Indirect activation of autophagy by administration of a mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibitor or the adenosine monophosphate associated kinase (AMPK) activator 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide ribonucleotide (AICAR) ameliorates AKI in the LPS and CLP models, respectively [13]. Here, MTOR is linked to acute kidney injury.