Scientists use organoids, organ-on-chip to replicate kidney disease environment

By The Science Advisory Board staff writers

September 22, 2022 -- A team of scientists combined organoids with organ-on-a-chip technology to replicate the disease process underlying autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease (APRKD). The new modeling system identified two potential therapeutics for APRKD, which currently has no U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved treatment.

The group from Massachusetts General Hospital, Brigham and Women's Hospital, and the Wyss Institute used a 3D printer to create a perfusion chip that models the microenvironment of the cells within the kidney and allows liquid to flow through the organoids (Science Advances, September 21, 2022).

Previous attempts to model APRKD were thwarted because while scientists could cultivate mutated PKHD1 cells responsible for the disease, they weren't able to replicate urinary flow. However, by uniting an organoid with a perfusion chip, the researchers were able to recreate the microenvironment present in humans. They found that two mechanosensing molecules (FOS and RAC1) are potential therapeutic targets for APRKD.

The study revealed the molecule FOS may be a crucial determent of species-specific cyst formation, which explains why mouse models were unable to replicate the disease effectively. The study also demonstrated why mutations in the PKHD1 gene lead to cyst formation. The scientists used FDA-approved drugs R-Naproxen and R-Ketorolact to inhibit RAC1 and one investigational new drug that inhibits FOS (T-5224).

All three drugs were shown to have therapeutic effects and the study highlights the potential of organoid-on-a-chip models to elucidate other complex disease mechanisms for therapeutic testing and discovery, according to the researchers.

Scientific breakthrough from Washington University could treat kidney disease
Washington University researchers have discovered how to culture podocyte kidney cells outside of the body, which was previously not possible, and the...
Production technique clears barrier to widespread study of intestinal organoids
The aggregation of cells removes variability from the production of small intestinal organoids, clearing a major hurdle to the widespread use of the technologies...
Mini kidneys reveal secrets of tuberous sclerosis complex
Researchers from Ottawa, Ontario have discovered which cells cause tumors in patients with tuberous sclerosis complex by creating genetically engineered...
Synthetic gel grows tiny pancreases from human-derived cells
Engineers have developed a new gel that supports the growth of tiny replicas of the pancreas from healthy or cancerous pancreatic cells. The breakthrough...
'Minibrains' grown from stem cells replicate brain's electrical activity
Researchers have grown 3D human brain tissue from stem cells that replicates the patterns of electrical activity found in the brains of patients with...

Copyright © 2022 scienceboard.net


Conferences
Connect
Science Advisory Board on LinkedIn
Science Advisory Board on Facebook
Science Advisory Board on Twitter