Figure 1.

Schematic overview of the kidney infected by SARS-CoV-2 or HIV

Mechanisms and details of SARS-CoV-2 and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and their impact on the kidney. SARS-CoV-2, more than HIV, triggers an innate immune response that imposes systemic effects on the kidney, impacting glomerular injury and tubular injury. Both viruses can also infect kidney cells directly, which in the case of SARS-CoV-2 may contribute to fibrosis. Notably, systemic and cell-specific effects are compounded, which can increase risk further upon additional factors (e.g., suPAR, APOL1 risk variants).