Eye Washing Downregulated Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2 in Conjunctival Tissue Samples from Smokers
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Published:2023-12-15
Issue:24
Volume:24
Page:17526
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ISSN:1422-0067
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Container-title:International Journal of Molecular Sciences
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language:en
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Short-container-title:IJMS
Author:
Fujishima Hiroshi12ORCID, Yazu Hiroyuki12ORCID, Shimizu Eisuke2ORCID, Okada Naoko13, Fukagawa Kazumi24
Affiliation:
1. Department of Ophthalmology, Tsurumi University School of Dental Medicine, Yokohama 230-8501, Japan 2. Keio Allergy Center, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan 3. Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nihon Pharmaceutical Hospital, Saitama 362-0806, Japan 4. Ryogoku Eye Clinic, Tokyo 130-0026, Japan
Abstract
This study aimed to (1) determine whether the expression of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) and transmembrane protease serine 2 is increased in tobacco smokers, which potentially increases their susceptibility to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection, and (2) assess whether eye rinsing can reduce susceptibility. This prospective study included 20 eyes of 10 smokers and 18 eyes of nine healthy non-smokers (control) for reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction. This study also included 28 eyes of 14 smokers and 16 eyes of eight healthy non-smokers (control) for enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Tear and impression cytology samples were collected from the right eye of each patient. The left eye was then rinsed for 30 s, and after 5 min, the tear and impression cytology samples were collected in the same manner. The expression of the ACE2 gene was significantly higher in the conjunctiva of smokers (n = 17; median 3.07 copies/ng of total RNA) than in those of non-smokers (n = 17; median 1.92 copies/ng of total RNA, p = 0.003). Further, mRNA expression and protein levels of ACE2 were weakly correlated in smokers (r = 0.49). ACE2 protein levels in Schirmer’s strip samples were significantly reduced from 5051 to 3202 pg/mL after eye washing (n = 10; p = 0.001). Ocular surface cells are susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 infection. Smoking may be a risk factor for SARS-CoV-2 infection, and eye rinsing may reduce the risk of infection.
Subject
Inorganic Chemistry,Organic Chemistry,Physical and Theoretical Chemistry,Computer Science Applications,Spectroscopy,Molecular Biology,General Medicine,Catalysis
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