Effects of Electronic (E)‐cigarette Vapor and Cigarette Smoke in Cultured Vocal Fold Fibroblasts

The public use of electronic cigarettes (e‐cigs) is rapidly growing. The vocal folds are among the first tissues exposed to this insult. To evaluate the effects of e‐cig vapor on cultured human vocal fold fibroblasts (hVFFs), the primary cell type of the lamina propria. The authors compared the cellular effects of e‐cig vapor without and with nicotine and conventional cigarette smoke. EVE induces cytotoxicity in hVFFs. However, cellular responses were greater following exposure to CSE, suggesting cigarette smoke may induce more harm, at least in the short term. Findings from this investigation improve understanding of the responses of hVFFs to e‐cigs and form the basis for an in vitro methodology to study the vocal fold responses to these products.