Lung compression of vape aerosol has less effect on gene expression than cigarette smoke

A new peer-reviewed study published in the journal Toxicological Research & Application showing severe adverse effects on 3D human bronchial print model to e-cigarette aerosol exerting minimal effect on gene expression compared to smoke from burning cigarettes.

The research involved sub-cytotoxic exposure to cells in a 3D human bronchial model (MucilAirTM) to nicotine-containing vape aerosol, flammable cigarette smoke and fresh air control under tight laboratory conditions.

The highly sensitive Toxicity Test in the twentieth-century device (TT21C) allows researchers to gain a mechanical understanding of the potential effects of exposure to vape aerosol and 3R4F smoke (reference cigarettes), not being aware of other processes that may be triggered by significantly higher exposures – including cell death – that can make the interpretation of results difficult.

After cell ‘regeneration’ periods of 4 and 48 hours, scientists evaluated the expression of different genes to see if any of them were increased or decreased by the same expression.

“Within this model, the exposure of cigarette smoke induced significant changes in gene expression, reflecting – among other effects – changes in oxidative stress and inflammation symptoms,” confirmed Matt Stevenson, Preclinical Toxicology Manager at Imperial Brands. “On the other hand, the vape aerosol gave very little response, similar to the one seen in air control.”

Imperial Chief Toxicologist Dr Liam Simms said: “Gene set enrichment analysis examining the most above / below genes was expressed across five main pathways – cell cycle, apoptosis, p53 signaling, cell death and NF-KappaB signals [a protein complex that controls transcription of DNA, cytokine production and cell survival].

Focusing on the 3R4F reference cigarette, no pathways were activated after four hours of exposure, but at 48 h the cells of both genes involved in cell cycle and cell death pathways were activated in action. On the other hand, those cells exposed to aerosol vape showed slightly higher NF-KappaB signaling pathways after four hours of exposure. However, at 48 hours no routes were implemented. “

The results of this study show that, under experimental conditions, vape aerosol had a lower effect on gene expression in human lung cells in vitro than the equivalent dose of cigarette smoke.

“This latest research complements the growing body of research brought together by both Imperial Brands and others, highlighting the significant harm reduction potential of Next Generation Products (NGP). ) as valves as opposed to continuous burning cigarette smoking, ”said Dr. Grant O’Connell, Head of Imperial Tobacco Harm Reduction Science.

“We encourage regulators and policymakers to consider a weight of evidence that illustrates the clear scientific differences between flammable, tobacco-burning cigarettes and potential NGPs. reduce them with harm that will not, “he concluded.