Daijiworld Media Network – New Delhi

New Delhi, Sep 11: Exposure to e-cigarette aerosols during pregnancy may disrupt the developing immune system of the fetal lungs and increase newborn susceptibility to respiratory viral infections, according to a newly funded research project.

The five-year study, backed by $2.4 million in funding, will examine how components and flavouring agents used in e-cigarettes affect fetal respiratory immune development and whether prenatal exposure makes offspring more vulnerable to viral infections after birth.

Researchers will focus on acids, bases and salts found in newer e-cigarette products. Preliminary laboratory findings suggest that exposure to these compounds during pregnancy can interfere with innate immune pathways in the developing lungs.

The changes have been observed in pathways involved in viral sensing, type I interferon signalling and neutrophil-related immune responses. Early findings also indicate differences between male and female offspring and an increased susceptibility to viral infection during the neonatal period.

The study will examine the effects of prenatal exposure on neutrophils, macrophages, natural killer cells and alveolar epithelial cells. Researchers will use pregnancy and neonatal infection models along with vaping exposure systems designed to replicate human use.

Advanced techniques including spectral flow cytometry, confocal imaging and single-cell RNA sequencing will be used to map changes in fetal lung immunity. Computational modelling and machine-learning methods will then be used to identify affected gene networks and signalling pathways.

Researchers will also investigate whether treatment with interferon beta after birth can restore antiviral responses and reverse disrupted gene networks in newborns exposed to e-cigarette components before birth.

The study will specifically examine biological sex as a factor in fetal immune programming, as preliminary findings suggest male and female fetal organs may respond differently to prenatal e-cigarette exposure.

The researchers said the findings could improve understanding of how vaping during pregnancy affects infant immunity and respiratory health, potentially helping inform clinical counselling, prevention strategies and future treatments for exposed newborns.