The Protein Chemistry Center is part of the Cell-based Therapy Center, in the Medical School of Ribeirao Preto – University of Sao Paulo. Two basic topics are currently being studied using the proteomic approach: 1) differentiation and maturation of monocyte-derived dendritic cells 2) melanoma progression and response to antineoplasic agents.
Dendritic cells (DCs) are highly specialized antigen-presenting cells that play an essential role in the immune response. Immature DCs capture and process antigens and mature DCs stimulate T cells. Immature DCs have been produced in vitro from peripherical blood monocytes (Mo) by treatment with growth factors. Mature DCs, have been obtained after 2 additional days in the presence of LPS. We are studying the global changes in protein expression during differentiation and maturation, the surface plasma membrane proteoma, and also the mitochondrial proteome using two-dimensional electrophoresis. Several proteins have already been identified and correlated to the differential / maturation stage. This proteomic approach should provide information concerning of the differentiation and maturation of DCs, metabolism, and also antigen processing and capture, cell migration and cell-cell interaction.
Melanocytes and keratinocytes are epidermic cells which growth control is deeply related with its cellular and cell-extracellular matrix interactions. When this contact is lost, melanocytes increase its cell division activity and tumor development is initiated (melanoma). The progression starts with benign lesions and ends with malignant lesions that are able to do metastases. This progression is well characterized clinically and histologically, but the molecular events are not clearly elucidated. In our research we are using murine melanocytic cell lines Melan-A, TM1 and TM5. TM1 and TM5 are tumorigenic cells originated from non-tumorigenic Melan-A, being a model of tumor progression in early stages. In the Proteomic analysis of the response of human metastatic melanoma to antineoplasic agents, we are investigating the effect of antineoplasic drugs, such as cisplatin, on the human metastatic melanoma cell line LB373-MEL using 2D gel electrophoresis. Cells were treated with different concentrations of the drug over different times, in order to identify differences in protein expression which we hope will indicate molecular targets of this drug.
Professor Benildo Sousa Cavada. Agronomic Engineering (1976); M.Sc. Plant Biochemistry, Federal University of Ceará (1980); PhD, University Paul Sabatier - Toulouse-France (1985); Pos-Doc, University of Durham – England (1991); Pos-Doc, Institut fur Reproduktionmedicinen Hannover – Germany (1997); Pos-Doc Instituto de Biomedicina de Valencia – Spain (1999); Pos-Doc Université des Technologies de Lille – France (2000); Pos-Doc Universidad de la Republica –Montevideu/Uruguay (2001); Pos-Doc Université des Technologies de Lille – France (2003). Professor of Plant Biochemistry at the Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Department – Federal University of Ceará. Main subject: plant biochemistry, protein chemistry, lectins. Chairman of BioMol-Lab.
Professor Alexandre Holanda Sampaio; Fishing Engineering (1982); M.Sc. Plant Biochemistry, Federal University of Ceará (1992); PhD; University of Portsmouth (England), 1997; Pos-Doc Université des Technologies de Lille – France (2002). Professor of Marine Biochemistry at Fishing Engineering Department – Federal University of Ceará. Main subject: Marine biochemistry, protein chemistry, algae, agglutinins. Vice- Chairman of BioMol-Lab.
Prof. Dr. Lewis Joel Greene - Coordinator (ljgreene@fmrp.usp.br)
Dr. Jose Cesar Rosa (jcrosa@fmrp.usp.br)
Differentiation and maturation of monocyte-derived dendritic cells
Dr. Vitor Marcel Faça – Post-Doctoral Researcher (vitor@pegasus.fmrp.usp.br)
Sandra Rodrigues Pereira - Doctoral Student (sandra.rpereira@ig.com.br)
Alana Maria Cerqueira de Oliveira – Master Student (alanamco@rbp.fmrp.usp.br)
Melanoma progression and response to antineoplasic agents
Gustavo Antonio de Souza - Doctoral Student (gadsouza@rbp.fmrp.usp.br)
Lyris Martins Franco de Godoy - Doctoral Student (lmfgodoy@rbp.fmrp.usp.br)
Tentative Abstract Title for the 4yh Annual World Congress - HUPO Beijing 2004
1. A proteomic view of differentiation and maturation of monocyte-derived dendritic cells
2. Surface plama membrane proteome of immature and mature dendritic cells.
3. Proteomic analysis of the response of human metastatic melanoma to antineoplasic agents
4. Proteome changes in initial stages of melanoma progression
Vitor Marcel Faça
Centro de Química de Proteínas - FMRP - USP Tel:(16)3963-9300 R:9622
Prof.Dr. Lewis Joel Greene
Centro de Quimica de Proteinas
Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto
Universidade de São Paulo
Av. Bandeirantes, 3900
CEP 14049-900
Ribeirão Preto – SP – Brazil
Ph(55)16-3963 9366 / 3963 9367
Fax: (55) 16-3963 9366
