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The role of cholesterol 7alpha-hydroxylase in regulation of cholesterolemia
Cejpková, Monika ; Kovář, Jan (advisor) ; Leníček, Martin (referee)
The aim of the theses is to characterize the mechanism that participate in the regulation of activity of cholesterol 7α-hydroxylase (CYP7A1) - the key enzyme of classical pathway of bile acids synthesis. The function and metabolism of cholesterol and bile acid is described at the beginning. Cholesterol is a substrate for CYP7A1 and bile acids are produced in the reaction catalyzed by the enzyme. The other parth of theses is dedicated to feedback inhibition of CYP7A1 by bile acids and describes particular regulatory pathways involved. The crucial factors for CYP7A1 expression are bile acids response elements (BARE) in the promoter of CYP7A1 gene. Central role is played by farnesoid X receptor activated by bile salts that induces expression of protein called small heterodimer partner (SHP) in the liver. SHP interacts with trancription factors in BARE and inhibits CYP7A1 transcription. In the instestine FXR induces fibroblast growth factor 19 (FGF19) that activates signalling pathways leading to inhibition of CYP7A1 in the liver. The activity of CYP7A1 can be regulated independently of FXR - there is a role for hormones (insulin, glucagon), glucose, activation of proinflammatory cytokines and other nuclear receptors (pregnane X receptor and vitamin D receptor), that participate in protection of the...
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Molecular mechanisms of apoptosis regulation by fatty acids in pancreatic β-cells
Němcová, Vlasta ; Kovář, Jan (advisor) ; Anděra, Ladislav (referee) ; Mělková, Zora (referee)
The incidence of type 2 diabetes is growing rapidly and represents a big threat for the human health care and economy system as well in the 21st century. The association of type 2 diabetes with obesity is apparent and dysfunction and apoptosis of pancreatic β-cells caused by elevated levels of fatty acids in circulation are considered as an important factor contributing to the development of this disease. However, molecular mechanisms that underlie these detrimental effects of fatty acids are only partially understood. The aim of this research project was to contribute to elucidation of mechanisms by which saturated and unsaturated fatty acids regulate viability and apoptosis induction in human pancreatic β-cells in vitro. Employing human pancreatic β-cell line NES2Y, we showed that increased levels of relevant dietary saturated fatty acids (palmitic and stearic acid) induce apoptosis of pancreatic β-cells, in contrast to relevant dietary unsaturated fatty acids (e.g. palmitoleic and oleic acid). We found that stearic acid-induced apoptosis is accompanied by significant activation of caspase-2, -6, -7, -8 and -9, but not by significant activation of caspase-3. Nevertheless, it was not associated with significant cytochrome c release, alteration in PIDD, Fas receptor and Fas ligand expression and...
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Mechanisms of invasiveness and transcription regulation in cancer cells
Tolde, Ondřej ; Folk, Petr (advisor) ; Kovář, Jan (referee) ; Brdička, Tomáš (referee)
The mechanisms of invazivity and regulation of transcription of cancer cells Cancer originates in cells that overcome the control mechanisms of the organism. Cancer cells can be eventually released from the site of origin and spread through tissues. Cancer cells can acquire certain mechanisms that enable them to more effectively invade surrounding tissue or layers of other cells. The research on the migration of cancer cells is important for the understanding of the origin and spreading of metastases and consequently for anticancer therapy. In my Ph.D. work, I participated in the research of the properties of invasive metastatic cells. We compared non-invasive rat sarcoma cell line with a higly metastatic cell line derived from it. We showed that cells of the invasive cell line use amoeboid mode of migration, have upregulated Rho/ROCK signaling, and have accumulated actin and myosin at the leading edge. It is at the leading edge where the cells generate their traction forces. Cells of non-invasive cell line use mesenchymal mode of migration and generate forces mainly at their retracting end. We also compared two breast cancer cell lines derived from a single carcinoma. We showed that the more invasive cell line, derived from its parental line by neoplastic transformation, displayed elevated cytoskeletal...
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Role of signaling pathways and redox processes in cancer cell biology
Vališ, Karel ; Kovář, Jan (advisor) ; Anděra, Ladislav (referee) ; Kozubík, Alois (referee)
5 identifikovali VDAC2 protein jako možný transportér železa do nádorových buněk a tudíž možný cíl protinádorové terapie. Abstract Specific apoptosis induction in cancer cells represents promising way of anticancer therapy without damaging healthy tissues. Hence, search for new molecular targets capable of specific apoptosis triggering is highly challenging, mainly due to new and effective anti-cancer therapies development. Cancer cell metabolism (1) and mainly mitochondrial metabolism (2) seems to represent intriguing target. Mitochondria play essential role in life of the cell but on the other hand mitochondria activate cell death which is usually connected to increased ROS (reactive oxygen species) production. Contribution of this work is identification of vitamin E analogues as inhibitors of complex II and potent inductors of mitochondrial ROS in cancer cells. Additionally, we have demonstrated activation of conserved Hippo/Mst1 kinase in response to the vitamin E analogues which results in FoxO1 nuclear localization, NOXA gene transactivation, Bak protein activation, mitochondrial membrane permeabilisation and apoptosis induction. Next we searched for membrane proteins with increased expression in cancer cells exposed to iron deprivation. These proteins can play a role in iron metabolism of cancer...
