Xiong, Lei. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2013. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 79-97). / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Abstracts also in Chinese.

Orientador: Wilter Ricardo Russiano Vicente / Banca: Maricy Apparicio Ferreira / Banca: Marcela Marcondes Pinto Rodrigues / Resumo: O estudo dos tumores mamários em cadelas revela-se como um excelente modelo para a investigação das neoplasias mamárias em mulheres e tanto no homem quanto nos animais a resposta imune pode interferir no desenvolvimento de neoplasias. Este trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar a eficácia e estimulação do sistema imune celular em tumores mamários de fêmeas caninas por meio da expressão de CD4, CD8, CD4+CD25+ (Foxp3), CD28, CD152 e CD56 (NK). A avaliação da expressão desses marcadores foi avaliada por imunoistoquimica, utilizando-se o método estreptoavidina-biotina-peroxidase. Para a realização desse estudo foram coletadas 20 amostras de tumores mamários de fêmeas caninas e essas divididas de acordo com a classificação histopatológica em 2 grupos: 10 carcinomas simples e 10 carcinomas complexos. Em relação aos resultados não se observou diferenças quanto à quantificação das células imunomarcadas quando comparadas segundo o tipo tumoral. No caso dos carcinomas simples evidenciou-se diferença entre a quantificação das células imunomarcadas (P< 0,05) pelo anticorpo CD28 (p=0,03) e Foxp3 (p=0,01) sendo menores que todas as demais marcações. Já para os carcinomas complexos houve diferença entre a quantificação das células imunomarcadas (P= 0,05) pelo anticorpo CD-152 que apresentou valor maior que as demais marcações com exceção do CD8. Os marcadores CD28, CD56 e Foxp3 foram menores que o CD8 (p=0,01) sendo o Foxp3 menor que todos os outros marcadores. No presente estudo observou-se que existe um controle negativo do sistema imune em ambos os casos, porém esse controle negativo foi mais evidente no carcinoma complexo / Abstract: The mammary tumor study in female dogs is revealed as an excellent model for the investigation of breast tumors in humans. On both species, the immune system can interfere on neoplasia progression. The aim of this study was to evaluate the immunolocalization and quantification of CD4, CD8, CD4+CD25+ (Foxp3), CD28, CD152 and NK in tumour lymphocyte infiltration, to evaluate the efficacy of stimulation and immune system defense in canine mammary carcinoma. The expression of these markers using immunohistochemistry was made by streptoavidin-biotin peroxidase method. The tissues were collected from twenty mammary carcinomas, subdivided in ten simple carcinomas and ten complex carcinomas of twenty female dogs. This study identified no significant differences on quantification of positive cellular staining in simple carcinoma compared with complex carcinoma. The samples of simple carcinoma resulted significant differences on positive staining between the antibodies CD28 (p=0,03) and Foxp3 (p=0,01) and these markers revealed less quantitative staining compared with the others markers (CD4, CD8, CD152 and NK). The samples of complex carcinoma resulted significant differences on cellular staining quantification by the antibody CD152 (p<0,05) compared with the others markers (CD4, Foxp3, CD28, and NK) with exception when compared with CD8. The immune quantification of positive cellular staining about the markers CD28, CD56 and Foxp3 were smaller than CD8 (p=0,01), and the Foxp3 was smallest than those others markers. It was concluded that exist a negative control of immune system to complex and simple mammary carcinoma, but, this negative control was more significant in female dogs with complex mammary carcinoma / Mestre

Technologies for early detection of tumors is critical for better therapy outcome and overall change in cancer survival. These assays must be capable of detecting tumors at early stages in order to prevent metastasis of the tumor and help reduce mortality. Biological molecules can serve as markers that can indicate the presence of cancerous cells. Current biomarkers approved by the FDA include CA 125, which is a tumor associated antigen (TAA). However, the sensitivities of these TAAs is not high enough to detect at early stages of disease. Recent technologies have found that antibodies that recognize these TAAs, also known as autoantibodies, provide more sensitive means to screen for tumors. This review aims to present recent literature data relative to the field of cancer diagnosis and treatment. However, one should note that this article covers only fraction of the broad science behind this subject.

