# Exploring the role of HOCI in skin photodamage, immunosuppression, and carcinogenesis

> **NIH NIH R21** · UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA · 2020 · $185,106

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
Hypochlorous acid (HOCl) is the active oxidizing principle released by standard swimming pool disinfectants
used on a global scale, but the health consequences of human exposure inflicted by HOCl remain largely
unknown, posing a major public health concern relevant to populations around the world. Environmental
exposure to solar ultraviolet (UV) radiation is a causative factor in skin photocarcinogenesis, and immune
suppression is a key mechanism underlying detrimental effects of acute and chronic UV exposure. Based on our
prototype experiments, the proposed research will explore the molecular potentiation of UV-induced cutaneous
and systemic damage by co-exposure to HOCl-based swimming pool disinfectants, examined in cell culture, skin
tissue models, and mouse models of UV-induced skin damage and cancer. First, we will define the specific
molecular mechanisms underlying HOCl-potentiation of solar UV-induced oxidative insult and genotoxic stress,
examined in cultured skin cells and human epidermal tissue reconstructs (aim #1). Next, we will explore the
potentiating role of HOCl co-exposure in established murine models of UV-induced acute photodamage
(sunburn), systemic photoimmunosuppression, and photocarcinogenesis (aim #2). The

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9904653
- **Project number:** 5R21ES029579-02
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA
- **Principal Investigator:** Georg T Wondrak
- **Activity code:** R21 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $185,106
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2019-04-01 → 2021-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9904653

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9904653, Exploring the role of HOCI in skin photodamage, immunosuppression, and carcinogenesis (5R21ES029579-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9904653. Licensed CC0.

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