Receiving a kidney transplant is the best option for patients with end-stage renal disease. Unfortunately, there is a shortage of kidneys available for transplantation and there are often problems with the recipient’s immune system rejecting the new organ. Additionally, there are range of side effects associated with the immunosuppressive drugs used, including infection and nephrotoxicity.

In recent years, scientists have been looking at the possibility of using Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs) to help kidney transplants succeed. Mesenchymal stem cells have the ability to home into the site of injury and perform immunomodulation — where the immune response is altered to a desired level. Researchers suspect they can reduce the chances of immune system rejection of the organ, reducing the need for immunosuppressant drugs.

Researchers have also been looking at the paracrine signaling capabilities of mesenchymal stem cells. Paracrine signaling is a form of cell to cell communication, where one cell induces change in other nearby cells. Scientists have already discovered that mesenchymal stem cells use cell signaling to inhibit inflammation, apoptosis and fibrosis in damaged renal tissue. MSCs have even been shown to stimulate renal tissue regeneration.

Even though the evidence of the positive effects of MSCs has been well proven, scientists still must ensure they are safe for use — there haven’t been widespread trials on the use of MSCs to help with kidney transplants. There are currently nine clinical trials listed at ClinicalTrials.gov, examining the use of MSCs to help with kidney transplants. Of those, two are completed and five are still recruiting test subjects.

While researchers believe that MSCs may be extremely valuable for kidney transplants, there is still a lot to learn. The upcoming trials will try to find the best source for these stem cells, the best time to transplant the stem cells (before or after the kidney transplant), the dosage, and the frequency of dosage. There is still a long way to go, but findings are very positive.

Source: Mesenchymal Stem Cell-Based Therapy in Kidney Transplantation

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