Figure 2.

A hypothetical mode for BKV dissemination in the glomerular that includes GVU cells. BKV (black spheres) enters the glomerulus of the renal compartment via the afferent arteriole during the viremic phase of infection. This leads to the initial infection of GVU cells, namely the mesangial cells. Next, the virus spreads from mesangial cells to glomerular podocytes, and then locally to glomerular endothelial cells that are also highly permissive for infection in vitro and reported to be infected by BKV in vivo. The virus then encounters the parietal cells of the glomerular capsule that are reported to be permissive for BKV in vivo. Finally, the virus further disseminates and infects the proximal tubular epithelial cells that are highly permissive for BKV infection in vitro and in vivo. Widespread virus infection and replication in GVU targets cells, along with tubular epithelial cells and parietal glomerular capsular cells, would theoretically contributes to the viruria, viremia, inflammation, and nephropathy. Model of BKV entry and existence in the glomerulus (modified with permission from Pearson Education Inc. 2013 (unpublished data)).