Extract
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].
Abstract
Nicotine via alpha7-nicotinic receptor induces ACE-2 overexpression in human bronchial epithelial cells (HBEpC) https://bit.ly/3eJ5b35
Footnotes
Conflict of interest: P. Russo has nothing to disclose.
Conflict of interest: S. Bonassi has nothing to disclose.
Conflict of interest: R. Giacconi has nothing to disclose.
Conflict of interest: M. Malavolta has nothing to disclose.
Conflict of interest: C. Tomino has nothing to disclose.
Conflict of interest: F. Maggi has nothing to disclose.
- Received April 10, 2020.
- Accepted April 16, 2020.
- Copyright ©ERS 2020
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