Clinical Applications of Biomarker [TIMP2]×[IGFBP7] in Acute Kidney Injury

Abstract

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is one of the most prevalent clinical syndromes characterized by renal functional and structural abnormalities. Serum creatinine (SCr) levels increase, or urine output (UO) decrease dramatically within a specific period of time, which is considered the criteria for diagnosing AKI. Novel biomarkers that accurately predict AKI are being employed to detect renal dysfunction at an early stage. Cell cycle block is one of the mechanisms of AKI, with increasing levels of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases 2 (TIMP2) and IGF-binding protein 7 (IGFBP7). Thus, [TIMP2]×[IGFBP7] can be an important novel biomarker for predicting AKI in urine, which has not been widely explored. Research reveals the bright side of [TIMP2]×[IGFBP7] as a biomarker-protective effect on DNA during cell division, as well as the dark side-cellular senescence and fibrosis phenotypes. This review describes the positive predictive value of [TIMP2]×[IGFBP7] for AKI after cardiac surgery, AKI in pediatrics, and sepsis-related AKI. This review aims to stimulate relevant studies targeting the predictive role of [TIMP2]×[IGFBP7] for AKI, to facilitate the exploration of predicting AKI in different fields.