French scientists suggest that nicotine agonists can treat COVID-19

Contrary to warnings from health authorities around the world against smoking in coronavirus disease (COVID-19), New paper Suggests that nicotine, a component of tobacco, may prevent coronavirus infections.

Ah Previous research Chinese scientists have shown that smokers have more severe cases of COVID-19 than non-smokers. It also increases the risk of serious, potentially life-threatening illnesses. A team of French scientists at the Pasteur Institute is now saying that a nicotine-only nicotine agonist may help prevent infection with the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Is supposed to be.

Colored scanning electron micrographs of cells isolated from a novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2-patient sample showing morphological signs of apoptosis infected with SARS-COV-2 viral particles (orange). Images taken at the NIAID Integrated Research Facility (IRF) in Fort Detrick, MD. Credit: NIAID

Reduction of smokers infected with coronavirus

This study, published on the science portal Qeios, contradicts previous studies, and it appears that only a few smokers were infected with COVID-19.

The team investigated 343 patients with coronavirus and 139 patients with milder coronavirus. The results of this study show that the number of infected patients is low compared to the smoking rate of about 35% of the French general population.

Teams account for about 40% of people aged 44 to 53 and 9% to 11% of people aged 65 to 75 compared to the number of smokers in the general population, The team found the number to be small. Or at least experienced serious symptoms.

Only 5% of patients were smokers. This means about 80% fewer smokers among COVID-19 patients.

“ Our cross-sectional study strongly suggests that smokers every day are much less likely to develop a symptomatic or severe infection with SARS-CoV-2 compared to the general population. The study authors said.

Nicotine as a protectant

Research results reveal that current smoking status appears to be a protective factor against SARS-CoV-2 infection. The team suggests that the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (naChR) plays a crucial role in the pathophysiology of COVID-19 infection and may be a target for the prevention and control of viral infections.

As knowledge about coronavirus evolved, scientists discovered that angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) was the major receptor molecule for SARS-CoV-2. ACE2 is expressed at the transcriptome level in the lungs and other parts of the body.

In the brain, ACE2 is expressed in brain cells and glia, especially in the brain stem and the parts of the brain involved in the regulation of cardiovascular function. Over the years, the relationship between nicotine and ACE2 in various cardiovascular and respiratory disorders has been investigated. Nicotine enhances the expression and activity of renin, AT1R, and ACE. On the other hand, nicotine also suppressed AT2R and ACE2 expression and activity, suggesting a potential contribution of acetylcholine receptors in the regulation of ACE2.

“There is strong evidence for the neurotropic effects of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Β-Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, to which SARS-CoV-2 belongs, has been shown to frequently enter the CNS without limiting its presence to the respiratory tract. This trend has been compellingly documented for the coronavirus responsible for SARS-CoV-1, MERS-CoV, and porcine hemagglutinating encephalitis (HEV 67N), “the authors said.

Since SARS-CoV-1 and the novel coronavirus are similar, SARS-CoV-2 has similar potential. The team suggests that the virus may enter the body via neurons, through the olfactory system, and through the lungs, with various clinical manifestations and consequences. This finding is distinct from the ACE2 receptor, which is known to be the major entrance to cells of novel coronaviruses.

This may explain why most patients with COVID-19 have olfactory or anolfactory loss in addition to loss of taste. Some studies have also reported that SARS-CoV-2 infection has other symptoms such as headache, nausea and vomiting. Another study of patients with COVID-19 reported that approximately 88% of severely ill patients showed neurological symptoms such as unconsciousness and acute cerebrovascular disease.

The researchers conclude that naChR plays an important role in the pathophysiology of COVID-19. They propose that nicotine and nicotinic orthosteric and allosteric agents may hold promise in the treatment of patients infected with SARS-CoV-2.

The team also noted that the antiparasitic drug ivermectin has shown potential in cell studies to inhibit SARS-CoV-2 replication. This drug is a positive allosteric modulator of a7 nAChR. Currently, clinical research is needed to further enhance their findings.

They also warn that nicotine is still an abusive drug that causes smoking addiction. They say that smoking has many serious effects on the body.

“Under a still controlled environment, nicotine could provide an effective treatment for acute infections such as Covid-19,” the team proposed.

But other evidence shows that when smokers are diagnosed with the virus, they are more likely to get sick and require mechanical ventilation.