Sex-Specific alterations of the Lung Transcriptome at Birth in Mouse Offspring Prenatally Exposed to Vanilla-Flavored E-Cigarette aerosols and Enhanced Susceptibility to asthma.

Introduction:
This text discusses a study examining the effects of in utero exposure to vanilla-flavored electronic cigarette (e-cig) aerosols on mouse offspring. The study investigates the impact of e-cig aerosols on the developing lung transcriptome at birth and the potential increased susceptibility to asthma later in life. The key points and main message of the study are summarized below.

Key Points:

1. Pregnant mice were exposed to filtered air or vanilla-flavored e-cig aerosols containing 18 mg/mL of nicotine throughout gestation.
2. Lung transcriptomic data of mouse offspring at birth revealed that in utero vanilla-flavored e-cig aerosol exposure significantly dysregulated 88 genes in male offspring and 65 genes in female offspring.
3. Ingenuity Pathway analysis revealed that in utero e-cig aerosol exposure affected canonical pathways associated with CD28 signaling in T helper cells, the role of NFaT in the regulation of immune responses, and phospholipase C signaling in males. In contrast, the dysregulated genes in the female offspring were associated with NRF2-mediated oxidative stress responses.
4. In utero exposures to vanilla-flavored e-cig aerosol exacerbated hDM-induced asthmatic responses in 7-week-old male mouse offspring compared to the air + hDM exposed controls.
5. The expression of six genes was altered in e-cig aerosol-exposed mice at 7 weeks of age, four of which were associated with immune-mediated inflammatory diseases and one with airway hyperresponsiveness.
6. No significant changes were observed in baseline effects (e-cig aerosol + saline) on tidal volume and BaLF inflammation compared to air controls.
7. The study suggests that in utero exposures to e-cig aerosols may represent an environmental risk factor implicated in the developmental origin of health and disease, particularly asthma.

Main Message:
The study emphasizes the potential risks associated with in utero exposure to e-cig aerosols. The findings indicate that such exposures can significantly alter the developing lung transcriptome at birth and increase the susceptibility to asthma later in life. as a result, the study underscores the importance of further research to better understand the specific mechanisms by which prenatal exposures to e-cig aerosols affect lung responses throughout the lifespan.

Noël a, Yilmaz S, Farrow T, Schexnayder M, Eickelberg O, Jelesijevic T. Sex-Specific alterations of the Lung Transcriptome at Birth in Mouse Offspring Prenatally Exposed to Vanilla-Flavored E-Cigarette aerosols and Enhanced Susceptibility to asthma. International journal of environmental research and public health. 2023;20(4). doi:10.3390/ijerph20043710