Nanomechanical Characterization of E-Cigarette-Induced Lung Endothelial Dysfunction: Roles of Cortactin and Mitochondrial Reactive Oxygen Species

E-cigarettes (E-cigs) are increasing in popularity and are considered a potentially safer alternative to traditional cigarettes. However, prior studies have demonstrated that inhalation of nicotine-containing e-cigs can cause substantial pathophysiologic changes, and “vaping” of some substances has led to severe lung damage. Our group recently described the role of cortactin (CTTN), a cytoskeletal actin-binding regulatory protein, in mediating cigarette smoke (CS) and E-cig-induced lung endothelial apoptosis and mitochondrial dysfunction. In the current study, we advance this work by characterizing the effects of E-cig on lung endothelial nanomechanical properties and barrier function. Lung EC exposure to E-cig extract (50 µg/mL) resulted in disruption of endothelial barrier properties as assessed by Electric Cell–Substrate Impedance Sensing (ECIS). Since excess mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (mitoROS) is an important marker of mitochondrial dysfunction, we next assessed the effect of Mito-TEMPO (10 µM, 3 h), a cell-permeable antioxidant, on E-cig-induced endothelial permeability. Pretreatment with Mito-TEMPO provided EC barrier protection after E-cig challenge, suggesting a key role of mitoROS in E-cig-induced EC permeability. E-cig exposure induces cytoskeleton rearrangement, leading to gap formation in lung EC, and significantly alters EC elastic properties as assessed by atomic force microscopy (AFM). Reduction in CTTN expression by siRNA further augmented the injurious effects of E-cig on EC permeability and elastic properties. This is the first study to explore the role of CTTN in evaluating the effect of E-cigarette exposure on the lung endothelium using AFM and provides novel mitochondrial and biophysical characterization of the effects of E-cig exposure on human lung EC. This work advances our understanding of the pathophysiologic effects of E-cig exposure.