Dissertation (Ph.D.).--University of Texas Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences at San Antonio, 2007. Thesis (M.S.) --University of Texas Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences at San Antonio, 2007. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references.

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Yau Ho Yan. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2005. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 131-144). / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / DECLARATION --- p.I / ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS --- p.II / ENGLISH ABSTRACT --- p.III / CHINESE ABSTRACT --- p.VI / Chapter Chapter 1. --- Introduction --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1 --- Oxidative Stress --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1.1 --- Historical Background of reactive oxygen/nitrogen species --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1.2 --- What is Oxidative Stress? --- p.3 / Chapter 1.1.3 --- Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) --- p.4 / Chapter 1.1.3.1 --- Superoxide anion (02-) --- p.4 / Chapter 1.1.3.2 --- Hydrogen peroxide (H202) --- p.5 / Chapter 1.1.3.3 --- Hydroxyl radical --- p.6 / Chapter 1.1.3.4 --- Nitric oxide (NO) --- p.7 / Chapter 1.2 --- Cardiovascular System --- p.8 / Chapter 1.2.1 --- Enzymatic and Non-enzymatic Sources of ROS in Cardiovascular System --- p.8 / Chapter 1.2.1.1 --- NADPH oxidase --- p.8 / Chapter 1.2.1.2 --- Hypoxanthine-Xanthine oxidase (HX-XO) --- p.9 / Chapter 1.2.1.3 --- Nitric oxide synthase (NOS) --- p.10 / Chapter 1.2.1.4 --- Mitochondrial electron transport chain (ETC) --- p.11 / Chapter 1.2.1.5 --- Cyclooxygenase --- p.11 / Chapter 1.2.1.6 --- Lipoxygenae --- p.12 / Chapter 1.2.1.7 --- Endoplasmic reticulum --- p.12 / Chapter 1.2.2 --- ROS/RNS Scavenging Systems --- p.13 / Chapter 1.2.2.1 --- Superoxide dismutase (SOD) --- p.13 / Chapter 1.2.2.2 --- Catalase --- p.14 / Chapter 1.2.2.3 --- Glutathione peroxidase --- p.15 / Chapter 1.2.2.4 --- Non-enzymatic antioxidants --- p.15 / Chapter 1.2.3 --- Factors that stimulate ROS production in cardiovascular system --- p.18 / Chapter 1.2.3.1 --- Oxygen tension --- p.18 / Chapter 1.2.3.2 --- "Flow, Shear, and Stretch as an initial stimulus for endothelial oxidant signalling" --- p.18 / Chapter 1.2.3.3 --- Activation of rennin-angiotensin system promote oxidative stress in cardiovascular system --- p.19 / Chapter 1.2.3.4 --- Regulation of vascular ROS production by vasoactive substances --- p.19 / Chapter 1.2.4 --- Regulation of vascular tone in Cardiovascular System by ROS/RNS --- p.20 / Chapter 1.2.4.1 --- Regulation of vascular tone --- p.20 / Chapter 1.2.5 --- Pathophysiological Effects of ROS --- p.23 / Chapter 1.2.5.1 --- Cellular injury by lipid peroxidation --- p.23 / Chapter 1.2.5.2 --- Role of ROS in immune defence --- p.23 / Chapter 1.2.5.3 --- Redox regulation of cell adhesion --- p.24 / Chapter 1.2.6 --- Evidences from Clinical Studies of Oxidative Stress-Related Vascular Diseases --- p.25 / Chapter 1.2.6.1 --- Hyperlipidaemia --- p.25 / Chapter 1.2.6.2 --- Hypertension --- p.25 / Chapter 1.2.6.3 --- Chronic heart failure (CHF) --- p.26 / Chapter 1.2.6.4 --- Chronic renal failure (CRF) --- p.26 / Chapter 1.2.6.5 --- Atherosclerosis --- p.27 / Chapter 1.2.6.6 --- Ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury --- p.27 / Chapter 1.2.7 --- Role of Vascular Endothelium in Oxidative Stress --- p.29 / Chapter 1.2.8 --- Role of Ca in oxidative stress in cardiovascular system --- p.29 / Chapter 1.2.8.1 --- Calcium Signaling in Vascular Endothelial Cells --- p.30 / Chapter 1.2.9 --- ROS effect on endothelial Ca2+ --- p.31 / Chapter 1.2.9.1 --- Multiple targets of ROS on intracellular Ca2+ mobilization --- p.32 / Chapter 1.2.9.2 --- Reports of H202-induced Ca2+ release in various cell types --- p.33 / Chapter 1.2.9.3 --- Reported effects of H202 on agonist-induced Ca2+ signal --- p.34 / Chapter 1.2.9.4 --- Differences between macrovessels and microvessels --- p.34 / Chapter 1.3 --- TRP Channel --- p.41 / Chapter 1.3.1 --- Discovery of Drosophila TRP --- p.41 / Chapter 1.3.2 --- Mammalian TRP subfamily --- p.41 / Chapter 1.3.3 --- General topology of TRP channel --- p.42 / Chapter 1.3.4 --- Interactions of oxidative stress with TRP channels --- p.44 / Chapter 1.3.5 --- The role of TRPC3 and TRPC4 in oxidative stress --- p.44 / Chapter 1.3.6 --- TRPM subfamily --- p.44 / Chapter 1.3.6.1 --- Expression of TRPM2 --- p.45 / Chapter 1.3.6.2 --- Dual Role of TRPM´2ؤChannel and Enzyme --- p.45 / Chapter 1.3.6.3 --- Regulatory mechanisms of TRPM2 --- p.46 / Chapter 1.3.6.3.1 --- ADP-ribose (ADPR) directly regulating --- p.46 / Chapter 1.3.6.3.2 --- NAD regulating --- p.46 / Chapter 1.3.6.3.3 --- Oxidative stress regulating independent of ADPR or NAD --- p.47 / Chapter 1.4 --- Cell Death Induced by Oxidative Stress --- p.48 / Chapter 1.4.1 --- Redox status as a factor to determine cell death --- p.48 / Chapter 1.4.2 --- Role of TRPM2 in oxidative stress-induced cell death --- p.48 / Chapter 1.5 --- Aims of the Study --- p.49 / Chapter Chapter 2: --- Materials and Methods --- p.50 / Chapter 2.1 --- Functional Characterization of TRPM2 by Antisense Technique --- p.50 / Chapter 2.1.1 --- Restriction Enzyme Digestion --- p.50 / Chapter 2.1.2 --- Purification of Released Inserts and Cut pcDNA3 Vectors --- p.51 / Chapter 2.1.3 --- "Ligation of TRPM2 Genes into Mammalian Vector, pcDNA3" --- p.52 / Chapter 2.1.4 --- Transformation for the Desired Clones --- p.52 / Chapter 2.1.5 --- Plasmid DNA Preparation for Transfection --- p.53 / Chapter 2.1.6 --- Confirmation of the Clones --- p.53 / Chapter 2.1.6.1 --- Restriction Enzymes Strategy --- p.53 / Chapter 2.1.6.2 --- Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) Check --- p.54 / Chapter 2.1.6.3 --- Automated Sequencing --- p.55 / Chapter 2.2 --- Establishing Stable Cell Lines --- p.56 / Chapter 2.2.1 --- Cell Culture --- p.56 / Chapter 2.2.2 --- Geneticin Selection --- p.57 / Chapter 2.3 --- Expression of TRPM2 in Transfected and non-Transfected H5V Cells --- p.57 / Chapter 2.3.1 --- Protein Sample Preparation --- p.57 / Chapter 2.3.2 --- Western Blot Analysis --- p.58 / Chapter 2.3.3 --- Protein Expression Analysis --- p.59 / Chapter 2.4 --- "Immunolocalization of TRPM2 in Human Heart, Cerebral Artery, Renal, Hippocampus and Liver" --- p.59 / Chapter 2.4.1 --- Paraffin Section Preparation --- p.59 / Chapter 2.4.2 --- Immunohistochemistry --- p.60 / Chapter 2.5 --- [Ca2+ ］i Measurement in Confocal Microscopy --- p.62 / Chapter 2.5.1 --- Cytosolic Ca2+ measurement --- p.62 / Chapter 2.5.2 --- Measuring the Ca2+ in the Internal Calcium Stores --- p.63 / Chapter 2.5.3 --- Data Analysis --- p.64 / Chapter 2.6 --- Examining Cell Death Induced by H2O2 by DAPI Staining --- p.65 / Chapter 2.6.1 --- DAPI Staining --- p.65 / Chapter Chapter 3: --- Results --- p.66 / Chapter 3.1 --- Superoxide Anion-Induced [Ca 2+]i rise in H5V Mouse Heart Microvessel Endothelial Cells --- p.66 / Chapter 3.1.1 --- Superoxide Anion-induced [Ca2+ ]i Rise --- p.66 / Chapter 3.1.2 --- Effect of Catalase on the Superoxide Anion-induced [Ca2+]i］］ Rise --- p.66 / Chapter 3.1.3 --- IP3R inhibitor Inhibits Superoxide anion-induced [Ca 2+]i Rise --- p.67 / Chapter 3.1.4 --- Effect of Phospholipase A2 Inhibitor on Superoxide anion- induced [Ca2+]i Rise --- p.67 / Chapter 3.1.5 --- Effect of Hydroxyl Radical Scavenger on Superoxide Anion- induced [Ca2+]i Rise --- p.68 / Chapter 3.2 --- Hydrogen Peroxide-induced Ca2+ Entry in Mouse Heart Microvessel Endothelial Cells --- p.74 / Chapter 3.2.1 --- Hydrogen Peroxide Induces [Ca2 +]i rise in H5V Mouse Heart Microvessel Endothelial Cells --- p.74 / Chapter 3.2.2 --- Hydrogen Peroxide Induces [Ca 2+]i rise in two phases (Rapid and Slow response) --- p.74 / Chapter 3.2.3 --- Hydrogen Peroxide Induces [Ca 2+]i rise in a Extracellular Ca + Concentration Dependent Manner --- p.77 / Chapter 3.3 --- Hydrogen Peroxide Reduces Agonist-induced [Ca2+]i rise --- p.79 / Chapter 3.3.1 --- Hydrogen Peroxide Reduces ATP-induced [Ca2+ ]i rise in a H2O2 Concentration Dependent Manner --- p.79 / Chapter 3.3.2 --- Hydrogen Peroxide Reduces ATP-induced [Ca 2+]i rise in a H2O2 Incubation Time Dependent Manner --- p.79 / Chapter 3.3.3 --- Hydrogen Peroxide Reduces the ATP-induced Intracellular Ca2+ Release --- p.80 / Chapter 3.3.4 --- XeC Inhibited H202-induced [Ca2+]i rise --- p.80 / Chapter 3.3.5 --- Hydrogen Peroxide Partially Depletes Internal Ca2+ Stores --- p.81 / Chapter 3.4 --- Dissecting Signal Transduction Pathways in H202-induced [Ca2+]i rise --- p.82 / Chapter 3.4.1 --- Effect of Phospholipase C Inhibitor on H202-induced [Ca2 +]i rise --- p.82 / Chapter 3.4.2 --- Effect of Phospholipase A2 Inhibitor on H202-induced [Ca 2+]i rise --- p.83 / Chapter 3.4.3 --- Effect of hydroxyl radical scavenger on H2O2-induced [Ca 2+]i rise --- p.83 / Chapter 3.5 --- Functional Role of TRPM2 Channel in H202-induced [Ca2+]i Rise in H5V Cells --- p.92 / Chapter 3.5.1 --- Expression of TRPM2 and the Effect of TRPM2 Antisense Construct on TRPM2 Protein Expression --- p.92 / Chapter 3.5.2 --- Effect of Antisense TRPM2 on H202-induced Ca2+ Entry --- p.94 / Chapter 3.6 --- H202-induced Cell Death --- p.101 / Chapter 3.7 --- Expression Pattern of TRPM2 Channel in Vascular System --- p.104 / Chapter 3.7.1 --- Immunolocalization of TRPM2 in Human Cerebral Arteries --- p.104 / Chapter 3.7.2 --- Immunolocalization of TRPM2 in Human Cardiac Muscles --- p.105 / Chapter 3.7.3 --- Immunolocalization of TRPM2 in Human Kidney --- p.105 / Chapter Chapter 4: --- Discussion --- p.113 / Chapter 4.1 --- Oxidative modification of Ca2+ homeostasis --- p.113 / Chapter 4.2 --- Pathophysiological effects of ROS on endothelium --- p.113 / Chapter 4.3 --- Effects of ROS on microvascular endothelial Ca2+ reported by other investigators --- p.115 / Chapter 4.4 --- Studies of the effect of HX-XO on cytosolic [Ca2+]i --- p.116 / Chapter 4.4.1 --- Role of 0´2Ø- and H202 in HX-XO-induced [Ca2+]i elevation --- p.116 / Chapter 4.4.2 --- IP3R involvement in HX-XO-evoked Ca + movements in H5V cells --- p.118 / Chapter 4.4.3 --- PLA2 involvement in HX-XO experiment --- p.119 / Chapter 4.5 --- Studies of the effect of