Estratégias de ensino da estereoquímica: Abordagens a aprendizagem de estudantes pré-universitários e universitários

Inexistent

Oxidative stress modulation of insulin secretion in protein undernourished rats' pancreatic islet

Orientador: Everardo Magalhães CarneiroDissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de BiologiaResumo: A desnutrição protéica promove redução da secreção de insulina devida inúmeras alterações moleculares nas células B pancreáticas. Recentemente foi demonstrado que o estado redox pode modular a secreção de insulina em condições fisiológicas. No entanto, a correlação entre as alterações no estado redox e na secreção de insulina em ratos submetidos à desnutrição protéica não é conhecida. Assim, nosso objetivo foi avaliar o impacto do estresse oxidativo na secreção de insulina em ilhotas de ratos desnutridos. Ratos machos Wistar foram tratados com dieta normoprotéica (NP-17%) ou hipoprotéica (LP-6%) por 60 dias. Após isolamento das ilhotas, foi medida atividade e o conteúdo protéico das enzimas antioxidantes SOD, GPx e a CAT. Para a secreção estática de insulina, as ilhotas foram pré-incubadas em 5.6 mM de glicose (GLI) com ou sem H2O2, na ausência ou presença de n-acetil cisteína (NAC) e posteriormente incubadas em diferentes concentrações de GLI. Observamos aumento da atividade da SOD (21.18±2.1-30.5.±2 µmoles/min/mg proteína NP-LP respectivamente), redução na CAT (9±1.2-5.22±0.73 µmoles/min/mg proteína NP-LP respectivamente) e nenhuma alteração na GPx em ilhotas de ratos desnutrido comparada com ilhotas de ratos controle. Apesar de observarmos tendência de aumento no conteúdo protéico das enzimas antioxidantes em LP, não houve diferença significativa de nenhuma das enzimas. A secreção de insulina de ratos LP que ficaram expostas a 33mM de glicose na incubação, retornou a níveis basais (GLI 2.8 mM) quando préincubado com 100 µM de H2O2, enquanto para as ilhotas de ratos controle foi necessário a adição de 300 ?M de H2O2 na pré-incubação para retornar aos níveis basais. Na presença de 10 mM de NAC + 150 µM de H2O2, durante a pré-incubação, e posterior incubação em 33 mM de glicose, observou-se redução significante da secreção de NP e aumento em LP. Estes resultados sugerem que as ilhotas pancreáticas de ratos desnutridos pré tratadas com H2O2 e posteriormente expostas a altas concentrações de glicose, são mais sensíveis ao H2O2 possivelmente devido à capacidade reduzida de detoxificação de espécies reativas de oxigênio (EROS).Abstract: Protein malnutrition induces pacreatic B-cells molecular alterations, reducing insulin secretion. It has been recently demonstrated that redox status may control insulin secretion under physiological conditions. However, protein malnutrition effects in redox modulation of insulin secretion is unknown. Thus, our aim was to evaluate oxidative stress impact upon insulin secretion in isolated islets from protein undernourished rats. Male Wistar rats were treated with normoproteic diet (NP-17%) or with a low protein diet (LP-6%) for sixty days. After islets isolation, it was measured antioxidant enzymes SOD, GPX and CAT activities and protein content. For insulin secretion measurement, islets were pre-incubated with glucose 5.6 (GLI) mM with or without H2O2 at the presence and absence of N-acetyl-cisteyne (NAC) and after that islets were incubated with diferent GLI concentration. SOD and CAT activities were significant increased (21.18±2.1-30.5.±2 µmoles/min/mg protein for NP-LP respectively) and decreased (9±1.2-5.22±0.73 µmoles/min/mg protein for NP-LP respectively) respectively, whereas GPX did not show any alteration. Despite a tendency of increase in the LP protein content of antioxidant enzymes, no significant differences were observed. When incubated with glucose 33mM, LP insulin secretion returned to baseline values (GLI 2.8 mM) when it was pre-incubated with H2O2 100 µM, whereas NP islets returned to baseline levels when pre-incubated with H2O2 300 ?M. When islets were pre-incubated with NAC 10 mM + H2O2 150 µM and further incubated with glucose 33 mM, insulin secretion was reduced in NP, whereas in LP it was increased. Taken together, these datasuggest that pancreatic islets from undernourished rats when pre-treated with H2O2 and thereafter challenged with high glucose concentrations are more sensitive to H2O2, probably due to their lower capacity to detoxify reactive oxygen species (ROS).MestradoFisiologiaMestre em Biologia Funcional e Molecula

