Stem cells as a therapeutic approach to chronic kidney diseases.

Much attention recently has been focused on stem cell technology as a possible alternative modality of treatment of a variety of diseases. Chronic kidney disease is a serious health problem and most chronic kidney diseases share in common the presence of interstitial and glomerular fibrosis, regardless of the underlying cause. To date there are no specific therapies aimed at treating fibrosis in the kidney. In a novel effort to address the underlying pathology in kidney disease, researchers are demonstrating that stem cell therapy can attenuate fibrosis in chronic kidney disease in animal models. This review will focus on the recent developments in stem cell research and their possible implications to treat chronic kidney disease.