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Kim MD, Chung S, Baumlin N, Qian J, Montgomery RN, Sabater J, Berkland C, Salathe M. The combination of propylene glycol and vegetable glycerin e-cigarette aerosols induces airway inflammation and mucus hyperconcentration. Sci Rep 2024; 14:1942. [PMID: 38253598 PMCID: PMC10803801 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-52317-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2023] [Accepted: 01/17/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Despite concerns over their safety, e-cigarettes (e-cigs) remain a popular tobacco product. Although nicotine and flavors found in e-cig liquids (e-liquids) can cause harm in the airways, whether the delivery vehicles propylene glycol (PG) and vegetable glycerin (VG) are innocuous when inhaled remains unclear. Here, we investigated the effects of e-cig aerosols generated from e-liquid containing only PG/VG on airway inflammation and mucociliary function in primary human bronchial epithelial cells (HBEC) and sheep. Primary HBEC were cultured at the air-liquid interface (ALI) and exposed to e-cig aerosols of 50%/50% v/v PG/VG. Ion channel conductance, ciliary beat frequency, and the expression of inflammatory markers, cell type-specific markers, and the major mucins MUC5AC and MUC5B were evaluated after seven days of exposure. Sheep were exposed to e-cig aerosols of PG/VG for five days and mucus concentration and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) activity were measured from airway secretions. Seven-day exposure of HBEC to e-cig aerosols of PG/VG caused a significant reduction in the activities of apical ion channels important for mucus hydration, including the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) and large conductance, Ca2+-activated, and voltage-dependent K+ (BK) channels. PG/VG aerosols significantly increased the mRNA expression of the inflammatory markers interleukin-6 (IL6), IL8, and MMP9, as well as MUC5AC. The increase in MUC5AC mRNA expression correlated with increased immunostaining of MUC5AC protein in PG/VG-exposed HBEC. On the other hand, PG/VG aerosols reduced MUC5B expression leading overall to higher MUC5AC/MUC5B ratios in exposed HBEC. Other cell type-specific markers, including forkhead box protein J1 (FOXJ1), keratin 5 (KRT5), and secretoglobin family 1A member 1 (SCGB1A1) mRNAs, as well as overall ciliation, were significantly reduced by PG/VG exposure. Finally, PG/VG aerosols increased MMP-9 activity and caused mucus hyperconcentration in sheep in vivo. E-cig aerosols of PG/VG induce airway inflammation, increase MUC5AC expression, and cause dysfunction of ion channels important for mucus hydration in HBEC in vitro. Furthermore, PG/VG aerosols increase MMP-9 activity and mucus concentration in sheep in vivo. Collectively, these data show that e-cig aerosols containing PG/VG are likely to be harmful in the airways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael D Kim
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, 66160, USA
| | - Samuel Chung
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, 66160, USA
| | - Nathalie Baumlin
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, 66160, USA
| | - Jian Qian
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, 66047, USA
| | - Robert N Montgomery
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, 66160, USA
- Department of Biostatistics and Data Science, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, 66160, USA
| | - Juan Sabater
- Department of Research, Mount Sinai Medical Center, Miami Beach, FL, 33140, USA
| | - Cory Berkland
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS, 66047, USA
| | - Matthias Salathe
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, 66160, USA.
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Hussen E, Aakel N, Shaito AA, Al-Asmakh M, Abou-Saleh H, Zakaria ZZ. Zebrafish ( Danio rerio) as a Model for the Study of Developmental and Cardiovascular Toxicity of Electronic Cigarettes. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 25:194. [PMID: 38203365 PMCID: PMC10779276 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25010194] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2023] [Revised: 11/03/2023] [Accepted: 11/08/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
The increasing popularity of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) as an alternative to conventional tobacco products has raised concerns regarding their potential adverse effects. The cardiovascular system undergoes intricate processes forming the heart and blood vessels during fetal development. However, the precise impact of e-cigarette smoke and aerosols on these delicate developmental processes remains elusive. Previous studies have revealed changes in gene expression patterns, disruptions in cellular signaling pathways, and increased oxidative stress resulting from e-cigarette exposure. These findings indicate the potential for e-cigarettes to cause developmental and cardiovascular harm. This comprehensive review article discusses various aspects of electronic cigarette use, emphasizing the relevance of cardiovascular studies in Zebrafish for understanding the risks to human health. It also highlights novel experimental approaches and technologies while addressing their inherent challenges and limitations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eman Hussen
- Biological Science Program, Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences, Qatar University, Doha P.O. Box 2713, Qatar;
| | - Nada Aakel
- Biomedical Sciences Department, College of Health Sciences, Qatar University, Doha P.O. Box 2713, Qatar; (N.A.); (M.A.-A.); (H.A.-S.)
| | - Abdullah A. Shaito
- Biomedical Research Center, Qatar University, Doha P.O. Box 2713, Qatar;
| | - Maha Al-Asmakh
- Biomedical Sciences Department, College of Health Sciences, Qatar University, Doha P.O. Box 2713, Qatar; (N.A.); (M.A.-A.); (H.A.-S.)
| | - Haissam Abou-Saleh
- Biomedical Sciences Department, College of Health Sciences, Qatar University, Doha P.O. Box 2713, Qatar; (N.A.); (M.A.-A.); (H.A.-S.)
- Biomedical Research Center, Qatar University, Doha P.O. Box 2713, Qatar;
| | - Zain Z. Zakaria
- Medical and Health Sciences Office, QU Health, Qatar University, Doha P.O. Box 2713, Qatar
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