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Human Kidney Mandy Draney Blog Post


The article I chose is from Biology News Net and is titled Human kidney progenitor isolated, offering new clues to cell renewal.  This article discusses how in a first-of-its-kind look at human kidney development, researchers at The Saban Research Institute of Children’s Hospital Los Angeles have isolated the human nephron progenitor (NP) cells.  By doing so, they will help scientists understand how these progenitor cells become renal cells in the developing fetus and hopefully offer a way to regenerate renal function after chronic kidney failure or an injury leaving the kidney non-functioning.
A key unit of the kidney is the nephron.  It is a tiny structure that filters waste.  Prior to 34-36 weeks in fetal gestation of humans, approximately 500,000 to 1,000,000 nephrons are generated.  If at any time a sufficient number of nephrons are lost after this time period, irreversible kidney failure will occur and no cell repair or regeneration can occur.
The principal investigator, Laura Perin, PhD and  co-director of CHLA’S GOFARR Laboratory for Organ Regenerative Research and Cell Therapeutics in Urology states that, “In addition to defining the genetic profile of human HP, this system will facilitate studies of human kidney development, providing a novel tool for renal regeneration and bioengineering purposes.”
I found this article to be particularly fascinating because my mother has been in end stage kidney failure for the last 12 years.  Her only options are a kidney transplant or years of dialysis.  Last year I was diagnosed with Stage 3 kidney failure.  The idea that a scientist in the near
future could reverse chronic kidney failure by studying how these progenitor cells become renal cells is incredibly promising to me.  Those of us with kidney disease may have other options rather than years of dialysis or kidney transplant surgery.

http://www.biologynews.net/archives/2016/09/12/human_kidney_progenitors_isolated_offering_new_clues_to_cell_renewal.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+biologynews%2Fheadlines+%28Biology+News+Net%29

Comments

  1. UnknownApril 19, 2018 at 2:36 PM

    This blog is of particular interest to me because I work as a dialysis technician and treat people everyday that have end stage renal disease. I see and hear first hand how the disease affects people and I wish there was a way for them to be cured, as their condition controls many aspects of their lives, including: diet; fluid intake; 9-15 hours per week of dialysis treatment; traveling; etc. Before reading this article, I figured there had to be some kind of research of this sort that is looking for a cure for ESRD. Knowing that they are looking at and studying these specific progenitor cells that are involved in becoming renal cells is exciting, however, it seems that as of right now they are still in the beginning stages and it could be quite some time before the potential to cure ESRD will become reality.

    As mentioned in my comment above, it seems that they are in the beginning stages of research. How far along are they? Is there any prediction as to how far in the future this could be a reality? Are there any other studies using progenitor cells where they have been able replicate or direct the process to help people grow specific body tissues that would give hope to the possibility of growing renal tissue? I ask these questions to gain insight into the realistic possibility that it could happen in the near future, or if it is only theoretically possible as of now.

    R.G.

    ReplyDelete
  2. UnknownApril 27, 2018 at 10:51 PM

    This article is fascinating how they took basic biology concepts and turned them into larger projects. Truly this is an astounding project.
    ZP

    ReplyDelete

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