Research Project

The Effects of Bisphenol-A, an Endocrine Disrupting Pollutant on Mammalian
Cells: a Genonmics Study

Deepak Kumar, Ph.D.
Associate Professor & Chair
Department of Biology
dkumar@udc.edu

Dr. Kumar and his collaborator at the Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center at Georgetown University, Dr. Rebecca Riggins, are also working on elucidating the mechanisms of action of the common endocrine disruptor, Bisphenol-A present in the environment. Endocrine disrupting chemicals when absorbed into the body interfere with endocrine system by either mimicking or blocking hormones.  Bisphenol A [BPA; 2, 2-bis (4-hydroxyphenyl) propane] is an endocrine disruptor found as aquatic pollutant that originates mainly from plastic industry. Several studies have linked BPA exposure to fish toxicity, ecosystem misbalance and also, diabetes, insulin (INS) resistance, mammary tumorigenesis in rodents, and poor survival outcome and response to chemotherapy in human breast cancer. The molecular mechanisms involved in BPA toxicity are not well understood. Microarray technology is a powerful way to simultaneously detect the expression of mammalian genome and identify the genes regulating BPA toxicity. Using the microarray data, this proposal is aimed to study the changes in gene expression and help understand the mechanism of action of BPA using MCF-10A mammary epithelial cells as a model.

The project trains UDC undergraduate students and propagates cutting edge research at the University.  The data generated will be published and used in applying further collaborative extramural funding from external agencies