Potential Use of Stem Cells for Kidney Regeneration

Figure 4

Putative scenario for the application of stem cell biology to kidney regeneration. Renal stem cells derived from bone marrow cells or skin fibroblasts of a dialysis patient are cultured in a growing xenoembryo for a given time to develop into kidney primordia, followed by their autologous implantation into the omentum of the same patient. Kidney primordia eventually become a self-organ that performs mature renal functions. The patient may experience relief from dialysis and completely overcome the renal disease.