Project: To study the effects of environmental pollutants on the neuro-immuno-endocrine system.
Related objective: To study the effects of environmental pollutants on the neuro-immuno-endocrine system.
Overview: The city of Rosario is located in a region of great economic importance. Together with the areas surrounding the cities of Venado Tuerto and Pergamino, it forms the so-called agricultural triangle. Approximately 70% of the country's grain production is exported through its port. Greater Rosario also includes agribusiness, oil refining, paper production, and metallurgical industries. This means it is an area of high environmental pollution, where part of the population may be exposed to various xenobiotics, which, when present together, can create a certain pattern of contamination. For this reason, it is of utmost importance to conduct an observational study relating the components of the subgroup of persistent environmental pollutants, such as dioxins and furans, among others (glyphosate), and their potential link to possible modifications in the neuro-immunoendocrine profile, for example: alterations in catecholamine levels, hormones of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, increases in inflammatory mediators, and/or changes in the functional capacity of the immune system, experienced by individuals exposed to these pollutants. To this end, a blood sample will be taken (after obtaining informed consent) to detect the presence of environmental pollutants and to carry out studies aimed at detecting possible biomarkers of the effects of and/or exposure to these pollutants, such as:
– Biological markers of immunotoxicity (complete blood count; cell populations by cytometry, markers of inflammatory and hormonal responses)
– Gene expression markers
– Markers of oxidative damage
In addition, it would be of great importance to deepen the knowledge about the potential effects of these environmental contaminants on possible modifications in the functional capacity of lymphocytes and macrophages. This project could allow the identification of biological markers associated with the diagnosis of environmental contamination, as well as laying the foundations for carrying out a subsequent Risk Assessment that allows for the suggestion of policies for the control of environmental pollutants in the region.
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Director: Bettina Bongiovanni
Members: Ariana Díaz, Estefanía Massa, Arístides Pochettino, Mariano Mussi, Magdalena Diab, Matilde Imhoff, Georgina Gallucci, Luciano D'Attilio and Adriaña Ipiña Hernandez.
Spaces/Institutions/Academic Units: Faculty of Medical Sciences (UNR); Faculty of Biochemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences (UNR); IDICER (CONICET-UNR); IFIR (CONICET-UNR).