Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / Though the elimination of carbohydrate xenoantigens has reduced the antibody barrier to clinical xenotransplantation, identification of additional targets of rejection could further increase the immunologic compatibility of pig tissues with humans. Many patients in need of organ transplantation have antibodies to proteins encoded by the human major histocompatibility complex (MHC) which have high similarity to their swine homologs. The goal of this thesis was to determine if the class II genes of the swine MHC can bind human antibodies. To characterize antibody binding effect to class II swine leukocyte antigens (SLA), a constitutively positive SLA class II cell was created through transfection with the human class II transactivator (CIITA). Cells expressing only SLA-DR or SLA-DQ were also created using the CRISPR/Cas9 gene knockout tools. These various lines were incubated with human sera and tested for binding to IgM and IgG in a flow cytometry crossmatch (FCXM). The results demonstrate reliable antibody binding to each of the SLA class II –DR and –DQ derivatives. A two-way paired t-test revealed statistical difference in total sera binding between to the DR(+)DQ(+) and DR(-)DQ(-) clones for IgG (p = 0.0059) but not IgM (p = 0.2460). Looking at the subset of individuals with and without anti-HLA class II sensitization, statistical difference was noted for IgG (p = 0.0229) but not IgM (p = 0.3045). Examining further the role of DR(+) vs DQ(+), statistical analysis revealed difference in the DR(+)DQ(-) vs. the DR(-)DQ(+) FCXM (p = 0.0099), the DR(+)DQ(-) vs. the DR(+)DQ(+) FCXM (p = 0.0192), and the DR(-)DQ(-) parent vs. DR(+)DQ(+) FCXM (p = 0.0329). No difference was found in the DR(-)DQ(+) vs. DR(+)DQ(+) FCXM (p = 0.1601). The results of this project suggest that SLA class II, specifically SLA-DQ, could be a target of antibody binding and cross-reactive anti-HLA class II antibodies may be capable of binding SLA class II.

O mastocitoma é um dos mais freqüentes neoplasmas que acometem a pele do cão, e novas modalidades terapêuticas vêm sendo buscadas visando seu controle. O presente trabalho descreve o estabelecimento e caracterização do modelo xenotransplantável de mastocitoma canino para testes de substâncias com potencial antineoplásico in vitro e in vivo. O animal doador da amostra tumoral apresentava um mastocitoma grau 3. O mastocitoma canino foi estabelecido com sucesso nos camundongos atímicos BALB/c nu/nu. O tumor apresenta as mesmas características histológicas do fragmento tumoral daquele do animal doador ao longo das passagens. Em média, 7 dias a 3 semanas são necessários para o aparecimento do nódulo palpável e cerca de 60 dias para o volume tumoral alcançar mais de 500 mm3. O cultivo celular das células de mastocitoma canino se mantém por aproximadamente 1 mês, às vezes mais, mas o tempo de cultivo é limitado. Há perda progressiva das características iniciais de cultivo como perda de granulação, aumento de adesão e diminuição de células em suspensão. A seguir, foram realizados testes in vitro e in vivo neste modelo com as substâncias de origem natural epigalocatequina-3-galato (EGCG, principal composto do chá-verde), tricostatina A (TSA, produto metabólico da bactéria Streptomyces sp) e resíduo butanólico da Pfaffia paniculata (RBPP) (Ginseng brasileiro). Nas doses utilizadas, a EGCG mostrou efeito estimulatório, não tendo sido testada in vivo. A TSA e o RBPP apresentaram efeitos inibitórios sobre as células de mastocitoma canino in vitro com diminuição da viabilidade celular detectada com o corante vital Azul de Tripan e diminuição do crescimento celular avaliada com o ensaio do MTT. A avaliação morfológica das células pela coloração Laranja de Acridina/Brometo de Etídio mostrou vários debris celulares e células apoptóticas no tratamento com TSA, e alterações morfológicas como vacuolização nas células tratadas com RBPP, incluindo células apoptóticas. A avaliação do ciclo celular avaliada por citometria de fluxo mostrou aumento das células em fase sub-G1 nas células tratadas com TSA, e diminuição nas fases G1 e G2, e aumento nas fases sub-G1 e S no tratamento com RBPP. As substâncias foram então testadas no modelo xenotransplantável de mastocitoma canino. Apesar do marcante efeito inibitório da TSA nos ensaios in vitro, o mesmo não aconteceu in vivo com as doses investigadas, não demonstrando diferença em relação ao controle. Já o RBPP mostrou efeito inibitório com a dosagem de 1,5 mg/animal com tratamento intratumoral no modelo in vivo. Estes dados mostram que o modelo estabelecido é estável e viável e a importância da complementação com os ensaios in vivo para a confirmação dos efeitos observados in vitro. / The mast cell tumor is one of the most common neoplasms that involve the skin of the dog, and new treatment modalities have been searched for its control. This paper describes the establishment and characterization of a xenotransplantable