电子烟（E-cig）在一个有争议的状态中。尽管E-cig的气溶胶通常含有的有害物质较燃烧传统香烟所产生的烟雾少，但气溶胶和E-cig的其他化合物可能也会影响肺功能并促进与肺相关的疾病的发展。在本研究中，我们调查了E-cig对雄性C57BL/6小鼠肺功能的影响，并揭示了潜在的机制。共有60只雄性C57BL/6小鼠随机分为4组。它们分别暴露于新鲜空气、传统香烟烟雾、含有12mg/ml尼古丁的E-cig蒸汽以及不含尼古丁的E-cig蒸汽中，共暴露8周。通过使用全身波动计量仪、FlexiVent系统、肺组织组织学和形态学分析以及RT-PCR分析炎症相关基因的mRNA表达，评估了肺功能。此外，还利用培养的人肺泡基底上皮细胞研究了尼古丁和丙烯醛对存活率和DNA损伤的影响。暴露于E-cig蒸汽导致肺功能和结构发生显著变化，包括肺泡腔破裂和肺泡空间扩大。这些病理变化伴随着白细胞介素-6和肿瘤坏死因子-α的表达增加。本研究的发现表明，E-cig的安全性应进一步评估。目前有些人认为使用无尼古丁的E-cig是一种安全的吸烟方式。然而，我们的研究显示，无论E-cig是否含有尼古丁，它们都会引起肺损伤。© 作者（2023）。由牛津大学出版社代表用于尼古丁和烟草研究协会的发表。版权所有。有关权限，请发送电子邮件至：journals.permissions@oup.com。

Electronic cigarettes (E-cigs) are in a controversial state. Although E-cig aerosol generally contains fewer harmful substances than smoke from burned traditional cigarettes, aerosol along with other compounds of the E-cigs may also affect the lung functions and promote the development of lung-related diseases. We investigated the effects of E-cig on the pulmonary functions of Male C57BL/6 mice and reveal the potential underlying mechanisms.A total of 60 male C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into 4 groups. They were exposed to the fresh-air, traditional cigarette smoke, E-cig vapor with 12 mg/ml of nicotine and E-cig with no nicotine for 8 weeks. Lung functions were evaluated by using quantitative analysis of the whole body plethysmograph, FlexiVent system, lung tissue histological and morphometric analysis, and RT-PCR analysis of mRNA expression of inflammation-related genes. In addition, the effects of nicotine and acrolein on the survival rate and DNA damage were investigated using cultured human alveolar basal epithelial cells.Exposure to E-cig vapor led to significant changes in lung functions and structures including the rupture of the alveolar cavity and enlarged alveolar space. The pathological changes were also accompanied by increased expression of interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α.The findings of the present study indicate that the safety of E-cig should be further evaluated.Some people currently believe that using nicotine-free E-cigs is a safe way to smoke. However, our research shows that E-cigs can cause lung damage regardless of whether they contain nicotine.© The Author(s) 2023. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.