Publications
& News

Isolation and characterization of resident mesenchymal stem cells in human glomeruli.

1. January 2009

Stem Cells Dev. Jui-Aug 2009;18(6):867-80. doi: 10.1089/scd.2008.0320.
Isolation and characterization of resident
mesenchymal stem cells in human glomeruli
Stefania Bruno 1 , Benedetta Bussolati, Cristina Grange, Federica Collino,
Ludovica Verdun di Cantogno, Maria Beatriz Herrera. Luigi Biancone, Ciro Tetta, Giuseppe Segoloni,
Giovanni Camussi
Affiliations + expand
PMID: 19579288 DOI: 10.1089/scd.2008.0320
Abstract
In humans, renal resident stem cells were identified within the interstitium, the tubular cells, and the
Bowman’s capsule. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether multi potent stem cells are
present also in the adult human-decapsulated glomeruli and whether they represent a resident
population. We found that human glomeruli deprived of the Bowman’s capsule contain a population
of CD133+CD146+ cells and a population of CD133-CD146+ cells expressing mesenchymal stem cell
(MSq markers and renal stem cell markers CD24 and Pax-2. The CD133+CD146+ cells differed from
those previously isolated from Bowman’s capsule as they co-expressed endothelial markers, such as
CD31 and von Willebrand factor (vWF), were CD24-negative and were not clonogenic, suggesting an
endothelial commitment. The glomerular mesenchymal CD133-CD146+ population (GI-MSq
exhibited self-renewal capability. clonogenicity. and multipotency. In addition to osteogenic,
adipogenic, and chondrogenic differentiation, these cells were able to differentiate to endothelial cells
and epithelial cells expressing podocytes markers such as nephrin, podocin, and synaptopodin.
Moreover, GI-MSC when cultured in appropriate conditions, acquired mesangial cell markers such as
alpha-smooth muscle actin (alpha-SMA) and angiotensin II (AT-II) receptor I. The expression of the
embryonic organ-specific PAX-2 gene and protein and of donor sex identity when isolated from
glomeruli of a renal allograft suggested these cells to be a tissue resident population. In conclusion,
these results indicate the presence of a multipotent mesenchymal cell population resident in human
glomeruli that may have a role in the physiological cell turnover and/or in response to glomerular
injury.