Instigators of COVID-19 in Immune Cells Are Increased in Tobacco Cigarette Smokers and Electronic Cigarette Vapers Compared With Nonsmokers.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), the virus responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic, gains entry into the host cell when its Spike protein is cleaved by host proteases TMPRSS2 and furin, thereby markedly increasing viral affinity for its receptor, angiotensin-converting enzyme-2 (ACE2). In rodent and diseased human lungs, tobacco cigarette (TCIG) smoke increases ACE2, but the effect of electronic cigarette vaping (ECIG) is unknown. It is unknown whether nicotine (in both TCIGs and ECIGs) or non-nicotine constituents unique to TCIG smoke increase expression of key proteins in COVID-19 pathogenesis.

Methods

Immune (CD45+) cells collected before the pandemic in otherwise healthy young people, including TCIG smokers (n = 9), ECIG vapers

SUBMITTER: Kelesidis T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8513409 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature