Ozone exposure upregulates the expression of host susceptibility protein TMPRSS2 to SARS-CoV-2.
Thao VoKshitiz PaudelIshita ChoudharySonika PatialYogesh SainiPublished in: bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology (2020)
Our data indicate that the unhealthy levels of ozone in the environment may predispose individuals to severe SARS-CoV-2 infection. Given the severity of this pandemic, and the challenges associated with direct testing of host-environment interactions in clinical settings, we believe that this mice-ozone-exposure based study informs the scientific community of the potentially detrimental effects of the ambient ozone levels determining the host susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2.