MicroRNAs in Pathogenesis of Acute Kidney Injury

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs that regulate gene expression mainly by repressing their target gene translation. A large spectrum of human diseases is associated with significant changes in miRNAs. Many miRNAs are induced in diseases, whereas some others are downregulated. The significance of miRNAs has been demonstrated in renal development and physiology, and in major kidney diseases such as acute kidney injury (AKI). Recent studies have further implicated specific miRNAs in the pathogenesis of AKI. miRNAs also have the potential to become new diagnostic biomarkers of AKI. Further investigation will identify the key pathogenic miRNAs in various types of AKI and test miRNA-based therapeutics and diagnosis.