TGFB1 and acute kidney injury: On the other hand, during viral infection, white blood cells fight against the offending agent by producing cytokines that stimulate liver to produce C-reactive protein, an inflammatory stress molecule that may promote AKI in COVID-19 with other molecules or pathways such as angiotensin II-associated hypertensive stress diabetes-related metabolic stress, cytokine storm, over-reactive TGF-B signaling, complement activation and lung-kidney cross-talk [45]