Generation of nephron progenitor cells and kidney organoids from human pluripotent stem cells (Version 1.0)

Version

1.0

Notice

This page is the corresponding protocol tomestone page generated as part of the ATLAS-D2K shutdown in July 2025. Many links on this page may be broken.

Authors

Joseph V Bonventre; Ryuji Morizane

Keywords

[‘organoid’, ‘kidney’]

Subjects

[‘Cell biology’, ‘Cell culture’]

Release Date

2017-04-17

Abstract

NOTE: This protocol is published online (Nat Protoc. 2017 Jan;12(1):195-207). Now available at PubMedCentral: PMCID: PMC5278902

A variety of protocols have been developed that demonstrate the capability to differentiate human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) into kidney structures. Our goal was to develop a high-efficiency protocol to generate nephron progenitor cells (NPCs) and kidney organoids to facilitate applications for tissue engineering, disease modeling and chemical screening. Here, we describe a detailed protocol resulting in high-efficiency production (80-90%) of NPCs from hPSCs within 9 d of differentiation. Kidney organoids were generated from NPCs within 12 d with high reproducibility using 96-well plates suitable for chemical screening. The protocol requires skills for culturing hPSCs and careful attention to morphological changes indicative of differentiation. This kidney organoid system provides a platform for studies of human kidney development, modeling of kidney diseases, nephrotoxicity and kidney regeneration. The system provides a model for in vitro study of kidney intracellular and intercompartmental interactions using differentiated human cells in an appropriate nephron and stromal context.

Procedure

Please see published protocol: PMID: 28005067 - PMC5278902

Associated_Publications

Morizane R, Bonventre JV. Generation of nephron progenitor cells and kidney organoids from human pluripotent stem cells. Nat Protoc. 2017 Jan;12(1):195–207. PMCID: PMC5278902

Consortium

(Re)Building a Kidney (RBK) Consortium