E-cigarette Vaping is Associated with Pro-Fibrotic Gene Expression in Kidney and Liver Tissues

Area of Science:

• Toxicology and Environmental Health
• Molecular Biology and Genomics
• Organ Systems Pathology

Background:

• Conventional tobacco use is linked to numerous diseases and organ damage.
• Long-term health effects of e-cigarette vaping remain largely unknown.
• Identifying early molecular signals in animal models can predict human health risks.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate transcriptomic changes in mouse kidney and liver tissues following e-cigarette aerosol exposure.
• To determine the influence of nicotine and vehicle chemicals on organ-specific gene expression.
• To identify potential early pathogenic signals associated with e-cigarette use.

Main Methods:

• Mice were exposed daily for 3 months to room air, e-cigarette vapor (vehicle), or e-cigarette vapor with nicotine.
• RNA sequencing was performed on kidney and liver tissues.
• Apriori gene set analysis was used to assess transcriptomic alterations.

Main Results:

• E-cigarette exposure (with or without nicotine) altered gene expression in mouse kidneys and livers.
• Nicotine exposure induced greater transcriptomic changes in the kidney, while vehicle chemicals affected the liver more.
• Specific gene expression changes indicated oxidative stress, inflammation, lipid metabolism disruption, and immune signaling alterations.

Conclusions:

• Chronic inhalation of e-cigarette vapor alters gene expression in downstream organs like the kidney and liver.
• Observed transcriptomic patterns suggest potential promotion of fibrosis and metabolic dysregulation.
• Further research is crucial to define the long-term pathophysiological effects of e-cigarette vaping.