Mouse Embryonic Stem Cell-Derived Ureteric Bud Progenitors Induce Nephrogenesis.

Area of Science:

• Stem cell biology
• Developmental biology
• Regenerative medicine

Background:

• Pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) offer a promising avenue for studying kidney development and disease.
• Generating kidney organoids from PSCs is valuable for research.
• Previous efforts in differentiating PSCs into ureteric bud (UB) progenitors have faced challenges.

Purpose of the Study:

• To establish a simple, efficient, and reproducible protocol for differentiating mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs) into UB progenitor cells.
• To demonstrate the utility of mESC-derived UB cells in kidney organoid formation.

Main Methods:

• Direct differentiation of mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs).
• Co-culture of mESC-derived UB progenitor cells with primary metanephric mesenchyme (pMM).

Main Results:

• A straightforward and reproducible protocol successfully generated UB progenitor cells from mESCs.
• The mESC-derived UB cells promoted nephrogenesis when co-cultured with pMM.
• The resulting kidney organoids exhibited nephron structures and collecting ducts formed by the mESC-derived UB cells.

Conclusions:

• This study provides an uncomplicated and reproducible platform for generating ureteric bud progenitors from mESCs.
• The developed method facilitates the creation of kidney organoids for studying kidney development and disease.