• Xialian Xu, Alison J Kriegel, Xiaoyan Jiao, Hong Liu, Xiaowen Bai, Jessica Olson, Mingyu Liang, and Xiaoqiang Ding.
• Division of Nephrology, Fudan University Zhongshan Hospital, Shanghai, Peoples Republic of China;
• Physiol. Genomics. 2014 Nov 1;46(21):789-97.

AbstractMicroRNAs (miRNAs or miRs) are endogenous, small RNA molecules that suppress expression of targeted mRNA. miR-21, one of the most extensively studied miRNAs, is importantly involved in divergent pathophysiological processes relating to ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury, such as inflammation and angiogenesis. The role of miR-21 in renal I/R is complex, with both protective and pathological pathways being regulated by miR-21. Preconditioning-induced upregulation of miR-21 contributes to the protection against subsequent renal I/R injury through the targeting of genes such as the proapoptotic gene programmed cell death 4 and interactions between miR-21 and hypoxia-inducible factor. Conversely, long-term elevation of miR-21 may be detrimental to the organ by promoting the development of renal interstitial fibrosis following I/R injury. miR-21 is importantly involved in several pathophysiological processes related to I/R injury including inflammation and angiogenesis as well as the biology of stem cells that could be used to treat I/R injury; however, the effect of miR-21 on these processes in renal I/R injury remains to be studied.Copyright © 2014 the American Physiological Society.

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