Researchers have developed a new procedure using stem cells to treat acute kidney injury. The treatment uses induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) to repair the kidney and restore some function after it has been injured.

Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) is a syndrome that impairs normal kidney function or damages the kidneys in a short space of time. It normally occurs in patients whose health is already compromised. It is common in people in the elderly and people who are in intensive care units (ICU) because of another illness.

Once the kidneys lose their ability to filter waste products from the blood, dangerous levels of waste begin to accumulate. The composition of blood within the body also becomes drastically altered in a short amount of time.

The symptoms of AKI include fluid retention, decreased urine output, fatigue, confusion, seizures or coma and chest pain. AKI has a death rate of more than 60 percent among intensive care patients.

Professor Kenji Osafune and other researchers from Centre for iPS Cell Research and Application (CiRA) at Kyoto University worked in conjunction with scientists from Astellas Pharma Inc to develop the stem cell treatment. It uses kidney progenitor cells to create structures that resembled proximal renal tubules, restoring some kidney function.

Researchers were able to differentiate iPSCs into renal cells with specific markers (Osr1 and Six2 transcription factors) that created the renal tubules. They transplanted the renal progenitor cells into mice with kidney failure and saw a reduction in the rise of urea nitrogen and creatine levels in the blood. They also saw changes in the kidney tissue including tubule dilatation with casts, tubular necrosis, and interstitial fibrosis.

Researchers believe that the trophic factors secreted from the renal progenitor cells created the changes in kidney tissue, acting to protect the kidney tissue.

Thanks to this new research, using stem cells to treat acute kidney injury may be possible within a few short years.

Source: Success in Using Stem Cells to Treat Acute Kidney Injury

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