VEGF-C/VEGFR-3 and PDGF-B/PDGFR-b pathways in embryonic lymphangiogenesis

The circulatory system comprises the blood vascular system and the lymphatic vascular system. These two systems function in parallel. Blood vessels form a closed system that delivers oxygen and nutrients to the tissues and removes waste products from the tissues, while lymphatic vessels are blind-ended tubes that collect extravasated fluid and cells from the tissues and return them back to blood circulation. Development of blood and lymphatic vascular systems occurs in series. Blood vessels are formed via vasculogenesis and angiogenesis whereas lymphatic vessels develop via lymphangiogenesis, after the blood vascular system is already functional. Members of the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) family are regulators of both angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis, while members of the platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) family are major mitogens for pericytes and smooth muscle cells and regulate formation of blood vessels. Vascular endothelial growth factor C (VEGF-C) is the major lymphatic growth factor and signaling through its receptor vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 3 (VEGFR-3) is sufficient for lymphangiogenesis in adults. We studied the role of VEGF-C in embryonic lymphangiogenesis and showed that VEGF-C is absolutely required for the formation of lymph sacs from embryonic veins. VEGFR-3 is also required for normal development of the blood vascular system during embryogenesis, as Vegfr3 knockout mice die at mid-gestation due to failure in remodeling of the blood vessels. We showed that sufficient VEGFR-3 signaling in the embryo proper is required for embryonic angiogenesis and in a dosage-sensitive manner for embryonic lymphangiogenesis. Importantly, mice deficient in both VEGFR-3 ligands, Vegfc and Vegfd, developed a normal blood vasculature, suggesting VEGF-C- and VEGF-D- independent functions for VEGFR-3 in the early embryo. Platelet-derived growth factor B (PDGF-B) signals via PDGFR-b and regulates formation of blood vessels by recruiting pericytes and smooth muscle cells around nascent endothelial tubes. We showed that PDGF-B fails to induce lymphangiogenesis when overexpressed in adult mouse skin using adenoviral vectors. However, mouse embryos lacking Pdgfb showed abnormal lymphatic vessels, suggesting that PDGF-B plays a role in lymphatic vessel maturation and separation from blood vessels during embryogenesis. Lymphatic vessels play a key role in immune surveillance, fat absorption and maintenance of fluid homeostasis in the body. However, lymphatic vessels are also involved in various diseases, such as lymphedema and tumor metastasis. These studies elucidate the basic mechanisms of embryonic lymphangiogenesis and add to the knowledge of lymphedema and tumor metastasis treatments by giving novel insights into how lymphatic vessel growth could be induced (in lymphedema) or inhibited (in tumor metastasis).

Capillary electrochromatography: a versatile instrumental technique for nanodomain interaction studies

This doctoral thesis describes the development of a miniaturized capillary electrochromatography (CEC) technique suitable for the study of interactions between various nanodomains of biological importance. The particular focus of the study was low-density lipoprotein (LDL) particles and their interaction with components of the extracellular matrix (ECM). LDL transports cholesterol to the tissues through the blood circulation, but when the LDL level becomes too high the particles begin to permeate and accumulate in the arteries. Through binding sites on apolipoprotein B-100 (apoB-100), LDL interacts with components of the ECM, such as proteoglycans (PGs) and collagen, in what is considered the key mechanism in the retention of lipoproteins and onset of atherosclerosis. Hydrolytic enzymes and oxidizing agents in the ECM may later successively degrade the LDL surface. Metabolic diseases such as diabetes may provoke damage of the ECM structure through the non-enzymatic reaction of glucose with collagen. In this work, fused silica capillaries of 50 micrometer i.d. were successfully coated with LDL and collagen, and steroids and apoB-100 peptide fragments were introduced as model compounds for interaction studies. The LDL coating was modified with copper sulphate or hydrolytic enzymes, and the interactions of steroids with the native and oxidized lipoproteins were studied. Lipids were also removed from the LDL particle coating leaving behind an apoB-100 surface for further studies. The development of collagen and collagen decorin coatings was helpful in the elucidation of the interactions of apoB-100 peptide fragments with the primary ECM component, collagen. Furthermore, the collagen I coating provided a good platform for glycation studies and for clarification of LDL interactions with native and modified collagen. All methods developed are inexpensive, requiring just small amounts of biomaterial. Moreover, the experimental conditions in CEC are easily modified, and the analyses can be carried out in a reasonable time frame. Other techniques were employed to support and complement the CEC studies. Scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy provided crucial visual information about the native and modified coatings. Asymmetrical flow field-flow fractionation enabled size measurements of the modified lipoproteins. Finally, the CEC results were exploited to develop new sensor chips for a continuous flow quartz crystal microbalance technique, which provided complementary information about LDL ECM interactions. This thesis demonstrates the potential of CEC as a valuable and flexible technique for surface interaction studies. Further, CEC can serve as a novel microreactor for the in situ modification of LDL and collagen coatings. The coatings developed in this study provide useful platforms for a diversity of future investigations on biological nanodomains.

