Summary
Introduction:
This research paper evaluates the cytotoxicity and inflammatory responses of electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) liquids (e-liquids) with and without flavors. The study aims to develop bioassays that can assess the potential toxicity and inflammatory response induced by e-cigarette aerosols.
Key Points:
* E-cigarette aerosols induced moderate cellular toxicity in bronchial epithelial cells.
* Low nicotine levels are less damaging to the bronchial epithelial cells.
* Flavors in e-liquids influence the combined inflammatory response markers, phagocytosis, and REDD1 when examined in vitro.
* Cigarette smoke extract (CSE) was used as a positive control with known cytotoxicity to bronchial epithelial cells and impairment of inflammatory response.
* Research cigarette smoke extracts were generated using the 3R4F research cigarettes or very low-nicotine SPECTRUM 102.
* Nicotine content recovery from cigarette smoke and e-liquids was measured using hPLC/UV analysis.
* Cell lines used in the study include immortalized human bronchial epithelial cells (BEaS-2B), NCI-h460 cell line, and human monocytic cell line (ThP-1).
* Cytotoxicity, oxidative stress marker (REDD-1), inflammatory response markers (TNF-α, IL-6, IL-8, and MCP-1) were measured in respective cell types following treatments with e-liquids.
Main Message:
The study highlights the importance of assessing the potential toxicity and inflammatory responses induced by e-cigarette liquids, including the impact of flavors. The bioassays developed in this study can be utilized to effectively measure flavor and nicotine-induced effects of e-cigarettes on combined inflammatory response and cytotoxicity in human macrophages and human bronchial epithelial cells. The research emphasizes that e-cigarettes are not harmless, and further research is needed to fully understand their effects on human health.
Citation
Sinha I, Goel R, Bitzer ZT, Trushin N, Liao J, Sinha R. Evaluating electronic cigarette cytotoxicity and inflammatory responses in vitro. Tobacco induced diseases. 2022;20:45. doi:10.18332/tid/147200