Suporte social percebido em crianças e jovens portugueses em diferentes tipologias familiares e acolhimento residencial

Background and Aim: Social support can be a protective factor for children and youth, reducing the effects of stress and improving psychosocial and relational stability. This study aimed to understand the perception of social support among Portuguese children and youth and how it is influenced by their household composition. Methods: The Perception of Social Support from Friends and Family (PSS-Par and PSS-Fam) scales were administered in person and through Google Forms to 250 children and youth between 10 and 21 years old (M = 16.4 years), with 25.2% in residential care, 51.6% in intact nuclear families, 13.2% in single-parent families, and 10.0% in reconstituted families, mostly female (55.2%). Results: Children and youth in residential care perceived less social support from peers than those in other living arrangements (p < .05). Children and youth in residential care perceived less social support from family than those in intact nuclear families (p < .05). Conclusions: These findings highlight the importance of providing adequate social support for children and youth, especially those living in residential care, and in reconstituted families, as a protective factor for their psychosocial, relational, and social development.Contexto e Objetivo: O suporte social pode ser um fator protetor para crianças/jovens, reduzindo os efeitos do stress e melhorando a estabilidade psicoemocional e relacional. Este estudo teve como objetivo conhecer o suporte social percebido em crianças e jovens portugueses e entender como é influenciado pelo contexto familiar/residencial em que vivem. Métodos: Foram aplicadas as Escalas de Perceção de Suporte Social de Amigos e Família (PSS-Par e PSS-Fam), presencialmente e através do Google Forms, a 250 crianças e jovens entre 10 e 21 anos (M = 16,4 anos), 25,2% em acolhimento residencial, 51,6% em famílias nucleares intactas, 13,2% em famílias monoparentais e 10,0% em famílias reconstituídas, maioritariamente do sexo feminino (55,2%). Resultados: As crianças/jovens em acolhimento residencial percecionaram menor suporte social pelos pares do que as demais (p < 0,05). As crianças/jovens em acolhimento percecionaram menor suporte social familiar do que os que viviam em famílias nucleares intactas (p < 0,05). Conclusões: Estes resultados evidenciam a importância de garantir suporte social adequado em crianças/jovens como fator protetor do desenvolvimento psicoemocional, relacional e social, especialmente às integradas em acolhimento residencial e famílias reconstituídas

Turning a Collagenesis-Inducing Peptide Into a Potent Antibacterial and Antibiofilm Agent Against Multidrug-Resistant Gram-Negative Bacteria

Antimicrobial resistance is becoming one the most serious health threats worldwide, as it not only hampers effective treatment of infectious diseases using current antibiotics, but also increases the risks of medical procedures like surgery, transplantation, bone and dental implantation, chemotherapy, or chronic wound management. To date, there are no effective measures to tackle life-threatening nosocomial infections caused by multidrug resistant bacterial species, of which Gram-negative species within the so-called "ESKAPE" pathogens are the most worrisome. Many such bacteria are frequently isolated from severely infected skin lesions such as diabetic foot ulcers (DFU). In this connection, we are pursuing new peptide constructs encompassing antimicrobial and collagenesis-inducing motifs, to tackle skin and soft tissue infections by exerting a dual effect: antimicrobial protection and faster healing of the wound. This produced peptide 3.1-PP4 showed MIC values as low as 1.0 and 2.1 μM against Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, respectively, and low toxicity to HFF-1 human fibroblasts. Remarkably, the peptide was also potent against multidrug-resistant isolates of Klebsiella pneumoniae, E. coli, and P. aeruginosa (MIC values between 0.5 and 4.1 μM), and hampered the formation of/disaggregated K. pneumoniae biofilms of resistant clinical isolates. Moreover, this notable hybrid peptide retained the collagenesis-inducing behavior of the reference cosmeceutical peptide C16-PP4 ("Matrixyl"). In conclusion, 3.1-PP4 is a highly promising lead toward development of a topical treatment for severely infected skin injuries.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

“Clicking” an ionic liquid to a potent antimicrobial peptide: on the route towards improved stability

