Inflammation in kidney repair: Mechanism and therapeutic potential

The kidney has a remarkable ability of repair after acute kidney injury (AKI). However, when injury is severe or persistent, the repair is incomplete or maladaptive and may lead to chronic kidney disease (CKD). Maladaptive kidney repair involves multiple cell types and multifactorial processes, of which inflammation is a key component. In the process of inflammation, there is a bidirectional interplay between kidney parenchymal cells and the immune system. The extensive and complex crosstalk between renal tubular epithelial cells and interstitial cells, including immune cells, fibroblasts, and endothelial cells, governs the repair and recovery of the injured kidney. Further research in this field is imperative for the discovery of biomarkers and promising therapeutic targets for kidney repair. In this review, we summarize the latest progress in the immune response and inflammation during maladaptive kidney repair, analyzing the interaction between immune cells and intrinsic kidney cells, pointing out the potentialities of inflammation-related pathways as therapeutic targets, and discussing the challenges and future research prospects in this field.

Automated summary

The kidney has the ability to repair itself after acute kidney injury, but severe or persistent damage can lead to chronic kidney disease. Maladaptive kidney repair involves inflammation as a key component, with interactions between kidney cells and the immune system playing a crucial role. Further research is needed to discover biomarkers and therapeutic targets for kidney repair. This review summarizes the latest progress in understanding the immune response and inflammation during maladaptive kidney repair, highlighting the interactions between immune cells and kidney cells and discussing the potential of targeting inflammation-related pathways.