Signalling in Malaria Parasites the Malsig Consortium

Depending on their developmental stage in the life cycle, malaria parasites develop within or outside host cells, and in extremely diverse contexts such as the vertebrate liver and blood circulation, or the insect midgut and hemocoel. Cellular and molecular mechanisms enabling the parasite to sense and respond to the intra- and the extra-cellular environments are therefore key elements for the proliferation and transmission of Plasmodium, and therefore are, from a public health perspective, strategic targets in the fight against this deadly disease. The MALSIG consortium, which was initiated in February 2009, was designed with the primary objective to integrate research ongoing in Europe and India on i) the properties of Plasmodium signalling molecules, and ii) developmental processes occurring at various points of the parasite life cycle. On one hand, functional studies of individual genes and their products in Plasmodium falciparum (and in the technically more manageable rodent model Plasmodium berghei) are providing information on parasite protein kinases and phosphatases, and of the molecules governing cyclic nucleotide metabolism and calcium signalling. On the other hand, cellular and molecular studies are elucidating key steps of parasite development such as merozoite invasion and egress in blood and liver parasite stages, control of DNA replication in asexual and sexual development, membrane dynamics and trafficking, production of gametocytes in the vertebrate host and further parasite development in the mosquito. This article, which synthetically reviews such signalling molecules and cellular processes, aims to provide a glimpse of the global frame in which the activities of the MALSIG consortium will develop over the next three years.

Lymphatic vessels in health and disease: Role of the VEGF-C/VEGFR-3 pathway and the transcription factor FOXC2

The circulatory system consists of two vessel types, which act in concert but significantly differ from each other in several structural and functional aspects as well as in mechanisms governing their development. The blood vasculature transports oxygen, nutrients and cells to tissues whereas the lymphatic vessels collect extravasated fluid, macromolecules and cells of the immune system and return them back to the blood circulation. Understanding the molecular mechanisms behind the developmental and functional regulation of the lymphatic system long lagged behind that of the blood vasculature. Identification of several markers specific for the lymphatic endothelium, and the discovery of key factors controlling the development and function of the lymphatic vessels have greatly facilitated research in lymphatic biology over the past few years. Recognition of the crucial importance of lymphatic vessels in certain pathological conditions, most importantly in tumor metastasis, lymphedema and inflammation, has increased interest in this vessel type, for so long overshadowed by its blood vascular cousin. VEGF-C (Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C) and its receptor VEGFR-3 are essential for the development and maintenance of embryonic lymphatic vasculature. Furthermore, VEGF-C has been shown to be upregulated in many tumors and its expression found to positively correlate with lymphatic metastasis. Mutations in the transcription factor FOXC2 result in lymphedema-distichiasis (LD), which suggests a role for FOXC2 in the regulation of lymphatic development or function. This study was undertaken to obtain more information about the role of the VEGF-C/VEGFR-3 pathway and FOXC2 in regulating lymphatic development, growth, function and survival in physiological as well as in pathological conditions. We found that the silk-like carboxyterminal propeptide is not necessary for the lymphangiogenic activity of VEGF-C, but enhances it, and that the aminoterminal propeptide mediates binding of VEGF-C to the neuropilin-2 coreceptor, which we suggest to be involved in VEGF-C signalling via VEGFR-3. Furthermore, we found that overexpression of VEGF-C increases tumor lymphangiogenesis and intralymphatic tumor growth, both of which could be inhibited by a soluble form of VEGFR-3. These results suggest that blocking VEGFR-3 signalling could be used for prevention of lymphatic tumor metastasis. This might prove to be a safe treatment method for human cancer patients, since inhibition of VEGFR-3 activity had no effect on the normal lymphatic vasculature in adult mice, though it did lead to regression of lymphatic vessels in the postnatal period. Interestingly, in contrast to VEGF-C, which induces lymphangiogenesis already during embryonic development, we found that the related VEGF-D promotes lymphatic vessel growth only after birth. These results suggest, that the lymphatic vasculature undergoes postnatal maturation, which renders it independent of ligand induced VEGFR-3 signalling for survival but responsive to VEGF-D for growth. Finally, we show that FOXC2 is necessary for the later stages of lymphatic development by regulating the morphogenesis of lymphatic valves, as well as interactions of the lymphatic endothelium with vascular mural cells, in which it cooperates with VEGFR-3. Furthermore, our study indicates that the absence of lymphatic valves, abnormal association of lymphatic capillaries with mural cells and an increased amount of basement membrane underlie the pathogenesis of LD. These findings have given new insight into the mechanisms of normal lymphatic development, as well as into the pathogenesis of diseases involving the lymphatic vasculature. They also reveal new therapeutic targets for the prevention and treatment of tumor metastasis and lymphatic vascular failure in certain forms of lymphedema. Several interesting questions were posed that still need to be addressed. Most importantly, the mechanism of VEGF-C promoted tumor metastasis and the molecular nature of the postnatal lymphatic vessel maturation remain to be elucidated.

