The Effects of Vaping on Human Esophageal Keratinocytes

Abstract

Although the first electronic cigarette‐like device was patented in the 1930s, the electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) seen today did not infiltrate the US market until 2006. Since the 1960s, nicotine use had plummeted, but the invention and popularization of vapes caused its nationwide resurgence. Unlike smoking, however, little is known about the effects of vaping on the human body. Before individuals can weigh the risks associated with vaping, science must come to a consensus on what those risks are. Much of the vaping research today examines the effects on the brain or lungs; however, effects on the esophagus are not understood. Our study seeks to investigate the effects of different vape chemicals on human esophageal keratinocytes. In vitro experiments suggest that esophageal keratinocytes undergo phenotypic and physiological changes when exposed to various concentrations of vape liquid or nicotine. Additionally, when exposed to the vapor produced by an ENDS, esophageal cells undergo changes in morphology, cell viability, and motility capabilities.