Differential plasma exosomal long non-coding RNas expression profiles and their emerging role in E-cigarette users, cigarette, waterpipe, and dual smokers.

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are the varied set of transcripts that play a critical role in
biological processes like gene regulation, transcription, post-transcriptional modification,
and chromatin remodeling. Recent studies have reported the presence of lncRNAs in the
exosomes that are involved in regulating cell-to-cell communication in lung pathologies
including lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, and idiopathic
pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). In this study, we compared the lncRNA profiles in the
plasma-derived exosomes amongst non-smokers (NS), cigarette smokers (CS), E-cig
users (E-cig), waterpipe smokers (WP) and dual smokers (CSWP) using GeneChip™ WT
Pico kit for transcriptional profiling. We found alterations in a distinct set of lncRNAs among
subjects exposed to E-cig vapor, cigarette smoke, waterpipe smoke and dual smoke with
some overlaps. Gene enrichment analyses of the differentially expressed lncRNAs demonstrated
enrichment in the lncRNAs involved in crucial biological processes including steroid
metabolism, cell differentiation and proliferation. Thus, the characterized lncRNA profiles of
the plasma-derived exosomes from smokers, vapers, waterpipe users, and dual smokers
will help identify the biomarkers relevant to chronic lung diseases such as COPD, asthma or
IPF.

Kaur G, Singh K, Maremanda KP, Li D, Chand hS, Rahman I. Differential plasma exosomal long non-coding RNas expression profiles and their emerging role in E-cigarette users, cigarette, waterpipe, and dual smokers. PloS one. 2020;15(12):1. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0243065