Vapours of US and EU Market Leader Electronic Cigarette Brands and Liquids Are Cytotoxic for Human Vascular Endothelial Cells

PLoS One. 2016 Jun 28;11(6):e0157337. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0157337. eCollection 2016.

Abstract

The present study was conducted to provide toxicological data on e-cigarette vapours of different e-cigarette brands and liquids from systems viewed as leaders in the e-cigarette market and to compare e-cigarette vapour toxicity to the toxicity of conventional strong high-nicotine cigarette smoke. Using an adapted version of a previously constructed cigarette smoke constituent sampling device, we collected the hydrophilic fraction of e-cigarette vapour and exposed human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) to the mixture of compounds present in the vapour of 4 different single-use e-cigarettes, 6 different liquid vapours produced by the same refillable e-cigarette, and one e-cigarette with an exchangeable liquid cartridge. After incubation of cells with various concentrations and for various periods of time we analysed cell death induction, proliferation rates, the occurrence of intra-cellular reactive oxygen species, cell morphology, and we also measured e-cigarette heating coil temperatures. Overall, conventional cigarette smoke extract showed the most severe impact on endothelial cells. However, some e-cigarette vapour extracts showed high cytotoxicity, inhibition of cell proliferation, and alterations in cell morphology, which were comparable to conventional high-nicotine cigarettes. The vapours generated from different liquids using the same e-cigarette show substantial differences, pointing to the liquids as an important source for toxicity. E-cigarette vapour-mediated induction of oxidative stress was significant in one out of the 11 analysed vapours. There is a high variability in the acute cytotoxicity of e-cigarette vapours depending on the liquid and on the e-cigarettes used. Some products showed toxic effects close to a conventional high-nicotine cigarette. Liquid nicotine, menthol content, and the formation of acute intracellular reactive oxygen species do not seem to be the central elements in e-cigarette vapour toxicity.

MeSH terms

  • Cell Death
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems / adverse effects*
  • Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems / classification
  • Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems / economics
  • European Union
  • Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells / drug effects*
  • Humans
  • Nicotine / toxicity*
  • Oxidative Stress
  • United States

Substances

  • Nicotine

Grants and funding

This project was financed by the official funds of the laboratory (internal sources of the Medical University of Innsbruck) and private funds of the corresponding author (DB). The authors have no other financial relationships relevant to this article to disclose. ADSI provided support in the form of salaries for one author [TJ], but did not have any additional role in the study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript. The specific roles of TJ are articulated in the ‘author contributions’ section.