Histone deacetylase 6 (HDAC6) inhibition has been reported to protect against ischemic stroke and prolong survival after sepsis in animal models. However, it remains unknown whether HDAC6 inhibition offers a renoprotective effect after acute kidney injury (AKI). In this study, we examined the therapeutic effect of tubastatin A (TA), a highly selective inhibitor of HDAC6, on AKI in a murine model of glycerol (GL) injection-induced rhabdomyolysis. Following GL injection, the mice developed severe acute tubular injury as indicated by renal dysfunction, expression of neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL), an injury marker of renal tubules and increase of TUNEL positive tubular cells. These changes were companied by increased HDAC6 expression in the cytoplasm of renal tubular cells. Administration of TA significantly reduced serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen levels as well as attenuated renal tubular damage in injured kidneys. HDAC6 inhibition also resulted in decreased expression of NGAL, reduced apoptotic cell and inactivated caspase-3 in the kidney after acute injury. Moreover, injury to the kidney increased phosphorylation of nuclear factor (NF)-B and expression of multiple cytokines/chemokines including tumor necrotic factor-α and interleukin-6, and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, as well as macrophages infiltration. Treatment with TA attenuated all those responses. Collectively, these data indicate that HDAC6 contributes to the pathogenesis of rhabdomyolysis-induced AKI and suggest that HDAC6 inhibitors have therapeutic potential for AKI treatment.