Kidney Int Suppl (2011). 2013 Dec;3(4):364-367. doi: 10.1038/kisup.2013.78.
Kidney international supplements
Mark E Rosenberg
PMID: 25019020 PMCID: PMC4089669 DOI: 10.1038/kisup.2013.78
Cell-based therapy is an emerging field but one that has shown early promise for the treatment of human kidney diseases. The most widely used cell is the mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) given its ability to be harvested from bone marrow, expanded in culture, and used in allogeneic protocols. The beneficial effects of MSCs occur through differentiation-independent pathways that include increased cell survival and proliferation, decreased inflammation, and suppression of immune function. Acute kidney injury and kidney transplantation are the two conditions most frequently treated with MSC infusion. Although initial studies are promising, the long-term efficacy and safety of MSC infusion awaits further study.
Keywords: acute kidney injury; cell therapy; induction treatment; kidney regeneration; mesenchymal stem cells; mesenchymal stromal cells