Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Tissus foetal'

Prior to the commencement of this study in 1990, a number of reports had appeared in the literature describing the importance of insulin action during lactation in mammals (see Chapter 1). These studies investigated the changes in circulating insulin and glucagon concentrations during lactation, the relative numbers of insulin receptors in insulin-sensitive tissues, and glucose utilisation by these tissues. However, at that time, no information was available on the structure of the mammary insulin receptor. The rationale for undertaking this study was to characterise the structure of the rat mammary insulin receptor as a means of furthering our understanding of the role insulin plays during lactation.An initial requirement of this study was the development of a method for the convenient and inexpensive preparation of A14-tyrosyl[125I]iodoinsulin. A14-tyrosyl[125I]iodoinsulin displays binding characteristics which are virtually indistinguishable from the native hormone, which is a necessary requirement for tracers which are to be used in binding studies. In Chapter 2, I describe a method for the purification of A14-tyrosyl[125I]iodoinsulin from a mixture of iodinated insulin molecules which are produced following oxidation by chloramine-T in the presence of Na125iodine. In this method I employed disposable cartridges packed with a C18 support matrix to which the iodinated insulin molecules are readily adsorbed when in an aqueous solution.A 14-tyrosyl[125I]iodoinsulin absorbed most strongly to the C18 matrix and unwanted products were removed through a sequence of washes prior to the elution of the A14-tyrosyl[125I]iodoinsulin derivative using a buffer containing 50% (v/v) acetonitrile. This prodct was unambiguously shown to be A14-tyrosyl[125I]iodoinsulin by N-terminal amino acid sequencing. The quality of this radiolabel compared favourably with commercially ++
available A14-tyrosyl[125I]iodoinsulin preparations both in terms of specific activity and stability upon storage at -20C. Furthermore, a modified method based on this protocol has been used in our and other laboratories for the isolation of other iodinated peptides with highly satisfactory results.I have established that the size of the a-subunit of the rat mammary insulin receptor is significantly diminished compared with the liver insulin receptor (125 kDa versus 130 kDa). This difference in size was present throughout all stages of lactation and was not due to proteolysis of a larger form. Furthermore, I demonstrated that both the mammary and liver insulin receptor a-subunits migrated equally on PAGE following treatment with neuraminidase, indicating that the apparent size difference may be accounted for by a variation in the extent of receptor sialation. Treatment of the mammary insulin receptor a-subunit with glycopeptidase F demonstrated that the size of the aglycoreceptor (100 kDa) was similar to that described for insulin receptors from other insulin-sensitive tissues.I characterised the distribution of mRNA encoding the two, naturally-occurring insulin receptor isoforms in mammary tissue throughout all stages of pregnancy and lactation. These insulin receptor isoforms differ due to the absence (IR-A) or presence (IR-B) of a 12 amino acid peptide, encoded by exon 11 of the insulin receptor gene, and located near the C-terminus of the insulin receptor a-subunit. Mammary tissue predominantly expressed IR-A mRNA in contrast to liver tissue, which almost exclusively expressed IRB mRNA. Furthermore, the ratio of IR-A to IR-B mRNA in mammary tissue changed significantly during the first week post-partum whilst the distribution of IR-A and IR-B mRNA in the liver remained constant throughout pregnancy and lactation. This difference in insulin receptor isoform ++
expression between mammary and liver tissue also contributed to the estimated size difference between the insulin receptor a-subunits from these two tissues. In addition, I characterised the expression of IR-A and IR-B mRNA in several different tissues obtained from rats on day 14 of gestation through to 7 days post partum. I established that the splicing mechanism is functional at least as early as day 14 of gestation, suggesting a possible role for the preferential expression of a particular insulin receptor isoform during organogenesis. I observed that IR-A mRNA was the predominant isoform in all foetal tissue studied, and the proportion of this isoform declined as the animal matured. These changes were significant in cardiac muscle, kidney and most dramatic in the liver where the expression of IR-A mRNA changed from 53% in the 21 day old foetus (the day before parturition) to 13% in the 1 day old neonate. These results suggest that the splicing mechanism which generates the receptor isoforms is subject to acute hormonal and/or metabolic control.The current literature suggests that the carbohydrate moieties of the insulin receptor affects its affinity for insulin. Furthermore, the IR-A and IR-B isoforms have been shown to display a 2-fold difference in their insulin binding affinity when expressed in heterologous cell lines such at CHO cells or Rat-1 fibroblasts. Since both glycosylational and isoform distribution differences were evident between mammary and liver tissues, the insulin binding affinities of these receptors were compared. Estimates of the binding affinity parameters were performed at both 4 C and 37 C. At both temperatures the equilibrium binding constants for mammary and liver tissues were not significantly different suggesting that structural variations of the mammary insulin receptor had no effect on the insulin binding affinity under the ++
conditions described in this study. Comparison of the 4 C and 37 C binding data showed that the mammary insulin receptor exhibited complex, temperature-dependent binding characteristics, similar to those previously described for the liver insulin receptor, and entirely consistent with the presence of a temperature-dependent regulatory protein that affects insulin binding.

