Researchers in Japan have found a way to grow full-sized kidneys from stem cells and successfully transplant them in animals. 

There are an increasing number of people experiencing end-stage kidney failure around the world, but the supply of viable kidneys is very limited. It is hoped that this research will allow stem cell generated kidneys to someday be successfully used in human transplants.

The researchers, from the Jikei University School of Medicine in Tokyo, grew a full sized kidney and developed a way for the kidney to pass urine. Previously, researchers were unable to get a kidney to full size or they could not develop a way to have it pass urine.

The researchers developed a novel technique to get the kidney working correctly, called the stepwise peristaltic ureter system. To test the system, researchers grew full sized kidneys to be transplanted in rats and were able to pass urine from a transplanted kidney to a transplanted bladder then finally, to the rat’s normal bladder.

Within two months, the transplanted kidneys resembled a mature kidney. Researchers have also repeated the experiment with pigs to ensure the process was a success. The next step is to assess if the technique works in primates, which if successful, leads the way to human trials.

It is a slow process though, because growing kidneys from stem cells and assessing if a kidney is functioning correctly after transplantation takes time. They hope to finish experimentation within the next 10-years and have a treatment available for humans.

There is strong demand for kidneys around the world because of growing rates of kidney disease and kidney cancer. Every month there are 3,000 people added to the kidney transplant waiting list in the United States alone. Being able to grow kidneys from stem cells for transplantation will be a very important breakthrough.

Source: Scientists Report Breakthrough in Growing Kidneys from Stem Cells

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