Figure 6.

Isolated peripheral (blood) neutrophils from e-cigarette users are more susceptible to phorbol ester stimulation-induced NETosis. Quantitation of phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate–induced neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) formed by neutrophils from nonsmokers, cigarette smokers, and e-cigarette users. Neutrophils isolated from the venous blood of nonsmokers (solid squares), cigarette smokers (solid triangles), and e-cigarette users (solid circles) were challenged with 25 nM phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate, a protein kinase C activator, and potent NET agonist, and assayed for nucleic acid release over time. Mean and SEM values are indicated by major and minor horizontal bars, respectively. Statistical significance was determined by one-way ANOVA. *P ≤ 0.05. CS = cigarette smokers; ECU = e-cigarette users; NS = nonsmokers.