Chronic Electronic Cigarette Use and Atherosclerosis Risk in Young People: A Cross-Sectional Study-Brief Report

Area of Science:

• Cardiovascular Science
• Immunology
• Toxicology

Background:

• The impact of electronic cigarettes (ECIGs) on atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease vulnerability is largely unknown.
• This study investigates whether ECIG use promotes proatherogenic changes, specifically monocyte transendothelial migration and foam cell formation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine if ECIGs increase proatherogenic changes in monocytes using an ex vivo mechanistic atherogenesis assay.
• To compare these changes in ECIG users with traditional cigarette (TCIG) users and nonsmokers.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study involving healthy nonsmokers, exclusive ECIG users, and exclusive TCIG users.
• Utilized an ex vivo model with autologous peripheral blood mononuclear cells and plasma.
• Assessed monocyte transendothelial migration and monocyte-derived foam cell formation via flow cytometry.

Main Results:

• Both ECIG and TCIG users exhibited increased monocyte transendothelial migration and foam cell formation compared to nonsmokers.
• TCIG users showed significantly higher levels of these proatherogenic changes than ECIG users.
• ECIG users who were former smokers had higher alterations than never-smoker ECIG users.

Conclusions:

• The ex vivo assay effectively measures proatherogenic changes, validating its use for ECIG research.
• ECIG use is associated with less severe proatherogenic alterations compared to TCIG use.
• Further research is needed to distinguish between residual smoking effects and direct ECIG effects.