FP6 priority
1.1.5   Food Quality and Safety
Title of the proposal

Endocrine disruptors (polychlorinated biphenyls and pesticides) and the mechanisms for a higher prevalence of diabetes mellitus in the exposed population.

Institute
Slovak Academy of Sciences, Inst. Exp. Endocrinology (an EU Centre of Excellence),
Vlarska 3, 83306 Bratislava, Slovak Republic
www.endo.sav.sk
Contact
Name:
Iwar KLIMES, MD, DSc, Assoc. Professor
Phone:
+421 2 5477 2687
E-mail:
ueeniwar@savba.savba.sk


Research subject for a potential FP6 project

Due to a persistent industrial pollution in a given part of Eastern Slovakia, high concentrations of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) in water, soil, foods, freely living animals as well as in human body fluids (milk and blood) and tissues (subcutaneous adipose tissue) were found. In addition, there are data from this area demonstrating increased incidence of thyroid disorders, and higher prevalence of autoantibodies against various components of the thyroid gland, and against insulin synthesizing cells.
Within the PCBRISK (5th Framework Program of EC) project extensive examinations of about 1000 subjects from the polluted and about 1000 subjects from the control area have been performed including the measurement of several specific biosubstances (hormones, antibodies, tumor markers etc.) in serum and urine. In addition, analyses of PCB, and their metabolites are being currently analyzed. Based on screening for diabetes mellitus (DM) with aid of a standard glucose tolerance test in the two aforementioned cohorts, a higher prevalence of impaired glucose tolerance and diabetes mellitus was found in subjects from the PCB polluted areas.Within the 6th Framework Program our Laboratory will focus to elucidation of the cellular and molecular mechanisms behind this higher occurrence of diabetes in the PCB exposed subjects. As the PCB levels in the polluted area are about 10-15 times higher than those in countries with similar problems (e.g. USA and Scandinavia), it is very likely that the results obtained will contribute substantially to the solution of problems with PCB environmental pollution all over the world.
PCBs have beside other actions potent immunomodulatory properties. Thus, partners with immu-nology expertise at the molecular level and interest in diabetes and/or endocrine disruptors are welcome.


Recent international cooperation of the research team

Department of Environmental Chemistry, Stockholm University, Sweden
Research Institute of Toxicology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Netherlands
Research Institute of Veterinary medicine, Brno, Czech Republic
Clinical Chemistry Laboratory, Charring Cross Hospital, London, UK


Proposerīs relevant publications related to the research subject

1. Langer P, Tajtakova M, Fodor G, Kocan A, Bohov P, Michalek J, Kreze A: Increased thyroid volume and prevalence of thyroid disorders in an area heavily polluted by polychlorinated biphenyls. Eur J Endocrinology 39: 402-406, 1998
2. Langer P., Tajtakova M., Bohov P., Klimes I.: Possible role of genetic factors in thyroid growth rate and in theassessment of upper limit of normal thyroid volume in iodine-replete adolescents. Thyroid 9, 557-562, 1999
3. Langer P, Kausitz J, Tajtakova M, Kocan A, Bohov P, Hanzen E., Klimes I: Further studies of blood levels of some tumor markers in the area polluted by polychlorinated biphenyls and control population. Neoplasma 48: 139-143, 2001
4. Langer P, Tajtakova M, Guretzki HJ, Kocan A, Petrik J, Chovancova J, Drobna B, Jursa S, Pavuk M, Trnovec T, Sebokova E, Klimes I: High prevalence of anti-GAD in the employees of previously PCB producing factory. Arch Environ Health 2002 (in press)5. Koska J, Ksinantova L, Buckova K, Cervenakova Z, Imrich R, Petrik* J, Jursa* S, Tajtakova# M, Suchanek$ P, Vigas M, Langer P, Kocan* A, Trnovec* T, Sebokova E, Klimes I: Increased prevalence of diabetes mellitus and impaired glucose tolerance in subjects of selected areas of Eastern Slovakia chronically polluted with polychlorinated biphenyls. XII th Annual Meeting of the Slovak Diabetes Association, Trencin, Slovakia, June 5-8, 2002 (Abstract)