Classification of indeterminate and off-target cell types within human kidney organoid differentiation

While proposed to recapitulate embryonic patterning, classifying cellular states present within human pluripotent stem cell-derived organoids is challenged by the lack of early human embryo reference datasets, formation of "off-target" states and the potential to form cellular states not present in vivo. A lack of cell classification can overlook such non-specific endpoints. This study describes cell classification across a temporal factorial single-cell transcriptomic profile of kidney organoid differentiation analyzed at five time points across 27 days. While this should pattern through intermediate mesoderm to kidney, we observed anticipated cellular states as well as off-target cell types representing both embryological mispatterning and mesodermal populations with no clear in vivo equivalent. The resulting transcriptional profile will assist in defining how off-target populations arise in vitro, ultimately refining kidney organoid protocols for therapeutic outcomes.