Renal Stem Cells

Kidney diseases, related to high morbidity and mortality, are one of the diseases that should be primarily
investigated. Development of acute and chronic kidney diseasesis due to lack of functioning renal repair
mechanisms. Embryonic progenitor cells are precursors of renal cells that are able to differentiate to
several types of nephron epithelium. Fetal renal progenitor cells are partially capable of self-renewal. In
the adult human kidney, whole nephron regeneration is not possible. Progenitor-like cells continuously
replace the cells that are lost physiologically or by damage. These cells have been differentiated to
epithelial and endothelial cells in vitro. Transplantation of stem cells to the damaged kidney is one
of the regenerative therapy options. In recent studies, it has been shown that chronic kidney disease,
graft rejection and other kidney diseases could be treated and nephrons and other structures could be
regenerated by stem cell therapy. Stem cells are the best candidates for the treatment of kidney diseases,
organ transplantation and producing a functional organ. The success of this method is due to the ability
of the cells to differentiate, to penetrate the existing tissue and the capacity of the cells to secrete
renoprotective factors.