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Cover: a technician holding a rack of urine sample tubes in a sterile lab

Urine-derived stem cells (USC): how they are collected, cultured and studied for kidney disease

A cell source with no bone marrow tap and no liposuction

Quick answer

Urine-derived stem cells are urothelial-lineage cells shed naturally into urine that can be expanded into cells with mesenchymal stem cell-like properties. Their advantage is fully non-invasive collection — just a urine sample taken to protocol. Korean research turned them into KDSTEM inj. for chronic kidney disease, still in clinical development.

Key facts

Source
The patient's own urine
Invasiveness
No needle, no surgery
After culture
MSC-like
Applied in
KDSTEM inj.
Limitation
Low yield per collection

The process starts with a defined volume of urine in a sterile container. The lab pellets the cells, plates them in dedicated media, selects the colonies that grow well, then expands them under GMP conditions with sterility and karyotype-stability testing.

Compared with adipose or bone marrow sources, the collection itself carries no risk. Many CKD patients bruise, bleed or infect more easily after procedures, and a urine sample removes that hazard entirely.

The limits: each sample yields relatively few cells and quality varies with the patient's condition. Anyone with a urinary tract infection or heavy proteinuria may need repeat collection or a wait until things settle, so labs need clear acceptance criteria.

Frequently asked questions

  • Are urine cells clean enough?

    Collection uses clean technique and every batch is screened for contamination; contaminated batches are discarded and recollected.

  • How many collections are needed?

    It depends on yield: some patients need one sample, others two or three to reach the required cell count.

  • How long is the culture?

    Typically several weeks, depending on expansion passages and the release testing required.

  • How do they differ from adipose cells?

    Mainly in source and collection; post-culture properties are similar, though secretome and Klotho expression can differ.

  • Can dialysis patients provide urine?

    Those with minimal or no urine output cannot realistically provide a sample — a real limitation in end-stage disease.

Medical cautions

5 points • reviewed 2026-09-02

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  • This article is educational information only — not a diagnosis, prescription, or personal medical advice.
  • Outcomes vary by person, depending on age, underlying conditions, current medication, and the treating doctor's technique.
  • Consult a licensed physician and verify the clinic's licence before deciding on any treatment.
  • Some treatments (certain stem cell therapies in particular) are regulated differently by country — check Thai and Korean rules before travelling.
  • Prices, packages, and service details can change — confirm directly with the provider before paying.

Reviewed and last updated: 2026-09-02

References and sources

5 sources • every claim is traceable

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  1. 1. Original article on khunkim.com (pre-migration)

    https://www.ehlbio.co.kr/rd/institute/

  2. 2. Korea Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS)

    https://www.mfds.go.kr/eng/index.do

  3. 3. Korea Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW)

    https://www.mohw.go.kr/eng/

  4. 4. PubMed medical research database (NIH)

    https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/

  5. 5. Medical Korea — official info for international patients (KHIDI)

    https://www.medicalkorea.or.kr/

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Last updated: 2026-09-02 · This content is for information only and is not medical advice. Consult a qualified doctor before making treatment decisions.

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