Résumé : L’obésité est un enjeu de société de première importance; elle est un facteur de risque de plusieurs maladies et engendre d’importantes dépenses en santé. Outre l’alimentation, la sédentarité et les prédispositions génétiques, il semble que l’environnement fœtal soit un facteur déterminant dans le développement de l’obésité. En effet, il a été démontré que les nouveau-nés exposés à un environnement intra-utérin défavorable ont un risque accru de développer, à l’adolescence et à l’âge adulte, l’obésité ainsi que les désordres métaboliques qui y sont associés. Le diabète gestationnel (DG) est l’une des complications de santé maternelle les plus fréquentes et est associé à un risque accru à long terme pour la santé métabolique de l’enfant. Malgré les nombreuses données probantes épidémiologiques concernant le phénomène de la programmation fœtale associée au DG, les mécanismes moléculaires impliqués ont été très peu étudiés. Il est cependant de plus en plus évident que l’épigénétique soit l’un de ces mécanismes. Cette thèse a pour objectif d’identifier les changements de méthylation de l’ADN, la modification épigénétique la plus stable et la plus connue, chez les nouveau-nés exposés in utero au DG. Dans un premier temps, la méthylation de l’ADN de 44 échantillons de placenta et de sang de cordon a été analysée à l’échelle du génome. Cette approche a permis de démontrer que les gènes épigénétiquement modifiés suite à une exposition au DG sont majoritairement retrouvés dans les voies biologiques associées aux maladies métaboliques. Des analyses dans une cohorte indépendante (n=80) ont confirmé l’effet de la glycémie maternelle sur la méthylation de l’ADN des gènes BRD2, LRP1B et CACNA1D impliqués dans la régulation du métabolisme des lipides et du glucose et du système rénine-angiotensine respectivement. Dans un second temps, l’approche par gènes candidats a démontré que l’exposition au DG est associée à la méthylation de l’ADN de gènes du métabolisme des lipides (LPL et ABCA1) du placenta. L’analyse de la méthylation de la LEP et de l’ADIPOQ dans le sang et les tissus adipeux de sujets sévèrement obèses a permis d’identifier des sites de méthylation pouvant potentiellement être utilisés dans le sang comme marqueur de susceptibilité à l’obésité. L’ensemble des résultats de cette thèse démontrent que le DG modifie le profil épigénétique de gènes impliqués dans les voies biologiques des maladies métaboliques (métabolisme énergétique et des lipides) et supportent l’importance de la méthylation de l’ADN dans la programmation de la santé métabolique du nouveau-né ayant été exposé in utero au DG.
