Organisms such as mammals need tissue renewal as an important process for maintenance of their viability. Because proliferation is essential also for tumourigenesis, cells need tumour-suppressor mechanisms to protect organism against cancer. Cellular senescence, the permanent state of cell-cycle arrest, features one of these intrinsic barriers against tumourigenesis after DNA damage and understanding of this process may lead to finding of novel therapeutic targets and to optimization of chemotherapy for patients with cancer. In the first part of the PhD thesis, we investigated activation of JAK/STAT signalling pathway in drug-induced senescence. We used genotoxic drugs like aphidicolin, camptothecine, 5-bromo- 2'-doexyuridin, etoposide or thymidine to induce premature senescence in normal and cancer cells. All this chemicals were able to persistently activate JAK/STAT signalling in monitored cells. Activation of STATs was accompanied with up-regulation of expression of interferon-stimulated genes (ISGs), such as MX1, IRF1, IRF7 and PML. Since IRF1 and IRF7 can be directly involved in stimulation of the IFN genes, we show activated expression as well as secretion of IFNbeta and IFNgamma, but not IFNalpha in drug-induced senescent cells. Furthermore, an inhibition of JAK1 as a major kinase of STAT...

Este trabalho apresenta um estudo sobre a síntese e propriedades do copolímero poli(l,l-lactídeo-stat-e-caprolactona)-bloco-poli(óxido de etileno)-bloco-poli(l,l-lactideostat-e-caprolactona). Poli(óxido de etileno) de massa molar 20.000 u.m.a. e poli(óxido de etileno) modificado, preparado a partir de poli(glicol etilênico) de massa molar 4.000 u.m.a., foram selecionados para o processo da síntese. A reação foi feita pela polimerização por abertura de anel em massa a 120ºC usando octoanato de estanho como iniciador. A composição química de cada amostra foi determinada com auxílio de RMN-1H e RMN-13C e suas propriedades mecânicas foram verificadas e comparadas utilizando análises térmicas como DMTA, DSC, TG e a aplicação da MEV como análise complementar. A observação pelas fotos de MOLP permitiu a visualização do comportamento de nucleação dos copolímeros e as características de sua cristalinidade. Seu grau de cristalinidade e as fases cristalinas foram identificados por difração de raios X (WAXS). A biocompatibilidade do material também foi examinada pela cultura de células. Os resultados de caracterização indicam o sucesso da copolimerização, as propriedades elastoméricas e, sua não citotoxidade comprovaram a possibilidade do uso destes copolímeros como biomateriais. Contudo, o tempo prolongado de reação e baixa incorporação do monômero lactídeo ainda são questões a serem melhoradas para a viabilização do copolímero como material de implante na área biomédica. / This work includes the study of the synthesis and characterization of the copolymer poly(l,l-lactide-stat-e-caprolactone)-b-PEG-b-poly(l,l-lactide-stat-e-caprolactone). Poly (ethylene oxide) with molar weight 20.000 and poly(ethylene oxide) modified, prepared from poly(ethylene oxide) with molar weight 4000 have been selected for this synthesis process. The reaction was done by ring-opening bulk polymerization, using stannous octoate as initiator at 120ºC. The chemical composition of samples were determined by 1H-NMR and 13C-NMR and their mechanical properties were verified using thermal analyses like DMTA, DSC and TG. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was applied as a complementary analysis. The pictures of polarizing optical microscopy showed us the copolymer\'s nucleation behaviors and their respective crystallization. The degrees of crystallinity and phase of copolymers were determined by WAXS. The biocompatibility of the copolymer was examined by cell cultivation test. The result of these analyses above indicated the success of synthesis. Their rubbery properties and non-toxicity allowed their application as biomaterial. However, the long reaction time and low incorporation of monomer of lactide might to be improved to increase its potential use in biomedical area in the future.

