Diabetic Nephropathy and COVID-19: The Potential Role of Immune Actors

International Journal of Molecular Sciences

Nadim S. Azar¹  Sami T. Azar²  Diane Mourad² 

[1] Department of Anatomy, Cell Biology, and Physiological Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Medical Center, American University of Beirut, Beirut 11-0236, Lebanon;Department of Internal Medicine, Endocrinology Division, Faculty of Medicine and Medical Center, American University of Beirut, Beirut 11-0236, Lebanon;

关键词: diabetic nephropathy;    COVID-19;    immune actors;    Neuropilin-1;    ACE-2;    mitochondrial glutathione;   

DOI  :  10.3390/ijms22157762

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

Nowadays, type II diabetes mellitus, more specifically ensuing diabetic nephropathy, and severe COVID-19 disease are known to be closely associated. The exact mechanisms behind this association are less known. An implication for the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 remains controversial. Some researchers have started looking into other potential actors, such as neuropilin-1, mitochondrial glutathione, vitamin D, and DPP4. In particular, neuropilin-1 seems to play an important role in the underlying mechanism linking COVID-19 and diabetic nephropathy. We suggest, based on the findings in this review, that its up-regulation in the diabetic kidney facilitates viral entry in this tissue, and that the engagement of both processes leads to a depletion of neuropilin-1, which was demonstrated to be strongly associated with the pathogenesis of DN. More studies are needed to confirm this hypothesis, and research should be directed towards elucidating the potential roles of all these suggested actors and eventually discovering new therapeutic strategies that could reduce the burden of COVID-19 in patients with diabetic nephropathy.

【 授权许可】

Unknown