iPS cell technology-based research for the treatment of diabetic nephropathy

Regenerative medicine strategies using induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells are among the candidate approaches to treat diabetic nephropathy caused by type 1 diabetes. Cell transplantation therapy and disease modeling with patient-derived iPS cells should be examined for diabetic renal disease. Considerable work already has been performed with regard to the generation of renal lineage cells from mouse embryonic stem cells, however, few reports have described research with human embryonic stem cells or iPS cells. Further elucidation of the mechanisms of kidney development and establishing the method for directed differentiation from human iPS cells into renal lineage cells will be required for the development of iPS cell technology-based treatment for diabetic nephropathy.