Summary
Introduction:
This article reports the results of a preliminary study examining the effects of 20 different e-cigarette refill liquids on the metabolic activity, membrane integrity, and mitochondrial membrane potential of human retinal pigment epithelial cells. This is the first study to describe the effects of flavored e-cigarettes on RPE cells.
Key Points:
* The study used 20 different e-liquids, 10 with nicotine and 10 without, and exposed RPE cells to them for 48 hours.
* The results showed that cinnamon was the most toxic flavor and menthol was the second most toxic, while other flavors showed lesser or no cytotoxicity.
* The presence of nicotine augmented cytotoxicity for cinnamon, menthol, strawberry, vanilla, and banana, while for other flavors there was no synergism.
* The authors suggest that exposure of RPE to flavored e-cigarette refill liquids caused significant cytotoxicity and may be a risk factor for the development of retinal pathogenesis.
Main Message:
This study suggests that certain flavored e-cigarette refill liquids, particularly cinnamon and menthol, can have toxic effects on RPE cells, and the presence of nicotine may exacerbate these effects. Therefore, it is important to consider the potential risks associated with the use of these products, particularly in populations that may be more susceptible to retinal damage such as smokers and the elderly. Further research is needed to confirm these findings and to better understand the mechanisms underlying the observed cytotoxicity.
Citation
Goenka S, Simon SR. Effects of E-Cigarette Refill Liquid Flavorings with and without Nicotine on human Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cells: a Preliminary Study. International journal of environmental research and public health. 2021;18(21). doi:10.3390/ijerph182111655
