Evaluation of miRNAs profile in the search for potential biomarkers related to pesticides exposure

• Grant number: 22/03933-7
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate (Direct)
• Start date: May 01, 2022
• End date: April 30, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Genetics - Mutagenesis
• Principal Investigator: Henrique César Santejo Silveira
• Grantee: Isabela Barros Lima
• Host Institution: Hospital do Câncer de Barretos. Barretos , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 18/24069-3 - ReSEARCH: Recognizing Signatures of the Exposome to Anticipate the Risks for a Continuous Health, AP.TEM

Abstract

Agribusiness exerts great influence on the economy. Brazil is one of the largest agricultural producers in the world and consequently, one of the largest consumers of pesticides. Pesticides are any man-made substances or mixtures of substances that control pests and increase crop yield. The effects of the use of these substances can result in risks for both environment and human health. Currently, some studies revealed that individuals exposed to pesticides have more genomic instability when compared to a larger unexposed group, suggesting that the exposed ones are more likely to present diseases such as Cancer. In addition, research related to epigenetic modifications are incipient, especially those reporting the expression profile of miRNAs. Thus, this project aims to evaluate the genomic instability and expression profile of miRNAs in a population exposed to pesticides. For this, the analysis of pesticides and their metabolites in the urine of the experimental subjects will be carried out by the LC-MS/MS method. Subsequently, the frequency of microsnucleus as well as the comparison of the telomere length of exposed and unexposed individuals will be evaluated. Finally, by using Nanostring platform, we will analyze the miRNAs profiles of individuals who have been and have been not exposed to pesticides. The projects for identifying both genetic and epigenetic alterations can help elucidate mechanism involved in the response to exposure to pesticides. (AU)