Effect of long-wave UV radiation on mouse melanoma: an in vitro and in vivo study

The skin cancer incidence has increased substantially over the past decades and the role of ultraviolet (UV) radiation in the etiology of skin cancer is well established. Ultraviolet B radiation (280-320 nm) is commonly considered as the more harmful part of the UV-spectrum due to its DNA-damaging potential and well-known carcinogenic effects. Ultraviolet A radiation (320-400 nm) is still regarded as a relatively low health hazard. However, UVA radiation is the predominant component in sunlight, constituting more than 90% of the environmentally relevant solar ultraviolet radiation. In the light of the recent scientific evidence, UVA has been shown to have genotoxic and immunologic effects, and it has been proposed that UVA plays a significant role in the development of skin cancer. Due to the popularity of skin tanning lamps, which emit high intensity UVA radiation and because of the prolonged sun tanning periods with the help of effective UVB blockers, the potential deleterious effects of UVA has emerged as a source of concern for public health. The possibility that UV radiation may affect melanoma metastasis has not been addressed before. UVA radiation can modulate various cellular processes, some of which might affect the metastatic potential of melanoma cells. The aim of the present study was to investigate the possible role of UVA irradiation on the metastatic capacity of mouse melanoma both in vitro and in vivo. The in vitro part of the study dealt with the enhancement of the intercellular interactions occurring either between tumor cells or between tumor cells and endothelial cells after UVA irradiation. The use of the mouse melanoma/endothelium in vitro model showed that a single-dose of UVA to melanoma cells causes an increase in melanoma cell adhesiveness to non-irradiated endothelium after 24-h irradiation. Multiple-dose irradiation of melanoma cells already increased adhesion at a 1-h time-point, which suggests the possible cumulative effect of multiple doses of UVA irradiation. This enhancement of adhesiveness might lead to an increase in binding tumor cells to the endothelial lining of vasculature in various internal organs if occurring also in vivo. A further novel observation is that UVA induced both decline in the expression of E-cadherin adhesion molecule and increase in the expression of the N-cadherin adhesion molecule. In addition, a significant decline in homotypic melanoma-melanoma adhesion (clustering) was observed, which might result in the reduction of E-cadherin expression. The aim of the in vivo animal study was to confirm the physiological significance of previously obtained in vitro results and to determine whether UVA radiation might increase melanoma metastasis in vivo. The use of C57BL/6 mice and syngeneic melanoma cell lines B16-F1 and B16-F10 showed that mice, which were i.v. injected with B16-F1 melanoma cells and thereafter exposed to UVA developed significantly more lung metastases when compared with the non-UVA-exposed group. To study the mechanism behind this phenomenon, the direct effect of UVA-induced lung colonization capacity was examined by the in vitro exposure of B16-F1 cells. Alternatively, the UVA-induced immunosuppression, which might be involved in increased melanoma metastasis, was measured by standard contact hypersensitivity assay (CHS). It appears that the UVA-induced increase of metastasis in vivo might be caused by a combination of UVA-induced systemic immunosuppression, and to the lesser extent, it might be caused by the increased adhesiveness of UVA irradiated melanoma cells. Finally, the UVA effect on gene expression in mouse melanoma was determined by a cDNA array, which revealed UVA-induced changes in the 9 differentially expressed genes that are involved in angiogenesis, cell cycle, stress-response, and cell motility. These results suggest that observed genes might be involved in cellular response to UVA and a physiologically relevant UVA dose have previously unknown cellular implications. The novel results presented in this thesis offer evidence that UVA exposure might increase the metastatic potential of the melanoma cells present in blood circulation. Considering the wellknown UVA-induced deleterious effects on cellular level, this study further supports the notion that UVA radiation might have more potential impact on health than previously suggested. The possibility of the pro-metastatic effects of UVA exposure might not be of very high significance for daily exposures. However, UVA effects might gain physiological significance following extensive sunbathing or solaria tanning periods. Whether similar UVA-induced pro-metastatic effects occur in people sunbathing or using solaria remains to be determined. In the light of the results presented in this thesis, the avoidance of solaria use could be well justified.

