em L. biflexa, 104 proteínas diferentes foram identificadas, entre elas 43 proteínas foram positivas pela análise in silico. Entre as proteínas identificadas, estão aquelas que possuem peptídeo sinal sec ou tat dependentes. Em outras, a predição da localização celular é desconhecida ou podem ter múltiplos sítios de localização, e ainda, proteínas que não possuem peptídeo sinal e que podem ser secretadas por mecanismos não convencionais. Muitos destas são proteínas hipotéticas sem domínios conservados detectados. No que diz respeito à atividade proteolítica, foi identificada a presença de metaloproteases no secretoma de L.interrogans. Não houve detecção da presença significativa de proteases bacterianas em amostras de L. biflexa. A identificação e a caracterização funcional de proteínas secretadas poderão contribuir para a elucidação dos mecanismos patogênicos e no desenvolvimento de novas estratégias para o tratamento e prevenção de leptospirose. / Leptospirosis is a zoonosis of worldwide distribution caused by pathogenic spirochetes of the genus Leptospira. The mechanisms by which leptospires invade the host and cause the disease are not yet fully understood. Experimental results have shown that the pathogenesis may be related to the ability of these bacteria to bind to extracellular matrix proteins, to escape hosts immune responses and to produce toxins. This work aimed to identify secreted proteins by Leptospira interrogans serovar Pomona strain Fromm kennewicki (pathogenic) and Leptospira biflexa serovar strain Patoc Patoc I (saprophyte) through proteomic analysis. The leptospires were grown in EMJH supplemented with rabbit serum or BSA. Supernatants were filtered, dialyzed and lyophilized to proteomic technology, two-dimensional gel and non-gel. The analysis of the obtained peptides in two procedures was performed using LC/MS/LC. It was possible to identify 159 different proteins in the samples of L.interrogans; among them, 64 were positive proteins in at least one of the tools used for prediction. In L. biflexa, 104 different proteins were identified; among them, 43 positive proteins were positive by in silico analysis. Among the identified proteins are those that possess sec or tat dependent signal peptide. In others, the prediction of the cellular location is unknown or may have multiple sites of localization, and even proteins which have no signal peptide can be secreted by unconventional mechanisms. Many of these are hypothetical proteins with no detected putative conserved domains. The presence of metalloproteases has been identified in the L.interrogans´ secretome, using proteolytic assay. There was no significant detection of the presence of bacterial proteases in samples of L. biflexa. The identification and functional characterization of secreted proteins may contribute to the elucidation of pathogenic mechanisms and in the developing of new strategies for the treatment and prevention of leptospirosis.

Avaliamos importância da NADPH oxidase 2 (NOX2) na produção de espécies reativas de oxigênio (EROs) em ilhotas de ratas alimentadas ou em jejum, incubadas na presença de 2,8 mM ou 16,7 mM de glicose, associada ou não a leucina, com ou sem inibição da NOX2. As ilhotas dos animais alimentados ou em jejum apresentaram reduzida secreção de insulina e altas concentrações de EROs na presença de 2,8 mM de glicose. Esses parâmetros foram invertidos pela adição de inibidores da NOX2. A leucina, que é metabolizada no Ciclo dos Ácidos Tricarboxílicos, também aumentou a secreção de insulina por aumento de ATP, e diminuiu as EROs, devido ao aumento de NADPH, um substrato do sistema antioxidante. Desse modo, quando as ilhotas são submetidas ao jejum, a diminuição da atividade secretória é fundamental para impedir que quantidades maiores de hormônio sejam secretadas, podendo levar a uma hipoglicemia. Porém, na presença de alta concentração de glicose, a ativação das defesas antioxidantes da célula b atenua o excesso de EROS, liberando a secreção de insulina. / We sought to evaluate the importance of NADPH oxidase 2 (NOX2) in the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in islets from rats fed or fasted, incubated in the presence of glucose 2.8 mM or 16.7 mM, with or without leucine or inhibition of NOX2. Islets of fed or fasted animals showed reduced insulin secretion and high concentration of ROS in the presence of 2.8 mM glucose. These parameters were reversed by addition of inhibitors NOX2. Leucine that is metabolized in the cycle of Tricarboxylic Acids (TCA) also increased insulin secretion, by increasing ATP, and ROS decreased due to the increase of NADPH, a substrate of the antioxidant system. Thus, when the islets are subjected to fasting, decreased secretory activity is essential to prevent amounts of the hormone be secreted and may lead to hypoglycaemia. However, in the presence of high glucose levels, activation of antioxidant defenses of b cell attenuates the excess of ROS, releasing insulin secretion.