canine mast cell tumor model for testing substances with anticancer potential in vitro and in vivo. The tumor sample was original from a donor animal that showed a grade 3 mast cell tumor. The canine mast cell tumor was successfully established in athymic mice BALB/c nu/nu. The tumor has same histological characteristics retained during their passages in culture. On average, 7 days to 3 weeks are needed for the appearance of a palpable mass and about 60 days for tumor volume reaching more than 500 mm3. Cell cultivation of canine mast cell tumor is maintained for approximately one month, sometimes more, but the cultivation time is limited. There is progressive loss of the initial features of culture such as loss of granulation, increased adhesion and decreased cell suspensions. The following tests were performed in vitro and in vivo in this model, by using the naturally occurring substance epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG, the major compound of green tea), trichostatin A (TSA, metabolic product of the fungus Streptomyces sp) and butanolic residue of the Pfaffia paniculata (RBPP) (Brazilian ginseng). At the used doses, EGCG showed stimulatory effect in vitro, but has not been tested in vivo. The TSA and RBPP showed inhibitory effects on the canine mastocytoma cells in vitro with a decrease in cell viability detected with the vital dye Trypan blue and a decrease in cell growth assessed by the MTT assay. The morphological evaluation of cells stained by Acridine Orange/Ethidium Bromide showed several cellular debris and apoptotic cells in the treatment with TSA, and morphological changes such as vacuolization in cells treated with RBPP, including apoptotic cells. The evaluation of the cell cycle measured by flow cytometry showed an increase of cells in sub-G1 phase in cells treated with TSA, and a decrease in both G1 and G2 phases and increased sub-G1 and S in the treatment RBPP. The substances were then tested in the xenotransplantable model of canine mast cell tumor. Despite the remarkable inhibitory effect of TSA in vitro, it did not happen in vivo with the doses studied, showing no difference compared to control. RBPP already had an inhibitory effect with the dosage of 1.5 mg/animal treatment with intratumoral in vivo model. These data show that the established model of murine xenotransplantable mastocytoma is stable and viable and has importance as a complement in vivo of the tests with antineoplastic drugs performed in vitro.

O mastocitoma é um dos mais freqüentes neoplasmas que acometem a pele do cão, e novas modalidades terapêuticas vêm sendo buscadas visando seu controle. O presente trabalho descreve o estabelecimento e caracterização do modelo xenotransplantável de mastocitoma canino para testes de substâncias com potencial antineoplásico in vitro e in vivo. O animal doador da amostra tumoral apresentava um mastocitoma grau 3. O mastocitoma canino foi estabelecido com sucesso nos camundongos atímicos BALB/c nu/nu. O tumor apresenta as mesmas características histológicas do fragmento tumoral daquele do animal doador ao longo das passagens. Em média, 7 dias a 3 semanas são necessários para o aparecimento do nódulo palpável e cerca de 60 dias para o volume tumoral alcançar mais de 500 mm3. O cultivo celular das células de mastocitoma canino se mantém por aproximadamente 1 mês, às vezes mais, mas o tempo de cultivo é limitado. Há perda progressiva das características iniciais de cultivo como perda de granulação, aumento de adesão e diminuição de células em suspensão. A seguir, foram realizados testes in vitro e in vivo neste modelo com as substâncias de origem natural epigalocatequina-3-galato (EGCG, principal composto do chá-verde), tricostatina A (TSA, produto metabólico da bactéria Streptomyces sp) e resíduo butanólico da Pfaffia paniculata (RBPP) (Ginseng brasileiro). Nas doses utilizadas, a EGCG mostrou efeito estimulatório, não tendo sido testada in vivo. A TSA e o RBPP apresentaram efeitos inibitórios sobre as células de mastocitoma canino in vitro com diminuição da viabilidade celular detectada com o corante vital Azul de Tripan e diminuição do crescimento celular avaliada com o ensaio do MTT. A avaliação morfológica das células pela coloração Laranja de Acridina/Brometo de Etídio mostrou vários debris celulares e células apoptóticas no tratamento com TSA, e alterações morfológicas como vacuolização nas células tratadas com RBPP, incluindo células apoptóticas. A avaliação do ciclo celular avaliada por citometria de fluxo mostrou aumento das células em fase sub-G1 nas células tratadas com TSA, e diminuição nas fases G1 e G2, e aumento nas fases sub-G1 e S no tratamento com RBPP. As substâncias foram então testadas no modelo xenotransplantável de mastocitoma canino. Apesar do marcante efeito inibitório da TSA nos ensaios in vitro, o mesmo não aconteceu in vivo com as doses investigadas, não demonstrando diferença em relação ao controle. Já o RBPP mostrou efeito inibitório com a dosagem