MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of small non-coding RNA which exert post-transcriptional gene regulation activity by targeting messenger RNAs. miRNAs have been found involved in a great variety of fundamental biological processes, and deregulation of miRNAs is known to be closely related to morbidity. Recent studies have confirmed that several miRNAs were differentially expressed after renal ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI), and some of them might be involved in IRI regulation. miRNAs can influence the expression of inflammatory mediators in endothelial cells, dendritic cells and macrophages,and thus regulate inflammatory response during renal IRI. miRNAs might also influence genes related to apoptosis and proliferation, and thus regulate apoptosis and proliferation of tubular epithelial cells. miRNAs could also induce accumulation of endothelial progenitor cells in renal tissue and facilitate angiogenesis and injury repair. Extracellular studies have also showed that instant change of some miRNAs in serum and urine might reflect the degree of renal IRI. Therefore, miRNAs might serve as new biomarkers as well as potential therapeutic targets for renal IRI.