Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, Queen Mary Hospital, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
Int J Mol Sci. 2022 Jul 31;23(15):8509. 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.
急性肾损伤（AKI）是一种常见的临床病症，会导致患者发病率和死亡率上升，并产生相当大的医疗保健费用。脓毒症、缺血再灌注损伤（IRI）和药物性肾毒性是主要病因。越来越多的证据表明，各种病因的 AKI 中观察到环状 RNA（circRNA）的波动，并且具有发病意义。circRNA 的异常表达会导致细胞内信号转导改变、氧化应激加剧、细胞凋亡增加、炎症过度和组织损伤，从而导致脓毒症或 IRI 引起的 AKI。虽然药物诱导的 AKI 中 circRNAs 失调，但它们在发病机制中的作用还不太清楚。circRNAs 在诊断、预后、监测和治疗方面也显示出潜在的临床应用价值。需要前瞻性观察性研究来探讨 circRNAs 在 AKI 临床管理中的作用，特别关注针对 circRNAs 的治疗干预的安全性和避免意外的脱靶效应。
