Augmenter of liver regeneration (ALR) is a newly discovered cytokine that can promote liver regeneration and proliferation of damaged liver cells. In the renal tissue, ALR is mainly expressed in the cytoplasm of the medullary loops, collecting ducts and distal convoluted tubules in the renal medulla, and is low in the glomerular and cortical tubules. Various stimulation, such as ischemiacal, hypoxia, poisoning and inflammatory stimulation, can induce the expression of ALR in the epithelial cells of proximal tubule regeneration and the damaged areas of cortex, and participate in the repair process. Current studies have found that in acute kidney injury (AKI), exogenous ALR can protect renal tubular epithelial cells by inhibiting apoptosis of renal tubular epithelial cells, promoting proliferation of renal tubular epithelial cells, inhibiting the activities of inflammatory cells, and promoting the reduction of renal injury. This paper intends to review the basic characteristics of ALR and the pathogenesis of AKI, summarize the characteristics of the mechanism of ALR in AKI by combing the relevant literature on ALR and AKI in recent years, and provide knowledge reserve and direction reference for the in-depth study of ALR in kidney in the future.