Dysregulated Metabolites Serve as Novel Biomarkers for Metabolic Diseases Caused by E-Cigarette Vaping and Cigarette Smoking.

Introduction:
This article presents a study that aimed to understand the metabolic signature between electronic cigarette (e-cig) users and cigarette smokers. The study analyzed the plasma of non-smoker controls, cigarette smokers, and e-cig users to identify dysregulated metabolites.

Key Points:

* The study identified a total of 1018 and 7244 metabolites in negative and positive ion modes, respectively, using UPLC-MS.
* The PCa model showed that metabolites in the e-cig group showed significantly different metabolites distribution in negative ion mode, while cigarette smokers showed a significant difference in dysregulated metabolites in positive ion mode.
* The study identified specific dysregulated metabolites related to nicotine degradation, TCa cycle, and sphingolipid metabolism based on the normalized spectrum area.
* Nicotine degradation-related metabolites were significantly increased in plasma from both e-cig users and cigarette smokers.
* TCa cycle-related metabolites were significantly decreased in e-cig users compared to healthy controls or cigarette smokers.
* Sphingolipid metabolites were significantly increased in cigarette smokers compared to e-cig users and healthy controls.
* Other dysregulated metabolites were also identified, including DL-4-hydroxyphenyllactic acid, S-(3-oxo-3-carboxy-n-propyl)cysteine, glycolic acid, 6-hydroxy-2-naphthoic acid, 2-beta-D-glucosyle anthranilate, budesonide, L-()-methionine, 2-methylthiazolidine, 4-(stearoylamino)butanoic acid, and 3-methylsulfolene.

Main Message:
The study identified specific metabolic signatures altered by e-cig vaping and cigarette smoking, which could serve as potential systemic biomarkers for early pathogenesis of cardiopulmonary diseases. The results suggest that e-cig vaping dysregulated TCa cycle-related metabolites, while cigarette smoking altered sphingolipid metabolites. Both e-cig and cigarette smoke increased nicotinic metabolites. Therefore, understanding the metabolic signatures of e-cig vaping and cigarette smoking could provide valuable insights into the early detection and prevention of cardiopulmonary diseases.

Wang q, Ji X, Rahman I. Dysregulated Metabolites Serve as Novel Biomarkers for Metabolic Diseases Caused by E-Cigarette Vaping and Cigarette Smoking. Metabolites. 2021;11(6). doi:10.3390/metabo11060345