Scientists create functional kidney tissue in lab setting

British researchers successfully developed kidney tissue inside of mice using human stem cells, according to a study published in the journal Stem Cell Reports.

To produce the kidney tissue, researchers first grew microscopic kidney parts in plastic culture dishes with human embryonic stem cells and a nutrient broth designed to promote kidney growth. The team then combined the substance with a cohesive gel and injected it into mice's skin. Three months later, the tissues formed the structural and functional units of kidney known as nephrons. Human blood vessels also developed inside the mice, which helped fuel the kidney tissues. The tissues were also capable of producing urine.

"Worldwide, two million people are being treated with dialysis or transplantation for kidney failure, and sadly another two million die each year, unable to access these treatments," said Adrian Wolf, MD, a professor in biology at University of Manchester in the United Kingdom and one of the study's authors. "So we are tremendously excited by this discovery — we feel it is a big research milestone which may one day help patients. However, there is much more to learn: Building on our generation of kidney filtration units we must now turn to developing an exit route for the urine and a way to deliver this technology to diseased kidneys."

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