# Novel therapeutic targets for fluoroacetate-induced toxicities.

> **NIH NIH R21** · UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA AT BIRMINGHAM · 2021 · $185,625

## Abstract

Exposure to fluoroacetate (FA) causes a spectrum of cardiac, respiratory, neurological, and metabolic
dysfunctions that can be fatal. Antidotes to FA poisoning are virtually non-existent, the sole available option being
the oral administration of ethanol, which is effective only when given immediately following exposure. In addition
to known mechanisms of FA poisoning, our preliminary findings indicate that the glycolytic pathway is also
inhibited. Our preliminary findings also demonstrate that FA poisoning of cardiomyocytes and pulmonary
epithelial cells can be rescued by increasing glycolysis. Our hypothesis is that FA poisoning can be rescued by
increasing alternate energy production through increased glycolytic flux. This will be tested through the following
specific aims: Specific Aim 1 will assess metabolite levels in cells, media supernatants, tissues and blood after FA poisoning and in presence of the glycolysis inducers. Specific Aim 2 will test whether increasing glycolysis can protect and
rescue against FA poisoning. These studies will be carried out using both in vitro and in vivo approaches. The
in vitro studies will be carried out using primary cardiomyocytes, neuronal and pulmonary epithelial cells. The in
vivo studies will use a rat model of FA poisoning. Results of the proposed research will help identify treatment
options for FA poisoning as well as other potentially toxic chemicals associated with metabolic poisoning.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10164787
- **Project number:** 5R21ES032353-02
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA AT BIRMINGHAM
- **Principal Investigator:** Aftab Ahmad
- **Activity code:** R21 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $185,625
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2020-05-15 → 2023-04-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10164787

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10164787, Novel therapeutic targets for fluoroacetate-induced toxicities. (5R21ES032353-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10164787. Licensed CC0.

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