Abstract : Obesity has reached epidemic proportions worldwide in both adult and childhood populations and is now recognized as a major public health issue. Obesity is associated with higher incidence of cardiometabolic complications including type 2 diabetes (T2D), dyslipidemia and hypertension as well as with increased health care costs. The fetal environment now appears, with genetics and the environment, as one cause of the obesity epidemic. Indeed, according to the fetal programming hypothesis, newborns exposed to a detrimental fetal environment are more susceptible to develop obesity, T2D and other related chronic disorders when they become teenagers or adults. Many studies have associated gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) exposure with these long-term metabolic health risks for the newborn. Although, numerous studies show epidemiological evidence to support the fetal programming hypothesis, only a few studies have been undertaken to understand the underlying molecular mechanisms. However, several studies now suggest that epigenetics may be involved. The objective of this thesis is to study changes in DNA methylation, the more stable and studied epigenetic system, in newborns that have been exposed to GDM in utero. First, a genome-wide DNA methylation analysis (BeadChip) was performed in a sample set of 44 placenta and cord blood samples to identify genes and metabolic pathways dysregulated by GDM. This approach showed that genes epigenetically affected by GDM are predominantly involved in metabolic diseases. The associations between maternal glycemia and DNA methylation levels were confirmed, in an independent birth cohort, for BRD2, LRP1B and CACNA1D gene loci involved in the regulation of lipid and glucose metabolism and the renin-angiotensin system respectively. Then, using a candidate gene approach we reported that DNA methylation levels at gene loci involved in lipid metabolism (LPL and ABCA1) are modified in the placenta following exposure to GDM. Furthermore, analyses of LEP and ADIPOQ DNA methylation levels in blood and adipose tissues of severely obese men and women allowed the identification of CpG sites that might be used in blood as a marker of obesity susceptibility. Altogether the results of this thesis show that GDM affects the epigenetic signature of genes involved in metabolic disease pathways (energy and lipid metabolism) and support the role of DNA methylation in metabolic health programming of the newborn exposed to GDM.

Des données épidémiologiques indiquent qu’une dénutrition maternelle prénatale (DMP) induit un retard de croissance intra-utérin (RCIU) et prédispose la descendance au développement d’un syndrome métabolique (SM). Afin de comprendre les mécanismes impliqués dans la mise en place du SM, nous avons développé un modèle de restriction alimentaire de 70 % chez le rat pendant toute la gestation : le modèle FR30. Nos travaux montrent que la DMP augmente la sensibilité de la descendance mâle au développement de certains traits du SM tels qu’une hypertension modérée, une hyperleptinémie sans phénotype d’obésité, une hypercorticostéronémie, une perturbation de la régulation de la glycémie, une hyperphagie et de subtiles altérations des projections neuronales à POMC. Notre objectif a été ensuite d’identifier les mécanismes programmés par la DMP chez la descendance mâle FR30 adulte au niveau de l’axe hypothalamo-adipocytaire (HA). Basé sur la théorie de la programmation fœtale, nous avons tenté d’exacerber les perturbations métaboliques observées et/ou silencieuses par un régime hyperlipidique (HF) dès le sevrage. Bien que la DMP n’exacerbe pas les traits de SM induits par le régime HF, les rats FR30HF ont une prise de poids plus importante, une masse de dépôts adipeux augmentée, un taux de leptine plus important et une absence d’augmentation des glucocorticoïdes circulants suite au jeûne. Nous avons montré que le tissu adipeux présente de fortes variations d’expression génique différentes en fonction des dépôts adipeux, contrairement à l’hypothalamus. Nos travaux suggèrent donc que l’axe HA constitue l’une des cibles privilégiées de la programmation fœtale suite à une DMP
