As validated by our own AKI samples, these 21 hub genes and 14 other important upregulated genes, such as Havcr1, Sox9, Egr1, Timp1, Serpine1, Edn1, and Apln, are very important in the process of AKI, which could be used to explore some new diagnostic and therapeutic strategies. Here, SOX9 is linked to acute kidney injury.