E-Cigarette Use, Cigarette Smoking, and Sex Are Associated With Nasal Microbiome Dysbiosis

Introduction:
This article, titled "E-Cigarette Use, Cigarette Smoking, and Sex Are Associated With Nasal Microbiome Dysbiosis," investigates the effects of e-cigarette use on the nasal microbiome and compares it to cigarette smoking. The study also considers the role of sex as a variable in these effects. By summarizing the study design, major points, and main message, this summary will provide a comprehensive understanding of the text's findings.

Key Points:

1. The study used 16S rRNA gene sequencing on nasal samples from adult e-cigarette users, smokers, and nonsmokers to analyze the respiratory microbiome.
2. The research found that both e-cigarette use and cigarette smoking are associated with differential respiratory microbiome dysbiosis and substantial sex-dependent differences in the nasal microbiome, particularly in e-cigarette users.
3. Staphylococcus aureus, a common respiratory pathogen, was more abundant in both e-cigarette users and smokers compared to nonsmokers, while Lactobacillus iners, often considered a protective species, was more abundant in smokers but less abundant in e-cigarette users compared to nonsmokers.
4. The study identified significant dysbiosis of the nasal microbiome between e-cigarette users and smokers with high versus low serum cotinine levels, an indicator of tobacco product use and toxicant exposure.
5. Nasal lavage fluid was analyzed for immune mediators associated with host × microbiota interactions, revealing disrupted immune mediators in the nose of e-cigarette users and smokers, indicating disrupted respiratory mucosal immune responses.
6. The study highlights unique, sex-dependent host immune dysfunction associated with e-cigarette use in the nasal mucosa.
7. The findings emphasize the need for continued inclusion and careful consideration of sex as an important variable in the context of toxicant exposures.

Main Message:
This study highlights the importance of considering sex as a biological variable when examining the effects of e-cigarette use on the nasal microbiome. The research demonstrates that e-cigarette use leads to unique, sex-dependent host immune dysfunction, which could have broader implications for respiratory health. The main message underscores the need for further investigation into the mechanisms by which e-cigarette use dysregulates nasal immune homeostasis and the importance of including sex in future nasal microbiome studies.

Elise Hickman, Cristian Roca, Bryan T Zorn, Meghan E Rebuli, Carole Robinette, Matthew C Wolfgang, Ilona Jaspers, E-Cigarette Use, Cigarette Smoking, and Sex Are Associated With Nasal Microbiome Dysbiosis, Nicotine & Tobacco Research, Volume 27, Issue 1, January 2025, Pages 114–124, https://doi.org/10.1093/ntr/ntae176