ArticleAmerican journal of physiology. Lung cellular and molecular physiology2020
E-cigarette constituents propylene glycol and vegetable glycerin decrease glucose uptake and its metabolism in airway epithelial cells in vitro.
Article in American journal of physiology. Lung cellular and molecular physiology, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 42 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
42 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 76 citations in OpenAlex.
- Pulmonary effects of e-liquid flavors: a systematic review.Journal of toxicology and environmental health. Part B, Critical reviews · 2022Pooled it
- Passive Tobacco Smoke Exposure, Oxidative Stress and Pediatric Allergic and Obstructive Respiratory Diseases: A Systematic Review and a "Second Oxidative Hit" Hypothesis.Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Review
- Impact of e-cigarette vaping on the immune system across the body.Physiological reviews · 2026Review
- Comparative toxicity of menthol- and tobacco-flavored electronic cigarette constituents inducing inflammation, epithelial barrier dysfunction, and nicotinic acetylcholine receptor modulation in the absence of nicotine.Toxicology reports · 2026Article
- Tobacco smoke but not e-cigarette vapor induces epithelial barrier disruption, inflammation, and DNA damage in human Calu-3 cells.Scientific reports · 2026Article
- Concurrent Chronic-Plus-Binge Alcohol Consumption and Nicotine Vaping Alter the Cardiac Ventricular Proteome in a Preclinical Mouse Model.International journal of molecular sciences · 2026Article
- AMPK Deficiency Induces Corneal Epithelial Barrier Dysfunction by Modulating Energy Homeostasis.Investigative ophthalmology & visual science · 2026Article
- The impact of e-cigarette exposure on metabolic function: a narrative review.Frontiers in public health · 2026Review
- Toxicity of humectants propylene glycol and vegetable glycerin in electronic nicotine delivery systems.Toxicology letters · 2025Review
- Exploring the influence of vaping on the pharmacokinetic fate of inhaled therapeutics.Archives of toxicology · 2025Review
- Halitosis among users of electronic nicotine delivery systems in a multi-center cross-sectional study.Scientific reports · 2025Article
- Association Between Electronic Cigarette Use and Risk of Obstructive Sleep Apnea Among Korean Adults: A Cross-Sectional Nationwide Population-Based Study.Journal of clinical medicine · 2025Article
- The Effects of Individual Components of E-Cigarettes on Ion Transport and Airway Surface Liquid Height in Human Bronchial Epithelial Cells.Medicina (Kaunas, Lithuania) · 2025Article
- Vaping Possible Negative Effects on Lungs: State-of-the-Art From Lung Capacity Alteration to Cancer.Cureus · 2024Review
- Breaking the Myths Around e-Cigarettes: A Narrative Review Exploring the Impact of e-Cigarette on Human Health.Cureus · 2024Review
- Multidisciplinary approaches in electronic nicotine delivery systems pulmonary toxicology: emergence of living and non-living bioinspired engineered systems.Communications engineering · 2024Review
- Sociodemographic differences in use of nicotine, cannabis, and non-nicotine E-cigarette devices.Drug and alcohol dependence · 2024Article
- Does vaping increase the likelihood of SARS-CoV-2 infection? Paradoxically yes and no.American journal of physiology. Lung cellular and molecular physiology · 2024Article
- The combination of propylene glycol and vegetable glycerin e-cigarette aerosols induces airway inflammation and mucus hyperconcentration.Scientific reports · 2024Article
- On the extension of the use of a standard operating procedure for nicotine, glycerol and propylene glycol analysis in e-liquids using mass spectrometry.Tobacco induced diseases · 2024Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
10 authors at 3 institutions in 3 countries.
Funding
Abstract
Electronic nicotine delivery systems, or e-cigarettes, utilize a liquid solution that normally contains propylene glycol (PG) and vegetable glycerin (VG) to generate vapor and act as a carrier for nicotine and flavorings. Evidence indicated these "carriers" reduced growth and survival of epithelial cells including those of the airway. We hypothesized that 3% PG or PG mixed with VG (3% PG/VG, 55:45) inhibited glucose uptake in human airway epithelial cells as a first step to reducing airway cell survival. Exposure of H441 or human bronchiolar epithelial cells (HBECs) to PG and PG/VG (30-60 min) inhibited glucose uptake and mitochondrial ATP synthesis. PG/VG inhibited glycolysis. PG/VG and mannitol reduced cell volume and height of air-liquid interface cultures. Mannitol, but not PG/VG, increased phosphorylation of p38 MAPK. PG/VG reduced transepithelial electrical resistance, which was associated with increased transepithelial solute permeability. PG/VG decreased fluorescence recovery after photobleaching of green fluorescent protein-linked glucose transporters GLUT1 and GLUT10, indicating that glucose transport function was compromised. Puffing PG/VG vapor onto the apical surface of primary HBECs for 10 min to mimic the effect of e-cigarette smoking also reduced glucose transport. In conclusion, short-term exposure to PG/VG, key components of e-cigarettes, decreased glucose transport and metabolism in airway cells. We propose that this was a result of PG/VG reduced cell volume and membrane fluidity, with further consequences on epithelial barrier function. Taking these results together, we suggest these factors contribute to reduced defensive properties of the epithelium. We propose that repeated/chronic exposure to these agents are likely to contribute to airway damage in e-cigarette users.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.