Combining cell-based therapy and normothermic machine perfusion for kidney graft conditioning has gone one step further.

Abstract

Kidney transplantation (KTx) from donors after circulatory death (DCD) and extended criteria donors is being increasingly performed to overcome organ shortage. However, these transplants are more vulnerable to ischemia/reperfusion injury (IRI), which has prompted intensive research for graft conditioning strategies. In addition to their immunomodulatory properties, mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSC) proved efficient in the attenuation of renal IRI in preclinical models. Still, the optimal conditions of MSC use in clinical settings of KTx remain elusive.