# Toxic effects of trichloroethylene and its metabolite on placental cells at the maternal-fetal interface

> **NIH NIH K01** · SAN DIEGO STATE UNIVERSITY · 2024 · $176,270

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
 Adverse birth outcomes are prevalent conditions that increase the risk of morbidity and mortality during
infancy and the development of chronic metabolic diseases in adulthood. Despite being multifactorial in nature,
the causes of adverse birth outcomes, particularly concerning placental dysfunction, are not well understood.
Maternal exposure to environmental contaminants is believed to contribute to these outcomes. As a
reproductive toxicologist, Dr. Elkin's research seeks to understand the role that maternal exposure to
environmental contaminants play in contributing to adverse birth outcomes involving placental dysfunction, and
to identify mechanisms by which these aberrant effects can be mitigated or prevented. This Transition to
Independent Environmental Health Research (TIEHR) Care Award will provide Dr. Elkin the opportunity to
increase training and experience to meet: 1) research development goals, including utilization of single-nucleus
technologies and establishment of an in vitro model to represent the syncytial barrier at the maternal-fetal
interface, and 2) professional development goals, including science communication, mentoring, and
management skills. In humans, maternal exposure to the industrial solvent trichloroethylene is associated with
increased risk of low birth weight and restricted fetal growth, conditions linked to placental dysfunction. For the
research component of this project, Dr. Elkin will investigate the biological mechanisms of the trichloroethylene
metabolite S-(1,2-dichlorovinyl)-L-cysteine (DCVC) contributing to restricted fetal growth by identifying
molecular factors underpinning disruption of placental function at the maternal-fetal interface. At the maternal-
fetal interface, several different cell types of trophoblast lineage have critical functions. Previously, Dr. Elkin
extensively characterized the effects of DCVC on HTR-8/SVneo cells, which model invasive extravillous
trophoblasts. Nevertheless, toxic effects on other important cell types at the maternal-fetal interface have not
been explored. Recently, Dr. Elkin's colleagues published promising preliminary data showing that DCVC
caused aberrant apoptosis, oxidative stress and inflammation in differentiated BeWo cells, a cell line that
models the interhaemal barrier of multinucleated syncytiotrophoblasts separating maternal and fetal
circulations. Using an in vitro approach, Dr. Elkin's project will expand on compelling preliminary data by: (1)
identifying other placental cell types vulnerable to DCVC at the maternal fetal interface using single-nucleus
RNA-sequencing (2) examining DCVC effects on mitochondrial energetics of differentiated
syncytiotrophoblasts and (3) determining if DCVC affects placental villous barrier function. The proposed
research will address the NIEHS goal of “advancing scientific understanding of the role that early exposure to
environmental contaminants play in impacting disease risk later in life.” T...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10948862
- **Project number:** 1K01ES036552-01
- **Recipient organization:** SAN DIEGO STATE UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Elana Elkin
- **Activity code:** K01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $176,270
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2024-07-20 → 2027-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10948862

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10948862, Toxic effects of trichloroethylene and its metabolite on placental cells at the maternal-fetal interface (1K01ES036552-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-27 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10948862. Licensed CC0.

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