E-cigarette flavors and device type drive the biological effects of vaping

A new study published in *Frontiers in Oncology* reveals that vaping significantly alters gene activity, with 3,124 genes affected in regular vapers compared to non-users. While 28.8% of these changes correlate with vaping frequency, a far larger portion—66.6%—is tied to the type of flavors and devices used. The research, led by Ahmad Besaratinia, PhD, professor at the Keck School of Medicine of USC, highlights that fruit and multiple flavors, along with advanced refillable devices (mods), produce the most pronounced gene expression changes. The study analyzed oral cell samples from 35 vapers, 24 smokers, and 24 non-users, using RNA sequencing to measure gene activity. Vapers showed more variable gene expression patterns than smokers, with fruit flavors linked to changes in 31% of affected genes and multiple flavors in 64.3%. Sweet flavors influenced 2.9%, while mint/menthol flavors affected only 0.9%. Higher-generation devices like mods were associated with the strongest and most consistent gene regulation changes. Researchers also identified biological pathways and diseases linked to these changes, with cancer-related gene expression alterations being the most prominent. The findings suggest that the chemical composition of flavors and device design play a major role in vaping’s biological effects, potentially guiding future FDA regulations on flavored e-cigarette products. The study was funded in part by the National Institutes of Health and underscores the need for further research on long-term vaping risks. While chronic diseases take decades to develop, early gene expression changes provide critical clues about potential harms, particularly those tied to specific vaping products.