Implantation of Renal Segments on Biodegradable Polymer Scaffolds / 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 allograft failure. The present study investigated the possibility of using a tissue engineering technique for renal reconstruction as a new method to replace the current suboptimal treatments for ESRD. We reconstituted renal units in vivo by transplanting isolated renal segments on three-dimensional, biodegradable polymer scaffolds. METHODS: Renal segments were freshly isolated from Sprague-Dawley rat kidneys and seeded onto porous mesh matrices fabricated from polyglycolic acid, a biodegradable synthetic polymer. The renal segment-seeded scaffolds were implanted into subcutaneous spaces of athymic mice for two and four weeks. Retrieved specimens were examined by histological analyses. RESULTS: The tubular structures with hollow centers and vascular tufts of glomerulus-like structures were identified by histological analyses of the 2 and 4 week specimens. In contrast, no renal-like structures were observed from unseeded polymer implants (negative controls). CONCLUSION: These results suggest a possibility of reconstituting the renal structures by transplanting renal segments on polymer scaffolds and could be applid for partial or full replacement of kidney function in the treatment of ESRD.