INTRODUÇÃO: A desregulação da via de sinalização JAK-STAT é uma característica marcante das neoplasias mieloproliferativas (NMPs), doenças clonais da célula tronco hematopoética, dentre as quais encontra-se a mielofibrose (MF). Diversos inibidores de JAK foram desenvolvidos para o tratamento da MF e encontram-se em diferentes fases de desenvolvimento clínico. Devido ao seu desenvolvimento recente, pouco se sabe a respeito do papel de transportadores de membrana na farmacocinética desses compostos. Essas proteínas realizam o influxo e efluxo celular de substratos endógenos e xenobióticos, e alterações na expressão desses transportadores podem influenciar a resposta a esses fármacos. OBJETIVO: Avaliar o efeito de um inibidor comercial da via JAK-STAT na expressão gênica dos transportadores de membrana ABCB1, ABCG2, SLC22A1 e SLCO1A2 em células HepG2, Caco-2 e HEL92.1.7. MÉTODOS: Linhagens de carcinoma hepatocelular (HepG2), adenocarcinoma colorretal (Caco-2) e eritroleucemia humana homozigotas para JAK2V617F (HEL92.1.7) foram cultivadas e tratadas o inibidor comercial da via JAK-STAT JAK Inhibitor I. Para determinar a concentração ideal para o tratamento com o inibidor, as células foram tratadas com diversas concentrações do inibidor de JAK por 24 horas e foram feitos testes de viabilidade celular e fragmentação do DNA. Com as condições de tratamento padronizadas, foi extraído o RNA total das células e sintetizado o cDNA, para análise das expressões de RNAm dos genes ABCB1, ABCG2, SLC22A1 e SLCO1A2 por PCR em tempo real. Foi também avaliada a expressão dos transportadores de efluxo ABCB1 e ABCG2 por citometria de fluxo, utilizando anticorpos primários direcionados a essas proteínas. RESULTADOS: Nas células HepG2, foi observado um aumento da expressão de RNAm de ABCB1 nas células tratadas com 4,00 µM do inibidor de JAK, quando comparado com o controle (células incubadas apenas com o veículo) (P=0,041). Não foi observada alteração da expressão de RNAm de ABCG2 e SLC22A1 com o tratamento com o inibidor de JAK nessa linhagem (P>0,05); a expressão de RNAm de SLCO1A2 não foi detectada nessa linhagem. Nas células Caco-2, a expressão de ABCB1, ABCG2, SLC22A1 e SLCO1A2 não se alterou com o tratamento com o inibidor de JAK nas concentrações utilizadas (0,25 µM a 1,00 µM) por 24 horas (P>0,05). Para as células HEL92.1.7, não foi observada diferença na expressão de RNAm de ABCB1, ABCG2 e SLC22A1 com o tratamento com 1,00 µM do inibidor de JAK por 24 horas em comparação ao controle (P>0,05); nessa linhagem, a expressão de RNAm de SLCO1A2 não foi detectada. A expressão proteica dos transportadores ABCB1 e ABCG2 não sofreu alteração com o tratamento com o inibidor de JAK nas condições utilizadas nas três linhagens celulares estudadas (P>0,05). CONCLUSÕES: Apenas as células HepG2 apresentaram um aumento da expressão de RNAm do transportador de efluxo ABCB1 em concentrações elevadas do inibidor de JAK, sugerindo que os inibidores de JAK podem modular a expressão do gene desse transportador no fígado. O tratamento com o inibidor da via JAK-STAT não foi associado com alterações na expressão proteica de ABCB1 e ABCG2 em todas as células estudadas. / BACKGROUND: JAK-STAT pathway signaling disregulation is a hallmark of myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN), hematopoietic stem cell clonal diseases, among which is myelofibrosis (MF). Several JAK inhibitors have been developed for MF treatment and are found in different stages of clinical development. Because the recent development of these compounds, the role of drug transporters in their pharmacokinetics is poorly understood. These proteins perform celular influx and effux of endogenous substrates and xenobiotics, and changes in the expression of these drugs transporters may affect the response to these drugs. AIM: To evaluate the effect of a JAK-STAT pathway commercial inhibitor in gene expression of drug transporters ABCB1, ABCG2, SLC22A1 and SLCO1A2 in HepG2, Caco-2 and HEL92.1.7 cells. METHODS: Hepatocellular carcinoma cell line HepG2, colorectal adenocarcinoma cell line Caco-2 and human erythroleukemia homozygous JAK2V617F cell line HEL92.1.7 were grown and treated with the JAK-STAT pathway inhibitor JAK Inhibitor I. In order to determine the optimal concentration for treatment with the inhibitor, cells were treated with several concentrations of JAK inhibitor by 24 hours, and cell viability and DNA fragmentation tests were performed. Once the treatment conditions were standardized, total RNA were obtained from the cells, and cDNA was synthesized in order to evaluate the mRNA expression of ABCB1, ABCG2, SLC22A1 and SLCO1A2 genes, performed by real time PCR. We also evaluate the expression of drug efflux transporters ABCB1 and ABCG2 by flow cytometry, using primary antibodies directed to these proteins. RESULTS: In HepG2 cells, it was observed an increase in ABCB1 mRNA expression in cells treated with 4,00 µM of JAK inhibitor, when compared with controls (cells exposed only to the vehicle) (P=0.041). There was no change in ABCB2 and SLC22A1 mRNA expression with the treatment with JAK inhibitor in this cell line (P>0.05); SLCO1A2 mRNA was not detected in this cell line. In Caco-2 cells, ABCB1, ABCG2, SLC22A1 and SLCO1A2 mRNA expression did not change with treatment with the JAK inhibitor at the concentrations used (0.25 µM to 1.00 µM) by 24 hours (P>0.05). In HEL92.1.7 cells, it was not observed differences in ABCB1, ABCG2 and SLC22A1 mRNA expression with the treatment with 1 µM of JAK inhibitor by 24 hours when compared with controls (P>0.05); in this cell line, SLCO1A2 mRNA was not detected. Protein expression of ABCB1 and ABCG2 drug transporters has not changed with treatment with the JAK inhibitor under the conditions used in the three cell lines studied. CONCLUSIONS: Only HepG2 cells presented an increase in mRNA expression of drug efflux transporter ABCB1 in presence of high levels of JAK inhibitor, suggesting that JAK inhibitors could modulate this transporter gene expression in liver. Treatment with JAK-STAT pathway inhibitor was not associated with changes in ABCB1 and ABCG2 protein expression in all cell lines studied.

