David A. Eastmond
Professor of Cell Biology
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Biomedical Research
Ph.D., University of California, Berkeley, 1987
VOICE: 951-827-4497 |
The research in Dr. Eastmond's laboratory focuses on the mechanisms involved in the toxicity and carcinogenesis of environmental chemicals. One important goal of this research is to provide information allowing the potential adverse health effects associated with chemical exposure in human populations to be more accurately estimated. Investigations are performed using a variety of chemical, biochemical and molecular approaches with isolated enzyme, cell culture and animal model systems. Currently investigations are underway to study the metabolism and chromosome-damaging effects of several cancer-causing agents including benzene, a widely used industrial chemical and environmental pollutant, ortho-phenylphenol, an extensively used fungicide and germicide and selected organophosphate insecticides.
In addition, we have an active research program which uses molecular cytogenetic techniques to detect chromosomal alterations occurring in chemically exposed human populations. These human biomonitoring approaches should allow the early detection of genotoxic effects and allow treatment or intervention strategies to be implemented. Studies are currently underway applying fluorescence in situ hybridization with chromosome-specific DNA probes and related immunochemical techniques to detect chromosomal changes occurring in cells isolated from the blood, semen, bladder and/or mouth of humans involved in cigarette smoking, benzene manufacture or employed spraying pesticides.
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS
Frantz, C.E., Chen, H. and Eastmond, D.A. Inhibition of human topoisomerase II in vitro by bioactive benzene metabolites. Environ. Health Perspect. Vol. 10-4, Suppl. 6:1319-1323 (1996).
Rupa, D.S., Hasegawa, L. and Eastmond, D.A. Detection of chromosomal breakage in the 1cen - 1q12 region of interphase human lymphocytes using multicolor fluorescence in situ hybridization with tandem DNA probes. Cancer Res. 55:640-645 (1995).
Chen, H.W., Rupa, D.S., Tomar, R. and Eastmond, D.A. Chromosomal loss and breakage in mouse bone marrow and spleen cells exposed to benzene in vivo. Cancer Res. 54:3533-3539 (1994).
Eastmond, D.A. and Pinkel, D. Detection of aneuploidy and aneuploidy-inducing agents in human lymphocytes using fluorescent in situ hybridization with chromosome-specific DNA probes. Mutation Research 234:303-318 (1990).
Eastmond, D.A. and Tucker, J.D. Identification of aneuploidy-inducing agents using cytokinesis-blocked human lymphocytes and an antikinetochore antibody. Environmental and Molecular Mutagenesis 13:34-43 (1989).
Eastmond, D.A., Smith, M.T. and Irons, R. An interaction of benzene metabolites reproduces the myelotoxocity observed with benzene exposure. Toxicol. Appl. Pharmacol., 91:85-95 (1987).