Apart from CFRD, low cognitive skill index (CSI) was also found in CF patients and was attributed the lacking of vitamin E. Since it is known that insulin plays a role in the learning and memory, decreased plasma insulin level in CF patients is an alternative mechanism for impaired cognitive function. Although numerous studies have found that insulin can improve learning and memory, the mechanism of it is not well understood. In this study, we investigated the effect of insulin on the expression of hippocampal early-phase long-term potentiation (E-LTP) in the immature rats. Hippocampal brain slices were acutely prepared from 10-12 days and 2 months old rats and field excitatory postsynaptic potentials (tEPSCs) were recorded from CA1 region by a multi-electrode in vitro recording system. In the control group, the hippocampal slices of neonatal rats showed no increase in the magnitude of fEPSC after conventional high frequency stimulation (HFS). After pretreatment of the slices with 0.08ng/ml insulin for over one hour, there was no significant change in the magnitude of E-LTP. However, when the insulin concentration increased to 0.8ng/ml, a significant increase in the magnitude of E-LTP was observed. On the contrary, any doses of insulin failed to affect the magnitude of E-LTP of mature rats. These results suggested that insulin could dose-dependently facilitate the production of E-LTP in the hippocampus of infant rats. Application of AG-1024, an inhibitor of insulin receptor, largely abolished the insulin-dependent E-LTP in immature rats rather than adult rats, indicating the involvement of insulin signaling pathway in the insulin effect. On the other hand, increasing the concentration of glucose from 11mM to 22 or 33 mM did not facilitate the E-LTP and application of indinavir, a blocker of insulin-sensitive glucose transporter-4, did not inhibit the effect of insulin. Therefore, it is unlikely that the facilitory action of insulin on E-LTP is via an indirect effect on glucose homeostasis or utilization. Pretreatment with the MAPK pathway inhibitor PD98059 blocked insulin-mediated E-LTP facilitation. Furthermore, the tetanic stimulation induced a significant increase in the level of phosphorylated p42MAPK in the insulin-treated hippocampus than that in the control group. In conclusion, our results suggested that insulin could facilitate the production of hippocampal E-LTP in infant rats, which may play an important role in modulating the expression of LTP in the developing brain and perhaps is an underlying mechanism for the improving effect of insulin on learning and memory. Since insulin plays an important role in the developing brain, perhaps the deficiency of insulin effect resulted from CF patients induces the impairment of cognitive function. / Cystic fibrosis (CF), which is caused by the deficiency of cystic fibrosis transmembrne conductance regulator (CFTR), is the most common autosomal recessive systemic disease with an incidence of 1: 2500 in Caucasians. Cystic fibrosis-related diabetes (CFRD), as one of the complications of CF patients, is regarded as one of the leading co-morbidity in CF patients. The mechanism ofCFRD is attributed to the reduced number of islets due to pancreatic fibrosis caused by the loss of CFTR in pancreatic duct. However, the above mechanism failed to explain the dynamics of insulin secretion induced by glucose tolerance test (GTT) in some CF patients and therefore, we were forced to re-consider the mechanism for the pathogenesis of CFRD. Interestingly, the following facts imply that perhaps there is another mechanism for the onset of CFRD: decreased insulin secretion and decreased plasma HCO3 - concentration was observed in the metabolic acidosis disease, plasma HCO3- level increased accompanied by the elevation of plasma insulin after food intake and CFTR accounted for HCO3 - transport in many epithelial cells. These facts promoted us to hypothesize that the loss of HCO3--induced insulin secretion resulting from the deficiency of CFTR is an alternative mechanism for the onset of CFRD. Our results showed that HCO3- could induce insulin secretion of isolated islets from rats. Ca2+ imaging revealed that HCO3- dose-dependently induced an increase in intracellular Ca2+ ([Ca2+] i) in RIN-5F cells, an insulin-secreting cell line. Removal of extracellular Ca2+ or addition of nifedipine, the blocker of L-type Ca 2+ channel, decreased the effect of HCO3- significantly, indicating the activation of L-type Ca2+ channel during HCO3- stimulation. The inhibitory effect of BaCl2 implied the involvement of K+ channel. The results that HCO3--induced increase in [Ca 2+]i was reduced by PKA inhibitor and sAC blocker demonstrated that the pathway of sAC-cAMP-PKA-ATP-sentitive K+ channel (K ATP channel) was responsible for the effect of HCO3 -. The reduction of extracellular Cl- or the inhibitor of anion exchanger (AE) inhibited the [Ca2+]i increase induced by HCO3- significantly but the omission of external Na+ failed. The facts that CFTR blocker decreased the effect of HCO3- markedly and the expression of CFTR in RIN-5F cells revealed by western blotting suggested the CFTR-mediated HCO3- transport. These results suggested that HCO 3- could induce insulin secretion in a CFTR-dependent manner, which provided a new insight into the understanding of pathogenesis of CFRD and paved the way for the therapy of CFRD. / Zhao, Wenchao. / "November 2010." / Advisers: Chang Chan; Wing Ho Yung. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 73-04, Section: B, page: . / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2011. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 115-138). / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Electronic reproduction. [Ann Arbor, MI] : ProQuest Information and Learning, [201-] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Abstract also in Chinese.

Wong Hau Yan Connie. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2000. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 86-95). / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / Abstract --- p.ii / Acknowledgements --- p.ix / Contents --- p.x / List of Figures --- p.xiii / List of Tables --- p.xv / Abbreviations --- p.xvi / Chapter Chapter 1: --- Introduction / Chapter 1.1 --- Role of extracellular nucleotides in equine sweat gland epithelial cells --- p.1 / Chapter 1.2 --- Subdivision of P1 and P2 purinoceptor --- p.4 / Chapter 1.3 --- General properties of P2 purinoceptor --- p.5 / Chapter 1.3.1 --- P2X purinoceptor family --- p.5 / Chapter 1.3.2 --- P2Y purinoceptor family --- p.8 / Chapter 1.4 --- The diversity of P2Y purinoceptor --- p.10 / Chapter 1.4.1 --- P2Y1 receptor --- p.10 / Chapter 1.4.2 --- P2Y2 receptor --- p.10 / Chapter 1.4.3 --- P2Y4 receptor --- p.10 / Chapter 1.4.4 --- P2Y6 receptor --- p.10 / Chapter 1.4.5 --- P2Y11 receptor --- p.11 / Chapter 1.5 --- The importance of calcium --- p.13 / Chapter 1.6 --- General aspects of calcium signaling --- p.14 / Chapter 1.7 --- Calcium release from the intracellular calcium stores --- p.15 / Chapter 1.7.1 --- Metabolism of inositol phosphates --- p.15 / Chapter 1.7.2 --- Ca2+ release from the internal calcium store --- p.15 / Chapter 1.8 --- Store-operated calcium channels (SOCC) or Capacitative calcium entry (CCE) --- p.18 / Chapter 1.8.1 --- The nature of the signal for CCE --- p.18 / Chapter 1.8.1.1 --- Conformational coupling --- p.18 / Chapter 1.8.1.2 --- Diffusible messenger --- p.21 / Chapter 1.9 --- Mechanism of intracellular calcium measurement --- p.25 / Chapter 1.10 --- Background of E92/3 cell line --- p.28 / Chapter Chapter 2: --- Materials and methods --- p.29 / Chapter 2.1 --- Cell culture --- p.29 / Chapter 2.2 --- Preparation of the simultaneous measurement --- p.31 / Chapter 2.2.1 --- Cell seeding --- p.31 / Chapter 2.2.2 --- Dye loading --- p.33 / Chapter 2.3 --- The setup of simultaneous measurement --- p.36 / Chapter 2.4 --- Statistical analysis --- p.40 / Chapter Chapter 3: --- Results --- p.41 / Chapter 3.1 --- Major domain of Ca2+ influx is from the basolateral side --- p.41 / Chapter 3.1.1 --- Effect of store depletion by apical ATP --- p.41 / Chapter 3.1.2 --- Effect of store depletion by basolateral ATP --- p.43 / Chapter 3.1.3 --- Effect of store depletion by thapsigargin --- p.47 / Chapter 3.2 --- Differential