Role of Cigarette Smoke on Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme-2 Protein Membrane Expression in Bronchial Epithelial Cells Using an Air-Liquid Interface Model

Copyright © 2021 Caruso, Distefano, Emma, Di Rosa, Carota, Rust, Polosa, Zuccarello, Ferrante, Raciti and Li Volti..

Prevalence studies of current smoking, among hospitalized COVID-19 patients, demonstrated an unexpectedly low prevalence among patients with COVID-19. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of smoke from cigarettes on ACE-2 in bronchial epithelial cells. Normal bronchial epithelial cells (H292) were exposed to smoke by an air-liquid-interface (ALI) system and ACE-2 membrane protein expression was evaluated after 24 h from exposure. Our transcriptomics data analysis showed a significant selective reduction of membrane ACE-2 expression (about 25%) following smoking exposure. Interestingly, we observed a positive direct correlation between ACE-2 reduction and nicotine delivery. Furthermore, by stratifying GSE52237 as a function of ACE-2 gene expression levels, we highlighted 1,012 genes related to ACE-2 in smokers and 855 in non-smokers. Furthermore, we showed that 161 genes involved in the endocytosis process were highlighted using the online pathway tool KEGG. Finally, 11 genes were in common between the ACE-2 pathway in smokers and the genes regulated during endocytosis, while 12 genes with non-smokers. Interestingly, six in non-smokers and four genes in smokers were closely involved during the viral internalization process. Our data may offer a pharmaceutical role of nicotine as potential treatment option in COVID-19.

Medienart:

E-Artikel

Erscheinungsjahr:

2021

Erschienen:

2021

Enthalten in:

Zur Gesamtaufnahme - volume:12

Enthalten in:

Frontiers in pharmacology - 12(2021) vom: 13., Seite 652102

Sprache:

Englisch

Beteiligte Personen:

Caruso, Massimo [VerfasserIn]
Distefano, Alfio [VerfasserIn]
Emma, Rosalia [VerfasserIn]
Di Rosa, Michelino [VerfasserIn]
Carota, Giuseppe [VerfasserIn]
Rust, Sonja [VerfasserIn]
Polosa, Riccardo [VerfasserIn]
Zuccarello, Pietro [VerfasserIn]
Ferrante, Margherita [VerfasserIn]
Raciti, Giuseppina [VerfasserIn]
Li Volti, Giovanni [VerfasserIn]

Links:

Volltext

Themen:

ACE-2
Cigarette
Epithelial cells
Journal Article
Nicotine
Smoke

Anmerkungen:

Date Revised 17.04.2021

published: Electronic-eCollection

Citation Status PubMed-not-MEDLINE

doi:

10.3389/fphar.2021.652102

funding:

Förderinstitution / Projekttitel:

PPN (Katalog-ID):

NLM324143087