Japanese Scientists Achieve Lab Kidney Feat

Medical science is one of the most critical spheres of the 21^st century, with the capacity to save and enhance millions of lives across the globe. From vaccinations and surgeries to viral research and limb replacement technology, the arena is highly sophisticated and inherently intelligent. Now, scientists have elevated achievements to new heights with the successful growth and transplant of a kidney. Growing functional organs in a laboratory is considered the holy grail of the medical domain, with a successful transplant serving as the icing on the cake.

In an incredible feat that’s never before been accomplished, Dr Takashi Yokoo and his colleagues at the Jikei University School of Medicine in Tokyo have succeeded in transplanting a fully functional lab-grown kidneys into an animal. The organ is even capable of passing urine which is a colossal step forward for the medical research world. An overview of the study has been published in the acclaimed scientific journal, PNAS.

Could lab kidneys soon be saving lives?

Every year, the number of individuals in need of kidney transplants continues to grow. Demand has always outstripped supply, with the average UK waiting time currently sitting at three years. Accordingly, medical scientists are continually looking at new ways to harvest kidneys without the need for a human donor. Unfortunately the organ is highly complex, made up of delicate tissue structure and a vast network of blood and urine vessels. While some scientists have tried to simplify the growth process using 3D printing and stem cell research, the latest study takes a ‘de novo’ approach.

The complexities of kidneys

To address the commonly encountered issue of embryonic stem cells not being able to excrete urine, scientists transplanted an additional bladder into the rats and pigs they were experimenting on. When the lab grown kidney, the second bladder and the existing bladder were linked, the system functioned perfectly. The kidney produced urine, passed it into the new bladder which sequentially transferred it to the existing bladder for excretion.

“This is an interesting step forward,” comments Professor Chris Mason, from University College London. “The science looks strong and they have good data in animals. But that's not to say this will work in humans. We are still years off that. It's very much mechanistic. It moves us closer to understanding how the plumbing might work.”

While Mason may be sceptical about its effectiveness in humans, the researchers are adamant that additional research is on the cards. One controversial idea is to inject human stem cells into pig embryos in order to partially grow kidneys. Before the organ is fully grown it will be transplanted back into a human body, thus ensuring blood vessels and tissue are compatible.

Like any transplant process, kidney operations are subject to complications. Monitoring BK Virus in Kidney Transplant Patients explore the new benchtop molecular analyser that allows renal transplant centres to monitor urine and serum BK viral loads in house. This allows for earlier diagnosis and management of BK virus associated nephropathy (BKVAN) in renal transplant recipients.