RT Journal Article
T1 Impact of Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems on Oral Mucosa: A Cytopathological and Molecular Study
A1 Pérez Jardón, Alba
A1 Chamorro Petronacci, Cintia Micaela
A1 Reboiras López, María Dolores
A1 E Silva, Fábio França Vieira
A1 Padín Iruegas, María Elena
A1 Pérez-Sayáns García, Mario
A1 Almeida, Janete Días
K1 Papanicolaou test
K1 Biomarkers
K1 Electronic nicotine delivery systems
K1 Gene expression
K1 Inflammation
K1 Oral mucosa
AB Background: The packaging and marketing of electronic cigarettes (e-cigs) often target younger demographics. This study aimed to evaluate gene expression in e-cig users through exfoliative cytology.Methods: Samples were collected from 17 e-cig users and 10 nonsmokers as controls. Clinical data included age, gender, heart rate, oximetry, capillary blood glucose, carbon monoxide levels, sialometry, alcohol-related risk scores, alcohol consumption, and e-cig use parameters. Smears from the left tongue edge were obtained using a Rovers Orcellex Brush. The Papanicolaou method assessed epithelial maturation and cytological features, categorized from normal to conclusive for malignancy. Cellular composition, inflammation, microbial presence, and atypia were evaluated using a semiquantitative scoring system. Gene expression (p16, IL1-beta, CXCL8, TNF, and KRT13) was analyzed by RT-PCR. Statistical comparisons used the Mann-Whitney test, and correlations were assessed via Spearman's test (p ≤ 0.05).Results: Fruit flavors were the most preferred. Some users were former smokers (average abstention: 3.15 months). Bacterial colonies were more prevalent in the e-cig group (64.7% vs. 20%, p = 0.085), mucus and inflammatory changes were found exclusively in e-cig users (p = 0.062). No significant differences were found in the Papanicolaou classification by gender (p = 0.904). Gene expression analysis showed a differential expression of p16 and TNF between the groups. Significant correlations were found between carbon monoxide and p16 expression (r = -0.41, p = 0.02), vaping sessions per day and p16 expression (r = -0.37, p = 0.02), and daily alcohol dose and TNF expression (r = -0.42, p = 0.04).Conclusion: E-cigarette use may induce early molecular and cytological changes in the oral mucosa, affecting inflammation, immunity, and epithelial differentiation.
PB Wiley
YR 2026
FD 2026-03
LK https://hdl.handle.net/10347/46892
UL https://hdl.handle.net/10347/46892
LA eng
NO érez-Jardón, A., Carvalho, B. F. D. C., Chamorro-Petronacci, C. M., Reboiras-López, M. D., Faria, N. C., Prado, R. F. D., Alves, M. G. O., Silva, F. F. V. E., Padín-Iruegas, M. E., Pérez-Sayáns, M., & Almeida, J. D. (2026). Impact of Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems on Oral Mucosa: A Cytopathological and Molecular Study. Journal of oral pathology & medicine : official publication of the International Association of Oral Pathologists and the American Academy of Oral Pathology, 55(3), 331–339. https://doi.org/10.1111/jop.70095
NO This work was supported by the Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (#2020/10362-0, #2020/10322-9) and the Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (001).
NO The authors would like to thank the Universidade de Santiago de Compostela (USC) and the Consorcio Interuniversitario do Sistema Universitario de Galicia (CISUG) for their support under the transformative open access agreements.
DS Minerva
RD 24 abr 2026