Diabetic Nephropathy and COVID-19: The Potential Role of Immune Actors
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 researc...
| Main Authors: | , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2021-07-01
|
| Series: | International Journal of Molecular Sciences |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/22/15/7762 |
| _version_ | 1797525600106184704 |
|---|---|
| author | Diane Mourad Nadim S. Azar Sami T. Azar |
| author_facet | Diane Mourad Nadim S. Azar Sami T. Azar |
| author_sort | Diane Mourad |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | 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. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T09:16:10Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-ad60ec5560c741328504ce755ece1234 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1661-6596 1422-0067 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T09:16:10Z |
| publishDate | 2021-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Journal of Molecular Sciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-ad60ec5560c741328504ce755ece12342023-11-22T05:37:58ZengMDPI AGInternational Journal of Molecular Sciences1661-65961422-00672021-07-012215776210.3390/ijms22157762Diabetic Nephropathy and COVID-19: The Potential Role of Immune ActorsDiane Mourad0Nadim S. Azar1Sami T. Azar2Department of Internal Medicine, Endocrinology Division, Faculty of Medicine and Medical Center, American University of Beirut, Beirut 11-0236, LebanonDepartment of Anatomy, Cell Biology, and Physiological Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Medical Center, American University of Beirut, Beirut 11-0236, LebanonDepartment of Internal Medicine, Endocrinology Division, Faculty of Medicine and Medical Center, American University of Beirut, Beirut 11-0236, LebanonNowadays, 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.https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/22/15/7762diabetic nephropathyCOVID-19immune actorsNeuropilin-1ACE-2mitochondrial glutathione |
| spellingShingle | Diane Mourad Nadim S. Azar Sami T. Azar Diabetic Nephropathy and COVID-19: The Potential Role of Immune Actors International Journal of Molecular Sciences diabetic nephropathy COVID-19 immune actors Neuropilin-1 ACE-2 mitochondrial glutathione |
| title | Diabetic Nephropathy and COVID-19: The Potential Role of Immune Actors |
| title_full | Diabetic Nephropathy and COVID-19: The Potential Role of Immune Actors |
| title_fullStr | Diabetic Nephropathy and COVID-19: The Potential Role of Immune Actors |
| title_full_unstemmed | Diabetic Nephropathy and COVID-19: The Potential Role of Immune Actors |
| title_short | Diabetic Nephropathy and COVID-19: The Potential Role of Immune Actors |
| title_sort | diabetic nephropathy and covid 19 the potential role of immune actors |
| topic | diabetic nephropathy COVID-19 immune actors Neuropilin-1 ACE-2 mitochondrial glutathione |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/22/15/7762 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT dianemourad diabeticnephropathyandcovid19thepotentialroleofimmuneactors AT nadimsazar diabeticnephropathyandcovid19thepotentialroleofimmuneactors AT samitazar diabeticnephropathyandcovid19thepotentialroleofimmuneactors |