The Effect of Flavored E-cigarettes on Murine Allergic Airways Disease

Sci Rep. 2019 Sep 20;9(1):13671. doi: 10.1038/s41598-019-50223-y.

Abstract

Flavored e-cigarettes are preferred by the majority of users yet their potential toxicity is unknown. Therefore our aim was to determine the effect of selected flavored e-cigarettes, with or without nicotine, on allergic airways disease in mice. Balb/c mice were challenged with PBS or house dust mite (HDM) (Days 0, 7, 14-18) and exposed to room air or e-cigarette aerosol for 30 min twice daily, 6 days/week from Days 0-18 (n = 8-12/group). Mice were exposed to Room Air, vehicle control (50%VG/%50PG), Black Licorice, Kola, Banana Pudding or Cinnacide without or with 12 mg/mL nicotine. Mice were assessed at 72 hours after the final HDM challenge. Compared to mice challenged with HDM and exposed to Room Air, nicotine-free Cinnacide reduced airway inflammation (p = 0.045) and increased peripheral airway hyperresponsiveness (p = 0.02), nicotine-free Banana Pudding increased soluble lung collagen (p = 0.049), with a trend towards increased airway inflammation with nicotine-free Black Licorice exposure (p = 0.089). In contrast, all e-cigarettes containing nicotine suppressed airway inflammation (p < 0.001 for all) but did not alter airway hyperresponsiveness or airway remodeling. Flavored e-cigarettes without nicotine had significant but heterogeneous effects on features of allergic airways disease. This suggests that some flavored e-cigarettes may alter asthma pathophysiology even when used without nicotine.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Airway Remodeling / drug effects*
  • Animals
  • Bronchial Hyperreactivity / chemically induced*
  • Bronchial Hyperreactivity / immunology
  • Bronchitis / chemically induced*
  • Bronchitis / immunology
  • Cola / immunology
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • E-Cigarette Vapor / immunology*
  • Female
  • Flavoring Agents / adverse effects*
  • Glycyrrhiza / immunology
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Nicotine / adverse effects
  • Pyroglyphidae / immunology

Substances

  • E-Cigarette Vapor
  • Flavoring Agents
  • Nicotine