• Gabriella Lupo, Carmelina Daniela Anfuso, Giuseppe Smecca, Alessia Cosentino, Aleksandra Agafonova, Chiara Prinzi, Rosario Junior Ferrauto, Stefano Turzo, Venerando Rapisarda, and Caterina Ledda.
• Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy.
• Transl Res. 2025 Mar 1; 277: 396339-63.

AbstractThe use of e-cigarettes has grown rapidly in recent years, raising concerns about their impact on human health, particularly on critical physiological barriers such as the blood-brain barrier (BBB), alveolar-capillary barrier, and vascular systems. This systematic review evaluates the current literature on the effects of e-cigarette exposure on these barrier systems. E-cigarettes, regardless of nicotine content, have been shown to induce oxidative stress, inflammation, and disruption of tight junction proteins, leading to impaired barrier function. Key findings include compromised pulmonary function, increased vascular stiffness, and neuroinflammation. The review highlights potential long-term health risks associated with e-cigarette use, such as cardiovascular disease, neurodevelopmental disorders, and multi-organ fibrosis, and emphasizes the need for public health interventions to regulate e-cigarette use, especially in vulnerable populations like pregnant women and adolescents.Copyright © 2025 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

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