The cardiovascular effects of heated tobacco products and the role of NADPH oxidase 2

• Applicant: Dr. Paul Stamm
• Subject Area: Cardiology, Angiology
• Term: since 2024
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 536785688

Cigarette smoking is considered one of the major risk factors for disease and death worldwide. In this context, the effects of smoking on the cardiovascular system in particular by causing diseases such as stroke, myocardial infarction, heart failure or arterial occlusive disease, are proving to be extremely harmful or fatal. In recent years, alternative tobacco products, i.e. e-cigarettes or heat-not-burn products (HTP), have come onto the market, the health (long-term) effects of which have not yet been adequately researched. For e-cigarettes, which have been established for somewhat longer, there are indications of risk constellations similar to those for conventional cigarettes. In contrast, the effects of HTP are largely unknown. With the help of corresponding advertising campaigns, many people are given the impression that these are "healthier" alternatives to conventional cigarettes, although this has not yet been scientifically proven. In some cases, younger non-smokers become regular users of HTP. Philipp Morris advertises on its website www.iqos.com that around 15 million people have already "switched to IQOS" (as of July 2021). Because of the novelty, the exact effects on health, and in particular the cardiovascular damage caused by HTP consumption, have not been adequately understood. The purpose of the planned experimental project is the prevention, detection or treatment of diseases, illnesses, physical damage or physical complaints in humans. The present research project aims to systematically examine the cardiovascular effects of heat-not-burn cigarettes, first in animal models and under translational aspects in humans, in order to establish a scientific understanding of this topic. This will include a direct comparison with similar tobacco products, i.e. conventional and electronic cigarettes. In addition, the role of NADPH oxidase 2, a key enzyme in mediating cardiovascular damage in tobacco use, will be investigated in a focused manner. It is suspected that HTP exhibits similar principles of damage as other tobacco products on the cardiovascular system and that these effects are mediated via NADPH oxidase 2. Ultimately, specific preventive measures or pharmacological therapeutic strategies should be able to be developed on the basis of these findings. Consequently, previously unclear damage principles could be identified and thus illness or even death of many people could be averted.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants