DETROIT – Researchers at Wayne State University have been awarded a five-year, $3.94 million R01 grant from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), to investigate how air pollution levels commonly found in Detroit accelerate biological aging and impact metabolic and cognitive health.
The project, “Molecular Mechanisms of Multi-Organ Communication in Response to VOC Exposure Across Aging,” is led by Dr. Marianna Sadagurski, associate professor in the Department of Biological Sciences in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and the Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (IEHS) at Wayne State University. Multi-principal investigators include Dr. J. Richard Pilsner, professor and the Robert J. Sokol, M.D. Endowed Chair of Molecular Obstetrics and Gynecology from Wayne State’s C.S. Mott Center for Human Growth and Development, and Dr. Shoshana Yakar, professor of molecular pathobiology at New York University. Wayne State co-investigators Dr. Steven Korzeniewski, associate professor in the Department of Emergency Medicine, and Dr. Katherine Gurdziel, director of the Genome Sciences Core, round out the interdisciplinary team.
The study focuses specifically on BTEX — a pervasive chemical mixture of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylene generated by heavy traffic and industrial emissions — at concentrations reflecting real-world exposures in the Detroit metropolitan area. Preliminary studies conducted by Sadagurski’s team revealed that BTEX exposure at these environmentally relevant levels impairs cognitive function and metabolic health in preclinical models. These exposures induce hallmark molecular indicators of aging, including chronic inflammation, cellular senescence and the breakdown of essential cellular protein quality-control systems.
“Our preliminary findings show that even common, real-world levels of urban air pollutants can trigger premature cellular decline and disrupt crucial brain functions,” said Sadagurski. “With this support from the NIEHS, our team will map the exact genetic and epigenetic alterations occurring in the brain and immune system, particularly within microglia cells. By uncovering these molecular signatures, we aim to establish reliable biomarkers of accelerated aging and pinpoint targeted pathways for future therapeutic interventions that safeguard cognitive and metabolic health in communities exposed to urban pollution.”
Building on these foundational discoveries, the collaborative team will create comprehensive maps of gene regulation and epigenetic modifications across the central nervous and immune systems. A central focus will be placed on microglia, the resident immune cells of the central nervous system that play an indispensable role in neuroinflammation and brain aging.
“This significant NIH award exemplifies Wayne State University’s deep commitment to addressing health disparities and advancing solutions to the most pressing environmental challenges facing urban centers,” said Dr. Ezemenari M. Obasi, vice president for research & innovation at Wayne State University. “Dr. Sadagurski, Dr. Pilsner and their teams are conducting vital translational research that directly connects laboratory discovery with public health outcomes. Their work will not only deepen our understanding of environmental aging mechanisms but also pave the way for real-world protections for our communities in Detroit and beyond.”
Acknowledgment and Disclaimer: Research cited in this article was supported by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences of the National Institutes of Health under award number R01ES038236. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.
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Wayne State University is one of the nation’s pre-eminent public research universities in an urban setting. Through its multidisciplinary approach to research and education, and its ongoing collaboration with government, industry and other institutions, the university seeks to enhance economic growth and improve the quality of life in the city of Detroit, state of Michigan and throughout the world. For more information about research at Wayne State University, visit research.wayne.edu .