Discussion
Not only can this mouse model be utilized for chronic vaping studies to assess the vascular pathology but these data support that vaping is not risk-free and may increase CVD outcomes later in life.
Methods
Mice were injected with adeno-associated virus containing the human protein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) variant to promote hyperlipidemia. These mice were fed a high-fat diet and exposed to room air or aerosol derived from JUUL pods containing polyethylene glycol/vegetable glycerin (PG/VG) or 5% nicotine with mango flavoring for 4 weeks; this timepoint was utilized to assess markers of atherosclerosis that may occur prior to the development of atherosclerotic plaques.
Results
These data show that various parameters including weight, circulating lipoprotein/glucose levels, and splenic immune cells were significantly affected by exposure to PG/VG and/or nicotine-containing aerosols.