SARS-CoV-2 infection frequently induces temporary anosmia and ageusia through sustentacular cell damage
the verdict
SUPPORTED
the evidence backs this
confidence 92/100
SARS-CoV-2 infection frequently causes temporary loss of smell and taste, driven by viral entry and subsequent damage to sustentacular cells in the olfactory epithelium.
Evidence for · 4
COVID-19–related anosmia is associated with viral persistence and inflammation in human olfactory epithelium and brain infection in hamsters
2021 · cited by 503
The study demonstrates that SARS-CoV-2 infects support cells like sustentacular cells in the human olfactory neuroepithelium, associated with acute anosmia and ageusia.
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More for · 3
Massive transient damage of the olfactory epithelium associated with infection of sustentacular cells by SARS-CoV-2 in golden Syrian hamsters
2020 · cited by 282
Research in golden Syrian hamsters shows that SARS-CoV-2 infection targets sustentacular cells rather than olfactory neurons, causing massive damage and transient anosmia.
SARS-CoV-2 Receptors and Entry Genes Are Expressed in the Human Olfactory Neuroepithelium and Brain
2020 · cited by 262
Analysis of human olfactory tissue reveals that sustentacular cells express the viral entry receptors ACE2 and TMPRSS2, establishing them as primary targets for infection.
SARS-CoV-2 receptor and entry genes are expressed by sustentacular cells in the human olfactory neuroepithelium
2020 · cited by 106
Single-cell RNA sequencing confirms that sustentacular cells in the human olfactory neuroepithelium express key SARS-CoV-2 entry receptors.