Neuropilin-1: A feasible link between liver pathologies and COVID-19

Figure 1 Neuropilin-1 expression in healthy and injured liver. Neuropilin-1 (NRP-1) is expressed at low levels in liver sinusoidal endothelial cells (LSECs) and hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) in healthy liver sinusoids. However, NRP-1 is upregulated in activated LSECs and HSCs present in several liver pathologies. The increase in NRP-1 during liver disease may facilitate and amplify infection by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), driving to liver failure and a worse prognosis because of the development of severe COVID-19 disease. SARS-CoV-2 image adapted from NIAID. aHSC: Activated hepatic stellate cell; KC: Kupffer cell; qHSC: Quiescent hepatic stellate cell.