La voie Fas-FasL est la voie majeure d’apoptose dont le rôle est indispensable pour l’homéostasie des cellules hématopoïétiques et la tolérance périphérique. Mon projet de thèse consiste à étudier le rôle de FasL dans la réponse anti tumorale, notamment le rôle de son expression sur les cellules myéloïdes, en l’occurrence les macrophages et les cellules myéloïdes suppressives.Les souris Fasl KO sont caractérisées par une accumulation des différentes populations de cellules hématopoïétiques dans les organes lymphoïdes périphériques. Cependant, elles ne développent pas de tumeurs spontanées. De façon intéressante, nos résultats montrent que lors qu’elles sont transplantées par les cellules tumorales, leur survie est significativement diminuée par rapport aux souris contrôles (Fasl fl/fl), ce qui suggère un rôle de FasL dans la réponse anti-tumorale. Une caractérisation fine de la répartition des cellules myéloïdes chez les souris Fasl KO porteuses de tumeur, montre une répartition différentielle des cellules Gr1+, par une accumulation des M-MDSC, dans la rate de ces souris. En plus, un enrichissement de l’infiltrat tumoral par les macrophages TAM chez les souris Fasl KO a été observé. Ces macrophages, indépendamment de génotype exècrent une forte activité d’arginase et iNOS et une inhibition de la prolifération des cellules T in vitro. Ainsi, la mortalité plus importante chez les souris Fasl KO pourrait, en partie, être associée à cet enrichissement des TAM dans l’infiltrat des souris déficientes en FasL.Afin de déterminer si cette accumulation des cellules myéloïdes immunosuppressives déficientes en FasL est spécifique d’un environnement tumoral ou le reflet d’un état inflammatoire, nous avons examiné le phénotype des macrophages dans un modèle d’inflammation induite par le thioglycollate. Les résultats montrent que les macrophages CD11b+F480+, recrutés sur le site de l’inflammation, lorsqu’elles sont déficientes en FasL, sur-expriment les gènes anti-inflammatoires comme IL-10, Arg1, CCL17. La caractérisation plus fine de cette population de macrophages a montré que la population responsable de ce phénotype suppressive est F480+CD115+IL-4R+. Chez les souris Fasl KO, le pourcentage des macrophages F480+CD115+IL-4R+ est significativement augmenté en comparaison avec les souris contrôles. L’analyse fonctionnelle de cette population CD115+ a montré que ces cellules, inhibent la prolifération et la production d’IFN- des cellules T activées. Ces caractéristiques fonctionnelles sont en faveur d’un phénotype anti-inflammatoire de ces macrophages, qui lorsqu’ils sont déficients en FasL, leur recrutement sur le site de l’inflammation est plus important.L’ensemble de ces résultats suggère que l’expression de FasL sur les cellules myéloïdes pourrait jouer un rôle dans leur polarisation vers un phénotype pro inflammatoire. Ainsi, ce travail pourrait apporter de nouvelles approches de levée de l’immunosuppression pour une immunothérapie efficace. / Fas-FasL pathway is the major pathway of apoptosis, the role of which is essential for the homeostasis of hematopoietic cells and peripheral tolerance. The project of my dissertation is to investigate the role of FasL in anti-tumor response, particulary the role of its expression on myeloid cells i.e., macrophages and myeloid derived suppressor cells. Fasl KO mice are characterized by an accumulation of different populations of hematopoietic cells in the peripheral lymphoid organs. However, they do not develop spontaneous tumors. Interestingly, our results show that when they are transplanted by tumor cells, their survival rate is significantly reduced in comparison to control mice, suggesting the implication of FasL in the anti-tumor response. Detailed characterization of the distribution of myeloid cells in Fasl KO mice injected with tumor cells shows a differential distribution of the sub populations of Gr1+ cells, an M-MDSC accumulation in the spleen. Furthermore, the enrichment of tumor infiltrate by suppressive macrophages in Fasl KO mice was observed. These macrophages, regardless of genotype, have a high arginase and iNOS activity and they inhibit the proliferation of T cells in vitro. Thus, the higher mortality in Fasl KO mice could in part be explained by the enrichment of tumor infiltrate by TAM in mice that are FasL deficient.To determine whether the accumulation of FasL deficient immunosuppressive myeloid cells is specific to a tumor environment or is the reflection of an inflammatory condition, we examined the phenotype of macrophages in an experimental inflammation induced by thioglycollate. The results show that CD11b + F480 + macrophages, which are recruited to the site of inflammation, when they are FasL deficient, they upregulate anti-inflammatory genes such as IL-10, Arg1, CCL17. More detailed characterization of this population of macrophages shows that the population responsible for the suppressor phenotype is F480+CD115+IL4R+. In Fasl KO mice, the percentage of F480+CD115+IL4R+ macrophages is significantly increased compared with control mice. Functional analysis of CD115+ population shows that they inhibit proliferation of activated T cells and their IFN-g production. These functional characteristics favor an anti-inflammatory phenotype of these macrophages, suggesting that when deficient in FasL, their recruitment to the site of inflammation is more important.Taken together, these results suggest that the expression of FasL on myeloid cells plays a significant role in their bias towards a pro inflammatory phenotype pointing toward a new class of approaches to raising immunosuppression for more effective immunotherapy.

