Imaging the Renal Microcirculation in Cell Therapy

Cells, vol. 10, pp. 1087

Abstract

Renal microvascular rarefaction plays a pivotal role in progressive kidney disease. Therefore, modalities to visualize the microcirculation of the kidney will increase our understanding of disease mechanisms and consequently may provide new approaches for evaluating cell-based therapy. At the moment, however, clinical practice is lacking non-invasive, safe, and efficient imaging modalities to monitor renal microvascular changes over time in patients suffering from renal disease. To emphasize the importance, we summarize current knowledge of the renal microcirculation and discussed the involvement in progressive kidney disease. Moreover, an overview of available imaging techniques to uncover renal microvascular morphology, function, and behavior is presented with the associated benefits and limitations. Ultimately, the necessity to assess and investigate renal disease based on in vivo readouts with a resolution up to capillary level may provide a paradigm shift for diagnosis and therapy in the field of nephrology.

Authors 4

1. Katerina Apelt Aachen Department of Internal Medicine - Nephrology Einthoven Laboratory of Vascular and Regenerative Medicine

   Leiden University Medical Center

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Internal Medicine-Nephrology, Leiden University Medical Center, 2333ZA Leiden, The Netherlands

   Einthoven Laboratory of Vascular and Regenerative Medicine, Leiden University Medical Center, 2333ZA Leiden, The Netherlands

2. Roel Bijkerk Aachen Department of Internal Medicine - Nephrology Einthoven Laboratory of Vascular and Regenerative Medicine

   Leiden University Medical Center

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Internal Medicine-Nephrology, Leiden University Medical Center, 2333ZA Leiden, The Netherlands

   Einthoven Laboratory of Vascular and Regenerative Medicine, Leiden University Medical Center, 2333ZA Leiden, The Netherlands

3. Franck Lebrin Aachen Department of Internal Medicine - Nephrology Einthoven Laboratory of Vascular and Regenerative Medicine

   Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique · Inserm · Leiden University Medical Center · Physique pour la médecine Paris · ESPCI Paris

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Internal Medicine-Nephrology, Leiden University Medical Center, 2333ZA Leiden, The Netherlands

   Einthoven Laboratory of Vascular and Regenerative Medicine, Leiden University Medical Center, 2333ZA Leiden, The Netherlands

   Physics for Medicine Paris, Inserm, CNRS, ESPCI Paris, Paris Sciences et Lettres University, 75005 Paris, France

4. Ton J. Rabelink corresponding Aachen Department of Internal Medicine - Nephrology Einthoven Laboratory of Vascular and Regenerative Medicine

   Leiden University Medical Center

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Internal Medicine-Nephrology, Leiden University Medical Center, 2333ZA Leiden, The Netherlands

   Einthoven Laboratory of Vascular and Regenerative Medicine, Leiden University Medical Center, 2333ZA Leiden, The Netherlands