According to a study published in the journal Science Advances on July 24, an international team of researchers led by neuroscientists at Harvard Medical School has uncovered which olfactory cell types are most vulnerable to infection by SARS-CoV-2, which causes COVID-19.
A loss of the sense of smell has been deemed an underlying symptom of COVID-19 in some patients. However, researchers have found that sensory neurons that detect and transmit the sense of smell to the brain are not among vulnerable cell types. Olfactory sensory neurons do not express the gene that encodes the ACE2 receptor protein, which SARS-CoV-2 uses to enter human cells. Instead, scientists have discovered that ACE2 is expressed in cells that provide metabolic and structural support to olfactory sensory neurons, as well as other populations of stem cells and blood vessel cells.
These findings, which are detailed in the study, indicate that the infection of nonneuronal cell types could be responsible for the temporary loss of smell in COVID-19 patients.
"Our findings indicate that the novel coronavirus changes the sense of smell in patients not by directly infecting neurons but by affecting the function of supporting cells," said senior study author Sandeep Robert Datta, associate professor of neurobiology in the Blavatnik Institute at HMS. "I think it's good news, because once the infection clears, olfactory neurons don't appear to need to be replaced or rebuilt from scratch. But we need more data and a better understanding of the underlying mechanisms to confirm this conclusion."
Many COVID-19 patients experience some level of anosmia, which is the term used to describe the temporary loss of smell. Electronic health records suggest that COVID-19 patients are 27 times more likely to have smell loss but are only 2.2 to 2.6 times more likely to have fever, cough or respiratory challenges, compared to those without the infection.
Many patients who lost their smell while infected with COVID-19 have turned to smell therapy during recovery, according to Business Insider. Chrissi Kelly, the founder of AbScent, a UK charity that helps people who suffer from smell loss, has been at the forefront of the recovery process for patients. Although she says smell therapy is not necessarily a cure, it can potentially stimulate and amplify nerves in the nose that are responsible for smell.
Kelly recommends smelling each of her companys essential oils rose, lemon, clove and eucalyptus for up to 20 seconds, twice a day, for a minimum of four months. She also notes that the same desired effect may be achievable by inhaling other scents, such as coffee or spices.
According to a study published in JAMA Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery at the beginning of July, the loss of smell and/or taste in COVID-19 patients is not uncommon. However, researchers looked at 202 patients, and at four weeks from the onset of the infection, 48.7% of subjects had completely recovered from taste or smell impairment. About 40.7% reported an improvement in severity, and only 10.6% stated that the symptoms were unchanged or worse.
Although altered sense of smell or taste showed an improvement in most cases during the course of the disease, these symptoms were still the most frequently reported by patients with COVID-19 4 weeks after testing, wrote the study authors in their findings. However, the persistence of altered sense of smell or taste was not associated with the persistence of the SARS-CoV-2 infection at control swab with lasting fever being the only symptom associated with the persistence of the infection. Thus, unrelated to viral clearance, time is likely needed for the olfactory epithelium to repair and regenerate, and persistence of anosmia does not reflect ongoing viral shedding and a contagious state.
