We are interested in identifying and studying genes that are affected by environmental pollutants (particularly from exposure to airborne particulate matter). We have focused our research on environmental problems and issues that affect the Puerto Rican population. As an environmental toxicologist I have been studying the possible relationships between respiratory diseases and various constituents of local airborne particulate matter from various regions of Puerto Rico. Coupled to airborne particulates in Puerto Rico we have the influence of African dust and volcanic particles that seasonally and sporadically arrive to our island environment. We have been studying the effects of African Dust Storms that move across the Atlantic Ocean and impacts the island of Puerto Rico. Efforts are guided towards identifying chemical and biological constituents of airborne particles responsible for inducing toxicological and immune responses in the lung. To do this we use human bronchial epithelial cell lines as a research model. Our goal is to discover and identify the mechanisms by which various constituents modify biochemical responses that can induce the development of disease.

Our laboratory has shown that particles originating from African dust as well as local urban dust strengthen the immunological responses of lung cells to release pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL6, and IL8). The mechanisms by which these responses are induced, involve the interactions of heavy metals, endotoxins and organics. We have found that both Nrf2 and NFkB are induced by local and African dust. We are currently studying the mechanisms by which these three constituents induce these immunological responses. In addition we are studying polymorphism in various genes identified by us by the effects of particle pollution using in vitro models on the Puerto Rican asthmatic population.

We have also demonstrated that these constituents also affect the expression of other genes such as the Mayor Histocompatibility Complex Class II (MHCII) and the nuclear orphan receptor (PXR) from the detoxification system. Studies are currently being designed to explain these findings.