Overview
- University of Chicago researchers, whose paper appeared Thursday in Science Advances, report a nicotine-triggered signal from lung cells that disturbs iron control in neurons.
- Pulmonary neuroendocrine cells released exosomes after nicotine exposure, and those tiny vesicles carried high levels of serotransferrin, a protein that moves iron.
- The team observed changes linked to neurodegeneration, including oxidative stress, damaged mitochondria, higher α-synuclein, and signs of ferroptosis in brain cells.
- Because nicotine drove the effect rather than other smoke ingredients, the findings raise concern that vaping could pose similar long-term brain risks as smoking.
- The study used lab models and stem-cell-derived versions of these very rare lung cells, and the authors plan tests to block the exosomes since human causation is not yet proven.