Read more:
New Research Sheds Light on the Temporary Loss of Smell Stemming from COVID-19 - BioSpace
- 100 plus years of stem cell research20 years of ISSCR - PMC - March 26th, 2024
- Stem Cell Science and Human Research Studies Ahead of Cargo Arrival - NASA Blogs - February 18th, 2024
- Stem cell research project to launch into space - Fox Weather - January 24th, 2024
- Breakthrough in cancer research opening up stem cell therapy to more people. How you can get involved - 69News WFMZ-TV - January 20th, 2024
- Stem Cell Research Heading to the ISS on Axiom Mission 3 - ISS National Lab - January 18th, 2024
- No, Rep. Steve Scalise Didn't Vote Against Stem Cell Research From Which He Is Now Benefiting - The Dispatch - January 12th, 2024
- Applications are open for the Maryland Stem Cell Research Fund - Technical.ly - January 4th, 2024
- Global Stem Cell Therapy Market to Reach USD 928.6 Million by 2031: Says Allied Market Research - Yahoo Finance - November 19th, 2023
- Current state of stem cell-based therapies: an overview - PMC - November 3rd, 2023
- Dynamic Stem Cell Therapy Uncovers Research in Advance Regenrative Medicine - Yahoo Finance - November 3rd, 2023
- Research Fellow (Aging and Cancer Stem Cell Laboratory ... - Times Higher Education - October 15th, 2023
- Qkine Collaborates with the Cambridge Stem Cell Institute to Facilitate Same-Day Access to Key Research Products for Researchers at the Cambridge... - September 27th, 2023
- Stem cells: a comprehensive review of origins and emerging clinical ... - September 25th, 2023
- Stem Cell Research and Communicating Science | GBH - GBH News - September 20th, 2023
- Stem cell research reveals the earliest stages of a human life - SBS News - September 10th, 2023
- Stem Cell Therapy Market Size 2023 | Innovative Research Methodologies with Emerging Trends and Opportuni - Benzinga - September 10th, 2023
- Autologous Stem Cell and Non-Stem Cell Based Therapies Market Research, Current Trends, Key Industry Play - Benzinga - September 8th, 2023
- Stem Cell Therapy Market 2023 Business Statistics and Research ... - The Knox Student - August 28th, 2023
- Autologous Stem Cell Based Therapies Market Analysis, Research ... - Chatfield News-Record - July 19th, 2023
- Global Stem Cell Market Projected to Reach $14 Bn by 2028: Ken Research - Yahoo Finance - July 11th, 2023
- Theradaptive Awarded Manufacturing Assistance Grant by the Maryland Stem Cell Research Fund - Benzinga - July 10th, 2023
- Bionano Announces Presentation of OGM Utility Across Stem Cell Therapy Applications at the International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR) Annual... - June 19th, 2023
- Sana Biotechnology Highlights Preclinical Data from Hypoimmune and Fusogen Platforms at the International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR) 2023... - June 17th, 2023
- Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell (iPSC) Global Market Report 2023: Effective Research Programs Hold Key in Roll Out of Advanced iPSC Treatments - Yahoo... - June 17th, 2023
- Lung and heart stem cell research paves way for new COVID-19 treatments - Medical Xpress - June 14th, 2023
- Toxicology PhD student cultivating giant leaps in stem cell research ... - June 4th, 2023
- Harvard Stem Cell Institute (HSCI) - May 26th, 2023
- Findings may lead to improved insulin-secreting cells derived from stem ... - May 26th, 2023
- Cell Press: Stem Cell Reports - May 26th, 2023
- Stem cell research could enable blood to be made in other parts of the body - Medical Xpress - May 26th, 2023
- Construction of myocardial patch with mesenchymal stem cells and poly ... - May 22nd, 2023
- Cedars-Sinai to Send Stem Cells to the Space Station to Aid in the ... - May 22nd, 2023
- researchers expand human blood stem cells | Institute for Stem Cell ... - May 22nd, 2023
- A Look Inside Stem Cells Helps Create Personalized Regenerative ... - May 17th, 2023
- Exclusive Research Report on Msenchymal Stem Cell and Exosome Diagnostics and Therapies Market to Witness Comp - openPR - May 17th, 2023
- The Future of Stem Cell Research: Master of Science in ... - The Daily | Case Western Reserve University - May 10th, 2023
