Review
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World J Clin Urol. Jul 24, 2014; 3(2): 87-95
Published online Jul 24, 2014. doi: 10.5410/wjcu.v3.i2.87
Mesenchymal stem cells for kidney transplantation
Bron Lett, Kisha N Sivanathan, P Toby Coates
Bron Lett, Kisha N Sivanathan, P Toby Coates, Central Northern Adelaide Renal and Transplantation Service, University of Adelaide, Royal Adelaide Hospital, Mawson Lakes, Adelaide 5000, South Australia, Australia
Author contributions: Lett B and Sivanathan KN written and edited the paper; Coates PT edited and supervised the paper.
Correspondence to: P Toby Coates, Professor, Central Northern Adelaide Renal and Transplantation Service, University of Adelaide, Royal Adelaide Hospital, Room D9-20 Level 9, East Wing, North Terrace, Mawson Lakes, Adelaide 5000, South Australia, Australia. toby.coates@health.sa.gov.au
Telephone: +61-8822-20934 Fax: +61-8822-25097
Received: April 28, 2014
Revised: June 6, 2014
Accepted: June 27, 2014
Published online: July 24, 2014
Abstract

The long term consequence of immunosuppressive therapy in kidney transplantation has prompted investigation of alternative means to modify the immune response to the allograft. Cell based therapies are potentially attractive as they may provide a long lasting immunomodulatory effect, may repair tissues and reduce the necessity to take immunosuppressive drug therapy. Of the current cell therapies, mesenchymal stem cells have now been trialled in small numbers of human kidney transplantation with apparent safety and potential efficacy. Many issues however need to be resolved before these cells will become mainstays of transplant immunosuppression including ex vivo modification to enhance immunomodulatory properties, cell number, route and frequency of administration as well as cellular source of origin.

Keywords: Mesenchymal stem cells, Kidney transplantation, Immunosuppression, Solid organ transplantation, Cellular therapies

Core tip: This review summaries several of the most prominent cellular therapies currently being examined for use in immunosuppression. From the current evidence the reviewers make the argument that mesenchymal stem cells offer the best chance of a useful and functional cellular therapy for solid organ transplantation.