New Study Reveals Hepatitis E Virus Can Infect Kidney Cells

Recent research has uncovered that the hepatitis E virus (HEV), traditionally recognized for its ability to infect liver cells, also possesses the capacity to infect kidney cells. This finding, published on July 3, 2025, in the journal Liver International, suggests significant implications for treatment and understanding of the virus's behavior in human physiology.

The study, conducted by researchers from Ruhr University Bochum and TWINCORE in Hannover, Germany, demonstrated that HEV can replicate within several types of human kidney cells, mirroring its replication cycle in liver cells. Dr. André Gömer, co-senior author of the study, emphasized the importance of these findings in understanding chronic infections. "In chronic infections, the kidney may serve as a reservoir from which the virus can re-emerge after treatment," he stated.

Chronic hepatitis E infections can lead to serious health complications, as HEV is one of the leading causes of acute viral hepatitis globally, primarily transmitted through contaminated water and food. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the virus can cause both acute and chronic hepatitis, with the latter potentially resulting in severe liver damage.

In their experiments, the researchers evaluated five different sets of lab-grown human kidney cells, confirming that HEV was capable of infecting and replicating in all of them. Strikingly, the replication rates observed in some kidney cell lines were comparable to, or even exceeded, those in liver cells. This revelation underlines the need for further exploration into the effects of HEV on kidney function and overall health.

The researchers tested the antiviral drug ribavirin, commonly used to treat HEV, on the kidney cell lines. They found that the drug was less effective in inhibiting HEV replication in these cells compared to liver cells, possibly due to differing metabolic profiles of the organs involved. Dr. Gömer remarked, "This may have significant clinical implications for antiviral treatment, explaining why ribavirin doesn’t always eliminate HEV from the body."

To further substantiate their findings, the research team analyzed samples from nine patients with chronic HEV infections who had not undergone antiviral treatment for three months. Genetic analyses revealed significant variation in the viral populations extracted from blood, stool, and urine samples, indicating that the virus may evolve independently in different organs. Dr. Patrick Behrendt, another co-senior author, noted the implications of these findings: "The viruses found in the different samples differ significantly from each other, suggesting that they have been developing independently and acquiring distinct mutations."

While the study advances the understanding of HEV's pathogenicity, researchers caution that additional studies are required to validate these findings and explore the mechanisms underlying HEV's ability to infect kidney cells. The potential for kidney infections may alter treatment approaches and patient management strategies for those affected by HEV.

In conclusion, the discovery that hepatitis E can infect kidney cells adds complexity to the understanding of this virus and highlights the necessity for ongoing research into its impact on human health. Health authorities and clinicians must consider these new insights to enhance patient care and treatment outcomes for those suffering from hepatitis E.