The carotid body (CB) plays a contributory role in the pathogenesis of various respiratory, cardiovascular, renal and metabolic diseases, through reflex changes in ventilation and sympathetic output. On the basis of available data about peripheral arterial chemoreception and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome - Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV2), a potential involvement in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) may be hypothesized through different mechanisms. The CB could be a site of SARS-CoV2 invasion, due to local expression of its receptor (Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme (ACE) 2), and an alternative route of nervous system invasion, through retrograde transport along the carotid sinus nerve. The CB function could be affected by COVID-19-induced inflammatory/immune reactions and/or ACE1/ACE2 imbalance, both at local or systemic level. Increased peripheral arterial chemosensitivity and reflex sympatho-activation may contribute to the increased morbidity/mortality in COVID-19 patients with respiratory, cardiovascular, renal or metabolic comorbidities.

中文翻译：

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颈动脉体在COVID-19中的潜在作用。

颈动脉体（CB）通过通气和交感神经反射改变，在各种呼吸道，心血管，肾脏和代谢性疾病的发病机理中发挥重要作用。根据有关外周动脉化学感受和重症急性呼吸系统综合症-冠状病毒2（SARS-CoV2）的可用数据，可以通过不同的机制推测可能参与2019年的冠状病毒疾病（COVID-19）。CB可能是SARS-CoV2受体的局部表达（血管紧张素转换酶（ACE）2）和通过沿颈窦神经逆行转运的另一种入侵神经系统的途径。在局部或全身水平上，COBID-19引起的炎症/免疫反应和/或ACE1 / ACE2失衡可能会影响CB功能。