A covalent conjugate between an antibacterial ionic liquid and an antimicrobial peptide was produced via “click” chemistry, and found to retain the parent peptide’s activity against multidrug-resistant clinical isolates of Gram-negative bacteria, and antibiofilm action on a resistant clinical isolate of Klebsiella pneumoniae, while exhibiting much improved stability towards tyrosinase-mediated modifications. This unprecedented communication is a prelude for the promise held by ionic liquids -based approaches as tools to improve the action of bioactive peptides.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Disclosure of a promising lead to tackle complicated skin and skin structure infections: antimicrobial and antibiofilm actions of peptide PP4-3.1

Efficient antibiotics are being exhausted, which compromises the treatment of infections, including complicated skin and skin structure infections (cSSTI) often associated with multidrug resistant (MDR) bacteria, methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) being the most prevalent. Antimicrobial peptides (AMP) are being increasingly regarded as the new hope for the post-antibiotic era. Thus, future management of cSSTI may include use of peptides that, on the one hand, behave as AMP and, on the other, are able to promote fast and correct skin rebuilding. As such, we combined the well-known cosmeceutical pentapeptide-4 (PP4), devoid of antimicrobial action but possessing collagenesis-boosting properties, with the AMP 3.1, to afford the chimeric peptide PP4-3.1. We further produced its N-methyl imidazole derivative, MeIm-PP4-3.1. Both peptide-based constructs were evaluated in vitro against Gram-negative bacteria, Gram-positive bacteria, and Candida spp. fungi. Additionally, the antibiofilm activity, the toxicity to human keratinocytes, and the activity against S. aureus in simulated wound fluid (SWF) were assessed. The chimeric peptide PP4-3.1 stood out for its potent activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, including against MDR clinical isolates (0.8 ≤ MIC ≤ 5.7 µM), both in planktonic form and in biofilm matrix. The peptide was also active against three clinically relevant species of Candida fungi, with an overall performance superior to that of fluconazole. Altogether, data reveal that PP4-3.1 is as a promising lead for the future development of new topical treatments for severe skin infections.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Meta-Analysis of MS-Based Proteomics Studies Indicates Interferon Regulatory Factor 4 and Nucleobindin1 as Potential Prognostic and Drug Resistance Biomarkers in Diffuse Large B Cell Lymphoma

Funding: Rune Matthiesen is supported by Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (CEEC position, 2019–2025 investigator). This article is a Fiigureresult of the projects (iNOVA4Health— UIDB/04462/2020), supported by Lisboa Portugal Regional Operational Programme (Lisboa2020), under the PORTUGAL 2020 Partnership Agreement, through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). This work is also funded by FEDER funds through the COMPETE 2020 Programme and National Funds through FCT—Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology under the project numbers: PTDC/BTM-TEC/30087/2017 and PTDC/BTM-TEC/30088/2017.The prognosis of diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is inaccurately predicted using clinical features and immunohistochemistry (IHC) algorithms. Nomination of a panel of molecules as the target for therapy and predicting prognosis in DLBCL is challenging because of the divergences in the results of molecular studies. Mass spectrometry (MS)-based proteomics in the clinic represents an analytical tool with the potential to improve DLBCL diagnosis and prognosis. Previous proteomics studies using MS-based proteomics identified a wide range of proteins. To achieve a consensus, we reviewed MS-based proteomics studies and extracted the most consistently significantly dysregulated proteins. These proteins were then further explored by analyzing data from other omics fields. Among all significantly regulated proteins, interferon regulatory factor 4 (IRF4) was identified as a potential target by proteomics, genomics, and IHC. Moreover, annexinA5 (ANXA5) and nucleobindin1 (NUCB1) were two of the most up-regulated proteins identified in MS studies. Functional enrichment analysis identified the light zone reactions of the germinal center (LZ-GC) together with cytoskeleton locomotion functions as enriched based on consistent, significantly dysregulated proteins. In this study, we suggest IRF4 and NUCB1 proteins as potential biomarkers that deserve further investigation in the field of DLBCL sub-classification and prognosis.publishersversionpublishe

Proteomic landscape of extracellular vesicles for diffuse large b‐cell lymphoma subtyping

