Differential Cytotoxicity of Flavored E-Liquids with and without Nicotine on Neonatal Human Melanocytes from Lightly and Darkly Pigmented Donors: A Preliminary Report
Abstract
The increasing use of e-cigarettes (ECs) has raised public health concerns due to the observed cytotoxic effects in both in vitro and in vivo studies. Infants and young children, being particularly vulnerable groups, exhibit heightened susceptibility to potential hazards arising from maternal use of ECs, as well as exposure to second-hand and third-hand aerosols emitted by ECs. Melanocytes are neural-crest-derived cells that regulate multiple biological functions. Melanocyte death, triggered by chemical exposure, is a known etiological cause of pigmentation abnormalities and neurodevelopmental disorders. Prior reports have demonstrated nicotine-induced differential cytotoxicity to neonatal human melanocytes derived from lightly pigmented (LP) and darkly pigmented (DP) donors. We recently reported that the vehicle base propylene glycol (PG) in e-liquid can alter the functions of LP melanocytes. However, to date, the effects of e-liquid flavors on LP and DP cells remain unexplored. Hence, in this preliminary study, a panel of twenty EC refill liquids comprising ten popular flavors (strawberry, grape, banana, vanilla, butterscotch, cinnamon, menthol, chocolate, cola, and tobacco), where each flavored e-liquid contained either 0 or 18 mg/mL nicotine, was examined for in vitro cytotoxicity to neonatal human melanocytes derived from LP and DP donors. Our results reveal that of the ten flavors, five (menthol, cinnamon, vanilla, tobacco, and banana) were highly cytotoxic, with their…
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