Summary
Introduction:
This text presents a longitudinal clinical study evaluating the adverse effects of e-cigarette use on periodontal health. The study investigated the effects of e-cigarette use on the composition of the human subgingival plaque (SGP) microbial community of 84 subjects over a 6-month interval, integrating microbiome data with clinical measures and SGP cytokine concentrations. The aim was to compare the e-cig user's subgingival microbiome to those of conventional smokers and nonsmokers.
Key Points:
* The study involved 84 subjects, divided into three cohorts: conventional smokers (CS), e-cigarette users (ES), and nonsmokers (NS).
* The study assessed the subgingival microbiome, clinical measures, and cytokine concentrations in SGP samples over six months.
* The results showed that e-cigarette use promotes a unique periodontal microbiome, distinct from both conventional smokers and nonsmokers.
* The e-cig microbiome shares similarities with both the CS and NS microbiomes, but also has unique features.
* hierarchical clustering of the top 50 aSVs for predicting sample inclusion in a cohort contained several known pathogens and commensals, including clusters with highly enriched and depleted taxa.
* The study found that Lautropia mirabilis, Neisseria elongata, and Leptotrichia goodfellowii were enriched in the NS and ES cohorts, while Veillonella dispar, Rothia dentocariosa, and unclassifiedStreptococcus sp. were enriched in the ES and CS cohorts.
* The study also found that Fusobacterium nucleatum subsp. vincentii and Campylobacter gracilis were enriched in the ES cohort.
Main Message:
The study highlights the unique periodontal microbiome associated with e-cigarette use, which shares similarities with both conventional smokers and nonsmokers but also has distinct features. The findings suggest that e-cigarette use may promote an SGP community enriched in pathogens, but in a uniquely dysbiotic manner compared to chronic conventional cigarette use. The results emphasize the need for further research into the impact of e-cigarette use on oral health and the potential risks associated with this increasingly popular habit.
Citation
Thomas SC, Xu F, Pushalkar S, et al. Electronic Cigarette Use Promotes a Unique Periodontal Microbiome. mBio. 2022;13(1):1. doi:10.1128/mbio.00075-22
