# Mechanism for Programming of Offspring Adiposity by Maternal PM2.5 Exposure

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND BALTIMORE · 2024 · $627,251

## Abstract

ABSTRACT
 Considerable epidemiological studies reveal that maternal exposure to ambient fine particulate matter
(PM2.5) poses a significant risk for obesity to the child. In animal models, we and others corroborate the adverse
programming of offspring adiposity by maternal PM2.5 exposure and implicate the offspring’s hypermethylated
and thus down-expressed Leptin in this adverse programming. In contrast, few published studies have tested the
maternal pathogenesis for this adverse programming. In order to develop effective intervention strategies that
may benefit both the mother and child, we propose to unravel its maternal pathogenesis using our unique
genetically-modified animal models and state-of-the-art PM2.5 exposure technique. Through a synthesis of both
published and preliminary data, we hypothesize that maternal PM2.5 exposure programs offspring Leptin
expression and thus adiposity via maternal pulmonary inflammation and ensuing oocyte down-expression of
Tet2, and propose to thoroughly test this hypothesis through pursuing three discrete yet linked aims: Aim 1: To
model the dose- and composition-dependencies for the adverse programming of offspring adiposity by maternal
PM2.5 exposure. Aim 2. To determine whether maternal PM2.5 exposure programs offspring adiposity through
maternal oocyte down-expression of Tet2 and subsequent offspring down-expression of Leptin. Aim 3: To
determine whether pulmonary inflammation induced by PM2.5 exposure elicits maternal oocyte disturbance and
subsequent programming of offspring adiposity. By revealing the critical pathogenesis, this project is expected to
provide a strong scientific framework for understanding of and developing interventions for the adverse
programming of offspring adiposity by maternal PM2.5 exposure.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10762972
- **Project number:** 5R01ES032290-04
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND BALTIMORE
- **Principal Investigator:** Zhekang Ying
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $627,251
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2021-04-09 → 2026-01-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10762972

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10762972, Mechanism for Programming of Offspring Adiposity by Maternal PM2.5 Exposure (5R01ES032290-04). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10762972. Licensed CC0.

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