The effect of chronic exposure to waterpipe tobacco smoke on airway inflammation in mice.

PURPOSE

Acute exposure of experimental animals to waterpipe tobacco smoke has been shown to induce lung inflammation and injury. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of chronic exposure to waterpipe smoke on inflammatory markers and oxidative stress in the mouse lung.

METHOD

Using a whole-body exposure system, animals were exposed to waterpipe smoke for 6 weeks with a one-hour daily exposure for 5 days a week.

RESULTS

Exposure to waterpipe tobacco smoke induced the recruitment of inflammatory cells to the airway. Significant elevation in macrophages, lymphocytes and neutrophils was detected in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of exposed animals (P < 0.01). Furthermore, levels of catalase, glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) in the lung homogenates were elevated (P < 0.05). Finally, waterpipe smoking altered the levels of a panel of inflammatory cytokines including TNFα, IL-1 β, IL-6, IL-10 and IL-12 biomarkers in the lung of exposed animals (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

These results support the notion that waterpipe tobacco smoking exerts harmful respiratory health effects.