The purpose of this study is to learn about the effects of smoking shisha on the lungs, when compared to the effects of smoking cigarettes or of not smoking. The investigators hope to learn more about how shisha smokers should be monitored and treated once diseased.
Traditional shisha smoking is practiced by \~10% of the Qatari adult population. Although based on tobacco leaves, shisha smoking exposes the airway epithelium to a chemical insult of intensity and duration different from that of cigarette smoking. This study, a collaboration between WCMC-Qatar and WCMC-New York and the Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC), is focused on defining the biology of the airway epithelium of shisha smokers compared to non-smokers. Using approved protocols, bronchoscopy will be used to sample the airway epithelium, the site of the earliest changes associated with smoking. The transcriptome of the recovered epithelium will be assessed in the genomic core WCMC-Qatar for gene expression using microarrays and complete RNA sequencing using massive parallel sequencing.Based on this information, the epithelial DNA will be assessed for relevant SNPs, copy number variations and methylation status. Parallel studies will be carried out in cigarette smokers, providing a comprehensive catalog of shisha smoking-induced changes compared to cigarette smokers and non-smokers in this population.
Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Enrollment
64
Hamad Medical Corporation
Doha, Qatar
Gene expression changes in the small airway epithelium (SAE)
We will measure the effect that shisha smoking has on the small airway epithelium (SAE) by measuring parameters such as the SAE gene expression in shisha smokers (i.e., non-cigarette smokers). We will compare these parameters to the same parameters measured in non-smokers and cigarette smokers.
Time frame: 3 days
This platform is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional.