Effects of E-Cigarettes on the Lung and Systemic Metabolome in People with HIV

TL;DR

This study explores how vaping affects the metabolism of people with HIV, revealing changes in gut and systemic metabolism linked to inflammation and sulfur cycling.

Contribution

This is the first study to link microbial-derived DHPS to vaping and smoking-induced metabolic changes in people with HIV.

Findings

Vaping and smoking are associated with systemic alterations in purine, neurotransmitter, and vitamin B metabolisms in people with HIV.

Vaping and smoking are linked to tissue-specific changes in inflammatory pathways and sulfur cycling in PWH.

The microbial-derived metabolite DHPS is associated with vaping and smoking-induced gut metabolic dysregulation in PWH.

Abstract

The popularity of e-cigarettes (vaping) has soared, creating a public health crisis among teens and young adults. Chronic vaping can induce gut inflammation and reduce intestinal barrier function through the production of the proinflammatory molecule hydrogen sulfide (H2S). This is particularly concerning for people with HIV (PWH) as they already face impaired immune function and are at a higher risk for metabolic dysregulation, diabetes, and chronic liver disease. Furthermore, PWH experience unhealthy behaviors, making it crucial to understand the systemic metabolic dysregulation and pathophysiological mechanisms associated with vaping in this population. Here, we employed liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC-MS)-based metabolomics to investigate the upper respiratory, circulation, and gut metabolic profiles of PWH who vape (n = 7) and smoke combustible tobacco/marijuana (n = 6) compared to control participants who did not vape or smoke (n = 10). This hypothesis-generating exploratory study revealed systemic alterations in purine, neurotransmitter, and vitamin B metabolisms and tissue-specific changes in inflammatory pathways and cryptic sulfur cycling associated with vaping and combustible tobacco/marijuana smoking in PWH. In addition, this study provides the first link between microbial-derived metabolite 2,3-dihydroxypropane-1-sulfonate (DHPS) and vaping/smoking (tobacco and marijuana)-induced metabolic dyshomeostasis in the gut. These findings highlight the importance of identifying the full biological and clinical significance of the physiological changes and risks associated with vaping.

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