In a cooperative project between the Institute for Stem Cell Research and Regenerative Medicine Düsseldorf led by Prof. James Adjaye, the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology (Prof. Tanja Fehm) of the
Medical Faculty of the Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf and the Institute for Women's Health, Maternal and Fetal Medicine (Dr. Pascale V. Guillot) at University College London, the scientists have found out,
that the human amniotic fluid contains mesenchymal stem cells from the kidney. The number of these cells increased with the time of pregnancy and was highest at the time of birth. The cells are derived
from the urine of the fetus.

The scientists were able to study the cells with methods of stem cell research, molecular biological investigations and bioinformatic analyses.

The quality and quantity of these cells is particularly high. complicated methods to gain induced pluripotent stem cells,  invasive kidney biopsy in humans are no longer necessary. This is particularly interesting for the development in vitro kidney tissues, three-dimensional organoids of high-quality or kidney disease models in vitro.

The research findings were published in the journal Stem Cell Research:
Rahman, M.S., Spitzhorn, L.S., Wruck, W., Hagenbeck, C., Balan, P., Graffmann, N., Bohndorf, M., Ncube, A., Guillot, P.V.., Fehm, T. & Adjaye, J. (2018): The presence of human mesenchymal stem cells of renal origin in amniotic fluid increases with gestational time. Stem Cell Res Ther. 9/1: 113. doi: 10.1186/s13287-018-0864-7. PubMed PMID: 29695308.

Source:
https://eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2018-05/hud-kcf050418.php