Grantee Research Project Results

Project 1 -- Pulmonary Metabolic Response

EPA Grant Number: R832414C001
Subproject: this is subproject number 001 , established and managed by the Center Director under grant R832414
(EPA does not fund or establish subprojects; EPA awards and manages the overall grant for this center).
Center: UC Davis Center for Children's Environmental Health and Disease Prevention
Center Director: Van de Water, Judith
Title: Project 1 -- Pulmonary Metabolic Response
Investigators: Fanucchi, Michelle V. , Buckpitt, Alan , Plopper, Charles
Current Investigators: Fanucchi, Michelle V. , Winkle, Laura Van , Buckpitt, Alan , Plopper, Charles
Institution: University of California - Davis
EPA Project Officer: Chung, Serena
Project Period: October 1, 2005 through September 30, 2010 (Extended to September 30, 2011)
RFA: Particulate Matter Research Centers (2004) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: Human Health , Air

Objective:

Experimental studies performed in our laboratories have demonstrated that neonatal animals are more susceptible to pulmonary injury by bioactivated pollutants, such as the polyaromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) naphthalene and the nitro-PAH 1-nitronaphthalene, than adult animals. This project will determine whether the increased neonatal vulnerability to bioactivated toxicants that has been documented in rodents is exacerbated when the PAH is adsorbed to particulate matter.

Rationale:

We will apply transdisciplinary approaches to test these hypotheses, including histological, biochemical, and microarray analyses. Using defined synthetic particles consisting of graphitic carbon, a PAH, and a transitional metal, we will compare responses in intact airways at different sites of susceptibility (branch points and airway wall) in postnatal and adult rats to responses in human airway epithelial cell lines. As the Architecture Development Project defines the sites of deposition, we will adjust the sites that we are evaluating in the lung accordingly.

Expected Results:

Humans are exposed to multiple compounds early in life, yet most toxicological studies focus on the effects in adults. In addition, decisions regarding acceptable levels of environmental contaminants are based on adult data, which may not translate to children, the most susceptible portion of the population. Our work has already demonstrated that exposure to bioactivated pollutants produces much higher pulmonary toxicity in neonates than in adults. These studies will further define the role of particles in neonatal pulmonary susceptibility to environmental pollutants. Understanding the changes in lung cells following particle exposure at the gene and protein expression level will provide a basis for the development of biomarkers for assessing exposure and toxicity in young children.

Publications and Presentations:

Publications have been submitted on this subproject: View all 43 publications for this subproject | View all 128 publications for this center

Journal Articles:

Journal Articles have been submitted on this subproject: View all 8 journal articles for this subproject | View all 64 journal articles for this center

Supplemental Keywords:

ambient air, health effects, vulnerability, susceptibility, sensitive population, ozone, exposure, human health, metabolism, sensitive populations, infants, children, metals, oxidants, agriculture, transportation,, RFA, Health, Scientific Discipline, Air, particulate matter, Health Risk Assessment, Environmental Chemistry, Epidemiology, Risk Assessments, ambient aerosol, lung injury, toxicology, long term exposure, lung disease, air toxics, airway disease, airborne particulate matter, endothelial function, pariculate matter, particle exposure, ultrafine particulate matter, ambient particle health effects, human exposure, epidemiological studies, PM, transport and fate

Progress and Final Reports:

Main Center Abstract and Reports:

R832414 UC Davis Center for Children's Environmental Health and Disease Prevention

Subprojects under this Center: (EPA does not fund or establish subprojects; EPA awards and manages the overall grant for this center).
R832414C001 Project 1 -- Pulmonary Metabolic Response
R832414C002 Endothelial Cell Responses to PM—In Vitro and In Vivo
R832414C003 Project 3 -- Inhalation Exposure Assessment of San Joaquin Valley Aerosol
R832414C004 Project 4 -- Transport and Fate Particles
R832414C005 Project 5 -- Architecture Development and Particle Deposition

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The perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.