2. Academic Validation
  3. Melatonin Vapes Contain Potential Contaminants and Alter the Human Bronchial Epithelial Transcriptome

Melatonin Vapes Contain Potential Contaminants and Alter the Human Bronchial Epithelial Transcriptome

  • Chem Res Toxicol. 2024 Dec 16;37(12):1919-1923. doi: 10.1021/acs.chemrestox.4c00295.
Kevin D Schichlein 1 2,  Hye-Young H Kim 3,  Charlotte A Love 1 2,  Tara N Guhr Lee 3,  Charles R Esther Jr 4,  Ned A Porter 3,  Meghan E Rebuli 1 2 4,  Brandie M Ehrmann 5,  Phillip W Clapp 6,  Ilona Jaspers 1 2 4
Affiliations

Affiliations

  • 1 Curriculum in Toxicology & Environmental Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, United States.
  • 2 Center for Environmental Medicine, Asthma, and Lung Biology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, United States.
  • 3 Department of Chemistry and Vanderbilt Institute of Chemical Biology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee 37235, United States.
  • 4 Department of Pediatrics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, United States.
  • 5 Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, United States.
  • 6 Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, United States.
PMID: 39528387 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrestox.4c00295
Abstract

Melatonin vaping products, touted for their faster absorption than oral melatonin supplements, have been gaining popularity among adolescents as sleep aid. Here, we elucidated the response of human bronchial epithelial cells (hBECs) to high levels of melatonin from vaped aerosols, investigated the uptake of melatonin by hBECs in vitro, and characterized the chemical composition of three commercially available melatonin vapes. Melatonin vape exposure decreased the secretion of chemokines and produced an immunosuppressive gene expression signature. The tested devices contained potential contaminants, including pharmaceuticals and industrial chemicals. Further investigation is needed for melatonin vapes to determine their local and systemic toxicity.

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