Molecular Profiling of Non-small Cell Lung Carcinomas : A Genome-wide DNA Methylation Analysis

DNA methylation is a signaling marker used by the cell to control gene expression, to keep genes silenced or active. It is an important part of what is called epigenetic controlling mechanisms (epi- Greek: επί- over, above, outer). We are just beginning to understand the intricate processes involving this type of epigenetic regulation and its role in normal development and carcinogenesis. In most types of cancers, a combination of environmental, genetic and epigenetic factors is implicated in initiating and maintaining the disease. Non-small cell lung carcinoma is a complex malignancy, posing challenges to accurate diagnosis and prognosis, which are essential for the correct choice of treatment. Despite recent advances in molecular biology and oncology, diagnosis is still largely based on classical histological classification

Seroprevalence of Chikungunya virus and living conditions in Feira de Santana, Bahia-Brazil.

BACKGROUND: Chikungunya is an arbovirus, transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes, which emerged in the Americas in 2013 and spread rapidly to almost every country on this continent. In Brazil, where the first cases were detected in 2014, it currently has reached all regions of this country and more than 900,000 cases were reported. The clinical spectrum of chikungunya ranges from an acute self-limiting form to disabling chronic forms. The purpose of this study was to estimate the seroprevalence of chikungunya infection in a large Brazilian city and investigate the association between viral circulation and living condition. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: We conducted a population-based ecological study in selected Sentinel Areas (SA) through household interviews and a serologic survey in 2016/2017. The sample was of 1,981 individuals randomly selected. The CHIKV seroprevalence was 22.1% (17.1 IgG, 2.3 IgM, and 1.4 IgG and IgM) and varied between SA from 2.0% to 70.5%. The seroprevalence was significantly lower in SA with high living conditions compared to SA with low living condition. There was a positive association between CHIKV seroprevalence and population density (r = 0.2389; p = 0.02033). CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: The seroprevalence in this city was 2.6 times lower than the 57% observed in a study conducted in the epicentre of the CHIKV epidemic of this same urban centre. So, the herd immunity in this general population, after four years of circulation of this agent is relatively low. It indicates that CHIKV transmission may persist in that city, either in endemic form or in the form of a new epidemic, because the vector infestation is persistent. Besides, the significantly lower seroprevalences in SA of higher Living Condition suggest that beyond the surveillance of the disease, vector control and specific actions of basic sanitation, the reduction of the incidence of this infection also depends on the improvement of the general living conditions of the population

Genome-wide DNA methylation profiling of non-small cell lung carcinomas

Background: Non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) is a complex malignancy that owing to its heterogeneity and poor prognosis poses many challenges to diagnosis, prognosis and patient treatment. DNA methylation is an important mechanism of epigenetic regulation involved in normal development and cancer. It is a very stable and specific modification and therefore in principle a very suitable marker for epigenetic phenotyping of tumors. Here we present a genome-wide DNA methylation analysis of NSCLC samples and paired lung tissues, where we combine MethylCap and next generation sequencing (MethylCap-seq) to provide comprehensive DNA methylation maps of the tumor and paired lung samples. The MethylCap-seq data were validated by bisulfite sequencing and methyl-specific polymerase chain reaction of selected regions. Results: Analysis of the MethylCap-seq data revealed a strong positive correlation between replicate experiments and between paired tumor/lung samples. We identified 57 differentially methylated regions (DMRs) present in all NSCLC tumors analyzed by MethylCap-seq. While hypomethylated DMRs did not correlate to any particular functional category of genes, the hypermethylated DMRs were strongly associated with genes encoding transcriptional regulators. Furthermore, subtelomeric regions and satellite repeats were hypomethylated in the NSCLC samples. We also identified DMRs that were specific to two of the major subtypes of NSCLC, adenocarcinomas and squamous cell carcinomas. Conclusions: Collectively, we provide a resource containing genome-wide DNA methylation maps of NSCLC and their paired lung tissues, and comprehensive lists of known and novel DMRs and associated genes in NSCLC

Intramyocardial transplantation of cardiac mesenchymal stem cells reduces myocarditis in a model of chronic Chagas disease cardiomyopathy

