Molecular Insights into Kidney Injury and Repair

Dear Colleagues, 

Renal disease is defined as a heterogeneous group of disorders affecting kidney structure and function. Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common clinical syndrome characterized by a sudden decline in loss of kidney function. Different pathogenic mechanisms are related to AKI, such as sepsis, ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury, and nephrotoxin exposition. The presence of other pathological conditions, such as diabetes and hypertension, contributes to the transition into chronic kidney disease (CKD). Current knowledge about the kidney repair mechanisms reports the existence of a population of resident stem cells in the kidney, known as ARPCs (Adult Renal Progenitor Cells), which can reestablish a functional tubular epithelium. Renal regeneration can occur by direct proliferation and differentiation of stem progenitors, or by the paracrine pathway, through the release of extracellular vesicles containing miRNAs and regenerative factors. These events could definitely determine the regulation of a pro-regenerative microenvironment. In addition, considerable interest is emerging in the use of organoids, miniature kidney-like structures, which could be a new powerful tool to spotlight the complex inter-cellular interactions and regenerative processes. New insights on the molecular mechanism of action underlying kidney injury and repair would provide early biomarkers to predict clinical outcomes and targeted therapies to prevent injury and delay the progression to chronic kidney disease.

In this Special Issue, we aim to publish original research and reviews that offer new insights into the molecular mechanisms of kidney injury, with special emphasis on renal repair mechanisms.

Dr. Rossana Franzin
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Molecular Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. There is an Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal. For details about the APC please see here. Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

• kidney injury
• renal repair
• acute kidney injury (AKI)
• chronic kidney disease (CKD)
• sepsis
• ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury
• nephrotoxin exposition
• adult renal progenitor cells