Nephron Progenitor Cell
Kidney failure which may include Nephrosis and Nephritis is the 9th leading cause of death in the United States. Causes of kidney failure is due to lose of Nephron progenitor cells in the kidneys (NP). These non-regenerating cells take a particular job by filtering waste from the kidneys. When I say non-regenerating I mean, these cells are only produce once in our lifetime for a short period of time then ceased to produce any more. This process can occur any time between weeks 34 and 36 of gestation and can produce anywhere 500,000 to 1,000,000 cells. Throughout your life time possible lose of cells is possible but once you hit a low number of cells, that is where kidney failure occurs. In this research done by children's hospital Los Angeles, researchers are studying the way these cells interact and how they may be used in the future to help with kidney problems.
Throughout this article I had the opportunity to learn a lot about what these cells are and what exactly they do. The way these cells are produced only while in the fetus has made me think of how the genetic code in the DNA is set up so that the cells will stop production. I definitely didn't know the number of nephron cells we have in our kidneys and how dangerous it can be if the cells become to die. And the simple fact that these types of cells do not regenerate just amazes me. I found this article very interesting because when I think of cells, I automatically think reproduction and the fact that our DNA tells our body to make more and more cells. In this case its not like that, making me think more of how our bodies work and what exactly is going on in our DNA.-Alex V.
It is stated that kidney failure is due to loss of nephron progenitor cells in the kidneys. Is there anyway you can implant more nephron progenitor cells into a person with kidney failure to fix the low number of nephron progenitor cells? I am asking this question because this article makes it seem as though hitting a low number of nephron progenitor cells is very dangerous because nephron progenitor cells can not regenerate.
ReplyDelete-A.M
Does this mean that there is some mutation in these children with kidney disease that their cells are dying faster than normal? What are their ideas to stop this?
ReplyDeleteB.C.
I really enjoy this article because I did not know kidney cells are only produced form week 34 to 36 of gestation. I feel the article kept kidney failure simple and to point so I could easily understand how kidney failure occurs through loss of nephron progenitor cells. A.M
ReplyDeleteIs this the only way of kidney failure? Or do other ways exist? If not, it makes treating this much easier seeing as you only need to focus on the one cause. J. RYAN
ReplyDeleteStem cells! Kidney stem cells? If they can find a way to revert kidney cells into kidney stem cells to generate more kidney cells that would be cool. I'm sure its not that simple. The kidneys are crazy. There are millions of little nephrons that filter our blood. I didn't know that they were like female eggs. You're born with what you got.
ReplyDelete-SN
Wow. I did not realize that we only have a limited amount of kidney cells. This seems like a good topic to be brought up with the youth of America. Maybe it will help them to more conscious of their diet choices. -EH
ReplyDeleteI have an ant that has really damages kidneys and there is really nothing she can do at this point in order for them to get better but if there is any type of treatments that could help it would be awesome for all those that still have the possibility of cure.
ReplyDeleteSteph S.