Submitted by Ana Maria Fiscina Sampaio ([email protected]) on 2014-10-08T16:56:49Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Silva D N Intramyocardial....pdf: 1440616 bytes, checksum: 8df954e30732cb7c8f805b3f571d2e66 (MD5)Approved for entry into archive by Ana Maria Fiscina Sampaio ([email protected]) on 2014-10-08T16:57:02Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 Silva D N Intramyocardial....pdf: 1440616 bytes, checksum: 8df954e30732cb7c8f805b3f571d2e66 (MD5)Made available in DSpace on 2014-10-08T17:42:59Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Silva D N Intramyocardial....pdf: 1440616 bytes, checksum: 8df954e30732cb7c8f805b3f571d2e66 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014Hospital São Rafael. Centro de Biotecnologia e Terapia Celular. Salvador, BA, Brasil / Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Centro de Pesquisa Gonçalo Moniz. Laboratório de Engenharia Tecidual e Imunofarmacologia. Salvador, BA, BrasilHospital São Rafael. Centro de Biotecnologia e Terapia Celular. Salvador, BA, Brasil / Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Centro de Pesquisa Gonçalo Moniz. Laboratório de Engenharia Tecidual e Imunofarmacologia. Salvador, BA, BrasilHospital São Rafael. Centro de Biotecnologia e Terapia Celular. Salvador, BA, Brasil / Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Centro de Pesquisa Gonçalo Moniz. Laboratório de Engenharia Tecidual e Imunofarmacologia. Salvador, BA, BrasilHospital São Rafael. Centro de Biotecnologia e Terapia Celular. Salvador, BA, Brasil / Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Centro de Pesquisa Gonçalo Moniz. Laboratório de Engenharia Tecidual e Imunofarmacologia. Salvador, BA, BrasilHospital São Rafael. Centro de Biotecnologia e Terapia Celular. Salvador, BA, BrasilHospital São Rafael. Centro de Biotecnologia e Terapia Celular. Salvador, BA, Brasil / Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Centro de Pesquisa Gonçalo Moniz. Laboratório de Engenharia Tecidual e Imunofarmacologia. Salvador, BA, BrasilHospital São Rafael. Centro de Biotecnologia e Terapia Celular. Salvador, BA, BrasilINTRODUCTION: New therapeutic options are necessary for patients with chronic Chagas disease, a leading cause of heart failure in Latin American countries. Stem cell therapy focused on improving cardiac function is a promising approach for treating heart disease. Here, we evaluated the therapeutic effects of cardiac mesenchymal stem cells (CMSCs) in a mouse model of chronic Chagas disease. METHODS: CMSCs were isolated from green fluorescent protein (GFP) transgenic C57BL/6 mouse hearts and tested for adipogenic, osteogenic, chondrogenic, endothelial, and cardiogenic differentiation potentials evaluated by histochemical and immunofluorescence techniques. A lymphoproliferation assay was performed to evaluate the immunomodulatory activity of CMSCs. To investigate the therapeutic potential of CMSCs, C57BL/6 mice chronically infected with Trypanosoma cruzi were treated with 106 CMSCs or saline (control) by echocardiography-guided injection into the left ventricle wall. All animals were submitted to cardiac histopathological and immunofluorescence analysis in heart sections from chagasic mice. Analysis by quantitative real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was performed in the heart to evaluate the expression of cytokines involved in the inflammatory response. RESULTS: CMSCs demonstrated adipogenic, osteogenic, and chondrogenic differentiation potentials. Moreover, these cells expressed endothelial cell and cardiomyocyte features upon defined stimulation culture conditions and displayed immunosuppressive activity in vitro. After intramyocardial injection, GFP+ CMSCs were observed in heart sections of chagasic mice one week later; however, no observed GFP+ cells co-expressed troponin T or connexin-43. Histopathological analysis revealed that CMSC-treated mice had a significantly decreased number of inflammatory cells, but no reduction in fibrotic area, two months after treatment. Analysis by qRT-PCR demonstrated that cell therapy significantly decreased tumor necrosis factor-alpha expression and increased transforming growth factor-beta in heart samples. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that the CMSCs exert a protective effect in chronic chagasic cardiomyopathy primarily through immunomodulation

Early transplantation of bone marrow mononuclear cells promotes neuroprotection and modulation of inflammation after status epilepticus in mice by paracrine mechanisms.

