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Updated: Jun 14, 2026

Guided Differentiation of Mature Kidney Podocytes from Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells Under Chemically Defined Conditions
Published on: July 2, 2020
Severely damaged kidneys possess multipotent renoprotective stem cells
Yousof Gheisari1, Seyed Mahdi Nassiri, Ehsan Arefian
1Department of Stem Cell and Tissue Engineering and Department of Molecular Biology and Genetic Engineering, Stem Cell Technology Research Center, Tehran, Iran.
Background Aims:
Tissue-specific stem cells are a promising target for kidney regeneration, because it has been shown that they play a primary role in kidney repair. Several methods have been developed for the isolation of stem/progenitor cells from healthy kidneys but the existence of these cells in chronically damaged kidneys has not been noticed so far.
Methods:
A mouse model of chronic kidney failure was developed by ligation of the left ureter for 5 months, and then isolation of stem cells from this tissue as well as normal kidneys was attempted.
Results:
We found that multipotent stem cells could be isolated from both types of tissue. In addition, the cells isolated from damaged kidneys showed potential for homing to the site of injury and a renoprotective effect in an animal model of cisplatin-induced nephropathy.
Conclusions:
These results show that multipotent renoprotective stem cells exist in severely damaged kidneys, which could be a target for designing new therapies.
Insights
Multipotent stem cells capable of kidney repair were successfully isolated from damaged kidneys. These cells demonstrated homing ability and renoprotective effects, offering new therapeutic targets for kidney regeneration.
Area of Science:
- Nephrology
- Stem Cell Biology
- Regenerative Medicine
Background:
- Tissue-specific stem cells are crucial for kidney repair.
- Isolation methods exist for healthy kidneys, but not for damaged ones.
- The presence and function of stem cells in chronically damaged kidneys remain unexplored.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the existence and potential of stem cells in chronically damaged kidneys.
- To determine if stem cells from damaged kidneys possess renoprotective properties.
Main Methods:
- A mouse model of chronic kidney failure was established via ureter ligation.
- Stem cells were isolated from both damaged and healthy mouse kidneys.
- The isolated stem cells' homing potential and renoprotective effects were evaluated in a cisplatin-induced nephropathy model.
Main Results:
- Multipotent stem cells were successfully isolated from both healthy and chronically damaged kidneys.
- Stem cells derived from damaged kidneys exhibited homing capabilities to injury sites.
- These cells demonstrated significant renoprotective effects in an animal model of kidney injury.
Conclusions:
- Severely damaged kidneys harbor multipotent stem cells with renoprotective potential.
- These stem cells represent a promising target for novel kidney regeneration therapies.
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