About me
Assessing the HMOX-1 response in lung cells to mold-air freshener co-exposure
Location: 96
Mentor: Dr. Chang-Yu Wu
Studying toxicity of aerosols is essential to identifying the potential health risks of common indoor sources which emit both biological and non-biological pollutants. Among biological pollutants, mold emissions are a major concern, while household cleaning products, such as air fresheners, are among the most prevalent non-biological pollutants in indoor spaces. The objectives of this research are to investigate the use of molecular techniques such as Q-PCR, to measure the oxidative stress caused by these pollutants, and to understand whether there are any toxicological interactions among these two types of pollutants. In this study, we evaluated the expression of HMOX-1, which is gene expressed due to oxidative stress, in A549 cells when exposed to both mold (Aspergillus fumigatus) and aerosols from air fresheners such as Glade and Febreze. To measure the expression of HMOX-1 in A549 cells when exposed to mold and aerosols, A549 cells are added to the cell culture plates (6 well plates) at 2 x 10^4 cells/well concentration. Each plate is then exposed to the various toxins included in this study. The targeted toxicants are: mold (Aspergillus fumigatus), two types of air fresheners (Febreze and Glade), and lastly mixtures consisting of mold, and each air freshener (air freshener expected to consist of different dilutions). Once exposure is complete, the cells are incubated for 24 hours. After 24 hours, the cells will be detached, and RNA will be extracted for PCR, followed by an analysis of the results. The results of the analysis will be analyzed by comparing the expression of HMOX-1 in response to individual toxicants versus the mixture of these toxicants, and determining whether there are synergistic, antagonistic, or additive interactions among these toxicants.
The anticipated results of this research study include determining whether low, non-toxic concentrations of mold can alter the toxicity of the emissions from the two air freshener brands. Understanding such interactions between the biological and non-biological components of indoor air could provide a more holistic evaluation of indoor air health risks.
