Mesenchymal stem cell therapy for chronic renal failure

Importance of the field: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) has become a worldwide public health problem. Renal transplantation is the treatment of choice for end-stage renal disease, but is limited by a small number of organ donors and the immune barrier. To overcome these problems, new therapeutic strategies for tissue repair have recently emerged. Areas covered in this review: We discuss the therapeutic potential of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in kidney injury and examine the latest reports providing evidence supporting MSC efficacy in the treatment of chronic renal failure (CRF). What the reader will gain: MSCs improve histological and functional outcomes in various CRF model systems. Paracrine effects rather than trans-differentiation might result in the prevention of progressive renal failure. In addition, MSCs can reprogram kidney cell differentiation, and modulate neo-kidney transplantation in CRF. Take home message: Although many practical problems remain to be addressed, treatment with MSCs will enter the mainstream of CRF treatment.