siRNA therapy has great potential in humans, and its applications have been significantly improved. The kidney is a comparatively easy target organ of siRNA therapy due to its unique structural and functional characteristics. Here, we reviewed recent achievements in the design, delivery, and utilization of RNAi with a focus on kidney diseases, in particular acute kidney injury. In addition, the perspectives and challenges of siRNA therapy such as increasing its serum stability and immune tolerance, targeting single/double/multiple genes, cell/allele-specific delivery, time-controlled silencing, and siRNA-modified stem cell therapy were also discussed. Finally, selecting target genes and therapeutic time windows were addressed.
Part of the book: RNA Interference