Epidemiological studies have shown that maternal undernutrition during pregnancy (MU) leads to intrauterine growth retardation and may predispose individuals to the development of metabolic syndrome. In order to better understand the underlying mechanisms, we have developed a model of prenatal maternal 70% food-restricted diet throughout gestation in pregnant female rats called FR30. Our results show that MU increases the vulnerability to some metabolic syndrome features in adult male rat offspring such as mild hypertension, hyperleptinemia without obesity, hypercorticosteronemia, impaired glucose intolerance and hyperphagia and subtle alterations of POMC hypothalamic neurons projections. Our goal was then to identify tissue mechanisms programmed by MU in FR30 adult male offspring hypothalamic-adipose axis (HA). Based on the developmental origins of the metabolic syndrome, we attempted to heighten visible and/or silent metabolic alterations observed under standard diet by feeding FR30 rats a high fat (HF) diet since the weaning. Although MU does not worsen the metabolic syndrome features induced by postnatal HF feeding, FR30 adult rats gain more weight, exhibit greater body fat content, a rise of serum leptin levels and a blunted increase of corticosterone levels. FR30 MU does not significantly affect the hypothalamic mRNA levels whereas it leads to marked gene expression variation in WAT in depot-specific and diet-specific manners. Our results suggest that the HA tissue axis is one of the key targets of MU fetal programming in adult male rat offspring

In this study, the origin and development of the intrinsic innervation in the foetal mouse lung is described and experimental evidence is provided to support the involvement of glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) in the guidance of nerves and neuronal precursors in the developing lung. Antibodies were used to stain for neuronal precursors, neurones, nerve fibres, primordial epithelium and smooth muscle. These structures were revealed in whole mounts of foetal mouse lungs by immunofluorescence and confocal microscopy, and their spatial and temporal distribution was mapped from the onset of lung development and through the pseudoglandular period. The results showed that neuronal precursors, positive for neural crest cell markers, were present in the vagal tract of the foregut at embryonic day 10 (E10), the time of the evagination of the lung buds. These neural crest-derived cells (NCC) migrated into the lung at E11, along nerve processes directed from the vagus to the smooth musclecovered trachea and emerging lobar bronchi. During E11-E14, a network of nerves and ganglia became established along the dorsal trachea, and large ganglia formed a plexus at the ventral hilum. Nerve trunks issued from these ganglia, travelled along the smooth muscle-covered bronchi, providing a pathway for migrating NCC. To investigate the role of GDNF in the innervation of the lung, an in vitro model of left lung lobes was established. Lung growth and tubule branching was comparable to that in vivo, and neural tissue and smooth muscle continued to grow and thrive. A significant increase in nerve growth occurred when explants were cultured with GDNF compared to controls. Nerves extended, and NCC migrated towards GDNF-impregnated beads suggesting that GDNF may be the molecule guiding nerve fibres and NCC in the lung. The migrating NCC were negative for GDNF-family receptor α1 (GFRα1) during their migration into the lung while the nerves were positive. Since GDNF needs to be associated with its binding receptor, GFRα1, for cellular signalling, GDNF may induce the migration of the NCC if they migrate along the GFRα1-positive nerve fibres. It is concluded that neural tissue and smooth muscle become integral components of the lung shortly after the onset of lung development. The results show that the migration of neural crest-derived cells into the lung and the establishment of the innervation requires coordinated cross-talk between NCC, nerves and smooth muscle throughout development.