direct H202 application on cytosolic [Ca2+]i --- p.120 / Chapter 4.5.1 --- Hydrogen Peroxide Induced [Ca2 +]i rise in a Extracellular Ca2 + Concentration Dependent Manner --- p.120 / Chapter 4.5.2 --- Hydrogen Peroxide Induced [Ca 2+]i rise in two phases (Rapid and Slow response) --- p.121 / Chapter 4.6 --- Effect of H202 on ATP-induced Ca2+ response --- p.121 / Chapter 4.6.1 --- H202 inhibited ATP-induced Ca2+ release in a concentration and time dependent manner --- p.121 / Chapter 4.6.2 --- IP3R involvement and store depletion in H202 experiment --- p.123 / Chapter 4.7 --- Dissecting Signal Transduction Pathways in H202-induced [Ca2+]i rise --- p.124 / Chapter 4.7.1 --- PLC involvement in H2O2 experiment --- p.124 / Chapter 4.7.2 --- PLA2 involvement in H2O2 experiment --- p.125 / Chapter 4.7.3 --- Hydroxyl radical did not involve in H2O2 experiment --- p.125 / Chapter 4.8 --- Functional Studies of TRPM2 --- p.127 / Chapter 4.8.1 --- Expression of TRPM2 in H5V on protein level --- p.127 / Chapter 4.8.2 --- TRPM2 involvement in the Ca2+ signalling in response to H2O2 in H5V cells --- p.127 / Chapter 4.9 --- H202 concentration in my projec´tؤphysiological or pathological? --- p.128 / Chapter 4.10. --- H20´2ؤTRPM´2ؤCell death --- p.129 / Chapter 4.11 --- Expression of TRPM2 in human blood vessels and other tissues --- p.130 / References --- p.131

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:25:37Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2009-06-22Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T20:14:20Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 barbosa_ts_me_araca.pdf: 548631 bytes, checksum: f32592933503d19bda6a960ab1bf825c (MD5) / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) / Embora a insuficiência renal ocorra com bastante freqüência na espécie canina, não se sabe se essa condição, a semelhança do que ocorre em humano, compromete o funcionamento dos poliformonucleares (PMN). O superóxido produzido pelo metabolismo oxidativo dos PMN exerce importante papel na resposta imune inata, destruído os patógenos fagocitados, entretanto, quando em excesso age de modo deletério promovendo a aceleração da apoptose. Testou-se a hipótese de que, a semelhança do que ocorrer em humanos, as toxinas presentes no soro de cães urêmicos alteram o metabolismo oxidativo e acelera a morte celular programada dos neutrófilos de cães normais. Para tal o sangue total e polimorfonucleares isolados de dez cães sadios foram incubados com soro urêmico. A produção de superóxido foi quantificada pelo teste de redução do tetrazólio nitroazul (NBT) e o índice apoptótico calculado pelo método morfométrico. A produção de superóxido gerada dos neutrófilos de sangue total tratados com soro urêmico apresentou significante redução (p < 0,05). Quando isolados e incubados com soro urêmico, apenas na metade das amostras os PMN apresentaram concomitantemente diminuição da produção de superóxido e aumento do índice apoptótico. Foi possível concluir que os componentes presentes no soro urêmico alteram ex vivo o metabolismo oxidativo e a apoptose dos PMN, fortalecendo a hipótese de que cães com de insuficiência renal têm sua imunidade inata comprometida. / Although kidney failure occurs frequently on canine species, it is unknown if this condition, being similar to what occurs in human beings, jeopardized the functioning of the polymorphonuclear (PMN). The superoxide produced by the