The nose is a key entry point for the virus, and a new study suggests targeting it could result in more effective treatments.
Other viral infections – including different forms of coronavirus – have also been known to cause a loss of smell and taste. With the common cold, for example, people will get infected, have a blocked or runny nose and their senses will be numbed for a few days. When the symptoms disappear, their sense of smell and taste is quickly restored.
Researchers believe the enzyme is the “entry point” that allows coronavirus to get into the cells of the body and cause an infection. They found the most ACE2, by far, on the lining cells of a very specific area at the back of the nose where the body detects smells. The levels of ACE2 in these cells was between 200 and 700 times higher than other tissue in the nose and trachea, and they found similarly high levels in all of the samples, regardless of what type of condition the patient had.
Co-author Andrew Lane, a professor and director of the division of rhinology and skull base surgery, added: “We are now doing more experiments in the lab to see whether the virus is indeed using these cells to access and infect the body. If that’s the case, we may be able to tackle the infection with antiviral therapies delivered directly though the nose.”
For the study they carried out smell and taste tests on 10 COVID-19 patients, 10 people with bad colds and 10 healthy people. Distinguishing features of smell loss caused by COVID-19 included being able to breathe freely, not having a runny or blocked nose, and being unable to detect bitter or sweet tastes.
People who lose their sense of smell or taste are currently advised to get tested for COVID-19 and self-isolate.
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