Vaping weakens the immune system in the lungs
Just a few days of exposure to the vapor from electronic cigarettes is enough to damage the most delicate lung tissues and leave them vulnerable to viral infections. The team studied the epithelial and endothelial cells of human lungs, as well as precision slices of lung tissue taken from the distal regions — the deep, delicate zone where oxygen enters the bloodstream. In preclinical models, the scientists exposed these tissues to the vapor from electronic cigarettes, and in a separate series of experiments, they combined exposure to the vapor with subsequent infection by a respiratory virus.
Within 24 hours, steam destroyed the protective barrier of the distal parts of the lungs, triggered cellular stress, disrupted the internal process of cleaning cells from damaged components, slowed down tissue growth and repair, and increased cell death. Signs of pulmonary stress persisted ten days after the five-day exposure to steam was stopped. The researchers documented persistent changes in barrier function, tissue restructuring, and a weakening of Th1 immunity— a branch of the immune system crucial for fighting viral infections.
Previous exposure to steam also increased the viral load in cases of SARS‑CoV‑2 infection and suppressed the activity of several antiviral genes. One of the study’s authors, a pulmonologist and head of the department of pulmonology, resuscitation, and somnology, Irina Petrache, reports that even short‑term exposure to steam can trigger damage in the deepest and most vulnerable areas of the lungs. Moreover, some of the effects persist even after the exposure ceases, altering the immune response to a subsequent viral infection.
The results, which still need to be confirmed in studies involving humans, point to biological mechanisms that help explain why vaping is associated with lung damage and increased susceptibility to respiratory infections. It is noted that repeated exposure may contribute to the development of chronic lung diseases by sustaining cellular damage and disrupting normal repair processes.
Published
October, 2026
Updated
Category
Medicine
Duration of reading
1-2 min
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Source
Scientific journal JCI Insight. Article: E-cigarette exposure triggers distal lung cell injury, persistent lung stress response, and antiviral immune suppression
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