effect of apical and basolateral nucleotides on [Ca2+]i and Isc --- p.51 / Chapter 3.2.1 --- Basolateral ATP activates an increase in [Ca2+]i but not Isc --- p.51 / Chapter 3.2.2 --- Apical and basolateral ATP activated distinct but partially overlapped internal Ca2+ pool --- p.51 / Chapter 3.2.3 --- "Dose-dependent effect of apical or basolateral ATP, UDP and UTP on [Ca2+]i i and Isc" --- p.54 / Chapter 3.3 --- P2Y receptors subtypes on the basolateral membrane --- p.60 / Chapter 3.3.1 --- "Possible involvement of P2X, P2Y1 and P2Y11 purinoceptors on the basolateral membrane" --- p.60 / Chapter 3.3.2 --- "Cross-desensitization of experiments of UTP, ATP and UDP" --- p.60 / Chapter 3.4 --- The ATP-activated Ca2+ pool and thapsigargin-activated Ca2+ pool are partially overlapped --- p.68 / Chapter 3.5 --- Anion secretion activated by Ca2+ -independent pathway --- p.74 / Chapter Chapter 4: --- Discussion --- p.76 / Chapter 4.1 --- The major membrane for the CCE is from the basolateral side --- p.76 / Chapter 4.2 --- Basolateral P2Y receptors --- p.80 / Chapter 4.3 --- Differential effects of apical and basolateral ATP --- p.82 / Chapter 4.3.1 --- Apical and basolateral ATP release Ca2+ from different pools --- p.83 / Chapter 4.3.2 --- Ca2+ -independent mechanism --- p.83 / Chapter 4.3.3 --- Other potential signaling molecules --- p.84 / Chapter Chapter 5: --- Reference --- p.86

Flagella, the helical propellers that extend from the bacterial cell surface, illustrate how complex nanomachines assemble outside the cell. The sequential construction of the flagellar rod, hook, and filament requires export of thousands of structural subunits across the cell membrane and this is achieved by a specialised flagellar Type III Secretion System (fT3SS) located at the base of each flagellum. The fT3SS imposes a crude ordering of subunits, with filament subunits only exported once the rod and hook are complete. This “export specificity switch” is controlled by the FlhB component of the fT3SS export gate in response to a signal from the exported molecular ruler FliK, which monitors the length of the growing hook. This study seeks to clarify how rod and hook subunits interact with FlhB, and how FlhB switches export specificity. Rod and hook subunits possess a conserved gate recognition motif (GRM; Fxxxφ, with φ being any hydrophobic residue) that is proposed to bind a surface-exposed hydrophobic patch on the FlhB cytosolic domain. Mutation of the GRM phenylalanine and the final hydrophobic residue resulted in impaired subunit export and decreased cell motility. Isothermal titration calorimetry was performed to assess whether subunit export order is imposed at FlhB. These experiments showed that rod and hook subunits bind to FlhB with micromolar dissociation constants (5-45 μM), suggesting transient interactions. There was no clear correlation between subunit affinity for FlhB and the order of subunit assembly in the nascent flagellum. Solution-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy supported prior data showing that rod and hook subunits interact with FlhB’s surface-exposed hydrophobic patch. NMR also indicated that residues away from the patch undergo a conformational change on subunit binding. FlhB autocleaves rapidly in its cytosolic domain, and the resulting polypeptides (FlhBCN and FlhBCC) are held together by non-covalent interactions between b-strands that encompass the autocleavage site. The autocleavage event is a prerequisite for the export specificity switch, but its function is unclear. Analysis of the cellular localization of FlhBCN and FlhBCC revealed that FlhBCC dissociated from the membrane export machinery, but only in the presence of FliK. Biochemical and biophysical studies of FlhB variants that undergo export specificity switching in the absence of FliK showed that these FlhB “autonomous switchers” were less stable than wildtype FlhB and their FlhBCC domain could dissociate from the export machinery in the absence of FliK. The results suggest that the export specificity switch involves a FliK-dependent loss of FlhBCC from the export machinery, eliminating the binding site for rod and hook subunits.

