SARS-CoV-2 infection of kidney tissues in some severe and fatal cases of
COVID-19
Abstract
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection
can lead to diverse clinical manifestations and pathologies that involve
multiple organs. Even though the disease severity is manifested mainly
in the respiratory tract, which is the primary target of SARS-CoV-2
infection, acute kidney injury in the form of acute tubular necrosis has
also been noted in some COVID-19 cases. It is not entirely clear whether
renal cells can be infected by the virus that might be involved in acute
kidney disorder. In a recent publication by Radovic and colleagues (1)
that has been selected as the editor’s choice paper published in the
Journal of Medical Virology, the authors provided strong
histopathological and immunofluorescence evidence of SARS-CoV-2
infection and tissue injury of renal parenchymal and tubular epithelial
cells, which strongly suggest an active viral replication in the kidney
of some severe and fatal COVID-19 cases, and to a lesser extent, a
potential role for innate immune cells in viral infection and renal
disease pathogenesis.