According to a story from the International Business Times, researchers have successfully grown kidney tissue that can filter and produce urine within a living organism. This has the potential to be a significant advancement in the treatment of kidney problems, such as chronic kidney disease.
Chronic kidney disease is characterized by the progressive loss of kidney function over time. Eventually, the kidneys fail completely, and most patients have to resort to dialysis treatment to replace the functions of the kidney. This treatment can be done indefinitely, but it is time consuming and uncomfortable for the patient. The only other option is a kidney transplant, but demand is high for transplants and some people do not survive long enough to receive one. To learn more about chronic kidney disease, click here.
The development of the kidney tissue was conducted by scientists at the University of Manchester. Using stem cells, they created miniature kidneys that they implanted into mice. Remarkably, the kidney tissue was able to successfully filter and dispose of waste. The researchers grew glomeruli, a part of the kidney, from the stem cells. The golmeruli were then mixed together with a gel that acted as connective tissue; this combination was then placed under the skin of the mice.
After three months of observation it was clear that the kidney tissue had continued to develop after it was implanted in the mice. Nephrons, another part of the function and structure of the organs, has begun to grow. In addition, blood vessels in the form of capillaries had appeared in order to sustain the kidney tissue. Researchers were also certain that the structures were also performing the filtration function of a kidney; however, they were unsure to what extent this function was happening. For example, the kidney structures lacked the large artery that would be present in a fully developed kidney. Without this vessel, there is no way that they would retain the same functioning capacity as a complete kidney.
While more research and experimentation will be necessary, the study represents a significant advance in the process of growing kidneys that could eventually be used for transplants. Lab grown kidneys could eventually satisfy the current demand for transplants and render treatments like dialysis obsolete.
