Augmenter of liver regeneration protects kidneys from ischaemia/reperfusion injury in rats.

Background: Augmenter of liver regeneration (ALR), which was identified originally for its crucial role in promoting hepatocyte proliferation, is expressed in both the liver and kidney. Protective effects of ALR have been demonstrated in experimental models of acute liver failure. In the present study, we investigated the effect of ALR on renal ischaemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury and the possible mechanisms of its action.