Effects of Cigarette Smoke on Endothelial Cells Evaluated

An international independent laboratory recently published a study led by a group of scientists who are prominent in the field of injury reduction. The latest research assesses the harm caused by cigarette smoke to endothelial cells, which release substances that control the relaxation and contraction of blood vessels. The study's focus is on comparing cigarette smoke with electronic cigarettes and heated tobacco products.

Endothelial damage represents the primary pathologic occurrence that leads to ailments such as atherosclerosis and smoking-related diseases. Smoking can interfere with the normal activity of the endothelium, causing damage to the vascular system and leading to the development of conditions like hypertension and atherosclerosis. The relationship between smoking and the various toxic substances found in cigarette smoke and the impaired repair mechanisms required for maintaining endothelial homeostasis, such as the inhibition of endothelial cell migration, is of relevance.

Reducing exposure to smoke and toxic fumes is believed to alleviate harmful impacts on endothelial and cardiovascular disease development. Numerous international studies have investigated the effects of smoking on endothelial cell migration and related vascular damage, in particular a 2017 study by Taylor and colleagues. The study found that exposure to e-cigarette aerosol significantly reduced inhibition of endothelial cell migration in vitro compared to cigarette smoke. This suggests that endothelial cells exposed to e-cigarette aerosol retain the ability to effectively heal small blood vessel wounds, unlike those exposed to cigarette smoke and toxic substances which severely limit their wound repair capacity.

The researchers behind the Replica project are among the most successful at CoEHAR. Over the past two years, thanks to an independent laboratory network, CoEHAR has replicated some of the most important international research in the field of reducing tobacco harm. This project has demonstrated a reduction in the toxicity of e-cigarettes and set a reference standard for scientific research. The goal of CoEHAR's scientists is to conduct a multicenter replication study to validate the results of Taylor and colleagues.

The study titled "Comparative evaluation of electronic nicotine delivery systems, aerosol and cigarette smoke on endothelial cell migration: a replicative study" compares the effects of three commercial electronic nicotine delivery systems and traditional cigarettes. Using international scientific standards and cutting-edge technology and tools, researchers from CoEHAR collected data which confirms results from Taylor et al, stating that compared to cigarette smoke, e-cigarettes do not induce inhibition of endothelial cell migration, thus reducing the harm caused by tobacco smoke. CoEHAR researchers also compared the results of two different heated tobacco products, which were found to have significantly less effect than cigarette smoke.

“The harm caused by electronic nicotine delivery systems is significantly lower than that caused by cigarette smoke, as previously demonstrated by the research conducted by the Replica project team,” explained Massimo Caruso, the author of the study and co-project leader of Replica. “Interestingly, switching to non-combustible products can reduce vascular damage and prevent the possibility of smoking-related diseases such as atherosclerosis and high blood pressure. Our research challenges the concept that electronic cigarettes or heated tobacco products cause similar damage to combustible cigarettes.”

Research Methodology.

The study focused on a replica project led by a professor. Li and Professor Caruso replicated Taylor and his colleagues' evaluation of the impact of cigarette smoke on endothelial cell migration compared to the aerosol from e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products. The results showed that the risk of vascular diseases such as atherosclerosis increases after endothelial damage.

Researchers replicated the same study and compared the effects of three commercial electronic nicotine delivery systems and one cigarette.

Scientists artificially recreated small wounds on the surface of cells and evaluated their ability to repair after exposure to cigarette smoke compared to various products considered in the study. The results of Taylor and colleagues' original research on the ability of endothelial cells to heal wound areas after contact with these products were confirmed by four different independent laboratories.

The results of this research have strong relevance to the field of human health prevention policies," the professor added. Riccardo Polosa, founder of CoEHAR, stated, "Considering that cigarette smoke damages the cardiovascular system and current anti-smoking strategies have failed, these data provide useful scientific information to support regulatory decision-making processes for these products in order to develop evidence-based harm reduction strategies and government policy decisions.

Source of Funds

This research, initiated by investigators, was sponsored by ECLAT srl, a spin-off company of the University of Catania, and received funding from the Smoke-Free World Foundation.

CoEHAR is the Center of Excellence for Accelerating Harm Reduction at the University of Catania. Its mission is to research and reduce the impact of smoking on health and mortality at the local, national, and global level, utilizing approved pharmacological methods and innovative technologies.

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