oxidative metabolism of the PMN plays an important role in the immune inherent answer, having destroyed the pathogenic phagocytized. However, when in excess it acts in a deleterious way promoting the acceleration of apoptosis. It was tested by the hypothesis that, similar to what occurs in humans, the toxins present in the serum of uremic dogs alter the oxidative metabolism and accelerates the programmed cellular death of the neutrophis of normal dogs. For that, the total blood and polymorphonuclears isolated from ten healthy dogs were incubated with uremic serum. The production of superoxide was quantified by nitroblue tetrazolium reduction test (NBT) and the index apoptic was calculated by the morphometric method. The production of superoxide generated from the neutrophil of total blood treated with uremic serum presented significant reduction (P<0.05). When isolated and incubated with uremic serum, only on half of the sample the PMN presented concomitantly a reduction of production of superoxide and increase of apoptotic index. It was possible deduct that the components present in the uremic serum alter ex vivo the oxidative metabolism and the apoptosis of the PMN, consolidating the hypothesis that dogs having kidney failure have their inherent immunity jeopardized.

Na periodontite, um potencial loop inflamatório oral-sistêmico é identificado pela presença de produtos da atividade neutrofílica em locais onde o processo inflamatório não foi desenvolvido inicialmente. Nossos resultados mostram um aumento da quantidade de neutrófilos circulantes, assim como a resposta destas células dos animais com periodontite induzida por ligadura (7 dias) ante diferentes estímulos in vitro em comparação aos animais Sham. A produção de ânion superóxido por neutrófilos circulantes de ratos com periodontite foi maior quando estimulados com PMA ou Zimosan. Na liberação de MPO, PMA, Zimosan ou fMLP produziram efeitos maiores no grupo com periodontite. A formação de NETs foi maior nos neutrófilos dos ratos com periodontite em resposta ao PMA. Além das respostas estimuladas, a liberação de MPO e a formação de NETs em condições basais foram maiores nos neutrófilos provenientes dos ratos com periodontite. Estes resultados mostram que existe uma pre-ativação (priming) dos neutrófilos circulantes já na fase inicial do desenvolvimento da periodontite. / In periontitis, a potential loop of oral-systemic inflammation is identified by the presence of neutrophil activity products at the sites where the inflammatory process was not initially developed. Our results show an increase in the amount of circulating neutrophils, as well as the response of these cells from rats with ligature-induced periodontitis (7 dias) to different in vitro stimuli, in comparison with those obtined from Sham animals. Superoxide anion production by circulating neutrophils from rats with peridontitis was higher when stimulated with either PMA or Zymosan. In MPO release, either PMA, zymosa or fMLP produced greater effects by periodontitis group. The formation of NETs was also higher in the neutrophils from rats with peridontitis in response to PMA. In addition to the stimulated responses, under basal conditions, MPO release and NET formation were also higher in neutrophils obtained from rats with periodontitis. These results show that circulating neutrophils are pre-activated (primed) even in the initial phase of periodontitis development.

