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TSRC, Tob. Sci. Res. Conf., 2012, 66, abstr. 58

RNA-seq analysis of alterations in human bronchial epithelial cell transcriptomes following exposure to electronic (e)-cigarette vapors

TIMKO M.P.; WOLKOWICZ M.J.; KOTOVA T.; HOLBY S.N.
University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA

Increased public awareness and governmental concern of the health risks associated with smoking has led to the development of products aimed at reducing the harmful effects of tobacco smoke exposure and potentially promoting smoking cessation. Electronic cigarettes (also known as e-cigarettes) are battery-operated devices designed to simulate smoking and deliver nicotine, flavor and other chemicals when inhaled by the user. The safety and efficacy of these products have not been critically evaluated and the direct effects of e-cigarette vapors on human cellular function have not been studied in detail. Using differentiated human bronchial epithelial (HBE) cells we have developed in an in vitro liquid-air interface model for exposure and examined the cellular effects and transcriptional changes associated with exposure to e-cigarette vapor (ECV) delivered from a commercially available product “MAGMA brand” marketed by Volcanoecigs.com [http://www.volcanoecigs.com/]. Cell toxicity and Trans-Epithelial Electrical Resistance (TEER) assays were carried out on HBE cells exposed for various times to ECV generated from charging media containing 0 mg and 16 mg (Full Flavor) of nicotine. In general ECV was significantly less toxic than exposure to mainstream smoke from tobacco-based 1R5F reference cigarettes. Next generation (RNA-seq) transcriptome analysis and qRT-PCR based analysis were used to profile changes in gene expression following exposure of HBE cells to ECV. Our results indicate that ECV exposure elicits specific alteration in transcriptomic activity that contrast with those observed during exposure to mainstream smoke from traditional tobacco containing cigarettes. The implication of these studies with respect to the need for greater analysis of potential harm reduced smoking products will be discussed.