Mechanisms of Acute Kidney Injury–Chronic Kidney Disease Transition: Unraveling Maladaptive Repair and Therapeutic Opportunities

Acute kidney injury (AKI) causes damage to the renal epithelium, initiating a reparative process intended to restore renal function. Although effective repair can result in the complete recovery of kidney function, this process is frequently incomplete. In instances where repair is unsuccessful, the...

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Main Authors: Dongxue Xu, Xiaoyu Zhang, Jingjing Pang, Yiming Li, Zhiyong Peng
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-05-01
Series:Biomolecules
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2218-273X/15/6/794
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author Dongxue Xu
Xiaoyu Zhang
Jingjing Pang
Yiming Li
Zhiyong Peng
author_facet Dongxue Xu
Xiaoyu Zhang
Jingjing Pang
Yiming Li
Zhiyong Peng
author_sort Dongxue Xu
collection DOAJ
description Acute kidney injury (AKI) causes damage to the renal epithelium, initiating a reparative process intended to restore renal function. Although effective repair can result in the complete recovery of kidney function, this process is frequently incomplete. In instances where repair is unsuccessful, the kidney experiences maladaptive alterations that may progressively result in chronic kidney disease (CKD), a phenomenon referred to as failed repair. This condition is precipitated by hypotensive, septic, or toxic insults, which initiate a series of pathophysiological processes, including microcirculatory dysfunction, the activation of inflammatory responses, and the death of tubular epithelial cells. These events collectively compromise renal function and trigger a complex repair response. This review provides a comprehensive examination of the multifactorial mechanisms underlying the initiation and progression of AKI, the regenerative pathways facilitating structural recovery in severely damaged kidneys, and the critical transition from adaptive repair to maladaptive remodeling. Central to this transition are mechanisms such as epigenetic reprogramming, G2/M cell-cycle arrest, cellular senescence, mitochondrial dysfunction, metabolism reprogramming, and cell death, which collectively drive the progression of CKD. These mechanistic insights offer a robust foundation for the development of targeted therapeutic strategies aimed at enhancing adaptive renal repair.
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series Biomolecules
spelling doaj-art-3fce6f83e1124830b339ee5fa1bcd0a92025-08-20T03:27:21ZengMDPI AGBiomolecules2218-273X2025-05-0115679410.3390/biom15060794Mechanisms of Acute Kidney Injury–Chronic Kidney Disease Transition: Unraveling Maladaptive Repair and Therapeutic OpportunitiesDongxue Xu0Xiaoyu Zhang1Jingjing Pang2Yiming Li3Zhiyong Peng4Department of Critical Care Medicine, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, ChinaDepartment of Critical Care Medicine, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, ChinaDepartment of Critical Care Medicine, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, ChinaDepartment of Critical Care Medicine, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, ChinaDepartment of Critical Care Medicine, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, ChinaAcute kidney injury (AKI) causes damage to the renal epithelium, initiating a reparative process intended to restore renal function. Although effective repair can result in the complete recovery of kidney function, this process is frequently incomplete. In instances where repair is unsuccessful, the kidney experiences maladaptive alterations that may progressively result in chronic kidney disease (CKD), a phenomenon referred to as failed repair. This condition is precipitated by hypotensive, septic, or toxic insults, which initiate a series of pathophysiological processes, including microcirculatory dysfunction, the activation of inflammatory responses, and the death of tubular epithelial cells. These events collectively compromise renal function and trigger a complex repair response. This review provides a comprehensive examination of the multifactorial mechanisms underlying the initiation and progression of AKI, the regenerative pathways facilitating structural recovery in severely damaged kidneys, and the critical transition from adaptive repair to maladaptive remodeling. Central to this transition are mechanisms such as epigenetic reprogramming, G2/M cell-cycle arrest, cellular senescence, mitochondrial dysfunction, metabolism reprogramming, and cell death, which collectively drive the progression of CKD. These mechanistic insights offer a robust foundation for the development of targeted therapeutic strategies aimed at enhancing adaptive renal repair.https://www.mdpi.com/2218-273X/15/6/794AKICKDtransition mechanismstargeted therapeuticmaladaptive repair
spellingShingle Dongxue Xu
Xiaoyu Zhang
Jingjing Pang
Yiming Li
Zhiyong Peng
Mechanisms of Acute Kidney Injury–Chronic Kidney Disease Transition: Unraveling Maladaptive Repair and Therapeutic Opportunities
Biomolecules
AKI
CKD
transition mechanisms
targeted therapeutic
maladaptive repair
title Mechanisms of Acute Kidney Injury–Chronic Kidney Disease Transition: Unraveling Maladaptive Repair and Therapeutic Opportunities
title_full Mechanisms of Acute Kidney Injury–Chronic Kidney Disease Transition: Unraveling Maladaptive Repair and Therapeutic Opportunities
title_fullStr Mechanisms of Acute Kidney Injury–Chronic Kidney Disease Transition: Unraveling Maladaptive Repair and Therapeutic Opportunities
title_full_unstemmed Mechanisms of Acute Kidney Injury–Chronic Kidney Disease Transition: Unraveling Maladaptive Repair and Therapeutic Opportunities
title_short Mechanisms of Acute Kidney Injury–Chronic Kidney Disease Transition: Unraveling Maladaptive Repair and Therapeutic Opportunities
title_sort mechanisms of acute kidney injury chronic kidney disease transition unraveling maladaptive repair and therapeutic opportunities
topic AKI
CKD
transition mechanisms
targeted therapeutic
maladaptive repair
url https://www.mdpi.com/2218-273X/15/6/794
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