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  • Review Article
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Development and application of human adult stem or progenitor cell organoids

Nature Reviews Nephrology volume 11, pages 546–554 (2015)Cite this article

Subjects

Key Points

  • The term organoid culture describes a spectrum of culture systems, each with typical applications

  • Human adult stem or progenitor cell organoids are 3D, adult-organ-derived epithelial structures that contain self-renewing and organ-specific stem or progenitor cells as well as differentiated cells

  • Human adult stem or progenitor cell organoid cultures have been established for multiple organs and have proven value in the basic study of pathophysiology as well as for clinical applications

  • Development of a renal human adult stem or progenitor cell organoid culture system is feasible and holds great promise for the field of nephrology

  • Potential applications of renal adult stem or progenitor cell organoids include studies of tissue homeostasis and disease, drug screening, cell therapy and bioengineering

Abstract

Adult stem or progenitor cell organoids are 3D adult-organ-derived epithelial structures that contain self-renewing and organ-specific stem or progenitor cells as well as differentiated cells. This organoid culture system was first established in murine intestine and subsequently developed for several other organs and translated to humans. Organoid cultures have proved valuable for basic research and for the study of healthy tissue homeostasis and the biology of disease. In addition, data from proof-of-principle experiments support promising clinical applications of adult stem or progenitor cell organoids. Although renal organoids have many potential applications, an adult stem or progenitor cell organoid culture system has not yet been developed for the kidney. The development of such a system is likely to be challenging because of the intricate renal architecture. Differentiated 3D cultures and stem or progenitor cell 3D sphere cultures are, however, available for the kidney. These cultures indicate the feasibility of renal organoid culture and provide a solid basis for its development. In this Review, we discuss the state-of-the-art of human adult stem or progenitor cell organoid culture and the potential of renal organoids as tools in basic and clinical research.

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Figure 1: Human adult stem or progenitor cell organoid culture.
Figure 2: Applications of organoid culture.

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Acknowledgements

The authors work is supported by grants from the Dutch Kidney Foundation (DKF14OP04 awarded to M.B.R.; DKF14OP04 awarded to F.S.; DKF14OP04 awarded to M.C.V.).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Nephrology and Hypertension, University Medical Center Utrecht, Heidelberglaan 100, Utrecht, 3584 CX, Netherlands

    Maarten B. Rookmaaker & Marianne C. Verhaar

  2. Hubrecht Institute–Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences, Uppsalalaan 8, Utrecht, 3584 CT, Netherlands

    Frans Schutgens & Hans Clevers

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  1. Maarten B. Rookmaaker
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Contributions

M.B.R. and F.S. contributed equally to researching the data and writing the article. M.C.V. and H.C. reviewed and edited the manuscript before submission. All authors contributed to discussions of the content.

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Correspondence to Maarten B. Rookmaaker or Hans Clevers.

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Competing interests

H.C. holds several patents related to organoid technology (WO2009/022907, WO2010/090513, WO2012/014076, WO2012/168930 and WO2013/093812). The other authors declare no competing interests.

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Rookmaaker, M., Schutgens, F., Verhaar, M. et al. Development and application of human adult stem or progenitor cell organoids. Nat Rev Nephrol 11, 546–554 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1038/nrneph.2015.118

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