Using LPS to stimulate human proximal renal tubular epithelial cells and HK-2 cells, to observe the relationship between NGAL and caspase 3 at the genetic level, we found that 1–3 h after treatment, caspase 3 mRNA was significantly up-regulated and 1–6 h after LPS treatment, NGAL mRNA was up-regulated, indicating that apoptosis in HK-2 cells was initiated in a manner similar to rats with septic AKI and that NGAL and caspase 3 were linked. This evidence concerns the gene LCN2 and acute kidney injury.