Therapeutic effect of umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells on renal ischemia-reperfusion injury

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a growing global health issue with no effective treatments. This study evaluates the therapeutic effects of umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (UC-MSCs) on AKI caused by ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) in mice. Thirty mice were divided into a sham group, an IRI group, and an MSC-treated group. Renal function was assessed, and histological analysis, immunofluorescence, and real-time PCR were used to evaluate renal damage, inflammatory cell presence, and cytokine expression (TNF-α, IL-6, IL-10). Results showed that MSC treatment reduced renal damage, decreased pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-6), increased anti-inflammatory IL-10, and promoted kidney repair by homing to injury sites. Thus, umbilical cord MSCs may mitigate AKI by reducing inflammation and enhancing renal repair.