British scientists from the University of reading and University of London, explained one of the main symptoms COVID-19 – loss of smell.
It was thought that calling the disease, the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 can infect the olfactory neurons, which ill no longer feel the taste and smell. This was due to the fact that the transmission of coronavirus uses the ACE2 receptor in cells of the upper respiratory tract.
However, the study showed that ACE2 is not deposited directly on the olfactory neurons, and are supporting them sustentacular cells.
The authors found that SARS-CoV-2 cause immune response affecting support cage, which causes inflammation and swelling of the infected region. So the patient loses sense of smell, but after recovering the ability to taste and smell returns.
Recovery of smell in some cases can be slow, which is caused by damage to the support cells and olfactory neurons. Scientists have noted that neurons are regenerated from the stock located in the nasal mucosa stem cells.
Earlier Media wrote that experts in Japan have developed a rapid test for the identification of new coronavirus infection.
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