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Influence of tetrabromobiphenol A (TBBPA) on reproduction parameters, spermatogenesis and expression of selected genes in mice in vivo.
Žatecká, Eva ; Pěknicová, Jana (advisor) ; Kovář, Jan (referee)
Tetrabromobisphenol A is a substance that is widely used in industry as a fire retardant and is currently among the most widely used; its consumption is 210,000 tons / year and is still growing. It was shown that TBBPA can be released into the environment and it was found even in the human body. TBBPA has negative effects on different cell lines in vitro, including TM4 Sertoli cells. It was shown that it can affect the thyroid hormone system as well it might be able to influence the androgen / estrogen hormone system. Due to these facts, TBBPA was added to the list of potentially dangerous substances to human health. In this study, the effect of TBBPA on the reproductive parameters, spermatogenesis and activity of selected genes in mice in vivo was examined. First, we perform two generation in vivo study with outbred mouse line - CD1. In experimental animals we detected increased number of apoptotic cells in the testes, and also we observed changes in the expression pattern of selected genes encoding proteins that play an important role during spermatogenesis. In contrast, sperm quality and reproduction was not affected by TBBPA. As a complementary study was perform one generational in vivo study with inbred mouse line - C57BL/6. This study mostly confirmed the results obtained from previous in...
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Determining the expression of iron transport and metabolism molecules in chosen chronic diseases.
Chmelíková, Jitka ; Kovář, Jan (advisor) ; Truksa, Jaroslav (referee)
Iron is an essential element for human organism, because it cooperates as a cofactor of enzymes in many metabolic pathways. Iron is a component of hemoglobin, and thus it is indispensable for the oxygen transport to tissues. It can exist as a ferrous or ferric form. However, ferrous iron paticipates in reactions in which highly reactive hydroxyl group can be formed. This product is harmful for the organism. Non-heme iron is taken up to the circulation through duodenal enterocyte. Iron excretion is carried out only by desquamation of the enterocytes or by bleeding. Therefore, iron intake must be strictly regulated. Iron overloading is observed in some chronic diseases (hereditary hemochromatosis, alcohol liver disease). In contrary, iron depletion can be a case of iron deficiency anemia. The aim of this master thesis is to determine the expression of iron transport molecules in duodenum in chronic diseases which originate due to disturbances of iron intake regulation. We determine the expression of molecules of iron transport (DMT1, Dcytb, ferroportin, hephaestin) on mRNA level by qPCR and on protein level by western blot. The level of serum hepcidin was determined by ELISA. Our results show an increased expression of mRNA of transporters DMT1 and ferroportin as well as ferrireductase Dcytb and ferroxidase...
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The role of caspase 2 in apoptosis induction in tumor cells.
Schmiedlová, Martina ; Horníková, Lenka (referee) ; Kovář, Jan (advisor)
Within the cell, caspase-2 probably fulfills several functions. Caspase-2 can be involved in apoptosis induction, DNA repair as well as cell cycle regulation. Caspase-2 has the character of initiator and also executioner caspase. A stimulus for caspase 2 activation can be oxidative stress or DNA damage. Caspase-2 is activated by cleavadge during an interaction with protein complexes. One of protein complexes,i.e. PIDDosome, is made of protein PIDD, RAIDD and pro-caspase-2. Withine the PIDDosome, caspase-2 is activated. Activated caspase-2 occures in a short S form and in long L form. L form of caspase-2 has proapoptotic effects and S form of caspase-2 has antiapoptotic effects. Caspase-2S has been only detected on mRNA level but not on protein level. The main role of caspase-2L is apoptosis induction in normal and tumor cells. Caspase-2 in tumour cells is activated by extrinstic as well as intristic apoptotic pathway. Apoptosis induction by caspase-2 is for example studied in connection with breast cancer treatment with taxanes. Caspase-2 ability of apoptosis induction in cancer cells independently of p53 protein is employed in cancer treatment including overcoming the resistance to apoptosis induction which is based on loosing p53 activity. Caspase-2 is involved in apoptosis induction by different...
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The Significance and Possibilities of Affecting Apoptosis in the Therapy of Haematological Malignancies
Mánková, Marie ; Kovář, Jan (advisor)
The topic of his thesis "The importance and possibilities of influencing apoptosis in therapy hematologic malignancies "I chose this topic because it is not only interesting from a scientific perspective, but it also brings real hope for a better and kinder treatment for many patients with difficult treatable types of cancer. In the first two chapters, we tried to define a more detailed description of the apoptosis and its regulation using international studies (see bibliography). The third chapter is devoted to the mechanism of action of traditional practices (chemotherapy and radiotherapy) and in particular Overview of new directions in cancer therapy. Due to the wide range of research results in a number of new compounds with promising prospects for application in clinical medicine work concerns only a narrow selection (especially most cited) of potential drugs.
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