History of kidney diseases and stem cells

Diabetes mellitus and hypertension represent major causes of chronic kidney diseases and initiation of dialysis; In addition, glomerular diseases, malnutrition, infectious diseases, and acute kidney injury can progress to end-stage renal disease, contributing to the increased global burden of death associated with this condition. Current treatment modalities often fail to target the major underlying contributors for progression of renal disease. Indications for kidney transplantation have expanded considerably in terms of recipient age, primary disease leading to end-stage renal failure, and degree of deterioration in clinical condition at the time of transplantation. The wide tissue distribution and multipotent differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) together with the observed reparative effects of infused MSCs in many clinical and preclinical models strongly suggest a critical role of MSCs in injury healing. MSC hold special promise for renal repair, because nephrons are largely of mesenchymal origin. MSCs attenuated renal inflammation, endoplasmic-reticulum stress, and apoptosis through mechanisms involving cell contact.