NEUROPOL

The Neuropol project was initiated in 2022 in line with the Cytopol project led by Nicolas Glaichenhaus in 2020. Both projects aim to determine the impact of our environment on human health. In particular, the objective is to investigate the links between the emergence of cognitive and behavioral disorders known as neurodevelopmental disorders (NDD), in young children and their prenatal exposure to endocrine disruptors (ED). ED are pollutants present everywhere in our daily lives (food, food packaging, cosmetics, detergents, pesticides, etc.). This is being accomplished in two stages: first, by conducting epidemiological studies based on population groups called cohorts through questionnaires and biological analyses and second, by analyzing the impact and toxicity of these disruptors on cellular models of human neurodevelopment. Epidemiological studies have shown a link between exposure to ED during pregnancy and cognitive and behavioral disorders in young children, such as autism spectrum disorders. Thus, this project aims to assess the danger and toxicity of ED by using "cerebral organoids" as models. These organoids have proven to be valuable and relevant tools for studying human brain development and neurodevelopmental disorders associated with behavioural issues.
By culturing and differentiating human pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) in three dimensions, the team has successfully generated "cerebral organoids" that reproduce the organization and complex multicellular interactions of the brain cortex, the center of "higher cerebral functions" in humans (reasoning, decision-making, emotions, memory, attention). These functions are often impaired in behavioral disorders.
This model allows to study the effect of various ED, either individually or in cocktail, at different doses, on the formation of the fetal brain during pregnancy and the subsequent development of NDD. This study demonstrates that exposure to bisphenol A alters cerebral organoids development and induces disorganization of brain structure, demonstrating the harmful effects of this molecule on human neurodevelopment.
By understanding the effects of ED on human brain organoids, this project aims to provide reliable and robust scientific data on the effect of these molecules on children’s mental health. This work is intended to ensure better regulation of the use of these pollutants and guide the industrial design of the daily products that contain them. The project targets not only industry stakeholders but also civil society, which needs to be aware of the scientific evidence regarding the dangers and toxicity of these pollutants that the project will uncover.