Inhaled corticosteroids downregulate the SARS-CoV-2 receptor ACE2 in COPD through suppression of type I interferon.

"Disclosure of potential conflict of interest: S.L. Johnston has personally received consultancy fees from Myelo Therapeutics GmbH, Concert Pharmaceuticals, Bayer, Sanofi Pasteura, and Aviragen; in addition, he and his institution have received consultancy fees from Synairgen, Novarits, Boehringer Ingelheim, Chiesi, GlaxoSmithKline, and Centocor. S.L. Johnston is also an inventor on patents related to the use of inhaled interferons for treatment of exacerbations of airway diseases. M.A. Calderazzo was employed by Chiesi Pharmaceuticals from January 2015 to November 2017. A. Singanayagam has received honoraria for speaking from AstraZeneca. The rest of the authors declare that they have no relevant conflicts of interest."

"Supported by a Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Training Fellowship (grant WT096382AIA [to A.S.]), a Wellcome Trust Seed Award in Science (grant 215275/Z/19/Z [to A.S.]), a British Society for Antimicrobial Chemotherapy COVID-19 grant (to A.S.) a 10.13039/501100000272National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Senior Investigator Award (to S.L.J.), the NIHR Clinical Lecturer funding scheme (to P.M.) and funding from the Imperial College and NIHR Biomedical Research Centre scheme."