Effect of Cigarette versus Electronic Cigarette on the Expression of TERT, FGFR3, PTEN, P53, and VEGF in Rat Bladder

This investigation aims to assess and compare the effect of cigarettes and e-cigarettes on the expression of TERT, FGFR3, PTEN, P53, and VEGF in rat bladder. 60 Wistar rats were classified into three groups (10): Group A (Control), Group B: case (cigarette smoke), and Group C: case (E-cigarette smoke). The rats were exposed to cigarettes or e-cigarettes for 10 minutes. These 10 minutes were performed three times a day, and in total, the samples were exposed to cigarettes or e-cigarettes for 40 minutes a day with 1-hour rest for 16 weeks. Histopathological findings showed cigarette-induced hyperplasia and e-cigarette-induced hyperemia and infiltration of inflammatory cells. The expression of FGFR3, TERT, and VEGF genes significantly increased and the expression of the PTEN gene significantly decreased in both cigarette and e-cigarette groups in both male and female rats compared to the control group but these changes were not significant between the two groups. The expression of P53 decreased in both groups, but the female rat in the e-cigarette significantly increased. We found that both groups changed the expression of genes involved in the development of BC, but no differences were found two groups. Therefore, the e-cigarette is not an excellent alternative to cigarettes.