Research Projects

TCS is one such antimicrobial agent that is widely used as a disinfectant and antiseptic agent. Due to the high demand and over production, unwanted environmental persistence and bioaccumulation of TCS are highly concerned as it is suspected to be an endocrine-disruptor. Pharmacokinetic studies show that TCS is found in various human tissues and body fluids. Recent experimental studies suggested that exposure to TCS induced toxic effects on liver cells, supported tumorigenesis, disrupted steroidogenesis, increased organ malformation, and induced prooxidants formation. Though studies suggest that TCS is toxic to liver, neuronal cells, and reproductive systems, there are very limited studies that have evaluated its lung toxicity using experimental models. For instance, TCS is reported to reduce T cells response to influenza infection as well as augment ovalbumin-induced allergic response. However, the acute and chronic response in the lung following exposure to TCS and the underlying molecular mechanisms are poorly understood. This proposal is completely innovative in that it will use both in vitro and in vivo models to determine the acute and chronic effects in the lungs following exposure to environmentally-relevant levels of TCS. Further, this project also aimed to investigate the molecular, biochemical, and immunological mechanisms through which TCS mediate its effects. The elucidated molecular mechanism of TCS-induced lung toxicity in mice may be relevant to humans.