Vital stem cells transplantation: A new hope for person suffering from kidney problems

According to a new study, the scientists have found out that transplantation of RPC’s into rats suffering from kidney damage improved the functioning and structure of kidney. RPC’s are called as renal progenitor cells that are vital stem cells obtained from the kidney of a self donor. The researcher’s team from Tehran University of medical sciences conducted this study. During the research, scientists categorized rats into three groups. Out of these three, two groups were allowed to develop an induced pyelonephritis in the right kidney. It is a type of urinary infection that has reached the kidney or it is an infection of upper urinary tract. The third group of rat was not induced with any disease.

The renal progenitor cells were derived from the left kidney of diseased animals and were injected into the right kidney after an interval of six days. Two weeks later it was found out that tubular atrophy was reduced. After an interval of four weeks, fibrosis was reduced to a great extent and then after sixty days, the integrity of right renal tissue experienced a spectacular improvement. According to Dr Abdol-Mohammad Kajbafzadeh, the study of RPC transplant demonstrated the benefits of the disease. The disease pyelonephritis is a chronic infection that is responsible for the end stage of this renal disease.

These progenitor cells have functioning similar to that of stem cells extracted from menstrual blood storage or human embryos. Kajbafzadeh proposed that the growth of kidney was because of the regeneration of the functional tissue after cellular transplant. After the study, the researchers came to the conclusion that these kidney stem cells might be the right source for transplantation rather than those derived after isolate menstrual blood. It is because of their inborn property of organ specific differentiation and also their ability of modulation of the tissue that develops the risk of nephropathies.

The conclusion of the research given by the scientists was that renal fibrosis was the one and only path leading to end stage of kidney disease. So, the improvement of the fibrosis could serve to be a major relief. The study is however, the first study that has explained the enhanced functioning of renal tract after cellular transplantation. Nowadays, the number of people suffering from kidney disease is increasing at a high rate and thus this study can be called a major achievement for medical science. In addition, stem cells in menstrual blood or adult tissues can be used to replace the damaged organs and tissues due to their power of regeneration into such organs.