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Publication
International Journal of Molecular Sciences

Discovery of Blood-Based Proteins That Mark Benzo[a]pyrene Modulation of Autoimmunity

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  • October 21, 2025
  • Yun Liang, et al., Michigan State University
Topic/Product:
Inflammation, Mouse Panel 120
Disease Area:
Autoimmunity
Sample Type:
Serum-Mouse

Abstract

Environmental pollutants are thought to shape our immune landscape and drive the rise in autoimmune disease incidence worldwide. However, the molecular underpinnings of environmental impact on autoimmunity remain elusive and a quantitative measurement for immune dysfunction as a result of environmental exposure is yet to be developed. To this end, we have performed a discovery study to identify blood-based, immune-associated proteins regulated by benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) using the autoimmune-prone murine model MRL. We report the upregulation of autoimmune-associated cytokines including IL1a and IFNg by BaP, months before the manifestation of autoimmune phenotypes. Additionally, the increased levels of proteins such as IL16, IL22 and SNCA in male MRL mice upon BaP exposure may be a molecular link to the increased risk in end organ damage in subsets of autoimmune disease patients. Further comparison with the transcriptomic analysis of BaP-stimulated skin and lungs suggests distinct patterns of immune regulation in peripheral organs versus blood. Altogether, our study supports the need for the early detection of BaP-induced immune changes for the prevention and management of autoimmune diseases and provides leads for the future development of these blood-based biomarkers.

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Authors & Affiliations

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Steve Williams, MD, PhD

CSO

Dr. Willams serves as the company’s Chief Scientific Officer. He was previously Chief Medical Officer at Standard Biotools and at SomaLogic where he pioneered the discipline for discovery and validation of predictive, diagnostic and prognostic models using machine-learning applied to large-plex proteomics. 20 such tests were used for drug characterization, safety and efficacy when incorporated in clinical drug trials at Pharma/Biotech and 17 different multivariate tests were validated and translated into regulated healthcare uses. Prior to SomaLogic, Dr. Williams was at Pfizer in the UK and the USA as a clinical triallist in Translational Medicine, and subsequently as VP, Global Clinical Technology. He sat on the National Advisory Council for the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering, the Executive Committee for the FNIH Biomarkers Consortium, and worked with FDA and PhRMA on developing evidentiary standards for biomarker qualification. Dr. William’s medical training was in London, at Charing Cross and Westminster Medical School, followed by a PhD in medicine/physiology at the same institution and training in Radiology at the University of Newcastle Upon Tyne. Steve is co-inventor on 26 proteomics patents and author/coauthor on multiple foundational proteomics manuscripts.

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Justin McAnear

CFO

Mr. McAnear serves as the company’s Chief Financial Officer. He brings over 25 years of operational and financial leadership experience across various sectors and was instrumental in taking 10x Genomics public in 2019, serving as its CFO for over five years. Mr. McAnear served for over 3 years as Tesla’s VP of Worldwide Finance and Operations, supporting landmark initiatives such as the Model X and Model 3 launches and Solar City acquisition.  He also held various roles at Apple and J&J earlier in his career and served as a naval officer and aviator for over 9 years.