Submitted by PPG Pediatria e Sa?de da Crian?a (pediatria-pg@pucrs.br) on 2018-01-02T16:42:12Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Tese Lidiane.pdf: 1449534 bytes, checksum: 483272938ee77a60ad54caa8f898d243 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Caroline Xavier (caroline.xavier@pucrs.br) on 2018-01-24T12:15:04Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 Tese Lidiane.pdf: 1449534 bytes, checksum: 483272938ee77a60ad54caa8f898d243 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-01-24T12:17:42Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Tese Lidiane.pdf: 1449534 bytes, checksum: 483272938ee77a60ad54caa8f898d243 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-08-31 / Coordena??o de Aperfei?oamento de Pessoal de N?vel Superior - CAPES / Introduction: acute bronchiolitis (AB) is an inflammatory disease of the airways considered the most common pathology of the lower respiratory tract in childhood. Responsible for a large number of hospitalizations in infants is one of the leading respiratory diseases worldwide, raising the costs of health care in infants. According to epidemiological data, between 75,000 and 125,000 children are hospitalized in the United States each year with infections caused by respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), accounting for approximately 25% of pediatric pneumonia and up to 70% of hospitalizations for acute bronchiolitis. Children with deficiencies in cell-mediated immunity can develop more severe and prolonged infections. Activation of the mTOR, STAT-3 and STAT-6 signaling pathways have been identified as key regulators in different functions of the immune system. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between the gene expression of mTOR, STAT-3, STAT-6 and AB severity. Methods: it is a cohort study that included a group of infants less than 12 months old with AB admitted to a tertiary hospital in Porto Alegre, Brazil. Nasopharyngeal lavage was collected from all patients and stored in Trizol solution at -80?C at the Biomedical Research Institute (IPB) of PUCRS for subsequent extraction of RNA and cDNA synthesis. Specific primers were used to verify the relative expression of mTOR, STAT-3 and STAT-6 by means of real-time PCR. The results obtained were correlated with AB severity markers such as hospitalization time and wheezing time. Results: for the analysis of expression of the mTOR signaling protein and transcription factors STAT-3 and STAT-6, 23 patients hospitalized with AB were included. A general correlation was made between clinical markers (days of hospitalization and days of wheezing) and expression of signaling pathways. Data were stratified according to severity markers and showed a trend towards decreased mTOR expression in patients with a wheezing time equal to or greater than 5 days (r = -0.702 and p = 0.024). However, the STAT-3 and STAT-6 signaling pathways were not correlated with AB severity factors when applied in this group of patients. Conclusion: transcription factors are essential for generating effective immune responses. mTOR, STAT-3 and STAT-6 participate in the expression of a variety of genes in response to cellular stimuli and may play a key role in the manifestation of the disease. Our data demonstrate the decrease in mTOR expression, with improvement in clinical markers of severity, but other studies are needed to reinforce this finding. / Introdu??o: a bronquiolite aguda (BA) ? uma doen?a inflamat?ria das vias a?reas considerada a patologia mais comum do trato respirat?rio inferior na inf?ncia. Respons?vel por um grande n?mero de hospitaliza??es em lactentes ? uma das principais doen?as respirat?rias em todo o mundo, elevando os custos de cuidados de sa?de em lactentes. Segundo dados epidemiol?gicos, entre 75.000 e 125.000 crian?as s?o hospitalizadas nos Estados Unidos anualmente com infec??es causadas pelo v?rus sincicial respirat?rio (VSR), respondendo por aproximadamente 25% das pneumonias pedi?tricas e at? 70% das interna??es por bronquiolite aguda (BA). As crian?as com defici?ncia na imunidade mediada por c?lulas podem desenvolver infec??es mais graves e prolongadas. A ativa??o das vias de sinaliza??o mTOR, STAT-3 e STAT-6 t?m sido identificadas como reguladores-chave em diferentes fun??es do sistema imune. O objetivo deste estudo foi investigar a rela??o entre a express?o g?nica de mTOR, STAT-3, STAT-6 e a gravidade da BA. M?todos: trata-se de um estudo de coorte onde foi inclu?do um grupo de lactentes de idade inferior a 12 meses, com BA, internados em um hospital terci?rio de Porto Alegre, Brasil. Foi coletado lavado nasofar?ngeo de todos os pacientes e armazenados em solu??o de Trizol ? temperatura de -80?C no Instituto de Pesquisas Biom?dicas (IPB) da PUCRS para posterior extra??o de RNA e s?ntese de cDNA. Foram utilizados os iniciadores espec?ficos para verificar a express?o relativa de mTOR, STAT-3 e STAT-6 por meio de PCR em tempo real. Os resultados obtidos foram correlacionados com marcadores de gravidade da BA como tempo de interna??o e tempo de sibil?ncia. Resultados: para a an?lise da express?o da prote?na de sinaliza??o mTOR e fatores de transcri??o STAT-3 e STAT-6, foram inclu?dos 23 pacientes hospitalizados com BA. Foi realizada uma correla??o geral entre os marcadores cl?nicos (dias de interna??o e dias de sibil?ncia) e a express?o das vias de sinaliza??o. Os dados foram estratificados de acordo com os marcadores de severidade e mostraram uma tend?ncia para a diminui??o da express?o de mTOR em pacientes com tempo de sibil?ncia igual ou superior a 5 dias (r = -0,702 e p = 0,024). No entanto, as vias de sinaliza??o STAT-3 e STAT-6 n?o foram correlacionadas com fatores de gravidade da BA quando aplicadas neste grupo de pacientes. Conclus?o: os fatores de transcri??o s?o essenciais para gerar respostas imunes eficazes. O mTOR, STAT-3 e STAT-6 participam na express?o de uma variedade de genes em resposta a est?mulos celulares e podem desempenhar um papel-chave na manifesta??o da doen?a. Nossos dados demonstram a diminui??o da express?o de mTOR, com melhora dos marcadores cl?nicos de gravidade, por?m outros estudos s?o necess?rios para refor?ar este achado.

