The kidney has an important role in the handling of amino acids, facilitated by a complex network of kidney transporters and enzymes. This Review provides an overview of the role of the kidney in the synthesis, degradation, filtration, reabsorption and excretion of different amino acids and the relevance of these functions in the context of kidney physiology and disease.

Hyaluronan is a critical component of the extracellular matrix, with key roles in tissue homeostasis, cellular signalling and immune responses. Here, the authors describe the roles of hyaluronan in kidney development, adult kidney physiology and kidney disease.

In this Review, the authors examine advances in uromodulin biology, including the existence of non-polymeric forms of the protein, its versatile functions, crosstalk with the immune system, its potential as a biomarker and its role in kidney disease, as well as considering how uromodulin might be targeted therapeutically.

Here, the authors describe the roles of lymphocytes and innate immune cells in inflammatory responses and repair processes during acute kidney injury (AKI). They also discuss the roles of immune cells in crosstalk pathways that result in AKI-induced distant organ dysfunction.