VEGFR-2 and VEGFR-3 Specific Signaling in Lymphangiogenesis and Angiogenesis

The circulatory system consists of the blood and lymphatic vessels. While blood vessels transport oxygen, cells, and nutrients to tissues, the lymphatic vessels collect fluid, cells, and plasma proteins from tissues to return back to the blood circulation. Angiogenesis, the growth of new blood vessels from pre-existing ones, is an important process involved in several physiological conditions such as inflammation, wound healing, and embryonic development. Furthermore, angiogenesis is found in many pathological conditions such as atherosclerosis and the growth and differentiation of solid tumors. Many tumor types spread via lymphatic vessels to form lymph node metastasis. The elucidation of the molecular players coordinating development of the vascular system has provided an array of tools for further insight of the circulatory system. The discovery of the Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) family members and their tyrosine kinase receptors (VEGFRs) has facilitated the understanding of the vasculature in different physiological and pathological situations. The VEGFRs are expressed on endothelial cells and mediate the growth and maintenance of both the blood and lymphatic vasculatures. This study was undertaken to address the role of VEGFR-2 specific signaling in maturation of blood vessels during neoangiogenesis and in lymphangiogenesis. We also wanted to differentiate between VEGFR-2 and VEGFR-3 specific signaling in lymphangiogenesis. We found that specific VEGFR-2 stimulation alone by gene therapeutic methods is not sufficient for production of mature blood vessels. However, VEGFR-2 stimulation in combination with expression of platelet-derived growth factor D (PDGF-D), a recently identified member of the PDGF growth factor family, was capable of stabilizing these newly formed vessels. Signaling through VEGFR-3 is crucial during developmental lymphangiogenesis, but we showed that the lymphatic vasculature becomes independent of VEGFR-3 signaling after the postnatal period. We also found that VEGFR-2 specific stimulation cannot rescue the loss of lymphatic vessels when VEGFR-3 signaling is blocked and that VEGFR-2 specific signals promote lymphatic vessel enlargement, but are not involved in vessel sprouting to generate new lymphatic vessels in vivo, in contrast to the VEGFR-2 dependent sprouting observed in blood vessels. In addition, we compared the inhibitory effects of a small molecular tyrosine kinase inhibitor of VEGFR-2 vs. VEGFR-3 specific signaling in vitro and in vivo. Our results showed that the tyrosine kinase inhibitor could equally affect physiological and pathological processes dependent on VEGFR-2 and VEGFR-3 driven angiogenesis or lymphangiogenesis. These results provide new insights into the VEGFR specific pathways required for pre- and postnatal angiogenesis as well as lymphangiogenesis, which could provide important targets and therapies for treatment of diseases characterized by abnormal angiogenesis or lymphangiogenesis.

