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Updated: Jul 2, 2025

Cigarette Smoke Exposure in Mice using a Whole-Body Inhalation System
Published on: October 22, 2020
E-cigarettes exacerbate allergic inflammation via cytokine induction and MUC5AC/5B expression in a murine asthma
Young-Ha Lee1, Hyung Gyun Na1, Yoon Seok Choi1
1Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, College of Medicine, Yeungnam University, Daegu, Republic of Korea.
Abstract:
The effects of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) vapor on inflammation and mucin secretion on asthmatics remain insufficiently explored. This study investigated the effects of e-cigarette vapor on allergic inflammation, cytokine production, and MUC5AC/5B expression in murine asthma model. Airway hyperresponsiveness was significantly higher in the e-cigarette-exposed ovalbumin (OVA) sensitization group than in the control, e-cigarette exposure, and OVA sensitization groups. The e-cigarette-exposed OVA sensitization group showed significantly greater infiltration of inflammatory cells and Th2-mediated inflammatory cytokines (interleukin-4 and -5) compared to the control, e-cigarette exposure, and OVA sensitization groups. MUC5AC mucin levels were significantly elevated in the e-cigarette exposure, OVA sensitization, and e-cigarette-exposed OVA sensitization groups, whereas MUC5B mucin levels were significantly elevated in the OVA sensitization and e-cigarette-exposed OVA sensitization groups. The results may suggest that the exposure to e-cigarette vapor in an asthmatics promoted allergic inflammation and increased mucin secretion, ultimately leading to the exacerbation of asthma.
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