In the July/August issue of Stem Cells & Development, Italian scientists S. Bruno et al. from the University of Torino reported the results of their study on the ability to isolate and characterize a subpopulation of multipotent mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) from human glomeruli. The investigators found in the glomeruli (deprived of the Bowman's capsule) two subpopulations of cells, CD133+CD146+ and CD133+CD146- cells. The CD133+CD146+ also co-expressed endolthelial markers (CD31 and von Willebrand factor (vWF) and they were not clonogenic. However, CD133-CD146+ were clonogenic; could self-renew; and, they were multipotent. These cells also expressed the renal stem cell markers CD24 and Pax2. Additionally, the CD133-CD146+ had the potential to form endothelial and epithelial cells as well as having the capability to differentiate into osteocytes, adipocytes, and chondrocytes. When the cells were cultivated in appropriate inductive factors, they were able to acquire mesangial markers such as alpha-smooth actin and angiotenci receptor 1. Data from renal allograft experiments suggest that the CD133-CD146+ cells represent a resident population of MSCs in human glomeruli.