29^th European Nephrology Conference

Renal Regenerative Medicine: Stem Cells and Tissue Engineering

Renal regenerative medicine represents a promising frontier in nephrology, harnessing the potential of stem cells and tissue engineering to restore damaged kidney tissue and function. Stem cell therapy offers a novel approach to replenishing lost or dysfunctional renal cells, promoting tissue repair, and improving kidney function. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), derived from various sources such as bone marrow, adipose tissue, or umbilical cord blood, have shown therapeutic potential in preclinical and clinical studies for treating acute kidney injury and chronic kidney disease. These multipotent cells exert anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, and regenerative effects, facilitating tissue repair and regeneration. Moreover, tissue engineering approaches aim to develop bioengineered renal constructs that mimic the structural and functional complexity of native kidney tissue. These constructs, composed of biomaterial scaffolds and renal cells, hold promise for transplantation, drug testing, and disease modeling applications. While challenges such as immune rejection and tumorigenicity need to be addressed, renal regenerative medicine offers exciting opportunities to revolutionize nephrology by providing innovative treatments for kidney diseases and advancing regenerative therapies to enhance patient outcomes and quality of life.