Electronic Cigarette Exposure Disrupts Airway Epithelial Barrier Function and Exacerbates Viral Infection

Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol. 2023 Sep 12. doi: 10.1152/ajplung.00135.2023. Online ahead of print.ABSTRACTThe use of electronic cigarettes (e-cigs), especially among teenagers, has reached alarming and epidemic levels, posing a significant threat to public health. However, the short- and long-term effects of vaping on the airway epithelial barrier are unclear. Airway epithelial cells are the forefront protectors from viruses and pathogens. They contain apical junctional complexes (AJC), which include tight junctions (TJs) and adherens junctions (AJs) formed between adjacent cells. Previously, we reported respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection, the leading cause of acute lower respiratory infection-related hospitalization in children and high-risk adults, induces a 'leaky airway' by disrupting the epithelial AJC structure and function. We hypothesized chemical components of e-cigs disrupt airway epithelial barrier and exacerbate RSV-induced airway barrier dysfunction. Using confluent human bronchial epithelial (16HBE) cells and well-differentiated normal human bronchial epithelial (NHBE) cells, we found that exposure to extract and aerosol e-cig nicotine caused a significant decrease in trans-epithelial electrical resistance (TEER) and the structure of the AJC even at non-cytotoxic concentrations. Western blot analysis of 16HBE cells exposed to e-cig nicotine extract did not reveal significant changes in AJC proteins. Exposure to aerosolized e-cig cinnamon or mentho...
Source: American Journal of Physiology. Lung Cellular and Molecular Physiology - Category: Cytology Authors: Source Type: research