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, F;Spezia, PG;Macera, L;Lai, M;Pistello, M;
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, F; Rosellini, A; Spezia, Pg; Focosi, D; Macera, L; Lai, M; Pistello, M; de Iure, A; Tomino, C; Bonassi, S; Russo, P
File in questo prodotto:
File Dimensione Formato  
erj nicotine00713-2020.full.pdf

accesso aperto

Tipologia: Documento in Post-print
Licenza: Creative commons
Dimensione 2.37 MB
Formato Adobe PDF
2.37 MB Adobe PDF Visualizza/Apri

I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11568/1101184
Citazioni
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.pmc??? 11
  • Scopus 22
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? 21
social impact