"July 1999." / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1999. / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Mode of access: World Wide Web. / Abstracts in English and Chinese.

by Au Kwong Keung. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--chinese University of Hong Kong, 1998. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 212-227). / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Mode of access: World Wide Web. / Abstracts in English and Chinese.

BRCA1 preserves genome integrity through both homology-directed repair (HDR) and stalled fork protection (SFP). In vivo, BRCA1 exists as a heterodimer with the BARD1 tumor suppressor, and both proteins harbor a C-terminal BRCT domain with a phospho-recognition surface. Most pathogenic lesions of BRCA1 and BARD1 disrupt their respective BRCT domains, and BRCA1 BRCT phospho-recognition is required for its tumor suppression activity. Here we evaluate mice with mutations (Bard1S563F and Bard1K607A) that ablate Bard1 BRCT phospho-recognition. Although not affecting HDR, these mutations impair BRCA1/BARD1 recruitment to stalled replication forks, resulting in stalled fork degradation, chromosomal instability, and sensitivity to PARP inhibitors. However, Bard1S563F/S563F and Bard1K607A/K607A mice are not tumor-prone, indicating that ablation of SFP activity alone is insufficient for spontaneous tumor susceptibility. Nevertheless, since SFP, unlike HDR, is also impaired in Brca1/Bard1 heterozygous-mutant cells, SFP and HDR may contribute to distinct stages of tumor development in BRCA1/BARD1 mutation carriers.

Introdução: Os meningiomas são neoplasias intracranianas de crescimento lento que se originam das células meningoteliais da aracnoide e representam os tumores intracranianos mais comuns, contabilizando 13-26% deste total, sendo um dos primeiros tumores sólidos a terem alterações genéticas identificadas. Inúmeros tem sido os avanços para a melhor compreensão das vias moleculares correlacionadas com a tumorigênese e progressão tumoral dos meningiomas, neste contexto tem se destacado o papel dos microRNAs que são RNAs não-codificantes (ncRNAs) constituídos por 19 a 25 nucleotídeos, cuja função é o silenciamento do RNAm em nível póstranscricional. Portanto, o objetivo do nosso estudo foi avaliar a expressão tecidual e plasmática dos miRNAs miR-181d, miR-181c e miR-130a. Pacientes e métodos: Os miRNAs miR-181d, miR-181c e miR-130a foram selecionados a partir de estudo prévio do nosso grupo pela técnica de análise em larga escala de microarrays, onde foram comparados meningiomas grau I com amostras controles de aracnóides. Neste trabalho foi avaliada expressão destes miRNAs no tecido tumoral e plasma de meningiomas grau I, II e III. Resultados: O miR-181d apresentou-se hiperexpresso nos grupos estudados, no tecido tumoral quanto no plasma. O nível de expressão foi maior de acordo com a progressão do grau do tumor. Os miR-181c e miR-130a não apresentaram diferença estatística nos grupos estudados em ambos tecido tumoral e plasma. Conclusões: O miR-181d tem potencial para ser utilizado como biomarcador para meningiomas e está associado com sua progressão tumoral. / Introduction: Meningiomas are intracranial tumors of slow growth that originate from meningothelial arachnoid cells and represents the most common intracranial tumors, accounting for 13-26% of this total, beeing one of the first solid tumors to have identified genetic alterations There are technological advances available to a better understanding of the molecular pathways correlated with tumorigenesis and tumor progression of meningiomas. The role of microRNAs in this process is very importante. MicroRNAs are non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) consisting of 19 to 25 nucleotides, with function of mRNA silencing post-transcriptional level. The aim of our study was to evaluate the tissue expression and plasma of miRNAs miR-181d, miR-181c and miR-130a. Patients and methods: The miRNAs miR-181d, miR-181c and miR-130a were selected from a previous study of our group by analysis technique on large scale called microarrays, which were compared meningiomas grade I with arachnoid controls samples. In this study, we evaluated expression of these miRNAs in tumor tissue and plasma meningiomas grade I, II and III. Results: The miR-181d was presented upregulated in the all groups in both tumor tissue and in plasma. The level of expression was increased according to the progression of tumor grade. The miR-181c and miR-130a showed no statistical difference in the groups studied in both tumor tissue and plasma. Conclusions: The miR-181d has potential as a biomarker for meningiomas and is associated with tumor progression.

