Smoking modulates different secretory subpopulations expressing SARS-CoV-2 entry genes in the nasal and bronchial airways.

ABSTRACT: SARS-CoV-2 infection and disease severity are influenced by viral entry (VE) gene expression patterns in the airway epithelium. The similarities and differences of VE gene expression (ACE2, TMPRSS2, and CTSL) across nasal and bronchial compartments have not been fully characterized using matched samples from large cohorts. Gene expression data from 793 nasal and 1673 bronchial brushes obtained from individuals participating in lung cancer screening or diagnostic workup revealed that smoking status (current versus former) was the only clinical factor significantly and reproducibly associated with VE gene expression. The expression of ACE2 and TMPRSS2 was higher in smokers in the bronchus but not in the nose. scRNA-seq of nasal brushings indicated that ACE2 co-expressed genes were highly exp

SUBMITTER: Xu K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9615627 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature