Arsenic and Health: Diabetes

Yaqui dancers preparing for the "Danza del Venado" which is a traditional dance in the Mexican state of Sonora (Photo provided by Denise Moreno)

The association between arsenic exposure and diabetes mellitus has been inferred by various researchers and has received more attention due to recent epidemiologic reports linking them due to environmental and occupational source.  The high incidence of diabetes in Hispanic and Native American populations in both the Southwestern U.S. and Northern Mexico could, in part, be explained by their exposure to arsenic via their drinking water.  The high prevalence of diabetes, the presence of adverse polymorphisms in arsenic biotransformation genes in this group, and arsenic exposure in some areas of the U.S.-Mexico Border suggest the need to study the interactions among these factors.

The objectives of this study are:

• To explore in human and experimental models the relationships between arsenic exposure and diabetes relative to calpain polymorphisms and alterations of calpain expression and activity and annexin II and plasmin regulation

Principal investigators have identified populations with high arsenic exposure and are relating the exposure to incidences of diabetes to polymorphisms of key genes implicated in a higher sensitivity.  Results from the project will be used to help define what measures can be taken in the community to lower diabetes risk.

Project Contacts:

Dr. A. Jay Gandolfi The University of Arizona Principal Investigator – U.S. gandolfi@pharmacy.arizona.edu	Dr. Walter Klimecki The University of Arizona Principal Investigator – U.S. walt@resp-sci.arizona.edu
Dr. Patricia Ostrosky Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico Principal Investigator - Mexico ostrosky@servidor.unam.mx	Dr. Mariano E. Cebrian Garcia Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados Principal Investigator – Mexico mcebrian@cinvestav.mx
Dr. Gonzalo Garcia Vargas Universidad Juarez del Estado de Durango Investigator – Mexico ggarcia_vargas@hotmail.com	Dr. Lizbeth Teresita Lopez Carrillo Instituto Nacional de Salud Publica Investigator - Mexico lizbeth@insp.mx
Dr. Marcia V. Galvan-Portillo Instituto Nacional de Salud Publica Investigator - Mexico mgalvan@correo.insp.mx

To learn more about the components of the project, please click on the icons below:

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