Dr. Ella Atlas
Principal investigator leading research projects involving endocrine disruption and metabolic disruption of toxicants.
Current research and/or projects
Increasing evidence supports the hypothesis that human exposure to environmental pollutants may have great impacts on human health. Specifically, it is now postulated that exposure to chemicals collectively named “obesogens” may contribute to the obesity epidemic and metabolic disease. Further, it is recognised that chemicals may be carcinogenic and therefore contribute to the development of cancers in humans.
Research and/or project statements
The research conducted in Dr. Atlas’ laboratory comprises two major projects. To develop in vitro models to investigate the effects of chemicals on fat cell formation, adipogenesis, and to investigate the effects of these chemicals on the phenotype of the mature fat cells. The second project is focussed on the carcinogenic effect of chemicals on the mammary gland in 3D models, using mammary epithelial cells.
Professional activities / interests
Society of Toxicology of Canada Member of the Program Committee
Education and awards
Education:
Ph.D. Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Queen's University, Kingston, Canada.
Awards:
National Cancer Institute of Canada Postdoctoral Fellowship
Cancer Care Ontario Postdoctoral Fellowship
Ontario Graduate Scholarship
International experience and/or work
Advisor on the OECD on the “Validation Management Group – Non-Animal Methods”
Key publications
- Peshdary V, Calzadilla G, Landry A, Sorisky A and Atlas E. Dechlorane Plus increases adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 and human primary preadipocytes independent of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ transcriptional activity. Int J Obes (Lond). 2018 May doi: 10.1038/s41366-018-0072-7
- Peshdary V. and Atlas E. Dexamethasone induced miR-155 up-regulation in differentiating 3T3-L1 preadipocytes does not affect adipogenesis. Sci Rep. 2018 Jan 19;8(1):1264
- Tung EWY, Peshdary V, Gagné R, Rowan-Carroll A,Yauk CL, Boudreau A and Atlas E. Adipogenic Effects and Gene Expression Profiling of Firemaster® 550 Components in Human Primary Preadipocytes. (2017) Environmental Health Perspectives Sep 14;125(9):097013. doi: 10.1289/EHP1318
- Tung EWY, Ahmed S, and Atlas E. Firemaster® 550 and its components isopropylated triphenyl phosphate and triphenyl phosphate enhance adipogenesis and transcriptional activity of peroxisome proliferator activated receptor Pparγ on adipocyte protein 2 (aP2) enhancer region. (2017) PLoS One 12(4):e0175855. doi: 10.1371.
- Boucher JG, Ahmed S, Atlas E. Bisphenol S Induces Adipogenesis in Primary Human Preadipocytes From Female Donors. (2016) Endocrinology: 157(4):1397- 407. doi: 10.1210/en.2015-187
- Ahmed S and Atlas E. Bisphenol S- and bisphenol A-induced adipogenesis of murine preadipocytes occurs through direct peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma activation. (2016) Int J Obes (Lond). 40(10):1566-1573.
- Boucher JG, Gagné R, Rowan-Carroll A, Boudreau A, Yauk CL and Atlas E. Bisphenol A and Bisphenol S Induce Distinct Transcriptional Profiles in Differentiating Human Primary Preadipocytes. (2016) PLoS One. 29;11(9):e0163318
- Boucher JG, Boudreau A, Ahmed S and Atlas E. In Vitro Effects of Bisphenol A β-D-Glucuronide (BPA-G) on Adipogenesis in Human and Murine Preadipocytes. (2015) Environmental Health Perspectives: 123(12):1287-93.doi: 10.1289/ehp.1409143
- Boucher JG, Husain M, Rowan-Carroll A, Williams A, Yauk CL, and Atlas E. Identification of mechanisms of action of bisphenol A-induced human preadipocyte differentiation by transcriptional profiling. (2014) Obesity: 22(11):2333-43. doi: 10.1002/oby.20848.
- Kuzmochka C, Abdou HS, Haché RJ, and Atlas E. Inactivation of histone deacetylasse 1 (HDAC1) but not HDAC2 is required for the glucocorticoid-dependent CCAAT/enhancer binding protein α expression and preadipocyte differentiation. (2014) Endocrinology 155(12):4762-73
Contact
Research facility
Affiliations
University of Ottawa, Adjunct Professor.