Nicotine in E-Cigarettes Dysregulates Pulmonary Inflammation and MMP-12 Expression without Effecting Respiratory Syncytial Virus Virulence

Hannah Goldenberg,Josué Sznitman,Abdoulaye J Dabo,Jessica Perez Perez,Patrick Geraghty,Robert Foronjy,Andrew Bramante,Edward Eden,Brais Perez Gandara

doi:10.3390/jor1010006

Abstract

The safety of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) is a major topic of discussion. The key goals of this study were to examine the contents of e-cigarette vapor and determine if nicotine altered inflammatory responses against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection. E-cigarette vapor was passed through a hollow 3D-model of an adult lung, and gas chromatography detected over 50 compounds passed through the 3D model, including nicotine, propylene glycol (PG), ethanol, methanol, and diacetyl. The murine alveolar macrophage cell line MH-S cells were exposed to nicotine and e-cigarette vapor with and without nicotine. Nicotine significantly induced the expression of matrix metalloprotease (Mmp) 12 and reduced expression of Ifnβ and Tnfα. To examine the role of nicotine in lung defense against RSV infection, A/J mice were exposed to PBS, e-cigarette vapor with and without nicotine for 2 months before RSV infection. E-cigarette vapor did not influence RSV infection-induced animal weight loss, RSV infectivity, airway hyperresponsiveness during methacholine challenge, or immune cell infiltration into the lungs. However, e-cigarette vapor containing nicotine enhanced obstruction and induced secretion of MMP12 and reduced levels of Ifnβ and TNFα. In conclusion, nicotine in vaping products modulates immune responses that may impact the lungs during a respiratory infection.

Highlights

Electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS), such as electronic (e)-cigarettes, are frequently utilized by former smokers to quit tobacco smoking by switching to ENDS [1]
We analyzed e-cigarette vapor using Gas Chromatography (GC) with Mass Spectroscopy and determined there are as many as 50 unidentified hydrocarbons present in the e-cigarette vapor (Figure 1)
Methanol, ethanol, and nicotine were all are present in the e-cigarette vapor

Summary

Introduction

Electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS), such as electronic (e)-cigarettes, are frequently utilized by former smokers to quit tobacco smoking by switching to ENDS [1]. An increasing number of young adults become addicted to nicotine by using ENDS products, which could influence addiction to other nicotine products. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, approximately. 70% of teenagers are introduced to e-cigarette advertising. The safety of ENDS usage is in question [2], especially with the recent vaping-associated pulmonary injury (EVALI) outbreak and. JoR 2021, 1 growing evidence of potential harmful effects of vaping [3]. There is mounting animal model data suggesting that inhalation of vapors generated in ENDS could result in lung damage [4].

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