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Days of clinical research empower scientists to discover novel methods using stem cells to develop more humanlike tiny kidneys. This is something, which is not as new to us as we had enough of such research-based organ development for kidney impairments earlier as well.
More the number of new methods to investigate etiologies of kidney disorders are developed, more prospective and fruitful results we can expect.
Why Stem-Cell Based Research Is So Promising?
As far as tissue engineering is concerned, they turn out to be a promising therapeutic approach to facilitate kidney replacement and regeneration therapies. So, developing the method for any kidney tissues depends largely on comprehensive insights into kidney formations, which can contribute to mimic the process in cell culture in the lab.
With a better data through stem cell research, it is likely to receive more precise and accurate information about the kidneys, enabling researchers to develop a better functional kidney.
This is another feat of stem cells, which raises a prospective result for us to avoid renal failure and its debilitating consequences. Kidney disorder or failure is a growing concern for American adults as it affects about 30 million citizens among them or about 15% of the total population. The number of affected patients is higher than those patients suffering from breast cancer and prostate cancer combined.
Since, the mini kidney regeneration is a hope for us to replace damaged kidney, there is another study, proving to be a prospective method to repair damaged kidneys too.
Kidney Repair Requisite
Our kidneys are a pair of important organs that helps discharge waste products from the bodies, while filtering and cleaning our blood to detoxify it of all the waste products. Unlike skin, kidneys have very little capacity to heal by themselves to repair its scar or damage. On failure to exert this key function, the damaged kidneys in the patients worsen their conditions, pushing them to suffer from end stage kidney disease. The condition leaves the patients with no options, except dialysis and kidney transplant.
But, a novel therapy is a possibility that may help to repair damaged kidneys and help patients avoid these costly treatment options like dialysis and organ transplant.
Hope for the Kidney Patients
Kidneys have some cells with the characterization of a regenerative capacity. This fact has been brought to the light by scientists in Italy. These cells with transcription factors CD133 are a type of molecules, which have the capacity to sustain renal injuries and regenerate various kidney cells.
Scientists at the University of Torino wanted to work on these cells and wanted to gauge how these molecules worked to further the process of tissue repair in damaged kidneys.
The Process of the Research
The scientists used a chemotherapy drug cisplatin, used for the treatment of cancers. In addition, the drug is supposed to affect the functions of kidneys too in at least one third of the patients. It was found that CD133 played a key role in helping recover damaged kidneys in the patients, while preventing the progenitor cells of kidneys from aging. This is important to help repair damaged kidneys in the future.
This is helpful for the further research of kidney disease, so that with infusions of CD133 molecules, it will be possible to help patients with damaged kidney repair one day. Although the process is effective for the treatment of last stage of kidney ailments, it is hopeful that the process can help people with an early stage of disease also and remove the complications completely.
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