Increased acrolein–DNA adducts in buccal brushings of e-cigarette users

• Published in: Carcinogenesis (New York) Vol. 43; no. 5; pp. 437 - 444
• Main Authors: Cheng, Guang, Guo, Jiehong, Carmella, Steven G, Lindgren, Bruce, Ikuemonisan, Joshua, Niesen, Brittany, Jensen, Joni, Hatsukami, Dorothy K, Balbo, Silvia, Hecht, Stephen S
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: UK Oxford University Press 04.06.2022
• Subjects: Acrolein - chemistry; Acrolein - toxicity; Cancer Biomarkers and Molecular Epidemiology; Carcinogens - analysis; Carcinogens - toxicity; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; DNA; DNA Adducts; Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems; Nicotine; Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization - methods
• ISSN: 0143-3334; 1460-2180
• DOI: 10.1093/carcin/bgac026

Abstract DNA adducts are central in the mechanism of carcinogenesis by genotoxic agents. We compared levels of a DNA adduct of acrolein, a genotoxic carcinogen found in e-cigarette vapor, in oral cell DNA of e-cigarette users and non-users of any tobacco or nicotine product. e-Cigarette users and non-users visited our clinic once monthly for 6 months, and oral brushings and urine samples were collected. For this study, we analyzed oral cell DNA adducts from three monthly visits in e-cigarette users and non-users as confirmed by urinary cyanoethyl mercapturic acid and total nicotine equivalents. DNA was isolated from the oral brushings and analyzed by a validated liquid chromatography-nanoelectrospray ionization-high resolution tandem mass spectrometry method for the acrolein DNA adduct 8R/S-3-(2’-deoxyribos-1’-yl)-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-8-hydroxypyrimido[1,2-a]purine-10-(3H)-one (γ-OH-Acr-dGuo). The median value of this DNA adduct in the e-cigarette users was 179 fmol/µmol dGuo (range 5.0 - 793 fmol/µmol dGuo) while that for non-users was 21.0 fmol/µmol dGuo (range 5.0 - 539 fmol/µmol dGuo), P = 0.001. These results demonstrate for the first time that e-cigarette users have elevated levels of a carcinogen–DNA adduct in their oral cells. DNA adducts of acrolein were significantly greater in oral cells of 20 e-cigarette users sampled monthly for 3 months than in 20 non-users. This is the first identification of a carcinogen–DNA adduct in any tissue of an e-cigarette user. Graphical Abstract