Stem cells can reverse genetic kidney disease

Reported by Susan Aldridge, PhD, medical journalist

Bone-marrow derived stem cells could repair kidney damage in animals with Alport syndrome.
There are 31 different genetic diseases linked to defects in the body's extracellular matrix (ECM), which is the collagen-containing scaffold which supports cells. One is Alport syndrome, where the defect affects the filtration apparatus in the kidney. Those affected usually need a transplant or life-long dialysis.

Researchers at Beth Deaconess Medical Center have treated mice with Alport syndrome with bone-marrow derived stem cells. Ten per cent of the cells incorporated into the damaged area of kidney and emerged as healthy kidney cells. Significantly, this led to an improvement in kidney functioning. Clearly the stem cell approach has some potential for children and adults with Alport syndrome. The researchers will now look at whether other types of stem cell can be used to repair this kind of kidney damage, It is also possible that stem cells might be applicable to other genetic diseases of the ECM.

Source
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences online 24th April 2006

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