Les lymphocytes T régulateurs (Tregs) jouent un rôle dans la grossesse précoce, localement dans l'utérus et de façon systémique, dans les organes lymphoïdes secondaires et dans le sang. Dans le tissu utérin, j'ai identifié une nouvelle population de Tregs effecteurs-mémoire résidant dans le tissu (uregTrm). Avant la grossesse, uregTrm ont un profil transcriptionnel et un phénotype unique en réponse au micro-environnement utérin. Au début de la grossesse, les uregTrm prolifèrent et expriment de nouveaux gènes impliqués dans des fonctions trophiques telles que le remodelage de la matrice extracellulaire, l'hypoxie et la vasculogenèse. La fonction trophique d'uregTrm a été comparée aux mécanismes développés par les Tregs dans l’infiltrat tumoral de mélanome. Dans les organes lymphoïdes secondaires et le sang, les Tregs en circulation contribuent à une grossesse réussie en favorisant la tolérance materno-foetale. Nous avons montré que ces Tregs orchestrent la régulation des réponses immunitaires dans l'utérus. En outre, les Tregs agissent en trois étapes. Tout d'abord, uregTrm et les Tregs des ganglions lymphatiques drainants auto-spécifiques contrôlent rapidement une réponse auto-immune qui aurait pu être déclenchée par la libération de débris cellulaires en raison de la prolifération de l'endomètre. Deuxièmement, uregTrm contribuent au besoin de remodelage du tissu utérin pour la placentation. Dans un troisième temps, accompagnant l'augmentation de la masse foetale, les Tregs inductibles aident à contrôler la réponse immunitaire anti-foetale. Ceci met en évidence la spécialisation des Tregs dans les tissus et souligne l’importance des Tregs pendant la grossesse et la pathologie
Regulatory T cells (Tregs) play a role during early pregnancy locally in the uterus and systemically, in the secondary lymphoid organs and blood. In the uterine tissue, I identified a novel population of tissue-resident effectors-memory regulatory T cells (uregTrm). Before pregnancy, uregTrm have a unique transcriptional profile and phenotype in response to the uterine microenvironment. During early pregnancy, uregTrm expand and express new genes implicated in trophic functions such as extracellular matrix remodeling, hypoxia and vasculogenesis. uregTrm trophic function was compared to the mechanisms developed by Tregs from melanoma tumour infiltrate. In the secondary lymphoid organs and blood, circulating Tregs contribute to successful pregnancy by promoting maternal-fetal tolerance. We showed that these Tregs orchestrate down regulation of immune responses in the early pregnant uterus. Besides, Tregs act in three stages. First, self-specific uregTrm and draining lymph nodes Tregs rapidly contain an autoimmune response that could have been triggered by release of cell debris due to the endometrium tissue high proliferation. Second, uregTrm contribute to the increased need of uterine tissue remodeling for placentation. In a third stage, accompanying the fetal mass increase, inducible Tregs help to control the anti-fetal immune response. This further highlights the specialization of Tregs in tissues and underline the relevance of Tregs during pregnancy and disease

L'usage premier des retardateurs de flamme bromés est lié à la réduction des risques liés au feu dans nos sociétés. Cependant, la plupart sont des polluants organiques persistants de l'environnement ayant une action de perturbation endocrinienne. Leurs capacités de bioaccumulation font de l'homme une espèce particulièrement exposée, notamment via l'alimentation et l'inhalation. Le besoin d'évaluer ce niveau d'exposition, notamment en France, a clairement été identifié. Une méthode d'analyse multi-résidus (polybromodiphenyl ethers, tetrabromobisphenol A et hexabromocyclododecane) et multi-matrices (origines animales) basée sur des couplages LC-MS/MS et GC-HRMS, a par conséquent été développée, en prêtant une attention particulière à la gestion des contaminations analytiques. Puis, l'analyse de plus de 170 échantillons collectés à Toulouse, dans le cadre d'accouchements par césarienne a donné accès à des informations relatives à l'évaluation de l'exposition des mères et des nouveau-nés
Brominated flame retardants are mainly used today for the reduction of fire risks. However, they are, for the most part, persistent environmental pollutants showing endocrine disrupting activities. Their bioaccumulation properties make mankind a particularly exposed species, especially via feeding and inhalation. The need to evaluate exposure levels, particularly in France, has been clearly identified. A multi-residue (polybromodiphenyl ethers, tetrabromobisphenol A and hexabromocyclododecane) and multi-matrices (animal origins) analytical method based on LC-MS/MS and GC-HRMS couplings, was developed, with special attention paid to analytical contamination management. Then, more than 170 samples, collected in Toulouse during caesarian deliveries, were analyzed and gave access to information relative to the evaluation of mothers and newborns exposure

