Stem Cell-Based Cell Therapy for Glomerulonephritis

Figure 1

Potential mechanisms of therapeutical effect of stem cells on glomerulonephritis (GN). Stem cell-based cell therapy is likely to improve the kidney injury in GN mainly via (trans)differentiation of transplant cells into renal cells and paracrine mechanisms. Paracrine mechanisms include anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory, antifibrosis, antiapoptosis, oxidative stress inhibition, and maintaining normal structure and regeneration. (IL: interleukin, TNF: tumor necrosis factor, IFN-γ: interferon γ, MCP: monocyte chemotactic protein, PDGF-β: platelet-derived growth factor β, BAFF: B-cell activating factor, CTGF: connective tissue growth factor, TGF-β: transforming growth factor-β, PAI-1: plasminogen activator inhibitor 1, EGF: epithelial growth factor, VEGF: vascular endothelial growth factor, HGF: hepatocyte growth factor, IGF-1: insulin-like growth factor, BMP-7: bone morphogenic protein-7, ROS: reactive oxygen species, RNS: reactive nitrogen species.).