EFFECT OF TREATMENT WITH DIFFERENT CONCENTRATIONS OF FLUORIDE ON RENAL DUCT EPITHELIAL CELLS (M-1)

Abstract

Water fluoridation is widely recognized as a top 10 public health intervention of the 20th century, significantly reducing global dental caries. Fluoride (F) is essential for normal cellular processes, particularly in the development and maintenance of the skeletal system. Upon ingestion, F is absorbed by the gastrointestinal system, primarily accumulating in bones and teeth, while excess is excreted through urine. Various factors influence F metabolism, affecting its retention and potential toxicity. Chronic excessive F intake commonly leads to dental fluorosis. Although most retained F is in bone tissue, a small portion accumulates in soft tissues, disrupting metabolic pathways and enzyme function. Chronic F exposure in soft tissues can increase glucose intolerance and impair insulin secretion. F-induced insulin resistance may result from altered phosphorylation in insulin-responsive tissues. Diabetes mellitus, characterized by hyperglycemia, presents significant socioeconomic challenges worldwide. It is a leading cause of chronic kidney disease, affecting both type 1 and type 2 diabetic patients. Diabetic nephropathy, resulting from hyperglycemia and metabolic shifts, progresses with glomerular and tubular interstitial fibrosis, impacting renal function. F toxicity is linked to its metabolism, with kidney particularly vulnerable due to high tissue/plasma ratios. F's effect on renal tissue permeability can lead to edema, hemorrhage, and necrosis, especially in proximal convoluted tubules. Studies suggest F exposure correlates with renal tissue damage. Despite extensive research on F toxicity, cellular and molecular mechanisms remain poorly understood, especially regarding low F concentration treatments in hyperglycemic environments. Understanding F's influence on kidney cells is crucial due to widespread of F exposure through various sources. This BEPE project, to be supervised by Dr. Claudia Biguetti at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, aims to enhance our understanding of chronic F treatment effects, synergizing with ongoing research to unravel F's mechanisms of action.