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Emma R, Fuochi V, Distefano A, Partsinevelos K, Rust S, Zadjali F, Al Tobi M, Zadjali R, Alharthi Z, Pulvirenti R, Furneri PM, Polosa R, Sun A, Caruso M, Li Volti G. Cytotoxicity, mutagenicity and genotoxicity of electronic cigarettes emission aerosols compared to cigarette smoke: the REPLICA project. Sci Rep 2023; 13:17859. [PMID: 37903810 PMCID: PMC10616076 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-44626-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2023] [Accepted: 10/10/2023] [Indexed: 11/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Concerns have recently increased that the integrity of some scientific research is questionable due to the inability to reproduce the claimed results of some experiments and thereby confirm that the original researcher's conclusions were justified. This phenomenon has been described as 'reproducibility crisis' and affects various fields from medicine to basic applied sciences. In this context, the REPLICA project aims to replicate previously conducted in vitro studies on the toxicity of cigarette smoke and e-cigarette aerosol, sometimes adding experiments or conditions where necessary, in order to verify the robustness and replicability of the data. In this work the REPLICA Team replicated biological and toxicological assessment published by Rudd and colleagues in 2020. As in the original paper, we performed Neutral Red Uptake (NRU) assay for the evaluation of cytotoxicity, Ames test for the evaluation of mutagenesis and In Vitro Micronuclei (IVMN) assay for the evaluation of genotoxicity on cells treated with cigarette smoke or e-cigarette aerosol. The results showed high cytotoxicity, mutagenicity and genotoxicity induced by cigarette smoke, but slight or no cytotoxic, mutagenic and genotoxic effects induced by the e-cigarette aerosol. Although the two studies presented some methodological differences, the findings supported those previously presented by Rudd and colleagues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosalia Emma
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Catania, Via S. Sofia, 97, 95123, Catania, Italy
- Center of Excellence for the Acceleration of Harm Reduction (CoEHAR), University of Catania, Via S. Sofia, 97, 95123, Catania, Italy
| | - Virginia Fuochi
- Center of Excellence for the Acceleration of Harm Reduction (CoEHAR), University of Catania, Via S. Sofia, 97, 95123, Catania, Italy
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, University of Catania, Via S. Sofia, 97, 95123, Catania, Italy
| | - Alfio Distefano
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, University of Catania, Via S. Sofia, 97, 95123, Catania, Italy
| | - Konstantinos Partsinevelos
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, University of Catania, Via S. Sofia, 97, 95123, Catania, Italy
| | - Sonja Rust
- ECLAT Srl, Spin Off of the University of Catania, Via. S Sofia 89, 95123, Catania, Italy
| | - Fahad Zadjali
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Sultan Qaboos University, P.C 123, P.O. Box 35, Khodh, Oman
| | - Mohammed Al Tobi
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Sultan Qaboos University, P.C 123, P.O. Box 35, Khodh, Oman
| | - Razan Zadjali
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Sultan Qaboos University, P.C 123, P.O. Box 35, Khodh, Oman
| | - Zaina Alharthi
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Sultan Qaboos University, P.C 123, P.O. Box 35, Khodh, Oman
| | - Roberta Pulvirenti
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, University of Catania, Via S. Sofia, 97, 95123, Catania, Italy
| | - Pio Maria Furneri
- Center of Excellence for the Acceleration of Harm Reduction (CoEHAR), University of Catania, Via S. Sofia, 97, 95123, Catania, Italy
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, University of Catania, Via S. Sofia, 97, 95123, Catania, Italy
| | - Riccardo Polosa
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Catania, Via S. Sofia, 97, 95123, Catania, Italy
- Center of Excellence for the Acceleration of Harm Reduction (CoEHAR), University of Catania, Via S. Sofia, 97, 95123, Catania, Italy
- ECLAT Srl, Spin Off of the University of Catania, Via. S Sofia 89, 95123, Catania, Italy
| | - Ang Sun
- Department of Biology, College of Science and Technology, Sbarro Institute for Cancer Research and Molecular Medicine, Temple University, Philadelphia, USA
| | - Massimo Caruso
- Center of Excellence for the Acceleration of Harm Reduction (CoEHAR), University of Catania, Via S. Sofia, 97, 95123, Catania, Italy.