O folículo ovariano é composto pelo oócito (gameta feminino) e por várias camadas de células foliculares somáticas, sendo que destas, as mais intimamente associadas com o oócito são as células do cumulus oophorus (CCs), as quais estão em contato direto com o gameta feminino e formam o complexo cumulus-oócito (CCO), e as células murais da granulosa (CGs), que revestem a parede do folículo ovariano. Visto que estas CGs e CCs são facilmente acessadas durante tratamentos de reprodução assistida (RA), que podem ser coletadas sem comprometimento do oócito e que são descartadas após a recuperação do oócito é possível que elas sejam utilizadas em pesquisas que visam elucidar a fisiologia ovariana. No entanto, quando recuperadas, nos ciclos de reprodução assistida, estas células se encontram em um estado luteinizado, devido ao tratamento hormonal que as pacientes realizam. Sabe-se que o uso de CGs luteinizadas em cultura celular para o estudo do processo molecular ovulatório é limitado visto esta prévia exposição celular às gonadotrofinas e ao seu estado luteinizado. Porém, foi demonstrado que CGs luteinizadas podem readquirir sua capacidade de resposta à estimulação por gonadotrofinas, recuperando características semelhantes às daquelas de folículos não luteinizados nos estágios iniciais de diferenciação (early antral não luteinizado). A estimulação destas células com FSH causa aumento na expressão de genes que caracterizam CGs típicas de folículos pré-ovulatórios (pré-ovulatório não luteinizado). Ainda, outra questão importante com relação ao folículo ovariano diz respeito à ação dos androgênios nesta estrutura ovariana, sendo que já se sabe que a ativação do receptor de androgênio, localizado nas células foliculares, é capaz de modular a expressão e a atividade de genes importantes para a manutenção do desenvolvimento do folículo ovariano. Desta forma, sugere-se que o efeito reprodutivo do tratamento com dehidroepiandrosterona (DHEA) e seu sulfato (SDHEA), importantes androgênios, pode ser devido às suas ações justamente no microambiente folicular. Portanto, o objetivo deste trabalho foi analisar a exposição de células foliculares desluteinizadas (estágios early antral e pré-ovulatório) ao SDHEA. Para isto, células da granulosa e do cumulus foram obtidas de pacientes submetidas à fertilização in vitro e foram cultivas separadamente. Inicialmente, fez-se a determinação do melhor tempo de cultivo deste modelo celular proposto, dentre 6, 8 ou 10 dias de cultivo. As análises de viabilidade celular realizadas mostraram que o melhor tempo para o cultivo primário folicular, para as próximas etapas do trabalho, seria de oito dias. Após, também por análises de viabilidade celular, a melhor dose de SDHEA para exposição às células foliculares foi determinada dentre cinco doses testadas em comparação a um controle sem exposição hormonal. As análises mostraram que a dose mais adequada a ser utilizada era a dose de 0,08 μM de SDHEA. Posteriormente, tendo definido o melhor tempo de cultivo e a dose ideal de exposição das células em questão ao SDHEA, os experimentos foram realizados com dois grupos experimentais distintos: células early antral não luteinizadas e células pré-ovulatórias não luteinizadas – expostas ao FSH. Ambos os grupos foram divididos em dois subgrupos: grupo controle (sem exposição hormonal) e grupo SDHEA (com exposição ao SDHEA). Foram feitas dosagens hormonais de SDHEA, de estradiol e de progesterona nos dias 1, 4, 6 e 8 do sobrenadante do cultivo celular. A análise ao longo do tempo mostrou que os valores das dosagens de SDHEA se mantiveram constantes no grupo controle durante todo o período de cultivo celular, não havendo diferença estatística entre as quatro dosagens hormonais feitas neste grupo. Por outro lado, no grupo tratado houve diferença nos valores deste hormônio nos dias 6 e 8, em comparação aos dias 1 e 4, devido justamente ao tratamento com SDHEA realizado neste grupo experimental. Com relação ao estradiol, independente do tipo celular e do estágio de desenvolvimento, foi possível ver que a sua secreção era elevada no primeiro dia de cultivo, diminuindo nos outros dias devido às condições e ao tempo de cultivo do protocolo de desluteinização celular. Além disso, as células tratadas com SDHEA apresentaram uma secreção de estradiol superior àquelas não tratadas. Por fim, as dosagens de progesterona revelaram que o tratamento com SDHEA não alterou a secreção deste hormônio pelas células, em nenhum dos dois estágios de desenvolvimento. Ainda, as células apresentaram uma secreção aumentada de progesterona no sexto dia de cultivo celular em comparação ao primeiro e ao quarto dia; porém, esta secreção começou a diminuir