Lymphatic vascular maturation : Roles of FOXC2, NFATc1 and liprin ��1

The blood vascular system is a closed circulatory system, responsible for delivering oxygen and nutrients to the tissues. In contrast, the lymphatic vascular system is a blind-ended transport system that collects the extravasated tissue fluid from the capillary beds, and transports it back to the blood circulation. Failure in collecting or transporting the lymph, due to defects in the lymphatic vasculature, leads to accumulation of extra fluid in the tissues, and consequently to tissue swelling lymphedema. The two vascular systems function in concert. They are structurally related, but their development is regulated by separate, however overlapping, molecular mechanisms. During embryonic development, blood vessels are formed by vasculogenesis and angiogenesis, processes largely mediated by members of the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) family and their tyrosine kinase receptors. The lymphatic vessels are formed after the cardiovascular system is already functional. This process, called lymphangiogenesis, is controlled by distinct members of the VEGF family, together with the transcription factors Prox1 and Sox18. After the primary formation of the vessels, the vasculature needs to mature and remodel into a functional network of hierarchically organized vessels: the blood vasculature into arteries, capillaries and veins; and the lymphatic vasculature into lymphatic capillaries, responsible for the uptake of the extravasated fluid from the tissues, and collecting vessels, responsible for the transport of the lymph back to the blood circulation. A major event in the maturation of the lymphatic vasculature is the formation of collecting lymphatic vessels. These vessels are characterized by the presence of intraluminal valves, preventing backflow of the lymph, and a sparse coverage of smooth muscle cells, which help in pumping the lymph forward. In our study, we have characterized the molecular and morphological events leading to formation of collecting lymphatic vessels. We found that this process is regulated cooperatively by the transcription factors Foxc2 and NFATc1. Mice lacking either Foxc2 or active NFATc1 fail to remodel the primary lymphatic plexus into functional lymphatic capillaries and collecting vessels. The resulting vessels lack valves, display abnormal expression of lymphatic molecules, and are hyperplastic. Moreover, the lymphatic capillaries show aberrant sprouting, and are abnormally covered with smooth muscle cells. In humans, mutations in FOXC2 lead to Lymphedema-Distichiasis (LD), a disabling disease characterized by swelling of the limbs due to insufficient lymphatic function. Our results from Foxc2 mutant mice and LD patients indicate that the underlying cause for lymphatic failure in LD is agenesis of collecting lymphatic valves and aberrant recruitment of periendothelial cells and basal lamina components to lymphatic capillaries. Furthermore, we show that liprin ��1, a poorly characterized member of the liprin family of cytoplasmic proteins, is highly expressed in lymphatic endothelial cells in vivo, and is required for lymphatic vessel integrity. These data highlight the important role of FOXC2, NFATc1 and liprin ��1 in the regulation of lymphatic development, specifically in the maturation and formation of the collecting lymphatic vessels. As damage to collecting vessels is a major cause of lymphatic dysfunction in humans, our results also suggest that FOXC2 and NFATc1 are potential targets for therapeutic intervention.

Development of nucleic acid vaccines: use of self-amplifying RNA in lipid nanoparticles

Self-amplifying RNA or RNA replicon is a form of nucleic acid-based vaccine derived from either positive-strand or negative-strand RNA viruses. The gene sequences encoding structural proteins in these RNA viruses are replaced by mRNA encoding antigens of interest as well as by RNA polymerase for replication and transcription. This kind of vaccine has been successfully assayed with many different antigens as vaccines candidates, and has been shown to be potent in several animal species, including mice, nonhuman primates, and humans. A key challenge to realizing the broad potential of self-amplifying vaccines is the need for safe and effective delivery methods. Ideally, an RNA nanocarrier should provide protection from blood nucleases and extended blood circulation, which ultimately would increase the possibility of reaching the target tissue. The delivery system must then be internalized by the target cell and, upon receptor-mediated endocytosis, must be able to escape from the endosomal compartment into the cell cytoplasm, where the RNA machinery is located, while avoiding degradation by lysosomal enzymes. Further, delivery systems for systemic administration ought to be well tolerated upon administration. They should be safe, enabling the multiadministration treatment modalities required for improved clinical outcomes and, from a developmental point of view, production of large batches with reproducible specifications is also desirable. In this review, the concept of self-amplifying RNA vaccines and the most promising lipid-based delivery systems are discussed.

Pharmacokinetics of sifuvirtide, a novel anti-HIV-1 peptide, in monkeys and its inhibitory concentration in vitro

