A comparative transcriptomics analysis of mammalian and non-mammalian acute kidney injury (AKI) models

Our findings demonstrate that non-traditional animal models of AKI, such as zebrafish, axolotls, and spiny mice, provide valuable insights into the molecular basis of kidney regeneration. The identification of conserved and divergent injury responses suggests evolutionary conservation in core AKI mechanisms, while also pointing to regeneration-associated transcriptional programs that could inform future therapeutic strategies. This work underscores the importance of using non-traditional models as well as the value in comparative analysis with traditional models and clinical data.