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Review
. 2022 Jul 31;23(15):8509.
doi: 10.3390/ijms23158509.

Circular RNAs in Acute Kidney Injury: Roles in Pathophysiology and Implications for Clinical Management

Benjamin Y F So  1 , Desmond Y H Yap  1 , Tak Mao Chan  1
Affiliations
Review

Circular RNAs in Acute Kidney Injury: Roles in Pathophysiology and Implications for Clinical Management

Benjamin Y F So et al. Int J Mol Sci. .

Abstract

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common clinical condition, results in patient morbidity and mortality, and incurs considerable health care costs. Sepsis, ischaemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) and drug nephrotoxicity are the leading causes. Mounting evidence suggests that perturbations in circular RNAs (circRNAs) are observed in AKI of various aetiologies, and have pathogenic significance. Aberrant circRNA expressions can cause altered intracellular signalling, exaggerated oxidative stress, increased cellular apoptosis, excess inflammation, and tissue injury in AKI due to sepsis or IRI. While circRNAs are dysregulated in drug-induced AKI, their roles in pathogenesis are less well-characterised. CircRNAs also show potential for clinical application in diagnosis, prognostication, monitoring, and treatment. Prospective observational studies are needed to investigate the role of circRNAs in the clinical management of AKI, with special focus on the safety of therapeutic interventions targeting circRNAs and the avoidance of untoward off-target effects.

Keywords: acute kidney injury; circular RNAs; drugs; ischaemia-reperfusion injury; sepsis.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
The KDIGO criteria for the diagnosis of acute kidney injury (AKI). RRT: renal replacement therapy.
Figure 2
Figure 2
A schematic diagram of the pathophysiology of septic acute kidney injury (AKI). DAMP: damage-associated molecular patterns; PAMP: pathogen-associated molecular pattern; ROS: reactive oxygen species.
Figure 3
Figure 3
The therapeutic options for acute kidney injury (AKI) based on circRNA.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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