Orientador: Paulo César Ciarlini / Banca: Áureo Evangelista Santana / Banca: Aguemi Kohayagawa / Resumo: Embora a insuficiência renal ocorra com bastante freqüência na espécie canina, não se sabe se essa condição, a semelhança do que ocorre em humano, compromete o funcionamento dos poliformonucleares (PMN). O superóxido produzido pelo metabolismo oxidativo dos PMN exerce importante papel na resposta imune inata, destruído os patógenos fagocitados, entretanto, quando em excesso age de modo deletério promovendo a aceleração da apoptose. Testou-se a hipótese de que, a semelhança do que ocorrer em humanos, as toxinas presentes no soro de cães urêmicos alteram o metabolismo oxidativo e acelera a morte celular programada dos neutrófilos de cães normais. Para tal o sangue total e polimorfonucleares isolados de dez cães sadios foram incubados com soro urêmico. A produção de superóxido foi quantificada pelo teste de redução do tetrazólio nitroazul (NBT) e o índice apoptótico calculado pelo método morfométrico. A produção de superóxido gerada dos neutrófilos de sangue total tratados com soro urêmico apresentou significante redução (p < 0,05). Quando isolados e incubados com soro urêmico, apenas na metade das amostras os PMN apresentaram concomitantemente diminuição da produção de superóxido e aumento do índice apoptótico. Foi possível concluir que os componentes presentes no soro urêmico alteram ex vivo o metabolismo oxidativo e a apoptose dos PMN, fortalecendo a hipótese de que cães com de insuficiência renal têm sua imunidade inata comprometida. / Abstract: Although kidney failure occurs frequently on canine species, it is unknown if this condition, being similar to what occurs in human beings, jeopardized the functioning of the polymorphonuclear (PMN). The superoxide produced by the oxidative metabolism of the PMN plays an important role in the immune inherent answer, having destroyed the pathogenic phagocytized. However, when in excess it acts in a deleterious way promoting the acceleration of apoptosis. It was tested by the hypothesis that, similar to what occurs in humans, the toxins present in the serum of uremic dogs alter the oxidative metabolism and accelerates the programmed cellular death of the neutrophis of normal dogs. For that, the total blood and polymorphonuclears isolated from ten healthy dogs were incubated with uremic serum. The production of superoxide was quantified by nitroblue tetrazolium reduction test (NBT) and the index apoptic was calculated by the morphometric method. The production of superoxide generated from the neutrophil of total blood treated with uremic serum presented significant reduction (P<0.05). When isolated and incubated with uremic serum, only on half of the sample the PMN presented concomitantly a reduction of production of superoxide and increase of apoptotic index. It was possible deduct that the components present in the uremic serum alter ex vivo the oxidative metabolism and the apoptosis of the PMN, consolidating the hypothesis that dogs having kidney failure have their inherent immunity jeopardized. / Mestre

A secreção de insulina é estimulada pela glicose, porém os ácidos graxos (AG) podem influenciar o processo secretório. A oxidação de AG é importante para a estimulação da secreção de insulina por aumentar o ATP, porém, existem vias dependentes e independentes de ATP. Os AG <font face=\"Symbol\">w-3 interferem em processos fisiológicos e na composição e função da membrana plasmática, promovendo potente ação anti-inflamatória. Considerando a importante relação da NAD(P)H oxidase com a secreção de insulina, o estudo das alterações induzidas pela suplementação com AG <font face=\"Symbol\">w-3 sobre o conteúdo de superóxido (O2<font face=\"Symbol\">&#183;) e a expressão da NAD(P)H oxidase, é importante para a compreensão da fisiologia das células <font face=\"Symbol\">b-pancreáticas. Neste estudo, o grupo suplementado apresentou redução do conteúdo de O2<font face=\"Symbol\">&#183;, redução da expressão das subunidades da NAD(P)H oxidase e aumento na expressão da superóxido dismutase (SOD1 e 2), quando comparado ao grupo controle. Embora desconhecido o mecanismo, este dado é relevante, pois pressupõe melhor regulação do estado redox durante a secreção de insulina. / Insulin secretion is stimulated by glucose (GSIS), but fatty acid (FA) may influence the secretory process. The oxidation of FA is important for the stimulation of insulin secretion by increasing the ATP, although there are dependent and independent ATP pathways. The <font face=\"Symbol\">w-3 FA change physiological processes, and affect the composition and function of the plasma membrane, promote potent anti-inflammatory action. Considering the important relationship of NAD(P)H oxidase with insulin secretion, the study of changes induced by supplementation with <font face=\"Symbol\">w-3 FA on the superoxide (O2<font face=\"Symbol\">&#183;) content, and expression of NAD(P)H oxidase, becomes of great importance for understanding the pancreatic <font face=\"Symbol\">b cells physiology. In this study, the group supplemented with <font face=\"Symbol\">w-3 FA showed a reduction of the O2<font face=\"Symbol\">&#183; content, reduced expression of NAD(P)H oxidase subunits, and increased the expression of the enzyme superoxide dismutase (SOD 1 and 2), compared to control. Although unknown the mechanism, this data is relevant, because it represents better regulation of the redox state during GSIS .

