The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has a variable degree of severity according to underlying comorbidities and life-style. Several research groups have reported an association between cigarette smoking and increased severity of COVID-19. The exact mechanism of action is largely unclear.We exposed low angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2)-expressing human pulmonary adenocarcinoma A549 epithelial cells to nicotine and assessed ACE2 expression at different times. We further used the nicotine-exposed cells in a virus neutralisation assay.Nicotine exposure induces rapid and long-lasting increases in gene and protein expression of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) receptor ACE2, which in turn translates into increased competence for SARS-CoV-2 replication and cytopathic effect.These findings show that nicotine worsens SARS-CoV-2 pulmonary infection and have implications for public health policies.

Nicotine upregulates ACE2 expression and increases competence for SARS-CoV-2 in human pneumocytes

Maggi, Fabrizio
Primo
;
2021-01-01

Abstract

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has a variable degree of severity according to underlying comorbidities and life-style. Several research groups have reported an association between cigarette smoking and increased severity of COVID-19. The exact mechanism of action is largely unclear.We exposed low angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2)-expressing human pulmonary adenocarcinoma A549 epithelial cells to nicotine and assessed ACE2 expression at different times. We further used the nicotine-exposed cells in a virus neutralisation assay.Nicotine exposure induces rapid and long-lasting increases in gene and protein expression of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) receptor ACE2, which in turn translates into increased competence for SARS-CoV-2 replication and cytopathic effect.These findings show that nicotine worsens SARS-CoV-2 pulmonary infection and have implications for public health policies.
2021
Maggi, Fabrizio; Rosellini, Alfredo; Spezia, Pietro Giorgio; Focosi, Daniele; Macera, Lisa; Lai, Michele; Pistello, Mauro; de Iure, Antonio; Tomino, Carlo; Bonassi, Stefano; Russo, Patrizia
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11383/2113717
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