The Role of Desert-Dust Metals in the Pathobiology of Gulf War Illness

Abstract

After the First Persian Gulf War (1990-1991), many U.S. personnel reported suffering from a chronic multi-symptom disease eventually called Gulf War Illness. We hypothesize that exposures to pyridostigmine bromide, permethrin, and/or DEET adversely affect the permeability of the blood-brain barrier allowing metals solubilized from inhaled desert dust particles to enter the brain. As a consequence, normal metal homeostasis is disrupted resulting in extensive oxidative damage and neurological dysfunction. In Year 3, based upon trans-endothelial electrical resistance (TEER) readings, we have successfully established an in vitro blood-brain barrier model. In some but not all cases, treatment with a variety of Gulf War-associated chemicals affected TEER values. In addition, with some treatments, changes in expression of gap junction proteins, ZO-1 and occludin were also observed.

Open PDF

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Oct 01, 2019
Accession Number
AD1089700

Entities

People

  • John F. Kalinich

Organizations

  • Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Biomedical

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Blood
  • Blood-Brain Barrier
  • Brain
  • Cells
  • Dermatologic Agents
  • Electrical Resistance
  • Endothelial Cells
  • Governments
  • Gulfs
  • Intercellular Junctions
  • Medical Personnel
  • Permeability
  • Persian Gulf
  • Persian Gulf Syndrome
  • Persian Gulf War
  • Pyridostigmine Bromide
  • Resistance

Readers

  • Cellular and Molecular Pathways of Apoptosis.
  • Gulf War Illness and Chronic Multisymptom Illness in Veterans.