This grant application focuses on developing a new approach for preventing occupational asthma caused by isocyanates, the essential cross-linking chemical for making polyurethane. Despite recognition of isocyanate's allergenicity for over 60 years, these chemicals remain a leading cause of asthma world-wide. Disease prevention efforts focus primarily on exposure reduction, as exposure is the best-recognized risk factor for development of pathogenic chemical hypersensitivity. However, methods of exposure surveillance / monitoring, essential to guiding effective industrial hygiene and identification of exposure risks, are limited. We propose that a signature peptide method can be developed for bio-monitoring isocyanate exposure, by quantitating the amount of a specific chemical-peptide conjugate that results from exposure. We predict the level of chemical conjugate that accumulates and circulates in the peripheral blood, albeit low on an absolute scale, is proportion to the internal does received and thus, represents an effective biomarker for exposure surveillance. If these initial hypotheses are proven through the experimental data generated through the presently proposed studies, the signature peptide methodology may ultimately be employed as an effective approach to isocyanate asthma prevention. Furthermore, the study may serve as a model for other occupational / environmental exposures to reactive low-molecular weight chemicals. The approach of the present study involves using selected reaction monitoring-mass spectrometry of serum samples spiked with a heavy isotope labeled peptide conjugated to chemical. The sensitivity of the approach will be increased further, by using novel anti-MDI monoclonal antibodies to immunoaffinity purify the signature peptide before analysis.
The specific aims of the project are- Aim 1. Develop quantitative assay for measuring MDI-peptide purified from human serum samples by affinity chromatography, followed by LC-MS/MS.
Aim 2. Quantitate the amount of signature MDI-peptide present in serum of workers with varying levels of MDI exposure.
Aim 3. Determine the association between signature MDI-peptide and personal exposure levels, estimated from task-based exposure measurements, urine analysis and occupational history. NORA Sectors &NIOSH r2p Output/Outcomes- The present application addresses the following NORA sectors and cosectors, in the following order of relevance;Exposure Assessment, Manufacturing, Construction, Immune and Dermal Diseases, and Respiratory Diseases. The research proposed here will lead to novel approaches of assessing exposure to MDI, a major occupational allergen. The approach will ultimately be applied to preventing occupational asthma (a disease of the respiratory system thought to be caused by the immune system) among workers in manufacturing and construction industries.

Public Health Relevance

The research proposed here will lead to novel approaches of assessing exposure to MDI, a major occupational allergen. The approach will ultimately be applied to preventing occupational asthma (a disease of the respiratory system thought to be caused by the immune system) among workers in manufacturing and construction industries.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
Type
Exploratory/Developmental Grants (R21)
Project #
1R21OH010494-01
Application #
8569710
Study Section
Safety and Occupational Health Study Section (SOH)
Program Officer
Dearwent, Steve
Project Start
2013-09-01
Project End
2015-08-31
Budget Start
2013-09-01
Budget End
2014-08-31
Support Year
1
Fiscal Year
2013
Total Cost
$223,442
Indirect Cost
$89,242
Name
Yale University
Department
Internal Medicine/Medicine
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
043207562
City
New Haven
State
CT
Country
United States
Zip Code
06520
Wisnewski, Adam V; Liu, Jian (2016) Immunochemical detection of the occupational allergen, methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI), in situ. J Immunol Methods 429:60-5
Wisnewski, Adam V; Liu, Jian; Nassar, Ala F (2016) In vitro cleavage of diisocyanate-glutathione conjugates by human gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase-1. Xenobiotica 46:726-32
Nassar, Ala F; Ogura, Hideki; Wisnewski, Adam V (2015) Impact of recent innovations in the use of mass cytometry in support of drug development. Drug Discov Today 20:1169-75
Wisnewski, Adam V; Liu, Jian; Colangelo, Christopher M (2015) Glutathione reaction products with a chemical allergen, methylene-diphenyl diisocyanate, stimulate alternative macrophage activation and eosinophilic airway inflammation. Chem Res Toxicol 28:729-37
Nassar, Ala F; Wisnewski, Adam; King, Ivan (2015) Metabolic disposition of the anti-cancer agent [(14)C]laromustine in male rats. Xenobiotica 45:711-21