Hypertension is the number one cause of death worldwide. Low-grade inflammation has been identified as one of the mechanisms contributing to blood pressure elevation and remodeling of the vasculature in hypertension. Mechanisms involved in vascular inflammation and hypertension remain elusive. Vasoactive peptides such as endothelin-1 (ET-1) and angiotensin II (Ang II), oxidative stress and infiltration of immune cells are increased in cardiovascular tissues of hypertensive individuals. Since the vasculature is a major regulator of blood pressure levels, the hypothesis has been proposed that vascular inflammatory responses contribute to development of hypertension. / Objectives of this thesis were 1) to investigate the role of T cells in development of vascular inflammation observed in genetically hypertensive rats, 2) to identify vascular sources of reactive oxygen species production in mineralocorticoid-induced hypertension and 3) to study the effect of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)-gamma activators on vascular pro-inflammatory signaling pathways in Ang II-induced hypertension. / The first study that is part of this thesis shows that the transfer of chromosome 2 from normotensive to hypertensive rats reduces plasma levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, expression of adhesion molecules and infiltration of T cells in aorta as well as resulting in lower blood pressure levels. These effects are accompanied by increased regulatory T cell mediators. We discovered that regulatory T cells are regulated by chromosome 2 and may be responsible for reducing inflammatory responses in hypertensive rats. / The second study of this thesis demonstrates in DOCA-salt hypertensive rats that superoxide (&middot;O2-) production originates in part from xanthine oxidase activity induced by the ET-1 system and from mitochondrial sources, particularly complex II of the respiratory chain. We thus have uncovered two sources of reactive oxygen species (ROS) that can stimulate inflammatory responses in hypertension, since vascular &middot;O 2- production in this model was shown to induce vascular inflammation. / The third study of the thesis shows that activators of PPAR-gamma reduce blood pressure levels and signaling pathways including Akt/PKB, SHIP2, ERK1/2, 4E-BP1 in aorta and resistance arteries in Ang II-induced hypertension. PPARy acts as an anti-inflammatory transcription factor, and the present study suggests that Ang II down-regulates PPAR-gamma activity to exert its pro-inflammatory effects. / In conclusion, by targeting inflammatory mediators, it may be possible to reduce blood pressure levels in hypertensive animals. This suggests that inflammatory responses may play a crucial role in development of high blood pressure.

