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Endothelial Progenitor Cells for Assessing Toxicological Response Variability in

Award Information
Agency: Department of Health and Human Services
Branch: National Institutes of Health
Contract: 1R43ES023526-01
Agency Tracking Number: R43ES023526
Amount: $224,313.00
Phase: Phase I
Program: SBIR
Solicitation Topic Code: NIEHS
Solicitation Number: ES13-003
Timeline
Solicitation Year: 2013
Award Year: 2013
Award Start Date (Proposal Award Date): N/A
Award End Date (Contract End Date): N/A
Small Business Information
PO BOX 13501
RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, NC 27709-
United States
DUNS: 130427701
HUBZone Owned: No
Woman Owned: No
Socially and Economically Disadvantaged: No
Principal Investigator
 CHERYL HOBBS
 (919) 281-1110
 chobbs@ils-inc.com
Business Contact
 JULIE BISHOP
Phone: (919) 281-1110
Email: jbishop@ils-inc.com
Research Institution
 Stub
Abstract

PROJECT SUMARY/ABSTRACT This proposed project is in response to the need for more extensive toxicological evaluation of environmental chemicals and for predictive models to assess associated risks of chemical exposure to humans. There is also need for innovative methods for evaluating the effects of chemicals on pluripotent stem cells and the differentiation process. A novel chromatin structure bearing both repressive and activating histone modifications ( bivalent domains ) that direct gene expression is highly enriched in embryonic stem (ES) cells as compared to differentiated cells. Bivalently marked histones silence developmental genes in ES cells while keeping them primed for activation upon initiation of specific differentiation programs. The uniquecharacteristics of chromatin and poised status of bivalently marked genes in ES and induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells may render them particularly sensitive targets for epigenetic effects resulting from chemical exposure. To expand the scope of toxicological evaluation of chemicals, an objective of this project is the development of an assay platform designed to monitor histone modifications in stem cells using a biomarker panel of developmentally-relevant genes characterized by the bivalent histone signature. Using chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) and PCR arrays, promoter regions of a panel of human stem cell transcription factors, Polycomb and Trithorax target genes, and markers of cell lineage progression will be screened to identify promoters exhibiting bivalent histone marks in stem cells. A subset of these consensus genes that exhibit the greatest response to chemical inhibitors of histone modifying enzymes will be identified and validated as biomarkers for detecting an epigenetic response in stem cells. In addition, a Matrix ChIP assay platform that allows for all steps to be performed in a single 96-well plate will be established and validated. To accomplish these goals the following specific aims are proposed: 1) Employ ChIP using antibodies against specific opposing histone marks (i.e., H3K4me3, H3K27me3, and H3K9ac) and PCR arrays to: a) identify a consensus panel of bivalently marked genes relevant to stem cell differentiation in several pluripotent stem cell lines and b) use canonical chemical inhibitors of histone methylation, acetylation, and deacetylation to define a signature subset of epigenetically responsive bivalently marked genes; 2) Validate the ability of the signature biomarker panel to detect chemical-induced effects on thestem cell epigenome using a panel of reference chemicals; and 3) Establish and validate a 96-well Matrix ChIP assay platform for evaluating the effects of chemicals on epigenetic marks located at bivalently marked genes in stem cells. This project will result in a set of bivalently marked biomarker genes useful for evaluating effects of chemicals on histone modifications relevant to stem cell development and a validated 96-well plate method for measuring histone markers. The long term objective is to adaptthe assay to a higher throughput platform for rapid and efficient screening of effects of environmental toxicants on the human epigenome that could predispose an individual to disease. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: There is a need formore extensive toxicological evaluation of environmental chemicals and for predictive models to assess associated risks of chemical exposure to humans. The overall goal of this project is to develop an assay to evaluate the effects of chemicals directly on specific patterns of biochemical modification ( epigenetic marks ) of proteins located at regulatory domains of genes that control stem cell growth and maturation into different organs of the body. The long term objective is to adapt the assay to a highthroughput platform for rapid and efficient screening of effects of environmental chemicals on the human epigenome that could predispose an individual to disease, including cancer.

* Information listed above is at the time of submission. *

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