Aim: To study the pharmacokinetics of sifuvirtide, a novel anti-human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) peptide, in monkeys and to compare the inhibitory concentrations of sifuvirtide and enfuvirtide on HIV-1-infected-cell fusion. Methods: Monkeys received 1.2 mg/kg iv or sc of sifuvirtide. An on-line solid-phase extraction procedure combined with liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (SPELC/MS/MS) was established and applied to determine the concentration of sifuvirtide in monkey plasma. A four-I-127 iodinated peptide was used as an internal standard. Fifty percent inhibitory concentration (IC50) of sifuvirtide on cell fusion was determined by co-cultivation assay. Results: The assay was validated with good precision and accuracy. The calibration curve for sifuvirtide in plasma was linear over a range of 4.88-5000 mu g/L, with correlation coefficients above 0.9923. After iv or sc administration, the observed peak concentrations of sifuvirtide were 10626 +/- 2886 mu g/L and 528 +/- 191 mu g/L, and the terminal elimination half-lives (T,12) were 6.3 +/- 0.9 h and 5.5 +/- 1.0 h, respectively. After sc, T-max was 0.25-2 h, and the absolute bioavailability was 49% +/- 13%. Sifuvirtide inhibited the syncytium formation between HIV-1 chronically infected cells and uninfected cells with an IC50 of 0.33 mu g/L. Conclusion: An on-line SPE-LC/MS/MS approach was established for peptide pharmacokinetic studies. Sifuvirtide was rapidly absorbed subcutaneously into the blood circulation. The T-1/2 of sifuvirtide was remarkably longer than that of its analog, enfuvirtide, reported in healthy monkeys and it conferred a long-term plasma concentration level which was higher than its IC50 in vitro.

Cloning and expression of zebra fish ferroportin and investigating its influence on anemia

Iron is required for many microbes and pathogens for their survival and proliferation including Leishmania which cause leishmaniasis. Leishmaniasis is an increasingly serious infectious disease with a wide spectrum of clinical manifestations. These range from localized cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) lesions to a lethal visceral form. Certain strains such as BALB/c mice fail to control L. major infection and develop progressive lesions and systemic disease. These mice are thought to be a model of non-healing forms of the human disease such as kala-azar or diffuse cutaneous leishmaniasis. Progression of disease in BALB/c mice has been associated with the anemia, in last days of their survival, the progressive anemia is considered to be one of the reasons of their death. Ferroportin (Fpn), a key regulator of iron homeostasis is a conserved membrane protein that exports iron across the duodenal enterocytes as well as macrophages and hepatocytes into the blood circulation. Fpn has also critical influence on survival and proliferation of many microorganisms whose growth is dependent upon iron, thus preparation of Fpn is needed to study the role of iron in immune responses and pathogenesis of micoorganisms. To prepare and characterize a recombinant ferroportin, total RNA was extracted from Indian zebrafish duodenum, and used to synthesize cDNA by RT-PCR. PCR product was first cloned in Topo TA vector and then subcloned into the GFP expression vector pEGFP���N1. The final resulted plasmid (pEGFP-ZFpn) was used for expression of FPN-EGFP protein in Hek 293T cells. The expression was confirmed by fluorescence microscopy and flow cytometery. Recombinant Fpn was further characterized by submission of its predicted amino acid sequences to the TMHMM V2.0 prediction server (hidden Markov model), NetOGlyc 3.1 server and NetNGlyc 3.1 server. Data emphasised that obtained Fpn from indian zebrafish contained eight transmembrane domains with N- and C-termini inside the cytoplasm and harboured 78 mucin-type glycosylated amino acid. The results indicate that the prepared and characterized recombinant Fpn protein has no membrane topology difference compared to other Fpn described by other researcher. Our next aim was to deliver recombinant plasmid (pEGFP-ZFpn) to entrocyte cells. However, naked therapeutic genes are rapidly degraded by nucleases, showing poor cellular uptake, nonspecificity to the target cells, and low transfection efficiency. The development of safe and efficient gene carriers is one of the prerequisites for the success of gene therapy. Chitosan and alginate 139 polymers were used for oral gene carrier because of their biodegradability, biocompatibility and their mucoadhesive and permeability-enhancing properties in the gut. Nanoparticles comprising Alginate/Chitosan polymers were prepared by pregel preparation method. The resulting nanoparticles had a loading efficiency of 95% and average size of 188 nm as confirmed by PCS method and SEM images had showed spherical particles. BALB/c mice were divided to three groups. The first and second group were fed with chitosan/alginate nanoparticles containing the pEGFP-ZFpn and pEGFP plasmid, respectively (30 ��gr/mice) and the third group (control) didn���t get any nanoparticles. The result showed BALB/c mice infected by L.major, resulted in higher hematocryte and iron level in pEGFP-ZFpn fed mice than that in other groups. Consentration of cytokines determined by ELISA showed lower levels of IL-4 and IL-10 and higher levels of IFN-��/IL-4 and IFN-��/IL-10 ratios in pEGFP-ZFpn fed mice than that in other groups. Morover more limited increase of footpad thickness and significant reduction of viable parasites in lymph node was seen in pEGFP-ZFpn fed mice. The results showed the first group exhibited a highr hematocryte and iron compared to the other groups. These data strongly suggests the in vivo administration of chitosan/alginate nanoparticles containing pEGFP-ZFpn suppress Th2 response and may be used to control the leishmaniasis .

