Acute kidney injury (AKI) induced by many pathogenic factors is an acute and severe clinical syndrome with higher incidence and mortality. Its mortality remains high due to the limited therapeutic measures. To understand its pathological mechanism is essential for the prevention and treatment of AKI. The injury and repair of renal tubular epithelial cells play an important role in the development of AKI. In this review, autophagy, regulated cell death and cell cycle changes in tubular epithelial cells are discussed.