Apoptosis in acute kidney injury

Acute kidney injury (AKI), also called acute renal failure, is a major kidney disease associated with high mortality. Under the disease condition, renal tubular cells are reversibly or irreversibly injured, undergoing cell death in both forms of necrosis and apoptosis. Research during the last few years has established an important role for tubular cell apoptosis in ischemic as well as nephrotoxic AKI. The mechanisms underlying tubular cell apoptosis are being elucidated. Research in this area may lead to the development of novel therapeutic strategies for the prevention and treatment of AKI.