Contribution of bone marrow-derived cells to renal fibrosis and elucidation of cell signalling mechanisms

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This study investigates the contribution of bone marrow-derived adult stem cells to the development of renal scarring, an important process proceeding to end-stage renal disease (ESRD). There is increasing evidence demonstrating that bone marrow (BM)-derived cells can transform into renal cells and participate in the repair of damaged renal blood vessels. Our recent study demonstrated BM-derived stem cells can also transform to renal myofibroblasts, the major cell type that contributes to the development of kidney scarring. This suggests that BM-derived adult stem cells have dual roles: to repair or worsen the development of renal scarring. The present study investigates this adult stem cell's transformation and explores the potential measures to enhance the benefits and to block the harmful roles from these adult stem cells. The importance of BM-derived stem cells in the repair of damaged kidney will be determined and thus will provide preliminary insights into the future utilization of BM-derived stem cells in the treatment of chronic renal disease. Understanding the dual roles of BM-derived stem cells in experimental renal scarring, will lead us to question our current thinking and approaches to the treatment and management of renal fibrosis, and perhaps fibrosis in other organs. Evidence of two opposite roles which BM-derived adult stem cells play in the process of renal scarring may be helpful not only for the design of novel therapies to prevent or retard the progression of renal fibrosis, but also for manipulating adult stem cells for the treatment of renal disease.