Androgens Drive SOX9 Upregulation in Injured Proximal Tubular Cells

The authors investigate whether the transcription factor SOX9 mediates sex-specific responses in proximal tubular cells following acute kidney injury (AKI) in male and female rodent models. They find that SOX9 upregulation and its protective effects are significantly more pronounced in males, driven by testosterone, while females exhibit a blunted response. This study highlights the necessity for sex-inclusive approaches in developing therapeutic strategies for AKI, given the distinct injury and recovery pathways identified between sexes.