Comparative study of e-cigarette aerosol and cigarette smoke effect on ex vivo embryonic chick lung explants.

Introduction:
This text describes a study comparing the effects of e-cigarette aerosol and cigarette smoke on ex vivo embryonic chick lung explants. The study aimed to assess the impact on lung growth and inflammation. The reader will learn about the differences in the effects of e-cigarette aerosol and cigarette smoke on early lung development and the potential implications for tobacco control recommendations for pregnant women.

Key Points:

* The study used ex vivo chick (Gallus gallus) embryonic lungs cultured in vitro for 48 hours in e-cigarette aerosol exposed-medium or unexposed medium.
* Lung explants were also cultured in a cigarette smoke-exposed medium for comparison purposes.
* Lung explants were morphologically analyzed to assess the impact on lung growth, and TNF-α levels were determined in the supernatant as a marker of pro-inflammatory response.
* The results suggest that electronic cigarette aerosol impairs lung growth and promotes lung inflammation.
* however, the impact on early lung growth seems less detrimental than conventional cigarette smoke.
* The study found that the impact on lung growth was not due to the difference in nicotine content.
* The study provides significant data regarding the impact of e-cig aerosol, adding to the efforts to fully understand its effect on embryo development.

Main Message:
The study provides important insights into the impact of e-cigarette aerosol on early lung development, suggesting that it impairs lung growth and promotes lung inflammation, although to a lesser extent than conventional cigarette smoke. The validation of these effects may eventually lead to new tobacco control recommendations for pregnant women. Further research is needed to fully understand the effect of e-cig aerosol on embryo development, but the study highlights the potential risks associated with e-cigarette use during pregnancy.

Silva-Ribeiro T, Coelho E, Genisheva Z, et al. Comparative study of e-cigarette aerosol and cigarette smoke effect on ex vivo embryonic chick lung explants. Toxicology letters. 2023;376:13-19. doi:10.1016/j.toxlet.2023.01.002