- The virus that causes COVID-19 can infect and replicate in human kidney cells, but this does not typically lead to cell death.
- Kidney cells that already have features of injury may be more easily infected and develop additional injury.
Researchers have studied human kidney cells in the lab to examine the effects of COVID-19 on kidney health. The findings appear in an upcoming issue of JASN.
Many individuals who develop COVID-19 also experience kidney damage, but it’s unclear if this is a direct result of viral infection or a consequence of another condition or the body’s response to the infection. To investigate, a team led by Benjamin Dekel, MD, PhD (Sheba Medical Center, in Israel) cultivated human kidney cells in lab dishes and infected them with the virus that causes COVID-19.
Viral Infection Without Cell Death
The researchers found that although the virus that causes COVID-19 could enter, infect, and replicate in human adult kidney cells, this did not typically lead to cell death. Prior to infection, the cells contained high levels of interferon signaling molecules, and the infection stimulated an inflammatory response that increased these molecules. In contrast, infection of kidney cells deficient in such molecules resulted in cell death, suggesting a protective effect.
The cells in these experiments were grown as a three-dimensional spheroid that imitates the healthy kidney or as a two-dimensional layer that mimics the cells of an acutely injured kidney. Cells that mimicked an acutely injured kidney were more prone to infection and additional injury but not cell death.
“The data indicate that it is unlikely that the virus is a primary cause of acute kidney injury seen in COVID-19 patients. It implies that if such injury takes place in the kidney by any cause, the virus might jump on the wagon to intensify it. Therefore, if we’re able to limit the common scenario of acute kidney injury in the first place, then there might be the possibility to minimize the potential damage caused by the virus,” Dr. Dekel explained.
Reference: “Human Kidney Spheroids and Monolayers Provide Insights into SARS-CoV-2 Renal Interactions” by Dorit Omer, Oren Pleniceanu, Yehudit Gnatek, Michael Namestnikov, Osnat Cohen-Zontag, Sanja Goldberg, Yehudit Eden Friedman, Nehemya Friedman, Michal Mandelboim, Einat Vitner, Hagit Achdout, Roy Avraham, Eran Zahavy, Tomer Israely, Haim Mayan and Benjamin Dekel, 10 June 2021, Journal of the American Society of Nephrology.
DOI: 10.1681/ASN.2020111546
Study co-authors from the Sheba Medical Center and the Israel Institute for Biological Research include Dorit Omer, PhD, Oren Pleniceanu, MD, PhD, Yehudit Gnatek, MSc, Michael Namestnikov, Osnat Cohen-Zontag, PhD, Sanja Goldberg, PhD, Yehudit Eden Friedman, MD, Nehemya Friedman, PhD, Michal Mandelboim, PhD, Einat B. Vitner, PhD, Hagit Achdout, PhD, Roy Avraham, PhD, Eran Zahavy, PhD, Tomer Israely, PhD, and Haim Mayan, MD.
Disclosures: Dr. Dekel is a co-founder and shareholder at KidneyCure Ltd.
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