Study: Even Short-Term E-Cigarette Use Damages the Lungs

The research team studied human lung epithelial and endothelial cells, as well as precision-cut samples of lung tissue taken from the distal regions of the lungs — deep, delicate areas where oxygen enters the bloodstream. In preclinical models, the tissues were exposed to e-cigarette vapor alone or to vapor followed by infection with a respiratory virus, Scientific Russia reports.

Within 24 hours, e-cigarette vapor damaged the protective barrier in the distal lungs, triggered cellular stress, disrupted the internal processes cells use to clear damaged components, slowed cell growth and repair, and increased cell death.

Remarkably, signs of lung stress persisted for 10 days after just five days of exposure had ended. The research team observed lasting changes in barrier function, tissue remodeling, and Th1 immunity — an arm of the immune system that is critical for fighting viral infections.

In addition, prior exposure to e-cigarette vapor increased the viral load of SARS-CoV-2 and suppressed the activity of several antiviral genes following infection.

“Even short-term exposure to vaping can damage the deepest and most vulnerable regions of the lungs,” said senior study author Irina Petrache, MD, a pulmonologist at National Jewish Health. “Importantly, some effects persisted even after exposure stopped and affected the immune response to a subsequent viral infection.”

The findings point to biological mechanisms that may help explain why vaping is associated with lung damage and increased susceptibility to respiratory infections. The researchers noted that repeated exposure could contribute to the development of chronic lung diseases by damaging cells and disrupting their normal repair processes.