A Neoplasia endócrina múltipla tipo 1 (NEM1; OMIM 131100) é uma síndrome endócrina hereditária, que envolve tumores nas glândulas paratireóides, pâncreas endócrino/duodeno e hipófise. Mutações germinativas no gene supressor de tumor MEN1 são identificadas em aproximadamente 80% dos casos familiais. Os casos restantes podem apresentar grandes deleções no gene MEN1 (raras), não identificáveis ao seqüenciamento direto, ou mutações em outros genes, ainda pouco conhecidos. Recentemente, mutações germinativas em genes que codificam quinases dependentes de ciclinas, como o gene supressor de tumor p27Kip1, foram identificadas em cerca de 1-2% dos pacientes NEM1 sem mutação no gene MEN1. Esses pacientes apresentam uma clínica similar à NEM1, sendo chamada de NEM-like ou NEM4. Estudos in vitro mostraram que a proteína codificada pelo gene MEN1, MENIN, controla a expressão gênica de p27Kip1, indicando que ambos os genes fazem parte da mesma via celular supressora de tumor. Devido à correlação genótipo-fenótipo ser muito fraca nessa síndrome e à grande variabilidade fenotípica encontrada em pacientes com NEM1 (mesmo entre indivíduos/familiares que possuem mesma mutação no gene MEN1), no presente estudo investigamos a hipótese do envolvimento do gene p27Kip1, e de outro gene supressor de tumor recentemente associado com um fenótipo tumores hipofisários famílias, o gene AIP, como possíveis moduladores de fenótipo entre os pacientes com NEM1 de uma extensa família brasileira com a mutação germinativa MEN1 c.308delC e ampla variabilidade fenotípica. Dentre uma série de variáveis clínicas investigadas, observamos um possível papel modulador de fenótipo do gene p27Kip1 nesta família com NEM1. Foi encontrada associação significante entre o genótipo do polimorfismo p.V109G do gene p27Kip1, localizado em um domínio de ligação com a proteína p38 (que é um regulador negativo de p27 por levar à degradação dessa proteína), com os seguintes aspectos clínicos: maior agressividade do tumor hipofisário (macro vs. microadenomas), precocidade no desenvolvimento do tumor pancreático, e presença de carcinóides e metástases nos pacientes analisados (p< 0,05). Não foi observada nenhuma associação do gene AIP e o fenótipo dos pacientes com NEM1. O presente estudo investigou, pela primeira vez, o status germinativo do gene p27Kip1 em pacientes com mutação MEN1 e identificou uma associação significante em relação à susceptibilidade e agressividade dos tumores na coorte estudada / Multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN1) is an inherited tumoral syndrome that involves tumors in the parathyroids, anterior pituitary and in the pancreatic islet(s) cells. Germline mutations in the tumor suppressor gene MEN1 are detectable through direct sequencing in the majority (80%) of the patients with familial MEN1. The remaining patients may present large MEN1 gene deletions, not detectable through direct sequencing, or mutations in other genes, so far largely unknown. Recently, rare mutations in genes that encode cyclin-dependent kinases, as p27Kip1, have been reported in approximately 1-2% of the patients without a MEN1 mutation. These patients were reported as presenting a MEN1-like (or the MEN4) syndrome phenotype. In vitro studies have demonstrated that the protein encoded by the MEN1 gene, MENIN, controls the expression of the p27Kip1 gene and, therefore, these two genes seem to act in the same intracellular tumor suppressor pathway. Due to the lack of genotype-phenotype correlation in MEN1 and the large clinical variability usually observed within unrelated patients carrying the same MEN1 mutation, we hypothesized that p27Kip1 (as well as AIP gene, recently associated with familial predisposition to pituitary tumors) may act as phenotypic modifying gene(s) in the MEN1 syndrome. Herein, we analyzed possible correlations between p27Kip1 genotype and a number of clinical features. We identified significant statistic associations between the p.V109G p27Kip1 polymorphism and phenotype manifestations, indicating a potential role of p27Kip1 in modifying MEN1 phenotype, as follows: pituitary tumor size; early development of pancreatic tumors, and presence of carcinoids and metastasis (p< 0,05). In addition, a possible association with the AIP gene was excluded. The present study analyzed, for the first time, the germline status of p27Kip1 gene in MEN1-mutated patients and identified a potential interaction between the genotype of this tumor suppressor gene in regulating susceptibility and the tumor aggressiveness in MEN1 patients