L'abondance relative des arnm d'igfii a ete etudiee dans le muscle semi tendinosus (st) foetal (60 a 273 jours post-conception: jours pc) par northern-blot: de multiples transcrits dont la taille s'echelonne de 5,1 a 1,1 kb sont presents. Les taux de transcrits mesures par dot-blot augmentent jusqu'a 162 jours pc puis diminuent jusqu'a des niveaux tres faibles aux alentours de la naissance. Par hybridation in situ, les arnm d'igfii ont ete localises dans les faisceaux musculaires, mais nous n'avons pas pu faire la part de ceux se trouvant dans les cellules musculaires par rapport a ceux situes dans l'endomysium. Une technique d'hybridation in situ quantitative a donc ete developpee et appliquee aux muscles cutaneus trunci et masseter. Quel que soit le muscle etudie, les arnm d'igfii sont synthetises a la fois par les cellules musculaires et les fibroblastes. La specificite des recepteurs aux igfs a ete caracterisee dans le muscle st foetal par des techniques de liaison d'#1#2#5i-igfs sur preparations membranaires. Les recepteurs de type i et ii etaient presents. La liaison specifique des igfs iodes etait elevee (liaison d'#1#2#5i-igfii>>liaison d'#1#2#5i-igfi) pendant les deux premiers tiers de la gestation puis diminuait jusqu'a des valeurs faibles aux alentours de la naissance. Cette diminution etait due a une chute du nombre de recepteurs sans changement d'affinite. Ces recepteurs ont ete localises par liaison d'#1#2#5i-igfs sur coupes: ceux de type ii etaient situes de facon ubiquitaire dans le tissu musculaire et ceux de type i localises exclusivement dans les faisceaux musculaires. De plus, les igfs (igfii>>igfi) etaient presents dans le serum tout au long de la gestation. En dernier lieu des arnm du recepteur a l'hormone de croissance ont ete detectes dans le tissu musculaire foetal et localises dans les cellules musculaires

DHEA is a precursor for the male and female sex hormones testosterone and estradiol, which are mainly secreted from the testes and the ovary, respectively. In addition, epidemiological studies showed that low serum levels of DHEA and DHEAS correlate with the incidence of autoimmune disease, cancer and cardiovascular disease. In vitro, DHEA and DHEAS influenced glucose metabolism in a favourable manner. However, positive effects of DHEA substitution were only significant adrenal insufficiency in women. Steroid sulphotransferase 2A1 (SULT2A1) is the responsible enzyme for sulphonation of DHEA to DHEAS which is thought to be the inactive form of DHEA. In this role, SULT2A1 acts as a central regulator of steroid synthesis because sulphonation of DHEA withdraws the substrate for further downstream conversion. Another essential cofactor for sulphonation is PAPS, which is produced by the enzyme PAPS synthase (PAPSS) from ATP and anorganic sulphate. PAPSS exists in the different isoforms PAPSS1 and PAPSS2 and splice variants PAPSS2a and PAPSS2b. Changes in PAPSS activity are thought to influence sulphonation of DHEA significantly. However, neither regulation of PAPSS nor its influence on SULT2A1 have been investigated in human cell lines or humans. The main goal of this thesis was to analyze the enzyme expression of the DHEA/DHEA shuttle, i.e. mRNA and protein of SULT2A1, PAPSS1 and PAPSS2, in various human cell lines. Furthermore, I investigated which cell line could serve as a suitable model for further research regarding regulation of SULT2A1, PAPSS1 and PAPSS2. Here, I could show that the enzymes of the DHEA/DHEAS shuttle were expressed in the human adrenal cell line NCI-h295R as both mRNA and protein. In enzyme assays, I was able to prove conversion of DHEA to DHEAS as well as to different other steroids. However, applying Trilostane, a potent inhibitor of CYP3B, effectively directed conversion of DHEA to DHEAS. Using these findings, future experiments can investigate for example the influence of certain cytokines or endocrine disruptors on expression and activity of PAPSS1/2 and on sulphonation of DHEA. In particular, the relatively equal expression of PAPSS1 and PAPSS2 will enable us to do knock down experiments with siRNA to elucidate how the activity of one enzyme changes when the other one fails. Sulphonation of DHEA by SULT2A1 