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, University of Catania, Via S. Sofia, 97, 95123, Catania, Italy.
| | - Giovanni Li Volti
- Center of Excellence for the Acceleration of Harm Reduction (CoEHAR), University of Catania, Via S. Sofia, 97, 95123, Catania, Italy
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, University of Catania, Via S. Sofia, 97, 95123, Catania, Italy
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Caruso M, Emma R, Distefano A, Rust S, Poulas K, Giordano A, Volarevic V, Mesiakaris K, Boffo S, Arsenijevic A, Karanasios G, Pulvirenti R, Ilic A, Canciello A, Zuccarello P, Ferrante M, Polosa R, Li Volti G. Comparative assessment of electronic nicotine delivery systems aerosol and cigarette smoke on endothelial cell migration: The Replica Project. Drug Test Anal 2023; 15:1164-1174. [PMID: 35877466 DOI: 10.1002/dta.3349] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2022] [Revised: 07/07/2022] [Accepted: 07/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Cigarette smoking is associated with impairment of repair mechanisms necessary for vascular endothelium homeostasis. Reducing the exposure to smoke toxicants may result in the mitigation of the harmful effect on the endothelium and cardiovascular disease development. Previous investigations evaluated in vitro the effect of electronic cigarette (EC) compared with cigarette smoke demonstrating a significant reduction in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) migration inhibition following EC aerosol exposure. In the present study, we replicated one of these studies, evaluating the effects of cigarette smoke on endothelial cell migration compared with aerosol from EC and heated tobacco products (HTPs). We performed an in vitro scratch wound assay on endothelial cells with a multi-center approach (ring-study) to verify the robustness and reliability of the results obtained in the replicated study, also testing the effect of aerosol from two HTPs on endothelial cells. Consistently with the original study, we observed a substantial reduction of the effects of aerosol from EC and HTPs on endothelial cell migration compared with cigarette smoke. While cigarette smoke reduced endothelial wound healing ability already at low concentrations (12.5%) and in a concentration-dependent manner, EC and HTPs aerosol showed no effect on endothelial cells until 80%-100% concentrations. In conclusion, our study further confirms the importance of EC and tobacco heated products as a possible harm reduction strategy for cardiovascular diseases development in smokers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Massimo Caruso
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
- Center of Excellence for the Acceleration of Harm Reduction (CoEHAR), University of Catania, Catania, Italy
| | - Rosalia Emma
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
| | - Alfio Distefano
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
| | - Sonja Rust
- ECLAT Srl, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
| | - Konstantinos Poulas
- IRIS, Patras Science Park, Institute for Research and Innovation, Patras, Greece
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology and Immunology, Department of Pharmacy, University of Patras, Patras, Greece
| | - Antonio Giordano
- Sbarro Institute for Cancer Research and Molecular Medicine, Department of Biology, College of Science and Technology, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Vladislav Volarevic
- Center for Molecular Medicine and Stem Cell Research, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Kragujevac, Kragujevac, Serbia
| | - Konstantinos Mesiakaris
- IRIS, Patras Science Park, Institute for Research and Innovation, Patras, Greece
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology and Immunology, Department of Pharmacy, University of Patras, Patras, Greece
| | - Silvia Boffo
- Sbarro Institute for Cancer Research and Molecular Medicine, Department of Biology, College of Science and Technology, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Aleksandar Arsenijevic
- Center for Molecular Medicine and Stem Cell Research, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Kragujevac, Kragujevac, Serbia
| | - Georgios Karanasios
- IRIS, Patras Science Park, Institute for Research and Innovation, Patras, Greece
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology and Immunology, Department of Pharmacy, University of Patras, Patras, Greece
| | - Roberta Pulvirenti
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
| | - Aleksandar Ilic
- Center for Molecular Medicine and Stem Cell Research, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Kragujevac, Kragujevac, Serbia
| | - Angelo Canciello
- Sbarro Institute for Cancer Research and Molecular Medicine, Department of Biology, College of Science and Technology, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Pietro Zuccarello
- Department of Medical, Surgical Sciences and Advanced Technologies "G.F. Ingrassia", University of Catania, Catania, Italy
| | - Margherita Ferrante
- Department of Medical, Surgical Sciences and Advanced Technologies "G.F. Ingrassia", University of Catania, Catania, Italy
| | - Riccardo Polosa
- Center of Excellence for the Acceleration of Harm Reduction (CoEHAR), University of Catania, Catania, Italy
- ECLAT Srl, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
| | - Giovanni Li Volti
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
- Center of Excellence for the Acceleration of Harm Reduction (CoEHAR), University of Catania, Catania, Italy
