Regeneration of Renal Tissue Using Cell Transplantation in a Renal Failure Rat Model / 대한이식학회지

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Dialysis and renal transplantation, the current therapies for end-stage renal disease (ESRD), have limitations including severe complications, donor organ shortage, and graft failure. The present study investigated the possibility of using a tissue engineering technique for renal tissue reconstruction as a new method to replace the current treatments for ESRD. We restored renal structure in vivo by transplanting isolated renal cells in renal failure animal models. METHODS: Renal failure was surgically induced by 5/6 nephrectomy using silk tie method in Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats. Renal failure was confirmed by measuring the concentrations of blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine from blood samples. Renal cells were freshly isolated from newborn SD rat kidneys and implanted into renal failure- induced kidneys with fibrin gel matrix for 4 weeks. Retrieved specimens were examined by histological analyses. RESULTS: Renal failure-induced rats exhibited higher concentrations of BUN and creatinine compared to those of normal rats. Four weeks after cell transplantation, histological examination showed the reconstitution of vascular tufts of glomerular structures. CONCLUSION: Renal failure rat models were successfully created by 5/6 nephrectomy. This study showed a possibility of restoring the renal structures by transplanting renal cells with fibrin gel matrix in renal failure rat models. Further studies, such as investigation on renal function recovery by cell transplantation, are necessary to determine the clinical utility of this method for partial or full replacement of renal structure and function in the treatment of ESRD.