Projects per year
Abstract
Background
Electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) use continues to rise despite concerns of long-term effects, especially the risk of developing lung diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Neutrophils are central to the pathogenesis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, with changes in phenotype and function implicated in tissue damage.
Objective
We sought to measure the impact of direct exposure to nicotine-containing and nicotine-free e-cigarette vapor on human neutrophil function and phenotype.
Methods
Neutrophils were isolated from the whole blood of self-reported nonsmoking, nonvaping healthy volunteers. Neutrophils were exposed to 40 puffs of e-cigarette vapor generated from e-cigarette devices using flavorless e-cigarette liquids with and without nicotine before functions, deformability, and phenotype were assessed.
Results
Neutrophil surface marker expression was altered, with CD62L and CXCR2 expression significantly reduced in neutrophils treated with e-cigarette vapor containing nicotine. Neutrophil migration to IL-8, phagocytosis of Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus pHrodo bioparticles, oxidative burst response, and phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate–stimulated neutrophil extracellular trap formation were all significantly reduced by e-cigarette vapor treatments, independent of nicotine content. E-cigarette vapor induced increased levels of baseline polymerized filamentous actin levels in the cytoplasm, compared with untreated controls.
Conclusions
The significant reduction in effector neutrophil functions after exposure to high-power e-cigarette devices, even in the absence of nicotine, is associated with excessive filamentous actin polymerization. This highlights the potentially damaging impact of vaping on respiratory health and reinforces the urgency of research to uncover the long-term health implications of e-cigarettes.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 320-329.e8 |
Journal | Journal of Investigational Allergology and Clinical Immunology |
Volume | 153 |
Issue number | 1 |
Early online date | 5 Sept 2023 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 4 Jan 2024 |
Keywords
- Neutrophils
- e-cigarettes
- nicotine
- Oxidative burst
- phagocytosis
- NETosis
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Efficacy and Mechanism Evaluation -Effectiveness of Electronic Cigarettes compared with varenicline for smoking cessation in patients with COPD and effect on the Lungs (EME-ECAL study)
Scott, A., Sapey, E., Handley, K., Thickett, D., Parekh, D. & Farley, A.
1/03/23 → 28/02/26
Project: Other Government Departments
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Effectiveness of Electronic Cigarettes compared with varenicline for smoking cessation in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and effect on Lung health (ECAL study)
Scott, A., Handley, K., Sapey, E., Adab, P., Jowett, S., Farley, A., Jordan, R., Parekh, D. & Thickett, D.
1/09/22 → 30/09/25
Project: Other Government Departments
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Investigating macrophage phenotype and function in alpha 1 antitrypsin deficiency
1/10/19 → 30/09/24
Project: Research
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Does hospitalisation of older patients with severe community acquired pneumonia and sepsis lead to long term
Sapey, E., Thickett, D., Richter, A., Patel, J., Mitchell, T. & Scott, A.
1/07/19 → 30/06/23
Project: Research Councils
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A study to investigate the potential harmful impact of inhaling vaped e-cigarette liquids
Lugg, S., Thickett, D. & Scott, A.
1/12/16 → 3/08/20
Project: Research