O microambiente tumoral é composto por células, como fibroblastos, células do sistema imune, células endoteliais e pericitos, envoltas por uma matriz extracelular, além de possuir fatores solúveis que participam da comunicação celular. Nas últimas décadas, têm-se entendido cada vez melhor seu papel na iniciação e progressão dos tumores. É de fundamental importância, portanto, entender a biologia dos seus componentes e como podem agir em favor do desenvolvimento tumoral. Diversos trabalhos demonstram que há uma associação entre a presença dos pericitos nos vasos tumorais com a agressividade e prognóstico de alguns tipos de câncer. Uma vez ativadas, além do papel estrutural, essas células modulam as atividades das células endoteliais durante a formação de novos vasos, além de adquirirem propriedades como proliferação e migração. Neste contexto, os pericitos passam a secretar fatores importantes na comunicação célula-a-célula e liberam enzimas moduladoras na matriz extracelular. A lisil oxidase (LOX) é uma das principais enzimas que atuam sobre a matriz extracelular. Já está bem descrito que, quando superexpressa em células tumorais, a LOX pode alterar a migração e invasão dessas células, promovendo a geração de metástases. Entretanto, pouco se sabe a respeito da atuação dessa enzima sobre os demais componentes celulares do estroma tumoral, como os pericitos. Sendo assim, o presente trabalho teve como objetivo principal verificar se enzima LOX é relevante para a ativação de propriedades dos pericitos que possam contribuir para suas funções pró-tumorigênicas, como migração, proliferação e formação de vasos. Os resultados foram gerados avaliando essas atividades dos pericitos após pré-tratamento de 24 horas com &beta;-aminopropionitrile (&beta;APN), um inibidor irreversível da LOX. Foram utilizadas duas linhagens de pericitos derivados de tecido normal (adiposo e muscular) e duas linhagens de pericitos provenientes de tecido tumores do sistema nervoso central (neuroblastoma e ependimoma). Este composto foi capaz de diminuir a capacidade de migração das células de todas as linhagens testadas e, de maneira geral, tornou o processo de formação de estruturas tubulares in vitro menos eficiente. Entretanto, não foram observadas alterações na proliferação celular. Os dados indicam, portanto, que a enzima LOX pode ser importante para a ativação dos pericitos e, possivelmente, influenciem no seu comportamento no microambiente tumoral / The tumor microenvironment is composed of non-cancer cells, such as fibroblasts, immune cells, endothelial cells and pericytes, surrounded by an extracellular matrix, in addition to soluble factors involved in cellular crosstalk. In the last decades, it has been better understood its role in the initiation and progression of tumors. It is critical, therefore, to understand the biology of its components and how they can act in favor of tumor development. Several studies show an association between the presence of pericytes in tumor vessels with aggressiveness and prognosis of some cancers. Once activated, these cells modulate the activities of endothelial cells during the new vessels formation, and acquire properties as proliferation and migration. In this context, pericytes triggers the secretion of important factors in cell-to-cell communication and release modulating enzymes of extracellular matrix. The lysyl oxidase (LOX) is one of the main enzymes that act on the extracelular matrix. It is well described that when overexpressed in tumor cells, LOX can alter the migration and invasion of these cells, promoting the generation of metastases. However, little is known about the role of this enzyme over other cellular components of the tumor stroma, such as pericytes. Therefore, the aim of this study was to verify whether LOX enzyme is relevant to the activation of properties of the pericytes that could contribute to its pro-tumorigenic functions such as migration, proliferation and vessel formation. All the results were generated by evaluation of the activities of these pericytes after 24 hours pretreatment with &beta;-aminopropionitrile (&beta;APN), an irreversible inhibitor of LOX. This study used two cell lines of pericytes derived from normal tissue (fat and muscle) and two isolated from tissue of the central nervous system. The &beta;APN was able to reduce the migration of cells of all tested cell lines and, in general, alter the tubular formation in vitro. However, changes in cell proliferation weren&prime;t observed. The data showed, that the LOX family may be important for the activation of pericytes and possibly influence on their behavior in the tumor microenvironment