Cell-based approaches for renal tissue regeneration

The kidneys serve a number of important roles that are required to maintain normal human physiologic function. Chronic kidney disease is a leading cause of mortality and morbidity, and a substantial number of these patients progress to end-stage renal disease. End-stage disease involves multiple organ systems and requires renal replacement therapy. Currently, the gold-standard treatment for this condition is renal transplantation, which can restore complete kidney function. However, renal transplantation is limited by the critical shortage of transplant organs and by complications that can result from chronic immunosuppressive therapy and graft failure. Recent advances in cell technologies have allowed for development of cell-based approaches for kidney tissue regeneration. Efforts are ongoing to identify reliable cell sources, develop ideal growth environments and innovative differentiation factors, and discover synthetic and naturally-derived materials for use as an ideal support structure for tissue regeneration. However, numerous challenges must be met in order to translate these techniques into clinically relevant therapies.