Evaluation of intrarenal mesenchymal stem cell injection for treatment of chronic kidney disease in cats: a pilot study

• Published in: Journal of feline medicine and surgery Vol. 13; no. 6; pp. 418 - 426
• Main Authors: Quimby, Jessica M., Webb, Tracy L., Gibbons, Debra S., Dow, Steven W.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London, England Elsevier Ltd 01.06.2011; SAGE Publications
• Subjects: Adipose Tissue - cytology; Adipose Tissue - transplantation; adverse effects; Animals; Bone Marrow Transplantation - veterinary; Cat Diseases - therapy; Cats; Creatine - blood; Feasibility Studies; Female; glomerular filtration rate; Glomerular Filtration Rate - veterinary; Injections - veterinary; Kidney Failure, Chronic - therapy; Kidney Failure, Chronic - veterinary; kidneys; Male; Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation - methods; Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation - veterinary; Pilot Projects; scintigraphy; stem cells; Time Factors; Transplantation, Autologous - veterinary; Treatment Outcome; ultrasonics; Ultrasonography, Interventional - methods; Ultrasonography, Interventional - veterinary
• ISSN: 1098-612X; 1532-2750; 1532-2750
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jfms.2011.01.005

The feasibility of autologous intrarenal mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) therapy in cats with chronic kidney disease (CKD) was investigated. Six cats (two healthy, four with CKD) received a single unilateral intrarenal injection of autologous bone marrow-derived or adipose tissue-derived MSC (bmMSC or aMSC) via ultrasound guidance. Minimum database and glomerular filtration rate (GFR) via nuclear scintigraphy were determined pre-injection, at 7 days and at 30 days post-injection. Intrarenal injection did not induce immediate or long-term adverse effects. Two cats with CKD that received aMSC experienced modest improvement in GFR and a mild decrease in serum creatinine concentration. Despite the possible benefits of intrarenal MSC injections for CKD cats, the number of sedations and interventions required to implement this approach would likely preclude widespread clinical application. We concluded that MSC could be transferred safely by ultrasound-guided intrarenal injection in cats, but that alternative sources and routes of MSC therapy should be investigated.