quando do oitavo dia de cultivo. Tendo em vista os resultados obtidos, podemos concluir que o tratamento com SDHEA é capaz de aumentar a secreção de estradiol de células foliculares não luteinizadas, não alterando a secreção de progesterona dessas mesmas células. Mais estudos são necessários para um melhor entendimento dos efeitos do SDHEA nos processos que compõem a foliculogênese. / Ovarian follicle is formed by the oocyte (female gamete) and somatic follicular cells. Those closer to the oocyte are cumulus oophorus cells (CCs), which are in direct contact with the female gamete, and the granulosa mural cells (GCs), which form the wall of the ovarian follicle. As GCs and CCs are easily accessed during assisted reproduction procedures and are discarded after oocyte retrieval, they can be used in research aimed at elucidating ovarian physiology. However, when recovered in assisted reproduction cycles, these cells are in a luteinized state due patient hormonal treatment. It is known that the use of luteinized GCs to study the molecular ovulatory process is limited due to this prior cellular exposure to gonadotrophins and their luteinized state. However, luteinized CGs have been shown to reacquire similar characteristics to those of non-luteinized follicles in early stages of differentiation (non-luteinized early antral). Stimulation of these cells with follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) increases expression of genes that characterize CGs typical of pre ovulatory follicles (non-luteinized pre ovulatory). Another important question regarding the ovarian follicle relates to androgens action in this ovarian structure. As it is known, androgen receptor activation, located in follicular cells, is able to modulate expression and activity of important genes for the maintenance of ovarian follicle development. Thus, authors suggest that the reproductive effect of dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and their sulfate (SDHEA) treatment, important androgens, may be due their actions precisely in the follicular microenvironment. Consequently, the aim of this work was to analyze the exposure to SDHEA of non-luteinized follicular cells (early antral and pre-ovulatory stages). Granulosa and cumulus cells were obtained from patients submitted to in vitro fertilization and were separately cultivated. Initially, the best culture time of this proposed cellular model was determined among 6, 8 or 10 days of culture. Cellular viability analysis showed that primary follicular culture for the next steps of the study would be of 8 days. Thereafter, cellular viability assays were used to determine the best SDHEA dose among 5 doses to follicular cells exposure in comparison to a control without hormonal exposure. The analysis showed that the best dose to use was 0,08 μM of SDHEA. Subsequently, after defined the best culture time and the ideal exposure dose of the cells to SDHEA, experiments were performed with two different experimental groups: non-luteinized early antral cells and non-luteinized pre ovulatory cells – exposed to FSH. Both groups were divided in two subgroups: control group (no hormonal exposure) and SDHEA group (with SDHEA exposure). SDHEA, estradiol and progesterone hormonal dosages of the cell culture supernatant were done on days 1, 4, 6 and 8. Over time analysis revealed that SDHEA values were constant in control group during all the cell culture period, without statistical difference between the four hormonal dosages performed in this group. However, treated group showed a difference in the values of this hormone on days 6 and 8, compared to days 1 and 4, due to treatment with SDHEA of these experimental group . Regarding estradiol, independent of cell type and stage of development, it was possible to see that its secretion was high on the first day of culture, decreasing in others due to conditions and time of culture of the non-luteinized cells protocol. In addition, the SDHEA treated cells presented higher estradiol secretion than those not treated. Finally, progesterone dosages revealed that treatment with SDHEA did not alter this hormone secretion from the cells in either of the two development stages. Besides that, the cells had an increased progesterone secretion on the sixth cell culture day compared to first and fourth day; however, this secretion began to decrease on the eight day of culture. In conclusion, SDHEA treatment is able to increases the non-luteinized follicular cells secretion of estradiol, but it is not able to modify the progesterone secretion of the same cells. More studies are needed to better understand the effects of SDHEA on the process that make part of folliculogenesis.

