Abstract
The kidney is a complex organ whose excretory and regulatory functions are vital for maintaining homeostasis. Previous techniques used to study the kidney, including various animal models and 2D cell culture systems to investigate the mechanisms of renal development and regeneration have many benefits but also possess inherent shortcomings. Some of those limitations can be addressed using the emerging technology of 3D organoids. An organoid is a 3D cluster of differentiated cells that are developed ex vivo by addition of various growth factors that result in a miniature organ containing structures present in the tissue of origin. Here, we discuss renal organoids, their development, and how they can be employed to further understand kidney development and disease.
Highlights
Renal diseases currently affect epidemic numbers of people worldwide, and have continued to escalate in their prevalence globally in recent years, representing a significant public health problem for both developing and developed countries
Life-threatening medical consequences because the kidneys are needed to carry out a battery of essential tasks that cooperatively maintain the daily homeostasis of the body
The accessible nature of organoids positions them for use in therapeutic studies
Summary
Renal diseases currently affect epidemic numbers of people worldwide, and have continued to escalate in their prevalence globally in recent years, representing a significant public health problem for both developing and developed countries. Life-threatening medical consequences because the kidneys are needed to carry out a battery of essential tasks that cooperatively maintain the daily homeostasis of the body. Humans have a pair of bean-shaped kidney organs that are responsible for vital functions that include (i) the excretion of metabolic wastes and other toxins, most notably being urea, (ii) the regulation of body fluids, which entails the precise control of osmolarity, acid-base balance, and electrolyte levels, and (iii) the production of various hormones and enzymes that regulate such processes as the control of blood pressure and erythrocyte maturation within the bone marrow [1]. Kidneys are incredibly complex organs, with their. Diverse functions reliant on the proper development and maintenance of over twenty different epithelial and mesenchymal cell types [2]
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