Abstract: Acute kidney injury (AKI) is anextremely hazardous clinical syndrome characterized by rapid decline of renal function, with high morbidity and mortality.Oxidative stress has been proved by numerous studies to be a common pathway, promoting the occurrence and development of acute kidney injury under actions of various factors. Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) mediates a large number of gene expressions involved in redox reaction, and its activation is one of the main defense mechanisms of cells. In this paper, the recent research progress on the role of Nrf2-keap1 signaling pathway in AKI was summarized, and the research status of Nrf2 activator in clinical application was discussed, so as to provide basis for prevention and treatment of AKI.