de 1,5 mg/animal com tratamento intratumoral no modelo in vivo. Estes dados mostram que o modelo estabelecido é estável e viável e a importância da complementação com os ensaios in vivo para a confirmação dos efeitos observados in vitro. / The mast cell tumor is one of the most common neoplasms that involve the skin of the dog, and new treatment modalities have been searched for its control. This paper describes the establishment and characterization of a xenotransplantable canine mast cell tumor model for testing substances with anticancer potential in vitro and in vivo. The tumor sample was original from a donor animal that showed a grade 3 mast cell tumor. The canine mast cell tumor was successfully established in athymic mice BALB/c nu/nu. The tumor has same histological characteristics retained during their passages in culture. On average, 7 days to 3 weeks are needed for the appearance of a palpable mass and about 60 days for tumor volume reaching more than 500 mm3. Cell cultivation of canine mast cell tumor is maintained for approximately one month, sometimes more, but the cultivation time is limited. There is progressive loss of the initial features of culture such as loss of granulation, increased adhesion and decreased cell suspensions. The following tests were performed in vitro and in vivo in this model, by using the naturally occurring substance epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG, the major compound of green tea), trichostatin A (TSA, metabolic product of the fungus Streptomyces sp) and butanolic residue of the Pfaffia paniculata (RBPP) (Brazilian ginseng). At the used doses, EGCG showed stimulatory effect in vitro, but has not been tested in vivo. The TSA and RBPP showed inhibitory effects on the canine mastocytoma cells in vitro with a decrease in cell viability detected with the vital dye Trypan blue and a decrease in cell growth assessed by the MTT assay. The morphological evaluation of cells stained by Acridine Orange/Ethidium Bromide showed several cellular debris and apoptotic cells in the treatment with TSA, and morphological changes such as vacuolization in cells treated with RBPP, including apoptotic cells. The evaluation of the cell cycle measured by flow cytometry showed an increase of cells in sub-G1 phase in cells treated with TSA, and a decrease in both G1 and G2 phases and increased sub-G1 and S in the treatment RBPP. The substances were then tested in the xenotransplantable model of canine mast cell tumor. Despite the remarkable inhibitory effect of TSA in vitro, it did not happen in vivo with the doses studied, showing no difference compared to control. RBPP already had an inhibitory effect with the dosage of 1.5 mg/animal treatment with intratumoral in vivo model. These data show that the established model of murine xenotransplantable mastocytoma is stable and viable and has importance as a complement in vivo of the tests with antineoplastic drugs performed in vitro.

La α-1,3-galactosiltransferasa (α3GT) està involucrada en la biosíntesis d'oligosacàrids antigènics responsables del rebuig immunològic hiperagut (HAR) en el xenotransplant d'òrgans d'animals a humans, per la qual cosa aquesta enzima té un particular interès en biomedicina. Per altra banda, la α3GT constitueix un model enzimàtic per a estudis mecanístics i estructurals de glicosiltransferasas. L'enzim transfereix galactosa (Gal) del UDP-Gal a la N-acetillactosamina (LacNAc), o a la lactosa (Lac).Actualment, els estudis cristalogràfics han mostrat dos tipus d'estructures amb diferents conformacions en la zona C-terminal (aa.358-368). En la forma I, aquesta zona està altament desordenada, però en la forma II està ben definida, la qual cosa suggereix que funciona com a tapa que tanca el lloc catalític. Aquests canvis conformacionals suggereixen que l'extrem C-terminal podria tenir un rol clau en l'activitat catalítica.En la present tesis doctoral es va abordar l'estudi estructural/funcional de l'extrem C-terminal des d'un enfocament d'anàlisi cinètic d'estabilitat de mutants d'alanina de cadascun dels aminoàcids de les posicions 358-368. D'aquesta manera, la comparació entre eficiència catalítica i estabilitat enzimàtica proporcionen un mètode que permet identificar els aminoàcids que tenen un paper important en la unió de lligand o en l'empaquetament estructural. Pels mutants K359A, Y361A, V363A y R365A no s'ha detectat activitat, per la qual cosa aquestes posicions són fonamentals per a l'activitat α3GT. K359, Y361 i R365 interaccionen amb els fosfats del UDP-Gal, a més, K359A també interacciona amb l'hidroxil 3 de la lactosa segons modelització molecular, per la qual cosa s'ha proposat un paper d'àcid/base general a la lisina 359. Per altra banda, els mutants N367A i V368A van resultar ser de 2 a 3 vegades més actius que wt, respectivament. Els estudis d'estabilitat revelen que wt i mutants de residus no involucrats directament en la interacció amb els substracts, presenten major estabilitat que