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DEVELOPMENT OF MOLECULAR MARKERS OF RESPONSE TO ASSESS THE SENSITIVITY OF CHILDREN TO ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMICALS
Citation:
Allen, J W., C F. Blackman, M. J. Blaze, D. A. Delker, D M. DeMarini, C L. Doerr, R D. Grindstaff, S D. Hester, C. P. Jones, A D. Kligerman, G W. Knapp, M. J. Kohan, G M. Nelson, R. D. Owen, R J. Preston, B C. Roop, A H. Tennant, S. F. Thai, E. Winkfield, W. M. Winnik, D C. Wolf, AND R R. Rogers. DEVELOPMENT OF MOLECULAR MARKERS OF RESPONSE TO ASSESS THE SENSITIVITY OF CHILDREN TO ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMICALS. Presented at National Children's Study Assembly, Atlanta, GA, 12/17/03.
Description:
Development of Molecular Markers of Response to Assess the Sensitivity of Children to Environmental Chemicals
J.Allen, C. Blackman, M. Blaze, D. Delker, D. DeMarini, C. Doerr, R. Grindstaff, S.
Hester, C. Jones, A. Kligerman, G. Knapp, M. Kohan, C. Nelson, R. Owen, J. Preston,
B.Roop, A. Tennant, S-F. Thai, E. Winkfield, D. Wolf, R. Rogers, W. Winnik
USEPA, ORD, NHEERL, ECD (B-143-06), 109 Alexander Dr., Research Triangle Park,
NC 27711
Our general approach is to develop molecular biomarkers of response in animals and animal and human cellular systems to identify changes in the expression of genes that have a critical role in the cell s response to potentially damaging events. These "housekeeping" genes maintain cell and tissue homeostasis, and include those involved with DNA damage repair, cell cycle control and programmed cell death.
Research suggests that the effectiveness of genes in the housekeeping pathways can differ with age and may be related to differences in susceptibility to mutation induction. Mutation induction can result in a greater probability of adverse health outcomes in children compared to adults. Increased mutation frequency is a risk factor for a range of adverse health outcomes including cancer and developmental disorders.
Molecular markers of response developed in the course of this research will be used in inter-divisional research conducted with human children and adults. Such studies will establish whether these markers can demonstrate the existence of greater sensitivity of cellular housekeeping processes to environmental challenge in children.