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4 HEALTH AND LABORATORY MAGAZINE
3D KIDNEY
TISSUE CREATED
IN THE LAB
Research team from Japan has created complex
3D kidney tissue in the lab solely from cultured
mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells.
These organoids could lead that their work will be Furthermore, by combining
the way to better kidney used to advance kidney these three components in
research and, eventually, research and even lead to a vitro, the researchers were
artificial kidneys for human transplantable organ in the able to generate a kidney-
transplant. Research future. like 3D tissue, consisting
team based in Kumamoto of extensively branched
University (Japan) has The kidney is a very tubules and several other
created complex 3D kidney important organ for kidney-specific structures.
tissue in the lab solely from continued good health
cultured mouse embryonic because it acts as a filter The researchers believe Researchers in Japan have generated a kidney-like 3D
stem (ES) cells. These to extract waste and that this is the first ever tissue, consisting of extensively branched tubules, from
organoids could lead excess water from blood. report on the in-lab cultured mouse embryonic stem cells. Credit: Dr. Shunsuke
Tanigawa
the way to better kidney It is a complex organ generation of such a
research and, eventually, that develops from the complex kidney structure
artificial kidneys for human combination of three from scratch. The IMEG
transplant. components. Protocols team has already
have already been succeeded in inducing the
By focusing on an often- established by various first two components from
overlooked tissue type research teams, including human iPS cells. If this last
of organoid generation Dr. Nishinakamura’s team component can also be
research, a type of organ at the Institute of Molecular generated from human
tissue made up of various Embryology and Genetics cells, a similarly complex
support and connective (IMEG) at Kumamoto human kidney should be
tissues called the stroma, University, to induce two achievable.
Dr. Ryuichi Nishinakamura of the components (the
and his team were able to nephron progenitor and the “We are now working very
generate the last of a three- ureteric bud) from mouse hard to generate a fully
part puzzle that they had ES cells. functional human kidney,”
been working on for several said Dr. Nishinakamura.
years. Once the three In this, their most recent “We hope to use our
pieces were combined, work, the IMEG team has developments to screen
the resulting structure developed a method to drugs for various diseases,
was found to be kidney- induce the third and final and for transplantation in Researchers in Japan have generated a kidney-like3D
like in its architecture. component, kidney-specific the long run.” tissue, consisting of many types of kidney-specific
The researchers believe stromal progenitor, in mice. structures, from cultured mouse embryonic stem cells.
Credit: Dr. Shunsuke Tanigawa