aquells que segons els models moleculars i les estructures cristal·logràfiques interaccionen directament amb el UDP o UDP-Gal. Per altra banda, es va trobar que la presència de UDP disminueix en mutants de residus directament implicats en les interacciones amb el UDP-Gal. / La α-1,3-galactosiltransferasa (α3GT) está involucrada en la biosíntesis de oligosacáridos antigénicos responsables del rechazo inmunológico hiperagudo (HAR) en el xenotransplante de órganos de animales a humanos, por lo que esta enzima tiene un particular interés en biomedicina. Por otra parte, la α3GT constituye un modelo enzimático para estudios mecanísticos y estructurales de glicosiltransferasas. La enzima transfiere galactosa (Gal) del UDP-Gal a la N-acetillactosamina (LacNAc), o a la lactosa (Lac).Actualmente, los estudios cristalográficos han mostrado dos tipos de estructuras con diferentes conformaciones en la zona C-terminal (aa.358-368). En la forma I, esta zona está altamente desordenada, pero en la forma II está bien definida, lo cual sugiere que funciona como tapa que cierra el sitio catalítico. Estos cambios conformacionales sugieren que el extremo C-terminal podría tener un rol clave en la actividad catalítica.En la presente tesis doctoral se abordó el estudio estructural/funcional del extremo C-terminal desde un enfoque de análisis cinético y de estabilidad de mutantes de alanina de cada uno de los aminoácidos de las posiciones 358-368. De esta manera, la comparación entre eficiencia catalítica y estabilidad enzimática proporcionan un método que permite identificar los aminoácidos que tienen un rol importante en la unión de ligando o en el empaquetamiento estructural.Para los mutantes K359A, Y361A, V363A y R365A no se ha detectado actividad, por lo cual estas posiciones son fundamentales para la actividad de α3GT. K359, Y361 y R365 interaccionan con los fosfatos del UDP-Gal, además, K359A también interaccionan con el hidroxilo 3 de la lactosa según modelización molecular, por lo cual se ha propuesto un rol de ácido/base general a la lisina 359. Por otra parte, los mutantes N367A y V368A resultaron ser de 2 a 3 veces más activos que wt, respectivamente. Los estudios de estabilidad revelan que wt y mutantes de residuos no involucrados directamente en la interacción con los sustratos, presentan mayor estabilidad que aquellos que según los modelos moleculares y las estructuras cristalográficas interaccionan directamente con el UDP o UDP-Gal. Por otra parte, se encontró que la presencia de UDP disminuye en mutantes de residuos directamente implicados en las interacciones con el UDP-Gal. / Mammalian α-1,3-Galactosyltransferase (α3GT) is involved in the biosynthesis of the oligosaccharide antigen responsible for hiperacute (vascular) rejection (HAR) in xenotransplantation of animal organs to humans [1]. α3GT is also used as a model enzyme for studies of glycosyltransferase structure and mechanisms, as well as biocatalyst in enzymatic oligosacaride synthesis. The enzyme catalyzes the transfer of galactose (Gal) from UDP-Gal a la N-acetyllactosamyne (NAcLac), or to lactose.Currently, there are two types of α3GT 3-dimensional structure. The previously reported form I [2] is similar to the form II [3,4], except at the C-terminal residues 358-368. The C-terminal region is highly disordered in form I but well defined in form II, suggesting that it functions as a lid that closes the active site. The conformational change at the C-terminus and the sequence conservation among other α3GT suggest that this region could have key role in the catalytic action [4]. In the present Doctoral Thesis, the study structure/function of the end C-terminal was approached by a kinetic analysis and by stability analysis of alanine mutants for each one of the amino acids at positions 358-368. This way, the comparison of catalytic efficiency and enzymatic stability provides a method that allows identification of the amino acids that have an important role in the substrate binding or in structural packaging. For mutants K359A, Y361A, V363A and R365A no activity was detected, therefore these positions are fundamental for α3GT activity. K359, Y361 and R365 interact with the UDP-Gal phosphates, also, K359A interacts with the 3-hydroxyl of the lactose according to molecular modeling, thereby it has been proposed to have the role as the general acid/base. On the other hand, the mutants N367A and V368A turned out to be 2 or 3 times more active than wt, respectively. The studies of stability reveal that amino acids mutants (wt including) which don't directly interact with the substrates do not present higher stability than the amino acid mutants which directly interact with the substrate UDP or UDP-Gal. On the other hand, the presence of UDP stabilizes de wt enzyme and the mutants of the amino acids that don't directly interact with the substrates, while this UDP stabilizing effect diminishes in mutants of amino acids directly implied in the interactions of UDP or UDP-Gal.