How bad are e-cigarettes? What can we learn from animal exposure models?

Tim Marczylo*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

14 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Electronic cigarettes divide opinions. Some consider them key to reducing smoking incidence while others are concerned over potential for detrimental health consequences. It will take many years to identify the health consequences of e-cigarette use if we rely only upon human data. However, there is a growing body of work using rodent models that inform on these potential toxicities. These studies have focused upon the pulmonary, cardiovascular and central nervous systems. Observations include perturbations of pro-inflammatory, pro-fibrotic and oxidative stress markers, sometimes together with DNA damage and downregulation of DNA repair and antioxidant enzymes. However, the markers affected are often different between studies. A more consistent observation has been the increase in airway hyperresponsiveness, a characteristic of asthma, on exposure to electronic cigarettes, across mouse strains, sex and ages. Detrimental effects in this and other susceptible animal models such as the apolipoprotein E knock-out mouse model of atherosclerosis, suggest greater risk where there is an existing predisposition. Other adverse reactions, including weight loss, oxidative stress and angiogenesis, are reported in animal studies with nicotine-containing devices. These effects remain less severe than cigarette smoke, where investigated. Animal studies have identified therefore that e-cigarettes are potentially hazardous, especially in susceptible populations, nicotine is integral to risk of health effects, but overall e-cigarettes are much less hazardous than cigarettes. (Figure presented.).

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)5073-5089
Number of pages17
JournalJournal of Physiology
Volume598
Issue number22
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 15 Nov 2020

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
This research was funded by the Health Impact of Environmental Hazards Health Protection Research Unit from the National Institute for Health Research, UK.

Publisher Copyright:
© 2020 Crown copyright. The Journal of Physiology © 2020 The Physiological Society

Keywords

  • hyperresponsiveness
  • inflammation
  • nicotine
  • toxicity
  • vaping

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