Short-Term Nose-Only Water-Pipe (Shisha) Smoking Exposure Accelerates Coagulation and Causes Cardiac Inflammation and Oxidative Stress in Mice

Abstract

Background/Aim: Water-pipe smoking (WPS) has acquired worldwide popularity, and is disseminating particularly rapidly in Europe and North America. However, little is known about the short-term cardiovascular effects of WPS. Methods: Presently, we assessed the short-term cardiovascular effects of nose-only exposure to mainstream WPS in BALB/c mice for 30 min/day for 5 consecutive days. Control mice were exposed to air. At the end of the exposure period, several cardiovascular endpoints were measured. Results: WPS did not affect the number of leukocytes and the plasma concentrations of C-reactive protein, tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα) and interleukin-6 (IL-6). Likewise, plasma levels of lipid peroxidation (LPO), reduced glutathione (GSH) and catalase were not affected by WPS. By contrast, WPS aggravated in vivo thrombosis by shortening the thrombotic occlusion time in pial arterioles and venules. The number of circulating platelets was reduced by WPS suggesting the occurrence of platelet aggregation in vivo. Elevated concentrations of fibrinogen and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 were seen after the exposure to WPS. Blood samples taken from mice exposed to WPS and exposed to adenosine diphosphate showed more platelet aggregation. The heart concentrations of IL-6 and TNFα were augmented by WPS. Likewise, heart levels of LPO, reactive oxygen species and the antioxidants catalase and GSH were increased by WPS. However, the systolic blood pressure and heart rate were not affected by WPS. Conclusion: It can be concluded that short-term exposure to WPS exerts procoagulatory effects and induce cardiac inflammation and oxidative stress. At the time point investigated, there was no evidence for blood inflammation or oxidative stress.

Water-Pipe Smoke Exposure-Induced Circulatory Disturbances in Mice, and the Influence of Betaine Supplementation Thereon

“…Betaine is a naturally occurring antioxidant agent which is found in a range of foods including wheat, shellfish, spinach, and sugar beets [20]. We have recently demonstrated that exposure to WPS for 5 days and one month increased blood pressure and thrombosis and induced inflammation and oxidative stress in the heart [14,15]. Therefore, in the present study we have assessed the subacute (2 weeks) effects of WPS on a comprehensive set of circulatory parameters and the possible palliative effect of betaine thereon.…”

“…The activity of SOD was measured according to the vendor's protocol (Cayman Chemicals, Michigan, USA). NADPH-dependent membrane lipid peroxidation was measured as thiobarbituric acid reactive substance using malonedialdehyde as standard (Sigma-Aldrich Fine Chemicals, St Louis, MO, USA) [27,36].…”

“…It is worth mentioning, that due to the fact that water-pipe smokers are often current or former cigarette smokers, clinical studies on waterpipe smoking face problems in investigating the sole effect of water-pipe smoking [3,10]. We recently provided experimental evidence that water-pipe smoke (WPS) exposure (for 5 days or 30 days) accelerates coagulation and causes cardiac inflammation and oxidative stress [14,15].…”

“…Since cardiovascular effects of WPS are mediated, at least partly, by oxidative stress [14,15], and betaine has protective or ameliorative effects against some experimental diseases and conditions involving oxidative stress [23,25], we thought that it was relevant to assess the possible ameliorating influence of betaine on WPS-induced cardiovascular toxicity in mice.…”

The acute pulmonary and thrombotic effects of cerium oxide nanoparticles after intratracheal instillation in mice

“…27,37,45 In this model, the damage to endothelial cells causes the platelets to adhere at the site of endothelial damage and then aggregate. 27,37,45 The data of the present study show that acute IT administration of CeO 2 NPs induced a significant and dose-dependent shortening of the thrombotic occlusion time in pial arterioles and venules, indicating that CeO 2 NPs possess prothrombotic effects. Along with thrombosis in vivo, a dose-dependent and significant increase in the concentrations of the coagulation factor, fibrinogen, and PAI-1 in the plasma following acute exposure to CeO 2 NPs was found.…”