Lucio G. Costa, PharmD
About
The general area of research in Dr. Costa's laboratory is neurotoxicology. Neurotoxic substances may play a role in neurodevelopmental disorders, and in neurological, neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative diseases. Dr. Costa's laboratory is interested in the study of the cellular, biochemical and molecular mechanisms involved in neurotoxicity, as well as behavioral testing, imaging techniques and transgenic animal models.
Education
- PharmD, University of Milan (Italy),
Affiliations
Mentorship
Not available to mentor new students.
DEOHS Students Mentored
Characterizing the Role of Paraoxonase 2 (PON2) in the Brain: Phenotypic Analysis and Modulating Factors
Jacqueline Garrick | PhD | 2021 | View
Diesel exhaust exposure induces microglial activation, suppresses adult neurogenesis and increases levels of neurodegenerative markers
Jacki Lynn Coburn | PhD | 2018 | View
Developmental exposure to diesel exhaust causes autism-like behavioral, molecular and cortical structural alterations
Yu-Chi Chang | PhD | 2018 | View
Exposure to 60hz Electromagnetic Fields Increases the Proliferation of Human Astrocytoma Cells
Min Wei | MS Thesis | 1997 | View
The Effect of Ethanol on the Synthesis and Efflux of Cholesterol in Astrocytes
Jing Chen | MS Thesis | 2005 | View
Research
Interests: Neurotoxicology. Molecular mechanisms and biochemical markers of neurotoxicity. Children's health. Food additives and contaminants. Genetic susceptibility. In vitro toxicology. Pesticides. Neurotoxicity of diesel exhaust and air pollution. Paraoxonase 1 and paraoxonase 2. Metals and oxidative stress. Air pollution and autism-related disorders. Air pollution and neurodegenerative diseases.
Projects
- Studies neurotoxicity and developmental neurotoxicity of environmental exposure to traffic-related air pollution (e.g. diesel exhaust) with focus on oxidative stress, neuroinflammation and markers of neurodegenerative diseases. Studies include in vivo exposures in mice, and biochemical, behavioral and immunohistochemical measurements.
- Studies role of paraoxonase 2 as a determinant of sex-linked differences in susceptibility to neurotoxicity using transgenic mice and in vitro and in vivo approaches.
- Studies role of paraoxonase 1 in modulating susceptibility to organophosphate toxicity.
Publications
Selected publications
- Prenatal and early-life diesel exhaust exposure causes autism-like behavioral changes in mice.
- Prenatal and early life diesel exhaust exposure disrupts cortical lamina organization: Evidence for a reelin-related pathogenic pathway induced by interleukin-6.
- Acute exposure to diesel exhaust impairs adult neurogenesis in mice: prominence in males and protective effect of pioglitazone.