Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Drugs that mimic effects of cigarette smoke reduce SARS-CoV-2's ability to enter cells
Medical Xpress ^ | SEPTEMBER 10, 2021 | Hiroshima University

Posted on 09/11/2021 2:15:29 PM PDT by LesbianThespianGymnasticMidget

Researchers have identified a potential reason why lower numbers of COVID cases have appeared amongst smokers compared to non-smokers, even as other reports suggest smoking increases severity of the disease.

Researchers have identified two drugs that mimic the effect of chemicals in cigarette smoke to bind to a receptor in mammalian cells that inhibits production of ACE2 proteins, a process that appears to reduce the ability of the SARS-CoV-2 virus to enter the cell.

The findings appear in the journal Scientific Reports on 17 August.

Something of a paradox exists with respect to smoking cigarettes and COVID-19. Active smoking is associated with increased severity of disease, but at the same time, many reports have suggested lower numbers of COVID cases amongst smokers than amongst non-smokers.

"Something strange was going on here," said Keiji Tanimoto of Hiroshima University's Research Institute for Radiation Biology and Medicine, the corresponding author of the paper. "But we had a few ideas about how to tease out what some of the mechanisms at work might be."

"We must stress the presence of strong evidence showing that smoking increases the severity of COVID-19," Tanimoto added. "But the mechanism we discovered here is worth further investigation as a potential tool to fight SARS-CoV-2 infections."

It is known that cigarette smoke contains polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). These can bind to and activate aryl hydrocarbon receptors (AHRs). A receptor is any structure of the surface or inside of a cell that is shaped to receive and bind to a particular substance. AHRs are a type of receptor inside of mammalian cells that is in turn a transcription factor—something that can induce a wide range of cellular activities through its ability to increase or decrease the expression of certain genes.

Knowing this about the relationship between PAHs and AHRs, the researchers wanted to investigate the effect of drugs that activate AHR on expression of the genes that control production of the ACE2 protein—the infamous receptor protein on the surface of many cells types that works like a lock that the SARS-CoV-2 virus is able to pick. After binding the virus to the ACE2 protein, it can then enter and infect the cell.

First, the scientists investigated various cell lines to examine their gene expression levels of ACE2. They found that those cells originating in the oral cavity, lungs and liver had the highest ACE2 expression.

These high-ACE2-expression cells were then subjected to various doses of cigarette-smoke extract (CSE) for 24 hours. After this, the rate of expression of the CYP1A1 gene, which is known to be inducible by CSE, was evaluated. The CSE treatment had induced increased expression of CYP1A1 gene in liver and lung cells in a dose-dependent manner—the greater the dose, the greater the effect. However, this effect was not as pronounced in oral cavity cells. In other words, greater activity of the CYP1A1, less production of the ACE2 receptors—the route that the virus is able to enter cells.

In order to explain why this was happening in the presence of cigarette smoke, the researchers then used RNA sequencing analysis to investigate what was happening with gene expression more comprehensively. They found that CSE increased the expressions of genes related to a number of key signaling processes within the cell that are regulated by AHR.

To more directly observe this mechanism by which AHR acts on ACE2 expression, the effects of two drugs that can activate AHR were evaluated on the liver cells. The first, 6‑formylindolo(3,2‑b)carbazole (FICZ) is derivative of the amino acid tryptophan, and the second, omeprazole (OMP), is a medication already widely used in the treatment of acid reflux and peptic ulcers.

RNA sequencing data suggested that the CYP1A1 gene was strongly induced in liver cells by these AHR activators, and expression of the ACE2 gene was strongly inhibited, again in a dose-dependent manner.

In other words, the cigarette smoke extract and these two drugs—all of which act as activators of AHR—are able to suppress the expression of ACE2 in mammalian cells, and by doing so, reduce the ability of the SARS-CoV-2 virus to enter the cell.

Based on the findings in the lab, the team is now proceeding with pre-clinical and clinical trials on the drugs as a novel anti-COVID-19 therapy.


TOPICS:
KEYWORDS: covid; hiroshima; hiroshimauniversity; lobelia; smoking; tobacco
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-8081-96 next last
To: LesbianThespianGymnasticMidget

The word which comes to my mind is ‘coincidence’:

https://www.who.int/china/health-topics/tobacco#:~:text=China%20is%20the%20largest%20producer,world%20is%20smoked%20in%20China.


61 posted on 09/11/2021 3:26:34 PM PDT by logi_cal869 (-cynicus the "concern troll" a/o 10/03/2018 /!i!! &@$%&*(@ -)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: LesbianThespianGymnasticMidget
Doctor: I've diagnosed you with Covid.

Patient: What should I do, Doc?

Doctor: I'm prescribing 1 pack of Camels per day to smoke, no filters now.

Patient: What?!

62 posted on 09/11/2021 3:28:20 PM PDT by PROCON (Our rights do not come from government, therefore they cannot take them away.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: LeoTDB69

Now THAT’s funny !


63 posted on 09/11/2021 3:36:45 PM PDT by A strike (Barr to Gitmo, Roberts to Florence supermax, HerrDoktor FauxiGates to TerreHaute)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 40 | View Replies]

To: logi_cal869

Thanks, I’ve lost that thread twice now.


