Effect of PFAS exposure on normal or cancer cell: an in vitro study

• Grant number: 24/06102-4
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: July 01, 2024
• Status: Discontinued
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Medicine
• Principal Investigator: Caroline Serrano Do Nascimento
• Grantee: Rafaela Martins Miguel de Souza
• Host Institution: Instituto de Ciências Ambientais, Químicas e Farmacêuticas (ICAQF). Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP). Campus Diadema. Diadema , SP, Brazil
• Associated scholarship(s): 24/20411-0 - Unraveling the mechanisms of subcellular oxidative stress triggered by PFAS exposure in thyroid cells, BE.EP.IC

Abstract

The thyroid is a classic endocrine gland that synthesizes the thyroid hormones T3 and T4, essential for the growth, development, and metabolism of the body-alterations in thyroid function trigger metabolic disorders and other health problems. Thyroid cancer is the most common malignant tumorof the endocrine system, and papillary carcinoma is the most frequent thyroid neoplasia. Geneticmutations, such as those in the RET or BRAF gene, are frequently associated with the developmentof these tumors. Additionally, exposure to endocrine disruptors (EDCs), chemical substances thatinterfere with hormonal function, has been associated with the development and increasedprevalence of thyroid tumors. Among EDCs, per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) areespecially concerning due to their widespread presence in the environment and their association with thyroid dysfunction and carcinogenic effects. Studies suggest that PFAS may affect the synthesis, secretion, and transport of thyroid hormones, as well as trigger epigenetic and inflammatory changes that contribute to cancer development. In this scenario, the present project aims to investigate the effects of PFAS exposure on cellular function and the expression of markers related to thyroid cancer in normal and tumor human thyroid cells. Additionally, possible epigenetic mechanisms involved in these changes will be evaluated, seeking a better understanding of the effects of these endocrine disruptors on human health.