Work

Altered uterine artery protein signature and function following E-cigarette exposure in pregnancy

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Objective: Over the past decade e-cigarette (e-cig) usage has become a growing public health concern, especially during pregnancy as many perceive e-cigs as a safer alternative to combustible cigarettes.Although human and animal models exhibit altered uterine artery Doppler velocimetry and waveform abnormalities following traditional smoking and buccal nicotine exposure, the effects of e-cig aerosols on pregnancy are incompletely researched and understood.We hypothesized that an altered uterine artery proteomic signature, accompanied by functional deficits, will be caused by e-cig vaping during pregnancy.Methods: In a validated timed pregnant Sprague-Dawley rat model system, a custom-engineered vaping system comprising a commercial atomizer and vape unit was utilized to generate and deliver e-cig aerosols that mimic the aerosols produced by commercial e-cigs, once daily, to pregnant dams.Results: Mean fetal weight, crown-rump length, and placental weight were significantly lower in the E-Cig group than those in the pair-fed Control group.Mass spectrometry followed by proteomic analysis detected a total of 2129 proteins; 36 significantly altered proteins were mostly related to immune system and vasodilation.Principal component analysis validated the protein signature.The uterine arteries of e-cig exposed rats demonstrated impaired concentration-dependent acetylcholine-induced uterine artery relaxation.Supplementation of N(ω)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) confirmed a role for the nitric oxide (NO) system.Immunofluorescence validated the localization to the uterine artery endothelium and the decreased levels of vasodilatory excitatory P-Ser 1177 endothelial NO synthase.Conclusions: Identifying the pathway(s) involved in the pathogenesis of uterine artery dysfunction creates a potential for pinpointing antagonistic and/or reversal medications, thereby preventing or reducing e-cigarette mediated uteroplacental dysfunction and fetal growth restriction.

Source: American Journal of Translational Research

DOI: 10.62347/kewq6629

Author: Alexander Juusela

Institutions: Wayne State University, Detroit Medical Center

Language: English

Topic: Pregnancy and preeclampsia studies

Subfield: Obstetrics and Gynecology

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: bronze

Funders: National Institutes of Health, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences