Toxicological comparison of cigarette smoke and e-cigarette aerosol using a 3D in vitro human respiratory model

Publication date: Available online 2 February 2019Source: Regulatory Toxicology and PharmacologyAuthor(s): Lukasz Czekala, Liam Simms, Matthew Stevenson, Nicole Tschierske, Anna G. Maione, Tanvir WaleleAbstractWith the growing prevalence of e-cigarettes as an alternative to conventional cigarettes amongst smokers worldwide, there is a need for new methods to evaluate their relative toxicological profile as part of a safety assessment. Initiatives to replace, reduce and refine animal testing have led to developments of new methodologies utilizing organotypic, in vitro tissue models. Here we use a respiratory epithelial model, EpiAirway, to examine the biological effects of nicotine-containing blu PLUS + e-cigarettes, with or without blueberry flavoring, in comparison to conventional cigarette smoke. Tissues were exposed at the air-liquid interface to cigarette smoke or e-cigarette aerosol generated using a VITROCELL VC1 smoking/vaping robot. Following exposure to cigarette smoke, there was a significant decrease in tissue viability and barrier function. Additionally, secretion of inflammatory cytokines, interleukin 6 and 8 (IL-6, IL-8) altered and a marker of DNA damage, γ-H2AX, was significantly increased. Conversely, tissues exposed to up to 400 puffs of e-cigarette aerosol with or without blueberry flavor did not differ compared to air-exposed tissues in any of the measured endpoints. Overall, the tested e-cigarette products induced significantly less cytotoxicity than c...
Source: Regulatory Toxicology and Pharmacology - Category: Toxicology Source Type: research