is thought to happen in the cytoplasm or more precisely in the Golgi apparatus. However, experiments in transfected cells have shown both a cytoplasmatic and a nuclear localisation when both enzymes were expressed at the same time. Immunocytochemistry revealed the same results in the adrenal cell line NCI-h295R, where both enzymes were expressed strongly in the nucleus. The physiological role is not clear and requires further research. Presumably, sulphate is activated in the nucleus. However, one could also speculate that a shift of PAPSS to the nucleus could generate a reservoir, which can be activated by re-localisation to the cytoplasm when more PAPS is needed. Expression of SULT2A1 in some foetal tissues has been investigated earlier. Whilst in adult human cartilage PAPSS1 is predominant, in newly born hamsters PAPSS2 is more abundantly expressed. The expression of PAPSS isoforms in highly sulphonating tissue has not been investigated in humans, so far. This work demonstrated a differential expression of SULT2A1, PAPSS1 and PAPSS2 in adult and foetal liver, adrenal and foetal cartilage tissue. In adult and foetal adrenal expression was similar. However, foetal and adult liver differed in the expression of SULT2A1, which was expressed much more in adult tissue. Most importantly, in foetal cartilage there was only a low expression of SULT2A1 and PAPS seems to mostly provided by PAPSS1, which was considerably higher expressed in cartilage than in other tissues. In contrast, PAPSS2 was mainly expressed in adult and foetal adrenal. Additionally, we reported a case of a female patient who had been investigated for hyperandrogenism. Two mutations in the PAPSS2 gene had led to massively reduced serum levels of DHEAS. One heterozygous mutation in the domain of the APS kinase of the PAPSS2 protein leads to substitution of one amino acid at position 48 (T48R). In vitro experiments showed a residual activity of 6% for this mutation. A second mutation in the ATP sulphurylase domain of PAPSS2 was found. The introduction of thymidine instead of cytidine leads to a stop codon, which is presumed to truncate the protein at position 329 (R329X). In vitro, no residual activity was seen for this mutation. The lack of PAPS reduces sulphonation of DHEA but also sulphonation of proteoglycanes, which leads to skeletal abnormalities. The abundance of DHEA enables massive downstream conversion to androgens leading to clinical features of hyperandrogenism. Regarding the bone abnormalities, it is interesting and surprising that activity of PAPSS1 compensated to a great extent in cartilage but was not able to keep up a more considerable sulphonation of DHEA. Possibly, the subcellular localisation might play a role in this scenario
DHEA ist eine Vorstufe der männlichen und weiblichen Sexualhormone Testosteron bzw. Oestradiol, welche hauptsächlich in den Testes bzw. Ovarien gebildet werden, aber auch in der Körperperipherie aus DHEA gebildet werden können. Desweiteren konnte in epidemiologischen Studien gezeigt werden, dass niedrige Spiegel von DHEA und DHEAS mit dem Auftreten von Autoimmunerkrankungen, Tumorerkrankungen und Herz-Kreislauf-Erkrankungen korrelieren. In vitro konnten beispielsweise günstige Effekte auf den Glukose-Stoffwechsel nachgewiesen werden. Allerdings konnte eine klinisch sinnvolle Gabe von DHEA nur im Rahmen einer Substitution bei Nebenniereninsuffizienz bei Frauen nachgewiesen werden. Verantwortlich für die Sulfonierung von DHEA ist vor allem die Steroid Sulfotransferase 2A1 (SULT2A1). DHEAS wird als inaktivierte Form von DHEA angesehen. SULT2A1 fungiert als zentraler Regulator der Steroid-Synthese, da durch Sulfonierung von DHEA zu DHEAS der weiteren Konversion das Substrat entzogen wird. Für diese Sulfonierung ist PAPS ein essentieller Kofaktor. Das Enzym PAPS-Synthase, von welchem unterschiedliche Splice-Varianten und Isoformen (PAPSS1 und PAPSS2a/b) vorliegen, stellen PAPS aus ATP und anorganischem Sulfat her. Eine Änderung der Aktivität der PAPS-Synthase kann vermutlich die Aktivität der DHEA Sulfotransferase maßgeblich beeinflussen. Weder die Regulation der PAPS Synthase noch deren Wirkung auf SULT2A1 wurden bisher in menschlichen Zelllinien oder beim Menschen untersucht. Hauptziel dieser Arbeit war die Analyse der Enzymexpression des DHEA/DHEAS Shuttles (mRNA und Protein von SULT2A1, PAPSS1, PAPSS2) in verschiedenen