Fig. 1
From: The effects of apoptosis inhibitor of macrophage in kidney diseases
AIM in AKI: A proximal renal tubules are damaged by harmful stress, which leads to the deaths of renal PTECs. Afterward, there was a significant amount of desquamated epithelial in the proximal tubular lumen. B Injure cells empress KIM-1, which is essential in identifying AIM. In the meantime, circulating AIM concentrations increase significantly. C AIM is identified by KIM-1 and combined with luminal fragments. Then, the conjugate is endocytosed by 'semi-professional' phagocytes, originating from the injured but surviving renal PTECs. D AIM cooperates with KIM-1 to immediately remove dead cell fragments and promote the removal of fragments in the tube, which is the key to the recovery of AKI