# Assessing effects of air pollution exposure on trophoblast cell mRNA and EV miRNA expression.

> **NIH NIH R01** · COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCES · 2024 · $34,729

## Abstract

SUMMARY
Air pollution is a ubiquitous environmental exposure that is consistently linked to adverse developmental
trajectories in animal and human studies. However, the definitive mechanisms for these effects are currently
unknown, limiting our biological understanding and delaying interventional and therapeutic efforts to protect
children from this widespread exposure. The placenta oversees prenatal development through regulation of
fetal growth and its endocrine functions. In the parent R01 study (R01ES032818), we proposed to explore
post-transcriptional modifications of RNA, i.e., the epitranscriptome, as potential mediators of black carbon-
related neurotoxicity. In this diversity supplement, we will build on the outlined aims of the parent grant by
expanding the exposure to a mixed composition of diesel exhaust pollutants and the placental molecular
evaluations of to include overall transcriptome-wide expression changes and content of extracellular vesicles.
We hypothesize that air pollutants alter expression profiles of miRNAs housed within placental cells and shed
from placental cells in extracellular vesicles (EVs). To investigate this hypothesis, we propose a series of in
vitro studies in the JEG-3 trophoblast cell line. In Aim 1, we will determine the association between diesel
exhaust exposure and transcriptome-wide alterations in placental miRNA expression. In Aim 2, we will
determine the association between diesel exhaust exposure and transcriptome-wide alterations in placenta-
derived EV miRNA expression. This project will provide novel evidence on the role of the placenta as a
conveyor of developmental toxicity due to prenatal air pollution exposure. Importantly, this supplement will also
support training opportunities for an engaged and motivated Master of Public Health graduate student who is
interested to cultivate his burgeoning interests in the field of Environmental Health, further ensuring that our
research team includes those traditionally underrepresented in this area of research.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 11094525
- **Project number:** 3R01ES032818-03S1
- **Recipient organization:** COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCES
- **Principal Investigator:** Julie Beth Herbstman
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $34,729
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2024-09-01 → 2026-12-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/11094525

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 11094525, Assessing effects of air pollution exposure on trophoblast cell mRNA and EV miRNA expression. (3R01ES032818-03S1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/11094525. Licensed CC0.

---

*[NIH grants dataset](/datasets/nih-grants) · CC0 1.0*