Concise review: stem/progenitor cells for renal tissue repair: current knowledge and perspectives

Area of Science:

• Nephrology
• Stem Cell Biology
• Regenerative Medicine

Background:

• Kidney regeneration is limited due to specialized cell types.
• The identity and niche of renal stem/progenitor cells remain debated.
• Current therapies focus on enhancing intrinsic kidney repair capabilities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review current knowledge on stem/progenitor cells for kidney regeneration.
• To discuss bioproducts from stem/progenitor cells for therapeutic effects.
• To survey novel approaches for nephrogenesis and organ generation.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing literature on renal stem/progenitor cells.
• Analysis of therapeutic effects of endogenous and exogenous cells in kidney injury models.
• Survey of organoid, decellularized kidney, and blastocyst complementation strategies.

Main Results:

• Stem/progenitor cells and their bioproducts show therapeutic potential in kidney regeneration.
• Mesenchymal stem cells are a focus for clinical translation.
• Extracellular vesicles offer a promising approach for cell reprogramming.

Conclusions:

• Understanding renal stem/progenitor cells is crucial for developing effective kidney regeneration therapies.
• Stem cell-derived bioproducts represent a promising avenue for treating kidney injury.
• Advanced techniques like organoids and blastocyst complementation may enable future kidney organogenesis.