From Tobacco Cigarettes to Electronic Cigarettes: The Two Sides of a Nicotine Coin

Besaratinia, Ahmad

doi:10.3389/froh.2021.790634

Cited by 4 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 48 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…The latter studies, particularly with a prospective design, should facilitate identification and validation of diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers of smoking-associated cancers. With the same token, the growing population of electronic nicotine delivery system (ENDS) users, whose alternative tobacco products are known to contain toxic and carcinogenic compounds (albeit generally at substantially lower levels than tobacco cigarettes) [ 217 , 218 , 219 , 220 , 221 , 222 , 223 ], represents yet another important source population.…”

Section: Concluding Remarks and Future Perspectivesmentioning

confidence: 99%

DNA Hydroxymethylation in Smoking-Associated Cancers

Besaratinia

Caceres

Tommasi

2022

IJMS

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5-hmC) was first detected in mammalian DNA five decades ago. However, it did not take center stage in the field of epigenetics until 2009, when ten-eleven translocation 1 (TET1) was found to oxidize 5-methylcytosine to 5-hmC, thus offering a long-awaited mechanism for active DNA demethylation. Since then, a remarkable body of research has implicated DNA hydroxymethylation in pluripotency, differentiation, neural system development, aging, and pathogenesis of numerous diseases, especially cancer. Here, we focus on DNA hydroxymethylation in smoking-associated carcinogenesis to highlight the diagnostic, therapeutic, and prognostic potentials of this epigenetic mark. We describe the significance of 5-hmC in DNA demethylation, the importance of substrates and cofactors in TET-mediated DNA hydroxymethylation, the regulation of TETs and related genes (isocitrate dehydrogenases, fumarate hydratase, and succinate dehydrogenase), the cell-type dependency and genomic distribution of 5-hmC, and the functional role of 5-hmC in the epigenetic regulation of transcription. We showcase examples of studies on three major smoking-associated cancers, including lung, bladder, and colorectal cancers, to summarize the current state of knowledge, outstanding questions, and future direction in the field.

show abstract

Section: Concluding Remarks and Future Perspectivesmentioning

confidence: 99%

DNA Hydroxymethylation in Smoking-Associated Cancers

Besaratinia

Caceres

Tommasi

2022

IJMS

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

Vaping Dose, Device Type, and E-Liquid Flavor are Determinants of DNA Damage in Electronic Cigarette Users

Tommasi

Blumenfeld

Besaratinia

2023

Nicotine and Tobacco Research

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Introduction Despite the widespread use of electronic cigarettes, the long-term health consequences of vaping are largely unknown. Aims and Methods We investigated the DNA-damaging effects of vaping as compared to smoking in healthy adults, including “exclusive” vapers (never smokers), cigarette smokers only, and nonusers, matched for age, gender, and race (N = 72). Following biochemical verification of vaping or smoking status, we quantified DNA damage in oral epithelial cells of our study subjects, using a long-amplicon quantitative polymerase chain reaction assay. Results We detected significantly increased levels of DNA damage in both vapers and smokers as compared to nonusers (p = .005 and p = .020, respectively). While the mean levels of DNA damage did not differ significantly between vapers and smokers (p = .522), damage levels increased dose-dependently, from light users to heavy users, in both vapers and smokers as compared to nonusers. Among vapers, pod users followed by mod users, and those who used sweet-, mint or menthol-, and fruit-flavored e-liquids, respectively, showed the highest levels of DNA damage. The nicotine content of e-liquid was not a predictor of DNA damage in vapers. Conclusions This is the first demonstration of a dose-dependent formation of DNA damage in vapers who had never smoked cigarettes. Our data support a role for product characteristics, specifically device type and e-liquid flavor, in the induction of DNA damage in vapers. Given the popularity of pod and mod devices and the preferability of sweet-, mint or menthol-, and fruit-flavored e-liquids by both adult- and youth vapers, our findings can have significant implications for public health and tobacco products regulation. Implications We demonstrate a dose-dependent formation of DNA damage in oral cells from vapers who had never smoked tobacco cigarettes as well as exclusive cigarette smokers. Device type and e-liquid flavor determine the extent of DNA damage detected in vapers. Users of pod devices followed by mod users, and those who use sweet-, mint or menthol-, and fruit-flavored e-liquids, respectively, show the highest levels of DNA damage when compared to nonusers. Given the popularity of pod and mod devices and the preferability of these same flavors of e-liquid by both adult- and youth vapers, our findings can have significant implications for public health and tobacco products regulation.

show abstract

The Untapped Biomarker Potential of MicroRNAs for Health Risk–Benefit Analysis of Vaping vs. Smoking

Besaratinia,

Tommasi

2024

Cells

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Despite the popularity of electronic cigarettes (e-cigs) among adolescent never-smokers and adult smokers seeking a less pernicious substitute for tobacco cigarettes, the long-term health impact of vaping is largely unknown. Like cigarette smoke, e-cig vapor contains harmful and potentially harmful compounds, although in fewer numbers and at substantially lower concentrations. Many of the same constituents of e-cig vapor and cigarette smoke induce epigenetic changes that can lead to the dysregulation of disease-related genes. MicroRNAs (MiRNAs) are key regulators of gene expression in health and disease states. Extensive research has shown that miRNAs play a prominent role in the regulation of genes involved in the pathogenesis of smoking-related diseases. However, the use of miRNAs for investigating the disease-causing potential of vaping has not been fully explored. This review article provides an overview of e-cigs as a highly consequential electronic nicotine delivery system, describes trends in e-cig use among adolescents and adults, and discusses the ongoing debate on the public health impact of vaping. Highlighting the significance of miRNAs in cell biology and disease, it summarizes the published and ongoing research on miRNAs in relation to gene regulation and disease pathogenesis in e-cig users and in vitro experimental settings. It identifies gaps in knowledge and priorities for future research while underscoring the need for empirical evidence that can inform the regulation of tobacco products to protect youth and promote public health.

show abstract

From Tobacco Cigarettes to Electronic Cigarettes: The Two Sides of a Nicotine Coin

Cited by 4 publications

References 48 publications

DNA Hydroxymethylation in Smoking-Associated Cancers

DNA Hydroxymethylation in Smoking-Associated Cancers

Vaping Dose, Device Type, and E-Liquid Flavor are Determinants of DNA Damage in Electronic Cigarette Users

The Untapped Biomarker Potential of MicroRNAs for Health Risk–Benefit Analysis of Vaping vs. Smoking

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About