<![CDATA[Electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) use is often perceived as a safer alternative to conventional smoking, but its biomolecular impact is poorly understood. Oxidative stress from aerosol exposure is detected through changes in antioxidant gene expression, like Glutathione Peroxidase 1 (GPX1). This quantitative cross-sectional study analyzed 72 blood-derived RNA isolates (36 e-cigarette users; 36 non-smokers) to evaluate peripheral blood leukocyte GPX1 gene expression as a marker of oxidative stress. Relative GPX1 expression was quantified via qPCR normalized to GAPDH using the 2⁻ΔΔCt method. Groups were compared using the Mann–Whitney U test, unpaired t-test on log10-transformed data, and multivariable linear regression adjusted for age. E-cigarette users showed significantly lower GPX1 expression than non-smokers (median 0.92 vs. 1.65; Mann–Whitney U, p=0.03; t-test, p=0.035). This difference remained significant in the 18–24-year subgroup (p=0.041), with multivariable regression confirming e-cigarette use as an independent predictor of GPX1 downregulation (β=-0.284, p=0.038). These findings suggest that e-cigarette exposure may impair antioxidant defenses and disrupt systemic redox homeostasis.]]>
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