Submitted by Ana Maria Fiscina Sampaio ([email protected]) on 2015-05-19T17:24:00Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Leal MMT Early....pdf: 781614 bytes, checksum: d9ce1f5869c3b92b18bd5f5dc7f0b8e9 (MD5)Approved for entry into archive by Ana Maria Fiscina Sampaio ([email protected]) on 2015-05-19T17:50:20Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 Leal MMT Early....pdf: 781614 bytes, checksum: d9ce1f5869c3b92b18bd5f5dc7f0b8e9 (MD5)Made available in DSpace on 2015-05-19T17:50:20Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Leal MMT Early....pdf: 781614 bytes, checksum: d9ce1f5869c3b92b18bd5f5dc7f0b8e9 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014Hospital São Rafael. Salvador, BA, BrasilHospital São Rafael. Salvador, BA, BrasilHospital São Rafael. Salvador, BA, BrasilHospital São Rafael. Salvador, BA, BrasilHospital São Rafael. Salvador, BA, BrasilHospital São Rafael. Salvador, BA, BrasilHospital São Rafael. Salvador, BA, BrasilHospital São Rafael. Salvador, BA, Brasil / Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Centro de Pesquisas Gonçalo Moniz. Salvador, BA, BrasilHospital São Rafael. Salvador, BA, Brasil / Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Centro de Pesquisas Gonçalo Moniz. Salvador, BA, BrasilStatus epilepticus (SE) is a severe clinical manifestation of epilepsy associated with intense neuronal loss and inflammation, two key factors involved in the pathophysiology of temporal lobe epilepsy. Bone marrow mononuclear cells (BMMC) attenuated the consequences of pilocarpine-induced SE, including neuronal loss, in addition to frequency and duration of seizures. Here we investigated the effects of BMMC transplanted early after the onset of SE in mice, as well as the involvement of soluble factors produced by BMMC in the effects of the cell therapy. Mice were injected with pilocarpine for SE induction and randomized into three groups: transplanted intravenously with 1 × 10(7) BMMC isolated from GFP transgenic mice, injected with BMMC lysate, and saline-treated controls. Cell tracking, neuronal counting in hippocampal subfields and cytokine analysis in the serum and brain were performed. BMMC were found in the brain 4 h following transplantation and their numbers progressively decreased until 24 h following transplantation. A reduction in hippocampal neuronal loss after SE was found in mice treated with live BMMC and BMMC lysate when compared to saline-treated, SE-induced mice. Moreover, the expression of inflammatory cytokines IL-1ß, TNF-α, IL-6 was decreased after injection of live BMMC and to a lesser extent, of BMMC lysate, when compared to SE-induced controls. In contrast, IL-10 expression was increased. Analysis of markers for microglia activation demonstrated a reduction of the expression of genes related to type 1-activation. BMMC transplantation promotes neuroprotection and mediates anti-inflammatory effects following SE in mice, possibly through the secretion of soluble factors

Generation and characterization of transgenic mouse mesenchymal stem cell lines expressing hIGF-1 or hG-CSF

Submitted by Ana Maria Fiscina Sampaio ([email protected]) on 2018-08-14T13:51:05Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Gonçalves GV Generation and characterization of transgenic mouse....pdf: 3184309 bytes, checksum: 06a39efddde966ed6d8c4f753691c630 (MD5)Approved for entry into archive by Ana Maria Fiscina Sampaio ([email protected]) on 2018-08-14T14:05:27Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 Gonçalves GV Generation and characterization of transgenic mouse....pdf: 3184309 bytes, checksum: 06a39efddde966ed6d8c4f753691c630 (MD5)Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-14T14:05:27Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Gonçalves GV Generation and characterization of transgenic mouse....pdf: 3184309 bytes, checksum: 06a39efddde966ed6d8c4f753691c630 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2018The National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq), The Foundation of Support for Research of the State of Bahia (FAPESB), and Funding Authority for Studies and Projects (FINEP).Hospital São Rafael. Centro de Biotecnologia e Terapia Celular. Salvador, BA, BrasilHospital São Rafael. Centro de Biotecnologia e Terapia Celular. Salvador, BA, Brasil / Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Instituto Oswaldo Cruz. Salvador, BA, BrasilHospital São Rafael. Centro de Biotecnologia e Terapia Celular. Salvador, BA, BrasilHospital São Rafael. Centro de Biotecnologia e Terapia Celular. Salvador, BA, Brasil / Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Instituto Oswaldo Cruz. Salvador, BA, Brasil / National Institute of Science and Technology for Regenerative Medicine. Rio de Janeiro, RJ, BrazilHospital São Rafael. Centro de Biotecnologia e Terapia Celular. Salvador, BA, Brasil / Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Instituto Oswaldo Cruz. Salvador, BA, BrasilHospital São Rafael. Centro de Biotecnologia e Terapia Celular. Salvador, BA, Brasil / Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Instituto Oswaldo Cruz. Salvador, BA, BrasilHospital São Rafael. Centro de Biotecnologia e Terapia Celular. Salvador, BA, Brasil National Institute of Science and Technology for Regenerative Medicine. Rio de Janeiro, RJ, BrazilHospital São Rafael. Centro de Biotecnologia e Terapia Celular. Salvador, BA, BrasilHospital São Rafael. Centro de Biotecnologia e Terapia Celular. Salvador, BA, Brasil / Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Instituto Oswaldo Cruz. Salvador, BA, Brasil / National Institute of Science and Technology for Regenerative Medicine. Rio de Janeiro, RJ, BrazilHospital São Rafael. Centro de Biotecnologia e Terapia Celular. Salvador, BA, Brasil / National Institute of Science and Technology for Regenerative Medicine. Rio de Janeiro, RJ, BrazilMesenchymal stem cells (MSC) are promising tools in the fields of cell therapy and regenerative medicine. In addition to their differentiation potential, MSC have the ability to secrete bioactive molecules that stimulate tissue regeneration. Thus, the overexpression of cytokines and growth factors may enhance the therapeutic effects of MSC. Here we generated and characterized mouse bone marrow MSC lines overexpressing hG-CSF or hIGF-1. MSC lines overexpressing hG-CSF or hIGF-1 were generated through lentiviral vector mediated gene transfer. The expression of hG-CSF or hIGF-1 genes in the clones produced was quantified by qRT-PCR, and the proteins were detected in the cell supernatants by ELISA. The cell lines displayed cell surface markers and differentiation potential into adipocytes, osteocytes and chondrocytes similar to the control MSC cell lines, indicating the conservation of their phenotype even after genetic modification. IGF-1 and G-CSF transgenic cells maintained immunosuppressive activity. Finally, we performed a comparative gene expression analysis by qRT-PCR array in the cell lines expressing hIGF-1 and hG-CSF when compared to the control cells. Our results demonstrate that the cell lines generated may be useful tools for cell therapy and are suitable for testing in disease models