蛋白質分泌及胞吐作用是指蛋白質在內質網(ER)中合成後前往質膜(PM) ， 隨後， 被分泌到達細胞外的過程。 而細胞分泌路徑是指蛋白質途經數個含有膜包被的細胞器後運送到细胞之外。 這些細胞器，包括內質網， 高爾基體， 反式高爾基網絡(TGN) 及質膜。 分泌蛋白分泌出细胞之外後， 在细胞外基質中進行其功能。 / 為達到這項研究的目的，我們結合了細胞、分子和生物化學上的方法， 來對蛋白質運輸路徑及參與蛋白質分泌的細胞器進行研究。首先，通過MALDI-MS/MS對煙草懸浮BY-2細胞中的原態分泌性蛋白質進行分析。第二，把已識別的分泌蛋白包括陽離子過氧化物酶同工酶40K（40K）和N1過氧化物酶（N1），透過轉基因細胞的GFP融合表達方式、及應用特異性抗體於免疫螢光和膠體金免疫電鏡上的測定來對其特性作進一步分析。 第三，總合以上的研究，煙草懸浮BY-2細胞的典型蛋白質分泌路徑次序為質網 - 高爾基體 - 反式高爾基網絡 - 質膜。 / Protein secretion or exocytosis is the process by which proteins synthesized in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) travel to the plasma membrane (PM) for their subsequent secretion outside of the cell. The secretory pathway responsible for protein secretion contains several membrane-bounded organelles such as the ER, Golgi apparatus, trans-Golgi Network (TGN), and PM. The secreted proteins move outside of the cell and perform their functions in the extracellular matrix. / The general objective of this study was to examine the transport pathways and organelles involved in protein secretion in plant cells using a combination of cellular, molecular and biochemical approaches. First, major native secreted proteins in suspension cultures of tobacco BY-2 culture cells were identified via MALDI-MS/MS analysis. Second, the identified secreted proteins, cationic peroxidase Isozyme 40K (40K) and peroxidase N1 (N1), were further characterized by examining the GFP fusion expression of transgenic cell lines and by generating specific antibodies in immunofluorescent and immunogold electron microscope (EM) studies. Third, throughout all of these studies, a typical ER-Golgi-TGN-PM pathway was mapped for protein secretion in tobacco BY-2 cells. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Detailed summary in vernacular field only. / Lam, Chun Kok. / "December 2012." / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2013. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 79-84). / Abstracts also in Chinese. / Thesis /Assessment Committee --- p.i / Statement --- p.i / Abstract --- p.ii / 摘要 --- p.iv / Acknowledgements --- p.v / List of Abbreviations --- p.xiii / Chapter Chapter 1 --- Introduction --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1. --- Secreted protein --- p.1 / Chapter 1.2. --- Secretory Pathway --- p.1 / Chapter 1.3. --- Protein secretion --- p.2 / Chapter 1.4. --- Plant Peroxidases --- p.3 / Chapter 1.5. --- Project Objective --- p.4 / Chapter 1.6. --- Significance --- p.4 / Chapter Chapter 2 --- Materials and Methods --- p.6 / Chapter 2.1. --- Mass spectrometry analysis --- p.6 / Chapter 2.2. --- Generation of 40K/N1-GFP construct --- p.7 / Chapter 2.2.1. --- For transient expression --- p.7 / Chapter 2.2.2. --- For stable expressing constructs --- p.7 / Chapter 2.3. --- Transient expression of 40K/N1-GFP --- p.7 / Chapter 2.4. --- Generation of transgenic cell lines --- p.8 / Chapter 2.5. --- Fluorescence microscopic screening --- p.9 / Chapter 2.6. --- Generation and characterization of antibodies specific for 40K/N1 peroxidase --- p.9 / Chapter 2.7. --- Confocal immunofluorescence studies --- p.10 / Chapter 2.8. --- (TIRF) Total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy --- p.11 / Chapter 2.9. --- Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and western blot analysis --- p.11 / Chapter 2.10. --- Drug Treatment --- p.12 / Chapter 2.10.1. --- Dexamethasone (dex) --- p.12 / Chapter 2.10.2. --- Brefeldin A (BFA)/Concanamycin A (ConcA) --- p.12 / Chapter 2.11. --- Salt treatment (plasmolysis) --- p.13 / Chapter 2.12. --- EM (electron microscopy) study --- p.13 / Chapter Chapter 3 --- Results --- p.14 / Chapter 3.1. --- Protein secretion from tobacco BY2 cells --- p.14 / Chapter 