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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jan 21, 2026

A Simplified Method for Generating Kidney Organoids from Human Pluripotent Stem Cells

A Simplified Method for Generating Kidney Organoids from Human Pluripotent Stem Cells

Published on: April 13, 2021

Human kidney organoids: progress and remaining challenges.

Ryuichi Nishinakamura¹

¹Institute of Molecular Embryology and Genetics, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan. ryuichi@kumamoto-u.ac.jp.

Nature Reviews. Nephrology

|August 7, 2019

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Kidney organoids derived from human pluripotent stem cells model kidney diseases. Further research is needed to mature these organoids for potential transplantation.

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Area of Science:

Developmental Biology
Regenerative Medicine
Stem Cell Biology

Background:

Kidney organoids are valuable tools for studying human kidney development and disease.
Recent advances include modeling glomerular and tubular diseases and identifying cell types via single-cell RNA sequencing.
Organoids currently exhibit immature cell types compared to in vivo human kidney cells.

Purpose of the Study:

To review the progress and challenges in developing kidney organoids.
To highlight advancements in cell type induction and organoid complexity.
To discuss the future directions for generating more mature and functional kidney structures.

Main Methods:

Utilizing human pluripotent stem cells to generate kidney organoids.
Employing single-cell RNA sequencing for cell type identification and characterization.
Developing protocols for in vitro expansion and lineage-specific induction of kidney cells.

Main Results:

Kidney organoids successfully model various kidney diseases.
Single-cell RNA sequencing reveals cell types similar but immature to in vivo counterparts.
Protocols for inducing nephron progenitor cells (NPCs) and ureteric buds have been established.

Conclusions:

Kidney organoid technology has advanced significantly for disease modeling.
Maturation and achieving in vivo-like complexity remain key challenges.
Generating transplantable, organotypic kidney structures is an ongoing goal.