Grantee Research Project Results

Environmental Factors in the Etiology of Autism; Molecular and Cellular Mechanisms of Autism

EPA Grant Number: R829388C006
Subproject: this is subproject number 006 , established and managed by the Center Director under grant R829388
(EPA does not fund or establish subprojects; EPA awards and manages the overall grant for this center).
Center: UC Davis Center for Children's Environmental Health and Disease Prevention
Center Director: Van de Water, Judith
Title: Environmental Factors in the Etiology of Autism; Molecular and Cellular Mechanisms of Autism
Investigators: Pessah, Isaac N. , Gershwin, M. Eric , Goth, Samuel R. , Matsumura, Fumio , Van de Water, Judith
Current Investigators: Pessah, Isaac N. , Goth, Samuel R. , Van de Water, Judith
Institution: University of California - Davis
EPA Project Officer: Aja, Hayley
Project Period: September 30, 2001 through September 29, 2002
RFA: Centers for Children's Environmental Health and Disease Prevention Research (2001) RFA Text |  Recipients Lists
Research Category: Children's Health , Human Health

Objective:

How thimerosal and polybrominated diphenylethers, major environmental concerns to childhood neurodevelopment, influences peripheral immune cells in the B6 murine model has been a primary focus in year 1. Work has begun on assessing the influence of these xenobiotics on the growth and development of glial/hippocampal neurons in culture. The long-term goal is to define common mechanisms in immune and neural cells responsible for developmental toxicity of these environmental agents. Our specific aims are: 1)To define differences in the response of peripheral immune cells (PMBCs) isolated from autistic and non-autistic children in their sensitivity and/or pattern of cell activation and cytokine secretion when challenged in vitro with vaccine antigens, and xenobiotics of environmental relevance (thimerosal, PCBs, and BDEs), singly and in combination.2) Elucidate the mechanisms by which sub-toxic concentrations of (thimerosal, PCBs, and BDEs), singly and in combination, alter growth and activation properties of immune cells from rodents.3) Elucidate the mechanisms by which sub-toxic concentrations of (thimerosal, PCBs, and BDEs), singly and in combination, influence glia/neural cell interactions leading to altered patterns of dendritic spine growth, dendritic branching and synaptogenesis in hippocampal cells from rodents.

Publications and Presentations:

Publications have been submitted on this subproject: View all 23 publications for this subproject | View all 179 publications for this center

Journal Articles:

Journal Articles have been submitted on this subproject: View all 21 journal articles for this subproject | View all 161 journal articles for this center

Supplemental Keywords:

Autism, thimerosal, halogenated organics, cell signaling, immunotoxicology, neurotoxicology,, RFA, Health, PHYSICAL ASPECTS, Scientific Discipline, ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT, Health Risk Assessment, Chemistry, Risk Assessments, Susceptibility/Sensitive Population/Genetic Susceptibility, Disease & Cumulative Effects, Physical Processes, Children's Health, genetic susceptability, Biology, Risk Assessment, chemical exposure, neurotoxic, xenobiotics, biomarkers, neurodevelopment, gene-environment interaction, pesticides, exposure, halogenated aromatics, neurobehavioral, neurodevelopmental, neurotoxicity, children, susceptibility, etiology, neurobehavioral effects, autism, mechanisms, biological markers, exposure assessment, neurological development, biomarker, synergistic interactions

Progress and Final Reports:

Final

Main Center Abstract and Reports:

R829388    UC Davis Center for Children's Environmental Health and Disease Prevention

Subprojects under this Center: (EPA does not fund or establish subprojects; EPA awards and manages the overall grant for this center).
R829388C001 Environmental Factors in the Etiology of Autism; Analytic Biomakers (xenobiotic) Core
R829388C002 Environmental Factors in the Etiology of Autism; Cell Activation/Signaling Core
R829388C003 Environmental Factors in the Etiology of Autism; Molecular Biomakers Core
R829388C004 Environmental Factors in the Etiology of Autism; Childhood Autism Risks from Genetics and the Environment (The CHARGE Study)
R829388C005 Environmental Factors in the Etiology of Autism; Animal Models of Autism
R829388C006 Environmental Factors in the Etiology of Autism; Molecular and Cellular Mechanisms of Autism