Biomarkers for prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE)

Epigenetics refers to the body of mechanisms that regulate gene expression without altering underlying DNA sequences, and include non-coding RNA, chromatin modifications, and DNA modifications.

We are developing a human neuronal cell-based model system to discover novel biomarkers for prenatal alcohol exposure (PAE). If a reliable, long-lasting biomarker for PAE could be identified, that could mean diagnosing clinicians could confirm PAE many years after birth which would be a game-changer for diagnosis of FASD.

In a system that has neuronal cells in early differentiation, we treat them with different dosages of ethanol and acetaldehyde, and measure the changes in expression and chemical modifications (epigenetics) in the RNA molecule. The treatment is done for a defined period of time and then we withdraw the ethanol to observe persistent molecular changes. Our current project in the lab focuses on microRNA as biomarkers that are released from these cells via small extracellular vesicles (sEV).