# African-American Susceptibility to Periodontal Disease due to Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS) Usage

> **NIH NIH R56** · GEORGIA STATE UNIVERSITY · 2021 · $83,465

## Abstract

Project Summary
 The acceptance and use of electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) within the African-American (AA)
community may widen tobacco-related health disparities such as gingival inflammation (GI), the precursor to
periodontal disease. However, how and why ENDS use may pose GI risk is unclear as there is a lack of
comprehensive data on smoking behaviors, exposure, and disease outcomes in AA ENDS users. We
hypothesize that AA ENDS users may be more susceptible to ENDS-mediated oral health outcomes due to
variations in ENDS preference, usage, and biological responses. To address this hypothesis, we will establish a
behavior-exposure-toxicity-disease paradigm utilizing aims specifically designed to evaluate behaviors (Aim 1),
common ENDS products (Aim 2), and susceptibility (Aim 3). This innovative approach will facilitate the
identification of risk factors and biomarkers that can be applied to disease prevention strategies.
 In Aim 1, we will recruit cohorts of current AA and Caucasian ENDS users and never-tobacco users to
evaluate patterns of ENDS usage behaviors, oral health, and risk factors. In this aim, we will employ
questionnaires and mobile ecological momentary assessments coupled with real-time monitoring to examine
ENDS puff topography within each group. By using this mixed methods approach, we will limit recall bias and
also capture moment to moment phenomena that may occur differentially in these two ENDS user groups. To
elucidate the role of specific group and product-based ENDS exposure scenarios we will utilize an in vitro air
liquid interface cellular model system in Aim 2. Using specific group exposure scenarios (identified by puff
topography characterization in Aim 1) and established protocols for comparative toxicity assessments we will
identify differential biomarkers associated with ENDS aerosol exposures. Specifically, this will include
comparisons of cellular responses induced by differing ENDS generation products and brands as well as usage
patterns. In Aim 3, we will utilize a molecular epidemiology approach to assess the impact of differential
exposures in our AA and Caucasian ENDS cohorts by using participant saliva and gingival cells to identify
biomarkers of oxidative stress, DNA damage, and other indicators commonly found in GI. Specifically, we aim
to establish a pathway between ENDS preference, puff topography, and toxicological pathways contributing GI
development that may be exacerbated in the AA population. Our project outcomes will be a biomarker panel that
may provide critical insight into ENDS-mediated GI susceptibility in AA.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10453478
- **Project number:** 1R56DE029950-01A1
- **Recipient organization:** GEORGIA STATE UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Jonathan Henry Shannahan
- **Activity code:** R56 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $83,465
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2021-09-03 → 2022-02-09

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10453478

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10453478, African-American Susceptibility to Periodontal Disease due to Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS) Usage (1R56DE029950-01A1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-27 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10453478. Licensed CC0.

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