Integrated Transcriptomic Analysis Reveals Reciprocal Interactions between SARS-CoV-2 Infection and Multi-Organ Dysfunction, Especially the Correlation of Renal Failure and COVID-19

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic, which is caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, has resulted in extensive health challenges globally. While SARS-CoV-2 primarily targets the respiratory system, clinical studies have revealed that it could also affect multiple organs, including the heart, kidneys, liver, and brain, leading to severe complications. To unravel the intricate molecular interactions between the virus and host tissues, we performed an integrated transcriptomic analysis to investigate the effects of SARS-CoV-2 on various organs, with a particular focus on the relationship between renal failure and COVID-19. A comparative analysis showed that SARS-CoV-2 triggers a systemic immune response in the brain, heart, and kidney tissues, characterized by significant upregulation of cytokine and chemokine secretion, along with enhanced migration of lymphocytes and leukocytes. A weighted gene co-expression network analysis demonstrated that SARS-CoV-2 could also induce tissue-specific transcriptional profiling. More importantly, single-cell sequencing revealed that COVID-19 patients with renal failure exhibited lower metabolic activity in lung epithelial and B cells, with reduced ligand–receptor interactions, especially CD226 and ICAM, suggesting a compromised immune response. A trajectory analysis revealed that COVID-19 patients with renal failure exhibited less mature alveolar type 1 cells. Furthermore, these patients showed potential fibrosis in the hearts, liver, and lung increased extracellular matrix remodeling activities. However, there was no significant metabolic dysregulation in the liver of COVID-19 patients with renal failure. Candidate drugs prediction by Drug Signatures database and LINCS L1000 Antibody Perturbations Database underscored the importance of considering multi-organ effects in COVID-19 management and highlight potential therapeutic strategies, including targeting viral entry and replication, controlling tissue fibrosis, and alleviating inflammation.