Does Long-Term Vaping Affect the Lungs?
E-cigarettes vaporize propylene glycol/glycerin (PG/VG), nicotine, and flavorings. However, the long-term effects of vaporized e-liquid on lung health remain unknown. Recently, a research article was published in Am J Resp Crit Care, a leading journal in
E-cigarettes vaporize propylene glycol/glycerin (PG / VG), nicotine, and flavorings. However, the long-term effects of vaporized e-cigarette liquids on lung health remain unknown. Recently, a research article was published in Am J Resp Crit Care, a leading journal in the field of respiratory medicine as well as critical care medicine, which aimed to evaluate the effects of long-term e-cigarette inhalation on the lung epithelium.
Does long term smoking of e-cigarettes have an effect on the lungs? Researchers performed bronchoscopy on healthy non-smokers, smokers and e-cigarette users to obtain bronchial brush biopsies and lavage samples for proteomic studies. The researchers further used in vitro and mouse exposure models to support corroboration of the findings in human trials.
Examination by fiberoptic bronchoscopy showed loose, erythematous airways in e-cigarette users. Epithelial cells from biopsy specimens showed differences in the expression of 300 proteins in the respiratory tracts of smokers and e-cigarette users, with only 78 proteins differentially expressed in both groups and 113 proteins altered only in e-cigarette users. For example, CYP1B1, MUC5AC, and MUC4 levels were increased in e-cigarette users. Aerosolized PG/VG alone caused a significant increase in MUC5AC protein in cultured human respiratory epithelium and in vivo nasal mucosal epithelial cells in mice. The researchers also found that e-cigarette liquids can rapidly enter cells and that PG/VG reduces membrane fluidity and impairs protein diffusion.
Does long term e-cigarette smoking affect the lungs? It is clear that long-term exposure to e-cigarettes has significant biological effects on the lungs, and these effects may be mediated in part by PG/VG. These changes may not be harmless and may have clinical implications for the development of chronic lung disease. Further studies are needed to determine the extent of the effects of e-cigarettes on the lungs.
Does long term smoking of e-cigarettes have an effect on the lungs? Researchers performed bronchoscopy on healthy non-smokers, smokers and e-cigarette users to obtain bronchial brush biopsies and lavage samples for proteomic studies. The researchers further used in vitro and mouse exposure models to support corroboration of the findings in human trials.
Examination by fiberoptic bronchoscopy showed loose, erythematous airways in e-cigarette users. Epithelial cells from biopsy specimens showed differences in the expression of 300 proteins in the respiratory tracts of smokers and e-cigarette users, with only 78 proteins differentially expressed in both groups and 113 proteins altered only in e-cigarette users. For example, CYP1B1, MUC5AC, and MUC4 levels were increased in e-cigarette users. Aerosolized PG/VG alone caused a significant increase in MUC5AC protein in cultured human respiratory epithelium and in vivo nasal mucosal epithelial cells in mice. The researchers also found that e-cigarette liquids can rapidly enter cells and that PG/VG reduces membrane fluidity and impairs protein diffusion.
Does long term e-cigarette smoking affect the lungs? It is clear that long-term exposure to e-cigarettes has significant biological effects on the lungs, and these effects may be mediated in part by PG/VG. These changes may not be harmless and may have clinical implications for the development of chronic lung disease. Further studies are needed to determine the extent of the effects of e-cigarettes on the lungs.
