Generation of synthetic kidneys from expandable kidney progenitors [Days 5 and 9]

Here we report the generation of mouse synthetic kidneys (SK) from expandable nephron progenitor cells (NPC) and ureteric bud (UB). Unexpectedly, versatile renal interstitial cells can be induced in synthetic kidneys.

Mechanistically, a portion of NPCs go through transdifferentiation and become interstitial progenitor cells (IPCs) in SK context, then further differentiate into various renal interstitial cells. These kidney progenitors-derived synthetic kidneys highly resembled postnatal mouse kidneys in terms of high-order patterning and showed essential renal physiological functions.