GSE99583
Human iPSC derived glomeruli facilitate accurate modelling of podocytopathy
Podocytes are the highly specialised cells within the glomeruli of the kidney that maintain the filtration barrier by forming interdigitating foot processes and slit-diaphragms. Disruption to these features result in proteinuria. Studies into podocyte biology and disease has been hampered by a paucity of in vitro models of this non-proliferative cell type. Here we characterise sieved glomeruli from kidney organoids derived from human pluripotent stem cells. Compared to conditionally immortalised podocytes, organoid-derived glomeruli show superior podocyte-specific gene and protein expression, morphology and functional properties. Using CRISPR-derived MAFB reporter iPSC lines, homozygous MAFB mutant organoids recapitulated the anticipated disease related transcriptional changes. Culture of kidney organoids on chicken chorioallantoic membrane resulted in glomerular vascularisation, glomerular filtration barrier assembly, formation of slit diaphragms and fenestrated endothelial cells. This definitively demonstrates that human iPSC kidney organoid-derived glomeruli can serve as an accurate model of human podocytopathies and glomerular disease in vitro. Overall design: Gene expression profiling of three immortalised podocyte line samples at 33 degrees celsius, three immortalised podocyte line samples at 37 degrees celsius and three day 25 kidney organoid derived glomeruli