SARS-CoV-2 infects the human kidney and drives fibrosis in kidney organoids

Cell Stem Cell. 2022 Feb 3;29(2):217-231.e8. doi: 10.1016/j.stem.2021.12.010. Epub 2021 Dec 25.

Abstract

Kidney failure is frequently observed during and after COVID-19, but it remains elusive whether this is a direct effect of the virus. Here, we report that SARS-CoV-2 directly infects kidney cells and is associated with increased tubule-interstitial kidney fibrosis in patient autopsy samples. To study direct effects of the virus on the kidney independent of systemic effects of COVID-19, we infected human-induced pluripotent stem-cell-derived kidney organoids with SARS-CoV-2. Single-cell RNA sequencing indicated injury and dedifferentiation of infected cells with activation of profibrotic signaling pathways. Importantly, SARS-CoV-2 infection also led to increased collagen 1 protein expression in organoids. A SARS-CoV-2 protease inhibitor was able to ameliorate the infection of kidney cells by SARS-CoV-2. Our results suggest that SARS-CoV-2 can directly infect kidney cells and induce cell injury with subsequent fibrosis. These data could explain both acute kidney injury in COVID-19 patients and the development of chronic kidney disease in long COVID.

Keywords: COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; chronic kidney disease; fibrosis; human iPSC kidney organoids; kidney injury; protease blocker.

MeSH terms

  • COVID-19* / complications
  • Fibrosis
  • Humans
  • Kidney
  • Organoids / pathology
  • Post-Acute COVID-19 Syndrome
  • SARS-CoV-2*