A secreção de insulina é estimulada pela glicose, porém os ácidos graxos (AG) podem influenciar o processo secretório. A oxidação de AG é importante para a estimulação da secreção de insulina por aumentar o ATP, porém, existem vias dependentes e independentes de ATP. Os AG <font face=\"Symbol\">w-3 interferem em processos fisiológicos e na composição e função da membrana plasmática, promovendo potente ação anti-inflamatória. Considerando a importante relação da NAD(P)H oxidase com a secreção de insulina, o estudo das alterações induzidas pela suplementação com AG <font face=\"Symbol\">w-3 sobre o conteúdo de superóxido (O2<font face=\"Symbol\">&#183;) e a expressão da NAD(P)H oxidase, é importante para a compreensão da fisiologia das células <font face=\"Symbol\">b-pancreáticas. Neste estudo, o grupo suplementado apresentou redução do conteúdo de O2<font face=\"Symbol\">&#183;, redução da expressão das subunidades da NAD(P)H oxidase e aumento na expressão da superóxido dismutase (SOD1 e 2), quando comparado ao grupo controle. Embora desconhecido o mecanismo, este dado é relevante, pois pressupõe melhor regulação do estado redox durante a secreção de insulina. / Insulin secretion is stimulated by glucose (GSIS), but fatty acid (FA) may influence the secretory process. The oxidation of FA is important for the stimulation of insulin secretion by increasing the ATP, although there are dependent and independent ATP pathways. The <font face=\"Symbol\">w-3 FA change physiological processes, and affect the composition and function of the plasma membrane, promote potent anti-inflammatory action. Considering the important relationship of NAD(P)H oxidase with insulin secretion, the study of changes induced by supplementation with <font face=\"Symbol\">w-3 FA on the superoxide (O2<font face=\"Symbol\">&#183;) content, and expression of NAD(P)H oxidase, becomes of great importance for understanding the pancreatic <font face=\"Symbol\">b cells physiology. In this study, the group supplemented with <font face=\"Symbol\">w-3 FA showed a reduction of the O2<font face=\"Symbol\">&#183; content, reduced expression of NAD(P)H oxidase subunits, and increased the expression of the enzyme superoxide dismutase (SOD 1 and 2), compared to control. Although unknown the mechanism, this data is relevant, because it represents better regulation of the redox state during GSIS .

Abstract Heart muscle has to work constantly throughout the life and its energy metabolism is heavily dependent on a continuous supply of oxygen. Energy metabolism must be effectively regulated to meet the demands of changing workloads in different circumstances. If the oxygen supply is interrupted, the function of the heart is easily disturbed and cells injured. Calcium metabolism is of great importance in these pathological conditions. In this thesis respiratory regulation was studied by non-destructive optical methods in mouse heart. The myoglobin-deficient mouse was used as an experimental model to avoid the artefact caused by intracellular myoglobin. Results show that increased consumption of energy and oxygen lead to concomitant reduction of cytochrome aa3 and oxidation of flavoproteins. This finding supports the view that cell respiration in intact myocardium is dominantly regulated at the level of the respiratory chain. The intracellular Ca2+ accumulation during ischemia is one of the major causes of irreversible ischemia-reperfusion injury. Ischemic preconditioning (IPC) has been shown to protect the heart muscle significantly from ischemic damage. In this thesis Ca2+ accumulation during ischemia and reperfusion was studied in perfused rat heart using Fura-2 as a fluorescent Ca2+ indicator. As there is a significant decrease in intracellular pH during prolonged ischemia, the pH-dependency of Fura-2 signal was taken into account. It was found that IPC attenuates Ca2+accumulation during ischemia and this was connected to a decrease in mitochondrial membrane potential. Both IPC and the pharmacologically induced preconditioning with the mitoKATP opener diaxozide were shown to be associated with increased production of superoxide monitored by means of lucigenin chemiluminescence. The superoxide production correlated with the oxidation-reduction state of flavoproteins. We also describe here a method for measuring of intracellular free Ca2+ in mouse heart during ischemia by simultaneous monitoring of Fura-2 and the pH probe BCECF fluorescence by means of dual wavelength excitation of both probes. The paradoxical decrease of Fura-2 fluorescence during ischemia indicating decreasing intracellular Ca2+ concentration was due to the pH effect on the dissociation constant of the Fura-2-Ca2+ complex. When the pH-dependency of Fura-2 was compensated, an extensive Ca2+ accumulation during ischemia was detected. Much of the previous literature on this subject must be re-evaluated because the pH-dependency of intracellular Ca2+ probes has been largely overlooked.