Severe tissue damage in Atlantic cod larvae under increasing ocean acidification

Ocean acidification, caused by increasing atmospheric concentrations of CO2 (refs 1-3), is one of the most critical anthropogenic threats to marine life. Changes in seawater carbonate chemistry have the potential to disturb calcification, acid-base regulation, blood circulation and respiration, as well as the nervous system of marine organisms, leading to long-term effects such as reduced growth rates and reproduction(4,5). In teleost fishes, early life-history stages are particularly vulnerable as they lack specialized internal pH regulatory mechanisms(6,7). So far, impacts of relevant CO2 concentrations on larval fish have been found in behaviour(8,9) and otolith size(10,11), mainly in tropical, non-commercial species. Here we show detrimental effects of ocean acidification on the development of a mass-spawning fish species of high. commercial importance. We reared Atlantic cod larvae at three levels of CO2, (1) present day, (2) end of next century and (3) an extreme, coastal upwelling scenario, in a long-term (2; months) mesocosm experiment. Exposure to CO2 resulted in severe to lethal tissue damage in many internal organs, with the degree of damage increasing with CO2 concentration. As larval survival is the bottleneck to recruitment, ocean acidification has the potential to act as an additional source of natural mortality, affecting populations of already exploited fish stocks.

Dual studies on autonomic function and cerebral autoregulation in ischemic stroke patients

Tese de mestrado, Neuroci��ncias, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, 2015

��guas minerais em S��o Miguel (A��ores) : perce����o p��blica da sua g��nese e ocorr��ncia

Disserta����o de Mestrado, Geologia do Ambiente e Sociedade, 15 de Fevereiro de 2016, Universidade dos A��ores.

��tude du r��le de l'adaptateur Nck2 dans la progression m��tastatique du m��lanome humain

La diss��mination m��tastatique est associ��e �� de faibles chances de survie dans les cas de m��lanomes humains, comme pour d���autres cancers. Le d��veloppement de m��tastases est un processus qui se fait en plusieurs ��tapes et n��cessite la r��organisation du cytosquelette d���actine pour permettre la migration et l���invasion cellulaire. La prot��ine Nck2 est un adaptateur prot��ique principalement impliqu�� dans la r��organisation du cytosquelette. Une ��tude pr��liminaire r��alis��e dans notre laboratoire avait r��v��l�� que les niveaux de la prot��ine Nck2 et de son ARNm sont augment��s dans les lign��es de m��lanome m��tastatiques en comparaison aux lign��es primaires. Le but de la pr��sente recherche ��tait donc d�����tudier le r��le de l���adaptateur Nck2 dans la progression m��tastatique. Les r��sultats obtenus confirment que l���expression de Nck2 augmente de fa��on marqu��e au cours de la progression m��tastatique du m��lanome humain. Cette ��tude r��v��le en plus que l���expression de hauts niveaux de Nck2 dans les cellules de m��lanome primaire stimule la prolif��ration cellulaire et la migration, n���affecte pas l���invasion d���une matrice de collag��ne de type I, mais semble affaiblir les contacts cellule-cellule et l���adh��sion au substrat. Une ��tude pr��liminaire effectu��e in vivo r��v��le que ces ph��nom��nes se traduisent par une l��g��re augmentation de la tumorigen��se et de la croissance tumorale. Dans l���ensemble, les r��sultats obtenus sugg��rent que Nck2 pourrait effectivement jouer un r��le dans la progression m��tastatique du m��lanome en favorisant la prolif��ration des cellules tumorales et en facilitant leur d��tachement de la tumeur primaire, les rendant plus aptes �� se disperser dans l���organisme et �� ��tablir des colonies m��tastatiques. Au niveau mol��culaire, nous proposons que Nck2 est recrut�� dans les invadopodes pour favoriser la formation de complexes prot��iques qui stimulent l���invasion. La mobilisation de Nck2 dans ces structures membranaires diminuerait sa disponibilit�� pour l�����tablissent d���autres complexes prot��iques, entre autres dans les complexes d���adh��sion focaux (FAs) et dans les jonctions adh��rentes, diminuant ainsi les contacts des cellules canc��reuses avec la matrice extracellulaire et les cellules avoisinantes.

