Rhabdomyolysis and complement—once again, epithelial cells take center stage

Rhabdomyolysis is frequently associated with kidney injury. Unfortunately, there are no specific treatments for this condition, and patient care primarily consists of supportive measures. In this edition of Kidney International, Boudhabhay et al. demonstrate that myoglobin released from injured skeletal muscle cells triggers tubulointerstitial complement activation. In a mouse model of the disease, interventions that scavenged free heme or that prevented complement activation ameliorated kidney injury, raising the possibility that these strategies may be effective treatments for the condition.