Project Description

Phenotypic and metabolomic effects of atmospheric particulate matter on physiologically relevant human lung cell cultures: source apportionment and prediction of biological effects

Main objective

To have a deep understanding of the biological effects of particulate matter (PM) exposure on lung epithelial cells, and to have powerful predictive models that enable the risk assessment of PM inhalation.

Specific objectives of the proposal

(1) To develop and optimize a three-dimensional (3D) cell culture model that mimics the physiological conditions of alveolar lung cells in vivo;
(2) to characterize the phenotypic and metabolite/lipid changes in these cultures induced by PM samples;
(3) to study the relationship between the chemical composition/sources of PM and the elicited effects; and
(4) to elaborate a predictive model that, for a given composition of PM, enables the prediction of the physiological effects on lung epithelial cells.

Contact: Fulvio Amato y Carmen Bedia