Human Urine as a Noninvasive Source of Kidney Cells.

Fanny Oliveira Arcolino,Benedetta Bussolati,Lamberthus van den Heuvel,Patricia Murray,Agnès Tort Piella,Daniel J. Antonie,Elena Levtchenko,Elli Papadimitriou

doi:10.1155/2015/362562

Fanny Oliveira Arcolino, Benedetta Bussolati + Show 6 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1155/2015/362562

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Abstract

Urine represents an unlimited source of patient-specific kidney cells that can be harvested noninvasively. Urine derived podocytes and proximal tubule cells have been used to study disease mechanisms and to screen for novel drug therapies in a variety of human kidney disorders. The urinary kidney stem/progenitor cells and extracellular vesicles, instead, might be promising for therapeutic treatments of kidney injury. The greatest advantages of urine as a source of viable cells are the easy collection and less complicated ethical issues. However, extensive characterization and in vivo studies still have to be performed before the clinical use of urine-derived kidney progenitors.

Highlights

IntroductionDialysis and kidney transplantation are the only successful therapies for patients suffering from chronic renal failure
Extensive characterization and in vivo studies still have to be performed before the clinical use of urinederived kidney progenitors
Dialysis and kidney transplantation are the only successful therapies for patients suffering from chronic renal failure

Summary

Introduction

Dialysis and kidney transplantation are the only successful therapies for patients suffering from chronic renal failure. Cells isolated from kidney tissue samples have the advantage of coming from a defined origin. Kidney epithelia are exposed to continuous passage of filtrate, and thousands of living cells from healthy humans are excreted daily [2]. These exfoliated cells from urinary sediment can be isolated and cultured and include epithelial cells shed from different parts of the nephrons, ureters, bladder, and urethra [3] representing a limitless source of noninvasively harvested viable cells. As for all types of cells, prior to clinical use, further studies need to be performed to improve the isolation, culture, and differentiation steps to deliver cells with consistent number, quality, and stability

Differentiated Kidney Cells Isolated from Urine

Undifferentiated Kidney Cells Isolated from Urine