COVID-19 and smoking: is nicotine the hidden link?

Russo, Patrizia; Bonassi, Stefano; Giacconi, Robertina; Malavolta, Marco; Tomino, Carlo; Maggi, Fabrizio

doi:10.1183/13993003.01116-2020

Cited by 169 publications

(173 citation statements)

References 11 publications

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“…We recently reported that current smokers and those with COPD had higher airway epithelial cell expression of the angiotensin-converting enzyme-2 (ACE-2) viral entry receptor [1]. We thus read with great interest the work of Russo et al [2] which proposes a mechanism for this finding, namely that this upregulation is mediated by nicotine exposure specifically through the α7 subtype of nicotine acetylcholine receptors (α7-nAChR). While exposure to increasing concentrations of nicotine caused epithelial cells to increase ACE-2 levels, subsequent gene silencing of α7-nAChR appeared to significantly dampen this response.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

COVID-19 and nicotine as a mediator of ACE-2

2020

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confidence: 99%

COVID-19 and nicotine as a mediator of ACE-2

2020

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“…Two interesting publications in the European Respiratory Journal recently by Russo et al 1 and Leung et al 2 discuss the possible role of nicotine in this pandemic and the "furious pursuit for better therapeutics".…”

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confidence: 99%

Could the smoking gun in the fight against COVID-19 be the (rh)ACE-2?

Lutchman

2020

Eur Respir J

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“…The decrease in furin, spike glycoprotein cleaving protease, in male mice with the MCT exposure needs to be further investigated[59]. The exacerbated response in smokers and vapers may suggest that smoking/vaing with nicotine and α7nAChR with ACE2 may be involved [60].…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Pulmonary toxicity and inflammatory response of e-cigarettes containing medium-chain triglyceride oil and vitamin E acetate: Implications in the pathogenesis of EVALI but independent of SARS-COV-2 COVID-19 related proteins

Muthumalage

Lucas

Wang

et al. 2020

Preprint

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Recently, there has been an outbreak associated with the use of e-cigarette or vaping products, associated lung injury (EVALI). The primary components of vaping products, vitamin E acetate (VEA) and medium-chain triglycerides (MCT) may be responsible for acute lung toxicity. Currently, little information is available on the physiological and biological effects of exposure to these products. We hypothesized that these e-cig cartridges and their constituents (VEA and MCT) induce pulmonary toxicity, mediated by oxidative damage and inflammatory responses, leading to acute lung injury. We studied the potential mechanisms of cartridge aerosol induced inflammatory response by evaluating the generation of reactive oxygen species by MCT, VEA, and cartridges, and their effects on the inflammatory state of pulmonary epithelium and immune cells both in vitro and in vivo. Cells exposed to these aerosols generated reactive oxygen species, caused cytotoxicity, induced epithelial barrier dysfunction, and elicited an inflammatory response. Using a murine model, the parameters of acute toxicity to aerosol inhalation were assessed. Infiltration of neutrophils and lymphocytes was accompanied by significant increases in IL-6, eotaxin, and G-CSF in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF). In mouse plasma, eicosanoid inflammatory mediators, leukotrienes, were significantly increased. Plasma from e-cig users also showed increased levels of hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (HETEs) and various eicosanoids. Exposure to e-cig cartridge aerosols showed the most significant effects and toxicity compared to MCT and VEA. In addition, we determined at SARS-COV-2 related proteins and found no impact associated with aerosol exposures from these tested cartridges. Overall, this study demonstrates acute exposure to specific e-cig cartridges induces in vitro cytotoxicity, barrier dysfunction, and inflammation and in vivo mouse exposure induces acute inflammation with elevated pro-inflammatory markers in the pathogenesis of EVALI.

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COVID-19 and smoking: is nicotine the hidden link?

Cited by 169 publications

References 11 publications

COVID-19 and nicotine as a mediator of ACE-2

COVID-19 and nicotine as a mediator of ACE-2

Could the smoking gun in the fight against COVID-19 be the (rh)ACE-2?

Pulmonary toxicity and inflammatory response of e-cigarettes containing medium-chain triglyceride oil and vitamin E acetate: Implications in the pathogenesis of EVALI but independent of SARS-COV-2 COVID-19 related proteins

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