title: Epigenetics in acute kidney injury.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Recent advances in epigenetics indicate the involvement of several epigenetic modifications in the pathogenesis of acute kidney injury (AKI). The purpose of this review is to summarize our understanding of recent advances in the epigenetic regulation of AKI and provide mechanistic insight into the role of acetylation, methylation, and microRNA expression in the pathological processes of AKI.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Enhancement of protein acetylation by pharmacological inhibition of histone deacetylases leads to more severe tubular injury and impairment of renal structural and functional recovery. The changes in promoter DNA methylation occur in the kidney with ischemia/reperfusion. microRNA expression is associated with regulation of both renal injury and regeneration after AKI.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Recent studies on epigenetic regulation indicate that acetylation, methylation, and microRNA expression are critically implicated in the pathogenesis of AKI. Strategies targeting epigenetic processes may hold a therapeutic potential for patients with AKI.
authors.affiliation: aDepartment of Nephrology, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China bDepartment of Medicine, Rhode Island Hospital and Alpert Medical School, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, USA.
authors.forename: Jinhua
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: Shougang
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zhuang
mesh_terms: D058186:Acute Kidney Injury / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic; D006801:Humans; D007511:Ischemia / Q000378:metabolism*; D007668:Kidney / Q000378:metabolism*; D011499:Protein Processing, Post-Translational / Q000502:physiology*; D012038:Regeneration / Q000502:physiology