Une sous population de cellules au sein des tumeurs mammaires présente une capacité accrue de se renouveler et de reproduire l’hétérogénéité du cancer du sein. Maintenant il est bien connu que les cellules souches présomptives du cancer du sein possèdent des programmes d’expression des gènes qui correspondent à leurs caractéristiques biologiques uniques. Notre groupe a été impliqué dans la caractérisation épigénétique des cellules souches présomptives du cancer du sein et l’importance de la dérégulation des mécanismes épigénétiques comme la méthylation de l’ADN et le microARN au cours de la carcinogenèse. Plus spécifiquement cette étude détaille l’idée que la survie des cellules souches du cancer du sein peut être due à une signalisation via des circuits spécifiques de régulation, y compris la voie d’inflammation IL6-JAK-STAT. Ces cellules présentent une activation constitutive de cette voie associée à une configuration particulière de la chromatine. Une autre part de cette étude est d’explorer l’idée que des changements dans l’expression des microARN sont fondamentaux pour la maintenance des principales caractéristiques de ces cellules, et leur ciblage peut représenter une nouvelle approche de thérapie contre le cancer du sein. De plus, en testant directement les conséquences in vivo de la régulation de miR30a nous ouvrons la voie pour la recherche et la validation de l’utilisation potentielle des microARN comme thérapie anti cancéreuse. Ensemble, nos résultats apportent une nouvelle compréhension du rôle des modifications épigénétiques dans la maintenance des cellules souches du cancer du sein. De façon importante ces découvertes intègrent l’idée que des mécanismes de régulations différents mais coordonnés ont un rôle dans la survie des cellules souches du cancer du sien et donnent une perspective élargie pour la découverte de nouvelles cibles thérapeutiques / A subpopulation of cells within breast tumors is known to display an increased ability to self-renew and reproduce breast cancer cell heterogeneity. It is now known that putative breast cancer stem cells (CSCs) display distinct programs of gene expression that correlate with their unique biological characteristics. Our group has been involved in the epigenetic characterization of putative breast CSCs and the importance of the deregulation of epigenetic mechanisms such as DNA methylation and microRNA during carcinogenesis. More specifically, this study is detailing the idea that the survival of breast CSC may be dependent on signaling through specific regulatory circuits, including the well known inflammatory IL6-JAK-STAT pathway. These cells display a constitutive activation of this pathway associated with a distinct chromatin configuration. Another part of the study is exploring the idea that changes in microRNA expression are fundamental in sustaining the main attributes of these cells, and their targeting may represent a novel approach for breast cancer therapy. In addition, by directly testing the in vivo consequences of miR30a regulation, we open a window of opportunity for testing and validating the potential use of microRNAs in anti-neoplastic therapy. Together our results bring a new understanding of the role of epigenetic modifications in the maintenance of breast CSC. Importantly, these findings integrate the idea that different but coordinated regulation mechanisms play a role in the survival of CSC and give a larger perspective for finding novel therapeutic targets

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:28:02Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2010-03-30Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T19:26:31Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 souza_jac_me_arafo.pdf: 631355 bytes, checksum: 9371a4a7027469c6d4a66de2870a71ed (MD5) / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / A expressão de citocinas inflamatórias é um processo estritamente regulado por mecanismos variados, incluindo o controle da sinalização intracelular e da atividade transcricional por inibidores endógenos, os quais são pouco estudados e compreendidos. Três grupos de proteínas: SHP, PIAS e SOCS inibem de maneira distinta e específica a transdução de sinais pela via JAK/STAT, bem como a atividade dos fatores de transcrição, eventos que modulam a expressão de diversas citocinas. As doenças periodontais estão associadas à inflamação persistente, com elevados níveis de citocinas proinflamatórias, no entanto praticamente não existem informações sobre a participação destes mecanismos de regulação nas diferentes condições clínicas periodontais. Os objetivos deste projeto incluíram avaliar a cinética de expressão das proteínas SOCS1 e SOCS3 e suas proteínas-alvo, STAT1 e STAT3, respectivamente, durante a evolução da doença periodontal. Foram utilizados 36 ratos Wistar divididos em 2 grupos: DP - doença periodontal induzida por 2 métodos: ligaduras ao redor dos 1os molares inferiores e injeções de 60 μg de LPS de E. coli no tecido gengival palatino dos molares superiores, 3x/semana; Grupo controle negativo - recebeu apenas injeções de PBS (veículo). Os ratos foram sacrificados 7, 15 e 30 dias após a indução da doença periodontal para avaliação histológica