humanen Zelllinien. Ferner wurde untersucht, ob eine der Zelllinien als Modell geeignet ist, die Regulation von SULT2A1 sowie insbesondere PAPSS1 und PAPSS2 in bestimmten pathophysiologischen Situationen zu untersuchen. Hier konnte gezeigt werden, dass insbesondere die adrenale Zelllinie NCI-h295R die Enzyme des DHEA/DHEAS Shuttles sowohl als mRNA als auch als Protein exprimiert. Mittels Enzym-Assay konnte eine Konversion von DHEA zu DHEAS und verschiedenen weiteren Steroiden nachgewiesen werden. Eine Hemmung der CYP3B-abhängigen Konversion mittels Trilostane unterdrückt die Bildung von weiteren Androgenen in NCI-h295R Zellen allerdings effektiv, sodass DHEA größtenteils zu DHEAS konvertiert wurde. Hieraus ergeben sich vielfältige Möglichkeiten, z.B. den Einfluss von Zytokinen oder von endokrinen Disruptoren auf die Sulfonierung von DHEA und auf die Expression von PAPSS1/2 zu untersuchen. Insbesondere kann aufgrund der ähnlichen Expression von PAPSS1 und PAPSS2 in dieser Zelllinie untersucht werden, welche Auswirkung ein Ausschalten eines Enzyms mittels siRNA auf das jeweils andere hat. Die Sulfonierung von DHEA durch SULT2A1 geschieht im Zytoplasma bzw. im Golgi Apparat. Allerdings haben Untersuchungen an transfizierten Zelllinien gezeigt, dass PAPSS1 bzw. PAPSS2 sowohl im Plasma als auch nukleär vorliegen können, wenn beide gleichzeitig exprimiert waren. Mittels Immunzytochemie konnten diese Ergebnisse auch in der Zelllinie NCI-h295R nachgewiesen werden. Beide Enzyme sind auch hier vor allem nukleär exprimiert. Der physiologische Hintergrund dieser Lokalisierung ist nicht geklärt und erfordert weitere Erforschung. Vermutlich erfolgt die Sulfat-Aktivierung also im Nukleus. Möglicherweise stellt die Verlagerung der Enzyme in den Nukleus aber auch eine Reserve der PAPS Synthese dar, die durch Rückverlagerung ins Zytoplasma dort rasch zusätzliches PAPS zur Verfügung stellen kann. Die Expression der DHEA Sulfotransferase wurde bereits in einigen fötalen Geweben untersucht. Während in adultem Knorpel beim Menschen die Expression von PAPSS1 dominiert, wird z.B. im Knorpel von neugeborenen Hamstern vor allem PAPSS2 gebildet. Welche Isoform von PAPSS in welchen fötalen Geweben beim Menschen dominiert, wurde bislang nicht untersucht. In dieser Arbeit konnte mittels Realtime PCR eine differenzierte Expression von SULT2A1, PAPSS1 und PAPSS2 in fötalen Geweben nachgewiesen werden. In adultem und fötalem Gewebe der Nebennieren zeigte sich ein ähnliches Expressionsmuster. Während allerdings in der adulten Leber viel SULT2A1 vorhanden ist, konnte nur eine deutlich niedrigere Expression in fötalem Gewebe gezeigt werden. In fötalem Knorpel findet sich kaum SULT2A1. Dagegen wird in fötalem Knorpel deutlich mehr PAPSS1 gebildet als in adultem und fötalem Leber- bzw. Nebennieren-Gewebe. PAPSS2 ist sowohl beim Erwachsenen als auch beim Fötus hauptsächlich in der Nebenniere exprimiert. Auffällig ist eine relativ geringe Expression in der fötalen Leber. Ergänzend wird in dieser Arbeit eine Patientin mit Hyperandrogenismus vorgestellt, bei der zwei Mutationen im PAPSS2 Gen zu einem massiv erniedrigten DHEAS Spiegel geführt hatten. Eine heterozygote Mutation liegt im Bereich der APS-Kinase von PAPSS2 und führt zum Austausch einer Aminosäure an Position 48 im PAPSS2a Protein (T48R). In vitro konnte für diese Mutation eine Reduktion der Aktivität auf 6% nachgewiesen werden. Eine zweite Mutation fand sich in der ATP Sulfurylase Domäne von PAPSS2. Durch einen Nukleosid-Austausch (Thymidin statt Cytidin) entsteht ein Stop-Codon, was vermutlich an Position 329 zum Abbruch des Proteins führt (R329X). In vitro konnte für diese Mutation (R329X) keine Aktivität nachgewiesen werden. Durch das Fehlen von PAPS ist die Sulfonierung von Proteoglykanen im Knorpel gestört, was zu Skelettveränderungen führt. Vor allem aber kommt es durch das Fehlen der Inaktivierung von DHEA zu DHEAS zu einem Überangebot an DHEA. Dieses wird zu aktiven Androgenen konvertiert und verursacht klinisch einen Hyperandrogenismus. Interessant und überraschend ist, dass die PAPSS1-Aktivität im Knorpel eine gewisse Sulfonierung der Proteoglykane ermöglicht. Im Gegensatz dazu trägt PAPSS1 offensichtlich kaum zur Sulfonierung von DHEA bei, da der DHEAS Spiegel extrem niedrig ist. Möglicherweise spielt hier auch die subzelluläre Lokalisation der PAPS Synthase eine entscheidende Rolle