Researchers recognized for article on effects of DHA exposure

The Environmental Mutagenesis and Genomics Society recently recognized investigators at the USA College of Medicine as the “Editor’s Choice” for their article on exposure to dihydroxyacetone (DHA). DHA is a simple ketone sugar that is the active ingredient in sunless tanning products and a by-product of electronic cigarette aerosols.

Authors of the study were Natalie R. Gassman, Ph.D., a cancer researcher and assistant professor of physiology and cell biology; Marie E. Migaud, Ph.D., a cancer researcher and professor of pharmacology; Manoj Sonavane, Ph.D., a postdoctoral researcher; and Raj Mehta, an undergraduate student at the University of South Alabama.

The article, titled “Exogenous exposure to dihydroxyacetone mimics high fructose induced oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction,” originally was published in the January 2021 issue of Environmental and Molecular Mutagenesis. 

As exposure to DHA increases through skin absorption in sunless tanning lotions and inhalation and absorption through mucous membranes from e-cigarettes, the researchers note there is cause for concern as DHA exposure effects are not fully understood.

“Potential exposure effects of systemic DHA could place significant stress on cellular reduction and oxidation pathways, mitochondrial function and metabolism,” the authors stated. “Chronic, long-term DHA exposure may act similarly to high-fructose diets and induce metabolic reprogramming that reduces glucose uptake, changes glucose tolerance and alters metabolic dependence of tissues.”

Studies have shown that DHA is rapidly absorbed into cells and phosphorylated – the chemical process in which a phosphate group is added to an organic molecule – to dihydroxyacetone phosphate (DHAP), integrating into nine different metabolic pathways in cells. 

Raj Mehta, a biomedical sciences major, worked 

with College of Medicine researchers as part of the

Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship.

“DHAP produced from DHA exposure can impair lipid metabolism, similar to fructose exposures, and contribute to increased adipose tissue content, higher body weights, blood pressures, and plasma triglyceride concentrations in exposed individuals,” the study concluded. “Such DHA exposure outcomes can impact the development of chronic illnesses like insulin resistance.”

In January, USA received a $1.1 million grant from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences to fund research on electronic cigarettes for the next five years. Gassman, Migaud and Sonavane’s work is supported by the grant. 

Mehta, a rising junior who is majoring in biomedical sciences, worked in the lab alongside Gassman, Migaud and Sonavane as part of USA’s 2020 Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) program. 

“Initially, the thought of composing this article seemed slightly overwhelming as this would be my first attempt at a publication,” Mehta said. “However, I was lucky to be surrounded by excellent mentors who guided me throughout the entirety of the process.” 

After completing his undergraduate degree, Mehta intends to apply to the USA College of Medicine.