COVID-19 and future perspectives
It has been recently demonstrated that a nicotine-related overexpression
of ACE-2 in bronchial epithelial cells is mediated by α7-subtype
nicotinic receptors144. Within the framework of the
ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, such a finding orients scientific interest
towards the relationship between SARS-CoV2 and smoking or, more
specifically, inhalation exposure to nicotine.