Scientists led by Dr. Soeren Lienkamp, head of the Emmy Noether Research Group at the Department of Internal Medicine IV, University Hospital Freiburg, and Dr. Sebastian Arnold, Emmy Noether Research Group Leader at the Institute of Pharmacology at the University of Freiburg succeeded in identifying four genes that make it possible to transform connective tissue cells (fibroblasts) of humans and mice into kidney-like cells (iRECs). The detected genes are called Emx2, Hnf1b, Hnf4a and Pax8. Using specially prepared viruses, the scientists inserted these genes into the genome of skin cells. The treated cells altered into so-called induced renal tubular epithelial cells (iRECs) which they cultivated. The cells had functional properties of differentiated kidney epithelial cells and are also sensitive to renal toxicity substances, as the researchers wrote in their publication. Using the mouse as an example, the cells were able to integrate into kidney organoids and to form renal tubules, if they were brought on the site of the kidney tissue where the functioning renal tissue were damaged.

In the future, the researchers want to convert skin cells from kidney patients directly into kidney cells to develop human disease model with which they can investigate disease mechanisms and test possible drugs.

A further vision is, the directly transformation of damaged cells or connective tissue cells (scars) by reprogramming into functionating kidney cells But this is, however, still a long way to go.

The scientists have published their work in Nature Cell Biology:
Michael M. Kaminski, Jelena Tosic, Catena Kresbach et al. (2016): Direct reprogramming of fibroblasts into renal tubular Epithelial cells by defined transcription factors. Nature Cell Biology. DOI: 10.1038 / ncb3437

Source and further information:
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