Editorial: Nicotine and SARS-CoV-2: COVID-19 may be a disease of the nicotinic cholinergic system

Farsalinos, Konstantinos; Niaura, Raymond; Houezec, Jacques Le; Barbouni, Anastasia; Tsatsakis, Aristidis; Kouretas, Demetrios; Vantarakis, Apostolos; Poulas, Konstantinos

doi:10.1016/j.toxrep.2020.04.012

Cited by 218 publications

(262 citation statements)

References 84 publications

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“…37 Recently, some studies presented the "nicotine" hypothesis that nicotine in smoking is protective against the COVID-19 infection and hospitalization. 38 Our results were different. Smoking was associated with an increased prevalence of COVID-19 in both urban and rural counties.…”

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 65%

Progression of COVID‐19 From Urban to Rural Areas in the United States: A Spatiotemporal Analysis of Prevalence Rates

Paul

Arif

Adeyemi

et al. 2020

The Journal of Rural Health

161

150

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Purpose There are growing signs that the COVID‐19 virus has started to spread to rural areas and can impact the rural health care system that is already stretched and lacks resources. To aid in the legislative decision process and proper channelizing of resources, we estimated and compared the county‐level change in prevalence rates of COVID‐19 by rural‐urban status over 3 weeks. Additionally, we identified hotspots based on estimated prevalence rates. Methods We used crowdsourced data on COVID‐19 and linked them to county‐level demographics, smoking rates, and chronic diseases. We fitted a Bayesian hierarchical spatiotemporal model using the Markov Chain Monte Carlo algorithm in R‐studio. We mapped the estimated prevalence rates using ArcGIS 10.8, and identified hotspots using Gettis‐Ord local statistics. Findings In the rural counties, the mean prevalence of COVID‐19 increased from 3.6 per 100,000 population to 43.6 per 100,000 within 3 weeks from April 3 to April 22, 2020. In the urban counties, the median prevalence of COVID‐19 increased from 10.1 per 100,000 population to 107.6 per 100,000 within the same period. The COVID‐19 adjusted prevalence rates in rural counties were substantially elevated in counties with higher black populations, smoking rates, and obesity rates. Counties with high rates of people aged 25‐49 years had increased COVID‐19 prevalence rates. Conclusions Our findings show a rapid spread of COVID‐19 across urban and rural areas in 21 days. Studies based on quality data are needed to explain further the role of social determinants of health on COVID‐19 prevalence.

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Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 65%

Progression of COVID‐19 From Urban to Rural Areas in the United States: A Spatiotemporal Analysis of Prevalence Rates

Paul

Arif

Adeyemi

et al. 2020

The Journal of Rural Health

161

150

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…Clinically, infection with a coronavirus can be either asymptomatic or present with respiratory, gastrointestinal (GI), and neurological symptoms [ 7 ]. Four HCoVs, namely 229E, OC43, HKU1, NL63, are not considered to be very pathogenic [ 8 , 9 ], while the rest, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome-related Coronavirus (SARS-CoV) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome-related Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) have caused two epidemics so far [ 8 , 10 – 12 ], and the novel SARS-CoV-2 caused the current pandemic [ 13 – 16 ]; all these viral strands can lead to acute respiratory failure.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Unraveling the Possible Routes of SARS-COV-2 Invasion into the Central Nervous System

Lima

Siokas

Aloizou

et al. 2020

Curr Treat Options Neurol

Self Cite

103

105

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Purpose of Review To describe the possible neuroinvasion pathways of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome-related Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), the virus responsible for the Coronavirus disease-19 (Covid-19) pandemic. Recent Findings We present data regarding the family of Coronaviruses (CoVs) and the central nervous system (CNS), and describe parallels between SARS-CoV-2 and other members of the family, which have been investigated in more depth and combine these findings with the recent advancements regarding SARS-CoV-2. Summary SARS-CoV-2 like other CoVs is neuroinvasive, neurotropic and neurovirulent. Two main pathways of CNS penetration seem to be the strongest candidates, the hematogenous and the neuronal. Τhe olfactory route in particular appears to play a significant role in neuroinvasion of coronaviruses and SARS-CoV-2, as well. However, existing data suggest that other routes, involving the nasal epithelium in general, lymphatic tissue and the CSF may also play roles in SARS-CoV-2 invasion into the CNS.

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“…For instance, an unusually low prevalence of cigarette smoking (characterized by prolonged nAChR activation) was clinically observed in COVID-19 patients (Creamer et al 2019 ; Petrilli et al 2020 ). This was confirmed by various systematic reviews showing the protective effect of current or former smoking habit against COVID-19 hospitalization (Farsalinos et al 2020 ; Team CC-R 2020 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 64%

The role of nicotinic receptors in SARS-CoV-2 receptor ACE2 expression in intestinal epithelia

et al. 2020

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Background Recent evidence demonstrated that severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) propagates in intestinal epithelial cells expressing Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2 (ACE2), implying that these cells represent an important entry site for the viral infection. Nicotinic receptors (nAChRs) have been put forward as potential regulators of inflammation and of ACE2 expression. As vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) activates nAChRs, we aimed to investigate whether VNS can be instrumental in affecting intestinal epithelial ACE2 expression. Methods By using publicly available datasets we qualified epithelial ACE2 expression in human intestine, and assessed gene co-expression of ACE2 and SARS-CoV-2 priming Transmembrane Serine Protease 2 (TMPRSS2) with nAChRs in intestinal epithelial cells. Next, we investigated mouse and human ACE2 expression in intestinal tissues after chronic VNS via implanted devices. Results We show co-expression of ACE2 and TMPRSS2 with nAChRs and α7 nAChR in particular in intestinal stem cells, goblet cells, and enterocytes. However, VNS did not affect ACE2 expression in murine or human intestinal tissue, albeit in colitis setting. Conclusions ACE2 and TMPRSS2 are specifically expressed in epithelial cells of human intestine, and both are co-expressed with nAChRs. However, no evidence for regulation of ACE2 expression through VNS could be found. Hence, a therapeutic value of VNS with respect to SARS-CoV-2 infection risk through ACE2 receptor modulation in intestinal epithelia could not be established.

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Editorial: Nicotine and SARS-CoV-2: COVID-19 may be a disease of the nicotinic cholinergic system

Cited by 218 publications

References 84 publications

Progression of COVID‐19 From Urban to Rural Areas in the United States: A Spatiotemporal Analysis of Prevalence Rates

Progression of COVID‐19 From Urban to Rural Areas in the United States: A Spatiotemporal Analysis of Prevalence Rates

Unraveling the Possible Routes of SARS-COV-2 Invasion into the Central Nervous System

The role of nicotinic receptors in SARS-CoV-2 receptor ACE2 expression in intestinal epithelia

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