Current E-Cigarette Research in the Context of Asthma

AbstractPurpose of ReviewThe purpose of this review is to integrate recent research on the respiratory immune effects of e-cigarettes with the pathogenesis of asthma to better understand how e-cigarettes may affect asthmatics and to note critical knowledge gaps regarding the effects of e-cigarettes on asthmatics.Recent FindingsHuman, rodent, and cell culture studies show that key cellular functions of epithelial cells, macrophages, and neutrophils are altered by e-cigarette exposure.SummaryBecause respiratory immunity is already dysregulated in asthma, further alteration of cellular function by e-cigarettes could impact asthma development, severity, and/or exacerbations. Future research is needed to more directly investigate this relationship using controlled human exposure studies and exposure of cell culture or animal models of asthma to e-cigarettes.
Source: Current Allergy and Asthma Reports - Category: Allergy & Immunology Source Type: research