Summary
Introduction:
This text is a summary of a scientific study that investigates the effects of electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) vapor on the release of extracellular vesicles (EVs) in the blood of healthy volunteers. The study aims to add to the growing body of evidence suggesting that e-cigarette vapor may pose tangible health risks.
Key Points:
* The study enrolled young, healthy, occasional smokers in a randomized, double-blind, crossover trial.
* Participants were exposed to nicotine-free or nicotine-containing e-cigarette vapor after initial randomization with an intermittent one-week washout period.
* Plasma samples were taken at sequential time points and the counts of PS-positive EVs were determined using flow cytometry along with surface markers of endothelial cell- and platelet-origin.
* The study found that e-cigarette vapor, particularly that enriched with nicotine, elicits physiologic reactions that are related to cellular stress.
* The authors observed an increase in the numbers of both platelet- and endothelium-derived EVs which peaked 2-4 hours after exposure to 30 puffs of e-cigarette vapor containing nicotine.
* after exposure to nicotine-free vapor, only the number of CD154-positive platelet-derived vesicles were elevated, although there was a trend towards an overall increase of platelet-derived EVs.
* The study suggests that nicotine may promote the progression of atherosclerotic disease and that e-cigarette vapor may have pro-inflammatory properties, leading to vascular and pulmonary inflammation.
* The study also highlights the need for further research on the effects of e-cigarette vapor on EVs and their functional consequences.
Main Message:
The main message of this study is that e-cigarette vapor, particularly that enriched with nicotine, can elicit physiologic reactions related to cellular stress and lead to an increase in the release of EVs from various cellular sources. These EVs may not just be a biomarker for physiological stress but also an active propagator of cellular responses promoting vascular and pulmonary inflammation. This suggests that e-cigarettes may be more similar to regular cigarettes than the e-cigarette industry wants to make us believe, and that further research is needed to fully understand the health risks associated with e-cigarette use.
Citation
Benedikter BJ, Koenen RR. Vaping, vapor, vesicles! Electronic cigarettes provoke vascular extracellular vesicle release in healthy volunteers. atherosclerosis. 2020;301:79-81. doi:10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2020.03.012
