E-cigarette synthetic cooling agent WS-23 and nicotine aerosols differentially modulate airway epithelial cell responses. (2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Manevski, Marko; Yogeswaran, Shaiesh; Rahman, Irfan; Devadoss, Dinesh; Chand, Hitendra S.
• Is Part Of: Toxicology reports. Volume 9(2022)
• Page Start: 1823
• Page End: 1830
• Publication Date: 2022
• Subjects: Airway epithelial cells -- E-cigarette -- WS-23 -- Synthetic cooling agent -- Nicotine -- Mucin -- MUC5AC -- ICAM-1; Toxicology -- Periodicals; Clinical toxicology -- Periodicals; Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions; Hazardous Substances; Poisoning; Toxicology; Electronic journals; Periodicals; Periodicals; 571.9505
• DOI: 10.1016/j.toxrep.2022.09.010
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2214-7500

Abstract

Abstract: Electronic cigarette (e-cig) aerosol exposures are strongly associated with pulmonary dysfunctions, and the airway epithelial cells (AECs) of respiratory passages play a pivotal role in understanding this association. However, not much is known about the effect of synthetic cooling agents such as WS-23 on AECs. WS-23 is a synthetic menthol-like cooling agent widely used to enhance the appeal of e-cigs and to suppress the harshness and bitterness of other e-cig constituents. Using primary human AECs, we compared the effects of aerosolized WS-23 with propylene glycol/vegetable glycerin (PG/VG) vehicle control and nicotine aerosol exposures. AECs treated with 3 % WS-23 aerosols showed a significant increase in viable cell numbers compared to PG/VG-vehicle aerosol exposed cells and cell growth was comparable following 2.5 % nicotine aerosol exposure. AEC inflammatory factors, IL-6 and ICAM-1 levels were significantly suppressed by WS-23 aerosols compared to PG/VG-controls. When differentiated AECs were challenged with WS-23 aerosols, there was a significant increase in secretory mucin MUC5AC expression with no discernible change in airway inflammatory SCGB1A1 expression. Compared to PG/VG-controls, WS-23 or nicotine aerosols presented with increased MUC5AC expression, but there was no synergistic effect of WS-23 + nicotine combination exposure. Thus, WS-23 and nicotine aerosols modulate the AEC responses and induce goblet cell hyperplasia, which could impact the airway physiology and susceptibility to respiratory diseases. Graphical Abstract: ga1 Highlights: Synthetic cooling agent WS-23 aerosols modulate human airway epithelial cell growth. Inflammatory IL-6 and ICAM-1 levels were significantly suppressed by WS-23 aerosols. WS-23 aerosols induced a goblet cell hyperplasia in differentiated airway cells.