Caract��risation de la pharmacocin��tique de formulations sensibles au pH et de formulations destin��es au traitement des intoxications m��dicamenteuses

La pr��paration de formulations �� lib��ration contr��l��e est le domaine des sciences pharmaceutiques qui vise �� modifier l���environnement imm��diat des principes actifs pour en am��liorer l���efficacit�� et l���innocuit��. Cet objectif peut ��tre atteint en modifiant la cin��tique de circulation dans le sang ou la distribution dans l���organisme. Le but de ce projet de recherche ��tait d�����tudier le profil pharmacocin��tique (PK) de diff��rentes formulations liposomales. L���analyse PK, g��n��ralement employ��e pour repr��senter et pr��dire les concentrations plasmatiques des m��dicaments et de leurs m��tabolites, a ��t�� utilis��e ici pour caract��riser in vivo des formulations sensibles au pH servant �� modifier la distribution intracellulaire de principes actifs ainsi que des liposomes destin��s au traitement des intoxications m��dicamenteuses. Dans un premier temps, la PK d���un copolym��re sensible au pH, �� base de N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAM) et d���acide m��thacrylique (MAA) a ��t�� ��tudi��e. Ce dernier, le p(NIPAM-co-MAA) est utilis�� dans notre laboratoire pour la fabrication de liposomes sensibles au pH. L�����tude de PK conduite sur les profils de concentrations sanguines de diff��rents polym��res a d��fini les caract��ristiques influen��ant la circulation des macromol��cules dans l���organisme. La taille des mol��cules, leur point de trouble ainsi que la pr��sence d���un segment hydrophobe �� l���extr��mit�� des cha��nes se sont av��r��s d��terminants. Le seuil de filtration glom��rulaire du polym��re a ��t�� ��valu�� �� 32 000 g/mol. Finalement, l���analyse PK a permis de s���assurer que les complexes form��s par la fixation du polym��re �� la surface des liposomes restaient stables dans le sang, apr��s injection par voie intraveineuse. Ces donn��es ont ��tabli qu���il ��tait possible de synth��tiser un polym��re pouvant ��tre ad��quatement ��limin�� par filtration r��nale et que les liposomes sensibles au pH pr��par��s avec celui-ci demeuraient intacts dans l���organisme. En second lieu, l���analyse PK a ��t�� utilis��e dans le d��veloppement de liposomes poss��dant un gradient de pH transmembranaire pour le traitement des intoxications m��dicamenteuses. Une formulation a ��t�� d��velopp��e et optimis��e in vitro pour capturer un m��dicament mod��le, le diltiazem (DTZ). La formulation liposomale s���est av��r��e 40 fois plus performante que les ��mulsions lipidiques utilis��es en clinique. L���analyse PK des liposomes a permis de confirmer la stabilit�� de la formulation in vivo et d���analyser l���influence des liposomes sur la circulation plasmatique du DTZ et de son principal m��tabolite, le desac��tyldiltiazem (DAD). Il a ��t�� d��montr�� que les liposomes ��taient capables de capturer et de s��questrer le principe actif dans la circulation sanguine lorsque celui-ci ��tait administr��, par la voie intraveineuse. L���injection des liposomes 2 minutes avant l���administration du DTZ augmentait significativement l���aire sous la courbe du DTZ et du DAD tout en diminuant leur clairance plasmatique et leur volume de distribution. L���effet de ces modifications PK sur l���activit�� pharmacologique du m��dicament a ensuite ��t�� ��valu��. Les liposomes ont diminu�� l���effet hypotenseur du principe actif administr�� en bolus ou en perfusion sur une p��riode d���une heure. Au cours de ces travaux, l���analyse PK a servi �� ��tablir la preuve de concept que des liposomes poss��dant un gradient de pH transmembranaire pouvaient modifier la PK d���un m��dicament cardiovasculaire et en diminuer l���activit�� pharmacologique. Ces r��sultats serviront de base pour le d��veloppement de la formulation destin��e au traitement des intoxications m��dicamenteuses. Ce travail souligne la pertinence d���utiliser l���analyse PK dans la mise au point de vecteurs pharmaceutiques destin��s �� des applications vari��es. �� ce stade de d��veloppement, l���aspect pr��dictif de l���analyse n���a pas ��t�� exploit��, mais le c��t�� descriptif a permis de comparer ad��quatement diverses formulations et de tirer des conclusions pertinentes quant �� leur devenir dans l���organisme.