- Exclusive Research Report on Stem Cell Therapy for Diabetes and ... - Digital Journal - May 9th, 2023
- Aging melanocyte stem cells and gray hair | National Institutes of ... - May 5th, 2023
- Mouse hair turns gray when certain stem cells get stuck - May 5th, 2023
- Science-First Skincare Company Michal Morrison Secures Exclusive World-Wide License of Proprietary STEM6 Molecule, Supported by Over 25 Years of... - May 5th, 2023
- BioCentriq and panCELLa execute research agreement to study stem cell-derived Natural Killer cell expansi - Benzinga - May 3rd, 2023
- Hair turning gray? Study finds a stem cell 'glitch' may be the cause - May 1st, 2023
- Elevai Labs Announces Research Grant Award and Partnership to Better Characterize the 'Payload' of ELEVAI's Stem Cell-derived Exosomes - Yahoo Finance - April 27th, 2023
- Why does hair turn gray? A new study says 'stuck' stem cells may ... - NPR - April 27th, 2023
- Study advances understanding of how melanocyte stem cells work to color ... - April 21st, 2023
- Stem cell research and therapy legislation to be replaced, says ... - Bahamas Tribune - April 21st, 2023
- Stem Cell Research (journal) - Wikipedia - April 21st, 2023
- Scientists Are About to Try to Create Stem Cells in Space - April 21st, 2023
- Stem Cell Research & Therapy | Articles - BioMed Central - April 16th, 2023
- Stem Cell Junk Yards Reveal a New Clue About Aging | WIRED - April 16th, 2023
- Global Stem Cells Market Research Report 2023: Implications - April 16th, 2023
- Stem cell research can help people with hard- | EurekAlert! - April 16th, 2023
- University Of Edinburgh's stem cell research gets funding boost - India Education Diary - April 14th, 2023
- Two major stem cell research projects supported with more than ... - University of California, Santa Cruz - April 8th, 2023
- Cancer detection predicts tumors before they form: discovery - March 29th, 2023
- Stem cell therapy: a potential cure for hearing loss? - March 29th, 2023
- Turkey's Only Stem Cell Production Application and Research Center - Expat Guide Turkey - March 24th, 2023
- Stem Cell Research Article, Embryonic Cells Information, Cell Therapy ... - March 24th, 2023
- Scientists create mice with cells from 2 males for 1st time - March 19th, 2023
- QBRI concludes stem cells symposium - Gulf Times - March 17th, 2023
- 2020 California Proposition 14 - Wikipedia - March 17th, 2023
- Stem Cell Reports | Journal | ScienceDirect.com by Elsevier - March 17th, 2023
- Stem cell therapy MSC-NP found to ease inflammatory activity of brain ... - March 12th, 2023
- Stem Cell Research | Office of Research Compliance | SIU - March 12th, 2023
- Heart disease study shows hope for stem cell treatment - March 4th, 2023
- Stem cells drive antler regeneration | Science - March 4th, 2023
- Stem Cell Research: Argumentative Essay - Free Essay Example - Edubirdie - March 4th, 2023
- Stem Cell Research | Thermo Fisher Scientific - US - March 4th, 2023
- Stem cell controversy - Wikipedia - February 28th, 2023
- National Institutes of Health grant funds interdisciplinary ... - February 27th, 2023
- Research Associate in Cancer Stem Cell Research job with ... - Times Higher Education - February 25th, 2023
- Pioneering Stem Cell Research Conference at The Aga Khan ... - The Aga Khan University - February 25th, 2023
- Scientists grapple with ethics of stem cell research - STAT - February 17th, 2023
- Research Associate in Stem Cell Neurobiology job with KINGS ... - Times Higher Education - January 30th, 2023
- Stem cells: past, present, and future | Stem Cell Research & Therapy ... - January 12th, 2023
- Edu Thesis & Essay: Stem cell research outline top writers online! - January 12th, 2023
- Stem Cell Biology Research Program | Johns Hopkins Institute for Cell ... - January 5th, 2023
- Stem cell population identified is vital for bone regeneration: Research - ThePrint - January 5th, 2023
- Leading scientist 'blown away' by UAE advances in stem cell research - The National - December 15th, 2022
- The Stem Cell Assay Market Is Set To Grow At A 20% Annual Rate, Due To The High Prevalence Of Chronic Diseases As Per The Business Research Company's... - December 13th, 2022
Recent Comments