Changes in Eustachian Tube Mucosa in Mice after Short-Term Tobacco and E-cigarette Smoke Exposure.

Introduction:
This text provides an overview of a scientific study examining the effects of tobacco smoke and e-cigarette vapor on the mucosa of the eustachian tube (ET) in mice. The study also explores the potential mitigating effects of two agents, anti-IL-13 and aG1478, on the noted changes within the ET mucosa.

Key Points:

* The study used a controlled animal study design with 50 BaLB/cJ mice randomly assigned to one of five groups.
* The mice were exposed to either tobacco smoke or e-cigarette vapor for 4 weeks, followed by intratympanic injection of either saline, anti-IL-13, or aG1478.
* after 8 weeks, the mice were euthanized, and the ETs were evaluated for mucosal changes.
* Compared to the control group, both tobacco smoke and e-cigarette vapor significantly decreased goblet cell counts in the ET mucosa.
* Neither anti-IL-13 nor aG1478 significantly altered goblet cell count in the ET mucosa of mice exposed to tobacco smoke.
* however, both agents significantly increased goblet cells within the ET mucosa of mice exposed to e-cigarette vapor.
* There were no significant differences in cilia, mucin, or squamous metaplasia among the groups.

Main Message:
The study suggests that both tobacco smoke and e-cigarette vapor significantly decrease goblet cell count in mouse ET mucosa. While anti-IL-13 and aG1478 did not have a mitigating effect on tobacco smoke-induced changes, both agents increased goblet cell count in mice exposed to e-cigarette vapor. These findings suggest that different therapeutic strategies may be necessary for potential mitigation or reversal of the effects of tobacco smoke and e-cigarette vapor on ET mucosa.

Nicholas BD, Kiprovski a, Perez D, et al. Changes in Eustachian Tube Mucosa in Mice after Short-Term Tobacco and E-cigarette Smoke Exposure. The Laryngoscope. 2022;132(3):648-654. doi:10.1002/lary.29887