# Differentiating the biological effects of vaping from smoking by analyzing the methylome and transcriptome

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA · 2023 · $397,500

## Abstract

Responsiveness to NOT-OD-22-022: This proposal will segregate the biological effects of electronic cigarette
(e-cig) use (‘vaping’) from smoking by measuring the epigenetic and transcriptomic changes linked to risk of
disease in cells and tissues of healthy adult vapers and/or cigarette smokers as compared to controls (non-users
of either product). Furthermore, it will determine whether these molecular alterations are modulated by the
intensity and duration of vaping/smoking and the characteristics of tobacco product(s) used, including e-cig
device features and e-liquid ingredients, and cigarette brand, type, and chemical constituents. By elucidating the
molecular mechanisms underlying the biological effects of vaping vs. smoking, we will develop novel biomarkers
of exposure and effects, which will have significant utility for assessing the health risks or potential benefits of
vaping relative to smoking. Rationale: Adult e-cig users are likely to have a prior history of smoking or co-use
e-cigs and combustible cigarettes (i.e., dual users). To investigate the biological effects of e-cig use in adults, it
is imperative to tease out the consequences of vaping, while accounting for the confounding effects of ‘past’ or
‘present’ smoking. Premise: Many toxicants and carcinogens present in e-cig vapor and cigarette smoke exert
their biological effects through epigenetic effects, such as aberrant DNA methylation, and/or transcriptomic
alterations that can lead to dysregulation of disease-related genes. Project outline: Leveraging the banked
specimens from our recently completed NIDCR- and TRDRP-funded studies, we will differentiate the biological
consequences of e-cig use from those of smoking by analyzing the whole methylome and transcriptome in oral-
and blood cells of healthy adult ‘exclusive’ vapers, dual users, ‘exclusive’ cigarette smokers, and controls. We
will use a novel approach, combining primary analysis of the whole methylome (Aim 1) and transcriptome (Aim
2) and ordinal sensitivity analysis of various models built on vaping/smoking dose and tobacco product
characteristics (Aim 3). Integrative analysis of data from Aims 1 and 2 will determine the methylome and
transcriptome changes that regulate disease-specific genes, thus identifying novel biomarkers of exposure and
effects for vaping, dual use, and smoking. We will validate the identified biomarkers in patient populations using
highly curated and quality-controlled ‘omics’ datasets processed from public sources. This will verify the utility of
the identified biomarkers for assessing disease risk in exclusive’ e-cig users, dual users, and ‘exclusive’ smokers.
The detailed computational modeling and sensitivity analysis in Aim 3 will determine the impact of
vaping/smoking dose and product characteristics on the alterations of the methylome & transcriptome in vapers,
dual users, and smokers. These data will inform the FDA’s regulation of tobacco products to protect public health.
Innovatio...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10588059
- **Project number:** 1R01DE031863-01A1
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
- **Principal Investigator:** AHMAD BESARATINIA
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2023
- **Award amount:** $397,500
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2023-08-15 → 2028-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10588059

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10588059, Differentiating the biological effects of vaping from smoking by analyzing the methylome and transcriptome (1R01DE031863-01A1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10588059. Licensed CC0.

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