e análise macroscópica da perda óssea alveolar. A expressão de SOCS1 e SOCS3 e a ativação de STAT1 e STAT3 foram avaliadas nas biópsias gengivais por PCR em tempo real e Western blot. Ambos os modelos apresentaram significante e progressiva perda óssea dos 7 aos 30 dias. A inflamação foi evidente já no período de 7 dias em ambos os modelos, porém enquanto manteve-se similar nos demais períodos no modelo de indução por LPS, apresentou uma diminuição na severidade da inflamação... / Inflammatory cytokine gene expression is a process strictly regulated by various mechanisms, including the negative regulation of signaling of cytokine receptors and of the activity of transcription factors such as STATs. These mechanisms involve endogenous proteins and are largely unknown, especially in periodontal diseases. Three groups of proteins, SHP, PIAS and SOCS modulate in a fairly specific manner JAK/STAT signaling and/or STAT activity. Periodontal diseases are infectious-inflammatory conditions of the supporting tissues of the teeth associated with increased levels of proinflammatory cytokines, but there are no information regarding the role of these endogenous mediators of JAK/STAT during its course. The aims of this study included the evaluation of the expression kinetics of inducible negative regulators and their target proteins during the course of experimentally induced periodontal disease. 36 Wistar rats were divided into two groups: PD - experimental periodontal disease induced by two methods: ligature placement around the first mandibular molars and E. coli lipopolysaccharide (LPS) injections into the palatal gingival tissues of the maxillary molars, 3x/week, and Negative Control group. Rats were sacrificed 07, 15 and 30 days after disease induction for histological evaluation of periodontal inflammation and macroscopic analysis of alveolar bone loss. SOCS expression and the activation status of STAT1 and STAT3 were evaluated in gingival biopsies by real time PCR and Western Blot. Both disease models presented significant progressive bone loss from 7 to 30 days. Inflammation was evident and similar for all the periods in LPS injected sites; however, a decrease on severity at the end of the experimental period was observed in the ligature model. There was a significant (p<0.05) increase on SOCS1 and SOCS3 gene expression in PD compared to control... (Complete abstract click electronic access below)

Este trabalho apresenta um estudo sobre a síntese e propriedades do copolímero poli(l,l-lactídeo-stat-e-caprolactona)-bloco-poli(óxido de etileno)-bloco-poli(l,l-lactideostat-e-caprolactona). Poli(óxido de etileno) de massa molar 20.000 u.m.a. e poli(óxido de etileno) modificado, preparado a partir de poli(glicol etilênico) de massa molar 4.000 u.m.a., foram selecionados para o processo da síntese. A reação foi feita pela polimerização por abertura de anel em massa a 120ºC usando octoanato de estanho como iniciador. A composição química de cada amostra foi determinada com auxílio de RMN-1H e RMN-13C e suas propriedades mecânicas foram verificadas e comparadas utilizando análises térmicas como DMTA, DSC, TG e a aplicação da MEV como análise complementar. A observação pelas fotos de MOLP permitiu a visualização do comportamento de nucleação dos copolímeros e as características de sua cristalinidade. Seu grau de cristalinidade e as fases cristalinas foram identificados por difração de raios X (WAXS). A biocompatibilidade do material também foi examinada pela cultura de células. Os resultados de caracterização indicam o sucesso da copolimerização, as propriedades elastoméricas e, sua não citotoxidade comprovaram a possibilidade do uso destes copolímeros como biomateriais. Contudo, o tempo prolongado de reação e baixa incorporação do monômero lactídeo ainda são questões a serem melhoradas para a viabilização do copolímero como material de implante na área biomédica. / This work includes the study of the synthesis and characterization of the copolymer poly(l,l-lactide-stat-e-caprolactone)-b-PEG-b-poly(l,l-lactide-stat-e-caprolactone). Poly (ethylene oxide) with molar weight 20.000 and poly(ethylene oxide) modified, prepared from poly(ethylene oxide) with molar weight 4000 have been selected for this synthesis process. The reaction was done by ring-opening bulk polymerization, using stannous octoate as initiator at 120ºC. The chemical composition of samples were determined by 1H-NMR and 13C-NMR and their mechanical properties were verified using thermal analyses like DMTA, DSC and TG. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was applied as a complementary analysis. The pictures of polarizing optical microscopy showed us the copolymer\'s nucleation behaviors and their respective crystallization. The degrees of crystallinity and phase of copolymers were determined by WAXS. The biocompatibility of the copolymer was examined by cell cultivation test. The result of these analyses above indicated the success of synthesis. Their rubbery properties and non-toxicity allowed their application as biomaterial. However, the long reaction time and low incorporation of monomer of lactide might to be improved to increase its potential use in biomedical area in the future.

