Breakthrough in Kidney Regenerative Medicine: Human Kidney Organoids Grown from Stem Cells Mirroring Fetal Development

Scientists from Sheba Medical Center and Tel Aviv University have achieved a significant milestone in regenerative medicine by cultivating human kidney organoids directly from kidney tissue stem cells in the laboratory. These organoids replicate the complex development process of a human fetal kidney over several months, providing a stable and mature model for studying kidney formation and disease.

Unlike earlier models that relied on pluripotent stem cells and often included unwanted cell types, this new method uses kidney-specific tissue stem cells, resulting in organoids that exclusively develop into kidney tissue. These organoids have remained stable for over six months—a notable improvement over previous models that deteriorated within four weeks. This extended lifespan enables long-term research, drug testing, and developmental studies.

The kidney organoids exhibit various kidney tissues, such as blood-filtering cells and tubular structures, providing a highly accurate platform for understanding kidney biology and diseases. Researchers have also observed how manipulating signaling pathways within these organoids can lead to developmental defects, offering insights into birth anomalies and kidney pathologies.

The research was led by Prof. Benjamin Dekel, who emphasized that growing these organoids from kidney tissue stem cells marks a major step forward because it eliminates contamination issues associated with pluripotent stem cell-derived organoids. This purity allows for clearer cause-and-effect studies relevant to kidney function and disease.

Prof. Dekel explained that, "Life begins with pluripotent stem cells, which can differentiate into any cell type, but our new approach focuses on kidney-specific cells to develop pure, mature kidney tissue. Over time, these organoids form various structures similar to a real kidney, including blood filtration units and urinary ducts."

The ability to cultivate kidney tissue outside the body opens up possibilities for regenerative therapies, including transplanting lab-grown kidney tissue and harnessing signals from organoids for tissue repair. Israel’s leadership in this research underscores the country’s prominent role in medical innovation.

This advancement not only enhances our understanding of kidney development and diseases but also paves the way for new treatments and drug testing methods, potentially transforming kidney disease management in the future.

For more details, see the original study published in The EMBO Journal.