Generation of Induced Nephron Progenitor-like Cells from Human Urine-Derived Cells

International Journal of Molecular Sciences

Gwonhwa Song¹  Phil-Jun Kang¹  Gyuman Park¹  Wonjin Yun¹  Wei-Wei Gao¹  Jie Zheng¹  In-Yong Kim¹  Seungkwon You¹ 

[1] Department of Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Korea;

关键词: nephron progenitor cells;    direct reprogramming;    transdifferentiation;    urine cells;    kidney;   

DOI  :  10.3390/ijms222413449

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

Background: Regenerative medicine strategies employing nephron progenitor cells (NPCs) are a viable approach that is worthy of substantial consideration as a promising cell source for kidney diseases. However, the generation of induced nephron progenitor-like cells (iNPCs) from human somatic cells remains a major challenge. Here, we describe a novel method for generating NPCs from human urine-derived cells (UCs) that can undergo long-term expansion in a serum-free condition. Results: Here, we generated iNPCs from human urine-derived cells by forced expression of the transcription factors OCT4, SOX2, KLF4, c-MYC, and SLUG, followed by exposure to a cocktail of defined small molecules. These iNPCs resembled human embryonic stem cell-derived NPCs in terms of their morphology, biological characteristics, differentiation potential, and global gene expression and underwent a long-term expansion in serum-free conditions. Conclusion: This study demonstrates that human iNPCs can be readily generated and expanded, which will facilitate their broad applicability in a rapid, efficient, and patient-specific manner, particularly holding the potential as a transplantable cell source for patients with kidney disease.

【 授权许可】

Unknown