INTRODUÇÃO: A desregulação da via de sinalização JAK-STAT é uma característica marcante das neoplasias mieloproliferativas (NMPs), doenças clonais da célula tronco hematopoética, dentre as quais encontra-se a mielofibrose (MF). Diversos inibidores de JAK foram desenvolvidos para o tratamento da MF e encontram-se em diferentes fases de desenvolvimento clínico. Devido ao seu desenvolvimento recente, pouco se sabe a respeito do papel de transportadores de membrana na farmacocinética desses compostos. Essas proteínas realizam o influxo e efluxo celular de substratos endógenos e xenobióticos, e alterações na expressão desses transportadores podem influenciar a resposta a esses fármacos. OBJETIVO: Avaliar o efeito de um inibidor comercial da via JAK-STAT na expressão gênica dos transportadores de membrana ABCB1, ABCG2, SLC22A1 e SLCO1A2 em células HepG2, Caco-2 e HEL92.1.7. MÉTODOS: Linhagens de carcinoma hepatocelular (HepG2), adenocarcinoma colorretal (Caco-2) e eritroleucemia humana homozigotas para JAK2V617F (HEL92.1.7) foram cultivadas e tratadas o inibidor comercial da via JAK-STAT JAK Inhibitor I. Para determinar a concentração ideal para o tratamento com o inibidor, as células foram tratadas com diversas concentrações do inibidor de JAK por 24 horas e foram feitos testes de viabilidade celular e fragmentação do DNA. Com as condições de tratamento padronizadas, foi extraído o RNA total das células e sintetizado o cDNA, para análise das expressões de RNAm dos genes ABCB1, ABCG2, SLC22A1 e SLCO1A2 por PCR em tempo real. Foi também avaliada a expressão dos transportadores de efluxo ABCB1 e ABCG2 por citometria de fluxo, utilizando anticorpos primários direcionados a essas proteínas. RESULTADOS: Nas células HepG2, foi observado um aumento da expressão de RNAm de ABCB1 nas células tratadas com 4,00 &#181;M do inibidor de JAK, quando comparado com o controle (células incubadas apenas com o veículo) (P=0,041). Não foi observada alteração da expressão de RNAm de ABCG2 e SLC22A1 com o tratamento com o inibidor de JAK nessa linhagem (P>0,05); a expressão de RNAm de SLCO1A2 não foi detectada nessa linhagem. Nas células Caco-2, a expressão de ABCB1, ABCG2, SLC22A1 e SLCO1A2 não se alterou com o tratamento com o inibidor de JAK nas concentrações utilizadas (0,25 &#181;M a 1,00 &#181;M) por 24 horas (P>0,05). Para as células HEL92.1.7, não foi observada diferença na expressão de RNAm de ABCB1, ABCG2 e SLC22A1 com o tratamento com 1,00 &#181;M do inibidor de JAK por 24 horas em comparação ao controle (P>0,05); nessa linhagem, a expressão de RNAm de SLCO1A2 não foi detectada. A expressão proteica dos transportadores ABCB1 e ABCG2 não sofreu alteração com o tratamento com o inibidor de JAK nas condições utilizadas nas três linhagens celulares estudadas (P>0,05). CONCLUSÕES: Apenas as células HepG2 apresentaram um aumento da expressão de RNAm do transportador de efluxo ABCB1 em concentrações elevadas do inibidor de JAK, sugerindo que os inibidores de JAK podem modular a expressão do gene desse transportador no fígado. O tratamento com o inibidor da via JAK-STAT não foi associado com alterações na expressão proteica de ABCB1 e ABCG2 em todas as células estudadas. / BACKGROUND: JAK-STAT pathway signaling disregulation is a hallmark of myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN), hematopoietic stem cell clonal diseases, among which is myelofibrosis (MF). Several JAK inhibitors have been developed for MF treatment and are found in different stages of clinical development. Because the recent development of these compounds, the role of drug transporters in their pharmacokinetics is poorly understood. These proteins perform celular influx and effux of endogenous substrates and xenobiotics, and changes in the expression of these drugs transporters may affect the response to these drugs. AIM: To evaluate the effect of a JAK-STAT pathway commercial inhibitor in gene expression of drug transporters ABCB1, ABCG2, SLC22A1 and SLCO1A2 in HepG2, Caco-2 and HEL92.1.7 cells. METHODS: Hepatocellular carcinoma cell line HepG2, colorectal adenocarcinoma cell line Caco-2 and human erythroleukemia homozygous JAK2V617F cell line HEL92.1.7 were grown and treated with the JAK-STAT pathway inhibitor JAK Inhibitor I. In order to determine the optimal concentration for treatment with the inhibitor, cells were treated with several concentrations of JAK inhibitor by 24 hours, and cell viability and DNA fragmentation tests were performed. Once the treatment conditions were standardized, total RNA were obtained from the cells, and cDNA was synthesized in order to evaluate the mRNA expression of ABCB1, ABCG2, SLC22A1 and SLCO1A2 genes, performed by real time PCR. We also evaluate the expression of drug efflux transporters ABCB1 and ABCG2 by flow cytometry, using primary antibodies directed to these proteins. RESULTS: In HepG2 cells, it was observed an increase in ABCB1 mRNA expression in cells treated with 4,00 &#181;M of JAK inhibitor, when compared with controls (cells exposed only to the vehicle) (P=0.041). There was no change in ABCB2 and SLC22A1 mRNA expression with the treatment with JAK inhibitor in this cell line (P>0.05); SLCO1A2 mRNA was not detected in this cell line. In Caco-2 cells, ABCB1, ABCG2, SLC22A1 and SLCO1A2 mRNA expression did not change with treatment with the JAK inhibitor at the concentrations used (0.25 &#181;M to 1.00 &#181;M) by 24 hours (P>0.05). In HEL92.1.7 cells, it was not observed differences in ABCB1, ABCG2 and SLC22A1 mRNA expression with the treatment with 1 &#181;M of JAK inhibitor by 24 hours when compared with controls (P>0.05); in this cell line, SLCO1A2 mRNA was not detected. Protein expression of ABCB1 and ABCG2 drug transporters has not changed with treatment with the JAK inhibitor under the conditions used in the three cell lines studied. CONCLUSIONS: Only HepG2 cells presented an increase in mRNA expression of drug efflux transporter ABCB1 in presence of high levels of JAK inhibitor, suggesting that JAK inhibitors could modulate this transporter gene expression in liver. Treatment with JAK-STAT pathway inhibitor was not associated with changes in ABCB1 and ABCG2 protein expression in all cell lines studied.

