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Towards Modelling Genetic Kidney Diseases with Human Pluripotent Stem Cells
Kirsty M Rooney1, Adrian S Woolf1,2, Susan J Kimber1
1Division of Cell Matrix Biology and Regenerative Medicine, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom.
Nephron
|March 28, 2021
Summary
Human pluripotent stem cell-derived kidney organoids show promise for modeling genetic kidney diseases and testing therapies. Further development is needed for complex structural malformations and full physiological function.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical research
- Regenerative medicine
- Stem cell biology
Background:
- Kidney disease leads to significant mortality and morbidity globally.
- Current treatments for kidney failure are limited, highlighting the need for novel therapeutic strategies.
- Developing effective pharmaceutical interventions to slow or prevent kidney disease progression is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the feasibility of using human pluripotent stem cell-derived kidney organoids for modeling genetic kidney diseases.
- To assess the successes and limitations of organoid models in recapitulating kidney pathologies.
- To identify future directions for advancing kidney organoid technology for research and therapeutic applications.
Main Methods:
- Review of current literature on human pluripotent stem cell-derived kidney organoids.
- Analysis of organoid capabilities in modeling specific genetic kidney diseases (e.g., cystinosis, polycystic kidney disease).
- Evaluation of organoid utility in preclinical drug testing and therapy development.
Main Results:
- Successful modeling of genetic tubular diseases and polycystic kidney disease using organoids.
- Organoids have been utilized to test novel therapeutic approaches for kidney disorders.
- Challenges remain in modeling congenital glomerular diseases due to immature glomeruli and structural kidney malformations.
- Incomplete generation of all necessary kidney cell lineages and structures within current protocols.
Conclusions:
- Kidney organoid technology holds significant potential for understanding and treating genetic kidney diseases.
- Advancements in generating organoids with a complete cell complement and mature physiological functions are predicted.
- Economic upscaling of reproducible organoid generation will broaden research applications and therapeutic possibilities.
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