University of Puerto Rico,
Medical Sciences Campus,
School of Medicine,
Biochemistry Department
Ph.D. Candidate
and MBRS- RISE Student
Research Interests:
Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease with high prevalence in Puerto Rico, which continues to rise considerably in the last years. Epidemiological studies highlight the significant importance of ambient Particulate Matter (PM) as a possible cause for that increase. Annually, Puerto Rico continues to receive the constant impact of high loads of PM through the global environmental phenomenon commonly referred as “Saharan or African Dust Storms”
My research focuses on the cytotoxic and pro-inflammatory (cytokine secretion) effects of endotoxins found in the PM10 fraction obtained during African Dust Events (ADE). I am particularly interested in studying the mechanisms involved in the expression of genes in endotoxin recognition: Toll-like receptor (TLR) 2 and 4 in a bronchial epithelial human cell line (BEAS-2B). My goal is to engage in translational research in order to investigate the possible gene-environment interactions between TLR polymorphisms and ADE PM10 exposure as these relate to the exacerbation and predominance of asthma in the Puerto Rican population.Figure 1. Modified from Medzhitov R, Janeway C Jr. Innate Immunity. N Engl J Med 2000; 343:338-44The recognition of microbial products leads to the activation of the nuclear factor kB (NF-kB) signaling pathway (Figure 1). In certain cases different gene products including TLR4 and MD-2 mediate the recognition of endotoxin. This leads to a cascade of events that eventually releases NF-kB, which moves into the nucleus and induces the transcriptional activation of a wide array of inflammatory and immune response genes. We question if PM components of African Dust can trigger similar responses through these shared mechanisms?
Education:
2006 to Present: Ph.D. in Biochemistry. University of Puerto Rico, Medical Sciences Campus. Research Dissertation: “Gene-Environment Interactions in the Prevalence of Puerto Rican Asthmatics”.
2001 to 2006: B.S. in General Biology. University of Puerto Rico, Humacao.
Publications:
Ortiz-Martínez, Mario, , Méndez-Torres, Loyda and B.D. Jiménez-Vélez. “Role of Chemical and Biological Constituents of Saharan Dust in the Exacerbation of Asthma in Puerto Rico”. In: Biodiversity Science for Humanity. Ed. by Michael Theophanides and Theophile Theophanides. ATINER, ISBN: 978-960-6672-41-5, 300 pages, Part 2 (2010) 101-118.
Rodríguez-Cotto, Rosa, Ortiz-Martínez, Mario, Rivera-Ramírez, Evasomary, Méndez-Torres, Loyda and Jiménez-Vélez, Braulio. “Toxicological and Pro-inflammatory characteristics of African Dust reaching Puerto Rico”. Toxicological Sciences (2010), Submitted.
Published Abstracts:
Sept, 2010: Rodríguez R., M. Ortiz-Martínez, Fuentes-Mattei E., E. Rivera-Ramírez L. and B.D. Jiménez-Vélez. “Material Particulado en Aire y sus Respuestas Inmunológicas empleando Células Epiteliales del Pulmón”. SOT-HOT, Argentina.
Mar, 2010: M. Ortiz-Martínez, E. Rivera-Ramírez, L. Méndez-Torres and B. D. Jiménez-Vélez. “Endotoxins in African Dust (PM10): possible implication with asthma exacerbation among Puerto Ricans”. 49th SOT Annual Meeting and ToxExpo. Salt Palace Convention Center, Salt Lake City, UT. Abstract #759, Poster Board #246. The Toxicologist 114(1): 161.
Mar, 2010: E. Fuentes-Mattei, D. Sánchez-Rivera, M.G. Ortiz-Martínez, N.E. Crespo-Hernández, A. Gioda, F.R. Román-Velázquez and B.D. Jiménez-Vélez. “Association of Copper to Immunological Markers resulting from Exposure to Polar Organic Extracts from Airborne Particulate Matter (PM2.5) from Puerto Rico in BEAS-2B Cells”. 49th SOT Annual Meeting and ToxExpo. Salt Palace Convention Center, Salt Lake City, UT. Abstract #1560, Poster Board #236. The Toxicologist 114(1): 331.
Mar, 2010: M. Ortiz-Martínez and B. D. Jiménez-Vélez. “Pro-inflammatory Potential of Endotoxins found in Saharan Dust reaching Puerto Rico”. “XXX Foro Anual de Investigación y Educación”. University of Puerto Rico, Medical Sciences Campus. Abstract #R-014, Poster Board# #C-014. Puerto Rico Health Sciences Journal (PRHSJ) 29(2):143.
May, 2009: Ortiz-Martínez, Mario, , Méndez-Torres, Loyda and B.D. Jiménez-Vélez. “Role of Chemical and Biological Constituents of Saharan Dust in the Exacerbation of Asthma in Puerto Rico”. 4th International Symposium on Environment, Athens, Greece.
Apr, 2009: M. Ortiz-Martínez, L. Méndez-Torres and B. D. Jiménez-Vélez. “Endotoxin in PM10 Aqueous Extracts from Saharan Dust: possible implications in the exacerbation of asthma in Puerto Rican children”. “XXIX Foro Anual de Investigación y Educación”. University of Puerto Rico, Medical Sciences Campus. Abstract #R-095, Poster Board #C-095. Puerto Rico Health Sciences Journal (PRHSJ). 28(2): 187
Mar, 2009: M. Ortiz-Martínez, L. Méndez-Torres and B. D. Jiménez-Vélez. “Cytotoxicity evaluation of PM10 Aqueous Extracts from Saharan Dust: possible implications in the exacerbation of asthma in Puerto Rican children”. 1st UPR Medical Sciences Campus MBRS-RISE Program Student Retreat. Rincón, PR.