Influenza

E-Cigarettes Limit the Body’s Fight Against Influenza

New research suggests that e-cigarettes suppress the body’s immune system and, therefore, limits the body’s ability to fight viruses, especially those that cause influenza.

These findings were presented at the American Thoracic Society’s 2019 International Conference by lead researcher Meghan Rebuli, PhD, from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, on Monday, May 20.

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To conduct this study, Dr Rebuli and colleagues inoculated human volunteers with the live-attenuated influenza virus (LAIV) to examine the innate immune response to infection.

Participants self-reported smoking status and tobacco use, and were categorized into one of 3 groups: (1) non-smokers, (2) cigarette smokers, and (3) e-cigarette users.

Epithelial lining fluid, nasal lavage fluid, nasal biopsies, and blood samples were collected before and after LAIV.

At baseline, smokers had increased levels of influenza peptide cleavage activity, which correlated with increased levels of viral mRNA after LAIV, compared with non-smokers. However, this difference was not observed in e-cigarette users.

E-cigarette users had suppressed IFNɣ pathway genes and proteins essential for innate immune cell recruitment and antiviral responses, compared with non-smokers. However, this finding was not observed in cigarette smokers.

E-cigarette users also experienced:

  • Suppression of LAIV-induced nasal lavage fluid and epithelial lining fluid levels of IFNɣ and IFNɣ-inducible chemokines after LAIV,
  • Suppression of IFNɣ antiviral response pathway genes after LAIV, and
  • Lower levels of influenza-specific IgA compared with non-smokers.

 

“Together these data suggest that e-cigarette use and cigarette smoking differentially modify the respiratory antiviral host defense system,” the researchers concluded.

“Specifically, in e-cigarette users, the IFNɣ antiviral pathway and influenza-specific IgA levels were significantly reduced following infection with LAIV. Considering the role of IFNɣ and downstream signaling molecules in recruitment and activation of lymphocytes, e-cigarette use may impair the adaptive antiviral immune response.”

—Amanda Balbi

Reference:

Rebuli ME, Glista-Baker E, Speen AM, et al. Nasal mucosal immune response to infection with live-attenuated influenza virus (LAIV) is altered with exposure to e-cigarettes and cigarettes. Paper presented at: ATS International Conference; May 17-22, 2019; Dallas, TX. https://www.abstractsonline.com/pp8/#!/5789/presentation/19301.