Scientists Identify Molecule That May Help Aid Kidney Repair
DURHAM, N.C. (PRWEB) February 12, 2018 -- A new study appearing in STEM CELLS Translational Medicine (SCTM) shows how understanding the way a type of molecule called CD133 functions might contribute to an understanding of the mechanisms involved in kidney repair.
Kidney injuries affect up to 7 percent of hospitalized patients, with those in intensive care especially vulnerable. An increasing amount of evidence indicates that although the kidney might seem to regain normal function, in fact it remains permanently damaged.
Studies conducted on mice have shown that stem cell therapy is a possible path to total kidney repair. That's why scientists are interested in the CD133 molecule.
“In the human kidney, the expression of CD133 characterizes a population of cells with the ability to proliferate — with the added benefit of showing a resistance to damage,” said Benedetta Bussolati, M.D., Ph.D., of the University of Torino’s Molecular Biotechnology Centre and the SCTM study’s lead investigator. “But not much was known about how CD133 functions. So we aimed to evaluate this as well as CD133's possible implication in the repair process."
Their work led them to discover that CD133 may act as a permissive key factor for β-catenin signaling, which can control cell proliferation, survival, cell behavior and cell fate in both embryos and adults. These findings represent a potential application for kidney tissue repair/regeneration.
“This is an interesting and novel finding,” said Anthony Atala, M.D., Editor-in-Chief of STEM CELLS Translational Medicine and director of the Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine. “Because the work identifies mechanisms potentially involved in the repair of tissue after injury, it suggests the possibility of new therapies for tissue repair and regeneration.”
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The full article, “Role of CD133 Molecule in Wnt Response and Renal Repair,” can be accessed at: http://www.stemcellstm.com.
About STEM CELLS Translational Medicine: STEM CELLS Translational Medicine (SCTM), published by AlphaMed Press, is a monthly peer-reviewed publication dedicated to significantly advancing the clinical utilization of stem cell molecular and cellular biology. By bridging stem cell research and clinical trials, SCTM will help move applications of these critical investigations closer to accepted best practices.
About AlphaMed Press: Established in 1983, AlphaMed Press with offices in Durham, NC, San Francisco, CA, and Belfast, Northern Ireland, publishes two other internationally renowned peer-reviewed journals: STEM CELLS® (http://www.StemCells.com), celebrating its 36th year, is the world's first journal devoted to this fast paced field of research. The Oncologist® (http://www.TheOncologist.com), also a monthly peer-reviewed publication, entering its 23rd year, is devoted to community and hospital-based oncologists and physicians entrusted with cancer patient care. All three journals are premier periodicals with globally recognized editorial boards dedicated to advancing knowledge and education in their focused disciplines.
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Chelsea Kekahuna, AlphaMed Press, http://www.stemcellstm.com, +1 (919) 680-0011, [email protected]
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