Renal cell populations and uses thereof

1. A method of identifying a heterogeneous renal cell population, said method comprising the steps:

isolating cells from a mammalian kidney sample;

exposing said isolated cells to labeled detection moieties for biomarkers, wherein each labeled detection moiety is directed to a different biomarker and is labeled, wherein the biomarkers comprise GGT-1 and a cytokeratin;

determining the percentage of cells that express each of said different biomarker; and

determining whether the cell population comprises cells that express VEGF and KIM-1.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the biomarkers further comprise AQP1, AQP2, AQP4, Calbindin, Calponin, CD117, CD133, CD146, CD24, CD31 (PECAM-1), CD54 (ICAM-1), CD73 Connexin 43, Cubilin, CXCR4 (Fusin), DBA, E-cadherin (CD324), EPO (erythropoeitin), GLEPP1 (glomerular epithelial protein 1), Haptoglobin, Itgb1 (Integrin β1), MAP-2 (microtubule-associated protein 2), Megalin, N-cadherin, Nephrin, NKCC (Na—K—Cl-cotransporters), OAT-1 (organic anion transporter 1), Osteopontin, Pan-cadherin, PCLP1 (podocalyxin-like 1 molecule), Podocin, SMA (smooth muscle alpha-actin), Synaptopodin, THP (tamm-horsfall protein), Vimentin-, αGST-1 (alpha glutathione 5-transferase glutathione S-transferase), or any combination thereof.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein each labeled detection moiety is an antibody.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein isolating the cells comprises establishing an in vitro culture of the cells, wherein the mammalian kidney sample is a renal tissue biopsy or whole kidney tissue.

5. The method according to claim 4 , wherein determining whether the cell population comprises cells that express VEGF and KIM-1 comprises (i) obtaining a supernatant from a culture of the heterogeneous renal cell population, and (ii) detecting the level of VEGF and KIM-1 in the supernatant.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising identifying the heterogeneous renal cell population as suitable for implantation and/or eliciting a regenerative response if (i) greater than 18% of the cells express GGT-1; and (ii) the cell population comprises cells that express VEGF and KIM-1.

7. A method of treating kidney disease in a mammal comprising administering to the mammal an effective amount of cells from a heterogeneous renal cell population identified as suitable for implantation and/or eliciting a regenerative response according to claim 6 .

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising identifying the heterogeneous renal cell population as suitable for implantation and/or eliciting a regenerative response if (i) greater than 18% of the cells within the cell population express GGT-1 and greater than 80% of the cells within the cell population express a cytokeratin; and (ii) the cell population comprises cells that express VEGF and KIM-1.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the cytokeratin is CK18.

10. A method of treating kidney disease in a mammal comprising administering to the mammal an effective amount of cells from a heterogeneous renal cell population identified as suitable for implantation and/or eliciting a regenerative response according to claim 8 .

11. The method according to claim 10 , wherein the cells are cultured on a matrix.

12. The method according to claim 10 , wherein the cells are suspended in a gelatin-based biomaterial.

13. The method according to claim 10 , wherein the mammal is human.

14. The method of claim 1 , wherein the biomarkers further comprise AQP2, and the method further comprises identifying the heterogeneous renal cell population as suitable for implantation and/or eliciting a regenerative response if (i) 4.5% to 81.2% of the cells in the cell population express GGT-1, 3.0% to 53.7% of the cells within the cell population express AQP2, and 81.1% to 99.7% of the cells within the cell population express CK18; and (ii) the cell population comprises cells that express VEGF and KIM-1.