La leucémie myéloïde chronique (LMC) est une pathologie de la cellule souche hématopoïétique caractérisée par la présence de la translocation chromosomique t(9 :22) conduisant à l’expression de la kinase BCR-ABL responsable de la maladie. Un inhibiteur de l’activité de BCR-ABL a été identifié, l’Imatinib (IM). L’IM a révolutionné la prise en charge de la LMC en bloquant sélectivement la croissance des cellules tumorales, conduisant à la rémission des patients. Cependant, une majorité d’entre eux subissent des récidives en cas d’arrêt du traitement, et environ 15% développent des résistances à l’inhibiteur. BCR-ABL active de multiples voies de signalisation parmi lesquelles figurent les facteurs de signalisation STAT5. Nous avons analysé les rôles respectives des deux facteurs STAT5, STAT5A et STAT5B, dans les cellules souches hématopoïétiques normales et de LMC, par une approche d’ARN interférence. Nos observations indiquent que l’activité des deux facteurs STAT5 permet la survie et le maintien à long terme des cellules souches de patients LMC au diagnostic. Nous avons de plus montré qu’indépendamment de son activité transcriptionnelle, STAT5A aide les cellules normales et leucémiques à limiter leur stress oxydatif. Nous avons aussi pu observer que les cellules de patients présentant des résistances secondaires à l’IM, sans mutations ni surexpression de BCR-ABL, manifestent une dépendance caractéristique vis-à-vis de l’activité STAT5A. Pour mieux comprendre les mécanismes d’action des facteurs STAT5, nous avons recherché les gènes cibles de STAT5 par une approche transcriptomique et avons identifié le récepteur tyrosine kinase Axl dont l’expression est augmentée par STAT5A. L’inhibition d’Axl dans les cellules LMC sensibles à l’IM n’a aucun effet sur leur survie, alors qu’elle diminue fortement la survie des cellules LMC résistantes à l’IM. De plus, Axl contrôle le niveau des réactifs oxygénés dans les cellules de patients LMC. Nous avons analysé l’expression d’un des activateurs d’Axl, le ligand Gas6, et avons observé que son expression diminue fortement dans les cellules primaires de LMC par rapport aux contrôles sains. Ces résultats suggèrent que le tandem Gas6/Axl pourrait participer au processus leucémique de la LMC à différents niveaux. De manière globale, nos travaux montrent que les facteurs STAT5 favorisent le maintien des cellules souches de LMC, leur résistance au stress oxydatif et aux traitements thérapeutiques Ces deux dernières activités sont au moins en partie liées à l’activité d’une nouvelle cible de STAT5, le récepteur Axl, par ailleurs déjà impliqué dans la résistance aux traitements thérapeutiques. Les facteurs STAT5 représentent donc des nouvelles cibles thérapeutiques potentielles dans l’éradication de la maladie résiduelle. / The Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML) is a clonal hematopoietic stem cell disorder characterized by the t(9:22) genetic translocation and expression of the oncogenic tyrosine kinase BCR-ABL . A first BCR-ABL Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor (TKI), Imatinib (IM), was identified that inhibits proliferation of BCR-ABL expressing hematopoietic cells and leads to disease remission. However, BCR-ABL mRNA remains detectable in the most immature HSCs and discontinuation of IM results in clinical relapse. STAT5 factors play a crucial role in the CML pathogenesis of human primary CML cells. However, the contribution of the two related STAT5 genes, STAT5A and STAT5B, was unknown. We used an RNAinterference based strategy to analyze STAT5A or STAT5B roles in normal and CML cells. We showed that STAT5A/5B double knock-down (KD) triggers normal and CML cell apoptosis and suppressed long-term clonogenic potential of immature hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells known to be resistant to TKI treatment and responsible for residual disease. STAT5A loss alone was ineffective at impairing growth of both normal and CML cells under standard conditions. In contrast, STAT5A loss was sufficient to enhance Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) which correlated with enhanced DNA damages in both normal and leukemic cells. We reported that STAT5A regulates oxidative stress through unconventional mechanisms, in a non-transcriptional-dependent manner. We further showed that, in contrast to primary cells at diagnosis, IM-resistant cells exhibited enhanced STAT5A dependence, by being sensitive to STAT5A single KD. To investigate the molecular basis of STAT5A activity in TKI-resistance and oxidative stress, we performed a transcriptomic analysis of STAT5 regulated genes. We identified Axl, which encodes a receptor tyrosine kinase, recently shown to be crucial in TKI-resistant CML cells. Specifically, Axl expression is enhanced by STAT5A. We investigated the role of Axl and we found that Axl KD did not affect survival of IM-sensitive CML cells. However, Axl KD decreased survival of IM-resistant cells, miming the activity of STAT5A. Moreover, Axl loss increased ROS levels in CML cells, promoting STAT5A anti-oxidant activity. We further sought to determine the expression of the Axl ligand, Gas6. Gas6 expression is dramatically reduced in CML primary cells at diagnosis compared to healthy cells. The strong and consistent down-regulation of Gas6 in CML cells suggested a possible role in the pathophysiology. Collectively, our findings highlight the pro-survival, stress protection and drug resistance roles of STAT5 factors, providing new understanding for medical treatment of CML patients. We suggest that STAT5A acts in synergy with Axl to face exogenous insults and propose a new mechanism by which CML cells increase their proliferation and reduce their motility by down-regulating Gas6 expression.

