Androgens, Kidney and COVID-19: An Opportunity for Translational Research.

Androgens, Kidney and COVID-19: An Opportunity for Translational Research. Am J Physiol Renal Physiol. 2021 Jan 19;: Authors: Yanes Cardozo LL, Rezq S, Pruett JE, Romero DG Abstract Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has reached pandemic proportions affecting millions of people worldwide. Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the causative agent of the COVID-19. Epidemiological reports showed that the severity of SARS-CoV-2 infection is associated with preexisting comorbidities such as hypertension, diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular diseases and chronic kidney diseases; all of which are also risk factors for acute kidney injury (AKI). The kidney has emerged as a key organ affected by the SARS-CoV-2. AKI is associated with an increased morbidity and mortality in COVID-19 patients. Male sex is an independent predictor for AKI and increased death rate has been reported in male patients with COVID-19 worldwide. The mechanism(s) that mediate the sex discrepancy in mortality due to COVID-19 remain unknown. ACE2 is the receptor for SARS-CoV-2. Alteration in the ACE/ACE2 ratio had been implicated in renal diseases. The aim of this perspective is to discuss data that suggest that androgens, via alterations in the intra-renal renin angiotensin system, impair renal hemodynamic predisposing patients to AKI during COVID-19 infection, which could explain the higher mortality observed in men with COVID-19. Clinicians shou...
Source: Am J Physiol Renal P... - Category: Urology & Nephrology Authors: Tags: Am J Physiol Renal Physiol Source Type: research