title: Electronic cigarette aerosols and copper nanoparticles induce mitochondrial stress and promote DNA fragmentation in lung fibroblasts.
abstract: Oxidants or nanoparticles have recently been identified as constituents of aerosols released from various styles of electronic cigarettes (E-cigs). Cells in the lung may be directly exposed to these constituents and harbor reactive properties capable of incurring acute cell injury. Our results show mitochondria are sensitive to both E-cig aerosols and aerosol containing copper nanoparticles when exposed to human lung fibroblasts (HFL-1) using an Air-Liquid Interface culture system, evident by elevated levels of mitochondrial ROS (mtROS). Increased mtROS after aerosol exposure is associated with reduced stability of OxPhos electron transport chain (ETC) complex IV subunit and nuclear DNA fragmentation. Increased levels of IL-8 and IL-6 in HFL-1 conditioned media were also observed. These findings reveal both mitochondrial, genotoxic, and inflammatory stresses are features of direct cell exposure to E-cig aerosols which are ensued by inflammatory duress, raising a concern on deleterious effect of vaping.
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Medicine, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Chad A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Lerner
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Medicine, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Pierrot
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rutagarama
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Medicine, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Tanveer
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ahmad
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Medicine, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Isaac K
authors.initials: IK
authors.lastname: Sundar
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Medicine, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Alison
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Elder
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Medicine, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, USA. Electronic address: irfan_rahman@urmc.rochester.edu.
authors.forename: Irfan
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Rahman
mesh_terms: D000336:Aerosols / Q000633:toxicity*; D002460:Cell Line; D003300:Copper / Q000737:chemistry*; D053938:DNA Fragmentation / Q000187:drug effects*; D003576:Electron Transport Complex IV / Q000378:metabolism; D066300:Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems; D006801:Humans; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000378:metabolism; D016906:Interleukin-9 / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D053078:Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial / Q000187:drug effects; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity*; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000336:Aerosols; D015850:Interleukin-6; D016906:Interleukin-9; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D003300:Copper; D003576:Electron Transport Complex IV
keywords: Electronic cigarettes; Inflammation; Mitochondria; Nanoparticles; OxPhos; Reactive oxygen species