Research Projects

Air pollution is the second largest risk factor for global non-communicable diseases, with particulate matter (PM) being linked to higher risks of neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative disorders, poor mental health, and cognitive defects. The neurogenesis process during embryonic development is particularly vulnerable to PM exposure due to the poorly developed blood brain barrier and placental barrier. The brain development process involves neural stem cells (NSCs) proliferation, differentiation, maturation, neuritogenesis, and synaptogenesis. However, the adverse effect of PM on neurogenesis during embryonic development is not well understood, and there is no information on transcriptional responses to PM exposure in NSCs proliferation and differentiation. This field of research is still in its infancy, and efforts are needed to clarify the precise mechanisms by which PM affects neurodevelopmental events. The study aims to investigate the adverse effect of prenatal exposure of nano-sized air particulate matter on stemness, proliferation, and differentiation of NSCs through transcriptomics analysis and molecular mechanisms. The identified genes merit further mechanistic studies for therapeutic intervention development. The study also aims to investigate the protective effects of chlorogenic acid (CGA) against PM-induced detrimental effects in embryonic neural stem cells.