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Evidence-Based Considerations Exploring Relations between SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic and Air Pollution: Involvement of PM2.5-Mediated Up-Regulation of the Viral Receptor ACE-2

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  • Marina Borro

    (Laboratory of Clinical Biochemistry, University Hospital Sant’Andrea, Department of Neurosciences, Mental Health and Sensory Organs, Faculty of Medicine and Psychology, Sapienza University, via di Grottarossa 1035, 00189 Rome, Italy)

  • Paolo Di Girolamo

    (School of Engineering, University of Basilicata, viale dell’Ateneo Lucano 10, 85100 Potenza, Italy)

  • Giovanna Gentile

    (Laboratory of Clinical Biochemistry, University Hospital Sant’Andrea, Department of Neurosciences, Mental Health and Sensory Organs, Faculty of Medicine and Psychology, Sapienza University, via di Grottarossa 1035, 00189 Rome, Italy)

  • Ottavia De Luca

    (Laboratory of Clinical Biochemistry, University Hospital Sant’Andrea, via di Grottarossa 1035, 00189 Rome, Italy)

  • Robert Preissner

    (Structural Bioinformatics Group, Charité–Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Philippstr. 12, 10115 Berlin, Germany)

  • Adriano Marcolongo

    (General Direction, University Hospital Sant’Andrea, via di Grottarossa 1035, 00189 Rome, Italy)

  • Stefano Ferracuti

    (Department of Human Neuroscience, Sapienza University, Piazzale Aldo Moro, 5, 00185 Rome, Italy)

  • Maurizio Simmaco

    (Laboratory of Clinical Biochemistry, University Hospital Sant’Andrea, Department of Neurosciences, Mental Health and Sensory Organs, Faculty of Medicine and Psychology, Sapienza University, via di Grottarossa 1035, 00189 Rome, Italy)

Abstract

The COVID-19/SARS-CoV-2 pandemic struck health, social and economic systems worldwide, and represents an open challenge for scientists —coping with the high inter-individual variability of COVID-19, and for policy makers —coping with the responsibility to understand environmental factors affecting its severity across different geographical areas. Air pollution has been warned of as a modifiable factor contributing to differential SARS-CoV-2 spread but the biological mechanisms underlying the phenomenon are still unknown. Air quality and COVID-19 epidemiological data from 110 Italian provinces were studied by correlation analysis, to evaluate the association between particulate matter (PM) 2.5 concentrations and incidence, mortality rate and case fatality risk of COVID-19 in the period 20 February–31 March 2020. Bioinformatic analysis of the DNA sequence encoding the SARS-CoV-2 cell receptor angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE-2) was performed to identify consensus motifs for transcription factors mediating cellular response to pollutant insult. Positive correlations between PM 2.5 levels and the incidence (r = 0.67, p < 0.0001), the mortality rate (r = 0.65, p < 0.0001) and the case fatality rate (r = 0.7, p < 0.0001) of COVID-19 were found. The bioinformatic analysis of the ACE-2 gene identified nine putative consensus motifs for the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR). Our results confirm the supposed link between air pollution and the rate and outcome of SARS-CoV-2 infection and support the hypothesis that pollution-induced over-expression of ACE-2 on human airways may favor SARS-CoV-2 infectivity.

Suggested Citation

  • Marina Borro & Paolo Di Girolamo & Giovanna Gentile & Ottavia De Luca & Robert Preissner & Adriano Marcolongo & Stefano Ferracuti & Maurizio Simmaco, 2020. "Evidence-Based Considerations Exploring Relations between SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic and Air Pollution: Involvement of PM2.5-Mediated Up-Regulation of the Viral Receptor ACE-2," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(15), pages 1-13, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:17:y:2020:i:15:p:5573-:d:393444
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Carlo Capalbo & Antonio Aceti & Maurizio Simmaco & Rita Bonfini & Monica Rocco & Alberto Ricci & Christian Napoli & Matteo Rocco & Valeria Alfonsi & Antonella Teggi & Giovanni Battista Orsi & Marina B, 2020. "The Exponential Phase of the Covid-19 Pandemic in Central Italy: An Integrated Care Pathway," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(11), pages 1-10, May.
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    Cited by:

    1. Luigi Montano & Francesco Donato & Pietro Massimiliano Bianco & Gennaro Lettieri & Antonino Guglielmino & Oriana Motta & Ian Marc Bonapace & Marina Piscopo, 2021. "Air Pollution and COVID-19: A Possible Dangerous Synergy for Male Fertility," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(13), pages 1-21, June.
    2. Yuqing Chang & Yuqian Wang & Wen Li & Zewen Wei & Shichuan Tang & Rui Chen, 2023. "Mechanisms, Techniques and Devices of Airborne Virus Detection: A Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(8), pages 1-30, April.
    3. Alberto Pivato & Gianni Formenton & Francesco Di Maria & Tatjana Baldovin & Irene Amoruso & Tiziano Bonato & Pamela Mancini & Giusy Bonanno Ferraro & Carolina Veneri & Marcello Iaconelli & Lucia Bonad, 2022. "SARS-CoV-2 in Atmospheric Particulate Matter: An Experimental Survey in the Province of Venice in Northern Italy," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(15), pages 1-14, August.
    4. Hans-Peter Hutter & Michael Poteser & Hanns Moshammer & Kathrin Lemmerer & Monika Mayer & Lisbeth Weitensfelder & Peter Wallner & Michael Kundi, 2020. "Air Pollution Is Associated with COVID-19 Incidence and Mortality in Vienna, Austria," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(24), pages 1-11, December.
    5. Cherng-Gueih Shy & Jian-He Lu & Hui-Chen Lin & Min-Nan Hung & Hsiu-Chun Chang & Meng-Lun Lu & How-Ran Chao & Yao-Shen Chen & Pi-Sheng Wang, 2022. "Rapid Control of a SARS-CoV-2 B.1.617.2 (Delta) Variant COVID-19 Community Outbreak: The Successful Experience in Pingtung County of Taiwan," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(3), pages 1-12, January.

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