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Caruso M, Distefano A, Emma R, Zuccarello P, Copat C, Ferrante M, Carota G, Pulvirenti R, Polosa R, Missale GA, Rust S, Raciti G, Li Volti G. In vitro cytoxicity profile of e-cigarette liquid samples on primary human bronchial epithelial cells. Drug Test Anal 2023; 15:1145-1155. [PMID: 35434934 DOI: 10.1002/dta.3275] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2022] [Revised: 04/08/2022] [Accepted: 04/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Cigarette smoke is associated to severe chronic diseases. The most harmful components of cigarette smoke derive from the combustion process, which are significantly reduced in the electronic cigarette aerosol, thus providing a valid option in harm reduction strategies. To develop safer products, it is therefore necessary to screen electronic cigarette liquids (e-liquids) to meet high safety standards defined by government regulations. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the presence of metal- and plastic-derived contaminants in four different commercial e-liquids with high concentration of nicotine and their cytotoxic effect in normal human bronchial epithelial cells by a number of in vitro assays, in comparison with the 1R6F reference cigarette, using an air-liquid interface (ALI) exposure system. Moreover, we evaluated the effect of aerosol exposure on oxidative stress by measuring the production of reactive oxygen species and mitochondrial potential. Our results showed no contaminants in all e-liquids and a significantly reduced cytotoxic effect of e-liquid aerosol compared to cigarette smoke as well as a maintained mitochondria integrity. Moreover, no production of reactive oxygen species was detected with e-cigarette aerosol. In conclusion, these results support the reduced toxicity potential of e-cigs compared to tobacco cigarettes in an in vitro model resembling real life smoke exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Massimo Caruso
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
- Center of Excellence for the Acceleration of Harm Reduction, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
| | - Alfio Distefano
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
| | - Rosalia Emma
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
| | - Pietro Zuccarello
- Department of Medical, Surgical Sciences and Advanced Technologies "G.F. Ingrassia", Catania, Italy
| | - Chiara Copat
- Department of Medical, Surgical Sciences and Advanced Technologies "G.F. Ingrassia", Catania, Italy
| | - Margherita Ferrante
- Center of Excellence for the Acceleration of Harm Reduction, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
- Department of Medical, Surgical Sciences and Advanced Technologies "G.F. Ingrassia", Catania, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Carota
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
| | - Roberta Pulvirenti
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
| | - Riccardo Polosa
- Center of Excellence for the Acceleration of Harm Reduction, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
- ECLAT Srl, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
| | | | - Sonja Rust
- ECLAT Srl, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
| | - Giuseppina Raciti
- Department of Drug and Health Sciences, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
| | - Giovanni Li Volti
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
- Center of Excellence for the Acceleration of Harm Reduction, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
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Martinez JD, Easwaran M, Ramirez D, Erickson-DiRenzo E. Effects of Electronic (E)-cigarette Vapor and Cigarette Smoke in Cultured Vocal Fold Fibroblasts. Laryngoscope 2023; 133:139-146. [PMID: 35213064 DOI: 10.1002/lary.30073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2021] [Revised: 01/14/2022] [Accepted: 02/14/2022] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The public use of electronic-cigarettes (e-cigs) is rapidly growing. When heated, e-cigs produce a vapor that is inhaled. The vocal folds are among the first tissues exposed to this insult. However, the impact of e-cigs on vocal fold health is almost entirely unknown. Our objective was to evaluate the effects of e-cig vapor on cultured human vocal fold fibroblasts (hVFFs), the primary cell type of the lamina propria. We compared the cellular effects of e-cig vapor without and with nicotine and conventional cigarette smoke. STUDY DESIGN In vitro. METHODS E-cig vapor extract (EVE) and cigarette smoke extract (CSE) were created by bubbling vapor and smoke, respectively, into the cell culture medium. hVFFs were exposed to EVE without or with nicotine or CSE for 24 hours. Untreated cells were used as a control group. Cells were harvested, and cytotoxicity, extracellular matrix and inflammatory gene expression, and DNA damage were assessed. RESULTS Undiluted EVE without and with nicotine reduced the viability of hVFFs to a cytotoxic level. CSE reduced hVFFs viability to a greater extent than EVE and induced DNA damage as measured by DNA double-strand breaks. No changes in gene expression were observed following EVE or CSE exposure. CONCLUSION EVE induces cytotoxicity in hVFFs. However, cellular responses were greater following exposure to CSE, suggesting cigarette smoke may induce more harm, at least in the short term. Findings from this investigation improve our understanding of responses of hVFFs to e-cigs and form the basis for an in vitro methodology to study the vocal fold responses to these products. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE NA Laryngoscope, 133:139-146, 2023.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua D Martinez
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, U.S.A
| | - Meena Easwaran
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, U.S.A
| | - Daniel Ramirez
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, U.S.A
| | - Elizabeth Erickson-DiRenzo
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, U.S.A
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