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Organized kidney tissue structures for the treatment of end stage renal disease
Author(s) -
Yoo James J.,
Joraku Akira,
Machiguchi Toshihiko,
Atala Anthony
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.20.5.a885-a
Subject(s) - kidney , renal stem cell , transplantation , pathology , medicine , renal function , dialysis , chemistry , biology , stem cell , microbiology and biotechnology , progenitor cell
End stage renal failure is a devastating disease which involves multiple organs in affected individuals. Although dialysis can prolong survival for many patients with end stage renal disease, only renal transplantation can currently restore normal function. However, renal transplantation is severely limited by a critical donor shortage. In this study we investigated the feasibility of creating three‐dimensional renal structures for in situ implantation within the native kidney tissue. Primary renal cells from 4 week old mice were grown and expanded in culture. Culture expanded renal cells were placed in a collagen based 3‐D culture environment for reconstitution of 3‐D renal structures. Cells were labeled with fluorescent markers and injected into mouse kidneys for in vivo formation of renal tissues. Collagen injection without cells and sham operated animals served as controls. Culture expanded single renal cells began to form tubular structures after 4 days in the collagen based 3‐D culture conditions. The tubules, lined with renal epithelial cells, progressively increased in length and divided to form branching structures. Implanted renal cells formed tubular and glomerular structures within the kidney tissue, as confirmed by the fluorescent markers. There was no evidence of renal tissue formation in the control and the sham operated groups. These results demonstrate that single renal cells reconstitute into organized kidney structures when placed in a collagen‐based 3‐D culture system. The implanted renal cells are able to self assemble into tubular and glomerular structures within the kidney tissue.