Persistently Elevated Somatic Mutation as a Biomarker for Clinically Relevant Exposures in GWI
Abstract
Gulf War Illness (GWI) consists of a set of debilitating symptoms that have been associated with deployment to the Persian Gulf theatre of war. There is general agreement that physical exposures play an important role in the etiology of this disease (or diseases), yet studies to identify a single major causative exposure have been largely unproductive. Dr. Grant has developed a blood-based assay to detect and quantify genotoxic carcinogenic exposures, through loss of a molecular epitope on the surface of red blood cells. This glycophorin A (GPA) mutation assay has been successfully applied in a wide array of occupational, environmental, medical and accidental exposures to radiation and chemicals. The GPA assay provides a cumulative dosimeter of mixed exposures impacting on bone marrow stem cells. Our hypothesis is that such exposures are associated with the incidence of clinical symptoms of GWI. To investigate this possibility, we will analyze two sets of military veterans with the GPA assay, one that was deployed to the Gulf and one which was not. If Gulf War deployment involved exposures with the capacity to damage DNA, such as radiation from depleted uranium ammunition, or polyaromatic hydrocarbons from oil fires, we should detect long term effects in the deployed cohort. Since the GPA assay also integrates host effects, we will also measure DNA repair capacity in these subjects. This project therefore has the potential to monitor present day Gulf War veterans to identify those at greatest risk of developing GWI, but also to identify those at risk for this disease prior to deployment.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 2022
- Accession Number
- AD1191126
Entities
People
- Stephen G Grant
Organizations
- Nova Southeastern University