Bhat TA, Kalathil SG, Leigh N, Hutson A, Goniewicz ML, Thanavala YM. Do alternative tobacco products induce less adverse respiratory risk than cigarettes?
Respir Res 2023;
24:261. [PMID:
37907902 PMCID:
PMC10617138 DOI:
10.1186/s12931-023-02568-2]
[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: 09/08/2023] [Accepted: 10/18/2023] [Indexed: 11/02/2023] Open
Abstract
RATIONALE
Due to the relatively short existence of alternative tobacco products, gaps exist in our current understanding of their long-term respiratory health effects. We therefore undertook the first-ever side-by-side comparison of the impact of chronic inhalation of aerosols emitted from electronic cigarettes (EC) and heated tobacco products (HTP), and combustible cigarettes (CC) smoke.
OBJECTIVES
To evaluate the potential differential effects of alternative tobacco products on lung inflammatory responses and efficacy of vaccination in comparison to CC.
METHODS
Mice were exposed to emissions from EC, HTP, CC, or air for 8 weeks. BAL and lung tissue were analyzed for markers of inflammation, lung damage, and oxidative stress. Another group was exposed for 12 weeks and vaccinated and challenged with a bacterial respiratory infection. Antibody titers in BAL and sera and pulmonary bacterial clearance were assessed.
MAIN RESULTS
EC- and HTP-aerosols significantly augmented lung immune cell infiltrates equivalent to that achieved following CC-exposure. HTP and CC significantly increased neutrophil numbers compared to EC. All products augmented numbers of B cells, T cells, and pro-inflammatory IL17A+ T cells in the lungs. Decreased lung antioxidant activity and lung epithelial and endothelial damage was induced by all products. EC and HTP differentially augmented inflammatory cytokines/chemokines in the BAL. Generation of immunity following vaccination was impaired by EC and HTP but to a lesser extent than CC, with a CC > HTP > EC hierarchy of suppression of pulmonary bacterial clearance.
CONCLUSIONS
HTP and EC-aerosols induced a proinflammatory pulmonary microenvironment, lung damage, and suppressed efficacy of vaccination.
Collapse