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Published on: March 20, 2018
Vaping Induced Cannabidiol (CBD) Oxidation Product CBD Quinone Forms Protein Adducts with KEAP1 and Activates
Charlotte A Love1, Hye-Young H Kim2, Keri A Tallman2
1Curriculum in Toxicology and Environmental Medicine, Center for Environmental Medicine, Asthma, and Lung Biology, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, United States.
Abstract:
Cannabidiol (CBD) vaping products have become widely available in the U.S. since their legalization in 2018. However, little is known about their respiratory health effects. Here we show that aerosolization of commercial CBD vaping products generates a reactive CBD quinone (CBDQ) which forms adducts with protein cysteine residues. Using click chemistry and a novel in vitro vaping product exposure system (VaPES), we further demonstrate that CBDQ forms adducts with human bronchial epithelial cell proteins including Keap1 and activates KEAP1-Nrf2 stress response pathway genes. These results suggest that vaping CBD alters protein function and induces cellular stress pathways in the lung.
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