Scientists have created functioning kidney tissue

Existing methods of treating chor b kidneys are invasive, ineffective and, due to cost, not available to all. New research conducted by professor Sue Kimber and Adrian Woolf of the University of Manchester has enormous potential and could save millions of lives in the future.

Funding from The Medical Research Council and Kidney Research U.K helped set the stage for researchers to work on creating human kidney tissue inside a living organism. This amazing achievement may one day lead to the development of new treatments for chor b kidney. The results of the researchers’ work in were published in the journal „Stem Cell Reports”.

The renal glomerulus was made from human embryonic cells stem records, which re cultured in the laboratory in the presence of component nutrients specifically designed for kidney tissue development. The renal glomeruli, along with the surrounding Bowman’s capsule, are a component of the renal corpuscle, which re in turn is part of the nephron – the basic functional-structural unit of the kidney.

This mixture has been combined with a gel, which ry functions like natural connective tissue. The whole was then injected under the sk hand of mice. After three months, examination of the tissue showed that the aforementioned nephrons had formed: microscopic structural and functional renal units.

The new structures contain most of the components present in human nephrons. Components of wsp hey work together to filter the blood and expel urine, the researchers confirmed with a fluorescent dye. However, these mini-kidney units lack the most important thing – the arteries, which the ra would allow them to function independently.

– We have proven beyond any doubt that these structures act as kidney cells, filtering blood and producing urine. Specific The lnie exciting thing is that the structures are built from human com rek, which re have developed an excellent blood supply to the capillaries, connecting to the mouse vascular system – Professor Kimber said.

Kimber noted at the same time that the structure produced by them was formed from several hundred glomeruli in the kidneys, while humans have about a million of them in the kidneys. Nonetheless, this is a major advance and provides evidence d that the work is moving in the right direction.

– Around the world, about two million people are treated with dialysis or undergo transplantation for kidney failure. Unfortunately, two million more die each year, unable to access these therapies – admitted Professor Woolf.

– We are excited about our results, but realize that we still have much to learn – added.