3.2. --- Western blot analysis --- p.15 / Chapter 3.3. --- Protein expression in tobacco plant tissues --- p.15 / Chapter 3.4. --- EM labeling on the wild type BY-2 cells --- p.16 / Chapter 3.5. --- Localization in the tobacco root tip apoplast --- p.17 / Chapter 3.6. --- 40K/N1 peroxidase transient/stable cell line expression --- p.18 / Chapter 3.7. --- Time course study of 40K/N1 peroxidase-GFP cell line expression after induction --- p.18 / Chapter 3.8. --- Plasmolysis (salt treatment analysis) --- p.20 / Chapter 3.9. --- Brefeldin A (BFA) and concanamycin A (ConcA): Trafficking through the Golgi and TGN --- p.20 / Chapter 3.10. --- Examining exocytosis by total internal reflectance fluorescence (TIRF) --- p.22 / Chapter 3.11. --- Immunolabeling study --- p.23 / Chapter 3.12. --- EM study on transgenic 40K & N1 peroxidase-GFP cell lines --- p.24 / Chapter Chapter 4 --- Discussion --- p.26 / Chapter 4.1. --- Trafficking from the ER to the extracellular matrix --- p.26 / Chapter 4.2. --- Secretion through PM by exocytosis --- p.28 / Chapter 4.3. --- Time required for the secretory pathway --- p.29 / Chapter 4.4. --- Similarities of 40K and N1 --- p.30 / Chapter 4.5. --- Future perspectives --- p.30 / References --- p.79

Both VEGF and its receptor proteins were localized by immunostaining technique in the luminal epithelium, smooth muscle cells and blood vessels within the oviduct. Moreover, by means of semi-quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) techniques, it has been demonstrated that mRNA of VEGF and its receptors in both healthy and diseased oviduct is expressed preferentially at the time and place where the amount of oviduct fluid is prominent. This supports the notion that VEGF may be a regulator of oviductal secretion. This thesis has consistently demonstrated a modulation pattern of flt-1 expression that is similar to its ligand VEGF in both physiological and pathological conditions. This suggests that flt-1 may be the main receptor responsible for the action of VEGF in the oviduct. As illustrated in both the in-vivo and in-vitro models, the expression of VEGF and flt-1 in the human oviduct is stimulated directly by gonadotropins without the influence of ovarian sex hormones. / Increased knowledge on the regulatory mechanisms of oviductal fluid formation, the first environment that human embryos are exposed to, will be valuable from the clinical management point of view. / Oviductal fluid is a complex mixture of plasma-derived constituents and proteins synthesized by the oviduct epithelium. It has been postulated that vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), a known permeability promoter, may be an important regulator of oviductal fluid secretion by stimulating vascular permeability and so serum transudation. However, little is known about the expression of VEGF in the human oviduct. This thesis investigated the modulation of VEGF and its receptors (flt-1 and KDR) in the healthy oviducts, from fertile women undergoing tubal sterilization for unwanted fertility or hysterectomy for benign gynecological conditions, as well as in the hydrosalpinges from sterile women undergoing salpingectomy before the treatment of in-vitro fertilization and embryo transfer. / Lam Po Mui. / Adviser: Christopher J. Haines. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 73-01, Section: B, page: . / Thesis (M.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2004. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 147-179). / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Electronic reproduction. [Ann Arbor, MI] : ProQuest Information and Learning, [201-] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web.