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Cigarette Smoke Stimulates SARS-CoV-2 Internalization by Activating AhR and Increasing ACE2 Expression in Human Gingival Epithelial Cells.
Almeida-da-Silva, Cassio Luiz Coutinho; Matshik Dakafay, Harmony; Liu, Kaitlyn; Ojcius, David M.
  • Almeida-da-Silva CLC; Department of Biomedical Sciences, Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry, University of the Pacific, San Francisco, CA 94103, USA.
  • Matshik Dakafay H; Department of Biomedical Sciences, Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry, University of the Pacific, San Francisco, CA 94103, USA.
  • Liu K; Dental Surgery Program, Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry, University of the Pacific, San Francisco, CA 94103, USA.
  • Ojcius DM; Department of Biomedical Sciences, Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry, University of the Pacific, San Francisco, CA 94103, USA.
Int J Mol Sci ; 22(14)2021 Jul 18.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1314669
ABSTRACT
A large body of evidence shows the harmful effects of cigarette smoke to oral and systemic health. More recently, a link between smoking and susceptibility to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was proposed. COVID-19 is due to infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which uses the receptor ACE2 and the protease TMPRSS2 for entry into host cells, thereby infecting cells of the respiratory tract and the oral cavity. Here, we examined the effects of cigarette smoke on the expression of SARS-CoV-2 receptors and infection in human gingival epithelial cells (GECs). We found that cigarette smoke condensates (CSC) upregulated ACE2 and TMPRSS2 expression in GECs, and that CSC activated aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) signaling in the oral cells. ACE2 was known to mediate SARS-CoV-2 internalization, and we demonstrate that CSC treatment potentiated the internalization of SARS-CoV-2 pseudovirus in GECs in an AhR-dependent manner. AhR depletion using small interference RNA decreased SARS-CoV-2 pseudovirus internalization in CSC-treated GECs compared with control GECs. Our study reveals that cigarette smoke upregulates SARS-CoV-2 receptor expression and infection in oral cells. Understanding the mechanisms involved in SARS-CoV-2 infection in cells of the oral cavity may suggest therapeutic interventions for preventing viral infection and transmission.
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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Smoking / Virus Internalization / Cigarette Smoking / SARS-CoV-2 / COVID-19 Limits: Humans Language: English Year: 2021 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: Ijms22147669

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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Smoking / Virus Internalization / Cigarette Smoking / SARS-CoV-2 / COVID-19 Limits: Humans Language: English Year: 2021 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: Ijms22147669