Organoids are structures that are designed from stem cell-derived tissues. In essence, these are three-dimensional cultures that recreate the functioning of an organ, so scientists can experiment with them and try new therapies without putting a patient at risk. Now, a team of researchers from the Institute of Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC) has used pluripotent stem cells, that is, those that are capable of forming all the cells of the body, to develop organoids that behave like embryonic human kidney tissue. Specifically, as this institution explains in a statement, it is similar to the one that appears in the second trimester of pregnancy.
In an essay published in the journal Nature Materials , these experts, coordinated by Núria Montserrat, a specialist in regenerative medicine at the Catalan Institution for Research and Advanced Studies, indicate that by using biomaterials they have managed to emulate the embryonic environment in which they are make up the kidneys. On the one hand, this allows us to observe in detail how cells are distributed and organized during this process and, on the other, it facilitates the study of certain kidney diseases from the outset and the efficacy of certain therapeutic compounds.
Own vascular system
However, for this it is necessary that they have a vascular system that guarantees their operation. In the aforementioned note, Montserrat explains it like this: “A crucial aspect in organoid research consists of developing a methodology that allows them to mature in a culture dish and that they resemble the adult organ. Therefore, it is essential to provide them with a vascular network. This will facilitate the exchange of nutrients and ensure its functionality ”.
To do this, the researchers implanted the mini-kidneys in the embryonic vasculature of the chicken. As they were able to verify, in a few days they already had endothelial cells. ” We need to understand how tissues are generated to be able to address issues related to their dysfunction, ” says Josep M. Campistol, from the Hospital Clínico de Barcelona, who has also participated in this initiative. Among the most common nephropathies are kidney stones – caused by the accumulation of substances present in the urine – or kidney failure, a condition that limits the filtering capacity of the kidneys.
This advance could be used to obtain biofunctional tissues. With them, in turn, it would be possible to design custom-made drugs, specially designed for a specific type of patient, as well as new drug detection systems. “In fact, this procedure can already be applied in laboratories that work on the modeling of kidney diseases,” says Montserrat.
Reference: Fine tuning the extracellular environment accelerates the derivation of kidney organoids from human pluripotent stem cells. Núria Montserrat et al. Nature Materials (2019) . DOI: doi.org/10.1038/s41563-019-0287-6
Image: Mini kidney developed from pluripotent stem cells (IBEC)
