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Final Progress Reports: University of Kentucky: Biomonitoring and Environmental Analytical Chemistry Core

Superfund Research Program

Biomonitoring and Environmental Analytical Chemistry Core

Project Leader: Angela M. Gutierrez
Grant Number: P42ES007380
Funding Period: 2005-2025

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Final Progress Reports

Year:   2019  2013  2007 

The primary accomplishments of Research Support Core concern support for the Superfund biomedical research projects. Contributions span routine measurements of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) to support basic and preclinical studies and more extensive involvement in projects that employ high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and gas chromatography (GC) coupled multistage/high resolution mass spectrometry to study changes in metabolism in cells and tissues from preclinical models used to investigate mechanisms of environmental chemical toxicity and the possible role of nutrition as an intervention to mitigate these toxic effects. Specific examples include:

  • Measurements of PCBs and PCB metabolites to understand effects of these chemicals on intestinal inflammation and changes in the composition of the gut microbiota. These studies are important because they reveal a potentially important but presently unappreciated facet of PCB toxicity that could be important in humans.
  • Metabolomic studies of the effect of PCBs on normal and compromised livers in mouse models. These studies are important because they suggest that humans with compromised liver function may be at greater risk from exposure to toxic chemicals.
  • Measurement of PCBs and PCB metabolites to study sex differences in metabolic responses to these chemicals during weight loss in male and female mice. These studies are important because they reveal differences in the way male and female mice respond to weight loss associated increases in circulating PCB levels.
  • Use of untargeted and targeted mass spectrometry methods to identify changes in circulating lipids in mice fed diets containing fiber. These studies are important because they identified an unexpected effect of dietary fiber on circulating levels of ceramides which are lipids that have been identified as being a risk factor for cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. The study suggest that translation of these effects to humans might result in cardiovascular health benefits.
  • The Core developed and validated an analytical method for measurement of per- and polyfluorinated substances (PFAS) in human serum. These methods are being used to support ongoing research into health effects of exposure to these chemicals in humans and to study methods for remediation of these chemicals from drinking water using functionalized membranes.

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