The human kidney capsule contains a functionally distinct mesenchymal stromal cell population

• Published in: PloS one Vol. 12; no. 12; p. e0187118
• Main Authors: Leuning, Daniëlle G, Engelse, Marten A, Lievers, Ellen, Bijkerk, Roel, Reinders, Marlies E J, de Boer, Hetty C, van Kooten, Cees, Rabelink, Ton J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Public Library of Science 05.12.2017; Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Subjects: Biology and Life Sciences; Cadavers; Cell Differentiation; Cell Lineage; Cells, Cultured; Coculture Techniques; Gene expression; Gene Expression Profiling; Genetic transformation; Health aspects; Homeostasis; Humans; Immunosuppression; Internal medicine; Kidney - cytology; Kidney - metabolism; Kidney transplantation; Kidneys; Laboratories; Medicine; Medicine and Health Sciences; Mesenchymal Stem Cells - cytology; Mesenchymal Stem Cells - drug effects; Mesenchymal Stem Cells - metabolism; Mesenchyme; Messenger RNA; MicroRNA; MicroRNAs - genetics; miRNA; mRNA; Nephrology; Population; Renal cortex; Repair; RNA, Messenger - genetics; Rodents; Stem cells; Stromal cells; Transformation; Transforming Growth Factor beta - metabolism; Transplantation; Transplants & implants
• ISSN: 1932-6203; 1932-6203
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0187118

We recently demonstrated that the adult human kidney cortex contains a perivascular stromal cell (kPSC) that shows organotypic properties and is important for repair and stabilisation of kidney function. Not only the kidney cortex but also the kidney capsule contains stromal cells that are important for the three dimensional organisation of the kidney during nephrogenesis. They provide the barrier function of the capsule which is critical for homeostatic processes such as pressure natriuresis. We postulated that stromal cells derived from the kidney capsule may therefore also have specific properties and functions. To this end, we isolated these capsule mesenchymal stromal cells (cMSC) from human cadaveric kidneys that were not suitable for transplantation. There were several similarities between cMSCs and kPSCs including support of vascular plexus formation, phenotypic marker expression and resistance against myofibroblast transformation. However, compared to kPSCs, cMSCs showed distinct mRNA and miRNA expression profiles, showed increased immunosuppressive capacity, and displayed strongly reduced HGF production, contributing to the inability to enhance kidney epithelial repair. Therefore cMSCs are a distinct, novel human kidney-derived MSC-population and these data underpin the large functional diversity of phenotypic similar stromal cells in relation to their anatomic site, even within one organ.