Particulate matter (PM) in the air has been a cause of concern as recent epidemiological studies have demonstrated an association between PM concentration and increased morbidity/mortality. While the pulmonary effects of PM are well documented and studied including local inflammation and systemic release of pro-inflammatory mediators, the extra-pulmonary effects remain shrouded in mystery. This research will attempt to discover whether PM induced changes of inflammatory cytokine levels, specifically TNF-alpha, IL-1beta, and ET-1 in plasma can result in a pro-arrhythmic state using optical fluorescent mapping of a heart tissue construct in vitro. Despite much research on understanding inflammation at the gene level, little is known about how such changes interact when cells are in a social context such as a tissue construct. Furthermore, this investigation will look for other as-yet-uncharacterized factor(s) released in the blood from PM exposure that may result in a pro-arrhythmic state. Such knowledge will not only help establish scientific support for proposed legislation regarding PM concentrations, but will also elucidate how inflammatory cytokines can directly affect an aggregate of cardiac cells in a heart tissue construct.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS)
Type
Individual Predoctoral NRSA for M.D./Ph.D. Fellowships (ADAMHA) (F30)
Project #
1F30ES013371-01
Application #
6835982
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1-F10 (20))
Program Officer
Shreffler, Carol K
Project Start
2004-07-07
Project End
2007-07-06
Budget Start
2004-07-07
Budget End
2005-07-06
Support Year
1
Fiscal Year
2004
Total Cost
$28,236
Indirect Cost
Name
State University New York Stony Brook
Department
Biomedical Engineering
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
804878247
City
Stony Brook
State
NY
Country
United States
Zip Code
11794
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Jia, Zhiheng; Bien, Harold; Entcheva, Emilia (2010) Detecting space-time alternating biological signals close to the bifurcation point. IEEE Trans Biomed Eng 57:316-24