La voie JAK / STAT est une voie majeure de signalisation intracellulaire, activée par plusieurs cytokines, y compris par les interférons (IFNs). Mon laboratoire a précédemment établi que l'endocytose et le trafic du récepteur de l’IFN alpha/beta (IFNAR) jusqu’à l'endosome précoce, joue un rôle clé dans l’activation de la voie de signalisation JAK/STAT et dans les activités antivirales et antiprolifératives induites par les IFNs de type I. Le récepteur de l’IFN de type I se compose de deux sous-unités: IFNAR1 et IFNAR2. Durant le trafic du récepteur vers l'endosome précoce, les deux sous-unités prennent des itinéraires différents - IFNAR1 est ubiquitiné et dégradé au lysosome tandis que IFNAR2 est recyclé vers la membrane plasmique. Les mécanismes moléculaires permettant un trafic différent des IFNAR1 et IFNAR2 restent mal compris.J’ai tout d’abord étudié le trafic intracellulaire des sous-unités IFNAR1 et IFNAR2 et j’ai pu montrer que les protéines Rab4 et Rab11 sont nécessaires au recyclage d’IFNAR2 à la membrane plasmique. Par la suite, j’ai identifié le complexe rétromère endosomal - VPS26A/VPS29/VPS35 comme un partenaire d’interaction avec IFNAR2 nécessaire pour son recyclage. En outre, j’ai montré que le complexe rétromère contrôle la séparation spatiotemporelle des sous-unités IFNAR1 et IFNAR2 au niveau de l'endosome précoce. En effet, la déplétion du complexe rétromère entraine une prolongation de l’association endosomale de deux sous-unités et une prolongation de la signalisation JAK/STAT induite par l’IFN tant pour la réponse précoce (phosphorylation de STAT1) que la réponse à plus long terme (expression des gènes stimulés par l'IFN). Des résultats en cours de publication par l’équipe montrent un rôle d’ESCRT-0 dans l’initiation de la signalisation JAK/STAT. J’ai montré que le rôle de la machinerie ESCRT dans ce processus est limité au complexe ESCRT-0. Les sous-complexes en aval d’ESCRT-0, bien que nécessaires à la dégradation d’IFNAR1, ne sont pas impliqués dans l’activation de la voie JAK/STAT.En conclusion, ces résultats nous ont permis d’établir un modèle dans lequel le retromère joue un rôle clef dans la régulation spatio-temporelle du tri endosomal d’IFNAR et de la signalisation JAK/STAT au niveau de l’endosome précoce. Après la séparation rétromère-dépendante des sous-unités du récepteur et la terminaison de la signalisation JAK/STAT, la dégradation lysosomale d’IFNAR1 est assurée par la machinerie ESCRT en aval d’ESCRT-0. / The JAK/STAT pathway is a major intracellular signaling pathway that is activated by several cytokines including interferons (IFNs). My laboratory has previously established that endocytosis and trafficking of the IFN alpha/beta receptor (IFNAR) to the early endosome is key for the activation of JAK/STAT signaling and for the antiviral and antiproliferative activities induced by type I IFNs. The functional type I IFN receptor - IFNAR - consists of two subunits: IFNAR1 and IFNAR2. Upon endocytosis to the early endosome, both subunits take different trafficking routes – IFNAR1 is ubiquitinated and degraded in the lysosome, whereas IFNAR2 recycles back to the plasma membrane. The molecular mechanisms behind the separation of IFNAR1 and IFNAR2, as well as their distinct trafficking routes remain poorly understood.First, I studied the intracellular trafficking of IFNAR1 and IFNAR2 subunits and showed the requirement for Rab4 and Rab11 in IFNAR2 recycling to the plasma membrane. Next, I identified the endosomal retromer complex – VPS26A/VPS29/VPS35 as an IFNAR2 interacting partner, required for IFNAR2 recycling. Additionally, I was able to show that retromer controls the spatiotemporal separation of IFNAR1 and IFNAR2 subunits at the early endosome. Indeed, retromer depletion resulted in prolonged endosomal association of both subunits and prolonged activation of IFN-induced JAK/STAT signaling, at both early (STAT1 phosphorylation) and longer time response (IFN-stimulated gene expression). Unpublished results of our team indicate the role of ESCRT-0 in initiation of the IFN-mediated JAK/STAT signaling. I found that role of the ESCRT machinery in this process is limited to the ESCRT-0. ESCRT subcomplexes downstream of ESCRT-0, although required for IFNAR1 degradation, are not involved in activation of the JAK/STAT pathway.In conclusion, these results permit us to draw a model in which the retromer is a key spatiotemporal regulator of IFNAR endosomal sorting and the JAK/STAT signaling at level of the early endosome. Once retromer-mediated subunits separation is accomplished and JAK/STAT signaling is terminated, ESRCT machinery downstream to ESCRT-0 mediates IFNAR1 lysosomal degradation.