Clinical and laboratory evidence of Haff disease - case series from an outbreak in Salvador, Brazil, December 2016 to April 2017

Submitted by Ana Maria Fiscina Sampaio ([email protected]) on 2017-07-10T17:06:22Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Bandeira AC Clinical and laboratory....pdf: 152561 bytes, checksum: 9b922c9cf1096cae1fa87e0dae7f0dc3 (MD5)Approved for entry into archive by Ana Maria Fiscina Sampaio ([email protected]) on 2017-07-10T17:28:17Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 Bandeira AC Clinical and laboratory....pdf: 152561 bytes, checksum: 9b922c9cf1096cae1fa87e0dae7f0dc3 (MD5)Made available in DSpace on 2017-07-10T17:28:17Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Bandeira AC Clinical and laboratory....pdf: 152561 bytes, checksum: 9b922c9cf1096cae1fa87e0dae7f0dc3 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017Faculdade de Tecnologia e Ciencias. Medical School. Salvador, BA, Brasil / Hospital Aliança. Salvador, BA, Brasil / Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Instituto Gonçalo Moniz. Salvador, BA, BrasilFederal University of Bahia. Virology Laboratory. Salvador, BA, BrazilFundação Oswaldo Cruz. Instituto Gonçalo Moniz. Salvador, BA, Brasil / Federal University of Bahia. Instituto de Saúde Coletiva. Salvador, BA, BrasilSecretaria Municipal de Saúde, Salvador, BrazilFaculdade de Tecnologia e Ciencias. Medical School. Salvador, BA, BrasilFaculdade de Tecnologia e Ciencias. Medical School. Salvador, BA, BrasilHospital Aliança. Salvador, BA, BrasilFundação Oswaldo Cruz. Instituto Gonçalo Moniz. Salvador, BA, BrasilHospital Aeroporto. Salvador, BA, BrasilFederal University of Bahia. Virology Laboratory. Salvador, BA, BrazilSecretaria Municipal de Saúde, Salvador, BrazilUniversidade Catolica do Salvador. Salvador, BA, BrasilHospital Geral Roberto Santos. Salvador, BA, BrasilFederal University of Bahia. Virology Laboratory. Salvador, BA, BrazilWe describe a series of 15 Haff disease cases from an outbreak in Salvador, Brazil, starting early December 2016. Eleven cases were grouped in four family clusters of two to four individuals, four were isolated cases. All but one patient consumed cooked fish; 11 within 24h before symptoms onset. Cases consumed 'Olho de Boi' (Seriola spp.) and 'Badejo' (Mycteroperca spp.). A total of 67 cases were detected, the last case was reported on 5 April 2017