For their work, the researchers, led by Prof. James Adjaye, isolated cells from urine and initially generated three-dimensional kidneys in an organoid form via several steps.  Then, the team generated a disease model of acute kidney injury using the nephrotoxin aminonucleoside puromycin-PAN. This substance is known to cause kidney damage at high doses.

The scientists succeeded in replicating inflammation, DNA damage and apoptosis of cells of the organ-like system. "Understanding how the basic mechanisms of these diseases work at the level of each individual is the first step in effectively discovering and developing therapies and drugs," Prof. Adjaye says in a recent press release about the work.

Original publication:
Nguyen L, Wruck W, Erichsen L, Graffmann N, Adjaye J. The Nephrotoxin Puromycin Aminonucleoside Induces Injury in Kidney Organoids Differentiated from Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells. Cells. 2022 Feb 11;11(4):635. doi: 10.3390/cells11040635. PMID: 35203286; PMCID: PMC8870209.

Source and further information:
https://www.medizin.hhu.de/news-detailinformation/vom-verstaendnis-akuter-nierenschaedigung-in-der-petrischale