Heat-not-burn technology affects plasma testosterone levels and markers of inflammation, oxidative stress in the testes of rats
IntroductionHeating tobacco products (HTPs) are advanced electronic cigarette models. Classified by the FDA as a modified-risk tobacco product and can be used as part of efforts to quit smoking. Using heat-not-burn (HnB) technology, these devices heat tobacco avoiding complete combustion. Although t...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Toxicology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/ftox.2024.1515850/full |
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| author | Silvia Granata Camilla Morosini Maria Chiara Valerii Ivan Fagiolino Stefano Sangiorgi Severino Ghini Enzo Spisni Fabio Vivarelli Lucy C. Fairclough Moreno Paolini Donatella Canistro |
| author_facet | Silvia Granata Camilla Morosini Maria Chiara Valerii Ivan Fagiolino Stefano Sangiorgi Severino Ghini Enzo Spisni Fabio Vivarelli Lucy C. Fairclough Moreno Paolini Donatella Canistro |
| author_sort | Silvia Granata |
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| description | IntroductionHeating tobacco products (HTPs) are advanced electronic cigarette models. Classified by the FDA as a modified-risk tobacco product and can be used as part of efforts to quit smoking. Using heat-not-burn (HnB) technology, these devices heat tobacco avoiding complete combustion. Although the levels of toxicants in the mainstream are significantly lower than those observed in tobacco smoke, some recent studies have raised concerns about potential health risks associated with their use, particularly regarding their effects on male gonadal function, which remain largely unexplored.MethodsAdult male Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed, whole body, 5 days/week for 4 weeks to HnB mainstream.ResultsThe expression of the cell cycle regulators Bax/Bcl-2 ratio is not affected, along with no changes in p-38. On the other hand, an increase in oxidative stress markers, including those associated with DNA damage, was observed in exposed animals, along with the induction of NF-kB dependent pro-inflammatory mediators: TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6 and COX-2. Furthermore, inactivation of key androgenic enzymes, such as 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase and 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase, together with decreased testosterone synthesis suggest a potential impairment of male gonadal function.DiscussionThe results indicate that animals exposed to HnB smoke show higher levels of oxidative stress markers, including those associated with DNA damage, as well as higher levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines. The impairment of some androgenic key enzymes and those related to the activity of seminiferous epithelium, together with the decrease in testosterone levels, suggest an impairment of gonadal function through the alteration of some cellular pathways typically associated with tobacco consumption. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-ac31ced8cfdf43b1bba72828082b8d3c |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2673-3080 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Toxicology |
| spelling | doaj-art-ac31ced8cfdf43b1bba72828082b8d3c2025-01-20T07:20:21ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Toxicology2673-30802025-01-01610.3389/ftox.2024.15158501515850Heat-not-burn technology affects plasma testosterone levels and markers of inflammation, oxidative stress in the testes of ratsSilvia Granata0Camilla Morosini1Maria Chiara Valerii2Ivan Fagiolino3Stefano Sangiorgi4Severino Ghini5Enzo Spisni6Fabio Vivarelli7Lucy C. Fairclough8Moreno Paolini9Donatella Canistro10Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, Alma Mater Studiorum, University of Bologna, Bologna, ItalyDepartment of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, Alma Mater Studiorum, University of Bologna, Bologna, ItalyDepartment of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum, University of Bologna, Bologna, ItalyGruppo CSA—S.p.A., Rimini, ItalyDepartment of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, Alma Mater Studiorum, University of Bologna, Bologna, ItalyDepartment of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, Alma Mater Studiorum, University of Bologna, Bologna, ItalyDepartment of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum, University of Bologna, Bologna, ItalyDepartment of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, Alma Mater Studiorum, University of Bologna, Bologna, ItalySchool of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United KingdomDepartment of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, Alma Mater Studiorum, University of Bologna, Bologna, ItalyDepartment of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, Alma Mater Studiorum, University of Bologna, Bologna, ItalyIntroductionHeating tobacco products (HTPs) are advanced electronic cigarette models. Classified by the FDA as a modified-risk tobacco product and can be used as part of efforts to quit smoking. Using heat-not-burn (HnB) technology, these devices heat tobacco avoiding complete combustion. Although the levels of toxicants in the mainstream are significantly lower than those observed in tobacco smoke, some recent studies have raised concerns about potential health risks associated with their use, particularly regarding their effects on male gonadal function, which remain largely unexplored.MethodsAdult male Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed, whole body, 5 days/week for 4 weeks to HnB mainstream.ResultsThe expression of the cell cycle regulators Bax/Bcl-2 ratio is not affected, along with no changes in p-38. On the other hand, an increase in oxidative stress markers, including those associated with DNA damage, was observed in exposed animals, along with the induction of NF-kB dependent pro-inflammatory mediators: TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6 and COX-2. Furthermore, inactivation of key androgenic enzymes, such as 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase and 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase, together with decreased testosterone synthesis suggest a potential impairment of male gonadal function.DiscussionThe results indicate that animals exposed to HnB smoke show higher levels of oxidative stress markers, including those associated with DNA damage, as well as higher levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines. The impairment of some androgenic key enzymes and those related to the activity of seminiferous epithelium, together with the decrease in testosterone levels, suggest an impairment of gonadal function through the alteration of some cellular pathways typically associated with tobacco consumption.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/ftox.2024.1515850/fullheat-not-burnoxidative stressinflammationDNA damagetestis |
| spellingShingle | Silvia Granata Camilla Morosini Maria Chiara Valerii Ivan Fagiolino Stefano Sangiorgi Severino Ghini Enzo Spisni Fabio Vivarelli Lucy C. Fairclough Moreno Paolini Donatella Canistro Heat-not-burn technology affects plasma testosterone levels and markers of inflammation, oxidative stress in the testes of rats Frontiers in Toxicology heat-not-burn oxidative stress inflammation DNA damage testis |
| title | Heat-not-burn technology affects plasma testosterone levels and markers of inflammation, oxidative stress in the testes of rats |
| title_full | Heat-not-burn technology affects plasma testosterone levels and markers of inflammation, oxidative stress in the testes of rats |
| title_fullStr | Heat-not-burn technology affects plasma testosterone levels and markers of inflammation, oxidative stress in the testes of rats |
| title_full_unstemmed | Heat-not-burn technology affects plasma testosterone levels and markers of inflammation, oxidative stress in the testes of rats |
| title_short | Heat-not-burn technology affects plasma testosterone levels and markers of inflammation, oxidative stress in the testes of rats |
| title_sort | heat not burn technology affects plasma testosterone levels and markers of inflammation oxidative stress in the testes of rats |
| topic | heat-not-burn oxidative stress inflammation DNA damage testis |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/ftox.2024.1515850/full |
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