Shi, L., Tan, Q., Xu, F., Angstmann, H., Bossen, J.M., Uzenabor, S., Kuenzel, S., Meissner, D., Kemper-Ehrhardt, B., Dogan, G., Hoeschler, B., Nemani, S.S.P., Rabe, K.F., Svanes, C., Roeder, T. & Krauss-Etschmann, S. (2026). Preconception e-nicotine impairs airway development and progenitor proliferation across generations in Drosophila Melanogaster. Retrieved from BioRxiv 2026.06.08.730871.
Abstract
Electronic nicotine delivery devices are increasingly used worldwide, raising concern about the potential effects of nicotine exposure during fetal and early postnatal development. However, evidence regarding the effects of vaping during pregnancy remains limited, and the consequences of exposure before conception are largely unknown. Here, we investigated whether maternal nicotine vaping prior to conception alters airway development using the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster. Offspring of nicotine-exposed mothers exhibited abnormal airway architecture, epithelial remodelling, and impaired terminal branching. These defects were accompanied by reduced proliferation of airway progenitor cells without increased apoptosis, resulting in decreased hypoxia tolerance, altered activity patterns, and reduced lifespan. Transcriptomic and functional analyses revealed suppression of innate immune signalling mediated by nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB). Notably, knockdown of its regulator Relish reproduced key phenotypes. Developmental abnormalities persisted across generations, with their severity progressively declining. Together, these findings identify maternal preconception nicotine exposure as a previously unrecognized determinant of airway development and provide insight into early origins of chronic airway disease.
