The University of Southern California Cell Journal tracks how the human kidney forms a filter unit

When it comes to building kidneys, only nature has a complete blueprint

The research, published in the journal Developmental Cell, is a research in the laboratory of Andy McMahon in the Department of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine at the University of Southern California, led by Nils Lindström, who started the research as a postdoctoral researcher, and now Is an assistant professor in the department

The team tracked the blueprint for how cells interact to lay the foundation for the human kidney, and how abnormal developmental processes can lead to disease

Lindström said: “There is only one way to build a kidney, and that is the natural way

In order to reconstruct nature's molecular and cellular blueprints, the research team studied the different positions of hundreds of human and mouse kidneys on their typical development trajectories

This study details the similar genetic mechanisms of human and mouse nephron formation, allowing other teams of scientists to follow the logic of these developmental procedures to create new types of kidney cells

Lindström said: "By generating a detailed view of the beautiful and complex process of human nephron formation, we aim to strengthen our understanding of development and disease, while guiding efforts to construct artificial kidney structures

Scientists were also able to determine the precise location of expressed genes known to play a role in congenital malformations of the kidney and urethra (CAKUT)

Lindström said: "Our method of inferring the spatial coordinates of gene expression in individual cells can be widely used to create similar maps of other developing organ systems-this is an important focus of many research groups around the world

Original search:

A spatial map of the gene activity driving the generation of human nephrons

DOI 10.