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

• Published in: International journal of molecular sciences Vol. 23; no. 15; p. 8509
• Main Authors: So, Benjamin Y. F., Yap, Desmond Y. H., Chan, Tak Mao
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basel MDPI AG 31-07-2022; MDPI
• Subjects: acute kidney injury; Apoptosis; circular RNAs; drugs; Epigenetics; Gene expression; Genomes; Health care; Hypotension; Industrialized nations; Intracellular signalling; ischaemia-reperfusion injury; Ischemia; Kidney diseases; Kidneys; MicroRNAs; Morbidity; Mortality; Oxidative stress; Pathogenesis; Pathophysiology; Reperfusion; Review; Sepsis; Signal transduction; Therapeutic applications; Urogenital system
• ISSN: 1422-0067; 1661-6596; 1422-0067
• DOI: 10.3390/ijms23158509

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.