# Alveolar epithelial cell dysfunction induced by flavored e-cigarette aerosols

> **NIH NIH R01** · TEMPLE UNIV OF THE COMMONWEALTH · 2020 · $356,106

## Abstract

Abstract
Alveolar type II (ATII) cells produce and secrete pulmonary surfactant and restore the epithelium after damage.
Due to their energy-demanding functions and location in the lung, they are highly dependent on mitochondria.
Aerosols produced from e-cigarette devices contain both the particulate and gas phases, nicotine and flavors.
The effect of flavored constituents and electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) aerosols on ATII cells is unknown.
Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) is susceptible to damage due to the lack of histones that serve as a barrier against
damaging factors. MtDNA damage can lead to mitophagy and ATII cell death. Our preliminary results
demonstrate the harmful effect of e-cigarette aerosols with fruit and dessert flavors on human and murine primary
ATII cells. DJ-1 has a cytoprotective role and participates in transcriptional regulation and mitochondrial function.
Our hypothesis is that flavored constituents and e-cigarette aerosols with fruit and dessert flavors cause
mitochondrial dysfunction due to the impairment of DJ-1 function leading to ATII cell death. In SA#1, we will
determine mitochondrial dysfunction induced by flavored constituents and e-cigarette aerosols in human primary
ATII cells. The mechanism of DJ-1 cytoprotective function in ATII cells will be studied in SA#2. In SA#3, we will
analyze the respiratory injury risk of flavored constituents and e-cigarette aerosols in wild-type and DJ-1 KO
mice. The current project will fill the gap in our knowledge on the effect of this exposure on primary ATII cells
and respiratory function and can provide novel therapeutic targets for lung regeneration.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10046451
- **Project number:** 1R01ES032081-01
- **Recipient organization:** TEMPLE UNIV OF THE COMMONWEALTH
- **Principal Investigator:** Beata Kosmider
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $356,106
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2020-09-10 → 2025-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10046451

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10046451, Alveolar epithelial cell dysfunction induced by flavored e-cigarette aerosols (1R01ES032081-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10046451. Licensed CC0.

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