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- Title
Use of Electronic Cigarettes Leads to Significant Beta2-Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor Occupancy: Evidence From a PET Imaging Study.
- Authors
Baldassarri, Stephen R.; Hillmer, Ansel T.; Anderson, Jon Mikael; Jatlow, Peter; Nabulsi, Nabeel; Labaree, David; Cosgrove, Kelly P.; O'Malley, Stephanie S.; Eissenberg, Thomas; Krishnan-Sarin, Suchitra; Esterlis, Irina
- Abstract
<bold>Background: </bold>Electronic cigarettes (ECs) can influence nicotine addiction by delivering aerosolized nicotine. We investigated if nicotine from ECs is delivered to the brain β2*-nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (β2*-nAChR) and how this relates to the behavioral effects and nicotine delivery from cigarettes.<bold>Methods: </bold>Seven nicotine users participated in positron emission tomography (PET) studies with (-)-[18F]Flubatine before and after nicotine challenge with 0, 8, and 36 mg/ml nicotine in a 3.3 Volt, 1.5 Ohm EC or a standard tobacco cigarette. Craving was evaluated before and after product use.<bold>Results: </bold>Average β2*-nAChR occupancy was higher after 36 mg/ml EC challenge compared to 8 mg/ml EC at trend level. Average β2*-nAChR occupancy after tobacco cigarette smoking was 68 ± 18% and was not different compared with 8 mg/ml (64 ± 17%,) or 36 mg/ml (84 ± 3%) nicotine in EC users. Area under the curve (AUC) of blood nicotine level was higher in the cigarette smoking group compared with the 8mg/ml group (p = 0.03), but similar compared with the 36 mg/ml EC (p = 0.29). Drug craving was reduced after use of the tobacco cigarette, 8 mg/ml EC, and 36 mg/ml EC.<bold>Conclusions: </bold>In this novel investigation of EC effects at β2*-nAChRs, we show that average β2*-nAChR occupancy was higher after 36 mg/ml EC challenge compared with 8 mg/ml EC. Receptor occupancy and arterial blood nicotine levels after cigarette smoking were similar to 36 mg/ml EC use under controlled conditions. These findings suggest that the ECs studied here have abuse liability and may provide an adequate alternative nicotine delivery system for cigarette smokers.<bold>Implications: </bold>This is the first study to directly determine the neurologic effects of electronic cigarettes on human brain beta-2 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors using PET neuroimaging with (-)-[18F]Flubatine, a novel radiotracer. Our findings suggest that the e-cigarettes studied here have abuse liability and may provide an adequate alternative nicotine delivery system for cigarette smokers.
- Subjects
ELECTRONIC cigarettes; NICOTINIC acetylcholine receptors; POSITRON emission tomography; NICOTINE addiction; BRAIN imaging
- Publication
Nicotine & Tobacco Research, 2018, Vol 20, Issue 4, p425
- ISSN
1462-2203
- Publication type
journal article
- DOI
10.1093/ntr/ntx091