A 6-month systems toxicology inhalation study in ApoE<sup>−/−</sup> mice demonstrates reduced cardiovascular effects of E-vapor aerosols compared with cigarette smoke
Justyna Szostak, Ee Tsin Wong, Bjoern Titz, Tom Lee, Sin Kei Wong, Tiffany Low, Kyeonghee Monica Lee, Jingjie Zhang, Ashutosh Kumar, Walter K. Schlage, Emmanuel Guedj, Blaine Phillips, Patrice Leroy, Ansgar Buettner, Yang Xiang, Florian Martin, Alain Sewer, Arkadiusz K. Kuczaj, Nikolai V. Ivanov, Karsta Luettich, Patrick Vanscheeuwijck, Manuel C. Peitsch, Julia Hoeng
Abstract
Analysis of key urinary oxidative stress markers and proinflammatory cytokines showed an absence of oxidative stress and inflammation in the animals exposed to E-vapor aerosols. Conversely, animals exposed to conventional cigarette smoke had high urinary levels of these markers. When compared with conventional cigarette smoke, E-vapor aerosols induced smaller atherosclerotic plaque surface area and volume. Systolic and diastolic cardiac function, as well as endothelial function, were further significantly less affected by electronic cigarette aerosols than conventional cigarette smoke. Molecular analysis demonstrated that E-vapor aerosols induce significantly smaller transcriptomic dysregulation in the heart and aorta compared with conventional cigarette smoke.