Drugs that mimic effects of cigarette smoke reduce SARS-CoV-2's ability to enter cells
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," ….
https://medicalxpress.com/news/2021-09-drugs-mimic-effects-cigarette-sars-cov-.html
Smoke if ya got em