Figure 3. Enhanced tissue recovery after MSC sheet transplantation onto diseased kidney.

Schematic depiction of mesenchymal stem/stromal cell (MSC) sheet strategy. MSC sheets are transplanted over diseased kidney sites in an ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) model. Two-weeks post-transplantation, MSC sheets remain on kidney cortex surface and improve kidney functions as evaluated by levels of serum creatinine and blood urea nitrogen. In addition, renal tubule and epithelial cell injury in this IRI kidney model are ameliorated, and renal fibrosis, the final common product of chronic kidney disease, is significantly suppressed with enhanced neovascularization in MSC sheet transplantation group compared with non-treatment and single-cell administration groups. These findings suggest that MSC sheets might provide new therapy options for treating kidney disease.