COVID-19 and smoking: is nicotine the hidden link?. Issue 6 (4th June 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Russo, Patrizia; Bonassi, Stefano; Giacconi, Robertina; Malavolta, Marco; Tomino, Carlo; Maggi, Fabrizio
• Is Part Of: European respiratory journal. Volume 55:Issue 6(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-06-04
• Subjects: Respiratory organs -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Respiration -- Periodicals; 616.2
• DOI: 10.1183/13993003.01116-2020
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0903-1936

Abstract

Leung et al. [1] have recently published, in the European Respiratory Journal, a paper on the expression of angiotensin-converting enzyme II (ACE-2) in the small airway epithelia of smokers and COPD patients, discussing its effects on the risk of severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The authors found an increased expression of the ACE-2 gene in the airways of subjects with COPD and in current smokers. Indeed, a recent systematic review reporting data on the smoking habits of patients infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), concluded that smoking may be associated with a negative progression of the disease and with the adverse outcome [2]. Nicotine via alpha7-nicotinic receptor induces ACE-2 overexpression in human bronchial epithelial cells (HBEpC) https://bit.ly/3eJ5b35