Grantee Research Project Results
Toxicogenetics of tetrachloroethylene metabolism and toxicity: Using Collaborative Cross mouse population approach to address remaining gaps in human health assessments
EPA Grant Number: R835612Title: Toxicogenetics of tetrachloroethylene metabolism and toxicity: Using Collaborative Cross mouse population approach to address remaining gaps in human health assessments
Investigators: Rusyn, Ivan , Wright, Fred A.
Institution: Texas A & M University , North Carolina State University at Raleigh
EPA Project Officer: Aja, Hayley
Project Period: September 1, 2014 through March 30, 2017
Project Amount: $800,000
RFA: Susceptibility and Variability in Human Response to Chemical Exposure (2013) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: Chemical Safety for Sustainability
Objective:
Tetrachloroethylene (Perchloroethylene, PERC) is a high-production chemical of great concern to both risk assessors and public health officials worldwide. It has long been assumed that PERC metabolism and toxicity closely mimic those of trichloroethylene (TCE), a structurally similar chlorinated solvent. However, recent human health assessments of these chemicals by the International Agency for Cancer Research and the US Environmental Protection Agency determined that major differences in toxicokinetics and toxicodynamics exist between TCE and PERC. Furthermore, it was concluded that critical gaps remain in understanding of the human health hazard of PERC, including toxicokinetics, toxicodynamics and population variability. Thus, the long-term objective of this research proposal is to uncover the mechanistic linkages between the genome (e.g., variation in DNA sequence among individuals), metabolism (e.g., formation of organ-specific toxic intermediates), and adverse molecular events (e.g., transcriptional changes associated with toxicity) in response to PERC.
Approach:
The central hypotheses of this proposal are that: (i) genetic variability associated differences in PERC metabolism affect the organ-specific toxicity of PERC; and (ii) a population-based experimental design utilizing Collaborative Cross can assess variation in toxicity responses to better characterize uncertainties in human health assessments. We will test these hypotheses by addressing the following objectives: (1) to characterize variability in toxicokinetics of PERC by using the Collaborative Cross mouse model of the human population; (2) to characterize variability in toxicodynamics of PERC by evaluating inter-strain differences in dose-dependent effects on the liver and kidney in a sub-acute study; (3) to evaluate the effects of inter-strain variability in PERC metabolism on liver and kidney effects in a sub-chronic study.
Expected Results:
This project addresses the research needs identified in the solicitation by showing the value of a mouse population-based model for characterizing susceptibility and variability, and resolving critical gaps in risk assessment of PERC, a probable human carcinogen.
Publications and Presentations:
Publications have been submitted on this project: View all 14 publications for this projectJournal Articles:
Journal Articles have been submitted on this project: View all 9 journal articles for this projectSupplemental Keywords:
genome-wide association, toxicity pathway, kidney, liverProgress and Final Reports:
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.