Unflavored electronic cigarette exposure induces alterations in airway ciliary structure and function - Respiratory Research
July 03, 2025 by biomedcentral.com
Unflavored electronic cigarette exposure induces alterations in airway ciliary structure and function - Respiratory Research
Human airway basal stem cells were exposed to e-cigarette aerosols with various flavors, showing donor-dependent responses. Different flavors had minimal impact on cell populations, with strawberry flavor causing increase in basal and ciliated cells. Donor heterogeneity was observed in responses to different flavors. Unflavored e-cig aerosols affected ciliary function without cell loss, altering ciliary beat frequency and ultrastructure. Phosphoproteomic analysis revealed phosphorylation changes in pathways related to cilium organization, cadherin and actin binding, and Rho GTPase signaling. Dysregulation of these pathways may contribute to ciliary dysfunction caused by e-cig exposure.
