Kidney organoids: development and applications

Abstract

Since the first publication on generating kidney-like cell aggregates from pluripotent stem cells, various modifications have been made to develop more complex and detailed kidney structures. In contrast to earlier models that featured nephron-like structures, these advances have improved the differentiation efficiency and similarity to the human kidney. Presently, kidney organoids contain not only nephrons and ureteric buds but also stromal cells. These organoids mimic the structural similarities and developmental processes of the kidneys, while reflecting their physiological properties. Kidney tubuloids derived from adult stem cells offer the advantage of long-term culture and expansion, but they include only tubular structures and lack glomerular components. In this review, we discuss the induction protocols for kidney organoids and tubuloids, as well as their potential applications in understanding kidney development, renal pathogenesis, and drug screening.