The kidney organoids are established from stem cells and include lots of different kidney cells, other than immune cells. The kidney organoids were infected with SARS-CoV-2 and the researchers investigated the direct result of the virus on the kidney cells, independent of potential secondary results triggered by immune cells or other systemic results. Researcher Katharina Reimer (RWTH Aachen Uniklinik): “Kidney fibrosis, or scarring, is a serious long-term consequence that can take place practically after any injury to the kidney and associates with kidney function. Our work reveals kidney scarring in COVID-19 patients, which provides an explanation why the infection may trigger kidney functional decline as shown in other studies.
kidney areas from healthy control (left) and COVID-19 client (right). Scar tissue is blue. Credit: Jitske Jansen and Bart Smeets, Radboudumc
The Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 infects the kidneys and contributes to tissue scarring, as revealed by researchers from the RWTH Uniklinik Aachen, Germany, and Radboudumc, The Netherlands. The developed scar tissue in the contaminated kidneys may recommend a possible effect on kidney results in the long term.
The fact that the Coronavirus can result in serious damage in the human body is understood, and also that kidneys can get infected. In this research study, released in Cell Stem Cell, scientists investigated the kidney tissue of COVID-19 patients confessed to the Intensive Care Unit.
Next, the scientists questioned just what the cause was of the kidney damage. Could this be a direct result of the infection, independent of systemic inflammation? To investigate this, the researchers cultured mini kidneys in the laboratory, called organoids. The kidney organoids are established from stem cells and consist of lots of different kidney cells, other than immune cells. The kidney organoids were contaminated with SARS-CoV-2 and the researchers examined the direct impact of the infection on the kidney cells, independent of potential secondary results caused by immune cells or other systemic impacts. The scientists discovered, in line with the COVID-19 client tissues, scarring of the kidney organoids and accompanied signals that add to the scarring process.
The results of this study show that the recent finding of another USA based large associate study that reported kidney practical decrease in over 90,000 COVID-19 survivors (Bowe et al JASN) may be due to direct effects of the SARS-CoV2 infection on the kidney causing scar formation.
Scientist Jitske Jansen (Radboudumc): “In our research study, we thoroughly examined the causal destructive effects of the Coronavirus in the kidneys. The infected kidney organoids show that the infection directly triggers cell damage, independent of the body immune system. With this work, we discovered a piece of the puzzle showing the deleterious effects the infection can have in the body.”
Researcher Katharina Reimer (RWTH Aachen Uniklinik): “Kidney fibrosis, or scarring, is a major long-term consequence that can happen essentially after any injury to the kidney and correlates with kidney function. Our work shows kidney scarring in COVID-19 clients, which offers a description why the virus may trigger kidney functional decrease as shown in other studies. Long-lasting follow-up research studies will provide more insights into kidney-related pathologies triggered by SARS-CoV-2.”
Referral: “SARS-CoV-2 infects the human kidney and drives fibrosis in kidney organoids” by Jitske Jansen, Katharina Charlotte Reimer, James Shiniti Nagai, Finny S. Varghese, Gijs J. Overheul, Maritde Beer, Rona Roverts, Deniz Daviran, Liline A.S. Fermin, Brigith Willemsen, Marcel Beukenboom, Sonja Djudjaj, Saskiavon Stillfried, Larissa E. van Eijk, Mirjam Mastik, Marian Bulthuis, Wilfred den Dunnen, Harryvan Goor, Jan-Luuk Hillebrands, Sergio Heli Triana, Theodore Alexandrov, Marie-Cherelle Timm, Bartholomeus Tideman van den Berge, Martijnvan den Broek, Quincy Nlandu, Joelle Heijnert, Eric M.J. Bindels, Remco M. Hoogenboezem, Fieke Mooren, Christoph Kuppe, Pascal Miesen, Katrien Grünberg, Ties Ijzermans, Eric J. Steenbergen, Jan Czogalla, Michiel F. Schreuder, Nico Sommerdijk, Anat Akiva, Peter Boor, Victor G. Puelles, Jürgen Floege, Tobias B. Huber, the COVID Moonshot consortium Ronald P. van Rij, Ivan G. Costa, Rebekka K. Schneider, Bart Smeets and Rafael Kramann, 25 December 2021, Cell Stem Cell.DOI: 10.1016/ j.stem.2021.12.010.