Presenting Author: Ross Blankenship
, Research Analyst at Indiana Univ. Sch. of Med.
Abstract:
Vaping is popular among teens and young adults.Vaping atomizer base liquids sometimes contain an unregulated ingredient, the vitamin E-conjugate alpha-tocopherol-acetate. Alpha-tocopherol-acetate has been linked to vaping-associated injury and death (EVALI). We hypothesized that vaping alpha-tocopherol-acetate creates novel toxic high molecular weight compounds. Vaping alpha-tocopherol-acetate generated novel compounds >800kDa as detected by mass spectrometry analyses. This was not generated by vaping alpha-tocopherol. Further, we separated the novel compounds with a combination of fractionation and mass spectrometry techniques. Fractions without the novel compounds but with alpha-tocopherol-acetate were not toxic to human primary lung epithelial cells in vitro and did not induce fever in mice, but increased numbers of lipid-loaded macrophages in the bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL). In contrast, fraction-purified novel compounds at low doses induced very rapid toxicity in primary human lung epithelial cells in vitro. Importantly, intranasal administration of the fraction-purified novel compounds to mice induced fever, a feature of EVALI, and induced an increase in numbers of BAL eosinophils, without inducing lipid-loading of macrophages. These studies may lead to design of future human studies for interventions that significantly impact risk for EVALI and death from vaping.
Vaping alpha-tocopherol-acetate generates a novel toxic compound that induces eosinophil recruitment to the lung.
Category
Poster and Podium (Block Symposium)
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Date: May 5 Presentation Time: 11:30 AM to 12:45 PM Room: Exhibit Hall F1