Funding Information: R.M. is supported by Funda??o para a Ci?ncia e a Tecnologia (CEEC position, 2019?2025 investigator). This article is a result of the projects (iNOVA4Health?UID/Multi/04462/2013), supported by Lisboa Portugal Regional Operational Programme (Lisboa2020), under the PORTUGAL 2020 Partnership Agreement, through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). This work is also funded by FEDER funds through the COMPETE 2020 Programme and National Funds through FCT?Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology under the projects number PTDC/BTM?TEC/30087/2017 and PTDC/BTM?TEC/30088/2017. B.C.S. is supported by the Cham-palimaud Foundation and the EMBO Installation Grant 3921. Funding Information: Funding: R.M. is supported by Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (CEEC position, 2019–2025 investigator). This article is a result of the projects (iNOVA4Health—UID/Multi/04462/2013), sup‐ ported by Lisboa Portugal Regional Operational Programme (Lisboa2020), under the PORTUGAL 2020 Partnership Agreement, through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). This work is also funded by FEDER funds through the COMPETE 2020 Programme and National Funds through FCT—Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology under the projects number PTDC/BTM‐TEC/30087/2017 and PTDC/BTM‐TEC/30088/2017. B.C.S. is supported by the Cham‐ palimaud Foundation and the EMBO Installation Grant 3921. Publisher Copyright: © 2021 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.The role of extracellular vesicles (EVs) proteome in diffuse large B‐cell lymphoma (DLBCL) pathology, subclassification, and patient screening is unexplored. We analyzed by state‐of‐the‐art mass spectrometry the whole cell and secreted extracellular vesicles (EVs) proteomes of different molecular subtypes of DLBCL, germinal center B cell (GCB subtype), and activated B cell (ABC subtype). After quality control assessment, we compared whole‐cell and secreted EVs proteomes of the two cell‐of‐origin (COO) categories, GCB and ABC subtypes, resulting in 288/1115 significantly differential expressed proteins from the whole‐cell proteome and 228/608 proteins from EVs (adjust p‐value < 0.05/p‐value < 0.05). In our preclinical model system, we demonstrated that the EV prote-ome and the whole‐cell proteome possess the capacity to separate cell lines into ABC and GCB sub-types. KEGG functional analysis and GO enrichment analysis for cellular component, molecular function, and biological process of differential expressed proteins (DEP) between ABC and GCB EVs showed a significant enrichment of pathways involved in immune response function. Other enriched functional categories for DEPs constitute cellular signaling and intracellular trafficking such as B‐cell receptor (BCR), Fc_gamma R‐mediated phagocytosis, ErbB signaling, and endocyto-sis. Our results suggest EVs can be explored as a tool for patient diagnosis, follow‐up, and disease monitoring. Finally, this study proposes novel drug targets based on highly expressed proteins, for which antitumor drugs are available suggesting potential combinatorial therapies for aggressive forms of DLBCL. Data are available via ProteomeXchange with identifier PXD028267.publishersversionpublishe

Characterization and Diagnostic Potential

Funding Information: R.M. is supported by Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (CEEC position, 2019–2025 investigator). This article is a result of the projects (iNOVA4Health—UIDB/04462/2020), supported by Lisboa Portugal Regional Operational Programme (Lisboa2020), under the PORTUGAL 2020 Partnership Agreement, through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). This work is also funded by FEDER funds through the COMPETE 2020 Programme and National Funds through FCT—Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology under the projects number PTDC/BTM-TEC/30087/2017 and PTDC/BTM-TEC/30088/2017. Publisher Copyright: © 2022 by the authors.Diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is an aggressive B cell lymphoma characterized by a heterogeneous behavior and in need of more accurate biological characterization monitoring and prognostic tools. Extracellular vesicles are secreted by all cell types and are currently established to some extent as representatives of the cell of origin. The present study characterized and evaluated the diagnostic and prognostic potential of plasma extracellular vesicles (EVs) proteome in DLBCL by using state-of-the-art mass spectrometry. The EV proteome is strongly affected by DLBCL status, with multiple proteins uniquely identified in the plasma of DLBCL. A proof-of-concept classifier resulted in highly accurate classification with a sensitivity and specificity of 1 when tested on the holdout test data set. On the other hand, no proteins were identified to correlate with non-germinal center B-cell like (non-GCB) or GCB subtypes to a significant degree after correction for multiple testing. However, functional analysis suggested that antigen binding is regulated when comparing non-GCB and GCB. Survival analysis based on protein quantitative values and clinical parameters identified multiple EV proteins as significantly correlated to survival. In conclusion, the plasma extracellular vesicle proteome identifies DLBCL cancer patients from healthy donors and contains potential EV protein markers for prediction of survival.publishersversionpublishe