TLR4 and COVID-19: Our study identified 15 risk genes associated with the progression of kidney injury in severe COVID-19: ALOX5, CD38, GSF3R, LGR, RPR1, HCK, ITGAX, LYN, MAPK3, NCF4, SELP, SPI1, WAS, TLR2 and TLR4. In the peripheral blood, these genes are predominantly expressed in a variety of inflammatory immune cells and may alter the immune microenvironment of the kidney with circulation.