Electronic nicotine delivery system-induced alterations in oral health via saliva assessment.

Introduction:
This text provides an analysis of the potential oral health effects associated with the use of electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS), also known as e-cigarettes. The study evaluates saliva samples from current ENDS users and never tobacco users to examine differences in the oral cavity of inflammatory cytokines and metabolites. The identification and measurement of these ENDS-related changes provide insight into disease pathways potentially associated with ENDS use.

Key Points:

* The study had 14 current ENDS users and 16 never tobacco users.
* Participants completed questionnaires about their ENDS use and overall health.
* Saliva samples were assessed for differential biomarkers of inflammation, toxicity, and disease development.
* ENDS users were determined to have elevated saliva levels of interleukin-1β and tumor necrosis factor-α, indicating inflammation.
* Metabolite profiling determined 368 metabolites were differentially expressed in the saliva of ENDS users versus never tobacco users.
* Cotinine, the primary metabolite of nicotine, was the most significantly altered metabolite between the groups.
* Increased levels of prostaglandins and leukotrienes indicated that ENDS users exhibited increased arachidonic acid metabolism compared to never tobacco users.
* Other metabolites known to be involved in immune signaling were also different between groups.

Main Message:
The study demonstrates differential saliva component profiles in current ENDS users, which may contribute to periodontal disease development. These alterations suggest specific pathways of oral disease induced by ENDS use and could be utilized as potential future biomarkers. The utilization of saliva samples collected from human participants enhances the application of the findings compared to the majority of studies using cell culture and animal models. These foundational findings can inform future studies to examine specific pathways identified, interventional approaches, and application of translatable biomarkers of ENDS use.

alqahtani S, Cooper B, Spears Ca, Wright C, Shannahan J. Electronic nicotine delivery system-induced alterations in oral health via saliva assessment. Experimental biology and medicine (Maywood, NJ). 2020;245(15):1319-1325. doi:10.1177/1535370220941258