From acute tubular injury to tubular repair and chronic kidney diseases – KIM-1 as a promising biomarker for predicting renal tubular pathology

Kidney Injury Molecule-1 (KIM-1) has emerged as a significant biomarker and mechanistic player in kidney pathology, particularly in acute kidney injury (AKI). Normally absent in healthy kidney proximal tubules, KIM-1 becomes upregulated specifically along the proximal tubule cells' surface in r...

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Main Authors: Ping L. Zhang, Ming-Lin Liu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-01-01
Series:Current Research in Physiology
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2665944125000148
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author Ping L. Zhang
Ming-Lin Liu
author_facet Ping L. Zhang
Ming-Lin Liu
author_sort Ping L. Zhang
collection DOAJ
description Kidney Injury Molecule-1 (KIM-1) has emerged as a significant biomarker and mechanistic player in kidney pathology, particularly in acute kidney injury (AKI). Normally absent in healthy kidney proximal tubules, KIM-1 becomes upregulated specifically along the proximal tubule cells' surface in response to acute injury, reflecting the differential vulnerability of convoluted versus straight proximal tubules. Functionally, KIM-1 aids proximal tubules in clearing apoptotic cells and moderating inflammatory responses, thereby helping to prevent excessive immune activation during the early stages of injury. Clinically, KIM-1 is a sensitive, non-invasive biomarker for detecting proximal tubular injury, allowing for assessment in urine, plasma samples, and tissue biopsies in AKI. However, if tubular injury persists without repair, prolonged KIM-1 expression can drive chronic inflammatory responses and interstitial fibrosis, leading to chronic kidney disease (CKD). In addition, KIM-1's role may extend further into promoting tubular dedifferentiation, potentially contributing to renal cell carcinoma under certain conditions. Over the past two decades, KIM-1 research has reshaped our understanding of kidney pathophysiology and immunology, spanning acute injury responses to chronic disease progression. This review aims to provide an updated synthesis of recent findings, highlighting KIM-1's role across the spectrum of renal injury and repair.
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spelling doaj-art-2fcb2d1b9eeb4688809ee7a46273d03d2025-08-20T03:23:04ZengElsevierCurrent Research in Physiology2665-94412025-01-01810015210.1016/j.crphys.2025.100152From acute tubular injury to tubular repair and chronic kidney diseases – KIM-1 as a promising biomarker for predicting renal tubular pathologyPing L. Zhang0Ming-Lin Liu1Department of Pathology, William Beaumont University Hospital, Corewell Health (East), 3601 W. 13 Mile Road, Royal Oak, MI, USA; Corresponding author. Department of Pathology, Corewell Health (East), 3601 W. 13 Mile Road, Royal Oak, MI, 48073, USA.Department of Dermatology, Penn Institute for Immunology, Institute for Translational Medicine & Therapeutics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, USA; Veterans Administration Medical Center, Room B414, 3900 Woodland Avenue, Philadelphia, 19104, USA; Corresponding author. Department of Dermatology, Penn Institute for Immunology, Institute for Translational Medicine & Therapeutics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania; Veterans Administration Medical Center, Room B414, 3900 Woodland Avenue, Philadelphia, 19104, USA.Kidney Injury Molecule-1 (KIM-1) has emerged as a significant biomarker and mechanistic player in kidney pathology, particularly in acute kidney injury (AKI). Normally absent in healthy kidney proximal tubules, KIM-1 becomes upregulated specifically along the proximal tubule cells' surface in response to acute injury, reflecting the differential vulnerability of convoluted versus straight proximal tubules. Functionally, KIM-1 aids proximal tubules in clearing apoptotic cells and moderating inflammatory responses, thereby helping to prevent excessive immune activation during the early stages of injury. Clinically, KIM-1 is a sensitive, non-invasive biomarker for detecting proximal tubular injury, allowing for assessment in urine, plasma samples, and tissue biopsies in AKI. However, if tubular injury persists without repair, prolonged KIM-1 expression can drive chronic inflammatory responses and interstitial fibrosis, leading to chronic kidney disease (CKD). In addition, KIM-1's role may extend further into promoting tubular dedifferentiation, potentially contributing to renal cell carcinoma under certain conditions. Over the past two decades, KIM-1 research has reshaped our understanding of kidney pathophysiology and immunology, spanning acute injury responses to chronic disease progression. This review aims to provide an updated synthesis of recent findings, highlighting KIM-1's role across the spectrum of renal injury and repair.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2665944125000148Acute kidney injuryTubular repairKidney injury molecule-1Tubular dedifferentiationChronic kidney disease
spellingShingle Ping L. Zhang
Ming-Lin Liu
From acute tubular injury to tubular repair and chronic kidney diseases – KIM-1 as a promising biomarker for predicting renal tubular pathology
Current Research in Physiology
Acute kidney injury
Tubular repair
Kidney injury molecule-1
Tubular dedifferentiation
Chronic kidney disease
title From acute tubular injury to tubular repair and chronic kidney diseases – KIM-1 as a promising biomarker for predicting renal tubular pathology
title_full From acute tubular injury to tubular repair and chronic kidney diseases – KIM-1 as a promising biomarker for predicting renal tubular pathology
title_fullStr From acute tubular injury to tubular repair and chronic kidney diseases – KIM-1 as a promising biomarker for predicting renal tubular pathology
title_full_unstemmed From acute tubular injury to tubular repair and chronic kidney diseases – KIM-1 as a promising biomarker for predicting renal tubular pathology
title_short From acute tubular injury to tubular repair and chronic kidney diseases – KIM-1 as a promising biomarker for predicting renal tubular pathology
title_sort from acute tubular injury to tubular repair and chronic kidney diseases kim 1 as a promising biomarker for predicting renal tubular pathology
topic Acute kidney injury
Tubular repair
Kidney injury molecule-1
Tubular dedifferentiation
Chronic kidney disease
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2665944125000148
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