Nicotine in electronic cigarettes appears to alter clearance of mucus

June 7, 2019 – According to a new study published online in the American Thoracic Society, nicotine vapotage by electronic cigarettes appears to impede clearance of the airways. American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.

In "An electronic cigarette with nicotine causes mucociliary dysfunction of the airway preferentially via TRPA1 receptors", a team of researchers from the University of Kansas, the University of Miami and Mt. Sinai Medical Center in Miami Beach has indicated that exposure of human respiratory tract cells to electronic cigarette vapor containing nicotine in culture has resulted in decreased ability to move mucus or phlegm on the surface. This phenomenon is called "mucociliary dysfunction". The researchers report the same finding in vivo in sheep, whose airways resemble those of humans exposed to the vapor of the electronic cigarette.

"This study is based on our team's research on the influence of tobacco smoke on the clearance of mucus from the airways," said Matthias Salathe, author, director of internal medicine and professor of pulmonary medicine and critical care. at the University of Kansas Medical. Center. "The question was whether nicotine-containing vaporization had negative effects on the ability to eliminate airway secretions similar to tobacco smoke."

Mucociliary dysfunction is a hallmark of many lung diseases, including asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and cystic fibrosis. Specifically, the study found that nicotine vaping alters the frequency of ciliary beats, dehydrates the airway fluid and makes the mucus more viscous or sticky. These changes make it more difficult to defend the bronchi, the main routes of pbadage of the lung, against infection and injury.

The researchers noted that a recent report had found that younger users of never-smoking electronic cigarettes were at increased risk of developing chronic bronchitis, a disease characterized by a chronic production of phlegm that was not present. tobacco smokers are also present.

Dr. Salathe said the recently published data not only corroborated the previous clinical report, but also helped to explain it. A single vaping session can release more nicotine into the airways than smoking a cigarette. In addition, according to Dr. Salathe, the absorption in the blood is lower, possibly exposing the airways to high levels of nicotine for long periods.

The study also revealed that nicotine produced these negative effects by stimulating the transient receptor potential of the ion channel, ankyrin 1 (TRPA1). Blockade of TRPA1 reduced the effects of nicotine on clearance in human cells in culture and in sheep.

"Vaping with nicotine is not harmless as generally badumed by those who start vaping, at the very least, it increases the risk of chronic bronchitis." Dr. Salathe said. "Our study, along with others, could even question electronic cigarettes as a harm reduction approach for current smokers with respect to chronic bronchitis / COPD."

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