The Effects of Exposure to Perfluorobutane Sulfonic acid (PFBS) on Expression of Genes Related to Exocrine Pancreas Development and Function in Zebrafish (Danio rerio)

Presenter

Kelsey Rodrigues

Campus

UMass Amherst

Sponsor

Alicia Timme-Laragy, Department of Environmental Health Sciences, UMass Amherst

Schedule

Session 1, 10:30 AM - 11:15 AM [Schedule by Time][Poster Grid for Time/Location]

Location

Poster Board C20, Poster Showcase Room (163), Row 2 (C11-C20) [Poster Location Map]

Abstract

Perfluorobutane sulfonic acid (PFBS), an environmental toxicant, has been used in a wide variety of consumer products as a non-stick and stain-repellent agent. PFBS has become a chemical of interest due to its use as a replacement for perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS), a highly conserved and longer-chain molecule. Previous studies have shown that exposure to PFBS is linked to oxidative stress and a truncated exocrine pancreas phenotype in zebrafish (Danio rerio). Nuclear factor erythroid-2 (Nrf2), a transcription factor that is a part of the antioxidant defense system and is involved in the glutathione (GSH) redox system, has been shown to increase sensitivity to environmental toxicants and disrupt redox signaling when mutated, leading to oxidative stress. This study aims to understand the effects of exposure to PFBS on the expression of genes related to exocrine pancreas development and function. The relationship between Nrf2 and toxicant exposure will also be studied. Wild-type and Nrf2a mutant Tg(ptf1a:GFP) embryos were exposed to PFBS [0 (0.01% DMSO), 8, 16, or 32 μM PFBS] starting at 3 hours post fertilization (hpf) with solutions refreshed daily. At 4 days post fertilization (dpf), zebrafish larvae were washed and then either collected in RNAlater for qPCR. Genes of interest include those that are involved in exocrine pancreas development and function such as ptf1a, try, ctrb1, and amy2a. Further replicates are still needed in order to obtain results for this project. Future plans for this project include conducting further chemical exposures, running qPCR, and data analysis. 

Keywords

Environmental Toxicants, Toxicant Exposure , Exocrine Pancreas, Gene Expression

Research Area

Public Health and Epidemiology

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