Impact of exposure to lead (Pb) on the expression profile of micro RNAs (miRNAs) in workers exposed to metal

• Grant number: 18/24643-1
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Doctorate
• Start date: August 01, 2019
• End date: July 31, 2020
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Pharmacy - Toxicological Analysis
• Principal Investigator: Gustavo Rafael Mazzaron Barcelos
• Grantee: Marília Ladeira de Araújo
• Supervisor: Jose Alexandre de Gusmao Rueff Tavares
• Host Institution: Instituto de Saúde e Sociedade (ISS). Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP). Campus Baixada Santista. Santos , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Portugal
• Associated to the scholarship: 16/24520-1 - Impact of exposure to lead (Pb) on the expression profile of genes related to metal metabolism in occupationally exposed individuals, BP.DR

Abstract

Studies suggest that exposure to toxic metals, such as lead (Pb) may induce various epigenetic changes, such as changes in DNA methylation profile, chromatin remodeling, as well as the expression of non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), among them micro RNAs (miRNAs). Several miRNAs are being detected and related to metal exposure; however, there are still many differences in the expression profiles of these miRNAs, which may be due to inter individual variability and due to the different levels of exposure in which individuals are exposed. Thus, the present project aims to identify and quantify the expression of miR-520c-3p, miR-148a, miR-141, miR-211, miR-572 and miR-130b in automobile battery factory workers exposed to Pb. For that, Pb concentrations in blood and plasma will be determined by ICP-MS and the expression of these ncRNAs will be quantified by qPCR; still, a questionnaire about the socio-demographic data of these individuals will also be applied, in order to adjust the several variables that may interfere in the interpretation of the data. Thus, it is expected that the results obtained will aid in a better understanding of the mechanisms and impact of exposure to Pb on the profile of miRNAs in individuals exposed to Pb.

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

ARAUJO, MARILIA LADEIRA DE; GOMES, BRUNO COSTA; DEVOZ, PAULA PICOLI; DUARTE, NATHALIA DE ASSIS AGUILAR; RIBEIRO, DIEGO LUIS; ARAUJO, ADRIANA LADEIRA DE; BATISTA, BRUNO LEMOS; ANTUNES, LUSANIA MARIA GREGGI; BARBOSA, JR., FERNANDO; RODRIGUES, ANTONIO SEBASTIAO; et al. Association Between miR-148a and DNA Methylation Profile in Individuals Exposed to Lead (Pb). FRONTIERS IN GENETICS, v. 12, FEB 17 2021. (18/24643-1, 16/24520-1)