The Potential of Cellular Therapies in the Field of Nephrology

The incidence of kidney diseases has been increasing in the last decade due to extended lifespan, which is often related to polymorbidity. Chronic kidney disease (CKD) and acute kidney injury (AKI) are associated with high morbidity and mortality, elevated costs for renal replacement therapy, and heavy psychosomatic burden. At the same time, therapeutic options are limited to prophylactic and renoprotective medications and measurements, and they often cannot restore the impaired kidney function. With the development of cellular therapies, new perspectives arise on the horizon with promising potential, including mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and induced pluripotent cells (iPSCs). Here we review the current possibility of both cell types in the field of nephrology and assess their cost implication.