Summary
Introduction:
This text is a summary of a scientific study investigating the impact of electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) use, also known as vaping, on the phenotype and gene expression of alveolar macrophages (aMs), which are important immune cells in the lung. The study compares aMs from never-smokers, smokers, and e-cigarette users and performs morphological analyses and uses the Nanostring platform to look for changes in gene expression.
Key Points:
* The study found that aMs obtained from smokers and vapers were phenotypically distinct from those obtained from nonsmokers, and from each other.
* Immunocytochemistry revealed that vapers aMs had significantly elevated inducible nitric oxide synthase (M1) expression and significantly reduced CD301a (M2) expression compared with nonsmokers or smokers.
* Vapers’ aMs and bronchial epithelia exhibited unique changes in gene expression compared with nonsmokers or smokers.
* Vapers’ aMs were the most affected of all groups and had 124 genes uniquely downregulated.
* Gene ontology analysis revealed that vapers and smokers had opposing changes in biological processes.
* These data indicate that vaping causes unique changes to aMs and bronchial epithelia compared with nonsmokers and smokers which may impact pulmonary host defense.
* These data indicate that normal “healthy” vapers have altered aMs and may be at risk of developing abnormal immune responses to inflammatory stimuli.
Main Message:
This study suggests that chronic e-cigarette use has a significant impact on the phenotype and gene expression of alveolar macrophages, which are crucial for lung immunity. The findings indicate that vaping causes unique changes to aMs and bronchial epithelia compared with nonsmok
Citation
Davis ES, Ghosh a, Coakley RD, et al. Chronic E-Cigarette Exposure alters human alveolar Macrophage Morphology and Gene Expression. Nicotine & tobacco research : official journal of the Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco. 2022;24(3):395-399. doi:10.1093/ntr/ntab186
