Does anyone know if it's possible for coronavirus to infect kidney cells via secretion from the peritubilar capillaries to the renal cell. Been doing some research on coronaviruses and possibilities as to how mers causes acute renal failure but haven't seen anything that goes into this idea.
Yes, it is. SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, enters human cells by binding to the ACE2 receptor. The ACE2 receptor is present in various organs, including the lungs, heart, intestines, and kidneys. In the kidneys, the ACE2 receptor is primarily expressed in the proximal tubule cells, which are responsible for reabsorbing nutrients and water from the filtrate. However, peritubular capillary endothelial cells and podocytes also express ACE2 to a lesser extent. Studies have shown that SARS-CoV-2 RNA and protein can be detected in the urine and kidney tissue of COVID-19 patients, indicating that the virus can infect the kidney. It is believed that the virus enters the kidney through the bloodstream and infects the kidney cells, including the proximal tubule cells, podocytes, and endothelial cells.
