Inhaled Nicotine Salt Counteranions Induce Airway Inflammation and Promote a Neutrophilic Asthma Phenotype

Abstract

The popularity of electronic cigarettes (e-cigs) that utilize nicotine salts has rapidly increased since the introduction of JUUL pods in 2015. The immunotoxicology of nicotine salts in the respiratory tract is understudied. We hypothesized that nicotine salt counteranions induce airway inflammation and alter immune responses to inhaled allergens independent of nicotine.