Validation of microRNAs linked to carcinogenisis and epigenetically modulated in rural workers exposed to pesticides

• Grant number: 24/15281-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: November 01, 2024
• End date: December 31, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Physiology - Physiology of Organs and Systems
• Principal Investigator: Henrique César Santejo Silveira
• Grantee: Guilherme Cassiano
• 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

Pesticides are synthetic substances used in agriculture fields to control pests and ensure food production at a global scale. Brazil is one of the largest consumers of pesticides in the world, which results in a large population of rural workers are exposed to these compounds daily. In this context, studies have shown that exposure to pesticides can be associated with DNA damage, causing genomic instability and consequently leading to diseases and various types of cancer. Furthermore, others studies suggest that epigenetic modifications, responsible for controlling gene expression through interaction with environmental factors, may explain the development of cancer due to pesticides. Among the epigenetic mechanisms, pesticides have shown to cause changes in microRNA (miRNA) expression, which modulate gene expression post-transcriptionally and are strongly involved in carcinogenesis. In the literature, miRNAs are related with tissue damage by environmental or occupational exposition to various types of carcinogens, can be utilized in human biomonitoring as potential biomarker exposition with association to disease development. In this perspective, miRNAs can be detected in liquid biopsy, such as plasma, through Droplet Digital PCR (ddPCR) which is based on the partitioning of nucleic acids and is capable of detecting and quantifying rare targets absolutely. Thus, the aim of this study is to validate the differential expression of miR-107 and miR-23b-3p in the plasma of individuals exposed to pesticides and compare them with non-exposed individuals. Therefore, ddPCR is a sensitive technique that can be used to quantify plasma miRNAs in healthy individuals exposed to pesticides, allowing the identification of potential biomarkers of pesticide exposure.