Payvand.com - Iranian researchers in the Medical Department of Tehran University said they have been able to produce stem cells with kidney markers, which can be utilised in diagnosis of certain diseases and treatments, ISNA reported in early April.

Dr Abbassi, member of the scientific board of the Medical department and the chief of this project said to ISNA medical reporter: We started the project two years ago with the help of Dr Ayati, urology section chief, Dr Emami Razavi and Dr Khoshzaban from transplant section and Dr Zahed and Heidari, cellular biology students. The aim was to produce stem cell from kidney tissue.

He added: We worked on the kidney of a cancer patient with RCC syndrome and whose kidney was to be removed. We worked on a small sample taken from the kidney, with patient's permission and succeeded in finding the necessary stem cells.

Dr Abbassi asserted: By transplanting the cell into a mouse, the special features of the stem cell, including the capability of producing bone cells and other tissues, were revealed.

He continued: Further in the experiments we examined the antigens related to kidney tissues in an adult body to establish the difference between the embryo cell and the full grown stem cells.

Answering a question as to whether there are any hopes to build an artificial kidney from stem cells, he answered: We are still far from this stage; we can only rely on experimental achievements at this stage and cannot enter the treatment process yet.

He added: In this phase we can use the experiments in diagnosis of special illnesses and are able to reduce the damage caused by such diseases.

Dr Abbassi added in the end: The kidney is a very sophisticated organ made from the development of various stem cells. Therefore making an artificial kidney could be imagined at this stage.

Note: Original article published in Persian by ISNA.
Translated for Payvand.com by BMarz translators: http://www.BMarz.com

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