64 posted on 09/11/2021 3:40:40 PM PDT by Pollard (#*&% Communism)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 60 | View Replies]

To: Big Red Badger

How did you quit, just cold turkey? That’s what I have to do absolutely. I’m almost 60 and even if I dont get cancer, I am looking at some harsh breathing problems later on like my Grandma who died of emphysema. Yeah I can’t believe I smoked 4 a day just like Michael Landon and his co-star Victor French on the TV show Highway to heaven -ironic show title - who both died of lung cancer and both at the age of 54, younger than me. I always think of that. I must be out of my mind by continuing to smoke especially in New York where taxes have driven up the price to $11 a pack, $15 in NYC


65 posted on 09/11/2021 3:44:47 PM PDT by GrandJediMasterYoda (As long as Hillary Clinton remains free equal justice under the law will never exist in the USA)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 41 | View Replies]

To: Pollard

Not making any assumptions:

You’re aware of the ‘Bookmark’ function, aren’t you?

I only recently learned of it myself after ignoring it all these years.


66 posted on 09/11/2021 3:46:29 PM PDT by logi_cal869 (-cynicus the "concern troll" a/o 10/03/2018 /!i!! &@$%&*(@ -)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 64 | View Replies]

To: LesbianThespianGymnasticMidget

So now we HAVE to smoke, to save ourselves. I love irony 🚬


67 posted on 09/11/2021 3:46:52 PM PDT by smvoice (King Joege: He's really quite mad you know)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: LesbianThespianGymnasticMidget

Hmm. People around me can be dropping like flies from colds and flu, and I rarely catch anything. I used to joke that tobacco and whiskey scared the viruses away.


68 posted on 09/11/2021 3:53:14 PM PDT by Southside_Chicago_Republican (The more I learn about people, the more I like my dog. )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: LesbianThespianGymnasticMidget

I remember well how decades ago cigarette smoke could help me with SOME (not all) asthma symptoms.


69 posted on 09/11/2021 3:58:02 PM PDT by jimfree (My 18 y/o granddaughter continues to have more quality exec experience than Joe Biden.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: cgbg

I just get the cheap Factory Throw outs. I wish I could afford the good stuff.


70 posted on 09/11/2021 4:10:48 PM PDT by CapnJack ( )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 50 | View Replies]

To: lizma2
No, the initial reports sometime in maybe January or February 2020 were claims that former smokers were being hit especially hard all out of proportion and dying by the Chinese virus when they did contract the infection. I remember this vividly, because I wasn't sure what to do when my temperature was into triple digits.
71 posted on 09/11/2021 4:11:01 PM PDT by Freedom4US
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: LesbianThespianGymnasticMidget
Here is a partial quote from a post on Zero Hedge. While ZH is usually the equivalent of digital dumpster diving there is an occaasional find.

This references Nicotine as well as Ivermectin and alcohol.

“In particular they propose that the spike protein shares some amino acid sequences with a particular neurotoxin which can de-regulate a receptor known as the “Alpha-7 Nicotinic Acetylecholine Receptor” (α-7 NaChr).
Interestingly, there are agents that can counteract this de-regulation and improve the acetylecholine receptor's ability to function properly. These are known as POSITIVE ALLOSTERIC MODULATORS (look up “allostery”) and include:
• Nicotine
• Ivermectin
• An enzyme found in curcumine (Indian spice known commonly as “turmeric”)
• Ethanol”

72 posted on 09/11/2021 4:11:50 PM PDT by Polynikes ( Hakkaa paalle)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: CapnJack

The best bargains on non-Cubans is this website—they have stunning sales with free shipping on everything:

https://www.cigarpage.com/

My favorites cheapies—exclusive to their site:

https://www.cigarpage.com/maduro-nicaraguan-overruns.html

Order a bundle—see what you think...


73 posted on 09/11/2021 4:14:06 PM PDT by cgbg (A kleptocracy--if they can keep it. Think of it as the Cantillon Effect in action.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 70 | View Replies]

To: LesbianThespianGymnasticMidget

74 posted on 09/11/2021 4:20:44 PM PDT by Bloodandgravy (Defund politicians)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: LesbianThespianGymnasticMidget

I only smoke when I drink which is just a couple times a month. All together, I pry smoke one carton a year. I presumably had Covid 18 months ago but never got it again. Apparently I’m immune so I haven’t gotten the shot and have no plans to do so.


75 posted on 09/11/2021 4:26:30 PM PDT by Prince of Space (Irish lives matter!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Freedom4US

Tha Guardian had an article June 2020 about some French doctors using nicotine patches on COVID patients.

.


76 posted on 09/11/2021 4:34:52 PM PDT by Mears (.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 71 | View Replies]

To: LesbianThespianGymnasticMidget

So Biden will issue an Executive Order that all Americans start smoking cigarettes?


77 posted on 09/11/2021 4:57:06 PM PDT by Lockbox (politicians, they all seemed like game show hosts to me.... Sting)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: LesbianThespianGymnasticMidget

From the article:

“omeprazole (OMP), is a medication already widely used in the treatment of acid reflux and peptic ulcers.”

Is Omeprazole an ingredient in Pepcid?


78 posted on 09/11/2021 6:27:38 PM PDT by WildHighlander57 ((WildHighlander57 returning after lurking since 2000) )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: LesbianThespianGymnasticMidget

The Scotch along with the the Cigars also reduces the ability to be infected. Cheers!


79 posted on 09/11/2021 6:40:43 PM PDT by Mat_Helm
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: BiglyCommentary

I think it may be the nicotine. I was reading something last night about niacin doing something equivalent to nicotine in the cells. To combat stomach fat I believe. But anyway it said that they were kind of cousins, nicotine and niacin.


80 posted on 09/11/2021 7:28:36 PM PDT by tinamina
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 17 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-8081-96 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
General/Chat
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson