Human Kidneys Grown in Laboratory?

The ability to grow a human kidney in a laboratory, then successfully transplant the kidney into a patient is something scientists worldwide hope to make a reality, and it may not be as far away as you think. One scientist predicts lab grown kidneys will be transplanted into patients awaiting a kidney in as few as 15 years from now.. Imagine the implications this might have. Could the current situation of years spent on a waiting list in order to receive a transplant, and, perhaps dying before one is available, all be obsolete in the not far off future?  The ability would be there for an endless supply of lab grown kidneys. Dialysis might conceivably become just a short term treatment while your kidney is ordered and you are prepared for transplant. However,  I am getting ahead of the technology we have today in my excitement of imagining the possibilities the scientific community may bring to countless lives. Let's get back to the scientific breakthroughs that have recently been made in both The United States, and Europe, as people worldwide search for answers to the growing rate of kidney disease.  

One in nine adults worldwide has some type of kidney disease.  Kidney failure is becoming more common throughout the world.  In the United States approximately 3,000 new patients are added to transplant waiting lists each month; meanwhile, 13 people die each day waiting for a donor kidney. In Europe, specifically the countries that make up the European Union, 16 people a day die waiting for a kidney transplant.  Growing functionable kidney tissue in a laboratory would be a huge benefit in the treatment of kidney disease.  It has the potential to accelerate treatments, and restore kidney function.  

The kidney forms naturally, or grows, in humans because of the presence of two building blocks, metanephric mesenchyme, and ureteric bud.  

Dr.Joseph Bonventre is the Chief of the Renal Unit, and Founding Chief of The Engineering in Medicine Division at the Brigham and Women's Hospital.  Researchers in Dr. Bonventre’s lab discovered how to create the first building block (metanephric mesenchyme) from human stem cells seven years ago.  Recently the same team of researchers discovered a way to make the second building block (ureteric bud).  This second building block is what grows into the adult collecting system.  Researchers also saw signs of interaction between the two building block’s cells, replicating in the lab some of what occurs naturally as a kidney is developing.  Also, for the first time the Bonventre laboratory has created human cell lines, principal and intercalated cell lines.  These are the two cell lines that make up the kidney's final urine processing part. 

This could lead to the ability to test new therapies for kidney diseases that affect the collecting system.  These diseases include many congenital kidney and urinary tract abnormalities, including polycystic kidney disease, which is one of the most common genetic diseases.  

Dr Bonventre recently had this to say about the discoveries made by his research team, “We have developed a highly efficient way to generate a key component of kidney tissue responsible for maintaining many blood chemistries and critically important for development of the kidney.  In addition, we have created, for the first time, human kidney cells that can be used to advance new drugs, aid in the investigation of inherited and acquired disorders, and improve our understanding of how the kidney develops and controls metabolic balances in the body”, he said.  “Ultimately, with the ability to now generate both components responsible for making functional kidney tissue.  Thai work provides a major step forward in the quest to replace renal function in patients with kidney failure or perhaps, in the future, generate kidneys in a dish”

Scientists in Europe are growing mini-kidneys to be used for disease modeling, and with hope that in the future they can also be used to transplant into patients who need a new kidney.  In Europe Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) affects about one in every ten citizens.  Health Commissioner Stella Kyriakides told EU lawmakers during a debate on a systematic EU approach to CKD in March 2022, that this “alarmingly high number is expected to grow even further, as typical risk factors such as diabetes and hypertension become more prevalent” 

Dr. Jitske Jansen is a scientist working at the University Hospital in Aachen, Germany, where she has been working on lab grown mini-kidneys at the Kramann Laboratory.  The purpose of the mini-kidney is to be used in disease modeling. Scientists in Europe are optimistic about the mini-kidney giving them new insights regarding kidney disease that may lead to more effective medication and treatment for the over 600 million people worldwide who are living with some type of kidney damage.  Ultimately Dr. Jansen says she hopes that research groups will be able to grow an entire adult kidney in the lab that can then be used for transplantation. Dr. Jansen says she believes that will happen in about 15-20 years from now.  

How do you grow a mini-kidney? Dr. Jansen explained the process to EURACTIV.  “The process starts with human skin fibroblast or blood cells.  By using proteins involved in the process of transcribing DNA into RNA, known as transcription factors, the fibroblast or blood cells are turned into artificial stem cells, known as induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs).  With these (the iPSCs), you can grow into any kind of tissue you’re interested in.  In our case, kidneys, as we are kidney researchers” she said.  “It’s important that the timing is correct, as well as the concentrations to make sure you differentiate towards kidney, because, if you don’t use the correct factors or signaling or pathway activation, you end up with an entirely different organ”, Dr. Jensen added.  

After a week, Scientists then detach the cells, they are turned into 3D structures that have nephrons, blood filtering tubes, and are the consistency of a kidney.  This mimics nephrogenesis, or kidney development that happens during gestation in a mothers womb. Dr. Jansen says, “It’s not the Holy Grail yet”, but that the results are moving closer toward an adult kidney.  “If you have a kidney patient, and we get cells from the patient, either fibroblast or blood cells, we make iPSC cells, and we make a mini kidney in the lab, and at a certain stage, we could perhaps transplant it into the patient” she explained.  

In the meantime, the mini-kidneys are being used now for disease modeling.  The scientists can observe what happens to kidney cells and how different drugs used to treat kidney disease work at the cellular level. Dr. Jensen said there are medications such as prednisone that are used in treatment that doctors have used for decades without understanding why or how the drug works on the kidney. Today the lab grown mini-kidney is able to provide them with the ability to have those questions answered and to provide better medications, with less side effects,  and better patient care in the future.  

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Video Transcript

Researchers are hoping to put an end to human kidney disease with an amazing new study that brings us one step closer to growing human kidneys in the lab. There are two essential building blocks that grow kidneys metanephric mesenchyme and uretic bud. The chief of the renal unit and founding chief of the Engineering and Medicine division at Brigham. Joseph Bonventre and team figured out how to generate the first building block metanephric mesenchyme seven years ago.

This breakthrough research resulted in many components of the kidney from stem cells now they have discovered and developed a highly efficient method to develop uretic bud, the second building block. In this amazing new research, they showed interactions between the cells of these two building blocks. The researchers took it one step further and for the first time ever they have also developed human cell lines, a principle and intercalated cell lines; the two cell lines that make up the last year in process processing component of the kidney.

Researchers said that ultimately with the ability to now generate both components responsible for making functional kidney tissue. This work provides a major step forward in the quest to replace renal function in patients with kidney failure or perhaps in the future generate a kidney in a dish.

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References

SciTechDaily

The Neuro-Network

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About the Author

Monica McCarthy has bachelors in Political Science and Criminal Justice from Central Washington University.  A majority of her career was spent as a political consultant.   She currently works at KidneyLuv as a staff writer.

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Patient Education Disclaimer

This material is for informational purposes only. It does not replace the advice or counsel of a doctor or health care professional. KidneyLuv makes every effort to provide information that is accurate and timely, but makes no guarantee in this regard. You should consult with, and rely only on the advice of, your physician or health care professional.

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