Abstract
Since electronic cigarette (ECIG) introduction to American markets in 2007, vaping has surged in popularity. Many, including women of reproductive age, also believe that ECIG use is safer than traditional tobacco cigarettes and is not hazardous when pregnant. However, there are few studies investigating the effects of ECIG exposure on the developing embryo and nothing is known about potential effects on craniofacial development. Therefore, we have tested the effects of several aerosolized e-cigarette liquids (e-cigAM) in an in vivo craniofacial model, Xenopus laevis, as well as a mammalian neural crest cell line. Results demonstrate that e-cigAM exposure during embryonic development induces a variety of defects, including median facial clefts and midface hypoplasia in two of e-cigAMs tested e-cigAMs. Detailed quantitative analyses of the facial morphology revealed that nicotine is not the main factor in inducing craniofacial defects, but can exacerbate the effects of the other e-liquid components. Additionally, while two different e-cigAMs can have very similar consequences on facial appearances, there are subtle differences that could be due to the differences in e-cigAM components. Further assessment of embryos exposed to these particular e-cigAMs revealed cranial cartilage and muscle defects and a reduction in the blood supply to the face. Finally, the expression of markers for vascular and cartilage differentiation was reduced in a mammalian neural crest cell line corroborating the in vivo effects. Our work is the first to show that ECIG use could pose a potential hazard to the developing embryo and cause craniofacial birth defects. This emphasizes the need for more testing and regulation of this new popular product.
Highlights
E-cigarettes (ECIGs) are battery-powered nicotine delivery systems that are advertised as a safe alternative to tobacco smoking [1,2,3]
The number of young people using electronic cigarette (ECIG) has increased by almost 10 -fold over the past five years [5], and the rates of ECIG use among women in the USA are substantially increasing [6]
Aerosolized e-liquid mixtures (E-cigAM) was prepared by attaching a 1.6 ohm atomizer (Aspire K2 Quick Starter Kit, 1.8 mL tank) into a syringe pump (NE-8000, New Era Pump Systems Inc., Farmingdale, NY) and aerating ECIG vapor into 1 mL of phosphate buffered saline (PBS) for cell studies, and 1 mL of 0.1X Modified Barth’s Saline Solution (MBS) for in-vivo studies (Fig 1A)
Summary
E-cigarettes (ECIGs) are battery-powered nicotine delivery systems that are advertised as a safe alternative to tobacco smoking [1,2,3]. E-cigarette exposure affects craniofacial development e-liquids are comprised of nicotine, flavor additives, and compounds that aid in delivery [4]. While ECIGs were initially marketed as a tobacco cessation tool, they have since become a global trend for recreational use. Most concerning is that some pregnant women use ECIGs [7] [8], believing that they are safer than traditional tobacco cigarettes [7, 9] and only associated with minor health hazards [10]. Little is known about the effects of ECIG aerosol mixtures (e-cigAM) on human health, and even less is known about the potential impact on the developing embryo
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