E-Cigarette Aerosols Promote Oral S. aureus Colonization by Delaying an Immune Response and Bacterial Clearing

• Published in: Cells (Basel, Switzerland) Switzerland), 2022-02, Vol.11 (5), p.773
• Main Authors: Cátala-Valentín, Alma R, Almeda, Jasmine, Bernard, Joshua N, Cole, Alexander M, Cole, Amy L, Moore, Sean D, Andl, Claudia D
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aerosols; Antimicrobial agents; Bacteria; bacterial–epithelial interactions; Biofilms; Cell culture; Cigarette smoke; Colonization; COX2; Cyclooxygenase-2; Cytokines; DNA damage; DNA repair; Electronic cigarettes; Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems; Environmental conditions; Epithelial cells; Humans; Immune clearance; Immune response; Immunity; Immunosuppression; Inflammation; Interleukin 1; Interleukin 6; Interleukin 8; Lung - pathology; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus; Microorganisms; Neutrophils; Nicotine; Opportunist infection; Oral cavity; Oral hygiene; Pathogens; Periodontal diseases; Periodontitis; Periodontitis - metabolism; S. aureus; Staphylococcus aureus; Topography; Vaping; Virulence
• ISSN: 2073-4409; 2073-4409
• DOI: 10.3390/cells11050773

E-cigarette (e-cig) vapor has been shown to play a pathological role in oral health and alter the oral microbiota, providing growth advantages for opportunistic pathogens. Enrichment of , a commensal resident in the oral cavity, correlates with the progression of periodontal disease, suggesting a role as an opportunistic pathogen. Environmental conditions, such as cigarette smoke, are known to increase virulence, yet the role of in periodontitis and oral preneoplasia is unknown. We exposed oral epithelial cells to e-cig aerosols and showed a dose-dependent cell viability reduction, regardless of nicotine content, in a possible attempt to repair DNA damage, as measured by pH2AX. attachment to oral epithelial cells and bacterial biofilm formation were enhanced upon e-cig exposure, indicating an increased capacity for oral colonization. Mechanistically, e-cig aerosol exposure resulted in an immunosuppression, as determined by a reduction in IL8, IL6, and IL1β secretion by oral epithelial cells during co-culture with . Consistent with this, e-cig vape reduced the oral epithelial cell clearance of . Furthermore, we observed an increased expression of the inflammatory regulator COX2. This work suggests that e-cigs promote colonization and modulate the oral inflammatory response, possibly promoting oral periodontitis and preneoplasia.