Transplantation of renal precursor cells: a new therapeutic approach

The number of kidney transplantations performed per year is limited due to availability of donor organs. One possible solution to the organ shortage i s the use of renal xenografts. However, the transplantation of xenografts i s complicated by hyperacute and acute rejection. It has been postulated tha t the host immune response might be attenuated following the transplantatio n of renal precursor cells or embryonic kidneys (metanephroi) instead of de veloped (adult) kidneys. Transplanted metanephroi become chimeric organs in that their blood supply originates, at least in part, from the host. It is possible to transplant a developing metanephros, without the use of immuno suppression, from one rat to another. Transplanted metanephroi grow, develo p, become vascularized, and function in host rats. Transplantation of metan ephroi may be a promising novel therapeutic approach for the treatment of c hronic renal failure.