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Updated: May 23, 2026
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Generating Kidney Organoids in Suspension from Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells
Published on: September 1, 2023
Generation of kidney from pluripotent stem cells via blastocyst complementation
Jo-ichi Usui1, Toshihiro Kobayashi, Tomoyuki Yamaguchi
1Division of Stem Cell Therapy, Center for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Institute of Medical Science, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.
The American Journal of Pathology
|April 18, 2012
Summary
Researchers generated kidneys using pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) in mice. This blastocyst complementation technique shows promise for creating transplantable organs, advancing regenerative medicine and understanding organ development.
Area of Science:
- Regenerative Medicine
- Developmental Biology
- Stem Cell Biology
Background:
- Organ transplantation is limited by donor shortages.
- Generating organs in vitro is challenging due to complex cellular interactions.
- Regenerative medicine aims to create transplantable organs.
Purpose of the Study:
- To generate pluripotent stem cell (PSC)-derived kidneys in vivo using blastocyst complementation.
- To test the hypothesis that PSCs can compensate for genetic defects in organ development.
- To extend the blastocyst complementation technique beyond pancreas to kidney generation.
Main Methods:
- Injection of mouse PSCs into Sall1(-/-) mouse blastocysts, which lack kidney development.
- Utilizing the developmental niche created by the genetic defect for PSC colonization and differentiation.
- Analyzing the contribution of PSC-derived cells to kidney formation.
Main Results:
- Kidneys were successfully generated entirely from injected mouse PSCs in Sall1(-/-) blastocysts.
- PSC-derived cells replaced the defective endogenous cells, forming the majority of the kidney structures.
- Structures not influenced by Sall1, such as collecting ducts and microvasculature, were of host origin.
Conclusions:
- Blastocyst complementation is a viable method for generating PSC-derived kidneys in vivo.
- This technique provides a powerful platform for studying renal organogenesis.
- This approach holds potential for future organ transplantation strategies.
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01:06Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells
Stem cells are undifferentiated cells that divide and produce different cell types. Ordinarily, cells that have differentiated into a specific cell type are terminally differentiated; however, scientists have found a way to reprogram these mature cells so that they dedifferentiate and return to an unspecialized, proliferative state. These cells are pluripotent like embryonic stem cells—able to produce all cell types—and are called induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs).
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00:58Embryonic Stem Cells
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